Kane stood up, opened a bottle of liquor, and poured a line of it on the ground.
Law crouched nearby, glanced at him, and continued burning paper money.
“I don’t know if you drink or not, but I’ll offer you a toast anyway.”
Kane took a sip and exhaled a cloud of white vapor.
“Normally, I should be standing in front of Law, pounding my chest and swearing — swearing that I’ll protect Law’s safety, that I won’t let any harm come to him, that I’ll avenge you and take down Doflamingo.”
“But I figured — what’s the point of saying all those formalities?
You’re already in another world.”
“All I can say is this: as Law’s big brother and as Law’s captain, I’ll protect him.
If anyone wants to take him out, they’ll have to go through me first.”
“As for Doflamingo — I’ll find him.
And I have full confidence that it won’t take too long.”
Kane paused there, took another sip of liquor, and continued silently in his heart:
Corazón — or rather, Donquixote Rosinante.
From heaven to earth, you’ve experienced both privilege and suffering.
You witnessed and personally endured family tearing each other apart.
Your life was full of hardship.
Later, Sengoku took you in.
You became a Marine and carried out your duties faithfully, going undercover despite the danger.
Even though you “betrayed” your mission in the end — failing to uphold the organization’s orders — you stayed true to the justice in your heart.
I think you must have had your reasons.
I won’t go into detail about what I’m planning to do.
That way, you won’t have to visit me in my dreams to argue about it, or spend your time in the next world worrying.
Just wait and see.
If I succeed, the world will be a better place than it is now.
Law stood up, dusted off his hands, and looked at Kane, then at the empty bottle in his hand.
“Ready?”
“Ready!”
The wind and snow grew heavier.
Their figures grew smaller and smaller until they vanished from sight.
“You drank half a bottle, and I thought you’d give a long speech.
Turns out you barely said anything.”
“I said plenty.
In my heart.”
“Oh.”
Law pulled his coat tighter and pressed a hand against his hat to keep the strengthening wind from blowing it away.
The snow had thickened, crunching underfoot.
After walking for a while and re-entering Swallow Island, Law couldn’t hold back anymore: “What did you say in your heart?”
“Just random things.
Said them to Corazón,” Kane’s voice was soft, and the last part was only audible to himself, “and to myself.”
“Huh?” Law shot a dissatisfied glare at Kane’s back.
“Speak up.
The wind’s too loud.”
“Hohahaha~ Not telling you!”
“Damn it!
Stop right there!”
Kane broke into a sprint and vanished in an instant.
Law stood frozen for a moment, then gritted his teeth and chased after him.
The next day, the sun was bright — a perfect day to set sail.
After breakfast, Kane led his little crew out the front door.
The sun hung high in the sky.
“We’re off, old man.”
Wolf stood at the doorstep and waved his hand: “Mm. This story is hosted at g.com.
Take it easy out there.”
“Goodbye, old man.
Thank you for everything.
Make sure you live a few more years!”
“Of course.
I’m still young.” Wolf chuckled as he stroked his white beard.
“Alright — we’re all men here.
No need to be so sentimental.
Get going!
Make the name ‘Ghost Hand Kindergarten’ ring across the seas!”
“Huh?”
“Wolf!
Our crew is called the Ghost Hand Pirates!”
“Bepo, don’t bother explaining.
He’s messing with us.”
Still, the nickname Wolf had given them — “Ghost Hand Kindergarten” — wasn’t entirely off the mark.
Out of the five crew members, only Kane was an adult.
And it was only “somewhat” fitting, since Law and the others weren’t as young as one might think.
First, the captain — Darkseid Kane.
Age 19.
Height 210 cm.
Paramecia-type Ghost Ghost Fruit user.
Swordsman.
Navigator.
Then the kids.
Trafalgar Law — full name Trafalgar D.
Water Law (D is the hidden name, Water is the clan name).
Age 14.
Height 168 cm.
Paramecia-type Ope Ope no Mi user.
Doctor.
Swordsman.
Shachi — age 15.
Height 170 cm.
Combatant and swordsman.
Naval combat specialist.
Penguin — age 16.
Height 171 cm.
Combatant and cook.
Naval combat specialist.
Bepo — age 10.
Height 180 cm.
Polar bear Mink.
Combatant.
Helmsman.
Navigator.
Naval combat specialist.
Well…
Bepo was indeed young, but at least he wasn’t eight anymore.
After some more bickering, Kane grabbed Shachi and Penguin by the collars and headed for the cavern that housed the secret research base.
The Little Red Flower Invincible was waiting there for its new owners.
Wolf remained where he stood, watching until their figures disappeared before heading back inside.
The next moment, the door burst open and Wolf came charging out again.
The group reached the research base, boarded the Little Red Flower Invincible, and Bepo took the helm — smoothly piloting the submarine out into the open sea. Read the latest chapters at novelping.com.
Over the past week, all four kids had been learning submarine operations from Wolf.
Bepo had the best results.
Inside the cabin, no one spoke.
Setting sail should have been a joyous occasion, but the atmosphere was heavy.
“Captain!
Come look — everyone’s at the shore!”
Shachi waved Kane over, gripping the periscope.
Kane looked — it was the residents of Happy Town.
They had come to see them off on their own accord.
“Bepo, surface the submarine.
Let’s go see them one last time.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Kane and the others disembarked and bid their final farewells to the townspeople on the beach.
No one expected that the person crying the hardest was Sheriff Rad — the man who usually never cracked a smile.
Who knew he had this side to him?
It seemed that after all this time, he truly saw them as his own juniors.
Wolf was among the crowd.
Kane spotted him.
Neither spoke.
They just looked at each other in silence.
All good things must come to an end.
The moment of parting had finally arrived.
Kane and his crew stood on the submarine’s deck, waving as the shoreline and the townspeople grew smaller and smaller.
“Kane!
Law!
Shachi!
Penguin!
Bepo!
All these years — I’ve been truly happy!!”
Wolf’s deep, resonant voice carried clearly across the water.
Tears burst forth instantly.
“WOLF!!”
“Thank you!
Thank you for everything!
Even if we’re apart — even if we never see each other again — you’ll always be my family!!!”
“No — we will meet again!
Take care of yourself!
Wait for us to come back!”
“Wolf, you hear me?!
Live another thirty or fifty years!
Or I’ll never forgive you!!”
Law and Kane cupped their hands around their mouths and shouted, their voices hoarse and choked with emotion.
The three little ones stood to the side, heads bowed, desperately covering their eyes.
“Kakakaka!
Go on, children!
Go see the world!
Go discover freedom!”
“I…
I’m truly happy to have lived with all of you!!!”
Wolf raised his right hand high.
Kane and the others raised theirs high in return.