Realizing he had spoken out of turn, Law decisively changed the subject.
"Straw Hat-ya, the children you mentioned are them, right?" Law said, glancing at the still-sleeping children.
"Yes."
Luffy nodded and said, "I want to save them."
"Save them..."
As Law stared at the children, Caesar's words from earlier flashed through his mind.
After a moment of silence, Law said, "I advise you not to get involved in such troublesome matters.
"Their bodies..."
"We know!"
Chopper lifted his head, interrupting Law. "I've already examined their bodies and understand exactly why they ended up like this."
"But that's precisely why we want to send them home!"
"Don't you think these children, separated from their parents from such a young age, are pitiful?!"
Hearing this, Law fell silent again. Children separated from their parents from a young age... Such things were all too common on these seas.
Could they really save them all?
Ignoring Law's reaction, Chopper stared intently at the children and said, "I know it's difficult. Breaking free from drug control takes time, but... even so, I will save them!"
He couldn't just abandon these helpless children.
Usopp sighed and said, "Who would have thought such terrifying experiments existed in this world?"
"To think ordinary children could be enlarged like this..."
Glancing at the giant children, Usopp sighed again.
What poor little things.
"The human gigantification project is something the World Government has been researching for centuries," Law said expressionlessly. "You just didn't know about it."
As someone familiar with many of the World Government's secrets, Law knew exactly how despicable they were.
"The World Government?" Nico Robin frowned. "Why would they do such a thing?!"
"For soldiers, I suppose."
Law explained, "If they could mass-produce giant soldiers at will, the World Government would be invincible."
"Just for that, they target innocent children?!" Merry said angrily. "The World Government is truly vile!"
According to Law, this experiment had been ongoing for hundreds of years.
So... how many children had suffered over those centuries?
The thought made Merry even angrier.
Damn World Government!
Law naturally understood why Merry was upset, but this was the harsh reality of their world, wasn't it?
"The power of the Giant Race is indeed formidable," Nico Robin said with a grim expression. "You've likely experienced it firsthand through these giant children."
"And when adult Giants join the Marines... they almost always become Vice Admirals!!"
Hearing this, Usopp and the others' pupils instantly contracted.
Joining the Marines guarantees becoming a Navy Vice Admiral?
Didn't that mean every adult Giant possessed strength on par with a Vice Admiral?!
Isn't this a bit too exaggerated?!
"No wonder the World Government is interested in human gigantification," Usopp gulped and said, "This combat power is terrifying."
If they could really achieve something like that... wouldn't the World Government possess a massive force of warriors like Master Dorry and Master Brogy?
That would be too terrifying!
As if imagining a certain scene, Usopp instinctively shuddered.
"It's not that simple," Law shook his head and said.
If it were really that easy, the World Government would have succeeded long ago.
After all... this experiment has been going on for hundreds of years!
Merry pursed her lips upon hearing this. Since it hasn't succeeded for centuries, why would they still...
As if seeing through Merry's thoughts, Law said calmly, "The World Government doesn't care about ordinary people's lives."
This could be seen from his own destroyed country.
To those high-and-mighty figures in the World Government, ordinary people are no different from insects.
Merry fell silent, unsure what to say for a moment.
She just looked somewhat sad.
Seeing this, Perona sympathetically hugged Merry in her arms, then looked up at Law and said, "By the way, I remember you just said this experiment is being conducted by the World Government, right?"
"Yes."
"So this Caesar belongs to the World Government?"
"No."
Law shook his head and said, "Caesar is not with the World Government, I can be certain of that."
Although he didn't know why Caesar was working for Doflamingo... since the other party belonged to the underworld, he couldn't possibly be with the World Government.
After all... this guy was still a wanted criminal!
"Then why is he conducting this experiment?" Nami frowned.
"Perhaps to complete the experiment before Vegapunk and the World Government," Law said.
He did know Caesar was manufacturing Artificial Devil Fruits for Doflamingo, but he wasn't clear why the other party was conducting gigantification experiments.
"Just because of that?"
Nami widened her eyes, her face full of disbelief.
Just because he wanted to complete the experiment before others, he would harm so many children?
Wasn't that guy too much of a bastard?!
"I said, perhaps," Law said, "But this possibility is very high."
