CHAPTER 81

The powers of Trafalgar Law's Ope Ope no Mi are among the most versatile in the world of pirates. The ability encompasses teleportation, dismemberment without harm, defensive capabilities, advanced healing, and even the legendary Perennial Youth Surgery, granting immortality at the cost of the user's life.

In the canon events, Law and Eustass Kid were able to push Big Mom into the molten depths of Wano's Onigashima primarily due to the tactical brilliance enabled by Law's fruit. Recognizing this incredible potential, Alastor had long planned to bring Law under his command, an ambition that took root when he first noticed the Supernovas' ships at Sabaody Archipelago.

But subduing Law wouldn't be easy.

As captain of the Heart Pirates and one of the most formidable Supernovas, Law wasn't someone who would willingly bow to another. Even if Alastor and Law shared the same goal of eliminating Doflamingo, this common ground couldn't change the sea's unyielding rule: the strong dominate, and the weak obey.

Alastor understood this well.

On the shores, Alastor summoned Shimotsuki Onimaru. Not long after, a ship from the Beasts Pirates arrived to retrieve him.

The crew was thrilled to see their commander safe and sound.

"Lord Alastor, you're incredible! You escaped the Navy's siege!"

"You idiot!" another crew member snapped. "It was just two Buster Calls. How could that even touch Lord Alastor?"

"Ah, I misspoke!" the first cried, slapping himself in the face.

"Master Alastor's bounty will skyrocket after this," a third member added eagerly. "Perhaps it'll surpass a billion berries like Kaido-sama!"

Their admiration for Alastor was palpable, and their confidence in his strength unshakable. Among them, Sai grinned widely, pleased with his decision to follow Alastor. The success of this alliance would surely benefit the Kingdom of Flowers.

Shimotsuki Onimaru, though clearly moved, remained calm and composed, embodying the poise of a great swordsman. Alastor noticed the increased intensity of Onimaru's aura—his swordsmanship had significantly advanced, likely due to inheriting Ryuma's legacy. Alastor gave him a satisfied nod before cutting off the crew's flattery.

"Enough! Set sail immediately. We need to move before the Navy realizes I've escaped."

"Yes, Lord Alastor!"

The ship set sail swiftly, and a crewmate asked, "Are we returning to Wano, Lord Alastor?"

"No. Head to Dressrosa. Use the excuse of collecting Smile fruits, but don't let anyone suspect my involvement."

The crew complied without hesitation. When they neared Dressrosa, Alastor silently disembarked, vanishing into the shadows.

At the underground port, the Donquixote Family's highest officer, Trebol, awaited with a shipment of Smile fruits.

Trebol, his slimy appearance as unsettling as ever, handed the crate over to a Beast Pirates representative. "Heh, I hear your boss killed a Celestial Dragon. That's a first. Two admirals and a fleet of 20 warships, and they still couldn't catch him!"

The Beasts Pirates member snatched the crate and retorted, "That's none of your business! Your production of Smile fruits is already slow. Kaido-sama is losing patience!"

Trebol flinched, hastily replying, "We'll speed things up, I swear!"

Elsewhere in Dressrosa, inside a small room, a mature woman in a violet dress anxiously waited. Viola, a key member of the Riku royal family, had spent years as a reluctant informant for the Donquixote Family. Hearing a knock at her door, she brightened, her clairvoyant Giro Giro no Mi already confirming the visitor's identity.

Alastor stepped inside. "Long time no see, Viola."

She hid her relief behind a mask of feigned annoyance. "I knew you'd survive, but attacking a Celestial Dragon? That's reckless even for you."

Alastor smirked. "Without guts, I wouldn't be able to fulfill my promises to you."

"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.

He leaned closer, dropping a bombshell: "Because Doflamingo is also a Celestial Dragon."

Viola's eyes widened in shock. The man who had enslaved Dressrosa, killed her people, and ruined her family carried the bloodline of the world's most untouchable rulers? This truth, hidden even from Law and most of the Donquixote Family, left her speechless.

Before she could recover, Alastor stated his purpose.

"I need your Giro Giro no Mi. Use your power to locate Trafalgar Law."

Viola's abilities allowed her to see everything within a 4,000-kilometer radius, making her invaluable for such a task.

"You're not searching for the samurai?" she asked, referring to their previous agreement regarding Wano.

"The samurai can wait. Right now, I need Law."

Viola hesitated. "The sea is vast. Even with my abilities, finding someone without direction is nearly impossible."

Alastor anticipated this. As a time traveler, he knew Law's sole focus upon entering the New World: killing Doflamingo to avenge Corazon.

"Law will head to Punk Hazard," Alastor said confidently.

Currently, Punk Hazard was still under World Government control, serving as a secret research facility for Dr. Vegapunk and Caesar Clown. Alastor knew Law would target this base to uncover the means to challenge Doflamingo.

