Location: Coast of the Sorbet Kingdom
"On this turbulent sea, what is the hardest currency?"
Storm asked the old man, Bulldog, as he surveyed his spoils.
"It's not the 'Beli' printed by the World Government. Nor is it gold."
Storm pointed to the three steel behemoths beached on the sand.
"It's ships."
In the legendary City of Water, Water 7, a well-preserved second-hand ship could cost 100 million Beli. A brand-new one? At least 300 million. Even a Devil Fruit—the so-called "Treasure of the Sea"—only averaged 100 million.
A good ship was worth three Devil Fruits.
"And these aren't just any ships," Storm grinned. "These are G-Class Marine Battleships. Sixty meters long, steel-plated hulls, dozens of heavy cannons, capable of traversing the Calm Belt. The market price for one of these is easily in the billions."
He wasn't sure why the World Government sent three of these monsters to catch one "Tyrant" in the South Blue, but their overreaction was his gain.
"I'll keep one for myself," Storm decided aloud. "My new flagship. As for the other two... I need a buyer. And I need the Marines here to pay their ransom."
Bulldog stared at the young pirate, horrified. "You... you plan to rob the Navy? To sell their own ships back to them?"
"I'm not 'planning' to rob them," Storm corrected. "I already have."
He looked at Bulldog seriously.
"Being a pirate means robbing those who have money. What's the point of squeezing Berries out of the poor?"
Bulldog fell silent. This man was a criminal, yes, but his logic was... strangely relieving.
Just then, Kid and Killer ran back, breathless and excited.
"Boss! These ships are gold mines! Food, fresh water, swords, cannonballs—there are weapons here I've never even seen before!"
Storm nodded. "Good. Unload the perishables. Kid, Killer, take these guys to help you."
Storm waved his hand.
[Clay Clone]!
The sand on the beach shifted and rose, forming a line of three-meter-tall clay giants. They marched toward the ships like obedient golems.
"Yes, sir!" Kid and Killer saluted, leading their new labor force back to the loot.
Storm then turned his attention to his prisoners. He manipulated the clay to pick up the unconscious Kuma and the "statue" of King Bekori.
Then, he focused on himself.
[C2 Dragon: Nine-Tailed Fox Mode]!
White clay surged from his robes, forming a massive, lifelike white fox with nine tails. Its mystical appearance startled the group of old men.
Storm hopped onto the fox's head and sat cross-legged.
"Old man," Storm called down to Bulldog. "I'm going to King Kuma's 'palace' now. Do you want a ride?"
'The Palace?' Bulldog froze. 'How does he know where it is?'
He hadn't told the pirate anything about the church where they were hiding Bonney.
"Wait! Take me with you!"
Bulldog made up his mind instantly. If this pirate knew about the hiding spot, Bonney was in danger. He had to protect her, even if it cost him his life.
Storm extended a tail, lifting Bulldog onto the fox's back.
"King Bekori?!"
Bulldog gasped as he saw the other passenger. The clay statue of the evil King was strapped to the fox's side like luggage.
"Hold on tight."
Whoosh!
The Nine-Tailed Fox sprinted inland with astonishing speed. Trees blurred past as they headed deep into the island.
Minutes later, the fox skidded to a halt in front of a small, stone church.
It was a peculiar building. Every window was boarded up and sealed tight. Not a single ray of sunlight could enter.
Storm hopped down, offloading his passengers—Bulldog, the statue of Bekori, and the unconscious Kuma.
The moment his feet touched the ground, Bulldog attacked.
"You pirate!"
The old man swung his cane with all his might at Storm's head.
"Old man, that's rude."
Storm didn't even dodge. A clay tail whipped around, snatching the cane mid-swing and wrapping around Bulldog.
Hardening.
In seconds, Bulldog joined King Bekori as a motionless clay statue.
"You can stay out here with the King."
Storm picked up Kuma's massive body effortlessly and walked toward the church door.
Creak—
He pushed the heavy wooden door open.
The interior was pitch black.
The moment he stepped inside, a small figure rushed out of the shadows.
"Die!!"
It was a little girl with long pink hair. Her face was adorned with a piercing jewel under her eye. She leaped into the air, delivering a "heavy kick" aimed at Storm's face.
It was weaker than Bulldog's cane.
Storm caught her ankle mid-air. He held her upside down like a naughty kitten.
"Little girl, what are you doing?"
He shook her gently.
Clatter, clatter.
A hidden arsenal fell from her clothes: a wooden cross, a bulb of garlic, a candlestick, a brick...
Storm's eyelid twitched. "Are all the locals this rude?"
"Let me go! You bad guy!"
The little girl squealed, thrashing in his grip.
Her voice woke the giant.
Kuma's eyes snapped open. He scrambled up from the floor, his fatherly instincts overriding the Seastone fatigue.
"Bonney!"
He saw his daughter dangling from the pirate's hand. Panic flooded his face. He raised both hands in immediate surrender.
"Put Bonney down! Please! I'll do whatever you want!"
"Daddy!" Bonney cried, tears welling in her eyes.
"Hey, hey," Storm sighed. "You two make me sound like a villain."
He gently tossed the girl toward her father.
"Bartholomew Kuma. Spend some time with your daughter."
Kuma caught her, hugging her tightly to his chest. "Bonney! Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine!" Bonney buried her face in his shirt, trying to be brave. "That... that guy didn't hurt me."
She pointed a trembling finger at Storm.
"But he's weird!"
Storm ignored the insult. He sat on a pew, sculpting a small clay doll in his hands. It looked exactly like Bonney.
"Bartholomew Kuma," Storm said, his voice dropping the playful tone.
He poked the clay doll's face.
"Your daughter has a terminal illness, doesn't she?"
Kuma froze. The room went silent.
"The Sapphire Scale," Storm whispered. "A cruel disease. Blue stones grow on the skin, and exposure to natural light accelerates it. Eventually, the victim turns into stone and dies."
Storm crushed the clay doll in his hand.
"She doesn't have much time left."
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