Chapter 229

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At this moment, Corazon was at death's door, surviving only by sheer willpower, forcibly prolonging his life so that the devil fruit power he cast on Law wouldn't disappear.

Hearing Abel's sudden question, he could barely open his eyes and said in a halting voice, "Law wanted you to eat the operation fruit, but I forcefully gave it to him instead."

"Don't hate Law, if you have to hate someone, hate me. I was too selfish. I'm sorry."

Abel was moved, but he also knew he couldn't waste any more time, so he bent over to lift the box.

However, as he leaned close to Corazon's ear, he whispered, "I saw everything. Law isn't with the Marines; he's hiding in this box, right?"

Corazon's eyes widened as if he had a sudden burst of energy, and he reached out to grab Abel's arm, his eyes filled with pleading.

It was a plea for him not to hand Law over!

"Eat it."

Corazon didn't care what Abel stuffed into his mouth, he obediently swallowed it down.

He was a dying man; even the world's most fearsome poison didn't matter to him.

All he cared about now was Law.

As long as they let Law go, he'd do anything.

Yet to his immense surprise, he found the life force rapidly leaving his body was now returning stronger than ever!

His fatal wounds were healing, and lead bullets were forcibly pushed out of the wounds.

"This medicine will keep you alive for a few more minutes. Don't die before Law has escaped."

"Also, you two owe me a lifetime of gratitude. Remember to repay it."

After speaking, Abel shouldered the box and walked outside.

Corazon's expression finally relaxed, and with no more trouble for Abel, he lay still, pretending to be a corpse.

With these extra minutes, he was sure he could hold on until Law escaped.

"Thank you, I may only be able to repay this debt in the next life." Then he closed his eyes, quietly awaiting death's arrival.

Abel, carrying the box, quickly caught up with the other executives.

No one gave him an extra glance during the whole process, until they reached a corner. Abel, obstructing the view, set the box down and opened the lid.

Law, who was in tears, was startled to be suddenly facing Abel.

"Take this, and go in that direction. I've prepared a boat for you there, enough for you to get away."

Then Abel simply picked up the box again and walked away from the corner, everything so natural.

So natural that Law only realized what was happening after the fact, gripping the bag that Abel had given him tightly, step by step heading in that direction.

Boom!

The Navy began bombarding with gunfire.

"Over here, come quickly!"

The Flamingo vessel arrived just in time, and everyone boarded successfully, once again escaping under the Navy's watch.

Tsuru, who missed his target again, remained calm, as if he had anticipated such an outcome.

"Hold on, I must survive."

"Commander! We've found a survivor here, suspected to be a member of the Donquixote family."

"Take him!"

"Yes!"

"Hang on, just to be safe, put on the seastone handcuffs."

Corazon, still waiting for death with his eyes closed, was abruptly handcuffed with seastone by several rude Marines.

"Law, you should have escaped by now."

Corazon did not resist; he was still moved by his own emotions.

"This guy must be sick, he looks disgusting."

"Maybe he hit his head? He's got so many injuries. Eh? They're all healed!"

"This guy really seems different. Could he be the user of a rare Zoan-type Devil Fruit ability?"

"Who cares, what awaits him anyway is to rot in the bottom of a prison cell."

Slowly, Corazon started to sense something was amiss. Why, after so much time, was there still no sign of him dying?

Even the feeling of weakness was only from the Seastone handcuffs on his wrists.

"Excuse me, when am I going to die?"

"Die? Now you want to die? Too late! Look forward to spending the rest of your life in the great underwater prison!"

"Eh? How could this be?!"

Corazon looked utterly confused. Could it be that he wasn't meant to die after all?

He suddenly remembered the pill Abel had given him.

"Was the 'only a few minutes left to live' just a lie to trick me?"

He was momentarily stunned, but then suddenly became excited, shouting: "Let me go, I am a Marine! I'm Marine Headquarters' Lieutenant Commander Rocinante, Marine Code 01746, I need to see Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"

"This guy has really lost it, spewing nonsense, haha."

"Although, he's not bad at making stuff up; he even has a Marine Code."

"Damn, a mere pirate wanting to see Fleet Admiral Sengoku? I'd like to meet him too, do you think it's your turn?!"

After a beating, Corazon quieted down a bit and said with mixed laughter and tears, "I really am a Marine sent to..."

He suddenly stopped, breaking out in a cold sweat.

If Doflamingo found out he wasn't dead yet, that would be terrible!

He might even endanger Abel who saved him.

No, I must not say any more.

Fortunately, only these two Marines who heard his 'nonsense' were present, and there might be a way to silence them later.

"Go on, why did you stop talking?"

"I have important information, let me talk to your superior officer. It's really important!"

After Corazon swore solemnly, the two Marines began to half-believe him and reported the situation.

At that very moment, Tsuru had just finished communicating with Sengoku and went to see him.

What the two discussed in secret was unknown to others.

All that was known was that afterward, all the Marines who saw Corazon alive were gathered together and immediately reassigned to Marine Headquarters.

The official message to the public was that no member of the Donquixote family had been found, but just a corpse, thus confirming Corazon's death.

Fortunately, Tsuru reacted quickly, managing to mend the situation before it was too late.

As for Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who was originally so heartbroken, he laughed and cried when he heard his adopted son was still alive and cursed Corazon out of both relief and frustration.

Then Corazon found a note in his clothes.

It read: Now that Law is free, stop disturbing him. Remember, this is what you owe me.

Corazon knew it was from Abel.

He seriously considered whether bringing Law, who had eaten the Ope Ope no Mi, a Devil Fruit, into the Marines was a good thing.

The answer was unexpectedly yes.

So he decided to return alone to Marine Headquarters to report back, not to interfere with Law's new life, and to see when fate would let them meet again.

But what puzzled him was why Abel saved him and what exactly had he been given to eat?