Viola nodded. With her clairvoyance and Alastor's knowledge, they would find Trafalgar Law—an essential step in Alastor's plan to reshape the pirate world.

---

On Punk Hazard, Dr. Vegapunk focused on advancing the mysterious Lineage Factor—the fundamental blueprint of life itself—paving the way for artificial creations like Smile fruits. Meanwhile, Caesar Clown, his morally bankrupt assistant, pursued research into poison gas weapons. In secret, Caesar also supplied Doflamingo with the essential raw materials needed to produce the Smile fruits.

This arrangement made Punk Hazard the only source for the raw materials necessary to sustain the Smile production chain, which was vital for the alliance between Doflamingo and Kaido. Trafalgar Law, knowing this, aimed to dismantle the operation at its root. By destroying the machinery producing the raw materials, he sought to sever the lifeline connecting Kaido and Doflamingo.

Alastor, a step ahead of Law, understood that Law's movements would eventually converge on Punk Hazard. With his personal vendetta against Doflamingo and his strategic mindset, Law would inevitably send scouts to the area to gather intelligence. Once Viola determined Law's approximate location with her Giro Giro no Mi abilities, tracking him would be effortless.

Alastor kept the specifics to himself and simply told Viola, "Ask Doflamingo for a mission to guard the Smile production machinery on Punk Hazard. You'll find him there."

Viola nodded, though she didn't entirely understand the deeper implications.

After discussing the plan, Alastor smiled and shifted the topic. "What about Rebecca? That little girl isn't fighting in the arena anymore, is she?"

"No," Viola replied, her expression softening at the mention of her niece.

Rebecca, a girl who had faced unimaginable tragedy, had been left utterly defenseless when Alastor first appeared in Dressrosa. She clung to him as a savior, and over time, her perception of him grew to that of an older brother.

"She's practicing in the courtyard next door," Viola added, rolling her eyes at Alastor.

Rebecca had stopped fighting in the colosseum but trained diligently every day. Despite her struggles, her determination was unwavering.

Alastor found Rebecca in the courtyard, wielding her sword with unrelenting focus. Her pink hair was braided, swaying as she moved. Dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, she was covered in sweat, her movements elegant and precise. It was no wonder her swordsmanship was nicknamed Sword Dance by the arena's spectators.

Alastor approached silently, watching her practice. Finally, he said, "That's not how you wield a sword."

Rebecca froze, startled by the familiar voice. Turning, she saw Alastor, and her shock turned into overwhelming joy.

Before she could speak, Alastor stepped behind her, placing one hand on her sword-wielding arm and the other on her waist. He adjusted her posture gently, his voice calm yet firm.

"If you want to become stronger, you must train correctly. Let me show you."

Rebecca's eyes welled with tears. For a girl who had lost her parents and endured constant hardship, this rare moment of care and guidance was overwhelming.

From a distance, Viola sighed as she watched. Poor Rebecca... She might be completely captivated by him.

However, Viola's initial worries about Alastor had lessened. His audacious act of killing a Celestial Dragon had shifted her perspective. He wasn't a pure-hearted hero, but neither was he a villain devoid of morality. Instead, he was an ambitious man with a vision far beyond the ordinary.

What is his ultimate goal? Viola wondered. To become Pirate King? Or to rule the entire world?

Meanwhile, at Navy Headquarters, Admiral Kizaru returned from Sabaody Archipelago. His mission had been a failure, as he only captured minor pirates. Not a single Supernova, let alone Alastor, had been apprehended.

The five vice admirals accompanying him had scoured Sabaody with extreme diligence, combing every inch of the archipelago, but found no trace of the man who had killed a Celestial Dragon.

"How did he escape from Sabaody?" Fleet Admiral Sengoku muttered. "Through the sky?"

Sengoku quickly dismissed the thought. "No. Even with his Geppo ability, we've kept strict surveillance on the airspace."

The Navy's only remaining lead came from Aokiji, who returned the following day.

"The G-1 branch reported sighting a Beasts Pirates ship in the New World," Aokiji announced. "Alastor was aboard. They even captured a photograph."

Sengoku glanced at the photo on his desk. It showed Alastor lounging on a deck chair, basking in the sun as if he hadn't just turned the world upside down.

Aokiji couldn't help but admire the audacity. "To remain so calm after such chaos... That's a man with a strong heart."

But Sengoku was livid, veins bulging on his forehead. "This man is mocking the Navy! Does he think we can't touch him in the New World?"

Aokiji cautioned, "If we pursue him into the New World, we'll provoke Kaido..."

The New World was the domain of the Four Emperors. Even the Navy, with all its might, had to tread carefully. Kaido, known as the Strongest Creature, ruled with unparalleled strength and influence over the underground world.

Sengoku sighed heavily. "No. Our priority is the execution of Portgas D. Ace. As for this man, the World Government has decided—CP0 will handle his assassination."

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