"I'll hold them off ter, Law. You must run. Don't let Marich you," Rosinante whispered urgently to Trafalgar Law.

  Before Law could respond, Rosiraightened up and addressed Gion. "Vice Admiral Gion, the Ope-Ope Fruit… it was destroyed in the explosion just now," he said.

  "You expect me to believe that?" Gion asked coldly, her face darkening.

  Her sharp eyes moved to Law, narrowing in suspi. "Is it him? Did this child eat the Ope-Ope Fruit? Are you using him to gain immortality?"

  "No! Law hasen the fruit!" Rosiorted firmly.

  "You're even more despicable than your brion spat angrily.

  She had misuood Rosinante's iions, believing he was using Law for his own selfish ends, perhaps to gain the rumored immortality. The thought disgusted her. She couldn't bear the idea of handing this child over to the Wover, knowing what kind of treatment awaited him there. He was just a boy!

  Law, however, couldn't tolerate anyone insulting Rosinante. "No! Mr. Corazon is trying to save me! I have the Amber Lead Syndrome. Only the Ope-Ope Fruit save me!" Law shouted defiantly, his voice trembling.

  "Law!" Rosinante quickly covered Law's mouth, but it was already too te.

  Gion's eyes flickered with uanding. Her anger softened into pity as she looked at the boy. "Amber Lead Syndrome…" she murmured. Was this child a survivor of the tragedy in the White Town of Flevanbsp;

  That was a camity engineered by the Wover itself. To think this child had endured such a fate…

  Gion's heart ached for Law. Her geure and sense of justice warred with her duty. A part of her wao ighe missioirely, apprehend Rosinante, and leave the fruit's fate as a "failed mission."

  Sensing Gion's hesitation, Rosinante pressed his advantage. "Momousagi, you know what will happen to Law if he's taken by the Wover. you really bear to see this unfortunate child's tragic life grow even darker?"

  "This is all your fault!" Gion snapped back, gring at Rosinante.

  "Without the Ope-Ope Fruit, Law wouldn't survive the year! This is his only ce to live!" Rosinante roared, desperation clear in his voibsp;

  "You're just using him!" Gioed, still unvinced.

  "Then kill me!" Rosinante yelled, his voice hoarse. "Kill me, a end here. Say the Ope-Ope Fruit was destroyed. But please, don't hand Law over to the Wover!"

  Rosinante's plea was desperate yet sincere. Killing him would leave no evidence, allowing Mario cover up the situation and decre the mission a failure. It wasn't ideal, but it ossible. Even if Marine faced repercussions for the failed operation, the Wover wouldn't push too hard, especially not after the ret events in Totto Land.

  Gioated, her resolve wavering further. Could she do it? Could she save this child?

  Seeing her doubt, Rosiook a drastic step. "If it will make things easier for you, I'll do it myself!" he said, raising a pistol and pointing it at his own head.

  Law's eyes widened in horror as he rushed to stop Rosinante. "Don't, Mr. Corazon!"

  Rosinante pushed him back, his eyes softening. "Live, Law," he said gently before pulling the trigger.

  But his body froze before the shot could fire. A familiar force immobilized him, and Rosinante's heart sank. He khis ability all too well.

  "Parasite String…"

  From the shadows, Dofmingo's imposing figure emerged, his face grim. "Rosinante, you've disappointed me," he said, his voice filled with quiet fury.

  Rosinante's eyes widened as he saw his brother. Dofmingo's gaze shifted between him, Trafalgar Law, and Gion, lingering on each of them.

  "Brother…" Rosinante began, his voice trembling.

  "Don't call me that!" Dofmingo snapped, cutting him off. "Why, Rosinante? Why did you betray me? Do you have any idea how serious this is? This isn't just about me—our entire family is involved! Even our cousin is implicated. What were you thinking?"

  "Law is dying! The Ope-Ope Fruit is his only ce!" Rosinante shouted back without hesitation.

  "And what about us? What about the Donquixote Family? If this operation fails because of you, how do we expin it to the Wover? To CP-X?" Dofmingo's voice rose, his anger boiling over.

  Rosinante faltered for a moment. He had always assumed Dofmingo's obsession with the Ope-Ope Fruit was tied to its rumored ability to grant immortality. But now, it seemed his brother was more ed with the sequences of failure.

  Had he misuood him all along?

  Swallowing his guilt, Rosinante said, "Bme everything on me. I acted alone, without your knowledge. But please, brother, don't hand Law over to the Wover. Let him live. When he grows up, let him live the life he deserves. You're still young. Don't you have time to wait?"

  "You betrayed me, and now you expect me to grant your dying wish?" Dofmingo snarled, his tone sharp with anger.

  "This is my first and st selfish request as your brother. For our mother's sake, Doffy, please…" Rosinante's voice cracked as tears streamed down his fabsp;

  Dofmingo's expression tighte the mention of their mother. Rosinante had ied her gentleness, her kindness, traits Dofmingo had always dismissed as "foolish." But despite his pt for their father's y, he had always loved and missed his mother.

  Her memory was a sore spot, ohat Rosinante's plea had now strubsp;

  For a long moment, Dofmingo said nothing. His fists ched, his jaw tightened, and his body trembled with suppressed emotions. Was it rage? Frustration? Or something else entirely?

  Rosinante didn't speak further, his tearful eyes fixed on Dofmingo with a silent plea.

  At st, Dofmingo turo Gion. His voice was low but clear. "Vice Admiral, I ask this as a favor… for my cousin. Rosinante is his brother. Let me hahis matter."

  Gion's eyes narrowed. Dofmingo was nothing if not proud. For him to lower himself and make such a request was unusual. She hesitated, thinking of Cudius and the possible implications.

  In the end, Gion said nothing. She turned and walked away without a word, leaving the se behind.

  After Gion's departure, Dofmingo faced Rosinante once more. His voice was cold as he spoke. "You've truly disappointed me, Rosinante. We've lived through the same hell. Why? Why are you still so na?ve?"

  "Why do we call ourselves brothers?" Rosinante replied softly, a faint smile on his lips.

  Dofmingo's e sungsses obscured his eyes, but his hands trembled slightly.

  Before ing here, he had imagined tless sarios for this frontation. In all of them, he had killed Rosihout hesitation.

  But now, standing face-to-face with his brother, Dofmingo found himself uo absp;