"Alright then, I'll do it!"
Vic was somewhat helpless. He didn't want to talk to that old man Saturn either. Although Satan hadn't done anything to him, Vic could still clearly feel Saturn's arrogant attitude, which made Vic very unhappy. So, his attitude was never good.
" Vice Admiral Vic! What brings you here so late?"
Saturn's somewhat deep voice came through the Den Den Mushi, tinged with a hint of anger. Saturn was naturally annoyed that Vic was disturbing an old man so late at night; didn't he know how difficult it was for an old man to get a good night's sleep?
However, he couldn't refuse. News of Garp's rampage at Marine Headquarters had already reached their ears, and they couldn't be too forceful with Vic now.
"Oh! I'm sorry to bother you so late. I really apologize. I thought you Celestial Dragons, as creators, didn't need to sleep. But since we've already made contact, let's get down to business!"
I've found another suitable candidate for the title of Shichibukai, Bartholomew Kuma, whose bounty is listed on the poster. I think he's a perfect fit in every way, but he declined. That's why I'm telling you this."
Sensing Saturn's annoyance, Vic said with a forced smile, which surprised Dragon and Ginny. They didn't expect Vic to speak to the Five Elders like that. They were the pinnacle of the Celestial Dragons, and even Marine Admiral wouldn't dare to speak to them like that!
But the young navy man in front of him dared to do so. He was indeed someone the old man valued, and he was very suitable for their Revolutionary Army. Dragon thought to himself!
Even Ginny's attitude towards Vic has changed. This is equivalent to a junior employee in a branch office joking about members of the head office's board of directors in front of others, which could cost them their job at any time, unless, of course, the employee is exceptionally skilled.
"He refused? It's normal to refuse. Give him the Den Den Mushi, I'll have a word with him."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the Den Den Mushi before the voice remained unchanged as it said, "In the past, very few people disobeyed them; those people are almost all dead."
Now that someone who suddenly seemed disrespectful to him had appeared, Saturn needed to calm his anger; he didn't want to force this young man out of the navy.
The last young man to leave the Navy formed a resistance force called the Revolutionary Army, which has been opposing the World Government to a point where it can no longer be ignored. So, it's best to turn a blind eye sometimes. Besides, this kid has only been in the Navy for a short time and is still young, so perhaps his experience is truly limited?
"I have nothing to say to you, and I don't want to be one of the Shichibukai."
Kuma didn't take the Den Den Mushi that Vic offered again. Instead, he spoke directly from afar, seemingly disgusted by Den Den Mushi that connected with Saturn. His voice trembled slightly. Ginny looked at Kuma with concern and placed her hand in his large hand, as if to comfort or encourage him.
"Bartholomew Kuma! Are you sure you don't want to become Shichibukai and serve the World Government? Do you even remember who you used to be? Your Devil Fruit belongs to us. Don't think that just because you escaped we can't do anything to you. If you know what's good for you, become Shichibukai and work for us. Otherwise, you'll regret it, and we'll make you suffer ten times more than before."
Saturn's cold voice came through the Den Den Mushi, completely different from his attitude when he spoke to Vic earlier. This time, it was utterly condescending and disdainful of all living beings.
Saturn would never forget who Kuma was. Back in the God Valley, this child dared to defy him and utter rebellious words. Saturn's memory of that was very vivid.
However, at that time God Valley forces were too numerous and chaotic, allowing this little guy to escape using the Paw-Paw Fruit's power. But once a slave, always a slave of the Celestial Dragons; they are their personal property, and slaves who dare to rebel against their masters must be severely punished!
"Kaga"
Seeing that the Kuma was trembling and acting strangely, and that Ginny also had the urge to kill the Den Den Mushi Den Den Mushi, Vic simply hung up on it. Anyway, that old bastard Saturn wouldn't know who hung up.
However, Saturn's words led Vic to speculate that something had happened between Kuma and the World Government World Government the past, and that Kuma had even stolen the Paw-Paw Fruit from them.
No wonder a Revolutionary Army officer appeared on the shortlist of candidates for Shichibukai. Vic was puzzled before, but Vic couldn't guess what had happened. The World Government had committed too many evil deeds, and Kuma's past had been erased.
