One Piece: Deriving All Things

Dressrosa

Doflamingo, one of the current Warlords of the Sea, was holding a newspaper. With his golden blonde hair, sunglasses, and wearing his signature pink feather coat and cropped pants, he walked with pointed shoes.

"Fuffuffuffuffu."

"A frightening man, indeed, to escape from Impel Down."

Looking at the news about Saunders' escape, Doflamingo wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Young master, should we try to recruit him?" Trebol asked in a nasally voice, with a string of snot dangling from his nose.

"Fuffuffuffuffu, recruit him? Don't be ridiculous. His foster father was killed by the Celestial Dragons."

As an underground broker, Doflamingo was well aware of why Saunders betrayed the World Government.

A terrifying man like Saunders, who held a grudge against the Celestial Dragons, was someone he would stay far away from, not approach.

"Young master, it's not like we can't cooperate with him. You may have once been a Celestial Dragon, but you also bear grudges against them. In that sense, our goals align when it comes to opposing the World Government and the Celestial Dragons," Trebol analyzed, sniffling.

"We'll wait and see for now."

"But you're right about one thing: Saunders' escape will cause big trouble for the World Government."

"The more chaotic the world becomes, the better."

"Let's turn the world ruled by those fools in the Holy Land upside down. Fuffuffuffuffu!"

Marine Headquarters Hospital

Outside a hospital room, two figures stood—a man and a woman. The man wore a pink bandana on his head, looking somewhat eccentric. The woman had long, wavy sea-blue hair, a tall figure, and striking beauty.

"Are you sure we should give him this newspaper? Do you really think Z would be happy about it?" Ain asked softly, frowning.

"Saunders was one of the teacher's favorite students. Maybe hearing this news will lift his spirits," Binz replied quietly.

The two were the only survivors of the attack on Z's training ship.

A year ago, Z's training ship was ambushed, and all the trainees on board were killed—except for Ain and Binz. Z's right arm was also severely injured, effectively rendering it useless.

Losing his arm and seeing his beloved students die had left Z in despair.

Ain and Binz had tried everything to bring him out of his depression, but nothing worked.

Now, with the news of Saunders' escape from Impel Down, Binz thought it might be their chance.

"But Z-sensei hates pirates the most. Saunders is no different from a pirate now."

"Plus, he destroyed an entire Marine fleet when he escaped from Impel Down."

Ain was worried. If Z saw that his favorite student had become no better than a pirate, it might just break his heart even more.

"Ain, we both know this isn't Saunders' fault."

"I believe Z will understand, don't you?"

Binz's words seemed to relax Ain, and she eventually nodded. "Alright, let's give it a try."

Seeing Ain's approval, Binz smiled, then gently pushed the door open and walked inside.

In the hospital room, Z lay on the bed, his right arm gone, leaving an empty space where it once was.

"What are you two doing here?" Z asked weakly, his face haggard, eyes lifeless.

"Z-sensei, there's news about Saunders," Binz said cautiously.

"Saunders?" Z raised his eyelids, surprised. "Wasn't he imprisoned in Impel Down?"

"Did he die?"

His expression dimmed at the thought.

Z knew much about what had happened to Saunders. He had even argued with Sengoku about it, but when the order came from the Five Elders, there was nothing Z could do but watch his prized student be thrown into the hellish Impel Down.

Since then, he'd hardly spoken to Sengoku or Kizaru.

"No, no."

"Saunders escaped."

Binz quickly handed the newspaper to Z, then stood silently alongside Ain.

Z flipped through the newspaper, his expression complex.

He didn't know whether to feel happy or angry.

On one hand, one of his best students had effectively become a pirate. By all rights, Z should be furious and ready to hunt him down for betraying everything the Marines stood for.

But Z also knew this wasn't Saunders' fault.

If it hadn't been for the Celestial Dragons…

By now, Saunders could have been a Marine Vice Admiral, commanding operations against pirates across the seas.

Marine Base

Akainu, smoking a cigar, looked through the newly issued bounty notice from headquarters.

"If he's escaped, then he's a pirate."

"I will personally bring him to justice once more!"

With that, Akainu's hand erupted in magma, reducing Saunders' bounty notice to ashes.

Loguetown

Smoker stared at Saunders' bounty notice with a complicated expression.

"So, you escaped after all."

"I knew you wouldn't quietly die in a prison cell."

Years ago, both Smoker and Saunders had trained together under Z. As two Logia users, it was only natural for them to be compared.

The result had been clear—Smoker had been utterly defeated.

Even without relying on his Devil Fruit abilities, Saunders had easily outclassed Smoker.

Since then, Smoker had thrown himself into training, determined to someday overcome Saunders.

But instead, all he'd heard was news of Saunders betraying the Marines and being thrown into prison.

When Saunders was captured, Smoker refused to believe that his former comrade had truly turned traitor. He had submitted report after report to headquarters, requesting a chance to meet Saunders face-to-face.

Every single request was denied.

Now that Saunders had escaped from Impel Down, Smoker would finally have the chance to ask him in person—what had really happened three years ago.

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T/N:

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