"Joker, you actually missed. It's truly unbelievable."
Five minutes later, the slightly slower Tanaka finally caught up. However, Doflamingo seemed not to hear him, a bloody scratch still visible on his right cheekbone from Law's final attack.
"Hmm?"
Following Doflamingo's gaze, Tanaka looked down at the flag floating on the sea and was instantly dumbfounded.
Why would the flag of the Immortal Pirates appear in such a remote area of the Grand Line?
"Fuffu... Fuffuffuffu... Fuffuffuffuffu!"
Suddenly, Doflamingo burst into maniacal laughter. "Law, I don't recall you being the type to look for backing! Did I overrate you in the past? No, that's not right. This is actually a decent strategy."
Tanaka looked at Doflamingo in incomprehension, yet he was temporarily speechless due to his awe of the Yonko's flag.
This was the deterrent power of a New World Emperor.
…
Meanwhile, aboard the Polar Tang, which had lost both masts and submerged deep beneath the sea, Law was sitting on a white infirmary bed. His blue leopard-print tight pants were rolled up to his knees, and his calves were thickly wrapped in gauze.
"Captain, are you alright?" Penguin leaned in, blinking his eyes.
"The flesh on my calves was practically carved off by one of Doflamingo's attacks, but with my medical skills, I can recover eventually. I just won't be able to fight for the near future."
A sudden twinge in the wound on his calf made Law frown hard. He recalled the reason for his successful escape and muttered to himself, "I never expected to be saved by a flag."
Shaking his head, Law instructed, "Hand me the Den Den Mushi. I need to report this."
…
In the waters surrounding the ruins of the Arderay Kingdom, Ivalis, who received Law's Den Den Mushi call, still maintained his poker face. After Law finished his report, Ivalis broke his own custom with a half-joking remark. "Devil Fruits valued at 2.5 billion and 3 billion Berries... I suddenly feel like all the treasure I've collected before is just garbage."
The Den Den Mushi on the wooden box in front of Ivalis mimicked Law's expression, staring with dead fish eyes. "Anyway, I'm seriously injured and can't do anything else. I had to report this first. That's all."
With that, Law hung up, and the Den Den Mushi closed its eyes, entering standby mode.
"2.5 Billion... 3 Billion..."
Recalling the exaggerated numbers, Ivalis shook his head and quickly dialed Alucard's Den Den Mushi.
Alucard, sitting on a throne atop Jackal's back and now in the first half of the Grand Line, spoke to himself after hearing Ivalis's report. "The Government is collecting two Devil Fruits, one of which is the Mythical Zoan, the Ancient Titan model?"
Alucard immediately recalled an event from many years ago. He had consumed the user of the Swap-Swap Fruit and the user of the Titan Fruit with his initial River of Death awakening when he and Shiki the Golden Lion attacked the Marines and the Government.
However, in a later battle on an icy island, after he unleashed the River of Death, those two people were jointly killed by the new three Admirals—Kizaru, Aokiji, and Fujitora. This caused their souls to return from the River of Death to the River Styx, and the Devil Fruits naturally vanished from their bodies, to be reborn as new fruits.
One was the Titan Fruit, and the other was, in all likelihood, the Swap-Swap Fruit, a Paramecia-type ranked among the best.
Alucard was still quite irritated by it. If it had been a one-on-one fight, the three Admirals would never have been a match for those two Celestial Dragons. Unfortunately, the members of the River of Death only had battle instincts, not wisdom, and were consequently defeated.
Since the fruits had seen the light of day again, he would naturally retrieve them.
"Prepare to set sail, and call Dr. Indigo over, while you're at it."
Following Alucard's order, there was a commotion on the other end of the Den Den Mushi. A few minutes later, Ivalis's poker face on the Den Den Mushi on Alucard's table was replaced by Dr. Indigo's comical face.
"Alucard-sama, what are your orders?" Dr. Indigo's voice came through the phone. This time, he wasn't doing a mime.
"Do you know the appearance of the Swap-Swap Fruit and the Titan Fruit?" Alucard asked.
Dr. Indigo on the other end was silent for a few seconds before nodding. "Yes. Forty years ago, when Shiki the Lion and Gol D. Roger were still rookies, those two fruits belonged to two influential figures in the Government. I have studied them thoroughly and even know what they look like."
Alucard's lips curled up. "That's good. Do as I say..."
After half a minute, Alucard finished giving his instructions and hung up the Den Den Mushi.
Wolf, below him, suddenly lifted his head and asked Alucard, "Hey, hey, Captain, if we get the fruits, who gets to eat them?"
Alucard paused at the question. After a few seconds, he replied, "We'll worry about that after we steal them."
If they were any other Devil Fruits, anyone who got them could eat them, and Alucard wouldn't interfere. But as the former possessor of these two powers, Alucard felt a mysterious sense of ownership and insisted on making the decision himself.
…
Several days later, the massive Gates of Justice could be seen in the distance. If they attempted to force their way into the Triangle Sea Region, they would be affected by the turbulent currents. Bypassing it would take at least another week.
Alucard rose from his throne. He grabbed Kaido's enormous body with one hand, and his own body transformed into an irregular bat-like shape, carrying Kaido high into the sky.
"You stay here."
…
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The crescent bay of the main dock was peaceful. The sound of hammering could be heard occasionally. Everyone who turned to look quickly saluted. It was Issho, better known as Fujitora, who had been promoted to Admiral two years ago.
"Thank you for your hard work, everyone," Issho said in his raspy voice. His expression suddenly changed slightly, and he raised an eyebrow toward the sky above them.
"Issh-sano, what's wrong?" another Marine next to him asked upon seeing his reaction.
"The cloud movements are strange. Something enormous is falling."
Saying this, Issho drew his cane sword. "Quickly evacuate the patrols on the right side of the crescent bay!"
"I hope we're in time."