Originally, when Ian tried to recruit Wolf, Wolf wanted to refuse, saying that he was already old and didn't want to run all over the place anymore.
But when Ian mentioned technology left behind by Vegapunk, Wolf's pupils shrank instantly. He even stood up in shock, staring at Ian and seriously asking whether it was true.
After receiving a definite answer, even though he suspected that Ian might be lying, as a scientist, how could he not be tempted by access to the technology left behind by the world's greatest scientist?
But who were these people? Why did they have Vegapunk's technology? And why were they trying to recruit him?
Those doubts made him unable to agree so easily, especially because he was worried that if he agreed, it would bring trouble to Law and others.
He was already old.
If he were alone, he would agree without hesitation, willing to risk anything just to witness the knowledge left behind by the world's greatest scientist.
But now he had children with him. Even though he desperately wanted Vegapunk's technology, he didn't want to bring disaster upon them because of his own choices.
Just as Wolf sighed, lowered his head regretfully, and was about to speak, Ian sensed the invisible membrane around the room disappear, meaning Law had finished the operation.
Seeing Wolf wanting to speak, Ian directly said, "You can think about it first. As for now... the operation is over."
When Ian finished speaking, the tense Kuma also sensed something and suddenly lifted his head, staring nervously and expectantly at the door.
The door opened, and a figure walked out.
Kuma could no longer hold himself back. He hurried forward to the exhausted Law, opening his mouth with trembling lips but unable to form words.
He opened his mouth, then closed it again.
But just as he didn't know what to say, the exhausted Law grew impatient. He stepped aside, revealing the small figure behind him.
"Daddy~"
"Bonney."
Seeing the lively Bonney, Kuma's worries disappeared. He immediately hugged her tightly with nervous anticipation.
Bonney grinned and hugged him back while happily saying, "Daddy, I'm healed! Now I can finally play with everyone!"
"Yes, Bonney is healed."
Kuma finally noticed the crystals on Bonney's face were gone. He could no longer control his emotions, and the tears streamed down his face. "Bonney's illness is finally healed!"
But just as the father and daughter were hugging in excitement, someone suddenly spoke, shattering the touching moment.
"This disease isn't that easy to cure."
Kuma: "...?!"
Kuma's attention snapped back, shocked and fearful as he stared at Law, but before he could speak…
"I have to say, this so-called Sapphire Scales Disease is truly troublesome."
Law sighed, and noticing Kuma's gaze, he paused and spoke without hiding anything: "My ability can't completely cure it yet. It still needs time. However—"
He paused slightly. "My Devil Fruit ability can suppress the spread of the disease. As long as I periodically remove the disease from her body, the condition won't worsen, and she can even move freely under sunlight."
"Thank you!"
As soon as Law finished, Kuma's anxiety calmed again. He could no longer suppress his joy.
Tears streamed from his eyes as he smiled and said, "Thank you for saving Bonney!"
"Don't thank me so quickly. This is just a transaction."
Looking at the man who cared for his daughter more than anything, Law felt even more irritated and spoke impatiently: "Don't forget our deal."
"Please tell me. No matter what it is, I will accept it."
Kuma didn't hesitate, still smiling. "Even if it costs my life, I don't mind. It's just that I already made a promise to Mr. Ian, if my life is required, please allow me to finish my promise to him first."
"Daddy~"
"Who wants your life? You people are all like this, you don't even ask what others want before offering your life."
Hearing Kuma, Law finally snapped and roared at him. But it was just one outburst.
After he finished, he felt everyone's eyes on him and realized he was too emotional.
He took a deep breath and spoke coldly: "I just want you to hel—"
Before Law finished his sentence, a voice came from outside the door.
"Kuma, you're famous!"
"Ace, Kuma has been famous before. Now you should say he's famous again."
Ace and Gini, bored with staying outside, had returned.
At this moment, Ace held up a newspaper.
On it was Kuma's portrait, and below it were the words, 350,000,000 Belly.
A bounty of three hundred fifty million Belly!
…
"Fufufu, the Tyrant from the South Blue, huh?"
At this moment, inside Dressrosa's Royal Palace in the New World, the man known as the Heavenly Yaksha, Donquixote Doflamingo, was reading today's newspaper.
The eyes behind his sunglasses flickered slightly, and with a meaningful smile, he said, "I didn't expect that a Warlord of the Sea had already been killed? What a disgrace to the Warlord."
"Behehehe, he may not necessarily be dead, Doffy."
Beside him, Trebol laughed with his unique nasal giggle.
"It says he was knocked into the sea."
"In a place like that, if a Devil Fruit user gets knocked into the sea, isn't that basically the same as dying?"
"Maybe someone saved him."
"Fufufu, whatever."
Doflamingo didn't care whether that guy was dead or not.
Resting his left hand on his chin, tapping the armrest of the throne with his right hand, legs casually crossed, he spoke indifferently, "Investigate that Tyrant from South Blue. What is he doing in North Blue?"
"I've already sent people to investigate. Also..."
Trebol continued speaking, "Two days ago, the underworld forces we left in North Blue sent intel. The boss of Grado from West Blue has appeared in North Blue. Seems like he's searching for something."
North Blue was the birthplace of the Donquixote Family.
If forces from other seas entered and made large movements, there was no way they wouldn't receive intel.
"The boss of Grado? That puppet pushed to the front?"
Hearing this, Doflamingo gave a sinister smile.
"A Tyrant from the South Blue, and the underworld king at the West Blue… Fufufu, why are they all gathering in North Blue?"
The Donquixote Family had already investigated the real mastermind behind Grado long ago.
A retired Marine Lieutenant from West Blue's 315th Branch.
Although he didn't believe that something as trivial as a retired Lieutenant could kill Vergo in such a short time, it seemed that this retired Lieutenant was more troublesome than they expected.
He had two high-ranking Marine Headquarters officers backing him, and they weren't even hiding it.
The three of them were cooperatively selling wine together.