allendalepharm Chapter 286 Departure, Heading to the Land of Summoning
Chapter 286 Departure, Heading to the Land of Summoning
Chapter 286 Departure, Heading to the Land of Summoning
At the same time that dramatic changes were taking place on Saturn Island, various forces in the sea also received the news.
Dressrosa, the King's Heights.
Doflamingo put down the Den Den Mushi, his eyes behind his sunglasses flashing with a complex light.
"Fufufu—I really didn't expect that."
Torrepol asked nervously in front of him.
"Dover, over on Saturn Island—Spartacus blew up the Grand Duke's castle, and now the whole island is in chaos."
"Chaos?" Doflamingo raised an eyebrow. "No, that's called liberation."
He walked to the window and looked out at the streets of Dressrosa.
"Spartacus did it more thoroughly—and more with restraint than I had imagined. He overthrew the regime, but he did not commit a massacre."
"He freed the slaves, but made them wait for the revolutionary army to take over."
"This guy may seem wild, but he's actually quite shrewd beneath his rough exterior."
Rao G. said in a deep voice, "But then, can we still win over the participants on that island?"
Doflamingo pondered for a moment.
"Shakespeare".
"Here I am, Master." Shakespeare emerged gracefully from the shadows.
"Use your Noble Phantasm to see what the situation is like on Saturn Island right now. The key is that doctor."
Shakespeare bowed, his quill drawing streaks of light in the air.
A moment later, he opened his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in them.
"Interesting—very interesting."
"How so?"
"The narrative on the island is undergoing a dramatic shift. The old narrative of oppression has been utterly shattered, and a new narrative of freedom is taking shape—"
"But within this torrent, there is one point that remains remarkably stable."
"That doctor?" Doflamingo asked.
"Exactly," Shakespeare nodded.
"His story is somewhat detached from the island's main narrative. He participates in the rescue and assistance, but his own main storyline seems to lie elsewhere."
Doflamingo grinned.
"Fufufu—that means the doctor had his own purpose, and Saturn Island was just a temporary stop for him."
"That's exactly right."
"Can you pinpoint his location?"
Shakespeare shook his head: "His presence is deliberately obscured by some force. It could be his ability, or it could be the protection of a heroic spirit he has not yet summoned."
Doflamingo tapped his fingers on the windowsill.
After a long silence, he made a decision.
"Contact Moria and tell them not to rush back. Since Spartacus has made such a fuss, let's take this opportunity—"
"We'll go there ourselves."
Torrepol was taken aback: "Dover, you're going yourself?"
"Of course." Doflamingo's smile turned dangerous.
"A doctor that even a berserker like Spartacus would be willing to protect—a participant who can remain hidden from my detection—is worth the trip."
"and----"
He looked into the distance.
"I always felt that the doctor's identity might be more interesting than we imagine."
Meanwhile, in the new world, on Oni Island.
A deafening roar came from the depths of the cave.
"Whoa!!! An island has been liberated?! And the latest summoned Heroic Spirit is quite interesting too!"
Kaido sat on the throne with his enormous body, slamming his gourd of wine onto the ground.
Below, Jin calmly reported: "Intelligence indicates that the rule of Saturn Island has been overthrown."
"The ones who made the move were the Heroic Spirits from the Crusades and Rebecca from Dressrosa."
"The Cross Society—an organization started by that brat Doflamingo." Kaido took a big gulp of sake.
"Hmm—Since new participants have emerged, we can't let them monopolize it."
He looked down.
"Jack".
"Yes, Boss Kaido." Jack the Drought stepped forward.
"Take a team and go to Saturn Island. If the participant is still there, bring him back, whether you ask him to or kidnap him."
"Understood." Jack grinned, revealing a cruel smile.
"Wait," Kaido suddenly called out to him.
He looked toward the corner of the cave.
There, a tall figure leaned against the rock wall.
He had long blue hair, crimson eyes, wore leather armor, and held a huge crimson spear in his hand.
"You go too," Kaido said.
Cú Chulainn raised his eyelids: "Oh? You want me to go to such a small place?"
Kaido grinned: "I want to see what it would be like if you two Heroic Spirits met."
Cú Chulainn was silent for a moment, then a near-grotesque smile spread across his face.
"Then let me see just how far he can resist."
He shouldered his spear and headed towards the cave entrance.
"Let's go, Jack. Don't dawdle."
Jack quickly followed.
Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Kaido took another swig of sake, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"The Holy Grail War—it's getting more and more interesting. Ooh-ooh-ooh!!!"
Late at night, on the western coast of Saturn Island.
