"Waaah... waaah..."
The sound of crying echoed through the church. Kuma looked at the little one.
Pink hair, just like Ginny's.
In this hellish world, the baby's cries sounded so pure.
...
Tap... tap...
Griffin emerged from the shadows and spoke slowly: "Her name is Bonney. She's your child with Ginny."
"And she's the reason Ginny had to reach this place, no matter what."
He approached steadily, each step resonating like a hammer striking Kuma's heartstrings.
"Bartholomew Kuma, are you willing to give your life for this child?"
...
...
"Who... are you."
Kuma recognized Griffin's voice - it was the same person who had given him the location through the Den Den Mushi earlier.
His tears hadn't dried yet as he slowly moved to shield the infant.
...
"A person who helped you, and now needs your help in return."
Griffin threw back his concealing cloak, revealing his navy uniform, which made Kuma tense up further.
He held Ginny tightly, as if afraid she might disappear again.
Griffin looked directly into Kuma's eyes and said solemnly: "My identity is that of a navy officer. Unfortunately... like that child, I've been targeted by the Celestial Dragons."
...
Just as Luo had seen the rebellious heart in Griffin, Griffin had also recognized that man's despicable intentions.
Griffin had no confidence in his acting skills, but full confidence in his temper.
If he had prolonged contact with that man, there would inevitably come a moment when he couldn't restrain himself from taking action.
Helping Ginny extend her time a little, allowing Kuma to see her one last time - that had been a moment of compassion.
But the main purpose...
...
"Kuma, the man who brought Ginny to this state has ordered me to bring back her body and Bonney."
"I don't like this."
"I'll only ask once..."
"Do you dare to strike against the Celestial Dragons, Kuma!"
——
——
Thump!!
His heart pounded violently as Kuma recalled those miserable memories of being a slave.
Celestial Dragons...
The World Nobles, descendants of the creators, the natural masters of the Buccaneer Tribe...
He looked down at the cold body in his arms.
Should he hand over Ginny's body and that child...
Should he let this child experience that miserable life again...
No!!
Absolutely not!!
Never!!!
Kuma slowly raised his head, the sorrow in his eyes gradually replaced by determination.
"I dare!!"
...
...
——
Revolutionary Army Base.
"This is a trap, Kuma!!"
A Revolutionary Army officer urgently said: "You're one of our pillars! That person of unknown origins talking about fighting the Celestial Dragons - it's definitely a trap for you!"
"That's right! Kuma! You can't go!"
"What's most important now is protecting Ginny's child, and... and there are still many suffering people waiting for us to save them!!"
...
The Revolutionary Army leader, Monkey D. Dragon, held Bonney quietly as he looked at Kuma.
"Have you made up your mind, Kuma?"
Remembering his conversation with that person, Kuma nodded firmly: "Yes! I'm going!"
Dragon took a deep breath and remained silent for a while.
"Alright, then I'll go with you."
"Even if it's a trap, no one can keep us here!"
...
"No, Dragon."
Kuma's gentle smile made everyone freeze in surprise.
It had been two years since Ginny was captured, and Kuma hadn't smiled since then.
"Your existence is too important, and..."
"This is something I must do myself!"
A similar scene had just occurred not long ago.
Kuma used his Paw-Paw Fruit ability on himself, vanishing instantly.
"Kuma!"
"Mr. Kuma!!"
——
——
At the coast of the Sorbet Kingdom, before a tombstone.
Griffin turned to look at Kuma: "All settled?"
...
Kuma gently stroked the tombstone, his eyes overflowing with sorrow.
After a long while, he finally looked at Griffin.
"If you're dissatisfied with the Marines... why aren't you willing to join the Revolutionary Army?"
"All of us are fighting for freedom."
Griffin shook his head: "I don't have such noble ideals as you. If push comes to shove, I'd just become a Pirate."
"You haven't told them about my identity, right?"
Kuma nodded: "You're the benefactor who saved Ginny and Bonney! I would never leak any information about you!"
...
