Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Rescue
North Blue – Minion Island
Law was carefully tending to a severely injured Rosinante.
The incident with the Ope Ope no Mi had left Rosinante gravely wounded. As a result, the two had no choice but to remain on the island temporarily, waiting for Rosinante's recovery.
Before the injury, Rosinante had sent Law to deliver critical intelligence to the Marines. However, no one could have predicted that the Marine Law approached would turn out to be Vergo, the first Corazon of the Donquixote Family!
Rosinante's identity as a Marine spy was completely exposed, and worse, the information reached Doflamingo himself.
Doflamingo—an infamous, cold-blooded killer—was incensed upon learning the truth. Not only did he plan to eliminate Rosinante personally, but he was also determined to retrieve Law and the Ope Ope no Mi.
"Second Corazon, you've hidden well, haven't you?"
Vergo's voice was cold, his body fully coated in Armament Haki. He stood firmly over Rosinante while holding Law by the neck.
"As the Young Master's brother, you betrayed the family. You're courting death, don't you know that?"
Despite Vergo's grip, Rosinante, battered and barely clinging to life, managed to smirk.
"Cough... Vergo... Who'd have thought you'd be the spy? Seems Doffy's ambitions really are boundless..."
Rosinante's tone was calm, even as Vergo pressed his foot harder against his chest.
Vergo sneered at his adversary's stubbornness. "How dare you betray the family? The Young Master will not let you live!"
Even faced with these words, Rosinante remained unshaken. He understood there was little hope for himself but focused all his thoughts on saving Law.
Before Rosinante could act, a shadow loomed over the scene.
From above, a massive Marine battleship appeared—flying in the sky!
Everyone froze. Rosinante's eyes widened, his mouth agape in disbelief. Even Law, though still held tightly by Vergo, stared upwards in shock, unable to comprehend the surreal sight.
"Rosinante, what are you staring at?" Vergo frowned, his rudimentary Observation Haki failing to detect the abnormality above.
But when the shadow of the ship darkened the ground, Vergo finally looked up, only to be greeted by the astonishing sight of the airborne battleship.
A young voice cut through the silence: "Rosinante, it's been a while! You're looking a little worse for wear, huh?"
Hearing this, Rosinante's tense expression softened slightly, though he was still struggling to breathe under Vergo's foot. "Cough... Karl... It really has been a while."
Vergo's frown deepened. He recognized the name "Karl" and understood the weight it carried, but he hadn't anticipated Rosinante having a connection to someone so formidable.
"Commodore Karl? I'm Vergo, from—"
Karl interrupted with a smirk: "No need to introduce yourself. You're the Donquixote Family's first Corazon, aren't you? We Marines have known this for a long time. Why else do you think I'm here?"
Karl floated down gracefully from the ship, his expression relaxed yet sharp.
'Rosinante detected. Check-in available.'
'Trafalgar D. Water Law detected. Check-in available.'
Karl's system ignored Vergo entirely, deeming him irrelevant and weak.
Vergo's face darkened as he realized his cover was blown. Desperation flickered across his usually stoic demeanor. "Commodore Karl, even if your status is special, you can't just slander me—"
Before Vergo could finish, Karl stepped forward and delivered a light yet devastating punch, infused with Armament Haki. The impact sent Vergo flying into a nearby boulder, leaving a gaping hole in his chest.
Karl hadn't even drawn his blade. This was only a fraction of his power.
Turning back to Rosinante, Karl gestured to his ship. "You're in bad shape. Luckily, I brought some medics. They'll patch you and the kid up."
Several medics descended, immediately tending to Rosinante and Law.
Meanwhile, Vergo, gravely injured but still alive, rose unsteadily to his feet. "Damn Marines... I won't let you ruin—"
Before he could finish, Karl appeared behind him in a blur. With a single stroke of his Sandai Kitetsu, Karl ended Vergo's life, leaving him decapitated and motionless.
Seeing this, Rosinante shouted weakly at Law, "Don't look!"
But his injuries prevented him from shielding the boy, who witnessed the gruesome sight. Young and inexperienced, Law vomited violently before collapsing in shock.
Karl sighed, nudging Vergo's corpse aside as if it were trash. "I thought you'd be stronger, but this is all?"
He turned back to Rosinante with a wry smile. "You really know how to make a mess. Throwing away your transponder snail for Sengoku? Even I'm not that reckless, Rosinante."
Rosinante chuckled faintly, holding Law's trembling hand in his own.
Karl shook his head. He had little affection for Law, knowing the child had indirectly hastened Rosinante's downfall. Yet he acknowledged the boy's future potential, even if, for now, he was just a burden.
"If I hadn't stepped in," Karl muttered, "this tragedy would've played out just like in the original timeline."
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