"...What?!" *2
Zoffy and Ace both cried out in shock, and Law, standing between them, instinctively took a step back.
The two couldn't dodge in time and were promptly flattened by a pair of fists.
They barely had time to hurl insults at each other before scrambling to their feet, their gazes shooting toward Upper Yard.
A massive black flame cloud swirled through the sky, lifting Upper Yard into the air, manipulated by the dragon.
In their wide, innocent eyes was a sea of confusion.
"Vergo-san?! What's he doing?! Has Father abandoned us??"
"Ohohohoho~ Such inattentive children, aren't you!"
Jora waddled toward them, her body more curvaceous than ever, wearing a kindly smile as she approached Zoffy and Ace.
"Granny Jora! / Auntie Jora! / Teacher Jora!"
"Does Doffy know you two snuck out?"
She scooped them up, trying to rub their cheeks with hers.
But four small hands shot up to block her face, each trying to push her head toward the other brother.
"Of course he knows! Father told us to come to school today!" *2
"Ohohoho, then I suppose we'll just have to wait for Doffy to finish his business and come fetch you two!"
Setting the two hyperactive kids down, Jora pulled out a comms device linked to the combat division and pressed a button.
Bzzzzzzzz...
A crackle of static, and then Stella's calm voice came through:
"Please keep your belongings with you and avoid unnecessary movement…"
"Attention, everyone! In light of the threats and attacks from the World Government, the migration initiative has now begun.
Please secure your possessions and remain in place…"
...
Far in the distance, the rocking of Upper Yard began to settle.
Inside Upper Yard's Royal Hospital.
The tremors had just subsided when Bullet awoke, blinking at the familiar ceiling. He instantly recognized where he was.
Another failure. Even though he wielded the same strength as Roger...
Doflamingo really is that strong. I want to surpass him… no—I will.
Bullet's eyes shifted downward—something was weighing down on him.
Their eyes met—soft and bleary.
Konis rubbed her eyes and lit up with joy.
"Bullet-sama! You're awake! You must be starving! Want something to eat?"
Bullet's expression was frosty, unfamiliar discomfort rising within him. He barked, "Who are you?!"
"Bullet-sama! I'm Konis! A trainee at the Donquixote Royal Hospital! I beat out a hundred other candidates to take care of you!"
Little Konis puffed out her chest proudly. She was this close to becoming a full-time nurse—super impressive!
"What candidates? I don't need looking after!" If he weren't wrapped in bandages, Bullet would've gotten up and walked out already.
These wounds weren't even from fighting that Logia loser.
And he didn't need sympathy from the weak!
"But you're a hero, Bullet-sama! You foiled the World Government's conspiracy!"
Konis's eyes sparkled with admiration. She didn't flinch at Bullet's frosty glare. Leaning in, she whispered in his ear:
"Why don't you eat something first? It'll help you heal faster!"
"I don't need—"
Bullet turned his head away. As a child soldier raised with nothing but weapons, he felt a strange and alien stirring deep inside.
Growwwl...
His stomach betrayed him with a loud grumble.
"Ehehe~ no need to be embarrassed, Bullet-sama! As a hero, you deserve a proper meal!"
Konis dashed off toward the heating station.
She put on gloves and pulled out a piping hot, nutrient-packed bowl of pumpkin noodles.
"Here, try this! Bullet-sama! This is a recipe my dad taught me!"
She twirled a golden clump of noodles with a fork, blew gently on them, and held it up to Bullet's mouth.
A meal fit for a "hero"?
Why had his country betrayed him?
Bullet's combat-wired brain short-circuited from the overload of unfamiliar thoughts.
"Just a little bite, okay? Bullet-sama, I promise it's really tasty!"
Konis beamed with pure enthusiasm. Seeing Bullet still unmoved, her tone turned playful, almost pleading.
Expressionless, Bullet opened his mouth.
He needed to feel it for himself—
What kind of treatment a "hero" was supposed to receive.
...
Sacred Palace.
"Fufufufufu~"
Watching the surveillance footage delivered from the hospital, Doflamingo burst out laughing as Bullet's stiff expression played across the screen.
Abandoned at birth, raised as a child soldier.
Betrayed by comrades, fed lies by his adoptive father.
He grew up starved of affection.
And it made him a high-powered musclehead with nothing but weapons and violence on his mind.
Bullet never had a goal of his own.
As a child, he sought approval through medals.
Later, despite being strong enough to destroy a nation, he still obeyed his adoptive father's orders just for a scrap of recognition.
Got his ass handed to him by Roger during puberty, and ever since, made Roger his personal benchmark. Isn't that just... twisted fanboy logic?
The only time he acted like a real person was during his time on Roger's ship—when he finally started to care about protecting his comrades.
How could Doflamingo, the world's most benevolent saint, tolerate this?
Of course he had to help Bullet reclaim the childhood he never had!
And first up—give him the proper treatment a hero deserves.
"Bullet, soak it in. Soak in the people's love!"
Creak...
The palace doors opened, and a sultry figure stepped in, her eyes full of hunger.
"Boss, long time no see!"
"You've worked hard, Baccarat."
Meeting her fiery gaze, Doflamingo lifted a hand and beckoned.
Baccarat's vision blurred for a moment.
Suddenly, her chin was cradled in a broad palm.
Her curves shifted under his gentle but firm grip.
Her breath grew heavy.
The parched ground finally tasted flowing water.
"What kind of reward do you want?"
Doflamingo gently massaged her tender peaks, attempting to restore their original shape.
"I want a child just as strong and healthy as Zoffy!"
Baccarat's eyes lingered on the crimson sunglasses in front of her. She licked her lips, her body leaning closer toward that searing heat.
"Then you'd better work twice as hard."
Doflamingo smirked with excitement.
His String-String Fruit powers activated, slowly peeling their clothes away piece by piece.
They dissolved into a curtain of threads, enclosing the two of them.
As for Bullet? Doflamingo had already tossed him out of mind.
If this worked, they'd get a somewhat normal Bullet out of it.
If it didn't—well, just beat it into him again.
Roger managed it. So could he.
Time slipped away, unnoticed.