Half a month had passed since their encounter with Zunesha, and life aboard the Dawn Ship had been unusually peaceful.
By the end of August, during an auction at Gran Tesoro, Ash successfully acquired another Devil Fruit, the Ox Ox Fruit, Model: Giraffe.
Ash strongly suspected this was the very same Devil Fruit Kaku of CP9 would obtain five years later.
Still, that had nothing to do with him.
Mission: Devil Fruit Collection Count [81 / 500]
...
After spending another ten relaxing days aboard the golden city, Ash was preparing to head toward the Sabaody Archipelago when Sali suddenly contacted him.
"Ash, Twin Cape is starting to look more and more like a refugee shelter," Sali complained the moment the Den Den Mushi connected.
Ash laughed.
"What now? Another famous Pirate Hunter came here to worship you?"
"Worship is a bit much, but the guy is pretty well known. This time it's not a Pirate Hunter though, it's a pirate."
"A pirate?" Ash raised an eyebrow. "For you not to deal with him immediately and actually call me instead, he must have passed your judgment. Sounds like an interesting person."
"Very interesting. More interesting than those three idiots who got lost here last time."
"He brought the hearts of one hundred pirates to prove his resolve. He wants to join the Pirate Hunters, and his goal is revenge against the Heavenly Yaksha."
"One hundred hearts... revenge against Doflamingo..." Ash paused for a second before his eyes narrowed. "Trafalgar Law?"
Back when the Dawn Ship passed through the North Blue and stopped at Swallow Island, Ash had deliberately searched for Law.
Compared to Ace and Monkey D. Luffy, Ash actually appreciated Law more.
He could understand him better.
The tragedy of Flevance and the outbreak of Amber Lead Syndrome had destroyed Law's homeland and taken away his parents and younger sister, leaving him alone at a young age.
As someone who had also grown up an orphan, Ash understood that pain.
In some ways, Law's suffering had been even crueler.
After all, losing something precious after having it was far more painful than never having it at all.
Fortunately, Law met Corazon.
The kindest man in the Donquixote Family had dragged him back from the edge of darkness and given him a reason to live.
Later, after Corazon's death, Law met Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin, finding warmth and companionship again.
It was similar to Ash's own life.
When he was young, he met the orphanage director who gave him shelter, and later the professor who supported him after he entered school.
A person's childhood could completely shape who they became.
Without the orphanage, there would be no Ash today.
Without Corazon, there would be no Trafalgar Law either, only another blood soaked executive of the Donquixote Family.
Their similar pasts and different journeys made it easy for Ash to understand Law's heart.
Compared to Ace and Luffy, whose lives often revolved around instinct and impulse, Law's inner world was far deeper and more complicated.
Unfortunately, when Ash searched for him back then, Law had already been sailing for over three years.
Even after the Dawn Ship swept through the North Blue, they never once encountered the Polar Tang.
Unexpectedly, the man he failed to find years ago had now arrived at his doorstep himself.
After hearing Sali's explanation, Ash quickly understood the situation.
The reason was simple.
Sali had beaten Doflamingo twice and personally crippled several executives of the Donquixote Family.
For someone obsessed with revenge against Doflamingo, there was no better attraction than that.
As long as you fought Doflamingo, Law would naturally consider you an ally.
Very much like him.
After thinking it over briefly, Ash decided to meet him personally.
Twin Cape.
Ash soon met the twenty one year old Trafalgar Law alongside Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo. Their yellow submarine, the Polar Tang, was docked beside the lighthouse.
This time, Ash did not bother hiding his identity behind a mask.
The moment Law's group saw the infamous Heavenly Emperor Ash standing before them, the man whose reputation among pirates was even more brutal than White Lion Sali, all four of them visibly stiffened.
Ash's gaze swept across them before stopping on the smiling emblem painted on the Polar Tang.
Law's heartbeat skipped instantly.
His expression changed as he hurriedly tried to explain.
"That isn't a skull symbol, it's just... it's..."
Before he could finish, Ash casually waved him off.
"No need to explain. I know that smile belongs to Corazon."
"Besides, my Dawn Ship doesn't accept people who willingly sailed under a pirate flag. Sali's side is different. As long as you pass his judgment, that's enough."
The moment Corazon's name left Ash's mouth, Law's pupils trembled violently.
He barely even heard the second half of the sentence.
Instinctively, he wanted to step back and widen the distance between them.
But after remembering Ash's actions against pirates and Sali's open hostility toward the Donquixote Family, he forcibly stopped himself.
"You... how do you know about Corazon-san?"
Law knew he should not be asking questions right now.
Unfortunately, emotions rarely listened to reason.
"That's not something you need to know," Ash replied casually. "Instead, answer one question for me. If your answer satisfies me, I'll give you the opportunity to personally take revenge against Doflamingo."
Law's body stiffened slightly.
He glanced toward Sali, only to find him watching the scene with amusement and no intention of interfering.
At that moment, Law realized he had no room to refuse.
"Ask."
Ash smiled faintly as his eyes drifted toward the DEATH tattoo across Law's fingers.
"What is the meaning of a doctor's existence?"
Law froze.
After several seconds of silence, he slowly answered.
"A doctor exists to save lives, to protect the people who matter."
Ash nodded slightly.
"Then what does the word 'DEATH' on your fingers mean?"
Law lowered his gaze toward his tattooed hand.
"From the moment I used my own abilities to save myself and keep my companions alive, I decided these hands would save the people who deserve to live."
"And to control life and death, you have to walk alongside death itself."
"Only those who understand death can truly hold it in their hands."
Ash looked at him quietly for a moment before smiling.
"Good answer. I'll count that as passing."
Law subconsciously let out a breath of relief.
Ash then turned toward Sali.
"Since we promised him a chance to personally finish off Doflamingo, his current strength isn't enough. Train him properly."
Sali grinned.
"No problem. I'll make sure they understand becoming a Pirate Hunter isn't easy."
"Good." Ash waved casually as he prepared to leave. "I'm heading back to Sabaody. I still need to squeeze a bit more out of Joker before Law eventually kills him."
"Wait!"
Law suddenly called out to stop him.
"I heard you've been hunting Devil Fruit users and collecting Devil Fruits. Is that true?"
===
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