On the other end of the line, Sakazuki gave a soft chuckle.
"Alright. As long as you're fine. Get some rest. You won't have missions this easy in the future."
Carlo smiled as well. "Understood. Good night, Admiral Sakazuki."
"Good night."
Click.
The Den Den Mushi went silent as the line was cut. Carlo set it down, his gaze fixed on the faint firelight glowing from the distant mountain peak.
"You've already… grown up."
Unlike the wandering life she had in the original story, Robin's time drifting had been short. Carlo had taken her in not long after. Years had slipped by since then.
The child had grown, and it was nearly time for her to leave.
* * *
North Blue. The Donquixote Family base.
Behind Spider Miles Island, in the ruins that stretched by the shore, Law sat with his arms wrapped around his knees. His expression was blank as he stared out at the sea, lost in thought.
Many days had passed, yet that hateful bastard still burned in his mind.
Thinking of Corazon, anger surged through him again. He had suffered at that man's hands too many times over the past days.
But he had not given up. On the contrary, his resolve had only grown stronger. He would join the Donquixote Family. He would gain strength in the shortest time possible.
Strength to destroy everything.
Grrrgle…
The mighty declaration in his head vanished instantly, replaced by the loud protest of his stomach. Reality pulled him back in.
First, he needed to survive. Glancing at the sun, he sighed, forced himself up, and started toward the family's compound. At the very least, they still gave him meals.
He had barely taken a few steps when Buffalo's sharp voice echoed.
"Food's ready!"
His eyes lit up and his pace quickened. But just as he entered the compound, he froze.
There he was again, that cigarette-smoking bastard.
Law quickly ducked behind a corner. Only when Corazon had walked far enough away did he dare to come out.
As he passed the hallway, his eyes caught a cigarette butt lying on the floor. Clenching his fists, he stepped forward in fury.
"That lunatic!"
He stomped down on the cigarette several times.
Right then, a young Senor Pink walked up. "So here you are. Doffy wants to see you."
Law turned sharply, his voice edged with anger. "Good. I've got something to ask him too! As—"
Before he could finish, his whole body was lifted off the ground. He whipped his head around and shouted, "You bastard, what the hell are you—ahhh!"
A crushing blow landed on his butt, sending him flying several dozen meters before he crashed into a pile of trash.
Senor Pink sighed. "Your dislike of kids hasn't improved at all, Corazon."
Corazon simply waved him off and left. Still, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. This brat was far too stubborn.
Rosinante, now the second "Corazon," had been undercover in the Donquixote Family for years. He had scared off and beaten away many children and adults who wished to join.
But with this insane little kid, none of it seemed to work.
On the other side, Law clawed his way out of the rubble. Cuts covered his arms and chest, blood oozing from the wounds.
"I'll kill you… I'll kill you… I'll kill you!"
* * *
The next day.
Law clutched a small knife he had scrounged up from who-knows-where. He crept toward the ruins by the shore. He knew Corazon would be reading his paper there.
"Just as I thought."
Peeking from behind the ruins, a grin spread across Law's face as he spotted the man sitting on a boulder, cigarette dangling from his lips, newspaper in hand.
Silently, he walked closer. Higher ground gave him the perfect angle.
With a leap, he pounced. Knife raised high, his face contorted with hatred. At the moment the blade was about to pierce down, he finally let out a shout.
"Die!"
Cigarette in his mouth, eyes still on the paper, Rosinante's face twisted with shock and pain. 'Careless... this brat actually…'
Thud.
His body collapsed to the ground, motionless.
A startled cry rang out from the distance.
"Ah!"
Law's heart skipped. He spun around. 'Damn. He saw me.'
Buffalo stood frozen, eyes wide with disbelief. "You broke the Law of Blood! You're gonna get skewered! I'm reporting this to the Young Master right away!"
He turned and sprinted off.
Panic clouded Law's mind, but his legs moved on instinct. "Wait, damn it! Stop right there!"
Buffalo's heavy body made him no match for Law's speed. In barely two minutes, the boy caught up. Knife in hand, still dripping red, he stepped closer.
Buffalo stumbled back in fear. "W-what are you trying to do?!"
Law tightened his grip on the blade. His voice was low and deliberate. "You'll keep this a secret for me. I'll buy you an ice cream."
His eyes locked on Buffalo. If this didn't work… he'd have no choice.
Buffalo blinked. Then, suddenly, his face brightened with arrogance. "No deal."
Law's jaw clenched. The knife trembled in his hand, ready to strike.
"I want two. Triple scoop!"
A vein bulged on Law's forehead. Grinding his teeth, he forced the words out.
"Fine!"
* * *
Later, after buying Buffalo his ice cream, Law returned to the shore.
Corazon's body was gone.
His stomach dropped. This was bad. He had to run. But before he reached the port, two family officers seized him.
"Let go of me! Damn it, let me go! Curse you!"
* * *
Thud.
Law was tossed into the grand hall of the Donquixote Family.
"We caught him, Young Master. No idea why, but this brat tried to escape. We grabbed him by the shore."
"Tch."
Clicking his tongue, Law rose to his feet. But when his eyes fell on the man beside Doflamingo, his pupils shrank, mind racing.
'That guy... he's not dead. Damn it. That stab went right through him... how is he sitting there like nothing happened? What do I do? If I die like this, it's too meaningless. I even bribed Buffalo with ice cream… Then it was him... he's the one who told. Damn it! Damn it! What should I do?'
Sitting on the couch, Doflamingo spoke, "Law, there's only one reason I called you here, and that's to tell you that you've passed the test. The family has decided to accept you. You're now officially a member of the Donquixote Pirates."
Law went still. 'That guy... didn't snitch?'
By the window, Buffalo dropped his ice cream in shock.
A grin spread across Doflamingo's face. "That kind of suffering you endured… it's given you eyes filled with hatred unlike any other. I see great potential in you, Law."
The boy lowered his head. "Potential or not, it doesn't matter. I only have three years left to live anyway."
Doflamingo chuckled. "Fuffuffuffu. That depends on your luck."
Law frowned. "Luck?"
The man leaned back, his voice smooth. "We deal in the black market, and trading devil fruits is nothing unusual for us. Sometimes their powers surpass human knowledge. One of them may very well cure your illness. If luck favors you, within three years, you might find the fruit that saves your life. I'll train you as the right hand man I'll need ten years from now. Are you ready?"
Law drew in a deep breath. "I'm ready."
"Perfect," Doflamingo said. "Get him a new outfit. Let him enjoy this one last day of leisure."
An officer led him away. Before leaving, Law glanced once more at Corazon. Something unexplainable stirred in his chest.
But the man just sat there, his head down, cigarette between his lips. One by one, the officers filed out.
Doflamingo's grin widened as he turned to him. "Fuffuffuffu. Looks familiar, doesn't it? The first time I saw that brat… it felt like I was seeing myself from that night. Truly…"
Corazon lifted his head, forcing a small smile and a nod.
But inside, his heart sank.
This was trouble.
**
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