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"So, Doflamingo, which will you choose?"
A cold, indifferent voice rang out. Doflamingo stared at the icy face before him, his gaze sinking slightly. He could feel an inexplicable tension rising in his heart. He could tell from the other party's tone of voice that they were deadly serious.
"He really will kill me!!"
Recalling their brief clash not long ago, in which he had been completely overpowered from start to finish, Doflamingo's expression turned even uglier. This man was superior to him in every way. There wasn't a single weakness to exploit.
"Haa…" Doflamingo took a deep breath, clenched his teeth, and made his decision. "To be noticed by a great figure like Vice Admiral Kojin is an honor!"
Standing opposite him, Donquixote Rosinante, wrapped in bandages, showed a surprised expression upon hearing this answer.
Kojin simply nodded faintly and slowly stood up. "You're a smart one. So in the future, you shouldn't do anything to disappoint me."
After a pause, he smiled slightly, bent forward just a little, and looked down at him.
"Do you want to know where the gap lies between you and the top powerhouses of this world?"
"Or do you want to know how to obtain strength equal to mine?"
Doflamingo was stunned for a moment, then his pupils shrank. Just moments ago, this man had truly intended to kill him, and now he was just as serious about what he was saying.
"This guy…! He's actually willing to tell me how to gain power?!
Doflamingo was shaken to his core.
"Meet some of my requirements, and you'll have that opportunity."
A faint laugh followed. By the time Doflamingo looked up again, all he could see was the man's back. Soon after, the surrounding Marines turned and left one by one.
Rosinante walked over and removed the shackles binding him.
"Don't even think about it, Doffy! You know how strong Vice Admiral Kojin is!"
Seeing the vigilance in the other's eyes, Doflamingo narrowed his own slightly, then suddenly broke into a grin.
"Fufufufufufu! Never underestimate your elder brother, Corazon! I understand the truth of this world better than you… and I understand the word "justice" far more deeply!"
Stretching his wrists and enduring the pain throughout his body, Doflamingo staggered to his feet, his eyes fixed tightly on the departing figure ahead.
"Only the victor is Justice! His strength surpasses mine, so I'm willing to submit to him!"
His eyes narrowed and, for the first time, a smile appeared on Doflamingo's face.
"I'm already starting to look forward to it…"
Hearing these almost frenzied words, Rosinante shook his head, unable to comprehend his elder brother's mindset. But he knew one thing for certain: so long as Kojin remained, the man before him wouldn't be able to stir up any trouble.
"Doffy!!!"
At that moment, Diamante, who had just regained consciousness, called out from not far away.
Doflamingo narrowed his eyes and glanced at Diamante, rolling his stiff neck before suddenly grinning.
"You all head back first! I have some matters to discuss with Vice Admiral Kojin! I'll come find you later!"
Diamante froze, confusion appearing on his face. No matter how much he shouted or questioned Doflamingo, however, he remained silent and simply followed Corazon.
At the very last second before he disappeared from sight, an invisible thread cut through the ropes binding him and the others.
"Don't follow me!"
"Do as I said."
"Wait quietly for my return!"
A faint voice echoed. Diamante was stunned, then nodded heavily, but the worry in his eyes was impossible to hide. No one could guarantee the young lord's safety if he followed someone that powerful. Whether from legend or personal experience, Kojin's strength filled them with fear.
It was a power akin to that of a god.
...
Half an hour later, Kojin's West Blue squad boarded a battleship from the shore.
They went aboard one by one. Doflamingo followed Rosinante silently behind, while Trafalgar D. Water Law, still a child, looked around curiously.
He had long known about Rosinante's identity as a Marine. But he had never imagined that the things he had once thought were exaggerated boasts were all true.
Every single person on this ship was strong. It wasn't guesswork; it was an instinctive perception that made Law completely certain.
"Am I going to become a Marine in the future?"
This thought suddenly surfaced in his mind. Soon, his emotions became complicated. The disaster in Flevance had made him hate the Marines with all his heart, and yet today, he had been saved by them.
This contradiction made Law fall into deep silence.
Kojin stepped onto the battleship, with Eveya following behind. His mood had long since calmed, and his earlier irritability had disappeared.
This trip had been extremely fruitful.
He had saved Rosinante, subdued Doflamingo, and even gained Trafalgar Law along the way.
In Kojin's eyes, all three of them had immense potential.
Although Rosinante had died young, he was a Celestial Dragon, and his innate talent was exceptional; it wouldn't be false to say that his talent was no less than his elder brother's.
With proper training, he could become extremely powerful in a short time.
