Chapter 367: A New Life!A party, however wild, always comes to an end.The last vestiges of night before dawn still covered Dressrosa, and the revelry in the Royal Palace gradually quieted down.The guests, all content from drinking, returned to their homes with hopes for the future, falling into a deep sleep.After enduring a decade-long nightmare, the entire country finally welcomed its first truly peaceful night.On a terrace in the Royal Palace, the Moonlightpoured down like water, serene and still.Trafalgar Law stood alone, leaning against the cold stone railing, gazing at the calm sea in the distance.In his hand, he held kikoku, the cursed sword that had been with him for thirteen years, its hilt's fur swaying gently in the night breeze.Donquixote Doflamingo was dead.Kaido had also been driven away by straw hat-ya.For thirteen years, the thought of "revenge" that had sustained him finally came to an end today.However, he didn't feel the sense of relief and comfort he had imagined.Instead, his heart felt empty, as if he had lost his direction, filled with a profound sense of confusion.Mr. Cora...The freedom you bought for me with your life, I have it now.But what should I do next? Where should I go?Just as Law was lost in his thoughts, a remarkably steady set of footsteps approached from behind him.The footsteps weren't heavy, but each one seemed to land precisely on a beat, carrying a sense of gravitas that couldn't be ignored.Law's body tensed instantly, his hand unconsciously tightening around the sword hilt, his eyes becoming alert."No need to be nervous, young man."An old, familiar voice spoke.Law turned around and saw the figure who should have been on the Marine warship.The former Fleet Admiral, Sengoku the Buddha.Beside him was his iconic little goat, leisurely munching on paper."This old man means no harm."Sengoku looked at Law, his eyes, which had seen through the ways of the world, held an indescribable mix of complex emotions: nostalgia, sadness, and a hint of relief."I just want to talk to you... about Rosinante."Rosinante.When this name came out of Sengoku's mouth, Law's pupils suddenly constricted.This was Corazon's real name.A name that, apart from him and Donquixote Doflamingo, almost no one else knew.Law fell silent.He lowered the hand holding the sword hilt, silently agreeing to the conversation.Sengoku slowly walked over to him, standing side by side, looking out at the sea, silvered by the Moonlight."That kid... I raised him myself."Sengoku's voice carried a hint of nostalgia."He was my most cherished subordinate, and I... raised him as my own son.""He was clumsy from a young age, tripping even on flat ground, choking on water, excessively kind-hearted, always easily trusting others and getting fooled repeatedly."As Sengoku spoke, a bitter yet gentle smile unconsciously appeared on his lips."I scolded him countless times, telling him that with such a personality, he was completely unsuitable to be a Marine.""But each time, he would just smile foolishly and tell me, 'Precisely because I am this kind of person, I can better understand the suffering of the weak.'"Law listened quietly, and in his mind, the image of that clumsy yet incredibly gentle figure with clown makeup on his face unconsciously appeared.So, before he became Corazon, he was this kind of person."Thirteen years ago, he took on that undercover mission."Sengoku's voice suddenly deepened."He said he was going to stop his older brother, that madman who had fallen into evil. He said it was a responsibility he had to bear as a member of the Donquixote Family.""I agreed. Because I believed in him, believed in the justice in his heart that was firmer than anyone else's.""But I never expected... that would be the last time we met."Sengoku's body trembled slightly, his clenched fists betraying the turmoil in his heart."When I received news of his death, I simply couldn't believe it. That silly kid who always managed to turn danger into safety, that idiot who promised to come back and eat senbei with me... just like that, he left me forever."Law's heart felt as if it was being tightly squeezed by an invisible hand, throbbing with pain.He could feel the deep-seated sorrow emanating from the old man before him, a sorrow etched into his very bones.It was the pain of losing one's dearest person."I'm sorry..."Law's throat felt dry; he didn't know what to say.Corazon died to save him.In a sense, it was he who had taken away this old man's most important "son.""You don't need to apologize, child."Sengoku shook his head, then turned and looked intently at Law."Rosinante gave his life for your freedom. This was his choice, and his will.""Your survival is the best comfort... for him."With that, Sengoku took something from his pocket and held it out to Law.It was a somewhat old, metal lighter.Engraved on it was a Marine symbol and a blurred name belonging to Rosinante."This was his favorite thing."Sengoku looked at the lighter, his eyes as gentle as if he were looking at his own child."Every time he lit a cigarette, he'd accidentally burn himself, then jump around in a fluster.""I kept it after he left. Now... I think it should belong to you."Law's gaze was fixed on the lighter.His breathing was erratic.His hand was trembling uncontrollably.He felt as if he could feel the man's palm temperature through the cold metal casing, and hear his familiar foolish laugh as he clumsily lit his cigarette.Thirteen years.This was the first time he had so clearly felt Corazon's presence.It was as if he had never left."Take it."Sengoku gently placed the lighter into Law's trembling hand."Carry his will, and live well..."Law tightly, tightly gripped the lighter; the cold metal quickly warmed in his palm.A warm current flowed from his palm, through his entire body, and finally, into his hollow heart, which had been frozen for thirteen years.He didn't speak, but simply bowed deeply to Sengoku.Sengoku smiled with satisfaction, patted his shoulder, then turned and slowly walked away with his little goat, leaving the Moonlight to the young man who needed to lick his own wounds....The night deepened.When Law returned to the sunny, the ship was quiet.Most of his companions were already asleep, with only a few emergency lights casting a soft glow on the deck.He spotted that figure at a glance.Luffy was sprawled out on the lion-headed figurehead, using his arm as a pillow, snoring loudly, with a shiny drool hanging from the corner of his mouth, as if he were still eating good things from the banquet in his dream.Law stopped at the base of the figurehead.He looked up at the man sleeping like a dead pig, his eyes a little complex.It was this guy.This guy who always charged headfirst everywhere with a foolish stubbornness.He had helped him achieve that unattainable wish in the most direct and thorough way.He had given him true freedom."straw hat-ya."Law quietly called out.Luffy's ears twitched, and he groggily opened one eye."Hmm... is that Torao... what's up... still want to drink?""No."Law shook his head, he looked up, meeting Luffy's sleepy gaze, and spoke word by word in a tone he had never used before, incredibly serious:"From today on, I, Trafalgar D. Water Law, am the doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates.""To live and die together!!!"Luffy paused, he rubbed his eyes, sat up, and looked at the man under the Moonlight, whose expression was utterly serious.Then, he grinned, revealing a foolish, goofy smile brighter than the sun!!!He jumped off the figurehead, landing in front of Law, and heavily patted Law's shoulder."Hehehe... of course!!!""You've always been our nakama!"Everything was unspoken.Law looked at Luffy's innocent smile and couldn't help but curve his lips into a smile as well.The confusion and emptiness that had lingered in his heart for thirteen years vanished in that moment.He knew where he was supposed to go.The Pirate King's doctor.This was his new life.