"I'll hold them off later, Law. You must run. Don't let Marine catch you," Rosinante whispered urgently to Trafalgar Law.
Before Law could respond, Rosinante straightened up and addressed Gion. "Vice Admiral Gion, the Ope-Ope Fruit… it was destroyed in the explosion just now," he said.
"You expect to believe that?" Gion asked coldly, her face darkening.
Her sharp eyes moved to Law, narrowing in suspicion. "Is it him? Did this child eat the Ope-Ope Fruit? Are you using him to gain immortality?"
"No! Law hasn't eaten the fruit!" Rosinante retorted firmly.
"You're even more despicable than your brother," Gion spat angrily.
She had misunderstood Rosinante's intentions, believing he was using Law for his own selfish ends, perhaps to gain the rumored immortality. The thought disgusted her. She couldn't bear the idea of handing this child over to the World Governnt, knowing what kind of treatnt awaited him there. He was just a boy!
Law, however, couldn't tolerate anyone insulting Rosinante. "No! Mr. Corazon is trying to save ! I have the Amber Lead Syndro. Only the Ope-Ope Fruit can save !" Law shouted defiantly, his voice trembling.
"Law!" Rosinante quickly covered Law's mouth, but it was already too late.
Gion's eyes flickered with understanding. Her anger softened into pity as she looked at the boy. "Amber Lead Syndro…" she murmured. Was this child a survivor of the tragedy in the White Town of Flevance?
That was a calamity engineered by the World Governnt itself. To think this child had endured such a fate…
Gion's heart ached for Law. Her gentle nature and sense of justice warred with her duty. A part of her wanted to ignore the mission entirely, apprehend Rosinante, and leave the fruit's fate as a "failed mission."
Sensing Gion's hesitation, Rosinante pressed his advantage. "Momousagi, you know what will happen to Law if he's taken by the World Governnt. Can you really bear to see this unfortunate child's tragic life grow even darker?"
"This is all your fault!" Gion snapped back, glaring at Rosinante.
"Without the Ope-Ope Fruit, Law wouldn't survive the year! This is his only chance to live!" Rosinante roared, desperation clear in his voice.
"You're just using him!" Gion retorted, still unconvinced.
"Then kill !" Rosinante yelled, his voice hoarse. "Kill , and let it end here. Say the Ope-Ope Fruit was destroyed. But please, don't hand Law over to the World Governnt!"
Rosinante's plea was desperate yet sincere. Killing him would leave no evidence, allowing Marine to cover up the situation and declare the mission a failure. It wasn't ideal, but it was possible. Even if Marine faced repercussions for the failed operation, the World Governnt wouldn't push too hard, especially not after the recent events in Totto Land.
Gion hesitated, her resolve wavering further. Could she do it? Could she save this child?
Seeing her doubt, Rosinante took a drastic step. "If it will make things easier for you, I'll do it myself!" he said, raising a pistol and pointing it at his own head.
Law's eyes widened in horror as he rushed to stop Rosinante. "Don't, Mr. Corazon!"
Rosinante pushed him back, his eyes softening. "Live, Law," he said gently before pulling the trigger.
But his body froze before the shot could fire. A familiar force immobilized him, and Rosinante's heart sank. He knew this ability all too well.
"Parasite String…"
From the shadows, Doflamingo's imposing figure erged, his face grim. "Rosinante, you've disappointed ," he said, his voice filled with quiet fury.
Rosinante's eyes widened as he saw his brother. Doflamingo's gaze shifted between him, Trafalgar Law, and Gion, lingering on each of them.
"Brother…" Rosinante began, his voice trembling.
"Don't call that!" Doflamingo snapped, cutting him off. "Why, Rosinante? Why did you betray ? Do you have any idea how serious this is? This isn't just about —our entire family is involved! Even our cousin is implicated. What were you thinking?"
"Law is dying! The Ope-Ope Fruit is his only chance!" Rosinante shouted back without hesitation.
"And what about us? What about the Donquixote Family? If this operation fails because of you, how do we explain it to the World Governnt? To CP-X?" Doflamingo's voice rose, his anger boiling over.
Rosinante faltered for a mont. He had always assud Doflamingo's obsession with the Ope-Ope Fruit was tied to its rumored ability to grant immortality. But now, it seed his brother was more concerned with the consequences of failure.
Had he misunderstood him all along?
Swallowing his guilt, Rosinante said, "Bla everything on . I acted alone, without your knowledge. But please, brother, don't hand Law over to the World Governnt. Let him live. When he grows up, let him live the life he deserves. You're still young. Don't you have ti to wait?"
"You betrayed , and now you expect to grant your dying wish?" Doflamingo snarled, his tone sharp with anger.
"This is my first and last selfish request as your brother. For our mother's sake, Doffy, please…" Rosinante's voice cracked as tears stread down his face.
Doflamingo's expression tightened at the ntion of their mother. Rosinante had inherited her gentleness, her kindness, traits Doflamingo had always dismissed as "foolish." But despite his contempt for their father's naivety, he had always loved and missed his mother.
Her mory was a sore spot, one that Rosinante's plea had now struck.
For a long mont, Doflamingo said nothing. His fists clenched, his jaw tightened, and his body trembled with suppressed emotions. Was it rage? Frustration? Or sothing else entirely?
Rosinante didn't speak further, his tearful eyes fixed on Doflamingo with a silent plea.
At last, Doflamingo turned to Gion. His voice was low but clear. "Vice Admiral, I ask this as a favor… for my cousin. Rosinante is his brother. Let handle this matter."
Gion's eyes narrowed. Doflamingo was nothing if not proud. For him to lower himself and make such a request was unusual. She hesitated, thinking of Claudius and the possible implications.
In the end, Gion said nothing. She turned and walked away without a word, leaving the scene behind.
After Gion's departure, Doflamingo faced Rosinante once more. His voice was cold as he spoke. "You've truly disappointed , Rosinante. We've lived through the sa hell. Why? Why are you still so naïve?"
"Why do we call ourselves brothers?" Rosinante replied softly, a faint smile on his lips.
Doflamingo's orange sunglasses obscured his eyes, but his hands trembled slightly.
Before coming here, he had imagined countless scenarios for this confrontation. In all of them, he had killed Rosinante without hesitation.
But now, standing face-to-face with his brother, Doflamingo found himself unable to act.
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