Chapter 244: Heads
On the sixth branch of the Treasure Tree Adam.
After the last ray of sunlight disappeared, Kuma, under the watchful eyes of his fellow kinsmen, put down the barrel he was always holding. Immediately after, in the curious eyes of many, he lifted the black cloth covering it, revealing a small door and window, which he then opened.
The next moment, a girl with long pink hair and several jewel-like crystals on her face carefully poked her head out.
Bonney looked at the large heads that were leaning in and subconsciously shrank back. But soon, she poked her head out again, sizing up the people before her, each of whom was as strong as, or even stronger than, Kuma.
"This is the first time I've seen people as strong as Papa."
Bonney hid her body in the barrel, her pink-haired head exposed to the air. Although she had already learned from the conversations between Kuma and these people that they were of the same race, when she truly saw their figures, she was still deeply shocked.
Just then, a gentle and doting smile appeared on Kuma's face. He gently placed the barrel containing his daughter on the table and let her out. "Bonney, have something to eat. In a little while, I'll take you to see the person who can heal you."
Hearing this, Bonney's eyes, like a radar, quickly locked onto the steaming hot food in front of her. The next moment, she instantly threw all thoughts of these people to the back of her mind. Her eyes sparkled, her whole being became visibly excited, and she instantly pounced toward the food.
Then, Bonney just ignored everyone, immersing herself in the world of delicious food.
Dong Yi and the others looked at Bonney's extremely thin body and were taken aback for a moment. Before they could ask Kuma why a child with Buccaneer blood would be so thin, their attention was once again drawn to the crystals on her face.
"What—is that?"
"Is that the disease that Kuma mentioned?"
"Is that also what's causing little Bonney to be so thin?"
Facing the series of questions from the group, Kuma's eyes grew even dimmer. But he shook his head at them, signaling them not to talk about it in front of Bonney. And the Buccaneers, although muscular, were not lacking in emotional intelligence. They quickly understood his meaning and tacitly skipped over the question.
Soon, the well-fed Bonney was placed on the back of a giant dog. She followed Kuma and Dong Yi and boarded a small-sized Mist Ship, heading for the castle.
Along the way, Kuma's face grew heavier. Although he had long heard that Archangel Louis could heal all injuries, now that he had followed the legend and arrived here, his heart gradually became uneasy. He was worried that even the Archangel would be powerless against the Sapphire Scale Disease on Bonney.
Just then, Bonney's cry of surprise, carried on the gentle breeze, reached Kuma's ears, making his face change drastically and instantly breaking out in a cold sweat.
"Papa, look! It's the sun!"
"The sun?!" Kuma subconsciously raised his head to look at the sky, only to see a golden sun descending from the clouds, radiating a dazzling light and illuminating the night sky.
When the light landed on the bow of the Mist Ship, his mind went blank, filled with the question of why the sun would appear at night. But his body instinctively reached out, pulled Bonney into his arms, turned around, and held her tightly. "Don't move, Bonney!"
Just then, Dong Yi, who had been stunned by Kuma's actions, came back to his senses. He looked up at the "sun" hanging high in the sky and instantly understood. He had mentioned not long ago that Bonney's disease was very special and that she could not be exposed to sunlight.
Then, he patted Kuma's shoulder and explained loudly, "Don't be nervous, Kuma! That's not the sun! It's the 'Healing Formula' I mentioned to you before! The sun-like appearance is just one of its external forms."
"Healing Formula..." Kuma was stunned.
But Bonney, who was being tightly held by him, heard this and carefully extended a finger, exposing it to the light. Feeling no abnormality, she also patted his body and said softly, "Let me down, Papa!"
Kuma heard her, and although he knew it wasn't sunlight, he didn't immediately let her go.
Seeing this, Bonney pouted. Then, in Kuma's terrified eyes, she extended her arm out from his body, exposing it to the light. "See, Papa? It's completely fine!"
Seeing this, Kuma's mind was in a state of chaos as he tried to calm his pounding heart. Just as he was about to sternly warn her, he saw the excitement on her face and the joy in her eyes, and he fell silent.
