Kuma was indeed a kind-hearted man, but at the very least, he could distinguish between "good" and "evil."
The Germa Kingdom from the North Blue was a mercenary kingdom that roamed the seas, and its reputation was far from stellar.
Even during his time in the Revolutionary Army, Kuma had heard plenty of rumors about Germa 66.
People said the Germa Kingdom aided tyrants, acted solely for profit… In short, every term used to describe them was derogatory.
If not for the fact that the Germa Kingdom supposedly held a possible cure for Bonney's Azure Jade Scale,
Kuma, by nature, would never have collaborated with a super-ambitious schemer like Vinsmoke Judge.
But the problem was—Judge held the key to Bonney's treatment…
Kuma stared at the wild, arrogant demeanor of Vinsmoke Judge, sinking into deep hesitation.
Should he agree to this man's demand and hand over his genetic data…?
"Don't joke around, Dr. Judge."
Storm's calm voice cut through the tension, drawing everyone's attention.
"Our relationship is purely transactional—simple and clean. You get paid, you treat the patient.
"Don't let your naive ideas ruin the mood for everyone."
The reason Storm had abandoned Vegapunk and chosen Vinsmoke Judge instead was twofold.
First, Judge had profound expertise in genetic modification, which might hold the cure for "Azure Jade Scale."
Second, unlike Vegapunk, Judge wasn't under the World Government's heavy protection, making him far easier to approach.
Storm had assumed that with enough money, Judge would obediently treat Bonney without fuss.
Even if it cost a fortune, it wouldn't matter.
After seizing the Shandora ruins from Enel, Storm no longer had to worry about funds.
But he never expected Judge to make such an outrageous demand—Kuma's genetic data!
Was this the visionary thinking of genius scientists, always a step ahead of their time?
Even Vegapunk, upon first meeting Kuma, had immediately considered him the perfect template for cloning.
Vegapunk was like that.
And so was Judge.
But—
What a joke!
Storm had personally recruited Kuma—he wasn't about to let his subordinate walk the same tragic path as before.
Others might not know the full story of Kuma's family,
but how could Storm not?
Bartholomew Kuma, an exceedingly rare member of the Buccaneer Tribe, whose bloodline was suspected to be linked to the Giants;
Ginny, the Eighth Wife of Mary Geoise, a special test subject of the Five Elders' Science Defense War God, Saint Saturn;
Bonney, Ginny's daughter, a user of the Toshi Toshi Fruit, her abilities directly bestowed by Saint Saturn himself.
The lives of these three were like a tea table laden with tragedies.
Without Storm's intervention,
Kuma's later years would have been spent "selling himself to the World Government, using his hard-earned money to treat their illegitimate child."
But now—
That would never happen again.
Storm had not sent Kuma to Punk Hazard to trade his freedom for a deal with the World Government.
Then of course he wouldn't allow Kuma to hand over his lineage factor to Vinsmoke Judge!
"White Dragon…"
Judge lowered his hands, frowning as he looked at Storm.
"This is a transaction between me and the Tyrant. It has nothing to do with you."
Unless absolutely necessary,
Judge had no desire to clash with one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea.
The troubles Donquixote Doflamingo had brought upon the Germa Kingdom were still fresh in his mind.
Judge had no intention of provoking another Warlord.
Even if the other party was just a newly risen rookie…
"Kuma is my subordinate."
Facing Judge's warning, Storm replied indifferently.
"As for you, Dr. Judge, you can keep dreaming your 'Tyrant' delusions.
"But Kuma… he is merely a… 'Pacifista'."
"White Dragon! Don't get too arrogant!"
Judge's expression darkened, feeling as though his pride had been trampled upon.
"So what if you're a Royal Seven Warlord?
"This is Germa 66! This is my territory!"
"You refuse to listen, fail to understand, and even when you do, you act wrongly."
Storm stared directly into Vinsmoke Judge's eyes.
"Have you learned nothing from your past mistakes, even at your age?"
"You're the arrogant one, White Dragon!"
Judge raised his right hand and swung it forward with force.
"Evil Army, kill them!"
Under Judge's command, the dozen or so clone soldiers that had just appeared formed orderly ranks and charged toward Storm and his group.
Behind him, the special capsules labeled with numerical codes opened one after another, releasing countless clone soldiers.
The Evil Army of Germa 66—assembled!
Seeing Judge immediately resort to summoning his forces, Kuma swiftly covered Bonney's eyes with his hand.
He didn't know how Storm would react, but exposing a child to such bloody scenes… was never a good idea.
Aside from Kuma and Bonney,
Robin, Kid, and Killer remained completely still.
With their captain/leader right beside them, what was there to worry about?
Having witnessed Storm's power—even if not his full strength—Robin, Kid, and Killer were completely at ease.
"You said you wanted to create an army of Kuma's clones?"
Storm looked at the Evil Army before him without so much as blinking. He simply raised his right hand and unleashed his ability.
