On the Sky Island training grounds.
Kuma was teaching Law, Bepo, Capone Bege, Lafitte, Leo, Sentomaru, and Vivi how to use two types of Haki.
The big guy was actually quite good at teaching. Even Sabo from the Revolutionary Army had been taught by Kuma.
Dongye Huanglong also spotted a little girl training hard.
She was a nine-year-old Shandia warrior named Aisha.
She had been born with Mantra. In terms used on the seas, she had awakened Observation Haki from birth, and at a very high level.
A little kid like her was simply a genius.
She had now become friends with eight-year-old Bonney as well, going to play with Bonney and Princess Mansherry every day.
He had not expected to see her at the training grounds today.
It turned out that this little girl who called herself a Shandia warrior could not last more than a few moves against Bonney.
So Aisha, who was a year older than Bonney, desperately wanted to grow stronger. At the very least, she could not be weaker than sickly Bonney.
Otherwise, she would be too ashamed to call herself a Shandia warrior!
Kuma was also paying close attention to the girl born with Observation Haki. He wanted to cultivate her into Bonney's good friend, so they could support each other and grow stronger together.
"Law, Lafitte, how are things on Jaya Island?"
Dongye Huanglong entered the training grounds as well. While lifting a super dumbbell weighing several tons, he asked casually.
"We have already subdued most of the pirate crews. Those who refused to obey have either been killed or driven away.
"However, new pirate crews pass through that Pirate Island every day, so the personnel turnover is very high."
Lafitte hurriedly replied. He had temporarily escaped Kuma's high-intensity training; he simply could not endure that kind of hardship. He still preferred using his brain and developing his Devil Fruit ability.
"Penguin and Shachi are holding down Mock Town with the Heart Pirates, so there should not be any problems for now.
"Also, we dealt with Doflamingo's men. That Spring-Spring Fruit user has already been handed over to Doctor Vegapunk for research."
Trafalgar Law also stopped his intense training, panting as he answered.
Whenever he recalled cutting down Hyena Bellamy, who had a bounty of 55 million Berries, he felt immensely satisfied.
It was the first time he had acted against an affiliated force under the Donquixote Family.
With Dongye Huanglong and Tyrant Kuma backing him up, he had become much more confident.
"What's done is done. We were going to move against Doflamingo sooner or later anyway. If he dares to come looking for trouble, I'll go to Dressrosa and destroy his lair."
Dongye Huanglong spoke indifferently. In a few days, when he went to Punk Hazard to move some experimental equipment, he also planned to bring back some Tontatta from Green Bit.
If Chief Gancio of the Tontatta was willing, Dongye Huanglong wanted to bring all of them to the Sky Island.
If he got the chance, he would even try to talk Baby 5, that maid, into coming back with him.
"Thank you, Boss Huanglong!"
Law smiled, then resumed his intense training. Even with Dongye Huanglong supporting him, he wanted the strength to fight Doflamingo and personally avenge Corazon.
Out at sea, the World Government and Marine Headquarters, unable to find any trace of Dongye Huanglong, had fallen into a stiflingly grim atmosphere.
Even Iron Fist Garp, the carefree Marine Hero, rarely laughed inside Marineford anymore.
Afraid that he would not be able to stop himself from laughing, the old man had simply returned to the East Blue for a vacation.
The Celestial Dragon Saint Charlos, who had killed Sabo, was dead. Garp was going back to Foosha Village to happily beat up his grandson a few times and share the joy with him.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, the Marine higher-ups had gathered.
"Tell me, how are we supposed to capture Dongye Huanglong?"
Sengoku the Buddha spoke wearily. These past few days had left him overwhelmed. The pressure from the World Government and the Celestial Dragons had been so immense that he had nearly been removed from his position as Fleet Admiral.
Silence. Stillness. Oppressive tension...
No one spoke. Forget capturing Dongye Huanglong—they did not even know where he was.
"We currently know that Dongye Huanglong has Tyrant Kuma and Mafia Godfather Capone Bege under his command.
"Just recently, all the CP Agents planted within the Mafia were killed.
"I now propose that we wipe out the West Blue Mafia and let the world know the consequences of having contact with Dongye Huanglong!
"If the World Government permits it, I want to launch a Buster Call on the Sorbet Kingdom and force Tyrant Kuma to leave Dongye Huanglong's Desolate Dragon Group!"
Akainu Sakazuki spoke with a cold expression. As far as he knew, Experiment Subject 88, Dongye Huanglong, had no family or friends at all.
They could only target his subordinates and drive a wedge between Tyrant Kuma, Capone Bege, and Dongye Huanglong.
As long as Tyrant Kuma left Dongye Huanglong, the latter's mobility would be restricted without the Paw-Paw Fruit ability.
The Marine higher-ups all knew that although the Bounty Poster called Bartholomew Kuma a tyrant, Kuma had made countless efforts for the Sorbet Kingdom. Those elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people had all received Kuma's aid.
That kind-hearted Kuma would choose to leave Dongye Huanglong for the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled civilians of the Sorbet Kingdom.
"What are you saying?! How many civilians do you want to slaughter? And the Sorbet Kingdom is a member nation!"
Aokiji Kuzan's gaze immediately turned icy at Akainu's proposal. The piercing chill that radiated from him dropped the temperature throughout the Fleet Admiral's office by more than ten degrees.
Aokiji recalled the scene from twenty years ago, during the Ohara incident, when Sakazuki had indiscriminately attacked the evacuation ships.
That memory once again condemned the justice in his heart.
It was from that time onward that he had gradually changed from "Burning Justice" to "Lazy Justice."
"Ooh, how scary~"
Kizaru leaned back in his chair, moving a little farther from those two who were as incompatible as ice and fire. This slacking old man who followed "Ambiguous Justice" had no desire to get dragged into the dispute between the Marine hawks and doves.
Still, he was somewhat annoyed inside. The World Government had been the one to let the science division create that monster, Dongye Huanglong, causing so many major incidents, yet they kept making the Marines take the blame.
Especially him—he had no idea how many times he had been cursed at lately.
He could not capture Dongye Huanglong, could not retrieve Doctor Vegapunk, and could not save the Celestial Dragon Saint Charlos...
Again and again, it was him, the "fastest Marine Admiral," who had to take the blame.
He really was a complete sucker!
"To deal with Dongye Huanglong, this heinous criminal who killed a Celestial Dragon, some sacrifices are unavoidable!"
Billowing smoke also rose from Akainu as he confronted Aokiji head-on. As someone who believed in "Absolute Justice," he could not stand the lazy Aokiji or the slacking Kizaru either.
It was one thing for those two not to offer suggestions or put in any effort.
But after he had proposed a plan, that lazy, cowardly Aokiji actually dared to oppose him.
"You call that some sacrifices?!"
Aokiji stood up directly, staring coldly at Akainu as he shouted. He had nearly started cursing.
Those were the innocent civilians of an entire country, and they were all going to be used as bargaining chips to threaten Bartholomew Kuma.
If they did something so cruel, what kind of justice would the Marines even stand for?
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