Robin's words were gentle, but both Nami and Vivi inexplicably shivered.
They both felt a chill down their backs.
"Anyway,"
Nami forcibly steered the conversation back on track. "Luffy is with that Trafalgar Law now? Is it safe?"
That was the Supernova Luffy had beaten on the Sabaody Archipelago, was it not?
"It should be safe."
Vivi said, "Luffy also has Golden Lion with him, who fought alongside him in the Impel Down War."
"Golden Lion Shiki? That flying pirate Luffy beat before?!"
Nami nearly jumped. "Is that not very dangerous?!"
In a sense, Luffy had been the one to send Golden Lion to Impel Down.
Nami also remembered that when Luffy had fought Golden Lion, he had mentioned more than once that he wanted Golden Lion to join their crew.
Could it be...
"It should not be dangerous. Golden Lion owes Luffy a favor now. Luffy was the one who let him out of Impel Down."
Vivi hesitated for a moment, then said, "Nami, I think Luffy has changed a bit since coming out of Impel Down."
Nami and Robin were both silent.
Back at Enies Lobby, when they had faced an Admiral, Luffy had fought Aokiji to exhaustion while everyone else escaped.
Now, in the Impel Down War, Luffy had stood among legends like Whitebeard, Garp, and Golden Lion without any sign of inferiority.
Their captain was growing into a true monster at an alarming rate.
"That is only natural."
Nami suddenly smiled. There was pride in her smile, but also helplessness. "Luffy is the man who will become the Pirate King."
She paused, and her tone became serious. "Vivi, we need to become stronger too. We cannot be Luffy's burden. Our current strength is far from enough to enter the New World."
...
Inside the submarine, the medical bay.
The treatment had been going on for over an hour.
Sweat beaded on Law's forehead.
Treating two top strong fighters at the same time, even he found it taxing.
Especially Luffy's abnormal body structure and recovery ability made the Ope Ope no Mi's operations especially complex.
A body containing two Devil Fruit powers. Its structure certainly looked different.
Without the Ope Ope no Mi, treating Luffy's current injuries and dealing with his two fruits would have taken an unknown amount of time.
This was a great gain for Law too.
He might have discovered why Luffy could contain two Devil Fruits.
That Gomu Gomu no Mi had changed Luffy's body structure into something completely different from a normal person.
But the priority now was treating the patient. Law, as a doctor, had professional ethics.
An excited heart. Trembling hands.
"Done."
Law withdrew the ROOM and let out a long breath. "Straw Hat-ya, the internal bleeding and fractures have been initially treated. But the damage at the cellular level will take time to heal on its own. I recommend at least a week of rest."
Luffy moved his arm.
The pain had indeed lessened considerably. Though he could still feel the aches throughout his body, it was no longer unbearable.
He held out his hand. A white orb appeared in his palm.
The power of the Gura Gura no Mi.
He would need to think about how to develop this fruit next.
Compared to Whitebeard's development of the Gura Gura no Mi, Luffy had more to consider.
He would definitely need to develop it in combination with the Gomu Gomu no Mi. Otherwise, having two Devil Fruits would be a waste.
The effect of one plus one would definitely not be as simple as two.
He did not need to worry about that. When the time came, the Pirate King Training Plan would force him to focus only on developing his abilities.
"Thanks, Tra-guy." Luffy smiled.
"It is Trafalgar Law."
Law corrected. Then he looked at Golden Lion. "Shiki-ya, you need to think carefully about the ship's wheel in your head."
Golden Lion raised an eyebrow. "Even the Ope Ope no Mi cannot do it easily?"
"The wheel is inserted too deeply. It has formed a symbiotic relationship with part of your brain tissue."
Law pointed at the X-ray image. "If we forcibly remove it, there is a high chance of irreversible brain damage. At best, memory loss. At worst, death."
Golden Lion was silent.
After experiencing the Impel Down War, he wanted more than ever to return to his prime.
This war would probably be even more lively than when Roger had kicked off the Great Pirate Era.
He stared at the images for a long time. Finally, he scoffed. "So this thing will be with this old man forever?"
"No, we can try, but there are risks. As a doctor, I think the best option is to wait until my development of the Ope Ope no Mi advances further..."
Golden Lion waved his hand. "Do it now."
On the sea, you never knew when tomorrow or an accident would come.
If it were Luffy, Golden Lion could wait, and would be happy to.
But a Supernova like Law?
By the time he entered the New World, he would probably not make much of a splash. Most likely, he would struggle a bit and then disappear.
Law did not press the issue. It was the patient's request. He would do his best.
"Please sit still. I need to scan your head."
Golden Lion grunted but sat up straight.
Law expanded his ROOM and carefully scanned the ship's wheel in Golden Lion's head.
After a moment, he withdrew his ability, his brow deeply furrowed.
"The situation is more complicated than I thought."
Law said gravely, "The wheel is embedded too deeply. It has not only penetrated the skull, with its tip almost reaching the brainstem, but has also grown intertwined with several major nerves and blood vessels."
