A Father's Bargain

Bonney stood on the deck, the sunlight from the Sky Screen shining on her face.

The crew did not try to persuade them further.

Someone changed course.

Someone is furling the sails.

Someone produced a nautical chart.

Bonney looked at the sky.

"Don't broadcast it."

She spoke very softly.

The crew heard it, but none of them dared to answer.

The Sky Screen did not stop because of her.

[Question: What is the origin of the Sapphire Scales that Jewelry Bonney suffered from as a child?]

[A, Hereditary Disease of the Sorbet Kingdom]

[B, Laboratory drug contamination]

[C, The lingering effects of events related to the Celestial Dragons]

[D, Common Infectious Diseases]

Alabasta Royal Palace.

Sabo looked at the dragon.

"Sapphire Scales?"

The dragon's face grew even more somber than before.

"Bears rarely mention it."

Vivi asked, "Is this related to the Celestial Dragons?"

Cobra said, "If the answer is C, then it makes sense why the World Government made Kuma sign those terms."

"They owe Bonney," Sabo said.

Long looked at option C.

Answer C.

Sabo asked, "Are you sure?"

The dragon said, "The bear won't entrust itself to them for a common illness."

Sabaody.

Chopper stared at the words "Sapphire Scales".

"I've never heard of this disease."

Nami said, "You haven't even heard of it?"

Chopper shook his head.

"If it's a common disease, treatment wouldn't require a World Government Science Unit."

Robin said, "The most dangerous option is C."

Luffy said, "Then C."

Usopp said, "Hey, Luffy, don't always choose the most dangerous option."

Zoro said, "He's right this time."

Sanji said, "Anything related to the Celestial Dragons ends up being dirty."

Robin looked up at the Sky Screen.

Answer C.

Marine Headquarters.

Sengoku frowned as he looked at the question.

This question might involve Holy Land.

Akainu said, "The lingering effects of the Celestial Dragons' incidents are obvious enough in this writing."

Kizaru said, "If this were broadcast, the Holy Land would probably turn Vegapunk's lab upside down."

Kuzan said, "They've already decided to flip it."

He said, "Fleet Admiral, should the Navy participate in the rescue mission?"

The Sengoku was silent.

Garp said, "Do you even need to think about it?"

Akainu said, "If Kuma's personality backup falls back into the hands of the Five Elders, the Pacifista Project will continue to be their tool."

Kuzan said, "If the Navy gets involved, it's tantamount to openly competing with the World Government for control of the Science Unit."

Kizaru said, "The outer port is still closed to CP0, so there's not much difference."

The Sengoku gazed at the Sky Screen.

"Marine Headquarters has established a temporary Independent Review Group."

Akainu asked, "Personnel?"

Sengoku said, "Kuzan, Borsalino, Smoker, Hina, are to be reassigned as liaison officers for the Science Unit."

Akainu looked at him.

"And me."

Sengoku said, "You stay here and stabilize the main force."

Akainu said, "Are you afraid I'll run into the Five Elders and start a war?"

Sengoku said, "I fear they might use this as an excuse to drag our own people into a full-scale civil war."

Akainu looked up at the Sky Screen and didn't argue further.

The countdown to answering the questions has ended.

[Correct answer: C, lingering effects of events related to the Celestial Dragons]

Bonney closed her eyes.

Her fist pressed against the gunwale.

The Sky Screen display lights up.

In a small house in the Sorbet Kingdom, young Bonney lay in bed.

Her face had bluish, crystalline markings.

The bear sat on the edge of the bed, blocking the light from the window with its large hand.

Bonney said, "Daddy, I want to go out."

The bear said, "The doctor said you can't be in the sun."

Bonney asked, "What does the sun taste like?"

The bear did not answer.

He placed a book beside her.

"When you're better, I'll take you to see the sea."

Bonney said, "I need to eat a lot of food."

The bear nodded.

"Eat a lot of food."

Off-screen, text appears in the Sky Screen.

[Record of Sapphire Scales]

[The patient cannot tolerate direct sunlight; the lesions will spread with age; without specific treatment, survival time is limited.]

Chopper felt a chill run down his spine.

"This disease is too cruel."

Nami whispered, "The child can't even look at the sun."

The scene continues.

Bear carried Bonney on his back, traveling throughout the Sorbet Kingdom to find a doctor.

The doctor shook his head.

"It's incurable."

Another doctor said, "This is not a common illness."

The third doctor closed the door.

"Don't bring trouble into this."

The bear stood outside the door.

Bonney lay on his back.

"Dad, am I going to die?"

The bear said, "No."

Bonney asked, "How did you know?"

The bear said, "Because I will find a way."

On Bonney's boat.

Bonney gritted her teeth.

"Fraud."

She raised her hand to wipe her face.

"You always say that."

The Sky Screen backdrop transitions.

World Government ships are anchored Sorbet Kingdom.

A government official entered the cabin.

He looked at the lesions on Bonney's body.

"Vegapunk can cure it."

The bear looks up.

The official said, "But you'll have to pay a price."

The bear asked, "What's the price?"

The official produced the first document.

"Join the Shichibukai."

The second document.

"Accept the Pacifista Project."

The third document.

"Cooperate with the World Government's external propaganda and acknowledge the Tyrant's identity."

The fourth document.

"The details of the deal must not be disclosed to Joni Bonney."

The bear looked at the documents.

Bonney was coughing inside the house.

The official said, "She doesn't have time."

The bear asked, "After she's healed, can she leave?"

"According to the terms, she can leave after treatment," the official said.

