After a long, long stretch of time…
Ginny and Bonney's Sapphire Scale Disease was finally treated, one after the other, and Kuma no longer had to pay with his life the way he once would have.
"Hey, hey, Kuma, once this is over, we have to go on an adventure on the sea for real!!!"
Bonney clung to her dad's arm, spreading her hands wide. Her cute little face was bright with laughter.
"Yeah, Daddy! Let's go see all the places from your stories, like Skypiea!!!"
She could barely hold it in. Ever since she was little, she'd been kept away from sunlight.
She wanted the outside world too badly.
Vegapunk watched the scene, tongue sticking out as usual, grinning from ear to ear.
"Yeah, Kuma. Your family can finally live together, all the time."
That happiness right in front of him made every ounce of effort feel worth it.
Even Sentomaru and Admiral Kizaru, Borsalino, that odd uncle and nephew pair, couldn't help but smile sincerely.
"Brat Bonney's a troublemaker, sure, but seeing her grow up healthy… it feels pretty damn good."
"Woah, yeah. But we've also got Ozz's money to thank, don't we?"
Borsalino's voice was lazy as ever.
"Treating them both, for a course that long, doesn't come cheap. He's really loaded, huh?"
Kuma was happy hearing all the congratulations.
But the moment Borsalino mentioned Ozz…
He froze.
The smile on his face faded, just a little.
Everyone else was celebrating. Kuma, instead, fell quieter and quieter.
After a long time, as if he'd finally made up his mind, he lifted his head.
He hesitated, not daring to meet their eyes, his voice soft and timid.
"I'm sorry, Ginny. Bonney. I… can't go with you."
"Huh?!!!"
The joy in the room instantly congealed.
Bonney's face twisted in disbelief. She looked like she couldn't accept what she'd just heard.
"Why, Dad?! I'm cured now, aren't I?!"
Kuma didn't answer.
He stood up. Ignoring Bonney's anger and protests, he brought Ginny and Vegapunk into another lab.
It was the only room without surveillance. Ever since Ozz destroyed it back then, it had never been rebuilt.
Even so, Kuma lowered his voice further, bending down toward them.
He looked to Vegapunk first. His voice seemed to come with gentleness by default as he spoke seriously.
"Dr. Vegapunk… if I remember correctly, what Mr. Ozz entrusted to you is extremely important. Isn't it?"
"This…"
Vegapunk had been confused why Kuma was dragging him here, but hearing that, cold sweat immediately poured down his face.
He glanced at Ginny, not understanding why Kuma would bring that up in front of her.
That was the highest level of secrecy.
If even a sliver leaked, if the CP agencies caught wind…
They would hunt them like hyenas until the end of time.
"Mr. Ozz?"
Ginny didn't understand the context, but hearing that long-missed, weighty name, her expression turned serious.
She had once been a commander in the Revolutionary Army. Her instincts for "big trouble" were still sharp.
"Sorry, Ginny. I can't tell you anything specific…"
Kuma clearly treated it as taboo. He didn't reveal a single detail.
Even if he trusted Ginny, merely knowing would place a terrifying burden on her shoulders.
Ginny was reasonable. She nodded and chose to trust him.
Vegapunk still didn't get why Kuma was pressing this point.
"It should be fine. You don't have to stay with me the whole time."
"After all, Ozz considered this too. He prepared for it."
"Just the help from the Underworld's major players is already enough, not to mention…"
Vegapunk spoke with total confidence, not the slightest worry on his face.
"Before he left, he gave me the authority to mobilize one of the three strongest violence organizations in the world: the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
Kuma's expression barely changed.
But Ginny's eyes went wide. Her pupils trembled.
She knew what the Seven Warlords meant. Kuma himself was one of them, and he wasn't even the strongest among them.
That was an organization made up entirely of real monsters of the sea, enough to stand against the Revolutionary Army head-on.
And Vegapunk was saying…
Ozz had handed him full command authority over them?
Ginny couldn't even imagine what kind of storm was hidden behind that.
Her shock was exactly what Kuma expected.
No, more accurately, it was what he wanted.
He needed Ginny to understand just how serious this was, so she could accept why he couldn't go with them.
"As long as those Underworld bosses haven't used the Op-Op Fruit to remove Ozz-san's control over them…"
"No…" Vegapunk paused, thinking, then corrected himself.
"Or rather, until they're absolutely certain Mr. Ozz is dead, or that they'll never be found again, they won't dare resist or leak anything. They'll cooperate with me for the experiment."
"So, Kuma, you don't have to stick around."
Vegapunk was persuading him. In his mind, Kuma had earned his freedom.
He should be with his family.
But to his surprise, Kuma just smiled gently and shook his head.
"I don't know how to repay Mr. Ozz's kindness. Please let me give everything I have for this small task."
His eyes fixed on Vegapunk.
"And I know it too. The other Warlords can't stay at your side at all times, Dr. Vegapunk."
"They can be summoned when needed as combat power, but they cannot keep watch day and night, guarding the experiment itself."
"I'm the one who's received countless favors from him."
"At this final moment, I must protect these results for Mr. Ozz."
"Kuma…"
Vegapunk was speechless.
He was shaken by Kuma's resolve, and he couldn't truly refute it.
Ozz had indeed given him the authority.
But those Warlords would come when called, then leave again.
Only Kuma, honest and steady to the bone, could actually stand vigil.
Vegapunk could only sigh and nod helplessly.
"Kuma…"
Ginny couldn't hold it. She wrapped her arms around him, tears spilling despite herself.
She knew Ozz's kindness was worth repaying like this.
But it still hurt.
"Don't cry, Ginny!"
Kuma panicked, fumbling awkwardly as he tried to comfort her.
"Just travel with Bonney for now. It won't take me too long."
"Once the experiment succeeds… you know my ability."
"I'll fly to you two the moment it's done."
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