The grand banquet finally wound down, the chaotic echoes of music and laughter slowly fading into the chilled, biting air of the New World. Sanji's magnificent feast had been reduced to polished plates and empty iron pots. The Straw Hat Pirates, their bellies full and their spirits high, began the practical preparations for their departure from the ruined island.
Stepping out from the sheltered warmth of the Biscuit Room and into the biting, snow-swept courtyard of the facility, Trafalgar Law adjusted his spotted fur hat against the wind. He stopped, turning to face Luffy and the rest of the crew.
"I have a few loose ends to tie up on this island before we depart," Law announced, his voice cutting clearly through the howling wind. "My own crew is stationed on a different island, safely out of reach of the coming storm. Therefore, I will be hitching a ride on your ship. Go ahead and prep your vessel. I will et you at the docks before you set sail. Our next destination is Dressrosa, the kingdom of passion."
Luffy picked his nose, blinking owlishly. "Dressrosa? Is there good food there?"
"It's a kingdom ruled by Doflamingo," Law sighed, ignoring the food question. "It is the center of his underworld operations. We need to go there to initiate the next phase of the plan."
Standing nearby, Kin'emon's ears instantly perked up. The samurai's eyes widened in shock at the ntion of the destination. He rushed forward, grabbing his young son, Momonosuke, by the hand.
"Dressrosa, you say?!" Kin'emon gasped, dropping to one knee before the rubber captain. "Luffy-sama! If that is truly your heading, I beg of you to allow myself and my son to accompany your crew! We have comrades who were separated from us, and they were heading toward that very kingdom! We must reach Dressrosa at all costs!"
Luffy looked down at the desperate samurai.
"Sure!" Luffy laughed, giving a casual thumbs-up. "You guys can co with us! The more the rrier!"
"Thank you!" Kin'emon wept, bowing his head to the snow. "Your kindness knows no bounds!"
Law rely shook his head at the complete lack of vetting process and turned his back, vanishing into the swirling snow with a swift application of his devil fruit powers.
---
High above the frozen crags of Punk Hazard, two distinct figures were flying through the dense winter clouds.
One was a massive, heavily built man nad Buffalo, whose hair and beard were literally spinning like twin helicopter rotors, keeping him suspended in the air. Sitting casually on his back was Baby 5, a lethal assassin dressed in a maid's outfit, her arms currently morphed into a pair of high-caliber sniper rifles. They were elite executive officers of the Donquixote Family, sent as backup by Joker to help Caesar Clown and secure the SAD manufacturing plant.
As they broke through the cloud cover and descended toward the island, the scale of the destruction ca into view.
"Hey... Baby 5," Buffalo stamred, his spinning hair stuttering for a fraction of a second. "Look at Building D. The entire mountain is... it's sliced completely in half! It looks like it collapsed on itself!"
Baby 5 peered through the scope of her rifle-arm, her eyes widening in alarm. "The facility is a total ruin! The blast doors are blown, the walls are shattered!"
Buffalo quickly pulled a specialized Den Den Mushi from his coat pocket. The snail wore a tiny pair of red, flamboyant sunglasses. He dialed the number, and within seconds, the deep, nacing chuckle of Donquixote Doflamingo echoed through the receiver.
"Fufufu... Buffalo. What happened?" Doflamingo asked, his voice dripping with dark anticipation.
"Young Master!" Buffalo panicked. "Things are really bad here! The entire facility is destroyed! It looks like a massive battle already concluded before we even arrived! We can't find Caesar anywhere—it looks like he's already been captured by the enemy!"
The line went dead silent for three agonizing seconds. When Doflamingo spoke again, the amusent was entirely gone.
"Listen to very carefully," Doflamingo hissed, a vein visibly pulsing on the snail's forehead. "Caesar Clown is the key to everything. Without him, Kaido will slaughter us all. I don't care who is on that island. I don't care what it takes. Bring Caesar back to Dressrosa imdiately."
"Understood!" Baby 5 declared fiercely.
Before Buffalo could even begin their descent toward the ruins, a chilling, deeply calm voice echoed from the empty air directly in front of them.
"You won't be returning to Dressrosa today."
Buffalo and Baby 5 snapped their heads forward. Standing on a massive, floating chunk of concrete debris that he had levitated into the sky, was Trafalgar Law. His nodachi, Kikoku, was already drawn, resting casually against his shoulder.
Baby 5 instantly shifted her other arm into a massive Gatling gun. "Trafalgar! You traitor! Die!"
"ROOM."
The translucent blue sphere expanded with instantaneous, blinding speed, enveloping the two assassins before they could even pull a trigger.
Law's eyes narrowed. He didn't even bother to execute a nad attack. He simply swung his blade in a flawless, horizontal arc. The spatial distortion sheared directly through the air, bypassing all physical defenses. Buffalo and Baby 5 froze, their eyes widening in pure shock as their heads cleanly detached from their necks, tumbling through the air while their bodies plumted toward the snowy ground below.
Law calmly caught the two severed heads. They were alive, their mouths opening and closing in silent panic. He gathered them up, preparing to send a very specific ssage to a very dangerous man.