The bear said, "I want to see Vegapunk."

The official said, "You have no right to make demands."

The bear stood up.

His shadow covered the wooden table inside the room.

The official took a step back.

The bear said, "Then let's send someone else who is qualified to talk."

Marine Headquarters Plaza.

Garp said, "That's more like it."

Akainu said, "He wasn't recruited."

Kuzan said, "He was talking about a hostage exchange."

Kizaru said, "The problem is, the hostage is his daughter."

The image on the Sky Screen then changes.

In the laboratory.

Vegapunk examines Bonney's data.

The bear stood nearby.

Vegapunk said, "It can be cured, but it will take time."

The bear asked, "Success rate?"

"If it's not interrupted, it's very high," Vegapunk said.

The bear asked, "Conditions?"

Vegapunk remained silent.

A government official standing nearby said, "The bear must be rehabilitated as planned."

Vegapunk said, "This child's illness should not be used as a bargaining chip."

The official said, "The Science Unit belongs to the World Government."

Vegapunk looked at him.

"The patient belongs to her."

The official sneered.

"You can appeal to the Five Elders."

Vegapunk remained silent.

The bear said, "Treat her."

Vegapunk looked at him.

The bear said, "I'll sign the rest."

On Bonney's ship.

Bonney grabbed the gunwale.

Her crew said, "Captain."

Bonney said, "Why didn't he tell me?"

The crew member said, "Mr. Bear probably doesn't want you to carry this burden."

Bonney looked up.

But I'm already carrying it.

The Sky Screen text falls.

[Transaction Confirmed]

[The World Government exploited Bonney's medical needs to force Bartholomew Kuma to accept the status of Shichibukai and undergo Pacifista transformation.]

[Vegapunk did not participate in the coercion, but he retained treatment records and a backup of his personality, which constitutes an act that violated the World Government's orders.]

Holy Land Mary Geoise.

Saint Saturn said, "Vegapunk must be examined."

Saint Nusjuro said, "Bonney must also be recycled."

"She knows too much," said Saint Warcury.

Saint Peter said, "We need to get the backup of the bear's personality first."

Saint Mars said, "The Sky Screen has already granted her the right to participate."

Saint Saturn said, "Then let her never get there."

Marine Headquarters.

A Den Den Mushi) was delivered to Sengoku.

The messenger said, "Fleet Admiral, a telegram from the Holy Land."

Sengoku looked at the Den Den Mushi).

Akainu said, "Go."

The Sengoku began.

The Den Den Mushi opened its mouth.

"Sengoku, the World Government has ordered the Navy to immediately dismantle the Independent Review Group, seal off all information related to Bartholomew Kuma, and arrest Jewelry Bonney."

The marines in the square all heard it.

The Sengoku did not shut down external access.

The Den Den Mushi continues.

"This is an order from the Five Elders."

Akainu took a step forward.

Tell them that Marine Headquarters is conducting a temporary rescue operation under the Sky Screen.

There was a pause on the Den Den Mushi's end.

"Sakazuki, you do not have permission to speak."

Akainu said, "I have it now."

The Sengoku period began.

"Marine Headquarters will temporarily suspend the order to arrest Bonney."

The Den Den Mushi's tone turned cold.

"You are disobeying orders."

The Sengoku said, "I am reviewing it."

The Den Den Mushi was disconnected.

The square was quiet.

Garp smiled.

"Sengoku, you're finally acting like a human being."

Sengoku glared at him.

"Shut up."

Kizaru said, "Then I'll go prepare the ship."

Kuzan said, "I'll go too."

Akainu looked at Kuzan.

"Don't let the couple beat you to it."

Kuzan said, "Don't blow up headquarters either."

Akainu said, "I will not fire on headquarters."

Garp said, "What about those CP0s in the outer harbor?"

Akainu said, "Keep a close watch on them."

A new judgment was then displayed in the Sky Screen.

[Reward Distribution]

[Jeally Bonney gains access to vital signs location, enabling her to detect Bartholomew Kuma's current location once.]

Bonney looked up.

Golden specks of light landed in her palm.

She closed her eyes.

A map unfolds on the Sky Screen.

Sea area.

Islands.

Experimental facilities.

The coordinates are Golden Light.

[Bartholomew Kuma's current location: World Government Science Unit Special Research Area, codenamed Future Island Outer Transport Port]

Kizaru looked at the coordinates.

Oh dear, you actually said it.

Kuzan said, "Let's go."

Alabasta Royal Palace.

Sabo looked at the dragon.

"Mr. Long, let's go too."

Dragon said, "You stay here to protect Vivi and Cobra."

Sabo was stunned.

"But Mr. Xiong."

The dragon said, "I'll go."

Vivi said, "There's a Sky Screen barrier over Alabasta, and the Navy has already detained CP0. Mr. Sabo can go there."

The dragon looked at her.

Vivi said, "If this is your companion, you shouldn't go alone."

Cobra nodded.

"Alabasta owes the Revolutionary Army a debt, and we shouldn't hold you back now."

Sabo looked at the dragon.

The dragon said, "We'll depart in ten minutes."

Sabo nodded.

A new problem finally emerged in the Sky Screen.

[Follow-up question: What is the most dangerous consequence of the Pacifista Project?]

[A, Mass-produced Bear-type Weapon]

[B, Seraphim Project]

[C, Replication of the Shichibukai Lineage Factor]

[D, All of the above]

At Marine Headquarters, Kizaru stopped in his tracks.

Sengoku looked at option B.

"Seraphim."