A small submarine floated silently on the sea. The hatch was open, and Bepo and his team were conducting final checks.
Luo stood on the shore, looking towards the island's interior one last time.
The flickering firelight represents people celebrating, keeping vigil, and planning for the future.
He could hear those sounds—laughter, weeping, singing, arguing—vibrant sounds.
It was completely different from the deathly silence that had greeted him when he first arrived three months ago.
"Doctor."
A childish voice sounded from behind.
Luo turned around.
It was a little girl of seven or eight years old, wearing worn but clean clothes, holding a bunch of wildflowers in her hands.
"Lily?" Luo recognized her; she was one of the children he had saved, suffering from severe malnutrition and infection, and he almost didn't make it back.
"Mom asked me to thank you—" Lily handed over the flowers, "and—this too."
She pulled a small, rough amulet from her pocket.
"I made this up—my mom said it can protect good people and keep them safe."
Luo stared silently at the amulet.
After a long while, he took it and carefully put it into his pocket.
"----Thanks."
Lily smiled, then hesitated before asking, "Doctor—are you leaving?"
"Um.
""
Will they come back?
Luo did not answer.
He crouched down, took a small medicine box out of his backpack, and handed it to Lily.
"This contains vitamins and antibiotics. One tablet a day can make you healthier."
"Also, remember to get plenty of sunshine, drink plenty of water, and eat plenty of vegetables. I told you that, remember?"
Lily nodded vigorously: "I remember!"
Luo ruffled her hair and stood up.
Goodbye, Lily.
Goodbye, Doctor!
Luo turned around and boarded the submarine.
The hatch closed, and the submarine slowly sank, disappearing into the dark sea.
Lily stood on the shore until the submarine was out of sight, then slowly walked back with the bouquet in her arms.
Unbeknownst to her, shortly after she left, several figures appeared on the shore.
Spartacus, Rebecca, and Moria, who has just arrived.
"Let's go." Moria looked at the detector in his hand.
"The reaction has completely disappeared—they must have left in a submarine."
Rebecca gazed at the dark sea: "He definitely had his own purpose."
Spartacus was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "That doctor—he carries the aura of death about him."
"What?" Rebecca was taken aback.
"It's not that he's dying," Spartacus explained.
"It was because he had been living with death for a long time—no, to be more precise, it was because he carried the memory of a deceased person in his heart."
"The weight of the deceased almost crushed him."
Rebecca remembered what the man in the slums had said.
"Doctor—when he saves people, his eyes are always so sad—as if he's looking through us at some other person—"
She suddenly understood.
That doctor saved the person not only because of his kindness.
More so because of—something else?
Or is it some kind of obsession?
Rebecca thought for a moment, but ultimately said nothing, only showing a confused expression.
She looked up, her eyes shining.
"I want to know—in this chaotic era, what is the right path?"
Spartacus grinned, but this time he didn't say anything.
The submarine sailed silently in the deep sea, like a metallic whale quietly gliding through the darkness.
The engine's hum is absorbed by a specially designed soundproofing layer, leaving only the faint sound of water flowing over the casing.
Inside the control room, the instrument panel emitted a faint blue light, illuminating Luo's sharply defined profile.
His fingers tapped unconsciously on the control panel, but his gaze pierced through the darkness of the deep sea outside the porthole, directed towards a distant place that only he could see.
"Captain, route set." Shaki's voice came through the communicator.
"Maintaining the current speed, we expect to arrive in the waters near Mignon Island in 48 hours."
"What's the weather like?" Luo asked.
"A winter storm is forming around Mignon Island, which could make landing difficult," Pekin replied.
"Moreover—that area of water has been designated as a closed zone by the Navy for many years, so there may be surveillance."
Luo remained silent for a moment.
"Avoid the regular shipping lanes and approach from beneath the ice. Bepo, prepare the icebreaking equipment."
"yes!"
After the command was given, the control room fell silent again. Luo leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.
Memories flooded my mind like a tidal wave.
That winter thirteen years ago.
snow.
The snow never ends.
The pursuers of the Don Quixote family.
The navy surrounded them.
And then there's the man who cleared a path for him in the snow.
"Mr. Krasson————"
Luo murmured the name as if it were a spell that could bring back lost time.
The Command Seals on my wrist were slightly warm.
These three bright red marks represent eligibility for the Holy Grail War, the power to summon Heroic Spirits, and a possibility.
An absurd yet irresistible possibility.
"If the Holy Grail could truly grant any wish—"
Luo clenched his fist.
So even if there's only a one in a billion chance, he'll still try.
