Only now did Leo notice Kuma and Bonney, asking curiously: "Kai-lando, who are they?"
"This little friend Bonney has a terminal illness and hopes to receive Princess Mansherry's help."
Kai's expression was serious.
"That's terrible!"
Leo's small face was instantly filled with anxiety. He suddenly jumped onto a piglet's head and waved urgently: "Quick, follow me! Princess Mansherry is inside."
The three followed Leo deep into the forest.
"Here!"
Even the well-traveled Kuma was stunned by the scene before him.
What was he seeing?!
Within this flourishing forest sanctuary, an incredible array of Den Den Mushi species covered the entire landscape.
Communication types, surveillance Black models, security-focused White variants...
It was as if someone had gathered specimens of every Den Den Mushi type that existed.
"Mm, looks like we can prepare the first batch for shipment."
Kai nodded with satisfaction.
Through years of relentless exploration and careful cultivation by the Tontatta tribe, large-scale, sustainable breeding of Den Den Mushi had finally become a reality.
He could proudly declare:
From now on, the era of relying on wild capture... inefficient and costly methods of obtaining Den Den Mushi... was about to become history!
"Kai-san, do you plan to sell Den Den Mushi commercially?" Kuma suppressed his shock and asked curiously.
"That's right. I want to drive down Den Den Mushi prices so everyone can afford them!" Kai nodded.
You have to understand, in today's world, Den Den Mushi are scarce commodities.
Forget ordinary civilians... even among the Marines, not everyone could own one.
This was absolutely a blue ocean market.
Of course, now wasn't the time to discuss business plans.
Soon, in a sunlit clearing at the forest's center, they found Princess Mansherry.
The petite princess was treating a giant Den Den Mushi injured from fighting.
"Mr. Den Den Mushi, don't worry, it won't hurt much longer."
Princess Mansherry jumped to the Den Den Mushi's injured area, closed her eyes, and let a few teardrops fall.
The next second, the wounds on the Den Den Mushi's body healed at a visible rate.
Was this the power of the Heal-Heal Fruit?
Watching this miraculous scene, Kuma's heart, which had been suspended in worry, finally kindled a spark of hope.
"Princess!" Leo quickly explained the situation.
"I understand!"
Princess Mansherry didn't hesitate for a moment, nimbly jumping onto Bonney's shoulder.
Her tiny fingers reached out with infinite tenderness to caress the crystalline formations on Bonney's cheek.
"This must be very uncomfortable, but don't worry, you'll feel better soon."
Princess Mansherry clasped her hands in prayer-like reverence and closed her eyes.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Kuma couldn't help but hold his breath, as if waiting for fate's judgment.
If even such a miraculous Heal-Heal Fruit couldn't cure Bonney, he didn't know where else to find a way to save her.
"Healing Tears."
Warm tears fell from the little princess's eyes, dripping onto Bonney's neck.
Bonney felt a warm current surge from her neck throughout her entire body.
She stiffened, not daring to move, afraid of affecting the treatment.
Until...
"B-Bonney, your face!" Kuma's voice trembled with extreme joy.
Bonney instinctively raised her hand to touch her cheek.
Instead of the cold, rough crystal texture, she felt smooth, tender skin.
She was stunned for a moment, then frantically felt all over her body, checking every spot that had once been covered by crystals.
Gone!
Completely gone!
Those crystals had completely disappeared!
"Papa, I… I think I'm better?" Bonney's voice trembled.
Tears instantly blurred her vision, but the corners of her mouth uncontrollably turned upward, blooming into a brilliant smile.
"Yes! Yes!"
Kuma could no longer suppress his surging emotions.
Two streams of scalding tears flowed down like a bursting dam, silently rushing forth.
"My Bonney, you're better!"
Father and daughter embraced and wept, releasing all the pain, fear, and despair they had suppressed for too long in torrents of tears.
"Thank you, Mansherry." Kai thanked her sincerely.
"It's nothing, Kai-lando."
The little princess looked at the father and daughter weeping with joy and also showed a heartfelt sweet smile.
This was exactly the scene she had hoped for.
Kuma and Bonney cried for a long time before slowly calming their excited emotions.
They wiped away their tears and once again solemnly bowed deeply to thank Kai and Princess Mansherry.
"Now, let Bonney feel the warmth of the sun."
Kai smiled and reminded them: "She hasn't been able to stand freely in sunlight like this for a long time, has she?"
To slow the spread of Sapphire Scale disease, Bonney had been forced to live in shadows since her diagnosis.
Her activities had been confined indoors, with only a few outings where she wore thick hoods.
This was also why the children around her called her a vampire.
Kuma awakened as if from a dream. With trembling hands, he gently removed the hood from Bonney's head.
Bonney closed her eyes, letting the long-missed sunlight fall on her face.
"Papa, it feels so good."
Kuma looked at Kai with utmost seriousness: "Kai-san, please take care of us from now on."
"Glad to have you as my companion, Kuma." Kai smiled and extended his hand.
One large and one small hand clasped together.
After settling Kuma and his daughter, Kai had to report his achievements to the leader.
"You brought back quite a few people this time, kid."
Kaido was unusually not drinking and was surprisingly handling official business.
The Beast Pirates always had some work that even King wasn't comfortable handling on his own.
Although Kaido himself didn't particularly care, he would always assign such matters to Kaido personally, never overstepping boundaries.
Beside him, a small, thin woman with a white paper mask painted with eyes stood waiting, constantly handing Kaido documents and offering opinions.
That was Babanuki, Kaido's dedicated secretary.
"Sanji is the Vinsmoke family's greatest masterpiece, Zoro also has powerful swordsmanship talent, and Ace is Roger's son with considerable talent too."
Kai gave a brief introduction.
Kaido had no reaction to the introductions of Sanji and Zoro.
After hearing that Ace was Roger's child, Kaido immediately began laughing: "Worororo! Interesting! At the final moment of his life, Roger chose to entrust his child to Garp?"
"No wonder the Marines could never find Roger's orphan... the biggest mole was Garp!"
Kaido laughed heartily, too amused to bother with the documents in his hands.
He directly pulled out a sake gourd from behind his cloak and poured alcohol into his mouth.
This was excellent drinking entertainment.
"Kaido-sama..."
Babanuki was somewhat helpless but could do nothing about the willful Kaido.
"Since they have some talent, train them well. The more power we have, the better!"
After finishing his laughter, Kaido unsurprisingly assigned the three... Sanji, Zoro, and Ace... to Kai's management.
Even after learning Ace was Roger's descendant.
For Kaido, Ace's background was just excellent drinking entertainment.