Whether Kuma understood what was said to him was unclear, or perhaps he had his own concerns.
Now that his daughter's body had recovered and she had escaped, he needed to take the chance while he still had control over himself to flee and find Vegapunk. After all, Vegapunk was currently under the protection of the Whitebeard Pirates, maybe he could help Kuma survive.
Nothing more could be said. The choice was up to him now.
"Rayleigh, let's go. My ship still hasn't been coated."
Rayleigh smiled and left with Roy.
Kizaru looked up at his old friend Kuma. The two had been putting on an act together, and it seemed Roy had caught on.
"Kuma." Kizaru looked at him meaningfully.
Was he going to make a decision? To take Bonney and leave? Kuma was still free at this moment.
Bonney's body had already recovered; he only needed to take her away, and he wouldn't completely become a robot.
"Borsalino." Kuma looked at Kizaru, the two locking eyes.
"Go," Kizaru spoke softly, unlike the way Roy had just shouted to Rayleigh. The tone of his voice made it clear: he wanted Kuma to get far away, preferably taking Bonney with him.
"Thank you," Kuma said with a gentle smile.
"This is your best chance," said Kizaru.
"I understand." Kuma nodded, holding his Bible as he turned and walked in a certain direction.
Kizaru then looked at Sentomaru beside him. "Have the pirates been captured?"
"They have, but I need to hurry back to Egghead. I didn't expect the Whitebeard Pirates to kidnap the doctor. It must've been while I was away," Sentomaru replied, carrying his large axe, as if he hadn't witnessed what just happened.
They'd caught a bunch of small-time pirates, enough to give the Celestial Dragons an explanation. As for the Straw Hat Pirates, they were nowhere to be found.
Once Roy's ship had been coated, he and his son headed to Fishman Island, and from there, back to the New World, rushing toward Egghead.
The Whitebeard Pirates were now stationed there.
News had already spread across the world that the Whitebeard Pirates had attacked a World Government facility. But the reason behind it was still unknown.
On the very day Roy left Sabaody, newspapers were delivered worldwide.
[Pirate Blackbeard Teach had captured Fire Fist Ace and handed him over to the World Government. As a result, he took Crocodile's place and became the newest member of the Warlords of the Sea.]
[Fire Fist Ace, Captain of the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates, had fallen into Marine hands.]
"No wonder the Whitebeard Pirates made such a huge move," said Kid, who had narrowly escaped the chaos on the Sabaody Archipelago, as he read the newspaper.
"That guy said something about kidnapping a Celestial Dragon, looks like it was related to this. That was the Vice Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates," Law said seriously.
"Are the Whitebeard Pirates going to war with the Marines?" Apoo laughed as he read the paper.
"Didn't expect something like this to happen. No wonder there were so few troops on Sabaody," said Drake, his body wrapped in bandages—Kizaru hadn't held back.
"The Whitebeard Pirates have captured tens of thousands of Marine soldiers. On the other hand, the Marines captured their division captain," said Urouge with a chuckle.
The Supernovas all murmured among themselves. Meanwhile, Kuma stood before a little girl.
Bonney had reverted to her child form and looked up at the man in front of her with tears in her eyes.
The Bonney Zoro had encountered earlier was her real age.
"DAD!"
Bonney threw herself at Kuma, hugging his leg.
"Kuma!"
The pirates with Bonney were actually the kids who used to bully Kuma. Now, seeing him appear before them, they were overjoyed.
"Everyone, thank you for everything," Kuma said gently, patting Bonney's head.
"DAD!!" Bonney couldn't hold back her emotions and cried loudly while hugging him.
"DON'T LEAVE ME? TAKE ME AROUND THE WORLD WITH YOU!" Bonney said, clinging to Kuma's neck.
"...Okay." Kuma nodded and gave a warm smile.
With that, the farce on the Sabaody Archipelago ended. Kizaru returned to the Marine Headquarters.
"How did it go?" Sengoku asked.
"The Straw Hat Pirates were handled by Kuma," said Kizaru.
"Kuma?" Sengoku looked at him suspiciously.
"He's one of the Warlords of the Sea, probably acting under World Government orders. The Straw Hats were dealt with by him."
"Let's not worry about that for now. We've finalized our plan, seven days from now, we exchange hostages at Egghead in the New World. You three will take men and go," Sengoku said.
"Oh, right, I need to report something. I ran into the Whitebeard Pirates' Vice Captain on Sabaody," Kizaru added.
"That Roy guy?" Akainu looked up at him.
"Yeah, he was just standing around watching," Kizaru nodded.
"What was he doing on Sabaody?" Sengoku asked.
"Planning to kidnap Celestial Dragons. If we hadn't agreed to the exchange, he would've taken three of them hostage instead." Kizaru said.
"WHAT?!"
Every Marine in the room was stunned. Kidnapping Celestial Dragons for a hostage exchange. That was beyond audacious.
"That whole hostage plan must have been his idea. The guy's smart—reminds me of Dark King Rayleigh from the Roger Pirates," Kizaru said with some unease.
"Then why didn't you capture him right then and there?" Akainu asked.
"Trust me, I tried. I almost didn't make it back," Kizaru replied, startling everyone again.
"You almost didn't make it back?" Sengoku looked at Kizaru in disbelief.
"You really can't underestimate people in this world. That guy… when I fought him, it felt like facing Red-Haired Shanks—no, even scarier. No wonder he's Whitebeard's successor. His power is on par with the Four Emperors," Kizaru said.
"Is that your analysis, or based on actual combat?" Vice Admiral Tsuru asked seriously.
"We only exchanged a single move, but it was enough. His Haki... It's on that level." Kizaru replied.
"Looks like we need to rethink this operation," said Vice Admiral Tsuru.
Kizaru had just returned from outside, and it seemed there was now a new plan.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what's the new plan?"
"After the hostage exchange, we launch an attack on the Whitebeard Pirates," Sengoku replied.
"We're going to fight the Whitebeard Pirates in the New World?" Kizaru was a bit surprised.
"That's right. We've already begun mobilizing everyone, including the Seven Warlords of the Sea. This war is happening. The World Government has issued its highest command to launch an all-out war and wipe out the Whitebeard Pirates," Sengoku said.
Kizaru looked at the others in the room, Sengoku, Akainu, Aokiji, and Tsuru. Clearly, only these top brass knew about the operation at this point.
Sengoku had just said it: three Admirals would be leading the mission, and this would be the Marines' first full-scale war against a Yonko.
"In seven days, you three will lead the assault on Egghead," Sengoku said.
"Why seven days from now?"
"To mobilize. And to gather the Warlords of the Sea."
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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