The Kid Named Law

"An independent fleet?"

Ron sprawled on the sofa in Sengoku's office, half a rice cracker still between his teeth, making his words muffled.

"Old man, are you promoting me or finding a roundabout way to make me work overtime?"

"What kind of rear admiral goes gallivanting around with just one warship?"

Sengoku slapped the roster down on the desk, his beard bristling. "Two cruisers and a supply ship. Pick your own adjutant."

"Then I'll take Vergo."

Sengoku stroked his beard and nodded. "His training record is excellent, and his Observation Haki is improving quickly. The young man is willing to work hard. It'll do him good to get some experience under you."

Ron smiled.

"I think he has a bright future too."

"But don't give him full access to the independent fleet's intelligence just yet."

Sengoku raised an eyebrow. "Don't you think highly of him?"

"I do, but a recruit still has to take things one step at a time."

Sengoku nodded, thinking the brat was finally starting to act like a flag officer.

Brring, brring.

The dedicated Den Den Mushi on the corner of the desk suddenly rang.

It usually went ten days or even half a month without a call, so Ron immediately swallowed his rice cracker.

Sengoku drew half the curtains and leaned over to answer it.

"Dee-doo, dee-doo, this is Little Rice Cracker~"

The Den Den Mushi's face changed into one with comical makeup.

Sengoku's voice unconsciously softened by eight octaves. "Dee-doo, dee-doo, this is Big Rice Cracker~"

"Pfft—"

Ron nearly sprayed his mouthful of rice cracker onto the ceiling.

Sengoku glared at him and gestured for him to shut up.

Rosinante started with business.

"Doflamingo recently moved a few shipping routes to the New World, and the buyers he's dealing with are getting more and more varied."

Sengoku frowned.

"Are you safe over there?"

"I'm safe."

"The family took in a few new members, but I scared most of them away."

The Den Den Mushi's expression drooped.

Ron remembered the Corazon who was always kicking children until they cried, and his lips twitched.

"Oh, right."

Rosinante suddenly lowered his voice. "A really strange kid showed up recently. No matter how much I beat him, he refuses to leave."

"How old?"

"Ten. He says he only has a few years left to live and goes around all day shouting that he wants to destroy the world."

"His name?"

"Trafalgar Law."

Ron slowly lowered his raised leg.

"He has white patches on his body."

"It looks like he has some strange disease," Rosinante continued. "He bristles whenever anyone touches him. But the look in that kid's eyes..."

An image of a snow-white town flashed through Ron's mind.

Flevance.

Amber Lead Syndrome.

And the black feather coat that had fallen in the snow.

Ron's expression gradually darkened.

"I keep feeling like this kid..."

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Rosinante paused. "He's a bit like I used to be."

"Brother."

It suddenly went quiet on the other end.

"Ron? You're there too?"

"Yeah, Little Rice Cracker~"

"..."

Sengoku's weathered face turned a rare shade of red, and he couldn't help turning to yell at him. "You brat! Call him that again, and I'll take both your cruisers away!"

Ron immediately sat up straight.

"What does Doflamingo think of him?"

"He likes him a lot. He says the kid's hatred is worth cultivating."

Ron's heart sank.

"Brother."

"What is it?"

"Keep an eye on that kid called Law."

"Why?"

"Intuition."

"Since when has your intuition been so accurate?"

"It always has been."

Rosinante couldn't help laughing, then said seriously, "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him."

But Ron couldn't bring himself to laugh.

What he feared most was precisely those words: "I'll keep an eye on him."

After the intelligence report, the call ended.

Sengoku turned and stared at Ron. "The way you reacted just now, it didn't seem like you were just concerned about a sick child."

"Rosinante's too softhearted."

Ron leaned back against the sofa. "When he runs into a little brat who's already shouting about destroying the world at ten, I'm afraid he'll get carried away."

Sengoku fell silent for a moment and didn't press him.

But Ron was in no hurry to leave.

The Op-Op Fruit, the secret deal, Minion Island...

He remembered all of that.

But when would the fruit arrive? Where exactly would the deal take place?

Of all things, he couldn't remember a single one of those crucial details.

Worse still, he had already beaten Doflamingo once, and he'd brought Vergo under his command.

What happened next might not follow the original course.

Ron rubbed his temples in frustration. "Why didn't I take notes when I watched the anime back then..."

"What anime?" Sengoku frowned.

"Nothing. I just remembered an old book I read for fun."

"Less reading for fun, more writing reports!"

"..."

Ron gave up. How did this old man always manage to steer the conversation straight back to reports?

Thud!

A muffled thump came from outside the door as something heavy hit the ground.

A marine poked half his head in. "Rear Admiral Ron! A package was forwarded to you from the Holy Land. The guys had a hell of a time carrying it in!"

The box was carried inside, with a Den Den Mushi as big as a calf nestled in it.

An Elbaf sun pattern was painted on its shell, and a note had been tucked under it.

[Young man, let's keep in touch! Come have a drink when you're free! —Harald]

Ron looked down at the box, then up at Sengoku.

"Did he forget I'm human?"

Sengoku's lips twitched. "For something from a giant, he was already being considerate to give you one this size."

Ron didn't rush to make a call.

Harald had sent the package, but it had come through the Holy Land.

Just because Harald himself was trustworthy didn't mean no one had tampered with it in transit.

Professional habits from his previous life made him naturally wary of communications equipment that had passed through so many hands.

"I'd better check it first."

Ron raised a hand and opened a Spatial Door, sending the entire box through.

Then he stepped in after it.

In the Vice Admiral's office.

Borsalino was holding a cup, leisurely sipping his tea.

Click.

An Air Door suddenly opened.

A huge wooden box landed on the floor.

Ron came through right behind it.

"My dear uncle, do me a favor, would you~?"

"Oh, what a big Den Den Mushi~ What important person has little Ron gotten to know this time?"

"The king of Elbaf sent it. It was forwarded through the Holy Land."

At that, Borsalino's hand paused for half a second, tea cup in hand.

Ron pushed the box toward him. "Aren't you guarding Vegapunk now? Take it to him and ask him to check for bugs. Better yet, have him add a layer of encryption. And while he's at it... can he make it smaller?"

"That's quite a list of requests~"

"I'll bring you some miso ramen from the North Blue next time, and bananas too."

"Then I want two meals."

Borsalino smiled as he took the box, but his tone gradually grew a little more serious. "Little Ron, lately you seem to be getting more and more fond of dealing with dangerous people~"

"Isn't it good to have more friends?"

"Of course it's good to have more friends."

Borsalino glanced at the Holy Land seal on the box.

"But little Ron, you should still be careful with things that come from the Holy Land~"

"That's why I came to you."

"Oh my, you really know how to give me work~"

Borsalino fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

"I'll hand it to Vegapunk myself and bring it back once he's checked it."

"Thanks, Uncle."

"Oh, right, that old man has been going on about wanting to study your spatial ability~"

"Come visit sometime when you're free."

"Can you guarantee he won't cut me open while I'm there?"

"I can't guarantee that."

"..."

Ron suddenly felt that a bigger Den Den Mushi was actually pretty good too.