Big Eater Bonney

Bonney was wolfing down food. The events at the Sabaody Archipelago had made her realize just how vast the gap was between her and truly powerful people. And that only strengthened her resolve to enter the New World.

When the tavern door was pushed open, Bonney instinctively turned to look. The moment she saw that unmistakable straw hat, she froze.

Straw Hat Kid...

Why was he here?

Bonney frowned. She was deeply displeased with how Straw Hat Kid's reckless actions had drawn an admiral. Seeing Luffy again only added a few more traces of disdain to her eyes.

"To think I'd run into Big Eater Bonney here. What a coincidence."

Rune looked at Bonney with a slight smile. Bonney shot him a glance. Though he was fairly handsome, she had no good feelings toward a guy who was with Straw Hat Kid and had the nerve to strike up a conversation with her.

"Bonney, do you want to join the Whitebeard Pirates?"

Rune sat beside Bonney and deliberately released his Conqueror's Haki. The tavern owner and the surrounding passersby were all overwhelmed by the Haki and fainted. Nearly all of Bonney's crew collapsed to the ground as well.

"What are you trying to do?"

The sudden confrontation made Bonney's expression turn solemn. She understood perfectly well that Rune was giving her a warning from the very start. Seeing that even the few crew members still standing could barely keep their footing, Bonney realized he was not an opponent she could handle.

New World...

It really was dangerous.

She had run into someone at random, and his sheer presence had nearly wiped out her entire crew.

What Supernova, what Worst Generation—before truly powerful people, they were no different from children...

"I merely want to invite you aboard."

Rune extended a hand toward Bonney, smiling faintly. "How about we make a bet? If you can defeat me, we'll forget this ever happened, and I'll apologize to you. But if you lose, join the Whitebeard Pirates and become my companion.

"As long as you agree, I'll spare your companions. What do you think?"

Bonney's face darkened. She knew she had no choice. But this man had actually reached out his hand.

Then don't blame me when you lose!

"Fine! You'll pay for your arrogance... Huh?"

Bonney reached out and grabbed Rune's hand, trying to activate the Age-Age Fruit's power. Yet her Devil Fruit ability, which had never failed her before, did nothing at all. Instead, her own body began shrinking rapidly.

Darkness enveloped Bonney and Rune. After activating his elemental form, Rune directly isolated the two of them from the outside world.

"Don't waste your effort. My Devil Fruit ability can prevent other Devil Fruits from taking effect. And your Haki is far below mine. No matter how we fight, you have no chance of winning."

In the eyes of ordinary pirates, a Supernova like Bonney counted as a strong fighter. But before members of a true Emperor crew, someone as severely unbalanced as Bonney was simply far too weak.

"Y-You, let go of me!"

Rune grabbed Bonney by the hand and lifted her up. She tried to kick him with her feet, but after shrinking, her strength had diminished greatly as well.

To Rune, an attack like Bonney's was no different from throwing a tantrum.

He easily caught her calf.

"Alright, alright. Let's have a talk."

Rune smiled faintly and set Bonney down. The darkness still cut the two of them off from the outside world. Even Ace and Luffy had no idea what was happening inside it.

"Ace, shouldn't we do something?"

"Don't worry. Rune knows his limits."

Ace did not look worried in the slightest. In his eyes, dealing with a rookie like this was easy for Rune. And since Rune had isolated the surroundings, it meant he wanted to talk to Bonney alone.

Even though they were brothers, they still had to respect each other's privacy.

"Alright, but the owner here passed out too. That's going to be a headache."

Luffy scratched his head. He was still thinking about the feast. Now that the tavern owner had fainted, he felt too embarrassed to simply start eating.

Meanwhile, inside the darkness, Rune sat on the ground and gestured for Bonney, who looked like a child, to sit as well.

"You didn't set out to sea for the so-called One Piece, did you? If I'm not mistaken, it was for... Bartholomew Kuma. In other words, your father?"

As his words fell, Rune watched Bonney's eyes widen. Her beautiful face was filled with shock. He smiled faintly and extended his hand again.

"My Observation Haki tells me that, if no one intervenes, Kuma will be modified by the World Government. He'll be humiliated by the Celestial Dragons as a mount, and his memories will be sealed away..."

Rune looked at Bonney. "Bonney, tell me now. Will you join the Whitebeard Pirates? If you do, I can help reunite you with your father. If you don't... you can leave right now. I won't stop you."

Bonney's expression shifted constantly. She felt that the man before her was far too dangerous. Not only did his ability counter hers, but he was much stronger than she was.

It was as though he had seen through everything in this world.

He could even know the future...

Though Rune was smiling, the pressure he gave Bonney felt more terrifying than that of any opponent she had ever faced.

Simply sitting face-to-face with someone who seemed to hold everything in his grasp made Bonney uncomfortable.

"You can take your time to think it over. We'll be staying on this island for a few days. Before I leave, you can come find me on the Moby Dick anytime."

Rune smiled faintly. "However, no matter what choice you make, I hope you won't regret it in the future."

With that, Rune deactivated his elemental form and lifted the restriction on Bonney's ability. Bonney returned to her twenty-four-year-old appearance, looking mature and alluring.

But Rune knew very well that Bonney was only a child.

Bonney's Age-Age Fruit was an incredibly powerful Devil Fruit, but it did not mesh well with Rune's abilities. Moreover, she was Kuma's adopted daughter, not his biological daughter, so Rune had no intention of taking her power.

If he could use Bonney to bring Kuma into the Whitebeard Pirates...

Then Whitebeard's illness might have a way to be cured.

The reason Rune had been so polite to Bonney was ultimately because he wanted to recruit Bartholomew Kuma. Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit was incredibly powerful, and he had developed it exceptionally well. If he could become an ally, he would be a very useful helper.

"Finished talking? What did she say?"

When Ace saw Rune emerge from the darkness, he glanced at him. He hooked an arm around Rune's neck, nearly hanging from Rune's body.

"Be honest. Did you fall for that big eater? I've never seen you take the initiative with any woman before!"

Rune shot Ace a speechless look. "Before my wish is fulfilled, I won't consider such things. She has tremendous potential. I just don't want to see a promising rookie waste her time on this sea."