Chapter 19: A Rare Tranquility

The fierce battle had concluded, allowing both sides a moment to breathe, a rare opportunity for leisure. Everyone scattered, returning to their homes, finding their families, and tending to the wounded. For those who had fallen, there were no complaints, no resentment, only a weary indifference to death. They'd help collect the bodies of their fallen comrades, a grim task to which they were long accustomed. After all, life had to go on. In this world, death was commonplace; perhaps next time, it would be them being gathered up.

The sun, however, rose each day as usual, aloof from the world's conflicts. Even after witnessing countless atrocities upon the sea, it still offered its loving warmth to everyone.

Doflamingo, swathed in bandages, sat perched on the bow of his ship. His injuries were clearly severe, only his sunglasses glinted in the sunlight, seemingly responding to the sun's maternal care.

Yesterday, Doflamingo had abruptly ordered a retreat, a move that bewildered the pirates who had seen victory within their grasp. However, as members of the Donquixote Family, the captain's orders were absolute. Even if they felt a pang of regret, they had to comply. No one dared question the captain's authority; in any pirate crew, the captain's word was law.

Although Doflamingo didn't value the lives of his ragtag crew, the timing wasn't right for a continued assault. After enduring such a high-pressure beating, he might have appeared outwardly fine, but in truth, he was at the end of his rope. Even though the Navy had been reduced to a single man, a vastly disparate number, that man was the most troublesome and couldn't be dealt with swiftly. The shrewd Doflamingo wouldn't make such a foolish mistake. He had a clear sense of what should and shouldn't be done.

"Young Master, we'll soon reach Drum Island. Your injuries will receive better treatment there," a subordinate reported respectfully to Doflamingo, who sat silently on the bow.

The previous day's battle was one of Doflamingo's most arduous. He hadn't faced such a life-or-death crisis in years. Indeed, between life and death lay both great terror and great opportunity. Seize it, and you could soar like a Kunpeng into the highest heavens; fail, and it was game over, becoming a loser, discarded by history. His injuries from yesterday were substantial, and his ship lacked anyone with advanced medical skills. The one who claimed some medical knowledge was, in reality, just a dabbler, capable only of basic bandaging and wound treatment. It was clear that on the vast ocean, a navigator and a doctor were the most indispensable. (Kunpeng: A mythical Chinese creature symbolizing immense power, transformation, and soaring ambition. It represents achieving greatness from adversity.)

Even with only rudimentary care, Doflamingo's robust constitution had helped stabilize his injuries. To avoid hindering their upcoming voyage, a visit to Drum Island was essential. To continue sailing with such severe injuries in this perilous sea, like Zoro, would be tantamount to courting death.

He couldn't be reckless. A healthy body was the foundation of everything. No matter how urgent things were, he had to suppress his impatience. Great achievers needed patience, endurance, and a strong heart. In Doflamingo's eyes, Blackbeard was the true pirate, the one who accomplished great things, a model for other pirates and ambitious individuals.

As for people like Roger, Shanks, and Luffy, they hadn't experienced the darkness of the mundane world. They hadn't been looked down upon, hadn't lived miserable lives, hadn't been corrupted by the darkness that seeped into people's hearts. Compared to those dwelling in the depths, they possessed more happiness. They had their kindness, their sorrows, and their pain. They pursued freedom, as if battling against the world. They had no ambition to seize power, resembling bright and noble angels, unconcerned with the petty squabbles of mankind.

Roger and Shanks, having witnessed too much darkness, had the power to protect some, even to enable many to live better lives. Yet, they chose not to. This, undeniably, was the way of pirates. Everyone possessed their own selfishness. No one would grandly concern themselves with others, with the life and death of strangers. Living freely and happily was the essence of their piracy. Although they weren't as irredeemably wicked as other pirates, their hands were far from clean. Killing was never a solitary act; it was simply human nature.

"Mind your own business," that was the true norm. No one was great without reason; no one was kind to you without reason. Those of us under the red flag couldn't comprehend this. But in this sorrowful world, it was impossible. Even those bound by blood could be oppressed by the darkness of this world, leading to fathers and sons, brothers and sisters turning against each other, mothers abandoning their children, and so on. These were merely commonplace occurrences.

