Since Diarmuid arrived in the North Blue, his main focus has been on this matter.
He didn't know if anything would change, if the Op-Op Fruit transaction would still take place on Minion Island, but he chose to hang around in the seas near Minion Island anyway.
After all, he had no other option.
What if there were no changes?
In fact, he bet right; the transaction was indeed still on Minion Island!
Thinking about it, it was inevitable. Minion Island is the North Blue's largest unregulated territory, a Pirate Paradise and the core region for the North Blue's Underworld. Any illicit transactions in the North Blue would typically take place there.
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Diarmuid looked at Hina and said, "Pass on the order: proceed immediately to Minion Island."
"Yes, Admiral," Hina replied, her expression serious.
"Also, be sure to avoid Vergo. Just say that I haven't been back to the North Blue in a long time, and since I first clashed with Shiki on Minion Island, I thought I'd stop by and take a look while I'm here," Diarmuid added as an instruction.
Hina knew Vergo's true identity, so she smiled and said, "I understand, Admiral."
Sengoku and Kong knew that Diarmuid's real purpose for this trip to the North Blue was to cause trouble for Doflamingo and try to get the Gold-Gold Fruit. But on the surface, Diarmuid was actually here for a vacation and leisure, claiming he wanted to visit his homeland. This was perfectly reasonable, and no one suspected a thing. Diarmuid had spent the last few days drifting around the North Blue without doing anything significant, which seemed to further confirm this cover story.
Vergo had previously received orders from Doflamingo to only contact him regarding major, critically important issues. Diarmuid coming to the North Blue for a vacation was certainly not a major issue, so Vergo naturally did not contact Doflamingo. Thus, he was unaware that Doflamingo was also rapidly heading to Minion Island.
Therefore, as long as they could keep Vergo in the dark during this trip, Doflamingo wouldn't receive any news.
A wave of emotion briefly washed over Diarmuid as he thought about this. Barring any surprises, it was time to confront Doflamingo. Vergo would likely transition from a secret agent to an overt one, becoming someone like Bartholomew Kuma, used specifically for future contact with Doflamingo.
Frankly, if Vergo wasn't a spy, Diarmuid would genuinely admire him. He would have promoted him to Rear Admiral or Vice Admiral long ago. The guy was highly efficient, had a good reputation, and his strength was impressive. His only flaw was that he served under Doflamingo.
As Diarmuid's group began heading toward Minion Island, on the other side of the island's waters, the Heavenly Yaksha Donquixote Doflamingo's ship, the Numancia Flamingo, was also advancing toward Minion Island.
Doflamingo sat on the deck, his expression shifting between moods, at one moment slightly pleased, at the next, visibly angry.
"Have you figured it out yet? Who exactly took that merchandise?" Doflamingo asked his executives, his tone laced with a sense of danger.
Initially, he had been quite delighted that the Navy, those simpletons, were going through him, the middleman, to conduct a trade for the Op-Op Fruit with Diez Barrels. Was this not a gift delivered right to his doorstep?
Doflamingo agreed without a word and acted extremely deferential toward the Navy. He even hinted at his desire to become a Warlord of the Sea to put the Navy's minds at ease. As expected, the Navy didn't grow suspicious.
So, Doflamingo's mood was excellent at the time. How good? So good that he was ready to personally shell out five billion Berries to generously reward that idiot, Barrels. Doflamingo felt the matter was a sure thing; as long as the Navy didn't pull any stunts, the Op-Op Fruit was bound to fall into his hands.
Upon receiving the news, he started wondering if he should arrange for Rosinante to become the Op-Op Fruit user. Once his abilities were fully developed, he could perform the Eternal Youth Operation on Doflamingo.
Or... even Trafalgar Law would do.
Though the little brat had Amber Lead Syndrome and likely wouldn't live long, eating the Op-Op Fruit should solve the problem. In that case, he would have a life-debt to Doflamingo, who had also looked after him for years. When the time came for the Eternal Youth Operation, asking him to repay this debt should be non-negotiable, right?
Just as Doflamingo was fantasizing about a brilliant future, becoming an immortal "Lower God," he suddenly received news: his merchandise was stolen!
Not long ago, he had acquired the Paramecia-type Gold-Gold Fruit. As a fellow merchant, Doflamingo naturally understood how important this fruit was. Therefore, he had no intention of selling it and planned to keep it for now until he found a suitable person to eat it and earn him a massive fortune.
He hadn't found that person yet, and he wasn't in a hurry, so he simply stashed the fruit away.
But today, during the monthly inventory check, his subordinates actually reported that the Gold-Gold Fruit had vanished into thin air!
What the hell!
I, Doflamingo, am the only one who swindles others! Who dares to swindle me, Doflamingo!?
Who? Who is this audacious person?
Doflamingo's good mood rapidly soured. He secretly swore that if he found the suspect, he would torture them thoroughly before sending them to the bottom of the sea!
Trebol shook his head at the question. "No progress yet, Doffy..."
The anger in Doflamingo's eyes grew fiercer, but his self-control was strong. After a period of stifled frustration, he suppressed his rage and said in a deep voice, "Before I get the Op-Op Fruit and return, those damned fools better give me an explanation, or I will give them one!"
"Yes, Doffy," Trebol quickly responded.
After slightly calming his tone, Doflamingo asked, "Where is Rosinante? Has he run off with that kid, Law, again?"
