At last—a small island in sight! Fang Yi exhaled deeply. Without any breath after their sea escape, benumbed and starving, it was cruel even for non-Devil Fruit users—Buggy and Dini were pushing their limits.
"If we hadn't spotted an island, we'd have collapsed!" Shanks agreed, clutching Dini.
But now they had land ahead—some rest, clean clothes, maybe a rowboat for safer travel ahead.
With Wangcai's help, they landed and rested before booking a room at a local inn.
Just after a shower, Fang Yi heard Shanks burst in, waving a newspaper:
"Look—it's Barrett!"
Fang Yi lit up: "He's alive? Looks like he was only imprisoned in Impel Down!"
Shanks nodded: "Being imprisoned—and not killed—is the best result we could hope for."
Indeed, a prison was a fixable problem; death was not.
They'd known when Barrett stayed behind to hold off their pursuers—he'd given them a chance to escape. It was only afterward that Admirals and even Sengoku had rushed to Mariejois.
Sengoku recognized Barrett and assumed Roger's crew invaded… until they realized only a few small pirates were involved.
No report was shared with the World Government, nor did Barrett say anything. The papers simply stated that pirates attacked Mariejois and were all captured.
"We can't storm Impel Down ourselves," Fang Yi sighed. "Only Roger could negotiate his release."
"Too bad we don't know where they are now," Shanks replied.
Without Barrett, they wouldn't have escaped at all.
"Regardless—let's meet with Buggy and Dini, have something to eat, then move on," Fang Yi suggested.
At the door, Buggy blocked him with surprising excitement.
"Fang Yi! Shanks! Look who's here!"
Before Fang Yi could ask, a familiar voice called:
"小 Yi-ge!"
Yamon and Jaba stepped into the room. Yamon greeted Fang Yi with a playful head pat, but worry was in his eyes: "Boy! You're all grown and powerful now! You disobeyed orders! You invaded Mariejois!"
Fang Yi, embarrassed, scratched his head.
Jaba smiled and added: "Don't scare us again—this time we were just tracking news. When Barrett appeared in the papers and you vanished, we guessed you escaped. We were headed to Sabaody, then encountered Buggy."
"So that's how you two ended up here?" Fang Yi asked.
"Buggy already took Dini to meet the captain," he added with pride. "They should be treating him now."
"Great—let's go check!" Fang Yi agreed enthusiastically.
They went around to the island's backside—where Oro Jackson had landed—and rejoined Roger's crew at the ship.
Everyone was gathered because Dini was attempting to treat Roger.
"So that's why you said a Surgery Fruit user would save him," Crokus nodded after witnessing Dini's power.
But even he couldn't be sure it would work.
After several attempts, Dini wiped sweat and quietly said to Roger: "Why...why can't my powers affect you?"
"Of course," Rayleigh sighed. "No power is universal. If it worked on everyone, it'd be broken. Your fruit doesn't work because Roger's strong. His will, his haki—it blocks it."
"So...he's Undefeatable?" Dini asked.
Rayleigh nodded: "Even superhuman abilities falter against supreme haki."
Roger laughed heartily, unbothered. Oden looked concerned. "Is it Busoshoku haki?"
"Exactly. His haki is too powerful, so your power just...won't connect," Rayleigh explained.
Dini looked stricken, but bravely stayed composed.
When Fang Yi, Shanks, Buggy, and Yamon returned below deck, Roger greeted them with gratitude and relief.
"Without you all, I'd still be sick in that ship," he declared as others nodded in agreement.
"If the Surgery Fruit doesn't heal, I'd never have felt peace again," Fang Yi confessed.
Roger clapped him on the shoulder. "You did more than save me—you changed fate."
Buggy then boasted loudly about how it was his contribution that guaranteed their success.
Fang Yi turned to Dini: Thank you. And—Roger is healthy now? No chance of relapse?
Dini looked between Roger and Rayleigh. It...should be permanent. I've treated many incurable cases—never heard of relapse.
Fang Yi furrowed his brow. Should? Are you uncertain?
No—no relapse that I've seen, Dini backtracked. He dared not reveal the truth: missing the mark against haki-rooted disease.