Chapter 36

"Is that you, Tsuru? You're contacting at this time, it seems the capture operation has yielded some results."

Inside the Admiral's office at the Marine Headquarters, a man sporting frog-eyed glasses, with a long beard tied into a twist, wearing a cap with a seagull emblem symbolizing the "Marines" and hidden beneath the cap was a head full of bushy hair, received the Den Den Mushi with a smile.

This man was none other than the current highest authority of the Marines, known as the "Buddha of War," Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

"Ah, that slippery kid got away again."

Tsuru's voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.

"That does sound like a headache."

"Perhaps there are even more headache-inducing things."

"You don't say. Has Doflamingo contacted those Celestial Dragons again?"

"..."

"Hahaha, just kidding. Go on, I'm listening."

"What I want to talk about is a child."

This time Sengoku listened quietly to Tsuru's story, his expression gradually turning serious.

"A boy of only about ten, able to skillfully use Flying Slash Attack, is indeed a rare swordsmanship prodigy. What a pity, ah!"

Thinking about how such a promising young talent might have been driven to the Donquixote family due to certain actions of the Marines, leading him on a path of evil, Sengoku couldn't help but feel heartbroken and deeply helpless!

"Although I don't know where you get all this information about the Donquixote family from each time, I have my guesses. Perhaps you can ask around, see if there's a chance to mend things, or at least try to distance him from the Donquixote family. Otherwise, I can't imagine what this child will become in ten years, a swordsman? Or a master swordsman? Do you want to add such an enemy to the Marines?"

Tsuru's words were calm, but they hit the nail on the head.

A young prodigy is not scary, what's scary is a monster nurtured by the forces of evil!

Tsuru's intuition told her that if they don't find a way to resolve this now, that boy might become a more difficult character than Doflamingo in the future.

Sengoku paused for a moment, then sighed, "Principally, I can't say anything, but I'll think about it. Don't get your hopes up too high."

Regardless of the future, his top priority is the safety of the undercover agent.

Even if the boy would become a major adversary to the Marines as Tsuru said, he would never let 'that person' take any risks.

Both for the public and private reasons, that's his decision, and it won't change!

Upon hearing this, Tsuru couldn't help but sigh, "I hope you're right. I'll send you the details of the operation later."

"You've worked hard, take some time to rest and wait for my message."

After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Tsuru looked up at the bright sky, murmuring, "I hope it's just me being overly sensitive. After all, this world has never lacked geniuses, but few ever reach the top of the great seas."

At the end of a narrow alley in the port town of Spidarmus...

"You fool! You're the reason I missed this operation! Just you wait. Once Doflamingo is back, I'll expose you for the liar you are and tell everyone about your speaking ability!"

Law kicked a trash can in frustration, shooting a glare full of animosity at Corazon.

After all, he had waited for such a long time, finally getting the opportunity to enact his revenge on the world. Yet, he was stopped by this idiot right before departure.

Had it not been for the fact that Corazon had concealed his stab wound and not betrayed him, he wouldn't have even wanted to exchange a word with him.

"Hey, hey, hey, quiet down."

Corazon snapped his fingers, using the power of the Calm-Calm Fruit to prevent their conversation from reaching other ears. He leisurely puffed on his cigarette, completely unconcerned about Law's threats.

Okay, he did get scared when Law first threatened him with this.

However, Law was all talk. If he had wanted to tell on Corazon, he would have done it by now. So, Corazon was no longer worried.

"That's enough, no need for such harsh words. I prevented you from going for your own good, this operation could be dangerous."

"I'd argue being near you is the most dangerous. Could you please keep a distance from me when you play with fire?"

"Huh? Ahhh... it's hot, it's hot!"

Bang!

Somewhere along the line, the cigarette he had been smoking had lit his feather coat on fire. In his panic to put out the fire, he tripped over his own feet and fell.

After rolling around on the ground for a while, he finally managed to extinguish the fire and stood back up, his face and clothes covered in dirt.

Watching this, Law felt both amusement and speechlessness, despite this not being the first time he had witnessed such a scene.

"How can someone naturally be this clumsy?"

Remembering how he was once ruthlessly toyed with by this naturally clumsy guy, and how he voluntarily ran away, Law was seething with anger. He wished he could puncture a few holes in Corazon with his piercing gaze!

"Sigh, I was born a clumsy oaf, and there's no cure for it."

"You've got to be kidding!"

"Cough cough... Anyway, you must leave here before Doflamingo comes back, and never return."

"I won't! What is this 'fated clan', 'Clan of D', 'God's enemy'? It's all nonsense that I can't comprehend! In any case, I want to stay. I want to become a ruthless monster!"

Law stormed off, filled with anger.

Corazon was about to stop him when the Den Den Mushi in his arms suddenly rang.

Helpless, he had to let Law leave while he answered the call.

"This is 'Giant Shell'."

"I'm 'Little Fruit', the silence barrier has been set up. Awaiting instructions."

Once the code was confirmed, 'Giant Shell' promptly said, "The operation to capture Doflamingo has failed again."

"Did it fail again? Did I send the information too late, and we couldn't make it in time?"

"No, it's not your fault, the information you relayed was timely. But there was an unexpected occurrence during the operation. You've done well. Prioritize your safety and stop leaking Doflamingo's whereabouts for now, to avoid raising suspicion."

"Yes, I understand."

"Additionally, has a teenager recently joined the Donquixote family?"

Corazon was startled, but then he immediately responded, "Indeed, someone has joined, but it's not one, it's two teenagers."

"Two? What information do you have about them? Is it possible to drive them away from the Donquixote family like before?"