"So he's blind!"
Bullet had already noticed the cloudy cataracts in his neighbor's eyes. And to think he'd assumed this guy was here to help.
"Looks like Doflamingo's getting weaker. If even a blind man like you managed to survive him, that says a lot."
"I am indeed one of Doflamingo's defeated," the blind man replied calmly. "However... although I do not know the reason, I believe he chose—for the time being—not to take our lives."
Issho showed no shame in admitting defeat. There was a serene composure in the way he said it.
"Then that makes me the exception," Bullet scoffed. "The reason I'm still alive... is because I'm strong enough."
With that, he turned and walked off without looking back. Something in his gut told him that this blind man wasn't his kind of people.
...
"I can tell you where we are," Law suddenly said, stepping forward. "Will you teach me how to fight?"
There was something about this blind uncle that made him seem easier to approach than the last one.
Issho turned his clouded eyes in Law's direction.
"Why do you want to fight?"
"Because this world is too dangerous."
"So the peace here was nothing more than Doflamingo's façade..." Issho muttered, jumping to the conclusion his instincts handed him.
"Idiot," Law snapped. "All the guys who lost to Doflamingo-sama are complete idiots."
Law, who'd grown up reading Doflamingo's carefully crafted doctrine, rejected the accusation outright.
"The peace we have now was built by Doflamingo-sama alone. Five years ago, this whole place was nothing but war and chaos."
Could Doflamingo really be that altruistic?
Issho didn't show his doubts. He simply gave a respectful nod and said,
"Forgive me. I spoke out of turn. But I can feel it—this place is peaceful. Tell me... what drives you?"
Once again, he tried to draw out more information.
"Because our country was abandoned by the World Government. Only strength can prevent the next tragedy."
The World Government again... what did they do this time?
Issho's eyes narrowed slightly, but he reined in his emotions and asked gently,
"Your country... where are you from?"
"Flevance."
"To my knowledge," Issho said slowly, "Flevance was destroyed... by the Germa Kingdom. That is, Doflamingo."
"That's just the story Doflamingo-sama spread. I've already told you enough."
Law's roundabout answers circled back to his main point. He stared straight at Issho, clearly waiting for something in return.
"Your turn, old man."
"You're right," Issho said with a nod. "Let's save the rest for later."
He paused, contemplating what might suit Law at this stage in his journey.
"Do you know Observation Haki?"
"Nope!" Law shook his head. It wasn't something he'd learned yet.
"Observation Haki lets you sense incoming attacks..."
Issho went on at length, explaining patiently. By the end, he concluded:
"This is how I've come to perceive the world since I destroyed my own eyes."
Blinded by his own will, Issho had relied solely on his mastery of Observation Haki to navigate the seas.
Among those Doflamingo had encountered, Issho ranked easily in the top five for Observation Haki prowess.
Law only really caught the last part of the explanation. He instinctively took a step back and asked, a bit unsure,
"So... you want me to blind myself too?"
"No," Issho said with a smile. "I'm suggesting you cover your eyes—train your ability to sense, first..."
...
Days passed.
Doflamingo arrived in the Calm Belt's miraculous hidden sanctuary, with Smoothie in tow.
The moment they set foot on the island, a flash of lightning streaked toward them—Enel, wrapped in sparks, burst onto the scene.
"Boss! Can I leave now?!"
He sounded like a man on the brink of going stir-crazy. These last few months, stuck here, had nearly driven him insane.
Back on Raijin Island, at least he'd had Moria and his crew to mess around with.
"No rush. Bring Indigo over here first," Doflamingo replied, eyeing the now bulked-up Enel. "Once that's done... yeah, you're free to go."
Of course Enel wasn't going to stay here forever. A valuable fighter like him couldn't be chained to some barren backwater.
"You got it, Boss!"
-----------
(For each review +1 additional chapter)
+277 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg