"I understand."
Franky didn't ask who this so-called "Young Master" was anymore.
This stranger—at least to Franky—seemed to be as important to Gladius as Tom was to him.
Franky's voice trembled as he asked his final question.
"You were there… weren't you? When it all happened to Tom-senpai?"
"Yes… I was there the whole time."
BANG!
Franky's face twisted in rage as he raised a trembling fist and slammed it into Gladius's face. Tears streamed down his cheeks.
"Tom-senpai… he's probably dead now! Do you even understand that!?"
"I know."
Gladius didn't resist as the nearby sailors rushed forward. He lifted a weak arm to stop them before collapsing to the ground.
"You knew… then why didn't you save him!? Damn it, Gladius!"
Franky straddled him in fury, his fists pounding down again and again.
"Because… the Young Master ordered me not to interfere."
Gladius didn't move. He just lay there, enduring every blow.
"Then why save me!? Why! Tom-senpai is dead!!!"
"…"
Time passed.
Franky's wounds reopened, his bandages soaked through with blood again. His arms finally dropped as he collapsed to the side, gasping for breath.
Gladius's face shield had been torn to shreds, revealing the burned, grotesque visage beneath—twisted like a demon from hell.
"Franky… what are you going to do now?"
"I'll recover… then head back to Water 7."
"If you make it back alive, the World Government won't let it slide. You'll be putting Kokoro-sama and the others in danger, too."
Gladius sat up, pulling out a fresh mask and strapping it onto his face. He looked down at the dazed Franky.
"Do you want revenge?"
Who didn't want revenge?
"Are there others… who oppose the World Government? This 'Young Master' of yours… who is he?"
Franky stared at his own hands.
He understood now what Tom had meant—about taking responsibility for your own ship.
He understood what Iceburg meant—how weapons could hurt others… and yourself.
But revenge still burned in his chest.
"The Young Master… is the head of the Donquixote Family. Doflamingo," Gladius said, adjusting his cracked goggles.
"Heavenly Yaksha!?"
Franky shot up from the ground like a spring-loaded fish.
This was a man powerful enough to kill Golden Lion Shiki.
A man who truly feared nothing—not even the World Government.
"That's right. The Young Master values talent like yours.
If you're willing to serve him, he won't hesitate to reward you.
He's taken out CP agents before—more than once.
As long as you give enough… and create enough value…
The Young Master won't hesitate to eliminate those World Government spies for you."
Gladius finally laid out his intentions.
The Young Master had only ordered him not to interfere.
But if Franky chose to serve, he believed Doflamingo would overlook a few disobedient details.
"And if I refuse?" Franky asked suddenly, eyes narrowing.
After all, he held knowledge of Pluton's blueprints. How would Gladius handle that?
"The Young Master… won't allow that information to leak."
Gladius's right hand began to glow red, bulging with energy—ready to explode.
Franky understood immediately.
...
Sky Island, Resettlement Zone.
"Young Master, where are we going?"
Enel munched lazily on an apple, strolling along with a curious glance around.
He'd only been gone a few months, but he barely recognized the place anymore.
"Patience," Doflamingo said, slowing his pace. "You'll see soon enough."
He stopped in front of a towering sign.
"The House of the Defeated?" Enel read aloud.
Just then, a massive beast returning from its meal caught sight of them.
It charged.
Its roar shook the ground.
"Doflamingo!!!"
-----------
(For each review +1 additional chapter)
+277 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg