Tyrant

The newcomer was none other than one of the Shichibukai, Bartholomew Kuma, known to the world as the Tyrant.

He still wore his signature outfit, holding some kind of Bible in his hands. Standing at the bow with his height of over six meters, he completely blocked Cifer's sunlight.

"Why would a man like you want to become a Shichibukai?"

Kuma answered a question with a question. Cifer was not surprised that Kuma knew he was about to become a Shichibukai.

A Revolutionary Army Officer, a current Shichibukai, and a close friend of Vegapunk and Kizaru—those many identities converged into a truly terrifying intelligence network.

"Is that something you want to know, or something that person from the Revolutionary Army wants to know?"

Cifer rose to his feet, his eyes blazing as he stared at Kuma. Though his figure looked small before Kuma, it seemed infinitely magnified in Kuma's eyes at that moment.

Kuma had rarely encountered anyone with such overwhelming presence in his life.

He did not deny his relationship with Dragon. Cifer clearly knew, so there was no need to explain. As for why Cifer knew, Kuma did not think he would receive an answer.

"A strong man like you should not be serving the World Government." He did not directly answer Cifer's question, but he had given his answer.

Kuma was already undergoing modifications. Whether for Bonney or Vegapunk, he had already been tied to the World Government's ship.

He did not know how much time he had left. So when he learned that Cifer, a peerless powerhouse who had conflicts with the Celestial Dragons, was about to join the Shichibukai, he could not help coming to see him and seek an answer.

"Serving them? Have you misunderstood something?"

A strange smile appeared on Cifer's face.

"No one in this world is worth serving with my life. I only want to become a Shichibukai because I like the benefits that come with it!"

"No more annoying marine fodder getting in the way of my voyage, and I can also help rid this rotten world of a few scumbags, can't I?"

Cifer's words made Kuma uneasy. He could tell that Cifer would not obediently follow the World Government's orders, and likewise, he had no intention of joining the Revolutionary Army.

He would act as he pleased, living freely in this world according to his own preferences and beliefs. He would become one of the most unstable factors in the world.

But that was not something Kuma needed to consider. His time was short, and knowing that Cifer would not serve the World Government was enough.

At the very least, Cifer was not opposed to the Revolutionary Army.

Kuma had no intention of clashing with Cifer. Having received the answer he wanted, he intended to take his leave.

"Wait!"

Just as Kuma was about to use the Paw-Paw Fruit's power to leave, Cifer stopped him.

"I know you're cooperating with the World Government on some research. Keeping the Shichibukai title is a waste on you, so why not give it to me?"

"That'll save me the trouble of finding another one."

Kuma was also a pitiful man, and Cifer did not want to make a move against him. But since they had met, Kuma would be better off giving up his position as a Shichibukai. He would not need it anyway.

Kuma understood that Cifer was telling him to give it up voluntarily rather than attacking him outright, and he fell into thought.

According to the intelligence analysis, Cifer possessed strength on the level of a Yonko, stronger than Kuma himself. And with them at sea, if they fought, Kuma would be the only one to lose.

Most of the Marine higher-ups already knew something about his relationship with the World Government. He truly had little use for the Shichibukai title now, so he might as well do Cifer a favor and avoid a conflict.

"What do you need me to do?"

"It's simple. Go to Marineford and tell Sengoku that you ran into me and lost to me."

That was the most straightforward method. Kuma would admit that he was no match for Cifer, and Cifer would naturally take over his position. It was just that Kuma might have a hard time saving face.

After all, since he was uninjured, Sengoku and the others would be able to tell that he had surrendered without fighting.

But for Kuma, things like pride had ceased to exist from the moment he began undergoing modifications.

He agreed without hesitation. There was no need to have a real fight or stage a fake one. If he could not win, then he could not win.

But as he was about to leave, Cifer stopped him once again.

Kuma was Vegapunk's close friend, so there was no one better to deliver a message for Cifer. It would save him a trip to the New World and the trouble that would come with it.

"Vegapunk's attention is focused on a certain research project lately. He doesn't have any spare time to help you conduct experiments."

After hearing that Cifer wanted Vegapunk's help researching something that could control the size of a person's body, Kuma politely declined.

Vegapunk's current experiment was very important to the World Government. Saturn of the Gorosei even went to supervise him from time to time. He simply could not spare any additional time.

"He may not have time to help me, but what if he's helping you?" Cifer poked Kuma with a finger.

"You're his close friend. If you're the one asking him to help me, it'll be different. Time is like water in a sponge—if he's willing to squeeze it, there'll always be some."

"Let's make a deal! You must have heard that I'm going to subdue Paradise. Help me speak to Vegapunk about my matter, and I'll help look after your daughter."

His words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, stirring up waves within Kuma's heart.

At that moment, Cifer became exceptionally mysterious in Kuma's eyes, as though everything about him had been laid bare before Cifer.

Yet Cifer's words were also incomparably tempting. Perhaps one day soon, Kuma would completely lose his consciousness and become the World Government's killing machine.

Bonney had already gone out to sea. Perhaps she would soon enter the Grand Line, or perhaps she had already entered it. Kuma and Kizaru could only secretly watch over and protect her from time to time.

What would happen in the future?

When I truly cease to be myself, who will protect Bonney if she encounters danger?

Borsalino was a Marine Admiral, while Bonney was a pirate. If they truly ended up standing on opposite sides one day, how could Kuma ask his friend to choose?

But at that moment, Kuma saw hope. If Cifer replaced him as the new Shichibukai, then as long as Cifer wanted to, he could indeed protect Bonney to a great extent.

"Then Bonney is in your care, Mr. Cifer!"

Kuma finally gave a direct answer.

"Of course!"

In truth, even without this deal with Kuma, if Cifer ran into Bonney, he would still look after her. After all, she was only a little girl trying to find her father!

But things were different after making a deal with Kuma. The safest option would be to bring that little girl along with him. His ship had just gained a chuunibyo, so having a normal person around would be nice.

Bonney, who was preparing to enter the Grand Line, did not yet know that her future had quietly changed.