Chapter 86: Brimming with the Future

“So, in other words, the ‘Fruit of Innocence’ is already in your hands?”
Through the transponder snail, Qiubai couldn’t quite discern Doflamingo’s mood at that moment, but he figured it couldn’t be bad—after all, he’d accomplished the mission. In terms of investment and returns, Doflamingo had no reason to be dissatisfied.

“Yes, but although I have the fruit, there were some minor issues along the way… It was my own fault—I got a little injured during the struggle for the fruit, and with the navy and Vladimir’s blockade, we’ll be delayed returning to the family.” Qiubai spoke calmly, his tone betraying no hint of anxiety, even when lying to someone like Doflamingo.

“I see. I’ve already read about the big incident in Paz, but I didn’t expect you to get hurt. That’s truly unfortunate… It doesn’t matter if you’re delayed, as long as the fruit is in our hands.”
Doflamingo offered the perfunctory concern of a superior for a subordinate wounded in the line of duty, but there was no warmth behind his words. Qiubai, however, didn’t care. He only aimed to remain here a while longer.

After ending the call, Qiubai picked up the Fruit of Innocence and examined it once more. Once cleaned, he realized his earlier worries had been unfounded—the fruit had only gathered some dust in the explosion; it hadn’t been cooked.
But even if it had, it wouldn’t have mattered. Doflamingo’s instructions never specified that the fruit must be returned raw.

As for what happened in that little town, it was an unexpected encounter for Qiubai, but it had now become a part of his plans.
After the pirate captain was shot in the head, his crew scattered in all directions.
Qiubai didn’t bother pursuing the fleeing pirates, just as he’d said—he had no reason to punish them.

As for how he forced Erlen’s hand, some would say his actions were unspeakably cruel under those circumstances. Yet, from another perspective, what he’d done might be called “damned kindness.”
At least for Erlen, Qiubai deserved heartfelt gratitude.
This gratitude, however, was not the same as the “gratitude” the townsfolk showed Qiubai after the pirates’ escape. Their thanks were only superficial. In truth, how could they possibly like a young man who, clearly capable of driving away the pirates, stood by while hostages were killed?

Furthermore, it’s only natural for ordinary people to harbor resentment: “If you could have saved us completely, why didn’t you do so from the start?”
“If you could have wiped out the pirates, why did you let them go free?”
Such accusations and anger simmered in everyone’s hearts; some even hated Qiubai more than the pirates themselves.

It’s much like a poor man resenting a billionaire: “You have ten billion—why can’t you give me a million? It’s nothing to you…”
The response: “We’re strangers. Why should I give you a million? For your so-called gratitude?”
Qiubai felt the same. He was a pirate, not the navy; he had no such goodwill toward “bystanders,” nor any obligation to protect them.

The townspeople’s forced smiles and reserved demeanor stemmed from their realization that this young man was far more terrifying than the pirates—forcing a child to shoot a pirate in the head had left an indelible impression.
In their eyes, Qiubai was no different from a demon.

After the pirates fled, Qiubai’s first act was to drag out the town’s doctor and have him perform emergency treatment on Erlen. Once Erlen’s condition stabilized, the porter, Bepo, had already arrived.

Thus, after everyone regrouped, Qiubai changed his original plan. They could no longer stay here. They left the town for another island in the archipelago…
Even if there weren’t those “returning evil for kindness” types reporting Qiubai’s “brutal actions” to the navy, the events in the town would surely bring the navy’s attention after matters on the main island were resolved.
Qiubai had no desire to deal with them for now.

So, at this moment, Qiubai was on a tiny uninhabited island.
What he’d told Doflamingo wasn’t wholly untrue—an incident of such magnitude under the navy’s nose was a huge embarrassment for them and the World Government. Stinging from this public humiliation, the navy was furious; warships were now swarming these seas, and they would show no mercy to any suspicious targets.

Now was truly not the time to set sail.

“Qiubai, he’s awake.”
Just as Qiubai was lost in thought, Ain came over and spoke to him.

“Is that so? Then let’s go see him.” Qiubai handed her the devil fruit, then walked toward their hiding place—a reasonably spacious cavern.

“Oh, and Ain…” He paused after a few steps.
“Happy New Year.”
“…Happy New Year.”
It was only during his call with Doflamingo that Qiubai realized that another year had passed in the Sea Calendar—1507 had arrived.
Physically, Qiubai was now a remarkable sixteen, and, according to some laws, from now on he’d be fully criminally responsible for any misdeeds… The days of being a “troublesome child” were gone for good.

However, Qiubai recalled that a great goddess in the “Cthulhu Mythos” once said: “If you’re not caught, how can it be called a crime?”
So he wouldn’t stop—so long as he wasn’t discovered… no, as long as he wasn’t caught, he would continue as he pleased.
Age was irrelevant; Qiubai would continue to do as he wished… Life was about making waves, and at the heart of making waves was courting death.

“Where’s Bepo?”
Entering the cave, Qiubai noticed that their guardian bear, Bepo, was missing.

“He went hunting… I think?” Ain wasn’t entirely certain, but she was probably right. On this island, the wild Bepo was responsible for supplying their breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
He was quite busy.

Disregarding his white bear, Qiubai approached where Erlen was lying and saw that he was indeed awake. But his eyes betrayed a spirit in terrible shape.

“Brother Qiu… thank you.”
His words were halting, but they showed that, though Erlen was in a bad state, he hadn’t broken down completely—a fair outcome for one who had just endured the “unbearable weight of life.”

“Mm, but…”

Qiubai had words to say, but didn’t know how to begin.

“That pirate captain…”
“He’s dead. You shot him yourself.”
Erlen remembered, even without Qiubai’s prompting. After a brief silence, he asked,
“Brother Qiu… are you a pirate too?”
“More or less. But… pirate or navy, in this so-called ‘Great Pirate Era,’ do you know what matters most? It’s the ability to protect yourself. Not that nobody is trustworthy, but your own strength is indispensable—because, no matter what happens, your first option is always what?”
“To rely on myself.”
Erlen might not have understood these words before, but now, after all he’d been through, they made perfect sense—even if the lesson and growth were painfully earned.

Qiubai didn’t mind admitting he was a pirate. In Erlen’s case, there was no risk he’d join the navy out of hatred because his father was killed by pirates; don’t forget his background, or why he’d crossed the Calm Belt to reach the North Sea—his grudge toward the World Government and the navy surpassed his hatred of pirates.

The real pain now was that he’d become a “cripple,” missing a hand and a leg. No matter how much Qiubai emphasized self-reliance, Erlen was no longer truly capable of protecting himself.

He didn’t know what to do next. Perhaps one shouldn’t discuss “life’s path” at such an age, but Erlen’s future was utterly lost.

So, without further discussion, Qiubai decided to tell him directly what to do.

“For now… don’t think too much. The first goal is to regain what you’ve lost—your hand and leg.”

“Regain… is that possible?”
Even if it sounded like a fairy tale, hope sparked in Erlen’s voice.

“Don’t get too excited yet. There are, simply put, two ways. One is to do nothing and wait three to five years; I’ll naturally bring someone who can restore you to your former self.”
With the “Operation Fruit,” reattaching limbs would be a piece of cake—for now, Qiubai was simply waiting for Trafalgar Law.

“The other way is more complicated. Without relying on others, you can find new footing with your own strength, though it will be harder and take even longer… So now, you have to make a choice.”

“I choose… the second way.” Erlen fell right into Qiubai’s trap without much hesitation.

“Very well, a wise choice… Have you heard of a place on the Grand Line called the ‘Future Kingdom Baldimore’?”