"Storm."
Kuma looked at Vinsmoke Judge, who had been knocked into the wall and lost consciousness, then surveyed the wreckage of the laboratory with a frown, hesitating before speaking.
"Don't you think you're being a bit too harsh on Dr. Judge?"
After all, this was the laboratory of the Germa Kingdom, and Judge was its king.
Beating up a king in his own country and even destroying the nation's military forces…
Wasn't that going too far?
It was almost like the Celestial Dragons in God Valley…
Even setting aside Judge's status as king…
He was also Bonney's attending physician!
If Storm ended up seriously injuring Judge this time, where else could Kuma find another doctor to treat Bonney's Azure Jade Scale?
Robin, standing nearby, didn't speak, but she nodded slightly in agreement.
She, too, was worried that Storm's actions might affect Bonney's ongoing treatment…
But that wasn't all. Robin had another concern.
If her intelligence was correct…
Although the Germa Kingdom had no fixed territory and often participated in wars between nations as mercenaries…
It was still one of the 170+ member nations under the World Government.
Vinsmoke Judge was a legally recognized king of a World Government-affiliated country!
The World Government didn't care if pirates attacked non-member nations.
But if a member nation was attacked, the Marines would immediately be dispatched for pursuit!
Even the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea—who were granted "legal plundering" rights by the World Government—were not permitted to target member nations.
According to the World Government's terms, the Warlords could legally plunder other pirates or "uncivilized lands."
And the so-called "uncivilized lands"…
Referred specifically to non-member nations!
This meant that Storm's actions just now could be interpreted—or outright were—
"A Royal Seven Warlord attacking a member nation's king."
The World Government would never allow such a thing… right?
At that moment, Robin suddenly recalled the conversation she had accidentally overheard between Storm and Saint Nusjuro.
She realized she might not need to worry after all…
In response to Kuma's words, Storm merely gave him a sidelong glance.
Kid, standing nearby, spoke up instead.
"Kuma, here you go again!
"We've been in the Germa Kingdom for two days—can't you see Vinsmoke Judge's true nature?
"I grew up on Bellfast Island and have known countless scoundrels.
"I can smell good and evil on a person!
"Vinsmoke Judge reeks of a stench worse than a drunkard's vomit!
"Just look at those freakish children of his—nothing about them is normal.
"That guy is absolute trash!"
Storm, Robin, and Bonney had only just arrived in the Germa Kingdom.
Judge hadn't yet had the chance to show off his "magnum opus" to them.
However, during their two-day stay in the Germa Kingdom, Kuma and the others had already encountered Judge's four children.
The Vinsmoke siblings—Reiju, Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji.
Aside from the eldest sister, Vinsmoke Reiju, the other "three Jis" exuded a cold, robotic aura.
Even Kid and Killer, who grew up in the underworld, harbored no fondness for these ruthless, arrogant individuals.
"Even so..."
Kuma spoke slowly, intending to say more.
"Enough."
Storm cut him off.
He glanced at Bonney in Kuma's arms and activated the power of his Awakened Clay-Clay Fruit, transforming the entire laboratory floor into soft clay.
The clay surged like waves, sweeping up the fallen clone soldiers and broken scientific equipment—everything was swallowed into the clay, forming a massive mixed lump before being hurled out of the lab.
Storm's Observation Haki allowed him to clearly sense that this "clay amalgamation" had been tossed into the waters of the East Blue.
The once bloodied and chaotic lab was now clean and tidy—though far emptier than before.
As for Vinsmoke Judge, who had been smashed into the wall earlier, Storm yanked him out and casually smoothed over the human-shaped crater left behind.
Seeing this, Kuma finally lowered his massive hand—which had been covering Bonney's eyes (or rather, her entire head).
Bonney had heard the sounds of battle earlier, along with something about "Pacifistas"...
But when she opened her eyes, she saw no "Pacifistas"—only numerous Great Bear Clay Figures.
"Wow! So many Little Bear Armors! Wait, no—Great Bear Armors? Hmm, that doesn't sound right either..."
Kuma gently patted his daughter's head, and she immediately quieted down.
"Don't worry about Vinsmoke Judge," Storm said, glancing disdainfully at the still-unconscious man.
"Greedy yet cowardly, fierce in appearance but weak at heart... men like him are easy to deal with.
"He's like a fox in tiger's skin—once you strip away the disguise, he's nothing!"
Storm understood Judge's past far better than anyone else present.
Judge's technological prowess could be traced back decades to an illegal scientific research organization—
MADS!
MADS was a scientific collective formed by a group of era-defying geniuses.
And true to its name, the research conducted by MADS was utterly mad.
According to the intelligence Storm possessed, the former members of MADS included:
-
Dr. Vegapunk, the "World's Greatest Mind";
-
Plague Disaster Queen, who "loved singing, dancing, RAP, and red bean soup";
-
Vinsmoke Judge, a "master of Lineage Factor modification";
-
Caesar Clown, "obsessed with weapons of mass destruction";
-
And Buckingham Stussy, a "former member and test subject of the Rocks Pirates."
...Wait, something odd seems to have slipped in there.
In any case, most members of MADS could be considered "mad scientists."
This was decades ago.
Because the research conducted by the MADS organization was too extreme, even delving into forbidden secrets that should never have been uncovered,
the World Government labeled the MADS organization as an "illegal group."
Nearly every member of MADS was branded as a "criminal."
The World Government dispatched specialized personnel to forcibly disband this illicit research organization.
Dr. Vegapunk and Caesar Clown were recruited by the World Government, becoming its official researchers;
Plague Disaster Queen entered the New World, joining the Beast Pirates and rising to the rank of All-Star;
Vinsmoke Judge returned to the North Sea, dedicating himself to his ambitious human experiments;
The remaining members each found their own paths.
