Bartholomew Kuma

In a secluded alley, a massive figure came to a halt.

"Why are you following me?"

Bartholomew Kuma stared expressionlessly at the unfamiliar man who had followed him. His body went on alert, and an extremely dangerous aura radiated from his enormous frame.

He could also sense Dongye Huanglong's powerful aura. This was probably another one of those annoying pirates or Bounty Hunters.

Ever since the Marines had placed a bounty on him, he had encountered plenty of people like this.

But he had not expected to be followed so soon after using his Paw-Paw Fruit ability to land on Dressrosa.

It seemed this man was quite capable.

However, he had no time to get entangled with Dongye Huanglong. He was in a hurry to find a small sailboat and head to Egghead Island. With Bonney with him, it was also inconvenient to fight other powerful people.

Just as Kuma was about to use his Paw-Paw Fruit ability to leave directly, the unfamiliar man before him spoke.

"Azure Jade Scales can be cured."

Dongye Huanglong looked at Tyrant Kuma, who radiated a dangerous aura, and spoke calmly.

The instant he saw Kuma, Dongye Huanglong had decided to rope him into his own faction.

For this gentle man who could give up everything for Bonney, controlling him would be a hundred times easier than controlling Golden Emperor Tesoro.

Most importantly, he was just as strong as Tesoro.

"What?!"

Bartholomew Kuma's formerly cold expression instantly changed. His eyes widened, his composure crumbled, and even his hands began to tremble.

His trip to Egghead Island to seek Vegapunk's help had only been an attempt.

In truth, he did not know whether Vegapunk could cure Bonney.

Over the past few years, he had traveled across the seas and visited renowned doctors everywhere, only to be disappointed time and again.

Now, hearing such certainty from Dongye Huanglong made tears seep from the corners of his eyes.

Wonderful. Bonney could live past the age of ten.

Bonney inside the wooden box also grew excited, her eyes filled with longing. Once she was cured, she would travel everywhere with her father.

"Let's go to that island over there and talk. Let me see what your Paw-Paw Fruit ability can do!"

Dongye Huanglong pointed toward Green Bit, the island north of Dressrosa, then walked directly over to Kuma.

They could be discovered by Doflamingo's people on Dressrosa, especially Violet, the Glint-Glint Fruit User. That woman was still serving under Doflamingo, so they had to be cautious.

Kuma had not expected this stranger, Dongye Huanglong, to know so much about him. Not only did he know about Bonney's terminal Azure Jade Scales, but he also knew Kuma's identity and Paw-Paw Fruit ability.

That made him extremely wary.

But for Bonney's sake, he was willing to take any risk.

He glanced toward Green Bit, estimated the distance, then removed his glove and sent Dongye Huanglong flying with a palm strike. The next second, he sent himself flying as well.

The two vanished from where they stood in an instant, shooting toward the island across from them.

Bang!

Within Green Bit's primeval forest, two massive Ursa Shockwaves appeared, one after another smashing two enormous craters into the ground.

"This ability is really impressive, Bartholomew Kuma!"

Dongye Huanglong said excitedly. Kuma still possessed the coordinates of places like Amazon Lily, Vissaria, and the Boin Archipelago, which could provide Dongye Huanglong with tremendous convenience.

Plans began taking shape in Dongye Huanglong's mind.

Looking at Kuma's massive body, nearly seven meters tall, Dongye Huanglong felt a slight sense of pressure.

Kuma stood 689 centimeters tall, even a little taller than Whitebeard's 666 centimeters. He truly had the build of a small giant.

After so many body modifications and a second growth spurt, Dongye Huanglong was only 266 centimeters tall in his normal state, roughly the same height as Kaido of the Beasts' daughter, Yamato.

Yet before Kuma, he still looked like a child.

The Ancient Giant bloodline within him could currently be fully unleashed only when he transformed into a giant dragon.

In his ordinary state, transforming into an Attack Titan was extremely unstable.