Bonney did not notice his unusual state, but instead looked up at the golden sky with an excited face. The sky-high giant tree, which was even more majestic than a mountain, and the rain of golden light falling from the sky... all of it made her eyes, which had barely left a church or a barrel, shine with a strange light.
"It's so beautiful!"
"Look! It's raining gold from the sky!" Bonney tugged on Kuma's pants and shouted excitedly.
Kuma heard her and looked up. From the golden sun, a rain of golden light was falling, enveloping the Treasure Tree Adam.
Nearby, Dong Yi stroked the long beard on his chin and explained nonchalantly, "That's Lord Louis catalyzing the Adam tree to continue growing."
Terra's every move was being watched by many. This Treasure Tree Adam had been no secret since the day it had sprouted. And in the subsequent few catalyses, it had been seen by tens of thousands of citizens. Therefore, Dong Yi did not hide it from Kuma.
As if to confirm his words, the body of the Adam tree radiated a pale golden light, and its entire trunk extended and grew at a rate visible to the naked eye. Not only that, but in the Observation Haki of many people, it had also become different. Kuma even felt an intense sense of crisis from the tree before him. This feeling made him frown. "Is it an illusion?"
"..."
After the rain of light had dissipated, the severely shrunken golden sun once again hid in the clouds, and the world returned to night. And Kuma and Bonney, under Dong Yi's guidance, arrived at the solemn and dignified giant castle.
The group crossed the lush gardens and forests and came directly before the main gate. Then, Dong Yi pushed open the heavy stone doors, revealing a wide hall before them.
Seeing this, the strange light in Bonney's eyes grew even stronger. "This living room is too big!"
In her rough judgment, she felt that the hall in front of her could even fit several of the churches she had lived in for years.
To this, Dong Yi laughed. "That's because there are quite a few giants among us! So, the scale of this castle was actually built according to their size!"
"Giants..." Bonney tilted her head, feeling a little confused.
Just then, a series of heroic voices sounded from not far away, attracting her attention. "That is—"
Bonney looked in the direction of the voices. "So much... meat!"
In a corner of the hall, several giants as tall as buildings were sitting around a huge table. In front of them were piles of food as high as a small mountain.
Then, Bonney subconsciously took a step, walking straight toward the huge table. Just then, Kuma extended a hand, lifted her by her clothes, and carefully picked her up. "Bonney, we are guests here to see a doctor. We can't be impolite, you know?"
"Alright..." Bonney reluctantly tore her gaze away from the giants and looked up at Kuma's slightly stern face.
Then, he followed Dong Yi's steps and came directly before some sofas and a table that were also slightly large for a human. There, he saw his main target for this trip—Archangel - Louis.
He was just like his bounty poster, with pale-golden hair, a well-proportioned and tall build, and clear, streamlined muscles without the slightest hint of being bloated. A pair of snow-white wings grew from his back, making him look like an angel from mythology.
Archangel Louis, as if noticing his gaze, slightly raised his head and said in a meaningful tone, "Bartholomew Kuma. After our parting in the East Blue, I never thought you would come here to find me. It seems the disease on Bonney has really left you with no other choice."
Dong Yi was taken aback. He had never thought that Louis and Kuma knew each other. However, Kuma's next words made his face change.
"Lord Archangel... so, the people in that storm back then were you."
"Back then... we did not intentionally open fire. The storm was too great at the time, and a crewmate who was waiting for the order to fire fell and pulled the cannon's lanyard."
Ever since Louis had become famous in the New World, Kuma, based on the reported abilities and information, had deduced that the person he had encountered back when he had just bought food for the Revolutionary Army was Louis. It wasn't until now that he had confirmed his guess was correct.
These words made Dong Yi's face instantly become a picture of bewilderment. One of his hands unconsciously went to the large halberd behind his back. But when he came back to his senses, his hand was frozen in mid-air.
The tall figure of Kuma, under the watchful eyes of everyone in the hall, knelt down directly. His forehead collided with the ground, making a crisp sound.
"Regardless of whether it was an accident or not, we were the first to open fire, and thus we were met with your counter-attack, Lord Archangel. That crewmate died in an operation not long after. He has no chance to express his apology to you. Therefore, I apologize to you on behalf of that crewmate."