It's said that Luffy is Shanks's hope, or perhaps Shanks, deeply influenced by Roger's will, didn't want to fight it himself. Maybe he tried, after all the gem in front, Shanks found his powerlessness, put all the treasure on Luffy, without a shred of shame, coaxing the young, naive Luffy into becoming the Pirate King. It seemed like a noble dream, but it was also rooted in self-interest.

Everyone was selfish. Roger, by his death, ushered in the Great Pirate Era, not only delivering a massive blow to the World Government but also throwing the world into further chaos. Ultimately, it was the common people who suffered. Roger was both selfish and great. Since the world was already so terrible, why not make it even worse? There had to be some hope for the destruction of the World Government's rule, right?

The only person who truly cared about the common people was the world's most heinous criminal, Monkey D. Dragon. The Revolutionary Army was the true medicine for this world. The seemingly righteous Marines were merely the World Government's private armed forces, only with a resounding slogan and a glamorous facade, using the banner of justice to maintain the World Government's rule. Pirates were merely a product of the times, some powerless and desperate people who chose to take the path of antagonizing the World Government. Most pirates, however, were simply seeking their own pleasure. They had no grand ideals of liberating slaves. All they sought was to survive, to live better, that's what they wanted. Of course, if they could disgust and retaliate against the World Government in the process, all the better.

Pirate King, it sounds good, but it's all show and no substance. There aren't many pirates who truly want to become the Pirate King, after all, compared to the ambition of ruling the world, it's insignificant.

Pirate King, huh, whoever wants it can have it. Doflamingo wouldn't take it even if it were offered to him.

Pulling back his wandering thoughts, Doflamingo knew the trip to Drum Island was necessary. He needed to heal his body before continuing onward. It was a pity that the adorable little reindeer probably hadn't been born yet. That was a bit of a missed opportunity. Doflamingo dismissed any further extraneous thoughts, focusing on his recovery and quietly sitting to comprehend his newfound power.

On the warship, Barrels, having tidied up everything, was reporting the encounter to Admiral Sengoku.

"What did you say? You let Doflamingo escape? What were you doing? Didn't I tell you that you absolutely couldn't let Doflamingo escape? He's just a kid, and he managed to get away from you?"

In the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku watched as Fleet Admiral Kong's eyebrows knit together, angrily questioning his subordinate.

"Well, Fleet Admiral Kong, perhaps we all underestimated Doflamingo's strength. He's not just some ordinary kid. Although he's young, he's already awakened Armament and Observation Haki, and his proficiency in Observation Haki is quite high." Barrels wouldn't dare tell his boss that the kid's Armament Haki was beaten out of him. That would only make the Fleet Admiral and the others furious, turning him into the Navy's laughingstock. He just embellished it a little; the art of speaking was, after all, subtly beautiful, not quite deception.

"What? Say that again," Kong demanded impatiently.

"Um, Fleet Admiral Kong, that's actually not the main point. What shocked me the most was that Doflamingo possesses a talent found in only one in a million people..."

"The King's Disposition... Conqueror's Haki? He's truly a menace, that Doflamingo," Kong muttered.

Sengoku, who was listening in, couldn't help but be shocked. The Celestial Dragons, these seemingly superior, self-proclaimed nobles, who were, in reality, nothing but lazy, good-for-nothing, and utterly wicked dregs, actually possessed that talent.

It seemed they needed to pay more attention to that kid Doflamingo, lest he become a major threat. Fleet Admiral Kong and Sengoku exchanged a glance, each understanding the other's thoughts.

"Alright, you focus on recovering. We'll handle the Doflamingo situation."

Before Barrels could reply, Kong hung up the Den Den Mushi. A lingering worry was temporarily quelled, but the pirate's words were like a fishbone stuck in his throat, deeply embedded in his heart, leaving him unable to find peace for a long time.

The encounter between the Navy and Doflamingo didn't affect others. The stage of the New World remained beautiful and dazzling, as if anticipating a moving performance.

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