While everyone else's mood had turned heavy because of the deal between Gern Reginald Sigmar and Donquixote Doflamingo, Momonosuke seemed completely oblivious to it all.
Or perhaps it was more accurate to say—
He was still trapped within his own rigid worldview.
The one where status and identity solved everything.
He puffed out his small chest proudly, speaking with a strange mix of childish innocence and misplaced superiority.
"It's fine!"
"Once we reach Kin'emon, he'll naturally explain everything for me!"
"Then I'll formally request help from him—as the future Shogun of Wano Country!"
"At that point, everything will be resolved smoothly!"
When he finished speaking, Momonosuke even wore a faintly proud expression, as if he could already see the moment when his "Shogun identity" would turn the entire situation around.
Then, as if by instinct, he tried to do what he always did when frightened—
Seek comfort in Nami.
"After all, he's Princess Nami's uncle!"
While saying this, he began moving toward her, clearly intending to bury himself in her chest for comfort as he had countless times before.
But—
Shing!
A flash of cold steel cut through the air.
Trafalgar Law's cursed blade, Kikoku, slid into place with deadly precision, stopping directly in front of Momonosuke and blocking his path to Nami.
"Shut up, brat."
Law's face was darker than storm clouds.
"If you hadn't tried to be clever and dragged 'Heavenquake' into this mess—"
"Do you really think he would've changed the destination to Dressrosa?!"
His voice grew harsher with every word.
"If he had just stayed here and kept Doflamingo pinned down, Straw Hat would've had more than enough time to destroy the factory!"
"My entire plan would have gone perfectly!"
"But because of you…"
"You dragged the biggest, most uncontrollable variable straight into the center of my plan!"
Momonosuke trembled under Law's murderous aura and furious reprimand.
Even so, he stubbornly tried to defend himself.
"B-but… he already promised he wouldn't interfere…"
"Damn it…"
Law muttered under his breath, feeling like talking to this kid was completely pointless.
"Would you care about a promise made to an ant beneath your feet?!"
"That man once went to solo the Big Mom Pirates—for all we know, he might've told Big Mom he was just attending her tea party!"
"His promises can turn into worthless paper the moment his mood changes!"
Law's anger continued to climb.
"And another thing, you idiot!"
"You actually had the nerve to brag in front of him about the Mink Tribe being servants of the Kozuki Clan?!"
"Do you have any idea what you were saying?!"
"Among Gern's core 'Calamity' commanders, one of them is a Mink!"
"If those words ever reached that person's ears…"
Before Law could finish, Nami suddenly remembered something as well.
Her face turned slightly pale.
"I… I remember Bell-mère mentioning something…"
"Uncle Gern's earliest vice officers…"
"One of them was a Mink named Leepo."
She hesitated.
"If we go by family seniority… I might even have to call her… aunt."
The group fell into an awkward silence.
…
Dressrosa Harbor
The Thousand Sunny slowly docked at the port.
True to his word—or perhaps more accurately, true to his own interpretation of it—
Gern stepped off the ship and walked away down the pier without a second glance.
He made no move to intervene.
It was as if the entire situation no longer interested him.
Meanwhile, Law, gritting his teeth and enduring the pain of his injuries, forced himself off the ship and dashed into the winding streets of Dressrosa.
Once again—
He began a desperate flight for his life.
But Doflamingo had no intention of letting him escape.
The moment he confirmed that Gern truly wasn't going to interfere, he immediately launched after Law.
Fine threads shot from his fingers, propelling him forward through the air like a deadly predator.
His killing intent was unmistakable.
He pursued Law relentlessly, like a parasite clinging to bone.
BOOM!!!
CRASH—RUMBLE!!!
Almost the instant the two figures disappeared around a distant street corner, the center of the city erupted with thunderous explosions.
The deafening blasts echoed across Dressrosa.
The ground shook so violently that even the harbor trembled.
Occasionally, nearly invisible threads flashed through the sunlight overhead—thin lines glinting with deadly brilliance.
Moments later—
Entire buildings in the distance split apart as if sliced by an invisible blade.
They collapsed with thunderous crashes.
Dust clouds surged skyward.
The trail of destruction spread rapidly through the city streets—
Leading straight toward the colosseum.
…
Near the colosseum, the situation was equally chaotic.
Inside the arena, the battle for the Flame-Flame Fruit had already ended.
Unexpectedly, the fruit had been claimed by Sabo, Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army.
As for Luffy—
The arena's structure turned out to be a massive Seastone prison cage.
Because of that, he still couldn't find a way out and was stuck at the edge of the enclosure, watching the outside world helplessly.
Nearby, Zoro and Kin'emon, both disguised, were attempting to rescue him.
But at that exact moment—
SHOOOOOM—BOOM!!!
A figure suddenly plummeted from the sky like a cannonball.
It slammed into the street beside the colosseum with terrifying force—right near Zoro, Luffy, and the massive cage surrounding the arena.
The impact blasted dust and debris into the air, engulfing the entire street in a dense cloud.
Within the swirling smoke—
A tall silhouette slowly emerged.
Doflamingo.
His expression carried the cruel amusement of a cat toying with a trapped mouse.
In his hand gleamed a golden pistol.
"Law."
"With Heavenquake staying out of this…"
"No one can save you."
Not far away, Trafalgar Law lay collapsed on the ground.
He was already gravely wounded.
Even the smallest movement seemed painfully difficult.
Doflamingo showed not the slightest trace of mercy.
Without hesitation, he raised the golden gun and aimed it at Law—who could no longer dodge.
Then he pulled the trigger.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out one after another.
The bullets tore mercilessly through Law's body.
Blood blossomed into the air like crimson flowers.
Inside the seastone cage, Luffy's eyes bulged with rage.
He slammed his fists wildly against the bars.
But the weakening effect of seastone and the prison's restraints left him powerless to stop what was happening.
"C… Cora-san…"
Law's voice emerged in a faint, agonized whisper.
His vision was beginning to blur.
At that moment, Doflamingo noticed the nearby civilians who had begun gathering—drawn by the commotion.
Their faces showed fear and confusion.
Immediately, his expression changed.
The cruel predator vanished.
In its place appeared a mask of righteous authority.
Raising his voice dramatically, he addressed the crowd.
"Everyone, there's no need to panic!"
"The pirate lying there is Trafalgar Law, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"
"He is the mastermind behind the Punk Hazard tragedy!"
"The one responsible for kidnapping children and attempting to destroy the peace of Dressrosa!"
"Today—"
"I will deliver justice here!"
The citizens, unaware of the truth, were quickly swept up by his performance.
Anger surged through the crowd.
Cheers erupted in support of Doflamingo.
"You bastard!"
Seeing this scene, Zoro could no longer restrain himself.
His three swords flashed from their scabbards in a single motion.
Together with the equally furious Kin'emon, he launched a fierce attack from both sides.
But Doflamingo merely let out a contemptuous laugh.
With casual ease, he blocked Zoro's powerful sword strikes and Kin'emon's flaming blade techniques.
He handled both attacks effortlessly.
Kin'emon seized the brief opening to rush toward Law, attempting a rescue.
But before he could reach him—
Doflamingo flicked his wrist.
A powerful string bullet shot out with terrifying precision.
BOOM!
The attack slammed into Kin'emon's body, sending him flying through the air.
He crashed violently into a distant wall.
...
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