Mo Wu gently patted Rosinante on the back, trying to offer some comfort.
"Rosinante, don't think like that," Mo Wu said calmly, his voice soft and steady. "Everyone's abilities have their own unique value. Your Devil Fruit power is priceless in many situations."
"What happened this time wasn't your fault, and it certainly wasn't your fruit's fault. At the very least, it helped me cut open the lion's throat."
Rosinante sighed, though the guilt in his heart was far from fading.
"I know, Mo Wu. But… I still feel so powerless."
"Kid, feeling powerless is normal."
A weathered voice suddenly echoed from somewhere among the ruins.
From Mo Wu's perspective, however, the golden aura wrapped in Haki was far too easy to recognize.
He looked up at the sky with a tired expression.
Did I walk straight into an Admiral nest tonight?
All I wanted was to find a place to wash up, lie down, study my interface, and get a good night's sleep!
Mo Wu cast a resentful glance at Sengoku, who had just crawled out from between the broken walls. Then he smiled helplessly.
"Admiral Sengoku… how long have you been eavesdropping?"
"What do you mean eavesdropping?!"
Sengoku coughed awkwardly.
"Mo Wu, what you said just now isn't entirely accurate. I'm merely fulfilling my duty as a foster father!"
After saying that firmly, Sengoku turned his gaze toward Rosinante.
"So now you understand what it means to feel powerless?"
"How many times have I told you this mission is completely unsuitable for you!"
Facing Sengoku's reprimand, Rosinante let out a helpless sigh.
How could he not understand that his foster father was speaking out of concern?
But he had to atone.
Atone for the people Doflamingo had killed.
Atone for the civilians who had died before his eyes while he failed to protect them.
That evil man…
If he was to be brought to justice, Rosinante had to infiltrate him personally.
After all, that man was Donquixote Doflamingo—someone who trusted no one.
A man capable of personally killing even his own father…
"Admiral Sengoku, I must take this mission. And it can only be me."
"You—"
Sengoku fell silent.
Hearing Rosinante deliberately use the word Admiral, he instantly understood what the young man meant.
At this moment, there was no father and son.
Only Marines—bound by rank and duty.
"Very well, Rosinante."
Sengoku's expression hardened.
"The infiltration of the Donquixote Family will be carried out by you personally."
"You depart tomorrow."
"This mission will be classified as the highest-level Marine secret. Only you, me… and Vice Admiral Cease War will know."
He turned and walked toward the harbor.
As Sengoku moved farther away, his expression grew heavier and heavier.
But he didn't dare stop walking.
Because he knew that if he stopped, he might lose the resolve to let his adopted son go.
"Sigh."
Birds were meant to fly.
"Rosinante… if you want to thank him, go and say it yourself."
Watching the young man bow deeply toward Sengoku's departing back, Mo Wu sighed softly.
Meanwhile, his mind was already calculating how he might save Rosinante's life.
The question was whether his current strength would allow it.
If he could execute Roger… could he also eliminate Doflamingo afterward?
That would conveniently complete the trio of great villains.
Golden Lion Shiki—the legendary pirate.
Roger—the man who began the Great Age of Pirates.
And the naturally wicked Donquixote brat.
Mo Wu couldn't help wondering what kind of evaluation he would receive after completing such a mission.
"There will be another opportunity someday."
"It's getting late, Mo Wu. I need to prepare to set sail tomorrow."
Rosinante wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes.
Before leaving, he looked deeply at Mo Wu, as though trying to engrave his face into memory.
"Wait!"
Mo Wu stretched out both arms dramatically.
"Can't one of you at least tell me where I'm supposed to sleep?!"
…Wait.
Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling?
He glanced around.
The ruins remained eerily silent.
Mo Wu cleared his throat and cautiously called out:
"Vice Admiral Garp, you can stop hiding. My Observation Haki already spotted you."
"What? Your Observation Haki can detect me?!"
A tall tree that had somehow remained standing among the ruins suddenly shook violently.
A massive figure leapt down from its branches, landing heavily on the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Mo Wu stared at him blankly.
…I was just testing.
"Ahem. Young man, don't worry about the details."
Garp grinned and slung an arm around Mo Wu's shoulders.
"You wanted somewhere to rest, right?"
"I know a place that hasn't turned into rubble yet."
