A white bear appeared right above the two of them.
Looking at them, it bared its teeth, revealing a very 'sunny' smile.
!!
Penguin's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly shouted, "Bepo, don't—"
But before he could finish speaking, Bepo's body had already slammed down.
"Ah!"
"Ah!!"
Two cries of pain rang out once more, this time clearly conveying the agony within, though Shachi, who was at the very bottom, screamed the most pitifully.
He was completely pressed into the sand, only one hand left flailing outside. This time, he couldn't even form coherent words, only emitting pained grunts and groans.
"Hahaha..."
Law laughed heartily from the side, his laughter thick with mockery.
"Two rookies!!"
Suddenly, something seemed to catch the corner of his eye, and he instinctively turned his head.
What entered his view was a small black dot, bobbing constantly in the distance.
"Hmm?!"
Law narrowed his eyes, trying to make out what it was. As the distance closed slightly, he could discern the object's general outline.
It was a human figure!
A little while later, when Law could vaguely see the attire worn by that person, his eyes suddenly became incredibly bright, and his mouth fell open involuntarily.
In the next moment, his figure shot forward, charging toward that figure at full speed.
Before long, he could clearly see the person's specific face. Upon confirming it was indeed the person he knew, a look of immense joy spread across Law's face.
Waving his hand, he shouted loudly, "Corazon!!!"
That's right, appearing before him was his great benefactor, the person most important to him, the second-generation Corazon of the Donquixote Family — Donquixote Rosinante!!
Seeing Law, Rosinante also broke into a smile, waving back at Law.
"Law!!"
"You little brat, haven't seen you for a while. Feels like you've grown a bit!"
Law stopped in front of Rosinante, panting slightly, his flushed face filled with intense excitement. Yet, he didn't utter any sentimental words of reunion. Instead, he followed Rosinante's lead:
"It'd be weird if I weren't growing at my age, right? On the other hand, Corazon, you look a bit older!"
Hearing this, Rosinante instantly began shouting.
"What did you say?! You little brat, have you got no eyesight? I'm only 30 this year, in the prime of my life, alright?!"
"If your eyes are useless, just gouge them out, seriously!"
"Tch~ Can't even admit you're getting old!"
Law curled his lip, and immediately, the two of them began their 'argument'.
This was their unique way of catching up.
After who knows how long, when the argument ended, Rosinante looked at Law before him and revealed a relieved smile.
"Law, you've really grown up quite a lot. Seeing you like this puts my mind at ease!"
"Hmm?!!"
These words made Law's heart instantly tighten.
He sensed something unusual in Rosinante's words and instinctively asked, "Corazon, has something happened? Are you in danger?!"
"I... I'm very strong now. I can help you!!"
Law's tone carried a note of anxiety. What Corazon said clearly sounded like words spoken during a final farewell.
Rosinante's gaze flickered. He did not answer.
Four years ago, after he obtained the Op-Op Fruit and gave it to Law to eat, he had sent Law to this Swallow Island, separating him from the Donquixote Family.
Because he deeply understood what kind of brutal person his older brother, Donquixote Doflamingo, was.
He absolutely could not let Law stay there any longer.
And the events of these past few years proved his decision was not wrong. The Donquixote Family's methods had become increasingly cruel and violent.
Recently, they had even set their sights on the Celestial Tribute intended for the Celestial Dragons, planning to seize it to pressure the Five Elders into granting them one of the seats among the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
And Rosinante also clearly understood what Doflamingo's next step would be after seizing the Celestial Tribute.
That would be to 'reclaim' Dressrosa!
Doflamingo had had this idea long ago, but the conditions weren't mature then. Rashly stealing a country would have major repercussions.
Now, the timing was relatively ripe. Obtaining the position of a Seven Warlord was the final step before he could carry out his plan to steal the country.
Rosinante felt he had to do something, to absolutely prevent such a thing from happening.
But going against Doflamingo would undoubtedly put him in grave danger. Given his understanding of his own older brother, if Doflamingo knew he was an enemy, even if he was his own younger brother, Doflamingo would not hesitate to kill him!!
Law's guess was correct. This was indeed a farewell visit, and a secret one at that.
Four years ago, his report to Doflamingo stated that Law had died in that battle, with his body whereabouts unknown.
If Doflamingo found out Law was still alive, it would be a huge problem.
During these past few years, he could only occasionally steal a little time to come visit Law.
As his thoughts swirled, Rosinante made a decision. He didn't plan to tell Law the truth.
He had worked so hard to get Law out of the Donquixote Family; he didn't want to drag Law back in.
So he said with a smile, "How could that be? What could possibly happen to me?!"
"I was just saying that offhand, I..."
"Rosinante, you hid your secrets quite well!"
Rosinante's words were cut off by a somewhat deep male voice. In an instant, Rosinante's face changed drastically.
That voice...
He whirled his head to look. Standing not far away, a cold-looking man with sunglasses, lightning-shaped sideburns on his cheeks, food residue clinging to his right cheek, and wearing a checkered coat over his shoulders was gazing at him calmly.
"Vergo!! What are you doing here?!!"
Rosinante's tone was filled with thick disbelief and a trace of panic. His face turned extremely grim, and he cursed under his breath instinctively.
"Dammit!!"
He had been careless. He hadn't noticed Vergo tailing him.
"If I weren't here, how would I have discovered that Law, who should have died four years ago, is actually alive and well?"
Vergo's gaze fell upon Law, his tone calm, yet it made both of them feel an inexplicable weight in their hearts.
Law looked at Vergo with a grave expression, his face full of wariness.
When Rosinante sent him to Swallow Island, he had told him all about the Donquixote Family's hidden ugliness and evils. So, even though Law was once a member of the Donquixote Family, he now held no goodwill whatsoever toward the family.
Looking at Law's fully guarded expression directed at him, Vergo spoke as if disappointed:
"Law, how can you look at me with that kind of expression? Back in the family, I taught you quite a few things, you know?"
At that moment, Rosinante stepped forward, placing himself between Law and Vergo, and shouted, "Run, Law!!"
...
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