Sensing Vegapunk's burning gaze, watching as the scientist stared at him like some kind of mad scientist, even someone as powerful as Bartho
Sensing Vegapunk's burning gaze, watching as the scientist stared at him like some kind of mad scientist, even someone as powerful as Bartholomew Kuma couldn't help but take a small step back.
Vegapunk didn't seem to notice that slight retreat.
Instead, Sentomaru showed an understanding look, and his gaze toward Kuma became less guarded than before.
"Anyone who can be forced to retreat a step by Dr. Vegapunk probably isn't here to cause harm."
"I came to see you about a medical issue,"
Kuma quickly stated his purpose.
"A medical issue?"
"With a body like that, you can still get sick?"
Vegapunk was clearly puzzled.
"It's not me."
Kuma shook his head.
He opened the door of the small wooden house he was carrying in his arms.
From inside, a petite little girl poked her head out.
She had pink hair and listlessly looked around at the outside world from her little house.
What stood out most was a gem-like crystalline structure on her right cheek.
"She's my daughter," Kuma said.
"I want you to treat her illness."
"Can I talk now, Daddy?"
"Is this the doctor's clinic?"
The little girl, Jewelry Bonney, looked around the lab with curious eyes, her small head turning side to side as she tried to take everything in.
"Ah~!"
As her gaze landed on Vegapunk, Bonney froze.
Then she suddenly let out a dramatic exclamation:
"Waaah! What a huge head!"
Vegapunk's face lit up with a gentle smile.
Humans naturally have a soft spot for children… except for brats.
But in the next second, that smile froze solid on his face.
Bonney frowned, her little face scrunching up as she muttered:
"So gross."
"Bonney, don't be rude!"
Kuma gently reminded her.
"Sorry, Grandpa."
Bonney quickly apologized.
Sentomaru, seeing Vegapunk's frozen expression, burst out laughing.
Then Bonney's innocent voice rang out again:
"Hello, big sister."
The smile instantly vanished from Sentomaru's face.
"I'm a big brother!"
"…Okay, big sis—uh, I mean, big bro,"
Bonney immediately corrected herself.
"So this is the sick child?"
"She's pretty feisty."
"But I don't dislike that."
Vegapunk looked at Bonney and smiled as he spoke, completely unconcerned by her earlier rude comment.
"Let me run a check first,"
Vegapunk continued.
Kuma quietly closed the lab door to keep sunlight out, then gently placed the small wooden house on the ground.
Bonney stepped out from inside.
The lab was filled with all kinds of diagnostic machines.
The results came out quickly.
Bonney and Sentomaru played in a corner of the lab, while Kuma stayed by Vegapunk's side.
At this moment, Kuma watched Vegapunk anxiously but full of hope, as he read through the report.
He was afraid he'd hear the worst possible answer from the smartest man in the world.
If even Vegapunk couldn't cure Bonney, then no one in the world could cure Jade Scale Disease.
"Jade Scale Disease, huh… impressive that you've managed to suppress the symptoms for this long."
Vegapunk glanced at the report, lowered his head in thought for two seconds, and said:
"It's curable."
"Really?!!"
Kuma's eyes lit up in shock and joy as he looked at Vegapunk, almost unable to believe what he was hearing.
By now, Kuma had removed his coat and hat, sitting cross-legged on the floor in just a white short-sleeved shirt.
His towering frame made the scene all the more striking.
His expression was a mixture of happiness and disbelief.
He had traveled the world with Bonney for years, but had never found a doctor capable of treating her condition.
As her tenth birthday drew closer, his anxiety grew heavier with each passing day.
That's why he had risked coming to a Marine research facility, hoping for a cure.
"Are you doubting the world's greatest genius scientist?"
Vegapunk said flatly.
Then, ignoring Kuma's tension and unease, he continued:
"I'll apply an untested experimental method—one not yet used in clinical medicine—to the field of treatment."
"Specifically, I'll generate new stem cells and transplant them into her body."
"The time and cost involved will be about the same as creating a cyborg."
"Will helping her turn her into a cyborg?"
Kuma asked, somewhat resistant.
He wanted Bonney to grow up healthy and human, not as a cold, mechanical modified being.
A cyborg… is that even still a person?
"I meant the cost!"
Vegapunk rolled his eyes.
"Oh… that's good."
Kuma let out a sigh of relief.
Seeing that he really could cure the disease, Vegapunk clasped his hands behind his back and studied Kuma.
Suddenly, as if something occurred to him, he eagerly asked:
"Don't tell me... you're from the Buccaneer race?"
Such a robust physique immediately made Vegapunk think of that one particular race...
A nearly extinct race, one that had once committed grave crimes against the World Government— a race now viewed by the Government and Celestial Dragons as born slaves.
"Yes,"
Kuma replied without hesitation.
"Wha—!?"
Vegapunk's eyes widened, and sweat instantly formed on his forehead.
"You do realize I work for the World Government, right?!"
He hadn't expected Kuma to admit his identity so straightforwardly.
"I trust Dragon…"
Kuma replied, giving his reason.
"Is my blood different from normal people's?"
Kuma asked with some confusion.
"Although I don't have enough samples yet to make a detailed conclusion Vegapunk said your blood is indeed different."
"You carry the blood of giants in your veins."
"You're a natural-born warrior."
Then Vegapunk said something completely unexpected:
"Can I make a clone of you?"
"What?"
"You want to clone me?"
"Exactly!"
Vegapunk said excitedly.
"I'm currently looking for someone who can serve as the template for clone soldiers."
"If you're willing to donate your blood and allow me to create clone soldiers from you—"
"—I'll waive the entire cost of Bonney's surgery."
"I assume you don't have the money anyway."
Vegapunk looked thrilled, like he could rush off to begin cloning Kuma at any moment.
He was well aware Kuma was poor.
After all, Dragon was poor.
Anyone who was close to Dragon and trusted him this much had to be—or once was—a member of the Revolutionary Army.
And the Revolutionary Army was always poor.
Their money went toward their cause, not luxuries.
Kuma was silent for a moment.
"I suppose I can't say no."
Just as Vegapunk expected—Kuma really was broke.
Though with his strength, he could easily gather the money quickly, he knew money wasn't what Vegapunk really wanted.
So, he couldn't refuse the offer.
To cure Bonney's illness, Kuma was willing to give up anything.
And what Vegapunk wanted was just some blood… and permission to create clone soldiers based on him.
To Kuma, this request felt like something falling from the sky— too good to be true.
It even gave him a sense of unreality— a sense that made him feel uneasy and scared.
He feared the hope of curing Bonney's illness might disappear just as suddenly.
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