21
Day 21 of Survival: Wendy, I Am Very Disappointed in You…
Vergo reported the situation on his end.
After a moment of silence on the other end of the line, Doflamingo spoke slowly: [“So that’s how it is… It’s roughly what I expected.”]
He had already suspected Corazon was the traitor, so this came as no surprise.
Though reluctant to admit it, his last blood-related relative had still… Well, it didn’t matter. This only reinforced his belief that his true [family] consisted solely of his current crew.
As for Wendy… Even with the letter to Marine Garp and the recent incident with Corazon, he still didn’t believe she had betrayed him intentionally.
It seemed his previous leniency had blurred boundaries for her—she needed proper guidance. And if she couldn’t be taught… then elimination would be necessary.
He could tolerate many things, even Wendy’s unintentional mistakes, but he would never allow genuine psychological betrayal.
[“We’re a step too late. The Op-Op Fruit appears to have been stolen—it must be with Corazon. Capture him and retrieve the fruit. Bring Wendy to me as well.”] Doflamingo issued his final command.
“Understood…” Vergo turned around, only to find that Rosinante and Law—whom he had beaten half to death moments earlier—had vanished. Only Wendy remained, standing by a newly built campfire to warm herself.
Vergo: “…Wendy, where did they go?”
Wendy looked baffled, as if the answer were obvious: “They ran away.”
Vergo: “…Why didn’t you stop them?”
Wendy replied matter-of-factly, “I needed to warm myself. Otherwise, I’d freeze to death.”
Vergo: “Then why didn’t you call for me earlier?”
Wendy seemed even more perplexed: “You were on the phone.”
“…” Faced with this illogical yet unapologetically straightforward response, Vergo fell silent.
He now believed Wendy hadn’t betrayed Doflamingo intentionally—she was simply acting on thoughtless impulse, willful and self-centered.
Still, he had no idea how to handle her… Best to leave it to Doflamingo.
[“What’s wrong? Did they escape?”]
“Yes…”
[“No matter. He won’t escape this island.”]
As Doflamingo’s voice echoed through the receiver, fine threads began spreading across the sky above the island, enveloping the surroundings like a birdcage.
This was Doflamingo’s Devil Fruit ability. With it activated, the island became a sealed prison—no one could escape.
As a undercover agent with Marine duties, Vergo felt reassured seeing Doflamingo’s power in effect. Even Wendy wouldn’t be able to flee now, so he let her go find Doflamingo alone.
However, he still dutifully informed Doflamingo about Rosinante giving Wendy confidential Marine documents.
Wendy paid no attention to his actions, still preoccupied with her own allegiances.
Even she had realized the current situation by now—the blood brothers Rosinante and Doflamingo weren’t just opposing forces; it seemed there was an impending plot-driven death scene.
And now, they had reached a critical juncture requiring a choice.
After warming herself up, Wendy checked the contents of her backpack and went to find Doflamingo as instructed.
She hadn’t brought enough materials; a few more campfires would deplete all the wood in her pack. She also hadn’t brought flint, so she couldn’t chop trees for fuel—not that there were any trees around here to begin with.
“Hmm… whatever. If I really get frozen stiff, I’ll just burn down one of these houses to warm up! Anything flammable is fuel anyway!” Wendy muttered to herself, uttering some highly “prosecutable” words as she raised her small torch for light and walked away.
Meanwhile, Doflamingo had located the fleeing Rosinante.
Or perhaps that wasn’t the right description—the severely injured Corazon had no intention of running. He simply leaned against a crate, his expression serene, as if he had long anticipated what was to come.
Facing Doflamingo, he no longer hid anything, calmly stating his Marine identity and serial number.
Though… he wasn’t really saying it for Doflamingo’s benefit.
Inside the crate behind him was Law. Using his Silence Fruit ability, he had completely muted Law, ensuring the boy remained quiet while he alone confronted Doflamingo—all to protect Law and guarantee his successful escape.
Even though he and Law shared no blood ties, he was willing to sacrifice himself for the boy’s safety.
If asked for a reason… it would be: This child has suffered enough already. Let him live. He’s still so young, having just gained a hope for survival—he deserves to embrace a new life.
“Law has already eaten the Op-Op Fruit and escaped this place…” Rosinante tugged at the corner of his mouth, the movement tugging at his wounds, but he didn’t retract his faint smile. “He’s under Marine protection now, Doffy. You’ve already lost.”
Coincidentally, at that very moment, a patrolling member of the Donquixote Family rushed over to report: The Marines had just taken a young boy under their protection…
Rosinante’s heart first leapt to his throat, then settled with profound relief.
A coincidence? Law’s luck is truly… truly remarkable. Someone blessed with such fortune will surely survive this ordeal.
And… with this chaos, Wendy should be able to escape immediately if she wants, right?
She already knows people in the Marines. If she goes to their ships and claims to be Vice Admiral Garp’s relative, she’ll definitely be saved… though he wasn’t entirely sure whether Wendy actually wanted to leave.
The crucial point was Doffy’s attitude…
Rosinante’s eyes darkened.
Enraged, Doflamingo dispersed the Birdcage and ordered his subordinates to intercept and retrieve Law, but he kept his gun trained on Rosinante.