---
Down in the snowy courtyard outside the Biscuit Room, Luffy was sitting on a crate, swinging his legs as he looked down at Brownbeard. The giant alligator-centaur was sitting in the snow, his head bowed, surrounded by his surviving centaur patroln.
"So, what are you gonna do now, alligator guy?" Luffy asked casually.
Brownbeard sighed, a cloud of frozen breath escaping his lips. "The Master was a fraud. Our lives were nothing but disposable toys to him. I... I have decided to surrender myself and my n to Vice Admiral Smoker. We will turn ourselves in, go to prison, and hopefully, the Marine doctors will be rciful enough to cure the toxic nerve gas lingering in our systems."
"That's a terrible plan."
Brownbeard blinked, looking up as Ben strolled out of the facility, accompanied by Vivi and Chopper.
"You would be a fool to think the World Governnt will offer high-end dical treatnt to wanted pirates," Ben stated smoothly, stopping in front of the massive centaur. "They will throw you in a deep, dark cell in Impel Down, and you will slowly rot away from the poison. That is a guarantee."
Brownbeard flinched. "Then what choice do we have?! We have nowhere to go!"
"You do now," Ben smiled, gesturing slightly toward Vivi. "We happen to have a very close relationship with King Cobra of the Alabasta Kingdom. They have a massive desert nation that requires strong, capable guards to protect their borders and trade routes. I can easily arrange for your entire patrol to be granted official employnt and sanctuary there."
Brownbeard's jaw dropped. "A... a royal guard position? In a prosperous kingdom? For disgraced pirates like us?"
"You were victims here," Vivi said gently, offering a warm, compassionate smile that radiated genuine royal grace. "Alabasta always welcos those who are willing to protect it with honor. You and your n will be given a fresh start."
"And you don't need to wait for Marine doctors!" Chopper cheered, trotting forward with his enchanted dical pouch. "I can cure all of you right now! I've already synthesized the antidote for Caesar's lingering nerve toxins!"
Tears the size of dinner plates welled up in Brownbeard's eyes. He threw his massive head back, weeping openly into the freezing wind. "You Straw Hats... you are angels! We accept! We will dedicate our lives to protecting this Alabasta!"
Chopper imdiately went to work, administering the synthesized cures to the centaurs, ensuring that every single one of them was fully restored to health before their journey.
---
Near the island's damaged docks, the G-5 Marines were working furiously. They had successfully commandeered the massive, reinforced tanker vessel that Caesar had previously utilized to transport SAD chemicals across the New World. They were currently loading the exhausted, fully cured children onto the ship, ensuring they had warm blankets and hot rations.
Law strolled out of the snow, walking past the Marines without a single glance, and approached the area where the Straw Hats were gathering.
Smoker, currently leaning against a stack of crates with two freshly lit cigars in his mouth, watched the Warlord approach.
"I have to admit, Trafalgar," Smoker grunted, a thick cloud of gray smoke billowing from his lips. "I am amazed you actually kept your word. You guys cured the kids, gave us our bodies back, and haven't tried to backstab us yet."
"I honor my bargains, White Hunter," Law replied coldly.
"But I have to wonder," Smoker continued, his eyes shifting toward Luffy, who was currently laughing hysterically as Usopp tried to balance a snowball on Chopper's nose. "What exactly are you using the Straw Hats for? They aren't exactly tactical masterminds."
Law paused. He looked at Luffy, then rembered the brain-lting chaos of the past three hours. The accidental capture of Caesar, the impossible magical cures, the banquet in a warzone. Law sighed softly, closing his eyes.
"I am genuinely beginning to wonder who is using who," Law muttered, more to himself than to the Marine. He looked back at Smoker. "If you must know, we are heading to Green Bit next. Keep your distance, Smoker. The New World is about to shift."
As Law walked away, the final preparations for the children's departure were completed. The kids stood on the deck of the SAD tanker, looking down at the Straw Hat Pirates standing in the snow below.
"Thank you, Pirate-san!" Sind yelled, waving his hands wildly.
"We love you guys!" a little girl shouted, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you for saving us from the scary doctors!"
The kids wanted to rush down and hug them one last ti, but they were suddenly blocked. Dozens of G-5 Marines marched forward, forming a solid, imposing wall of bodies between the ship and the pirates. One of the Marines drew his sword and dragged the tip through the snow, drawing a distinct, rigid line separating the two factions.
"DO NOT CROSS THIS LINE!" the Marine roared, pointing his blade at Luffy. "You are pirate scum! You are a stain on humankind! Do not think that just because you did one good deed today, you are suddenly heroes!"
"Yeah!" another Marine shouted aggressively. "You're all filthy criminals! Stay away from these pure, innocent children! Don't you dare corrupt them with your lawless existence!"
The children looked confused and hurt by the sudden hostility. "But... they saved us!"
Tashigi, standing near the boarding ramp, felt a surge of embarrassnt. Her face flushed red with anger as she stepped forward, gripping the hilt of her sword.
"Stop it, all of you!" Tashigi scolded fiercely, glaring at her n. "This is highly disgraceful! They saved these children, they cured the poison! Why are you hurling such vile insults at them?!"
