Chapter 236: Law's Ultimatum

Chapter 236: Law's Ultimatum



*CHK CHK*

One the two toys were inside an abandoned home on the outskirts of the city, the one legged toy soldier trained his rifle on Rock'em Sock'em. "I have some questions for you."

If Rock'em Sock'em could change his sock expression, he'd look amused and exasperated. The toy soldier seemed to understand regardless, as he lowered his toy gun shortly after.

"Go on then. I've got questions of my own, too." Rock'em Sock'em said.

"Why did they turn you into a toy?" The tin soldier asked.

"I came here to investigate and sabotage Doflamingo in any way that I could. In hindsight, I suppose I shouldn't have come alone, as that didn't go so well for me the last time I did that..." Rock'em Sock'em said regretfully.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"You came to Dressrosa on a ship?" The tin soldier asked.

"Yes-" Rock'em Sock'em started before he was interrupted by the tin soldier. "And can you sail that ship alone?"

"I, well... no...?" Rock'em Sock'em said in confusion.

"You didn't come alone. You just forgot, just like how everyone has forgotten you." The tin soldier said with sympathy.

Rock'em Sock'em was silent for a moment and studied the tin soldier, as if trying to read his expressionless, tin face. "Well, shit..."

"How did you escape?" The tin soldier asked, getting back to business.

"I had gotten a lead about a secret facility I could destroy to hurt Doflamingo, but it was a trap. Several of his officers were there waiting for me. I fended them off fairly well for a while, or I guess WE did, that makes more sense actually. Then that little girl slapped me and I went all weak. She told me my name was 'Rock'em Sock'em' just as I mustered enough strength to rush towards the window and break it. She grabbed my sock tail and I stabbed her with a bit of broken glass to the neck, then leapt out the window." Rock'em Sock'em narrated his daring escape. "I remember there being several other toys in the room, she must have been picking us off one by one with none of us being the wiser..."

"Don't blame yourself for leaving them behind. Even my own daughter has forgotten me." The tin soldier tried to reassure the sock monkey, but Rock'em Sock'em's clenched sock fists told him his words weren't much comfort.

"What about you then, tin man? What's your story?" Rock'em Sock'em changed the subject.

"Where are Vergo and Monet's bodies?" Doflamingo asked with surprising patience.

"We'll get to that, for now... let's make a deal." Law suggested, though his tone made it clear this would be an ultimatum.

"What, you think because you got a fancy title from the World Government that you can come sit at the grown up table?" Doflamingo asked condescendingly.

"Why don't you ask Vergo how seriously you should take this offer?" Law said mysteriously.

Doflamingo unsnapped the buckle on the ball gag in Vergo's mouth, which somehow got stuck in his beard immediately. Vergo wasted no time to tell his young master what he wanted to know. "Harpin D. Cherry and the rest of the Straw Hats."

"Fuck." Doflamingo swore.

"That's right, you're fucked." Law said, clearly relishing the rare break in Doflamingo's calm facade. "But we won't need to lift a finger against you, since Kaido will do all the dirty work for us. He won't be happy if he finds out you can't make any more SMILES for him."

Even the small ocean's waves seemed to fall silent enough to hear a pin drop in the moment that followed.

"What do you want, Law? What do I need to do to get Caesar back?" Doflamingo spat angrily.

"Resign from the Shichibukai and give up your throne. Throw away all that you've built in the last ten years and become an ordinary pirate again. I'll await your decision in the morning newspaper." *Click* Law hung up.

Doflamingo looked ready to explode in rage. Law didn't even allow a chance to negotiate, which made him all the more frustrated.

"I'm sorry, young master. It's my fault." Vergo spoke softly, whilst Monet groaned into her ball gag in an attempt to accept some of the responsibility for their failure as well.

Doflamingo walked over and released Monet's ball gag, but put a finger against her lips to prevent her from spewing apologies at him.

"Don't apologize. That beast on Straw Hat's crew alone would have been enough to thwart you. You did the best you could have." Doflamingo's voice was gentle, a rarity even when in private among his most trusted subordinates.

Monet started to cry because she knew it wasn't true. She should have contacted her young master the moment she realized the Straw Hats were on Punk Hazard, there had been more than enough time to do so. Even Vergo had a single, manly tear streak down his face, then get

stuck in his beard.