Chapter Seventy-One: Purpose (Part Two)

From escaping Flevance, crossing vast stretches of ocean to arrive at the Donquixote Family—though his “success” owed much to coincidence and luck, for a ten-year-old boy, this was still an almost impossible feat. This couldn’t compare to Qiubai’s journey here; the difference between ten and fifteen years of age is immense, and Law could never possess Qiubai’s complex thoughts or his frenetic drive for action.

The force propelling Law forward was far more than a simple “will to survive.” His early training in medicine and other experiences gave him a precise understanding of his own illness… Because of Amber Lead Syndrome, he had at most three years left to live. For one condemned to die, does life or death even matter anymore?

Law’s hatred for this world burned as deeply as his desire for vengeance and destruction. Why did his parents, innocent doctors, have to be killed? Even if he was forced to accept their deaths, why did his younger sister have to die in a blazing fire? Why did the World Government deceive the nun and the children hiding in the church, offering them hope only to lure them out and execute them all?

And at the root of these tragedies was the World Government’s concealment of the deadly nature of Amber Lead Syndrome. What befell Law’s family and Flevance was not mere “misfortune,” but a deliberate massacre.

All of this was enough to stain even the purest soul with darkness. Law’s arrival at the Donquixote Family was no accident, for he had heard that Doflamingo was the most ruthless pirate of the North Sea.

Even with death looming, Law wanted to become a pirate like Doflamingo.

Just days earlier, upon first seeing Law, Doflamingo had taken an immediate and keen liking to the boy—one could say he almost loved him. Though their childhoods differed, Law’s feelings at this moment mirrored Doflamingo’s own from years ago…

Losing everything, then wishing to destroy everything—pure and simple.

Law’s plight was profoundly empathetic and easy to understand, far more fundamental than Qiubai’s half-crazed dream of blowing up the New World. Doflamingo quickly accepted Law, believing in his “promising future.”

If only Law could survive.

But what about Qiubai? With most pirates being straightforward, someone as enigmatic and unpredictable as Qiubai was almost impossible to fully accept.

To put it bluntly, Qiubai was a troublemaker—he could ensnare anyone without warning, and that was an undeniable fact.

He jabbed the scabbard against Law’s collar, then slung it over his shoulder as if kidnapping a child, creating the atmosphere of “you bear the burden.” Hanging Law behind him, he strode toward the house.

He ignored Law’s frequent threats of “I’ll kill you!”—to be honest, a young boy’s threats carried no weight at all.

Especially not from a pretty boy.

Ain, following behind, looked at Qiubai’s apparent new plaything and couldn’t help but recall what happened to the children in her village years ago. But, as they say, “one is colored by their company”—that was also when she truly grew.

Soon, the two of them entered the house’s front hall. It used to be a gathering spot for idle officers, but now it was deserted, except for…

At that moment, Qiubai suddenly felt the weight lift from his shoulder. Before Law could redirect his curses at Corazon, he was thrown straight out the window.

Rosinante’s action was so sudden that Qiubai couldn’t react in time.

“Whoosh… smack!”

With nothing but pure goodwill, the only thing Qiubai could do for Law was to add a fitting sound effect to the elegant arc the boy traced through the air.

Law would surely be battered but not killed; that was exactly what Rosinante intended.

Qiubai turned to face the tall, silent figure before him and said, “Mr. Rosinante, do you still not understand who can be expelled from this family, and who absolutely cannot be driven out?”

There was a hint of irony in his tone.

“…”

“Mission?”

Rosinante wrote these two words in his little notebook and showed them to Qiubai.

He said nothing about his treatment of Law, focusing instead on Qiubai’s mission. After all, he was determined to prevent Doflamingo’s resources from growing any stronger.

After all, even with its deadly poison, if the truth was concealed, Amber Lead remained a highly lucrative commodity.

“Mission? To put it simply, the process went smoothly, but the result was a complete failure. The World Government acted first; the Amber Lead mine is already gone.” Qiubai casually revealed just what Rosinante wanted to hear.

Rosinante breathed a visible sigh of relief, then Qiubai asked, “Where are Doflamingo and the rest of the officers?”

Rosinante wrote three words: “La Caisse.”

After the last incident, La Caisse’s mafia still hadn’t learned their lesson and had even begun reaching out to other pirate crews. They were not given a second chance here.

Doflamingo decided to eliminate them, and so he did—in the most brutal way possible.

And since he had nothing else to do, he personally joined today’s operation… Qiubai could already imagine the mafia boss reduced to bloody fragments.

There were times when Doflamingo would ignore minor provocations, but once he acted, for the mafia it was anything but a simple nightmare.

“What is your real goal?” As Qiubai pondered this, Rosinante suddenly wrote that question.

