Chapter 31: Heavy Burden #31
As Law and the others approached the town, they paused to observe Blake deftly evading Artur Bacca's attacks while taunting him with merciless jests.
"He sure is ruthless... I'd died from the embarrassment alone if I were in Bacca's shoes," Shachi remarked, his sympathy evident as he watched the pirate captain's futile attempts to land a blow on Blake.
"He seems to be leading him toward the shore... do you think he has the same plan as us?" Penguin mused, stroking his chin in contemplation.
"Maybe he just fancies a dip in the ocean," Bepo chimed in, feeling a bit left out of the conversation. His comment was met with harsh glares from the others, causing him to wilt with a sheepish expression. "Sorry," he mumbled, his shoulders drooping.
"In any case, let's get ready... head to the docks and await my signal," Law instructed, dismissing the three with a wave of his hand. They nodded in agreement and swiftly made their way to the docks, prepared to execute their strategy.
Once they were in position, Law turned to Blake. "Hey, let's switch!" he called out, activating his Room ability.
Blake flashed him a grin and a thumbs-up, and that was all Law needed. "Shambles!" he announced, instantly swapping places with Blake as the latter gracefully dodged another of Artur Bacca's desperate swings.
Without giving the pirate captain a moment to react, Law aimed both thumbs at Artur Bacca's chest. "Countershock!" he exclaimed, unleashing a surge of electricity powerful enough to knock out an elephant. Bacca grimaced in agony as the electricity neutralized his liquified form, nearly rendering him unconscious.
Seizing the opportunity, Law swiftly executed the plan, swapping Bacca's position with Bepo's. In an instant, the pirate captain found himself sandwiched between Shachi and Penguin on the docks.
Armed with electric batons provided by Wolf, Shachi and Penguin unleashed a relentless barrage of blows upon Artur Bacca.
Before Bacca could even recover, Law executed another switch, trading Bepo's place with Shachi's. Emitting a peculiar cry, Bepo struck a T-pose and delivered a powerful kick to Bacca's abdomen, launching him into the sea to rejoin his crew.
As a Devil Fruit user, Bacca's body became as heavy as an anchor in the water, causing him to flail and struggle against the waves.
Observing Artur Bacca's struggle in the water, Law clenched his teeth, torn by a moment of indecision before he urgently called out to Penguin. "Get him out of there before he dies!" he urged, his voice tinged with urgency. Blake, with a quirked eyebrow, observed the scene, opting not to intervene. Penguin, however, didn't mince words.
"What for? Just let him die! It'll be better for everyone that way!" he spat out with palpable disdain.
Law was ready to continue arguing but he had to stop as he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning, he found Wolf standing there, shaking his head resolutely.
"That son of mine is a lost cause... you don't need to go to such lengths on my behalf," Wolf declared firmly.
Law's shoulders sagged with resignation. "You know about Corazan, don't you? How he died?" he murmured somberly. "I just... can't bear to see families destroying each other again, Garakuta-ya," he added, his voice heavy with sorrow.
Wolf offered a bitter smile in return. "While I don't wish to see my own son die... he's become too dangerous, too venomous to roam freely. We lack the means to contain him," he confessed.
"Twenty years ago, I had the power to end him, but I hesitated, and now we face this outcome..." His voice trailed off with a hint of regret. "This is my failure as a father, so please, allow me to shoulder the responsibility," he asserted, his resolve evident as he withdrew a flintlock pistol from his belt and made his way toward the docks.
Hurriedly, Wolf reached the edge of the dock, his gaze heavy with regret as he beheld his son's desperate struggle in the water. "I'm sorry, son... it's my own failings as a father that have led us to this point..." he muttered, his voice laden with sorrow.
Slowly, he raised his pistol, his aim fixed on Bacca's form. "Let me, at the very least, spare you from further suffering... it's the least I can do..." he murmured, his finger inching toward the trigger, poised to end the torment.
But just as Wolf prepared to take action, a resounding gunshot pierced the air, leaving a hole in Bacca's forehead, silencing his struggles as he sank beneath the waves.