Even at its strongest, his highly unstable Ancient Giant form was only around sixty-six meters tall, comparable to the height of three Giant Tribe members stacked together.

"Who are you? Do you truly have a way to cure Azure Jade Scales?"

Bartholomew Kuma removed his hood, revealing a somewhat anxious face. His rimless glasses gave his enormous body a touch of a scholar's gentle air.

"I know who possesses the Heal-Heal Fruit and the Op-Op Fruit, and I know where they are.

"I also know of a medical technique called Stem Cell Transplantation. It can completely cure Azure Jade Scales."

Dongye Huanglong looked calmly at Kuma as he spoke. His steady tone excited both Kuma and Bonney, making them trust Dongye Huanglong even more.

"As for me, you can call me Dongye Huanglong. I am an experimental subject who escaped from a World Government laboratory.

"A man whose goal is to destroy the World Government and kill the Five Elders."

Dongye Huanglong's modified laser eyes glimmered, proving the truth of his words.

"I am now preparing to build my own faction, and I hope you will join it."

Dongye Huanglong stared intensely at Kuma. If he could win over this Paw-Paw Fruit User, his new faction would take off rapidly.

"You want to fight the World Government? Fight the Five Elders?"

"Actually, I can introduce you to the Revolutionary Army. They also exist to overthrow the World Government."

Kuma spoke in shock, but his eyes brightened. Dongye Huanglong's goal was similar to that of the Revolutionary Army, and he very much wanted to bring this man named Dongye Huanglong under Dragon's command.

"Do you think I would submit to someone else?"

Dongye Huanglong looked coldly at Kuma, and his aura erupted with a roar. He would never allow himself to be controlled by others.

"This is..."

Kuma's eyes widened again as he looked at Dongye Huanglong. He had not expected this man to possess the one-in-a-million aptitude of a king.

"Do you want revenge for Ginny? Do you want to cure Bonney?

"Dragon could not save Ginny or Bonney. Even Ivankov was thrown into Impel Down.

"They are all family who shared hardship and joy with you, yet you could not do a single thing for them."

Dongye Huanglong continued as he watched the hesitant Kuma. His words struck Kuma's heart like a barrage of cannon fire.

Kuma could not help taking a step back.

That was right. He had failed to protect Ginny. He could not even protect Ivankov or Bonney.

At that moment, Kuma suddenly dropped to his knees in guilt, tears bursting forth.

His entire life had been one of solitary misfortune.

His mother had died at the hands of the Celestial Dragons, and his father had also died before his eyes beneath a Celestial Dragon's gun.

The Ginny he loved most had also been tormented by the Celestial Dragons before finally dying in his arms. The three people he loved most had all died at the hands of the Celestial Dragons.

His brother Ivankov had been captured, and he could not save him. Bonney suffered from a terminal illness, and he could not cure her either.

He, a weak member of the Buccaneer Tribe, simply could not bring smiles to the people like Nika.

Perhaps sensing Kuma's pain, Little Bonney desperately pounded against the wooden boards inside the box, shouting that she wanted to come out.

She wanted to curse Dongye Huanglong, that hateful man who spoke carelessly, and comfort her gentle, crybaby father.

"Join my faction. I will find a way to cure Bonney. One day, I will also kill the Celestial Dragons to avenge Ginny. I can even attack Impel Down and rescue Ivankov!"

Dongye Huanglong continued as he looked at the somewhat broken Kuma.

In his view, Kuma possessed immense power, but his character was far too gentle and kind. That was what had led to so many tragedies.

Perhaps it was also a mistake for his strength and personality to be so mismatched.

He should become a true tyrant!

"As long as Bonney can be saved, I will accept any condition you have."

Kuma hugged the wooden box tightly and soothed Bonney before looking at Dongye Huanglong and taking a deep breath.

Kuma had once thought that, after Bonney recovered, he would rejoin the Revolutionary Army and fight alongside Dragon once more.

But now, for Bonney's sake and for revenge, he was willing to agree to any condition Dongye Huanglong set, including joining Dongye Huanglong's faction.