The lead Marine, a burly man with a scar, suddenly burst into tears. He pointed a trembling finger at the Straw Hats, weeping openly while trying to maintain his aggressive scowl.
"Because, Captain Tashigi!" the Marine sobbed, snot running down his nose. "If we don't insult them... if we don't remind ourselves that they are evil pirates... we are going to end up admiring them! We respect them so much it hurts! They're so cool and heroic! But we are the Marines! We can't be fanboys for criminals! Waahhhhh!"
The entire wall of G-5 Marines broke down, weeping and sobbing in unison, hurling terrible insults at the Straw Hats while simultaneously blowing them grateful kisses and giving them tearful thumbs-ups.
"You stupid, wonderful bastards!" a Marine cried. "I hope you all rot in hell, you magnificent heroes!"
Smoker slapped a massive hand over his own face, groaning at the pathetic display of his elite unit. Tashigi, however, simply covered her mouth, trying and failing to hide an amused smile.
Luffy just laughed, waving his straw hat in the air. "See ya later, Smokey! Keep those kids safe!"
---
High above the turbulent waters of the New World, far from the freezing climate of Punk Hazard, a man was flying through the sky. Donquixote Doflamingo utilized his Ito Ito no Mi string powers to latch onto the clouds themselves, swinging across the ocean at breakneck speed. His face was twisted into a mask of pure, lethal fury. He was going to slaughter everyone on that island.
Suddenly, his sharp eyes caught a glimpse of sothing unusual drifting on the ocean waves below.
Doflamingo altered his trajectory, diving downward until he hovered just above the churning water. Bobbing gently on the surface was a small, crudely fashioned wooden raft.
Resting on the center of the raft were the severed, still-living heads of Baby 5 and Buffalo. Positioned neatly between them was a Den Den Mushi.
"Young Master!" Baby 5 wept, her disembodied head sobbing on the wood. "We are so sorry! We failed! Law ambushed us! We couldn't retrieve the scientist!"
Doflamingo landed lightly on the edge of the raft. The fury in his eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, eerie calm. "Relax, both of you. You did exactly as I ordered. You have nothing to apologize for."
Kacha.
The Den Den Mushi between them suddenly opened its eyes, taking on the distinct, weary expression of Trafalgar Law.
"Joker," Law's voice echoed from the snail. "I see you found my delivery. Now are you ready to do business?"
Doflamingo let out a dark, booming laugh. "Fufufu... Law. You've grown arrogant. I don't do business with kids. You think capturing a few of my subordinates gives you leverage? Do not ss with , boy. You have no idea what you have just awakened."
"I'm not the one you should be worried about," Law replied, his voice entirely devoid of fear. "I have Caesar Clown. I have completely destroyed the SAD manufacturing plant. Which ans your supply of artificial Devil Fruits has officially run dry."
Doflamingo's smile froze.
"You should be far more concerned with Kaido of the Beasts," Law continued, driving the knife deeper. "He is your primary trading partner. He relies on your shipnts to build his unstoppable army. When he learns that you can no longer produce any SMILE fruits, he is going to realize you are useless to him. You know exactly what happens to people who disappoint Kaido. He won't just kill you. He will erase Dressrosa from the map."
A single bead of cold sweat rolled down Doflamingo's forehead. His fingers twitched, the strings attached to his fingertips vibrating with panic. For the first ti in over a decade, the Underworld Broker was genuinely terrified.
"What... what do you want in exchange for Caesar?" Doflamingo hissed, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper.
"I want you to resign," Law stated plainly. "I want you to formally renounce your title as a Warlord of the Sea. I want it published in the morning edition of the World Economic Journal, across the entire globe, before sunrise tomorrow."
Doflamingo's eyes widened behind his crimson sunglasses. "You... you insolent little brat. If I resign from the Shichibukai, I lose my governnt immunity! The Marine Admirals will imdiately be dispatched to hunt down like every other pirate!"
"That sounds like a personal problem," Law said mockingly. "Here is the deal, Joker. If tomorrow morning's newspaper carries the headline of your formal resignation, I will contact you again to arrange the exchange for Caesar. If the newspaper does not have the report... well. Best of luck surviving Kaido."
Click.
The Den Den Mushi shut its eyes, the connection severing completely.
Doflamingo stood on the raft in the middle of the ocean. His hands clenched into fists, his fingernails drawing blood from his own palms. The veins on his forehead pulsed violently as a roar of pure, unbridled rage tore from his throat, echoing across the empty sea.
---
Back on the shores of Punk Hazard, the Thousand Sunny was prepped and ready for departure.
The Straw Hat Pirates, accompanied by Trafalgar Law, Kin'emon, and the young Momonosuke, stood on the grassy deck of their magnificent ship. They watched as the snowy, ruined peaks of the island slowly faded into the distance, leaving the frozen wasteland and the cheering, tearful Marines far behind.
Luffy stood at the lion figurehead, the wind catching his straw hat. He looked out toward the horizon, his eyes burning with excitent for the coming battles.
The alliance was sealed. The first gear of the New World had been shattered.
Next stop: Dressrosa.
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