In Storm's view, when it came to scientific prowess, every member of the former MADS organization had their own strengths.
But as for other abilities…
Well, it was better to stick to discussing science.
Vinsmoke Judge harbored grand ambitions, dreaming of glorifying his family name and conquering the North Sea.
To restore the Germa Kingdom's former glory, Judge would later abandon the World Government's allied nation status in favor of forging a marriage alliance with the Big Mom Pirates!
But alas, his aspirations far outstripped his capabilities.
Judge's personal skills simply couldn't support his wild ambitions.
Failure was inevitable.
"Also, Kuma."
Storm shifted his gaze from the still-unconscious Vinsmoke Judge to the visibly troubled Kuma.
"If you're worried that Judge won't give his all in treating Bonney… there's no need for concern.
"When I received the World Government's invitation to become one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, I reached an agreement with the Five Elders.
"In the future, I will visit Punk Hazard to meet with Dr. Vegapunk.
"If you fear Judge won't fully commit to curing Bonney, we can always go to Punk Hazard later.
"Vinsmoke Judge may be able to treat Bonney, but he's far from the only one in the world who can.
"He's not even the best at it!"
Hearing Storm's reassurance, Kuma's worries finally eased somewhat.
To be honest, the only thing he truly cared about was Bonney.
As long as she could grow up healthy, he was willing to accept anything.
After calming Kuma, Storm took the opportunity to introduce Robin.
Earlier, due to the urgency of Bonney's situation, they hadn't had the chance to properly introduce themselves.
Now was the perfect time.
Kuma, Kid, Killer, Robin, and Bonney.
These five were Storm's core crew…
Once the introductions were complete,
Robin brought up another potential "crew member."
"Captain, won't Mr. Edward be joining us? Edward Teach."
Robin still couldn't forget the man who had consumed the [Rumble-Rumble Fruit]—Whitebeard.
The world's strongest man devouring the legendary invincible Logia-type Devil Fruit…
Just thinking about it felt surreal.
Hearing this unfamiliar name, Kuma and the others cast puzzled looks at Storm.
"Teach…"
Storm's lips twitched slightly as he replied vaguely,
"He's different from you all. He has… other matters to attend to."
Robin's brows furrowed slightly. Without delving deeper, she simply briefed Kuma and the others about "Edward Teach's" general information.
"Are you kidding me?"
"Whitebeard III?"
"He ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit?"
Not just Kid and Killer, natives of the South Blue.
Even Kuma, a seasoned former Revolutionary Army commander, was utterly shocked by this news.
White Dragon and Whitebeard.
What kind of legendary duo was this?
Before the curious bunch could ask more about Edward Teach, Vinsmoke Judge—who had just been knocked unconscious by a Pacifista—finally stirred awake.
The moment Judge opened his eyes, he saw the ten Pacifistas still standing in place and couldn't help but shudder.
One of the Pacifistas slowly walked up to Judge.
The Pacifista reached out with its massive hand, grabbed Judge by the scruff of his neck, and lifted him before Storm.
"White Dragon..."
Feeling the icy grip on his neck, Judge, with blood trickling from his lips, broke out in cold sweat.
"You... you wouldn't actually kill me, would you...?"
"Wasn't it you who attacked first?"
With a mere thought from Storm, the Pacifista's grip on Judge's neck tightened gradually.
"Only those prepared to be shot have the right to pull the trigger."
"You've got to be joking..."
As the Pacifista's grip intensified, Judge was overwhelmed by a suffocating sense of despair.
His vision blurred, snot and tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.
The cold, ruthless demeanor of the "Supreme Commander of the Evil Army" had completely vanished.
"I'm a king of a World Government-affiliated nation! White Dragon, you can't kill me!"
"A king of an affiliated nation?"
Storm scoffed.
"Have you forgotten who's gripping your neck right now?"
"The Tyrant of the Sorbet Kingdom! The 'Tyrant' who single-handedly overthrew a king!"
"Killing one king isn't that big of a deal."
"With over 170 other kings in the World Government, no one will even notice your death."
"Guh... urk..."
Judge felt the massive hand around his throat tightening relentlessly. He could no longer breathe.
The King of the Germa Kingdom mustered his last ounce of strength.
"I... surrender!"
The moment those words left his lips, Judge felt the Pacifista release its grip.
He collapsed onto the floor, coughing violently, his chest heaving as he greedily gulped down fresh air.
Being alive... felt so good...
At this thought, Judge burst into another fit of sobbing, his face a mess of snot and tears.
Watching Vinsmoke Judge in such a pathetic state, Kid and Killer frowned in unison.
As the saying goes:
"Paint a tiger's skin, but not its bones; know a man's face, but not his heart."
Kid had initially thought Judge was a cold-blooded monster who experimented on his own children.
Though he looked down on the man, he at least respected how "wicked" and "ruthless" he was.
In the world of villains, that was high praise.
But what had Judge become now?
How could such a spineless coward, who immediately breaks down in tears when faced with life-or-death dilemmas, possibly have the cold-blooded cruelty to turn his own children into products of human experimentation?
He's practically an embarrassment to villains everywhere!
Yet Storm wasn't the least bit surprised by Judge's reaction.
Because he knew exactly what kind of man Vinsmoke Judge was.
Strong in appearance but weak within—all bark and no bite.
"How utterly pathetic, Dr. Judge."
Storm stood before Vinsmoke Judge, looking down at the supreme king of this wicked kingdom from his commanding height.
"I rarely offer second chances.
"Will you submit?"
"Yes!"
Judge was a king—he just wanted to survive. Was that so wrong?
"The Germa Kingdom pledges its undying loyalty to the White Dragon!!!"
--Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!