Deep inside Wolf's underground laboratory.
"Mr. Wolf, where are the blueprints?" Law asked, his eyes sweeping across the dimly lit room.
This hidden workshop served as Wolf's secret sanctuary, housing a vast collection of his engineering prototypes and inventions. Law was the very first outsider to ever cross its threshold.
Had Wolf not known Law's character, the inventor might have suspected the boy led Bardock's crew straight to his doorstep. Still, the old man remained baffled as to how the pirate captain had pinpointed this hidden location.
"There's no rush for the blueprints. Law, do you remember our conversation regarding the ultimate technique of the Op-Op Fruit?" Wolf asked, his tone unhurried.
"Yeah, I remember. It was right after your flying machine prototype crashed..." Law recalled.
"That wasn't a crash, it was an unexpected malfunction," Wolf corrected quickly.
Law sighed, spreading his hands. "Fine. After that malfunction, while recovering from the surgery I performed on you, you warned me about it. The Op-Op Fruit's ultimate operation grants a person eternal youth, but the price demands the user's own life."
"Exactly. Trading your life for a one-time miracle," Wolf sighed heavily. "I warned you never to expose that power lightly, lest it invite endless trouble. Judging by the current situation, it seems Bardock's crew already knows you possess the fruit."
Law lowered his gaze, remaining silent. Facing an overwhelming pirate crew with unknown motives, he stood zero chance of fighting back without his Devil Fruit. Although deploying his powers ultimately failed to alter the outcome, he knew he would make the exact same choice if given a second chance.
"Well, you should be safe in the short term," Wolf offered a comforting word. "Besides, triggering the ultimate operation undoubtedly requires your willing consent. Try not to stress over it too much."
Law simply nodded.
Wolf dropped the heavy topic, grabbing a thick folder from his workbench. "Here. These are the submarine schematics. Go ahead and hand them over."
The blueprints never needed sorting in the first place; Wolf merely used the task as an excuse to speak privately with the boy. Law accepted the heavy folder and turned to leave.
"Law!" Wolf called out to the boy's retreating back. "I've already begun constructing my own submarine. I even picked out a name: the Polar Tang. Its design mimics a swallow soaring through the ocean depths. If... if you ever find yourself back on this island someday, don't forget to visit me. That ship will be waiting here as my gift to you. Take care of yourself out there! And look after Bepo, Penguin, and Shachi!"
Law halted, his shoulders trembling slightly. He didn't look back. Blinking back the moisture welling in his eyes, he forced his voice to remain steady. "Rest easy, Mr. Wolf. I promise to protect everyone. Take good care of the Polar Tang for me."
Clutching the blueprints tightly to his chest, Law sprinted up the stairs toward the surface.
Topside, Bardock accepted the folder, casually flipped through a few pages, and passed it directly to Robin.
Robin rapidly leafed through the documents, her sharp eyes scanning the complex diagrams. She mentally cataloged the schematics, simultaneously reading and memorizing the dense mechanical contents. By the time she reached the final page, a flawless backup copy existed permanently in her mind. This was the true caliber of a genius scholar and a top-tier archaeologist.
Ultimately, Bardock assigned Enel, Kid, and Chopper to analyze the engineering data.
Since the White Dragon already integrated a diverse array of advanced technologies, they couldn't just blindly copy Wolf's schematics. They needed to adapt and modify the designs to fit their vessel's unique framework.
Furthermore, outsourcing the retrofitting to local shipwrights was unnecessary. The automated guard robots stationed aboard served as versatile, high-end assistants. Capable of handling everything from cleaning and cooking to combat and navigation, they could effortlessly execute the heavy mechanical labor required for the shipwright duties. By keeping the labor in-house, the White Dragon's technological secrets remained strictly confidential.
With the retrofitting plan finalized, Bardock felt no rush to weigh anchor. Instead, he treated the entire crew to a well-deserved vacation across Swallow Island.
Initially, the terrified locals kept their distance. However, after Wolf vouched for the crew's peaceful intentions, the townsfolk tentatively returned to the streets, finally allowing the pirates to enjoy the island's authentic culinary delicacies.
By the time Bardock ordered preparations for departure, three days had passed. The short reprieve granted Law, Bepo, and the others ample time to bid farewell to their friends and acquaintances.
Setting aside Bepo's trio, Law had already built a formidable reputation as a highly skilled physician despite his young age. On the morning of their departure, a massive crowd gathered at the docks to see him off.
Wolf never showed his face in the crowd. However, he couldn't mask his presence from the Observation Haki masters aboard the ship; he was silently watching their departure from a distant hilltop.
"Law, Wolf is standing over in that direction," Bardock noted casually, gesturing toward the ridgeline. "Give him a final wave."
Law and the other three turned toward the distant hills and waved their arms high into the air.
Farewell, Mr. Wolf! Goodbye, Swallow Island!
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