Ever since Rosinante met Trafalgar Law, he frequently took the boy and ran off, claiming he was trying to cure Law's disease. Doflamingo never stopped him. Rosinante was his little brother, and Law was a boy who greatly resembled his past self; Doflamingo was extremely lenient with both of them. Moreover, every time Rosinante ran off for a while, he'd return with Law empty-handed, never pulling any other stunts, so Doflamingo never suspected Rosinante of anything. He had simply grown accustomed to the routine.
"Yes. He left a day earlier than us. We don't know where he went," Trebol answered.
"He really doesn't make it easy for his older brother to relax..." Doflamingo sighed, a faint hint of affection even visible in his eyes.
Before Trebol could speak, Doflamingo continued, "Once I get the Op-Op Fruit, contact both of them. Tell them to come back immediately. Say I need to see them and that it might save Law's life."
Whether Rosinante ate it or Law ate it, the ability would be in their hands and could be used to save Trafalgar Law. Doflamingo was genuinely intending to save the little brat.
"I understand, Doffy," Trebol nodded and replied.
Meanwhile, at the port of Minion Island, a small ship was docking, and two figures quickly disembarked.
It was Donquixote Rosinante and Trafalgar Law.
Standing on Minion Island, Rosinante glanced at the boundless sea in the distance and hefted the small bundle in his hand. "I guess Doflamingo has already discovered that the Gold-Gold Fruit is missing, right? The end-of-the-month inventory check is right around this time."
That's right, the person who stole the Gold-Gold Fruit was Rosinante himself.
After learning about the Op-Op Fruit from Sengoku, he decided to snatch it and save Law's life. However, he knew that by doing so, he would not only mess up the Navy's business and betray Sengoku's trust, but also completely destroy Doflamingo's operation. He might be able to conceal it for a while, but Doflamingo would inevitably find out what he did.
In other words, the moment he decided to go after the Op-Op Fruit, it became impossible for him to return to the Donquixote Family as an undercover agent.
Therefore, he had no more reservations. He didn't need to worry about how to quietly sneak away the Gold-Gold Fruit.
He simply took the Gold-Gold Fruit without any disguise before setting sail. Since stealing one was the same as stealing two, and he wasn't planning on going back anyway, a few extra debts didn't matter. This Gold-Gold Fruit could be somewhat of a "meritorious deed" to offset the trouble he was causing the Navy. He couldn't make up for the Navy's loss, but it might slightly ease his conscience.
After a brief moment of reflection, Rosinante looked at Law beside him and said, "I told you I would save you. You won't die, Law. Look at this island. I've gotten accurate intelligence. The Op-Op Fruit is right here. Now, let's go get it, and once you eat it, it will definitely cure your disease. You won't have to die, Law!"
Law looked at Rosinante with a touch of emotion and spoke, "Cora-san, if you do this, you won't be able to go back to the Donquixote Family, and you'll have offended the Navy. In the future..."
"It's fine. Doflamingo is my blood brother. If he catches me, at most he'll beat me up and yell at me. What else can he do to me? I'm his little brother. Would he really kill me over a five-billion-Berry Devil Fruit?" Rosinante said with a smile.
He was lying to Law, trying to keep the boy from feeling too much burden.
Law had been around the Donquixote Family long enough to know that Doflamingo dealt with businesses worth hundreds of billions of Berries constantly. Five billion Berries didn't really seem like much.
How could Doflamingo possibly kill his own brother over a five-billion-Berry loss?
Realizing this, Law accepted Rosinante's explanation.
After all, he didn't know the true significance of the Op-Op Fruit.
He was even more unaware that Doflamingo had once killed his own biological father!
"As for the Navy side..." Rosinante smiled and patted the small bundle hanging from his waist. "My big brother is Diarmuid, and my foster father is Admiral Sengoku. The Gold-Gold Fruit is a sort of atonement. The Navy won't really do anything to me, hahaha! Don't let this fool you; I'm actually a big shot who deals in both black and white, you know? Just set your mind at ease. We have nothing to worry about now. We just need to focus on how to get the Op-Op Fruit!"
He was also comforting the kid. Precisely because his foster father was Admiral Sengoku and his big brother was Diarmuid, he might not die after this incident, but a trip to Impel Down would certainly be unavoidable.
But he didn't mind that. It was a consequence he could accept; anything was better than falling into Doflamingo's hands. After a brief visit to Impel Down as a formality, he might even be released quickly once the heat died down, though his career in the Navy would likely be over. That thought brought a bit of regret.
Law, unaware of Rosinante's two big lies, foolishly believed him.
He was now full of confidence for the future and asked, "So, Cora-san, are you going to impersonate a Donquixote Family executive to trade with that Barrels? Did you prepare the five billion Berries?"
"No. All the money I've had these past few years has been spent taking you to doctors. Where would I get five billion Berries?" Rosinante replied without hesitation.
"Huh? Then what do we do?" Trafalgar Law asked, surprised.
"We steal, we rob, we deceive... In short, no matter the means, I will get the Op-Op Fruit!" Rosinante declared in a deep voice.
In that moment, his expression was firm and resolute.
He had betrayed his biological brother, and he had betrayed the trust of the Navy and his foster father, Sengoku. At this stage, there was no way he could give up on the Op-Op Fruit.
We steal, we rob, we deceive...
Hearing those words, Law vaguely understood the meaning behind what Cora-san had told him back in Drum Kingdom.
This world cannot be simply separated into black and white, good and bad.
Even if Cora-san had to steal, rob, and deceive, in the heart of Law, wasn't he still the best person in the entire world?