"Forcibly removing it could easily cause massive bleeding or permanent nerve damage, leading to paralysis, memory loss, or even death..."
In short, it was a miracle he was still alive.
"Old man, how are you even alive with an injury like that?" Luffy could not help but remark.
"Jihahaha! Of course! If I could go back to my younger days, it is hard to say who would have won our fight!" Golden Lion said proudly.
"So, Shiki-ya, you need to think carefully," Law said.
Golden Lion was silent for a moment. His eyes flickered.
Over the years, he had gotten used to the thing. He even saw it as a symbol of his madness and indomitability.
But if he could remove it... who would really want a foreign object permanently stuck in their head?
"What are the chances?" Golden Lion asked calmly.
"With my current ability alone, no more than thirty percent."
Law told the truth. "And even if it is successfully removed, you will need some time to recover and undergo rehabilitation. The nerves have been compressed for so many years."
"Thirty percent. Somewhat interesting."
Golden Lion rubbed his chin. "That is much higher than those quacks who said it was impossible. Let us do it."
He made the decision with the same boldness as in his youth. "This old man is Golden Lion Shiki. If I die on the operating table, that is my fate. But if I succeed... Jihahaha! I will be able to fight Newgate and Red Hair again at full strength. And you, Straw Hat, do not think you can run either."
"Sure." Luffy agreed.
He could never refuse a fight.
And who better to test his new Gura Gura no Mi abilities on than Golden Lion?
It was not easy to find a suitable opponent at a time like this.
...
On the ice plain battlefield.
From the moment Luffy boarded the submarine, Hancock's gaze had followed it, watching until it disappeared below the horizon.
"Luffy..."
Hancock murmured. Her slender fingers unconsciously touched her chest.
Her heart was pounding at an unprecedented rate. Each beat sent a wave through her body, making her feel both sweet and pained.
Lovesickness.
So this was what lovesickness felt like.
She could not bear another moment.
"I can no longer wait."
Hancock suddenly raised her head. Her long legs carried her toward the nearest Marine medical ship.
A rear admiral was on the deck, giving orders, when a shadow fell over him.
A giant snake.
Its presence was overwhelming.
On it sat the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock.
Her face, called the most beautiful in the world, was expressionless, yet still breathtaking.
"Warlord, do you need any assistance?" The rear admiral's throat moved.
Hancock did not waste words. She gave a direct order. "Take this lady to chase that submarine."
The rear admiral did not immediately understand. "What?"
"Now. Immediately. This instant."
Hancock's tone turned cold. "Take this lady to Luffy-sama's ship."
Luffy-sama?
The rear admiral's brain short-circuited for a moment. He instinctively refused. "Warlord, we cannot spare a ship right now..."
"Are you refusing this lady?"
Hancock interrupted him.
The moment her voice fell, an invisible aura spread from her.
It was not Conqueror's Haki. But it was harder for men to resist than Conqueror's Haki.
The charm of the Mero Mero no Mi combined with her peerless beauty.
"I-It is not a refusal. It is a procedure."
"This lady does not care about that."
Hancock stepped forward. Her heels clicked on the deck.
"Either you set sail now, or this lady will set sail herself."
The rear admiral opened his mouth to say something, but behind him, the roar of engines starting could be heard.
He spun around. His men were already scrambling to start the ship.
"Yo-You!"
"Let me drive!"
...
"Wait! That ship is leaving without authorization?!"
"It is Medical Ship Number 3!"
"Who gave the order?!"
On the ice, other Marines noticed the commotion and stared in shock.
Some officers tried to contact the ship by Den Den Mushi, but no one answered.
The news quickly reached Sengoku.
"Fleet Admiral! Medical Ship Number 3 has left port without permission. One of the Seven Warlords, Boa Hancock, was seen on board."
A messenger reported breathlessly.
Before Sengoku could speak, a Vice Admiral beside him growled, "What are those Warlords trying to do?! The war has just ended, and they are acting on their own. What do they think the Marines are?!"
They had done nothing during the war, and now they were leaving faster than anyone.
Whose side were those Warlords on?
Before he finished speaking, a mocking voice interrupted.
"Fufufu. Would you like to keep us Warlords here?"
Doflamingo, hands in his pockets, swaggered over. Beside him, Hawkeye Mihawk walked silently.
The two Warlords standing together gave off a pressure that made the surrounding Marine soldiers instinctively step back.
The Vice Admiral's face was pale. He was about to retort when Sengoku raised a hand to stop him.
"Enough."
Sengoku gave Doflamingo a long look, then glanced at Hawkeye. After a few seconds of silence, he gave the order.
"See them off."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"
The surrounding officers were all stunned.
Let the Warlords leave at a time like this?
"Arrange a warship to take the Warlords out of the Impel Down sea area." Sengoku repeated.
"Yes."
"You two, please follow me. The warship is ready."
"You can leave now~"
Doflamingo grinned. There was mockery in his smile, and something else.
