While Law continued his training, far away from his hiding place, another part of North Blue was bustling with darkness.
A massive port island.
Dozens of ships filled the harbor—pirate vessels, mafia ships, black flags fluttering in the wind. Criminals from all over gathered here.
At the center of the island stood a magnificent mansion.
Inside one of its rooms, a tall man with blond hair and sunglasses lounged on a sofa, smiling lazily.
Donquixote Doflamingo.
Standing before him was one of his most trusted subordinates—Trebol.
"So…" Doflamingo said slowly.
"Now that I've finally become a Shichibukai…
Any information on Law's whereabouts?"
Trebol shook his head.
"Not yet, Doffy.
Our spies are searching all across North Blue. We'll find him soon."
"Fufufu…" Doflamingo chuckled.
"Good. And how are things in the Grand Line?"
"At first, it was difficult," Trebol replied.
"The weather, the Marines constantly interfering…
But now that you're a Shichibukai, they no longer interfere.
Our business is flourishing again."
Doflamingo nodded.
"Good.
Tell our spies to stop searching for Law."
Trebol froze.
"What?! Why, Doffy?!
That Devil Fruit—!"
Doflamingo's smile turned cold.
"There's no need to worry.
I can feel it.
Sooner or later… Law will come to me."
He stood up.
"For now, we focus on the Grand Line…
and the New World."
"How goes the takeover of Dressrosa?" he asked.
Trebol grinned.
"Perfectly.
Our men have already infiltrated the royal palace.
Soon, we'll have all the information."
"FU FU FU FU FU!" Doflamingo laughed.
"Excellent.
Tell the family to prepare. In a few days, we set sail for the Grand Line…
Then the New World.
Dressrosa will fall."
Yet deep inside, he thought:
If Vergo hadn't intercepted Corazon's secret message…
The Marines and the World Government would've learned everything.
My plans would've ended there.
At the same time, while the Donquixote Family prepared to move…
Law was just beginning his journey.
He ran through the mountain paths, pushing his endurance training further. His lungs burned, his legs screamed, but he didn't stop.
Suddenly—
"RAAAAGH!"
A scream.
Law halted.
"…Someone's calling for help?"
He turned and sprinted toward the sound.
Pushing through the trees, he froze.
Before him stood several armed men surrounding a white bear.
The creature was wounded, terrified, and roaring in desperation.
Law slowly clenched his fists.
"…A white bear?"
A name surfaced in his mind.
Bepo.
A mink.
A future member of the Heart Pirates.
One of the strongest… and kindest among them.
Law knew this. He remembered.
He remembered who Bepo would become.
How one day, pushed to his limits, Bepo would fight alone against the Blackbeard Pirates.
But now…
Now he was simply enduring the pain.
Law watched as the men began to beat him.
Bepo did not fight back.
He never liked fighting.
He never wanted to hurt anyone.
Law took a step forward.
And in that moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.