Startled, all eyes turned to Blake, who stood there holding a smoking flintlock. "No father should bear the burden of ending their child's life," Blake remarked calmly, discarding the pistol. "Forgive my intrusion, but consider it my own selfishness for not wanting to see something unpleasant..."
Wolf regarded Blake with a mixture of grief and gratitude. "I... thank you, young man," he acknowledged, a trace of appreciation coloring his tone. "Please excuse me. I need some time alone," he continued, turning away without waiting for a response.
With heavy steps, he retreated from the scene, leaving behind a somber atmosphere tinged with relief.
After Wolf had left, Law approached Blake, gratitude etched on his features. "Thanks for that... I owe you one," he acknowledged. Blake met his gaze with a nonchalant smile.
"No need for thanks... just doing what was necessary," he replied, waving off the gratitude. "I figured it'd be tough for you and the others since Wolf raised you as his own," he explained.
Law's eyebrows arched in surprise, not expecting Blake to know much about them, but he didn't press further, opting instead to join Blake in gazing out at the sea.
The tranquility hung between them until Blake spoke up again. "You know, it's a bit of a shame," he remarked with a sigh.
Law turned to him, curious. "What's that?" he inquired.
Blake chuckled sheepishly, scratching his head. "I had plans to commission Wolf to build me a ship. Heard he's quite the inventor around these parts," he confessed. "But I doubt he's in the mood for building much of anything right now," he added ruefully.
Law couldn't help but chuckle at the notion. "You wanted Wolf to craft you a ship?" he exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You'd be better off with a cardboard box! It might last longer on the waves than whatever Wolf could build," he quipped, a grin tugging at his lips.
Blake's confusion lingered as Law's words sank in. "What do you mean?" he pressed, brows furrowing in curiosity.
Law sighed, a hint of amusement in his expression. "Wolf may be a genius inventor, but his creations tend to have... flaws," he clarified. "If he were to build you a ship, you'd be lucky if it made it halfway to the next island before sinking," he elaborated with a wry grin.
Blake couldn't help but chuckle at the revelation. "I did hear some rumors about his inventions being far from perfect, but I thought the townfolk were just exaggerating," he admitted, shaking his head in amusement.
"I'd say he's even worse than the rumors say..." Law commented, shaking his head in disbelief. "What do you need a ship for anyway? Are you thinking of starting a pirate crew?" he inquired, arching an eyebrow at Blake's mention of needing a vessel.
Blake's grin widened at the question. "Not really, but I'll probably end up as a pirate whether I like it or not anyway. I tend to get mixed up in all kinds of trouble, you see," he explained, his tone laced with amusement. "What about you? Any plans to leave this island?" he asked, turning the conversation back to Law.
Law nodded, his expression turning solemn. "Eventually, yes... I have something that I must do in the New World no matter what happens," he confessed, a hint of determination in his voice.
"The New World, huh? I'll be heading there sooner or later myself..." Blake mused with a casual shrug. "How about it? Why don't you come with me?" he proposed, a spark of enthusiasm in his eyes.
Law hesitated before shaking his head. "I'm afraid I'll be more trouble than I'm worth... it's better for us to go our separate ways," he reasoned, a tinge of regret coloring his tone.
Blake chuckled at Law's response. "Trouble, you say? What about it?" he countered with a playful grin. "I'll be gunning for a Yonko seat as soon as I reach the New World, so what trouble could you cause that I wouldn't already have then?" he added confidently.
"A Yonko seat, huh?" Law mused, a wistful smile crossing his lips. "The goal I pursue may seem insignificant in comparison, but it's no less daunting," he admitted, his tone tinged with resignation.
"Would you still extend your offer knowing that I aim to defeat a figure backed by the world government, many nobles and gangs, and maybe two Yonkos?" he posed, his gaze steady.
Blake regarded him thoughtfully, before speaking up. "Are you referring to Doflamingo?" he inquired casually, causing Law's expression to shift with surprise at the accurate deduction.
"I aim to shake the world so much that it won't forget about me centuries after my death, so what does a little warlord amount to anyway?" Blake pressed on, his confidence unwavering. "I'll help you take down Doflamingo if you follow me... Heck, I wouldn't mind even if you brought your three friends along..."
...
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