Xie Wen had no idea that, thanks to the hurricane stirred up by his Legiana wings, Aokiji and Akainu had ended up cosplaying as the old village chief and the public security director from another series on Egghead Island.
By then, he had already arrived aboard the Toot Toot Forward in the skies above the uninhabited island he had agreed on with Kuma.
"Klee~ Big Sister Ai~"
As soon as the Dudu descended from the sky, a tiny figure darted out from a pile of rocks.
"Big Brother Xie Wen, it's Bonney, meow! Bonney~ Long time no see, meow!"
(=＞＜=)
The little Ragdoll stood on Xie Wen's shoulder, raising an arm to wave at Bonney as she ran over.
Several more figures appeared behind Bonney a moment later-
Kuma, whom Xie Wen knew very well; Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army, with his footprint tattoo on his face; Sabo, whom he had only recently seen in the newspaper; Ivankov, the Okama King with his enormous face; and Lindbergh of the Mink Tribe, whom he had met once before and who had given him the Vivre Card that led to Zou.
While the two little ones, Klee Meow and Bonney, hugged each other and began spinning around happily, Sabo also rushed forward excitedly and bowed a full ninety degrees to Xie Wen.
"Mr. Xie Wen! Thank you so much for your help!"
"...Huh?!"
Xie Wen looked utterly bewildered.
"This boy is Ace and Luffy's sworn brother. I never imagined that the person I saved back then would have a connection like that to Luffy."
While Xie Wen was still puzzled, Dragon stepped forward to explain. "Ever since Sabo heard from Ace about the help you gave them, he's wanted to thank you in person, so I brought him along."
Then