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A king... talking about killing another king?
Kuma looked at the young man before him, surprised. He wasn't just different, he was a complete anomaly among kings.
"And what would I have done after killing King Bekori?" Kuma asked. "—It would have only brought a more frenzied retaliation from the World Government. It would have brought an even greater disaster upon my country and my people."
After leaving the Sorbet Kingdom, Kuma had traveled the world, constantly wondering what Dragon would have done in his place.
And now, someone had given him an answer, a path he had never even considered.
Kill the king.
Jin shook his head. "—And because you didn't kill him, you haven't faced retaliation? With King Bekori alive, can the people of the Sorbet Kingdom truly be happy? Aren't they still living in misery? You're too soft. A tyrant? Hah. All I see is a coward, running from reality, running from your responsibilities."
Kuma lowered his head, silent.
He was a giant of a man—but right now—in front of Jin, he was like a child who had done something wrong, unable to answer.
His own principles were like chains, binding his hands and feet. He couldn't bring himself to kill a king.
But Jin's words... they weren't wrong.
Jin was speechless.
In a society where royalty and nobility dictated all value, even a powerhouse like Kuma was deeply ingrained with a slave mentality.
A giant in stature, a dwarf in spirit. To put it bluntly, Kuma did not have the heart of a conqueror.
He was an ostrich, burying his head in the sand, thinking that if he just submitted, he would be spared.
And he wasn't the only one. There were far too many like him in the world of One Piece.
The Revolutionary Army? They had their own limitations. But there was no denying that they were a group with the spirit of resistance, just constrained by the times.
But still... Jin couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration.
Top-tier talent, a top-tier fruit... he could have had it all. And instead, he had ended up like this.
Jin composed himself.
"Alright," he said. "I've said too much. Let's get back to the original question. Your purpose in coming here?"
Kuma looked up. For some reason, after being berated, he felt a strange sense of fear toward the king. It was like a child facing a parent or a teacher.
Was it because of his unorthodox ideas? Or was it because he had exposed the soft core of his being?
Kuma could sense that the king meant him no harm. Just... disappointment.
Was he really wrong?
Kuma, a classic introvert, was filled with self-reproach.
He honestly explained Bonney's situation to Jin.
Before coming here, he had heard that Drum Island was famous for its medical care. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come just because of an ad.
"We have an old witch... uh, an old doctor on our island. She should be able to treat this disease."
For the first time, a flicker of joy appeared on Kuma's stoic face. "Really?"
"Yes," Jin said. "I can even put together a specialized medical team to study the disease. But... in exchange..."
"As long as you can save Bonney," Kuma quickly assured him, "I will do whatever you ask."
He hesitated, then added, "Except... hurting people. I am a pacifist."
'A pacifist?' Jin thought. 'Then what use are you to me? The whole reason I'm going to all this trouble is for your combat power.'
But... whatever.
He'd get him on board first. Keep him from running off to Vegapunk and getting himself killed.
He could see it now. Kuma was a bear with the heart of a sheep. He needed someone to liberate his mind before he could truly become a powerhouse.
"I won't ask you to hurt anyone," Jin said. "Just be my sparring partner and my guard. For a term of... twenty years. How does that sound?"
A sparring partner? Was that all?
And twenty years? Compared to Bonney's life, what was twenty years?
"As long as Bonney is saved," Kuma said, his voice filled with a solemn gravity.
"Alright," Jin said. "We can draw up a contract. If we can't save her within two years, the agreement is void. You'll still have two years to find other doctors. How's that for a fair offer?"
It was more than fair.
"Whether you can save her or not," Kuma said, "I will fulfill my promise."
What an honest man. No wonder the Five Elders were able to manipulate him so easily. Be good to him, and he'll repay you a hundredfold.
—————————
Jin had Maya draw up a contract, then he sent for Dr. Kureha and the Chief Medical Officer, to discuss the case with Kuma.
Dr. Kureha hadn't wanted to get involved, but when Jin had said, "Don't tell me you can't cure it," her pride had been piqued. She accepted the challenge.
On the condition that, whether she could cure Bonney or not, Jin would no longer use Chopper to manipulate her.
Jin readily agreed and ordered the Chief Medical Officer to give her his full support. Whatever she needed, she would have. And if they didn't have it, Jin would find a way.
Of course, he wasn't putting all his eggs in one basket. He had already drawn up several other plans for saving Bonney.
Law's Op-Op Fruit.
Germa 66's lineage factor.
Caesar Clown on Punk Hazard.
One of them was bound to work.
With Kuma on board, Jin's forces had been significantly strengthened.
But he was a difficult asset to use.
Not because he was weak, but because he was wanted by the World Government. He couldn't just openly be on Drum Island.
Although Jin's "Dream" had given him a little bit of pull with the Celestial Dragons, and he had been able to get the bounties of Wilson and the others removed, Kuma was a different story.
His Paw-Paw Fruit had come from God Valley. He was a thorn in the side of the Celestial Dragons.
And his lineage—the Buccaneer race—had committed a great sin against the World Government in the past.
They worshiped the sun god, Nika.
It was a matter of principle. There was no room for negotiation. Jin didn't have that much clout.
"He'll have to be my trump card," Jin decided.
He had a wooden cabin built for Kuma and Bonney in the mountains of Drum Island.
Chopper, Bonney, and Anaguma, all having had tragic childhoods, quickly became good friends.
Watching them play together, Kuma felt a sense of peace. His own childhood had been a nightmare. That's why he was so desperate to give Bonney the happiness he'd never known. He would protect that innocent smile with his life.
He made a silent vow.
"Mr. Kuma," Maya said, skiing up to the cabin, "—it's time to set sail."
Perhaps it was because she had spent so much time on a spring island, but Maya was overjoyed by the snow. She had learned to ski and sled in just a few days and was already very good at it.
"Set sail?"
"Bonney is coming too," Bonney said, running over. She didn't want to be separated from Kuma.
Maya patted her on the head. "You can't. You have to be a little older before you can go out to sea."
Bonney pouted and pushed Maya's hand away. "I don't want to!"
Chopper's eyes lit up. "Really? We can go out to sea when we're older? Me too?" He remembered Dr. Hiriluk's words: the sea is vast, and a true man must one day set out to sea.
Anaguma was less enthusiastic. "What's so great about going out to sea?" She remembered her miserable time on the Salamander.
It took Kuma a while to convince Bonney to stay behind. She would stay with Chopper and Dr. Kureha for a while so they could monitor her condition.
After the three children had left, Kuma went back inside and put on a specially made bear costume. He now looked just like a snow-country hiking bear. A perfect disguise.
"Miss Maya," he asked, "where are we headed?"
"Sandy Island," Maya replied.
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