It wasn't for revenge, although his hatred for Doflamingo never diminished.
He had no interest in ruling the world, not for the sake of power.
Death was not even a threat to him, nor was it for the sake of immortality.
He just wanted to see that person one more time.
I want to say thank you to that person.
I want to say that I survived, I became a doctor, and I saved many people—just as you hoped.
"Captain," Bepo's voice came cautiously from the hatch, "Are you alright?"
Luo opened his eyes and saw the white bear's concerned gaze.
"It's nothing," he said casually. "Have everyone take turns resting and stay vigilant. The closer we get to Minnion Island, the more likely we are to run into—acquaintances."
Bepo nodded, but did not leave.
"Captain, may I ask you a question?"
"ask."
"What would you do if the heroic spirit you summoned wasn't Mr. Corazon?"
The control room was completely silent.
The only sounds were the ticking of the dial and the sobbing of deep seawater flowing over the casing.
After a long silence, Luo finally spoke.
"Then at least, I will summon someone who can give me the answer."
He looked out the porthole.
"Heroes are historical figures and legendary characters."
"They have witnessed the beginning and the end of life, seen miracles and tragedies. If even they cannot tell me—can the dead return?"
"So, this is probably the truth of the world."
"But—" Bepo hesitated, "the Holy Grail War is dangerous, so many forces are fighting for it—"
"I know," Luo interrupted him, "That's why I chose to summon on Minion Island. It has special significance there, perhaps—it can increase the probability of summoning a specific being."
He paused, then lowered his voice.
"And if we really have to fight, I want to fight there."
"In the place where Mr. Clason protected me."
"This time—it's my turn to protect something."
Bepo's tears welled up.
"Captain—I will protect you! Even without Heroic Spirits, I will—"
Luo reached out and ruffled the white bear's hair.
"Ah, I know."
A barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
That was a rare, genuine tenderness in thirteen years.
Just as the Heart Pirates' submarine was heading towards Minion Island, the pursuers also began their operation.
Off the coast of Dressrosa, on a warship disguised as a merchant ship.
Doflamingo stood at the bow of the ship, his pink feathered coat fluttering in the wind. In his hand, he held an improved Spirit Origin Detector.
This is an upgraded version that Caesar rushed to produce overnight, with even higher precision than before.
On the screen, a faint point of light is moving in the direction of the North Sea.
"Fufufu—it really went that way," Doflamingo grinned.
"Mignon Island—what a nostalgic place."
Torrepol, standing nearby, said worriedly, "Dover, it's too close to the Navy's G-5 branch, and the weather is terrible. Are we really going?"
"Why not go?" Doflamingo retorted.
"That doctor is obviously Law. Who else would go to the trouble of summoning a Heroic Spirit on some godforsaken snow island?"
He turned and looked at Shakespeare on the deck.
"Playwright, what's your opinion?"
Shakespeare bowed gracefully: "From a narratological point of view, this is indeed a perfect stage."
"The site of the tragedy, the return of the survivors, the unfulfilled desires—all these elements come together and could very well give rise to a dramatic calling."
"In other words, Law is very likely to summon a Heroic Spirit that is highly aligned with his obsession?"
"Very likely," Shakespeare nodded.
"The Master's state of mind, the venue, and the ritual—all of these will affect the summoning outcome."
"For Trafalgar Law, Mignon Island was a turning point in his life and the anchor of his deepest obsession."
Doflamingo's smile turned dangerous.
"Then we absolutely cannot miss it."
He answered the Den Den Mushi (a type of electric scooter).
"Vergo".
"Yes, Dover," a deep voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
"How many troops can you mobilize over G-5?"
"A squadron of three warships can be deployed to the waters near Mignon Island under the guise of an exercise. But the deployment cannot be too long, otherwise it will arouse suspicion."
"That's enough," Doflamingo said.
"Block that area of water until I arrive. Don't let any unrelated ships get close, especially not the Beasts Pirates."
"clear."
After hanging up the phone, Doflamingo looked towards the northern sea.
Mignon Island.
Thirteen years ago, he lost his younger brother there.
Thirteen years later, the little devil whom his younger brother protected with his life is going back there.
"Fufufu—Luo, what exactly are you trying to summon?"
"Is it an attempt to summon Rosinante's spirit?"
"Or perhaps—you intend to use that power to take revenge on me?"
A sea breeze blows, and pink feathers flutter in the air.
A complex and unfathomable emotion flashed in Doflamingo's eyes.
There was anger, scheming, and cold-blooded murderous intent in it.
But there was also a trace of—a longing for the past.