Chapter 58: Operation Begins — Law and Itachi Move Together
"KAIDO?!"
The samurai's reaction was instantaneous—as if struck by lightning.
"Defeat... an EMPEROR?!"
The Timid Trio's faces drained of color simultaneously.
"Hey, Trafalgar! What kind of joke is this?! Defeat a Four Emperor?!" Usopp's voice cracked.
"TERRIFYING! We've already provoked Big Mom! Now you want us to provoke ANOTHER one?!" Chopper wailed.
Nami was absolutely livid. "Forget the Emperors! What about our BODIES?!"
Luffy's response plunged them into despair.
"Ah! Alliance sounds great!"
He laughed.
"Shishishishi!"
"I was planning to fight Shanks first anyway. If we're doing an alliance, Kaido first works too!"
"LUFFY?!"
The Timid Trio swarmed him immediately.
"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!"
Robin interjected calmly. "Luffy, alliances require caution. Let's hear Law's full plan first."
Beside her, Zoro had already assumed his usual stance—utter indifference. Whoever they fought, wherever they went, he followed Luffy. Simple as that.
Itachi studied Law thoughtfully.
"This plan—does it connect to your presence on this island?"
"Of course."
Law's meaningful smile returned.
"Do you find it terrifying?"
Itachi turned to Robin. "Are the Four Emperors truly that fearsome?"
Robin shrugged elegantly. "None of us have faced one yet. Who knows?"
The Timid Trio continued their panicked orbits nearby.
Itachi returned his gaze to Law.
"I don't know enough to judge. But you haven't answered my question."
Law blinked.
The Straw Hats... unchanged. Except now they have someone truly formidable.
"Very well. I'll be direct."
Bound and captured, with no lethal intent from his captors, Law saw no reason to hide. If anything, this presented an opportunity.
"First—do you know Caesar?"
Robin nodded. "The world's most evil scientist. He's on this island?"
"EVIL SCIENTIST?!" Chopper, though unfamiliar with the name, immediately sensed wrongness.
Law continued.
"Caesar is developing artificial Devil Fruits. SMILEs."
His voice grew colder.
"His backer is one of the current Warlords—Donquixote Doflamingo. 'Joker.'"
"And Joker's purpose? To supply Kaido's Beast Pirates. To create an army of artificial Zoan users."
The picture formed.
Law explained his own presence—his goal to abduct Caesar, to cripple the SMILE production, to fracture the deal between Doflamingo and Kaido.
If they joined him, they'd be declaring war on that entire apparatus.
Silence fell.
Zoro napped.
Luffy looked confused.
Everyone else processed.
Itachi considered moving Luffy aside, confirming his relationship with this man, assessing his character—
"YOSH! DECIDED!"
Luffy bounced excitedly.
"ALLIANCE WITH TRA-GUY!"
The Timid Trio screamed.
Law addressed the others.
"Your captain has spoken. What say you?"
Robin smiled—that particular smile that meant she'd already accepted her fate.
"When the captain decides, we follow."
Nami, Sanji, and Brook each nodded resignedly.
Law turned to Itachi.
"And you?"
Crows circled overhead. Itachi watched them briefly, then sighed—a sound of profound acceptance.
"I follow Luffy."
Law nodded, satisfied—then paused.
Wait. I have to convince HIS crew?
Sanji approached Law, lowering his voice.
"Trafalgar... a word of warning."
"Yes?"
"The alliance YOU'RE thinking of, and the alliance THAT GUY is thinking of... they might be... slightly different."
Law's brow furrowed. "Different how?"
Before he could clarify, the children—the oversized ones playing in the snow—suddenly collapsed.
Screaming. Writhing. In obvious agony.
"HEY! What's wrong?!"
Luffy moved to help—the largest child punched him flying.
The children began to scatter,失控.
Usopp acted instantly—Sleep Star seeds found their marks. The children slumped into unconsciousness.
Chopper rushed to examine them.
His findings made him furious.
"This Caesar! WHAT IS HE DOING?!"
The children had told him they came here because they were sick. They needed treatment.
Chopper's examination revealed poison. Their bodies were saturated with toxic substances.
Nami turned to Law, horrified.
"Do you KNOW about this?!"
Law's expression didn't change.
"Caesar's experiments. The centaurs you met—they're subjects too."
He paused.
"Most experimental subjects don't survive."
Luffy's reaction was immediate.
"TRA-GUY! Help us find an antidote for them!"
"And my body!" The samurai chimed in. "The one YOU cut off!"
Law stared at them.
"Why are you making demands of ME?!"
Luffy spread his hands, genuinely confused.
"We're allies now, right? Allies help each other!"
Law felt something shift in his understanding of this arrangement.
But he agreed.
Nami stepped forward. "And our bodies—"
She stopped.
Law had already untied himself.
Itachi's eyes narrowed.
"Don't try anything."
He tossed Kikoku back to Law.
Law caught it, and in the same motion—
"ROOM."
"SHAMBLES."
Bodies reassembled. Souls returned to their owners.
Sanji immediately lamented. "NO! You changed us BACK!"
Nami's fist connected with his skull.
"ISN'T THAT BETTER?!"
Law sheathed his sword.
"I know where Caesar keeps his research materials. The antidote? Unknown. But I can help you search."
He glanced at the samurai.
"I don't know where your body is."
Brook raised his skeletal hand.
"I encountered a half-length warrior on my way here! We even dueled!"
"Then you'll help him search."
Law surveyed the assembled Straw Hats.
The combat power here was sufficient for a direct assault.
"I'll destroy the laboratory. Handle Caesar's forces outside. He'll throw everything at you—you're intruders now, targets to be eliminated."
He looked at Chopper.
"Ship doctor. Come with me. You'll recognize the antidote faster than I will."
Chopper nodded—then looked down at his bandaged body, barely mobile.
Luffy immediately imagined tying Chopper to Law's head like a backpack.
Itachi raised a hand.
"I'll go."
Everyone turned.
Law's expression grew complicated. Itachi's was equally unreadable.
"You don't trust me," Law said flatly.
"Correct."
A pause.
Then Law laughed—a short, genuine sound.
"Fine. You and I move together."
Itachi nodded.
The plan was set.
(End of Chapter)
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