“One more question…” Doflamingo’s face was grim. “What did you say to Wendy? What lies did you feed her?”
“What are you so angry about, Doffy?” Rosinante managed a faint smile, looking up at him as he rose to his feet. He drew his own gun, aiming it squarely at Doflamingo, and declared solemnly, “Wendy… she’s nothing like you.”
At this very moment, a member of the Donquixote Family came to report again: “Young Master! We’ve found Miss Wendy!”
“Oh?” Doflamingo, who had just received a provocation, looked over with an ambiguous tone, “What is she doing?”
“She…” Buffalo, who was scouting mid-air, seemed at a loss for words, “Uh… Miss Wendy was walking this way and started burning houses along the path… Ah, since there are no more houses around here, she’s started burning the corpses of the pirates we just killed too.”
Doflamingo: “…”
Rosinante: “…”
Rosinante’s feelings were complicated—though he believed Wendy was probably a good kid… but there were indeed many times when he simply couldn’t understand her!
“You say she’s different from me?” Doflamingo curled his lips, his tone mocking, “Are you trying to say she’s more like your kind?”
…Well, I never said that exactly.—Rosinante quietly retorted in his heart.
It was at this moment that Wendy came running over, still looking confused. She glanced around at everyone, seemingly perplexed by the situation: “Doflamingo, Corazon, what are you all doing?”
“Wendy, come here.” Doflamingo commanded.
Hearing this, Wendy tilted her head and looked at Rosinante again. Seeing that he didn’t say anything, she trotted over to Doflamingo, widening her eyes with curiosity: “What is it, Doffy?”
Doflamingo reached out his hand to her: “Give me what Corazon gave you.”
Wendy hesitated, glancing toward Rosinante again.
Rosinante maintained a solemn expression while inwardly panicking—Don’t look at me! Don’t provoke Doffy at a time like this! Just give it to him!
Although it was evidence of the Donquixote Family’s crimes, crucial for exposing Doflamingo’s misdeeds, stopping his criminal activities, and potentially saving a nation… if Wendy were put in danger because of him, that would be even worse.
Doflamingo’s expression grew colder as he spoke: “Wendy, I’ll only say this once.”
Wendy was also struggling internally—Damn, no hints at all. Do I have to blindly choose my path in this storyline?
After some thought, she still took it out, wanting to see how things would unfold.
Doflamingo took the sealed document from her hand, crushed the small lock, tore open the file and scanned its contents. The curve of his lips gradually lifted, his smile becoming increasingly sinister.
This document… contained the Donquixote Family’s future plans. A series of strategies targeting how to seize Dressrosa.
If the Marines got hold of this, not only would their plans be ruined, but the entire family could face destruction.
“Corazon… you’ve been working quite hard.” Doflamingo suddenly clenched the document in his hand, then threw it to the ground. He tilted his chin toward Wendy and commanded, “Wendy, burn it.”
On this matter, Wendy didn’t look at Rosinante again. In fact, she very quickly produced a torch and burned it.
It wasn’t for any particular reason—she just enjoyed burning various things when the weather was cold, as it gave her a warm sense of security.
Watching Wendy’s efficient action, Doflamingo’s previously stifled emotions finally eased somewhat.
He looked at Wendy and issued another command: “Wendy, take the gun and kill Corazon.”
As he spoke, his subordinate had already brought over a gun and handed it to him.
Wendy looked shocked—What?! This storyline actually requires players to kill someone?! Isn’t this game supposed to be for all ages?!
Perhaps because Wendy’s expression was too bewildered, Doflamingo sighed as if somewhat troubled and began explaining to her: “Wendy, if you want to prove to everyone that you have no connection with the Marines, that you haven’t betrayed the family, this is your only chance.”
He was already being quite lenient.
Having ties with a Vice Admiral, even private communications; being connected to a family traitor and concealing it without reporting; even taking extremely compromising documents about the family and not immediately handing them over… If it were anyone else, they would have been executed long ago.
It was only because Wendy was special that he was willing to give her another chance.
“Dofla…” Rosinante’s expression grew grave, his heart sinking.
This was forcing Wendy to make a choice…
He also looked at Wendy, having already made a decision in his heart.
If Wendy were to kill him… he wouldn’t fight back. When he hid Law, he had also told him that no matter what terrible things Wendy might be forced to do later, she was innocent, even dragged into this… So it didn’t matter, Law wouldn’t hate Wendy for it.
Meanwhile, Wendy stared at the gun thrown before her, gradually furrowing her brows before stating resolutely: “I refuse.”
The atmosphere froze for a moment.
“…Is that so?” Doflamingo felt little internal fluctuation as he looked at Wendy, the gun in his hand gradually shifting to point at her. His expression was cold, his tone indifferent: “Wendy, I’m disappointed in you.”
He pulled the trigger.
After the gunshot rang out, Corazon, who had stepped in front of Wendy, collapsed. Blood spreading from his heart stained the snow crimson.
Author’s note:
The two brothers engage in a spy vs. spy game, illustrating love and hatred
Wendy: Huh? So this is where the branching paths with different endings begin?