"After all... this guy is a rather insane scientist."
Although he hadn't been here long, he had already figured out what kind of person Caesar was.
Moreover, this guy always liked to talk about surpassing Vegapunk, so it was highly probable he was conducting experiments for that reason.
Nami fell silent. This bastard called Caesar really was...
"Are you truly determined to save them?" Law glanced at the members of the Straw Hat Pirates and said, "They're just a bunch of kids with unknown backgrounds."
"Yes, we're saving them!"
Nami nodded without hesitation and said, "Although we don't know these children, they cried and begged us for help, so... I must save them!"
With that, Nami walked step by step toward the children, her eyes filled with compassion.
"These children were all tricked into coming here by that despicable scientist," Perona also spoke up. "Actually, they themselves sensed something was wrong, but they couldn't leave this place..."
By the end, Perona let out a deep sigh.
The terrifying poison was indeed part of the reason, but more importantly, no one could take them away!
"These children are so pitiful," Nami said, reaching out to rub Mocha's cheek. "So... I won't leave this island until I'm sure they're safe."
"Are you planning to stay here alone?" Law frowned.
"Of course not," Luffy said without hesitation. "I would never abandon my crewmates."
"Since Nami and the others want to do this, I'll do it too. So I plan to treat them and send them back home."
"Oh, right, and Sanji—he plans to help the Samurai find his body and restore him to his original form!"
After saying this, Luffy paused for a moment, then grinned as if remembering something. "You're our ally now, so you have to help out too."
Law: ??
Law stared at Luffy with a face full of question marks. Did this guy have some misunderstanding about the word "ally"?
As if reading Law's thoughts, Usopp shook his head helplessly and said, "Torao, it seems you still don't quite get it."
"What do you mean?"
"You think an alliance is just a relationship where you cooperate to achieve a common goal, right?"
"Of course," Law said without hesitation.
Isn't that what alliances between pirates are always like?
What's the problem?
"But Luffy's idea of an alliance is different from yours," Usopp said.
"Different... how?"
"Hehe~"
Hearing this, Luffy grinned, showing his teeth. "It should be something like friends, right?"
"See?"
Usopp looked seriously at Law and said, "If you think you can take the lead, you're being naive!"
"This guy is stubborn and doesn't know how to be flexible..."
Usopp went on describing some of Luffy's personality traits, making Law's scalp tingle. What kind of person had he chosen as an ally?!
Huh?
"Now you know," Usopp said. "If we're talking about doing things his own way, this guy is practically at the level of a Four Emperor!"
"Yep, that's right," Luffy nodded in agreement.
As he spoke, Luffy dug his nose, his expression gradually turning content.
Then, he flicked the booger onto Chopper.
Seeing this, Law fell silent for a moment before saying, "But your crewmate's request has nothing to do with the alliance..."
"Hey!"
Chopper opened his Shark Mouth and roared, "You flicked a booger at me, you jerk!"
"Ahaha~"
"Sorry, sorry."
Looking at Luffy, who was scratching his head with an apologetic expression, Chopper grumbled, "I can't dodge right now, you jerk!"
"Sorry, sorry, I got it."
"Hmph."
Law:
Ignored, Law's face was covered in sweat. At that moment, the same thought he'd had before resurfaced.
He was starting to regret it...
But since things had come to this, he couldn't say much more. After all, he still needed their cooperation to retrieve his heart.
Thinking of this, Law said somewhat irritably, "Fine, I get it. I'll help you handle this matter."
"But I'm only responsible for investigating the drugs given to the kids. The Samurai side is your responsibility."
"Who's the ship's doctor? Come with me."
"I'll take him to Caesar's lab to look for information on the drugs."
If they could find an antidote, that would be even better—solving the problem in one go.
"Ah, that's me~" Chopper said from where he lay on the ground.
Law: ??
Law looked at Chopper with a face full of question marks. Why was the one lying on the ground the ship's doctor?
No way, this has to be a joke!
After a moment of silence, Law said, "You're joking, right?"
"Nope," Usopp said. "Chopper really is the ship's doctor of our Straw Hat Pirates."
"But don't worry about him not being able to move—I have a solution!"
With that, Usopp took some rope from his backpack, picked Chopper up from the ground, and tied him to the top of Law's head.
