Chapter 227

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The dark night had already fallen.

On Minion Island, there was a deserted town known as Ghost Town, where the pirate crew of Diez Barrels was stationed.

To avoid leaking their whereabouts, everyone's personal freedom was greatly restricted.

But compared to the imminent 5 billion Belly reward, suffering for a few days seemed trivial.

So even though the conditions were tough and the weather was cold, every face was filled with a distorted sense of excitement.

"Just this small Devil Fruit can fetch a price of 5 billion Belly; those Celestial Dragons really are too rich," Diez Barrels mused, holding the Ope Ope no Mi in his hand and occasionally expressing his amazement.

Greed filled the eyes of the others each time they looked at it.

However, due to the deterrence of Diez Barrels' military force, no one dared to betray him.

After all, even if someone managed to get their hands on it, no one could swallow all 5 billion Belly alone.

Even with the greatest appetite, one would be stuffed to death!

So, it was better to just honestly complete the trade and receive their deserved share.

No need to say more; a few tens of millions of Belly were enough for each of them to live lavishly for a lifetime.

"Drake, bring the box here."

Diez Barrels glanced at his son, sitting alone in a corner, and felt disappointed with his lack of ambition.

Little did he know that his son, who once greatly admired him, had completely changed when he fell from a respected navy officer to a pirate.

The youth called Drake, although 18 years old, was skinny like a 13 or 14-year-old child.

Especially his unconfident and inferior demeanor, it was frustrating to behold.

Roughly snatching the box from Drake's hands, Diez Barrels had just carefully placed the Ope Ope no Mi back inside when suddenly the room went dark.

"Someone blasted the lights!"

"Eh? Why isn't there any sound?"

"What happened? Why is it so dark? Why is no one talking?"

In the darkness, a deathly silence ensued.

But in reality, there was one person unleashing slaughter.

Corazon, at last, revealed his fangs before the eyes of outsiders for the first time!

The pitch-black environment, coupled with the noise-canceling effects of the Nagi Nagi no Mi, made it so that the dozens of people in the castle hall seemed simultaneously deaf and blind, easy prey for slaughter.

Only Drake, frightened, immediately located the door and desperately fled.

After a bout of combat, Corazon shattered a window and leaped out, but at the same time, he threw back several grenades into the hall.

The next second

The silenced BOOM!

As soon as he landed, Corazon rushed away into the distance.

Meanwhile, as he retreated, the silence of the Nagi Nagi no Mi dissipated, leaving the hall filled with screams and groans.

Diez Barrels, with a dirty face and blood flowing from his head, upon realizing he could hear again, roared loudly, "Chase them! Everyone, chase them! That bastard stole the Ope Ope no Mi!"

With his words, every able-bodied individual's eyes turned red with rage!

While firing signals into the sky, they began the pursuit.

To say that Corazon was unlucky, he managed to come out unscathed in the chaos of the castle.

But then, as if jinxed by good luck, he stumbled to a fall on flat ground and encountered the returning pirates who had seen the signals and were patrolling outside.

This delay allowed the other pirates to catch up.

Another frantic chase ensued!Corazon finally made it to Law's side, carrying the Ope Ope no Mi despite being severely injured and having been shot several times.

...

The Donquixote Pirates' ship docked slowly, with Doflamingo leading the way. His officers lined up behind him, presenting a formidable front. Among them were Abel and Baby-5, fresh from their journey on the Grand Line.

"Dofla, it looks like something happened over there."

"I see it, a signal flare that conspicuous. Let's go and check it out."

Thus, the crew quickly headed towards the castle on the mountaintop.

"Looking at this situation, it seems Corazon and Law have succeeded," Abel guessed, hoping nothing unexpected would occur.

Upon reaching the castle, the officers, without needing any command from Doflamingo, swarmed in, took everyone down, and began interrogating them about the whereabouts of the Ope Ope no Mi.

Diez Barrels, bloodied and beaten, hurriedly said, "The Ope Ope no Mi was stolen by someone strange."

"What did the person look like?" Doflamingo asked.

It was too dark initially for Barrels to see clearly, but as more witnesses described the thief, a strange look came over everyone's faces. The description of the person who stole the Ope Ope no Mi sounded eerily like Doflamingo's own younger brother, Corazon!

What was going on here?

I don't need anyone else; I can do it myself?

Doflamingo released the man, then began trying to contact Corazon via Den Den Mushi, but there was no response.

At this point, even the slowest to catch on realized that something was amiss.

"My brother, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"I hope you have a reasonable answer to that question when I find you."

Doflamingo was slightly amused in his frustration as numerous threads shot into the sky. A colossal birdcage enveloped the entire island.

"Buffalo, start searching from the air. If you see Corazon and Law, come back and inform me immediately."

"Understood, Young Master!"

Buffalo, who had been through hellish training daily and appeared somewhat leaner, took to the skies immediately.

"Everyone spread out and search; they must still be on the island and can't escape."

"Remember, I want Corazon alive!"

The crew nodded in agreement, knowing not to fatally harm Corazon, Doflamingo's own brother, and the final judgment was Doflamingo's to make. Moreover, the situation was unclear.

They were aware that Doflamingo intended to secure the Ope Ope no Mi for Corazon, so they were bewildered by Corazon's actions.

As Doflamingo left the scene, it didn't take long for Diez Barrels and the remaining people to be eliminated.

Since they couldn't safeguard the Ope Ope no Mi, they were better off dead!

Sarkies and the others didn't forget to collect the treasures left behind, planning to take them when they departed; they were used to plundering from their victims, after all.

Meanwhile, Abel pondered how to rescue Law should any complications arise.