Half-dragging, half-guiding him forward, Garp pulled Mo Wu deeper into the ruins as his booming laughter echoed through the night.
Somewhere in an obscure corner of Marineford.
Following behind Garp, Mo Wu arrived at a completely unremarkable dirt wall.
The area looked deserted.
The surface of the earthen slope was weathered and cracked, bearing deep scars of time. Weeds grew wildly around it, suggesting that almost no one ever came here.
Garp stopped and nodded toward the wall.
Signaling Mo Wu to look carefully.
But no matter how long Mo Wu studied it, he couldn't find anything unusual.
Isn't this just a dirt wall?
Although…
Why does the surface look so smooth?
Could it be—
Garp's lips curved into a grin.
He reached out and pressed lightly on a particular patch of dirt.
With a faint mechanical click, the wall slowly slid aside, revealing a hidden passage.
"This is a secret entrance to Marine Headquarters," Garp explained in a low voice. "Only used in special situations."
Like when you want to slack off here?
Watching how familiar Garp seemed with the mechanism, Mo Wu couldn't help but complain silently.
It was hard to imagine how many times this old man had visited.
"I heard the Celestial Dragons used it as a private dungeon back when Mary Geoise controlled the place," Garp continued. "But it was abandoned after Marine Headquarters was established."
"I only discovered it by accident."
Mo Wu nodded.
He hadn't expected Garp to be this generous—actually sharing such a secret hideout.
They moved deeper into the passage.
The tunnel walls were constructed from solid stone bricks. Dim oil lamps hung along the walls, casting flickering shadows.
"Don't underestimate these stones," Garp said casually while knocking on the wall.
"They're all made from Seastone."
He pressed another brick.
A dull rumbling sound echoed.
A small door appeared within the Seastone wall, revealing a narrow staircase descending underground.
The stairs twisted downward into the depths of the earth.
Clearly, they too were made entirely of Seastone.
"Come on."
Ignoring Mo Wu's shock at the Celestial Dragons' absurd extravagance, Garp walked down first.
They continued descending for quite some time.
Just when Mo Wu was starting to feel sleepy, a massive Seastone door finally appeared at the bottom of the staircase.
Garp unlocked it with practiced ease.
With a small push, the heavy door groaned open.
"Vice Admiral Garp… you're sure this place is suitable for resting?"
Mo Wu stepped inside and looked around the spacious chamber.
Honestly, Garp seemed like a genuinely good person.
The interior looked nothing like the desolate corridor outside.
The walls were decorated with exquisite murals, and the floor was neatly paved with stone tiles. The room looked surprisingly clean and refined.
Wait… what is that?!
Mo Wu's brows furrowed.
On a stone bed lay a figure.
Messy hair.
A long, curved moustache.
Isn't that Roger?!
Shouldn't he be locked in Impel Down right now?
How did Garp drag him here?!
…Wait.
At this point in time, Roger probably hadn't been transferred to Impel Down yet.
After all, once Roger arrived there, Garp and Sengoku practically camped outside the prison every day.
No wonder Shiki had been shouting for Roger to come out earlier.
Looking at the snoring figure drooling on the bed, Mo Wu couldn't help admiring Roger's personality.
The man certainly had style.
Perhaps sensing someone entering, the figure on the bed stirred.
After a moment, Roger finally sat up, coughing.
"Garp, you bastard! You fought Shiki for that long!"
"Do you know I'm starving to death here?!"
"Enough whining, you old bastard. Eat it or don't."
Garp pulled a bag of rice crackers from his clothes—the same ones he had taken from Sengoku—and tossed it toward the bed.
Seeing that Garp had no intention of introducing him, Mo Wu scratched his head.
So… did Garp actually bring him here to deliver food?
And at the same time let the future executioner take a good look at his future target?
That's some dark humor.
Roger tore open the snack bag and began tossing the crackers into his mouth.
After finishing them and letting out a satisfied burp, he looked resentfully at Garp.
"Huh?"
Only then did he notice the second person standing beside Garp.
"You…?"
Roger stared at Mo Wu for a moment.
Suddenly, he burst into a bright, hearty laugh.
His eyes gleamed with interest.
"Garp, why did you bring someone who's about to die to see me?"
"Hahaha! Are we supposed to bond over our illnesses?"
Unlock 100+ advance chapters on P@treon — every follow inspires me to keep going!
patreon.com/legacyverse1