Rosinante felt a touch of helplessness and pulled Law back.
"It's all because your methods were too brutal."
Enel stood up and let out a cold snort.
"Brutal?"
"You're just too soft."
"As the son of a Marine Admiral, the future subordinate of a Marine Admiral."
"To be almost slaughtered to death by a group of pirates, it's laughable."
"They should be grateful that you're still alive."
"Otherwise, I would have shown them what true hell is."
Rosinante chuckled sheepishly.
"Yeah, yeah."
Enel looked at Rosinante and shook his head.
"What are you going to do with this brat?"
"Take him back to the Marines, of course."
Rosinante sighed.
"It seems that's the only way."
"We can't just wander around with him."
"And he's already eaten that Devil Fruit."
"If the government blames us... sigh."
"We'll figure something out when we get back to headquarters."
Enel rolled his eyes.
"Now you're scared. Why didn't you think about this when you let him eat it?"
Rosinante awkwardly scratched his head.
Enel snorted coldly.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine."
"Fleet Admiral Kong is about to be promoted."
"When that happens, Fleet Admiral Sengoku will be backing you."
"Just one Devil Fruit."
"Can't the face of a future Marine Fleet Admiral protect this brat?"
"Besides, Sakazuki-ossan is behind me. He'll protect you."
"The government won't go insane over a single Devil Fruit."
Rosinante's hanging heart eased somewhat.
"Is that so..."
"But, Brother Enel, is this information accurate?"
"Why isn't it Admiral Sakazuki..."
Enel said,
"The higher-ups already know this news. What do you think?"
"As for Sakazuki-ossan, he's too young, for one thing."
"He only became an Admiral not too long ago, so another promotion to Fleet Admiral is impossible."
"When he was promoted from Vice Admiral to Admiral, he was already in his thirties."
"This is not an era of collapsing order. The government, which has controlled the world for hundreds of years, has its own rules and systems."
"We must play within the rules."
"Another reason is that his goal is to hunt pirates. Being a Fleet Admiral means staying at Marineford."
"Wouldn't that life be boring?"
Rosinante breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then I'm relieved..."
Enel shrugged and returned to the cabin to continue researching weapons.
Rosinante, pulling Law along, walked to the highest deck of the ship and stayed there for a while.
A cigarette in Rosinante's mouth was slowly extinguished.
The habit formed while undercover in the Donquixote family couldn't be changed overnight.
Taking a deep breath, he dropped the cigarette, as if making a decision.
"Law, you stay here for a bit."
"I'm going to the prison."
With that, he turned and walked down.
Law stared blankly at Rosinante, somewhat puzzled.
"Corazon..."
------
At the bottom of the ship, the prison.
Doflamingo leaned against the wall, his hands and feet bound by seastone cuffs. He stared blankly at the space above him.
Creak—
The sound of a door opening echoed, and a figure in a Marine uniform walked in.
He sat down in front of Doflamingo's cell.
Doflamingo's head moved slightly, and he let out a somewhat neurotic laugh.
"Unhuhuhuhuhu—"
"This Marine uniform suits you well."
"More spirited than when you were in the family."
"Rosinante."
Rosinante remained silent for a moment.
"I will do my best to preserve your life."
Doflamingo seemed to hear a joke.
"Still as kind as ever, Rosinante."
"A personality like yours will get you into trouble."
"However... you don't need to pity me."
"No one dares to touch me."
"It's you who are truly lucky..."
Rosinante zoned out, lucky, huh...
The two brothers sat in silence, with no words exchanged. Doflamingo's smile gradually faded.
After a long while, he asked calmly,
"Rosinante, how are my family members?"
Ever since the family was utterly defeated by Enel that day, he had watched them be tormented one by one before being locked up alone until now.
Rosinante sighed slightly.
"Vergo and Lao G are dead."
"The rest are alive."
Doflamingo took a deep breath.
"I understand..."
However, his clenched fists, with veins bulging, showed that his inner turmoil was far from calm.
Rosinante seemed to recall something.
"Oh, right, Baby-5 was taken away by Vice Admiral Tsuru."
"Perhaps under Vice Admiral Tsuru's guidance, she will become a normal girl."
Doflamingo froze, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curled up.
"Is that so..."
"That's truly good news."
"That idiot's personality was the most worrying."
Thinking of Baby-5's obliging nature, Rosinante also smiled.
"Indeed."
Another long silence.
Rosinante slowly stood up and stretched.
"I had a lot I wanted to say, but now that I'm here, I don't know where to start."
"I'll visit you again next time."
"Brother..."
Doflamingo slumped against the wall, motionless, until Rosinante had been gone for a long time.
Inside the prison, a string of neurotic laughter finally erupted.
"Unhuhuhuhuhu..."
------
East Blue, Foosha Village.
The Red-Haired Pirates were about to set sail again.
This time, their destination was a small country on the edge of the Calm Belt, in the first half of the Grand Line.
It was a world-renowned country, known as the Music Kingdom, filled with joy: Elegia.
At the port of Foosha Village.
Shanks walked off the ship, carrying Luffy.
Uta followed behind with a mischievous smile; it was she who had found Luffy again this time!
And Luffy, held in Shanks's hand for the nth time trying to board the ship and failing, pouted.
"Damn it! Take me too!!!"
Shanks was somewhat exasperated.
"Sneaking onto the ship without permission, what a hassle."
He carried Luffy to the shore.
Makino took Luffy and smiled.
"Uta found him again, didn't she? Thank you~"
Uta tilted her head and said cheerfully,
"You're welcome~"
Luffy turned to Uta and said angrily,
"Didn't you say you'd support my dream!!!"
Uta snorted.
"If Shanks says no, then it's no."
Luffy clenched his fist.
"Damn it!!!"
Uta made a face at Luffy.
"Shanks, let's go!"
Shanks chuckled softly, looked at Uta gently, and they walked onto the ship.
Watching the Red-Haired Pirates set sail once more.
Luffy suddenly rushed to the very edge of the port and shouted at them.
"Shanks! I'll definitely get on board next time!!!"
Shanks smiled and, along with the Red-Haired Pirates, looked at him.
"Alright, come if you have the ability to get on board."
Luffy then looked at Uta.
"Uta!"
"Lalalala!!!"
He stuck out his tongue at Uta, who puffed out her cheeks.
"Hmph."
The distance between the ship and the island... grew ever wider.