Qiubai thought he was talking about Law again, so he replied, “Nothing really. I just think the last orphan of Flevance is pitiful. He’ll be dead in a few years anyway, right? For someone with no hope left, aren’t you being a bit too cruel?”

Rosinante believed Law still had hope, which was why he wanted to drive him away. But was that possible? Amber Lead Syndrome was incurable.

Qiubai couldn’t understand Rosinante’s actions; leaving would mean certain death for Law.

But there was no need to say that aloud.

Rosinante shook his head, pressing further: “What is your purpose in joining the ‘family’?”

This question… wiped away Qiubai’s earlier levity. His eyes locked onto Rosinante, and after a moment’s thought, he said:

“Of course, it’s to stop Doflamingo’s rampage. Celestial Dragons are prone to lawlessness—even after becoming pirates.”

This shocking answer made even Rosinante’s perpetually stoic face twitch uncontrollably.

Qiubai’s words contained two explosive revelations: first, stopping Doflamingo’s rampage was Rosinante’s true reason for returning to the family; second… how did this fifteen-year-old from the New World know the Donquixote brothers were Celestial Dragons?

Could someone just “sense” such intelligence? Impossible!

“I’m joking. My real goal could never be something like that… But if you asked me—actually asked—I’d tell you the truth. Remember… actually ‘asked.’”

With this hint, Rosinante immediately realized why Qiubai had stressed those words…

“He knows I can speak?”

This inevitable suspicion made sweat bead on Rosinante’s brow… Had his secret been exposed?

Could this person be connected to the World Government? In an instant, Qiubai’s identity became even more mysterious.

“Still joking, don’t overthink it. Our actions don’t interfere with each other.” In truth, Qiubai’s words were meant to make Rosinante think even more.

Was this man from a top-secret intelligence agency? If CP9 still operated with some connection to Marine Headquarters, there was one intelligence organization whose reach surpassed even the entire Navy, so secretive that not even the Fleet Admiral could interfere… That was CP0.

So was Qiubai with CP0?

CP0 seeking out a former Celestial Dragon—did the World Government, or perhaps even the Five Elders, have designs on the Celestial Dragons? Rosinante’s mind was spinning.

But then Qiubai’s expression grew especially serious. “Truly, don’t overthink it. All I want… is to go to ‘Laugh Tale.’”

With that, he stopped caring about Rosinante’s reaction and turned to leave.

This is why he was called “crazy”—Qiubai had lied about a trivial matter regarding Law but spoke the truth about his own ultimate goal, even if that truth was shrouded in layers of mystery.

His fundamental purpose had always been clear: to reach Laugh Tale.

Isn’t that the most “orthodox,” the most “classic” of pirate dreams? Any pirate with ideals, culture, and ambition would desire that one, unique treasure.

If this world were a mysterious “game instance,” then as a “player,” what greater “achievement” could there be?

“To unravel the world’s mysteries.”

Qiubai murmured in a voice no one could hear. The method for uncovering this world’s true nature couldn’t be clearer—he only needed to obtain the “One Piece.”

Thus, Qiubai’s actions were, in essence, the pursuit of a philosophical question: to find and employ the right methodology to unravel a particular worldview.

Looking at it again, what was most important for reaching Laugh Tale? Combat strength? No, that was something Qiubai could compensate for himself.

Roger needed Kozuki Oden; Luffy needed Nico Robin. And Qiubai?

Qiubai’s requirements were clear—first, he needed certain “talented companions”; second, he needed critical intelligence.

These two were closely intertwined.

This is what’s hardest for most pirates; thus, Qiubai needed a kind of “startup incubator.”

And after searching, where could he find both intelligence and talent in abundance?

He chuckled softly to himself.

“Qiubai, is everything alright?”

Ain, following behind, asked worriedly. Qiubai’s words to Rosinante seemed a bit much.

“Of course, everything’s fine.” That was Qiubai’s reply.

Rosinante would never reveal such secrets… Though if he reported Qiubai’s behavior to his direct superior, it could mean this little pirate would end up on the future Fleet Admiral’s watch list early. But Qiubai wasn’t just looking for trouble.

His most direct goal was to accelerate Rosinante’s actions… After all, only special people can nurture other special people.

Ultimately, Qiubai’s concerns seemed too far-reaching, and his “plan” was far out of step with his current abilities. But for him, it was simply a matter of “those who plan ahead will succeed; those who do not will fail.”

*********

Another day, another gastroscopy… that thick tube shoved down the throat, my friends, to sum up—treat your girlfriend better.

Let me add one more thing: someone mentioned in the comments that they reported me for explicit content, so to avoid censorship, I’ll be making some changes. Maple Leaf Zhixuan must become more elegant…

And so it shall be.