"I've said it many times - I was just using you to achieve my own goals. I didn't save them."
Griffin stood up, brushing the dust off his pants as he spoke calmly: "I sought you out purely because I couldn't defeat that guy's guards."
"As agreed, you handle the chrysanthemum-faced one. I'll deal with the rest."
...
Kuma frowned slightly, looking concerned: "Are you really sure about this..."
"Mr. Griffin, whether this succeeds or fails, your situation will become dangerous."
"Let me go instead. This has nothing to do with you..."
Griffin smiled faintly and shook his head, a cold light in his eyes.
"How could it have nothing to do with me..."
"Those mere Celestial Dragons actually dared to look at me with such eyes."
"It pissed me off to the extreme!"
...
This was a perfect opportunity.
Hunting Celestial Dragons for rewards was originally Griffin's fastest way to improve his strength.
Given his identity, he normally had no chance to learn about the Celestial Dragons' travel routes.
Lurking around Sabaody Archipelago for Celestial Dragons wasn't feasible either - it was too close to Marine Headquarters, and Marine reinforcements could arrive quickly.
...
He knew the location of Saint Luo's ship, which happened to be in an island-free area of the South Blue. With Kuma's help, there was a chance to wipe them all out!
What was Kuma's strength level?
As one of the three pillars of the Revolutionary Army, he was at least comparable to a Marine Vice Admiral.
No matter how strong that chrysanthemum-faced guy was, he couldn't possibly be Kuma's match!
Afterwards, whether they disguised it as a Sea Kings attack or Pirate activity, there would be room for manipulation.
Of course, if these people died while he survived, he would inevitably face questioning from the World Government.
He'd deal with that later...
He wasn't some master strategist character anyway - he'd just take things one step at a time.
...
——
South Blue, on the open sea.
Saint Luo's luxurious ship sailed slowly.
"Two days already, and that guy still hasn't returned?"
Luo was growing impatient.
The chrysanthemum-faced man said softly at the right moment: "My lord..."That guy might have fled without completing the mission. Should we notify the Navy and issue a warrant for him?"
Griffin's appearance posed a threat to his position as Saint Luo's number one underling.
After all... Saint Luo had demanded he wear a mask at all times precisely because he found him unattractive.
If Griffin's strength had also caught up, with that annoyingly handsome face of his...
"What gives you the right to tell me what to do?!"
Luo snorted coldly: "Give him one more day. If he doesn't return by then, send someone to find him!"
"Remember, no harm must come to him, especially that face of his!"
...
...
"Yes, Lord Luo!"
...
Just then, a small boat appeared on the horizon, and the lookout guard shouted loudly.
"Colonel Griffin has returned!"
...
...
Griffin dragged a cloak-wrapped object toward Luo, who sat atop slaves at the ship's bow, a smile on his face.
"I've fulfilled the mission and brought back the rebel!"
"She still has one last breath. Would you like to see?"
Luo clapped and laughed heartily: "Hahaha! Well done, Griffin!"
"Drag her up quickly! I want to watch this bitch die with my own eyes!!"
...
As Griffin kept approaching, Chrysanthemum Face sensed something wrong.
That thing... the sound of its dragging didn't resemble a human body.
Having killed countless humans, he was all too familiar with the sound of a body being dragged!
"Halt!"
Just as he spoke.
A massive hand appeared before him, with paw-like pads on its palm.
Paramecia-type - Paw-Paw Fruit.
Possessing the ability to slap away anything, including living beings!
Its rarity was comparable to Mythical Zoan types, an extremely powerful Devil Fruit.
Boom—
With a soft 'pop' sound, Chrysanthemum Face's body vanished into thin air.
In its place...
stood an unshakably tall figure, massive as a mountain, casting an oppressive shadow under the sunlight.
——
Rip!!
The cloak Griffin was dragging tore apart, a sharp spearhead thrusting toward the high and mighty Celestial Dragon.
Reflected in Luo's constricted pupils was the youth resolutely thrusting the spear.
This was...
A spear thrust against the 'World'!!