"Then allow me to show you… my Pacifistas!"
White Clay surged forth like a tidal wave, clumps of it piling together and solidifying in an instant.
One after another, "Great Bear Clay Figures"—identical to Kuma—appeared on the laboratory floor.
At this moment,
these "Kumas" were no longer mere "Great Bear Clay Figures."
They were the "Pacifista Unit"!
Limited by the surrounding space, Storm had only created ten Pacifistas.
But the sheer visual intimidation of ten Kumas standing together completely overwhelmed the opposing clone army.
"Nani?!"
Judge stared at the Pacifista Unit in shock.
As the commander of Germa 66, Judge had full confidence in his Evil Army.
Yet, to his disbelief, White Dragon had effortlessly conjured an army of "clones" right before his eyes.
Judge could tell from the opponent's relaxed demeanor that they undoubtedly had the capability to produce even more of these so-called "Pacifistas."
This ability instantly reminded Judge of someone.
Not himself, who excelled at creating clones.
But one of the Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates—the "Thousand Arms" Cracker, the Biscuit Knight!
"Don't joke around! My Evil Army is invincible!!"
Judge refused to believe that those replicated Tyrants could possess the true power of the original.
He ordered the clone soldiers to advance.
Yet, in the face of the approaching Evil Army, the Pacifista merely raised its hands, palms pressed together as if in greeting.
This was a revamped version of the [Death Wink]—this was the Pacifista's—
Death Salute!
Clap—
With a soft, almost inaudible sound resembling applause.
Ten consecutive terrifyingly powerful explosive shockwaves erupted from the Pacifista's front, hurtling straight toward the clone soldiers.
Boom! Boom! Boom!—
In the blink of an eye, the shockwaves struck the clone army, followed by ten deafening explosions.
The devastating shockwaves detonated at the heart of the clone soldiers' formation.
The flesh-and-blood bodies of ordinary clones stood no chance against the Pacifista's Death Salute. The violent explosions tore through their bodies mercilessly.
Limb fragments and gore scattered through the air, and in an instant, ten massive gaps were blasted open in the once-orderly clone army.
But the subsequent shockwaves continued their assault. Clone soldiers at the edges of the gaps were violently flung out of the formation.
Some crashed into walls, others smashed into equipment, and a few even coincidentally flew back into their capsules...
In just a single encounter.
Judge's pride and joy—the clone army, the Evil Army that Germa 66 relied on to dominate the North Blue—
Wasn't completely annihilated.
But close enough.
"White Dragon! You bastard!"
Witnessing years of his hard work destroyed in an instant, Judge's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets in rage. He immediately pulled a capsule from his pocket.
With a tight squeeze, the capsule expanded into a spear nearly as tall as he was. The spearhead crackled with high-voltage electricity, twisted arcs of lightning radiating blinding light.
"Electromagnetic Thrust!"
Gripping the spear, Judge unleashed the current.
With a sharp Zap!—
A dazzling bolt of electricity shot from the spearhead, streaking toward the line of Pacifistas with terrifying speed.
Faced with this high-tech electrical assault, the Pacifista didn't dodge or evade, allowing the current to strike its body.
The powerful surge of the "Electromagnetic Thrust" hit the Pacifista dead-on under Judge's furious gaze.
Amidst the crackling Zzzzt! of electricity.
The yellow lightning, like waves crashing against a reef, scattered into faint, dissipating arcs.
As for the Pacifista struck by the current—its smooth, ceramic-like surface showed not a single scratch or blemish. Not even the slightest mark remained.
Judge's furious strike.
Failed to penetrate the Pacifista's armor!
"This... can't be..."
Judge's eyes widened in utter disbelief.
But the Pacifista wouldn't halt its offensive just because its enemy was stunned.
Under Storm's control, a Pacifista vanished from its original position in an instant.
The Pacifista, created by the seven-star [Clay-Clay Fruit], moved even faster than Kuma without using his [Paw-Paw Fruit] abilities!
Judge's reaction speed was far from sufficient to track the Pacifista's movement.
The Pacifista raised its right hand and slammed it downward with tremendous force.
Instinctively, Judge lifted his high-tech spear, attempting to block the Pacifista's attack.
Yet, with a sharp "CRACK!"—
The Pacifista's right hand struck Judge's high-tech spear first.
Despite Judge's own strength and the enhanced power from his high-tech battle suit, he still couldn't withstand the Pacifista's crushing blow.
Under the Pacifista's terrifying force, the high-tech spear was smashed backward into Judge's face.
Then, his entire body was sent flying.
In the blink of an eye—
BOOM!
The King of the Germa Kingdom was embedded into the laboratory wall, leaving a deep, human-shaped crater.
[Platinum Trophy: Vinsmoke Judge]
[Trophy Rating: ★★★★★]
The evil commander of Germa 66 was down for the count.
(End of Chapter)