This scene stunned everyone in the hall.
Seeing this, Bonney was instantly unable to hold back. She puffed up her face, went forward, and pulled on Kuma's arm, trying to get him to stand up. "Papa, what are you doing?! Get up!"
Kuma did not move, but said silently, "Bonney, my comrade made a great mistake, which almost led to heavy losses for both sides. Now that he has died in battle, I must apologize for him."
"Who the hell understands what you're talking about!" The angry Bonney could not understand his determination and still did not give up trying to pull him up.
Just then, Louis's voice sounded. "Since a man has already gone to this extent for his dead comrade, if I still hold onto this matter, it would make me seem too petty. Get up, Kuma."
Because that cannonball had not landed on the ship, Louis actually hadn't cared much about it. He had only recalled the incident upon seeing Kuma.
"Thank you very much."
Kuma heard him and stood up, quietly watching the man who was only a head shorter than himself, and silently repeated the sentence he had repeated countless times in his mind.
Opposite him, Louis's gaze fell on the pouting Bonney at his side. Looking at the several jewel-like crystals on her face, he said in a deep voice, "The Sapphire Scale Disease. Is this the reason you brought your daughter to see me?"
Hearing this, Kuma silently pushed back the words he had prepared and replied softly, "Yes. It is rumored throughout the world that Archangel Louis has the ability to heal any wound of any living being. Therefore, I hope to ask you to treat my daughter. For her, I am willing to pay any price—"
Kuma's voice echoed in the now-quiet hall, making many fall into thought.
"Any price." Louis raised an eyebrow, repeating the phrase.
Kuma nodded with a blank expression, and then said again, "That's right. Bonney is my everything."
Kuma's words caused a subtle change in Louis's expression. Although he had long known of Kuma's tragic experience and his father-daughter bond with Bonney, when he truly displayed this love that surpassed everything, Louis was still silent.
After a long while, Louis, under Kuma's hopeful gaze, which was like that of a drowning person clutching at a life-saving straw, spoke in an emotionless voice. "The Sapphire Scale Disease is tricky, that's right. But now, here in Terra, there are more than three people who can successfully cure the disease on Bonney."
Kuma heard him, and the fire in his eyes burned fiercely. His entire being became abnormally excited. He knew that since Louis had said such a thing, it meant that he had agreed to treat Bonney, but needed him to do some special things.
"Not long ago, a person came to Terra with the head of a God's Knight who had been pursuing him. He hoped that I could shelter his weaker siblings. Although we were enemies at the time, I still agreed to him."
Louis's words continued. "The last person who asked me for help did so much. If you want me to treat Bonney, you should reasonably do the same. So, no matter what method you use, bring the head of a God's Knight here. At that time, I will treat her."
"The God's Knights?" Hearing Louis's words, Kuma also knew who had been here before. Katakuri... and he had indeed killed one of the members of the God's Knights in a counter-attack, which was why the World Government's pursuit of the Charlotte Family had never stopped.
"I understand. I will bring the head of a Celestial Dragon here."
As one of the survivors of the God Valley incident, Kuma of course knew what kind of existence the God's Knights were. But at this moment, for Bonney, he did not hesitate for a second and instantly made up his mind.
"..."
After getting a definite answer, Kuma left the castle with Bonney and Dong Yi.
In front of the giant gate, he, despite Bonney's protests, entrusted her to Dong Yi. "Mr. Dong, I need to leave for a period of time. Before that, I'll leave Bonney in your care."
Dong Yi nodded with a complicated expression, then handed his Den Den Mushi to him. "In that case, then call my older brother, Jin Wu, with you! Although his strength is much weaker than mine, he will definitely do his utmost to help you!"
Louis once again returned to Avant Heim. After expanding it again, he transformed into an extremely huge form and began to create the human subspecies he had envisioned.
The giant-form of Louis sat on a giant throne forged of gold. The white wings on his back were spread without reservation, their surface radiating a faint golden light. One by one, the full and perfect feathers gradually changed their form and began to flash with a dazzling life signature.
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