"Hmm, that should do it~" Usopp nodded in satisfaction.
Law: .
Feeling the weight on his head, Law was utterly speechless.
What the hell are you playing at, you bastard!
Why tie this tanuki to the top of his head?!
At that moment, the cool and aloof Law completely lost his composure.
"Sorry, Torao," Chopper said. "I can't move right now, so I have to ask you to carry me."
As soon as he said this, Luffy and the others immediately burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHAHA."
"Don't drop him, Torao!!"
"Sorry, but it's just so funny... HAHAHAHA!"
"Super cute, Torao, HAHAHAHA."
The laughter of the Straw Hat Pirates echoed in Law's ears, making his skin twitch.
So, what exactly is up with the Straw Hat Pirates?
Are they really pirates?
At that moment, Law even began to doubt himself.
Was he out of his mind to form an alliance with these people?
After a long silence, Law wordlessly took Chopper down from his head and wrapped the rope around his sword sheath instead.
This way, the other wouldn't be perched on his head.
"You... you're not angry, are you?" Chopper asked.
This time, Law didn't reply, just stiffly tied Chopper to the sword sheath.
After doing this, he slung the sheath over his shoulder, allowing Chopper to hang behind him.
Chopper:
He's definitely angry.
Law was indeed a bit annoyed, but when he thought about how they were willing to entrust an immobilized companion to him, his anger subsided.
After all... they truly trusted him!
"Just as we learned from the earlier intel," Law said expressionlessly, "Caesar sent those two here to kill you and take back the kids."
"Until he achieves his goal, his attacks won't stop."
"What a despicable guy," someone said irritably. "Not only does he want to use us for experiments, but he also wants to kill us all... This guy named Caesar is truly awful!"
"They don't just want to kill you for experiments." Law said: "He's a wanted criminal with a bounty of 300 million Berries, and also an evil scientist being hunted by the World Government."
"Once the news that he's hiding here gets out, his time is up."
"So that's why he wants to kill us." Nico Robin said: "Afraid we'll spill what's happening here?"
Now he understood why the other side was so relentless—it wasn't just because of that. "Yes." Law nodded and said: "So before killing you, he absolutely won't give up."
After saying that, Law paused for a moment, then continued: "By the way, he's a Logia Gas-Gas Fruit Ability User, so anyone who can't use Haki must not get close to him!"
"This guy isn't an ordinary scientist!"
People who can't use Haki have no ability to fight back against that guy, so they absolutely must not appear before him.
"Haki..."
Luffy glanced at his companions and said: "Quite a few of us here can use Haki."
Although only he could freely use Haki on their side, Sichin and the others had three powerful Haki users.
As for Nami?
Unstable Haki doesn't count.
"That's good." Law nodded, then turned and walked outside, saying: "I'll head back to the research institute first."
"What's the plan?" Nami asked.
"We said it when we came." Perona said: "We'll work together to capture that guy called Caesar."
"And then?" Franky asked: "What do we do after capturing him?"
"You're not doing this for money, are you." Usopp said.
If that were the reason, it wouldn't feel very meaningful.
After all... the Straw Hat Pirates really weren't short on money right now.
"Of course not for money." Law said calmly: "It's for chaos!"
"Chaos?"
The members of the Straw Hat Pirates exchanged glances, clearly not understanding Law's meaning.
"The plan hasn't succeeded yet, so discussing this now is meaningless." Law said: "Anyway, focus on capturing Caesar now. After we capture that guy, I'll tell you the whole plan."
"But... from the moment we successfully capture that guy, the situation will naturally undergo a huge change, and by then there'll be no turning back."
"If you want to back out, do it now." Law stared intently into Luffy's eyes and said: "After this, there'll be no chance to regret it."
Hearing this, Luffy grinned and said: "It's fine, we'll ally with you!"
"Good, I understand."
After receiving a definite answer, Law also felt relieved, then nodded and said: "Then... I'll also agree to your request!"
"Go convince your other companions properly."
With that, Law took Chopper and left the place.
As for whether Straw Hat-ya could convince Long-ya and the others...
That was their business, no need for him to worry.
"Alright, I got it." Luffy nodded and said: "We'll see you later."
"Okay."