As for the other two, they were both destined to become future Shichibukai.
Doflamingo had already mastered all three types of Haki. As long as he continued to hone them, his strength would naturally keep growing. If he could grasp Conqueror's Haki Infusion, he could become one of the world's top-tier powerhouses.
As for Trafalgar D. Water Law, he had eaten the Ope Ope no Mi, or Operation-Operation Fruit. As a descendant of the mysterious "D" clan, his potential was immense, and although he was still young, his future was boundless.
Kojin's gaze swept over them before settling on Donquixote Rosinante, his eyes darkening slightly.
"Nearly eleven years... and the only one among those under me whose strength has declined instead of improved is you."
Hearing this, Rosinante's face fell immediately.
"It seems you've forgotten most of what I once warned you about. In that case, don't blame me for putting you through even more brutal training from now on." Kojin spoke calmly.
"Even more brutal training?" Rosinante froze, and then, as if recalling something, fear appeared on his face.
Kojin ignored him and shifted his gaze to Law, sighing softly.
"As for the tragedy of Flevance, I once raised objections at the Levely. Unfortunately, they weren't adopted, which ultimately led to such a disaster."
Law was stunned, staring blankly at Kojin.
"Vice Admiral Kojin went to Mary Geoise last year as the prince of Alabasta to attend the Levely," Eveya explained at the right moment.
Kojin nodded slightly.
"Mary Geoise?"
A flash of shock crossed Donquixote Doflamingo's face. Others might not have understood, but he clearly knew what those simple words implied.
This man had secrets far deeper than anyone could have imagined.
"Doflamingo, you are a Celestial Dragon who was expelled from Mary Geoise. But Vice Admiral Kojin has another identity... something you've always longed for! He is also a Celestial Dragon!" Eveya snorted coldly.
"What?!"
At these words, Rosinante, Doflamingo, and Law all widened their eyes in extreme shock.
This Marine was actually a Celestial Dragon?!
"Although Vice Admiral Kojin is a Celestial Dragons, he has never taken pride in that identity. Instead, he strives to do what he believes is justice! In his eyes, Celestial Dragons, ordinary people, and even other races are all equal! There is no difference between them at all!" Eveya spoke solemnly, her eyes filled with respect and admiration.
Though the events at Mary Geoise had long passed, they were unforgettable to her, etched deeply into her soul.
"Enough!" Kojin suddenly snapped.
Eveya stuck out her tongue playfully and fell silent.
"What determines who you become is never your birth, your background, or your bloodline. It's who you choose to become in the future." Kojin said softly.
He looked at Law and smiled faintly.
"Rosinante almost gave his life to save you. I hope your future won't disappoint him."
Law silently clenched his fists, glanced at Corazon beside him, and nodded firmly.
"If you're willing, I can train you alongside Corazon. I'll make you strong enough to control your own fate." Kojin said.
"I'm willing! I want to become stronger... stronger than ever! Stronger than him!" Law shouted immediately, glaring at Doflamingo.
Doflamingo remained expressionless, a faint mocking smile appearing at the corners of his lips.
Kojin also smiled lightly. "If you work hard enough, defeating him as he is now would be easy."
Then his gaze shifted back to Doflamingo.
Haoshoku, Busoshoku, and Kenbunshoku Haki and your unique way of developing the Ito Ito no Mi (String-String Fruit) are all impressive. I have to admit, you do have your own understanding of power."
A trace of pride appeared on Doflamingo's face. All of his strength had been forged through countless life-or-death battles. He had never had a proper teacher nor undergone systematic training; this alone was something to be proud of.
Everything he possessed had been carved out through sheer struggle.
"But… you're still far from enough."
However, the next moment, Kojin shook his head.
"True top-tier powerhouses... The Devil Fruit users push their abilities beyond ordinary limits. They call this the Awakening of a Devil Fruit."
"In the training of Busoshoku Haki, they master advanced techniques, such as Ryuo."
Hearing this, Rosinante's eyes widened.
"I've heard of that. It's an advanced Armament Haki technique that allows you to project your power into your opponent's body!"
Kojin nodded slightly.
His gaze shifted to the now-shocked Doflamingo.
Clearly, these two concepts alone were things he had never even heard of, let alone mastered.
"And beyond that… There is also Conqueror's Haki Infusion!"
Doflamingo suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with shock.
"Conqueror's Haki Infusion?!"
Haoshoku Haki, a talent one is born with, could actually be infused as well?!
Could it be... this man in front of him...?
Doflamingo's pupils shrank.
At that moment, he realized the true reason why he was so much weaker than Kojin.
(End of Chapter)
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