He knew very well why Sengoku was so eager to send them away.
The Warlords' role in this war was too embarrassing.
If they were allies, aside from Hawkeye's initial fight with Straw Hat, the others had done almost nothing.
If they were enemies, they were nominally on the Marines' side.
More importantly, what Sengoku least needed now was uncertainty.
If the Warlords stayed on the battlefield, who knew what those lawless bastards might do?
Doflamingo looked at Hawkeye. "You are just leaving like that?"
Hawkeye did not even look at him. He said flatly, "There is no reason to stay."
Then he walked forward. His black coat flapped in the sea wind.
He and Doflamingo were not on the same path.
"Fufufufufu~ Always so terse."
Doflamingo stared at Hawkeye's back, narrowing his eyes behind his sunglasses. He thought, "Does this man not feel any sense of crisis?"
The Warlords had contributed little to this war. Meanwhile, the Marines' Pacifistas had shown far more destructive power against pirates than the Warlords.
Their mass production and strong basic combat ability had proven their value.
The calls within the Marines to abolish the Warlord system had never stopped.
After this war, those voices would only grow louder.
Especially now that he had received an order from the World Government to deal with a certain Warlord.
Of course, Doflamingo himself was not worried.
He had a special status. His network of interests was too complex. The World Government would not easily move against him.
But what about the other Warlords?
If they became pirates again, would the Marines have the strength to face them?
He shook his head. Doflamingo looked toward the pirates and said, "This world is getting more and more interesting."
Whitebeard and Fire Fist were both alive. Straw Hat was on the rise, with two fruits.
There would be a fifth Emperor.
Or perhaps the weakened Whitebeard would be the target. After all, the other two Emperors had long coveted Whitebeard's territory.
The new era was coming.
"Fufufu. What a rearrangement."
Doflamingo grinned, his hands in his pockets. As he passed Sengoku, he paused, turned his head, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Enjoy your retirement~"
Sengoku's pupils narrowed.
But Doflamingo had already walked away, laughing. His laughter was particularly jarring on the bloody battlefield.
"That man."
Vice Admiral Tsuru walked to Sengoku's side, her brow furrowed. "I always feel he is plotting something."
"He has always been plotting something."
Sengoku said calmly. "But as long as he does not cross the line, the Marines cannot touch him."
"Should I take him out?"
A hot-tempered Vice Admiral nearby suggested.
Tsuru gave him a look. "The Warlords are protected by law. Besides..."
She did not finish, but her meaning was clear.
Could you beat him?
Otherwise, why would the World Government bother recruiting them?
The Vice Admiral sheepishly shut his mouth.
"Enough. Everyone go back to work."
Sengoku waved his hand. "There is much to do. Treating the wounded, clearing the battlefield, repairing the warships..."
The officers left.
Tsuru stayed.
She looked at Sengoku, her comrade of decades. His face was lined with exhaustion. Even his neatly trimmed goatee seemed to have lost its luster.
Tsuru said quietly, "You are prepared?"
He had been the one to order the ceasefire and to let the Whitebeard Pirates and Straw Hat go. In the eyes of the World Government, that was a major dereliction of duty.
He would probably not remain Fleet Admiral for long.
"Ah. I have been prepared for a long time."
Sengoku smiled. "Besides, it is not a bad thing. I am tired."
He looked up at the clearing sky.
The dark clouds over the Impel Down sea area were dissipating. Sunlight broke through the clouds, shining on the broken ice and the damaged warships.
Too many had died in this war.
Sometimes, Sengoku wondered what his life would be like if he had never become Fleet Admiral.
Perhaps he would still be at some branch, drinking tea, reading the paper, and occasionally catching a few insignificant pirates.
"When I retire, the first thing I will do is steal that old bastard Garp's senbei."
Tsuru was taken aback. Then she laughed. "That is your ambition?"
"And his tea leaves."
Sengoku added. "I have had my eye on that special supply of black tea for a long time."
The two of them could not help but smile bitterly.
Sometimes, they wished they could be like Garp.
Tsuru looked ahead. "Have you decided who will take your place?"
Sengoku looked up.
Not far away, Kuzan was directing soldiers as they moved the wounded.
"Aokiji?"
Tsuru followed his gaze. Her expression was complicated.
In terms of strength, prestige, and seniority, Aokiji was indeed a suitable candidate.
But after this war, Aokiji's sense of justice seemed to have wavered.
Tsuru could feel that this usually lazy man was struggling with something inside.
But he was indeed the best choice.
Akainu's battle record was impressive, but losing an arm had greatly reduced his strength. And his extreme methods might not be suitable for a Fleet Admiral.
Kizaru was out of the question. He was as bad as Garp.
"Will he accept?" Tsuru asked.
"I do not know."
Sengoku said honestly. "But I will recommend him. As for who the World Government ultimately chooses, that is beyond my control."
In any case, their faction would push for Aokiji.
Even within the Marines, factions abounded.
***
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