" Kuma! Actually, I oppose the World Government's policy of Shichibukai. However, I am just a newcomer in the Navy, and my voice carries little weight. I don't even want to take on this mission, as it would greatly affect my reputation and the Navy's prestige. It would only do me harm and no good!"
I could refuse this mission, but even if I did, they would still find someone else to carry it out, and the Shichibukai policy would still exist.
So after thinking it over, I still accepted the mission. I was a little worried about other people choosing the Shichibukai. It's legal plunder! If a greedy and ruthless pirate becomes Shichibukai, how many people will suffer because of it?
Therefore, I need to strictly control the selection of the Shichibukai. I will directly eliminate those who do not meet the requirements. I think Kuma is a good candidate for the Shichibukai. He is kind by nature and will only protect civilians from pirates, not actively harm them. So I think Kuma can become Shichibukai.
Vic's suggestion was actually a conclusion he drew from an anime he watched in his previous life. When he watched it in his previous life, he only knew that Kuma was Shichibukai at first, but later he learned that his true identity was actually Revolutionary Army spy.
Vic's suggestion aligns with the original storyline. As for why the villagers and Bekori knew Kuma was a member of the Revolutionary Army, while the Navy and the World Government seemed unaware, Vic could only conclude that the villagers kept it a secret to protect Kuma.
Bekori's lie was fabricated to kill Kuma, an outcast who threatened his rule. Therefore, Vic still hopes that, as in the original story, Kuma will continue to infiltrate the Shichibukai.
Vic didn't know was that Kuma's status as one of the Shichibukai of the Shichibukai was actually the result of a deal he made with the World Government over ten years later to save Bonney.
At this point in time, Kuma had comrades fighting alongside him in the Revolutionary Army. He didn't have any particularly obvious weaknesses, and the World Government couldn't do anything about him, let alone threaten him into becoming Shichibukai.
Vic suggested Kuma become Shichibukai without knowing Kuma past, which was essentially a way of harming Kuma and could be seen as him speaking on behalf of the Five Elders.
"Shut up! Kumachi can never become Shichibukai, so just give up on that idea!"
Ginny was furious when she heard Vic's words. She glared at Vic fiercely, her eyes already brimming with tears. She was reminded of the time when they struggled to survive in the God Valley!
Vic was stunned by Ginny's outburst. What was going on? Why wasn't the procedure being followed? Kuma wasn't going to become Shichibukai? Then how did Kuma become Shichibukai later? Vic was a bit confused. He had transmigrated a bit too early and wasn't a true know-it-all, which led to this blunder.
" Dark Dragon! To tell you the truth, Kuma and Ginny were captured by the Celestial Dragons when they were very young and became their slaves. Later, they barely escaped during a brutal massacre of slaves by the Celestial Dragons."
Therefore, it's impossible for Kuma to become Shichibukai and serve the World Government; wouldn't that be aiding and abetting a tyrant?
Bear! Can't you eject memories from your body? Show that experience to Dark Dragon, and I believe in Dark Dragon's sense of justice!
Dragon understood Vic to some extent; how much of the past could a new recruit who had only recently joined the Navy possibly know?
Moreover, there's the World Government's information blockade; without knowing Kuma's past, he can't empathize with him. So he wants Dark Dragon to see Kuma's experiences with the Celestial Dragons, to let him know the Celestial Dragons ' true ugly face!
Dragon hasn't given up on his goal of getting Dark Dragon to join the Revolutionary Army. Kuma's past experiences are definitely a shot in the arm, even though it will once again stir up Kuma's unpleasant past. He can only apologize to Kuma in his heart.
"Good!"
The Kuma didn't refuse. It quickly raised its palm and slapped the side of its head. After the fleshy ball of its palm touched its head, a semi-transparent bear paw bubble slowly squeezed out from the other side of its head.
As time went by, the bear paw bubble grew larger and larger. In the blink of an eye, a semi-transparent bear paw bubble with a diameter of about two meters was pushed out by the Kuma. After leaving its body, it flew directly to the open space between the group and floated there.