Inside the Sorbet Kingdom palace, Bartholomew Kuma's towering figure sat on his throne.
The entire palace lacked any sense of grandeur; it was incredibly simple. Even the throne, which symbolized his royal authority, was plain and unadorned. And Bartholomew Kuma himself had no air of a king.
He wore the same outfit Diarmuid would recognize in the future, with his tiny glasses on his nose and his spotted bear-ear hat on his head. In his hand, he held a book, and he was quietly reading it on his throne. The book was the Bible, the one he would always have with him.
Two years ago, he had met the former Marine Vice Admiral Monkey D. Dragon, who had inspired him with new ideas. As king, he had been determined to make reforms, convinced that if he could see them through, the Sorbet Kingdom would have a brand new future. But it was a tragic failure.
Over the past two years, he had only seen Dragon a few times, so he couldn't say that Dragon had misled him. He was simply a king who had the heart to make a change. Now he had failed, and his country was beyond recognition. He knew the failure wasn't because the path he chose was wrong but because his enemy was too powerful.
Did he regret it? Maybe.
But if he had to do it all over again, he would still choose to reform.
It was still heartbreaking to see his nation ruthlessly toyed with and his innocent people fall into darkness and conspiracy. Even looking at the Bible in his hand couldn't calm the hatred in his heart for the World Government.
Tap, tap, tap…
Footsteps echoed from outside the hall, drawing closer.
Kuma heard them but didn't look up, instead remaining absorbed in his book.
From the shadows of the hall, Stussy slowly emerged. She wore a small white hat and carried an exquisite handbag, looking as elegant as ever. She didn't look like she was here on an important mission; she looked more like a noblewoman attending a court banquet.
"Bartholomew Kuma-san, you should already know the purpose of our visit. So, would you please give me a satisfactory answer?" Stussy said with a smile.
Kuma didn't say a word or even look at Stussy. She didn't press him, instead looking around at the simple surroundings.
As a member of the CP agency, she had dealt with many member nations and had seen many royal palaces, but this was the most unadorned palace she had ever seen. And Bartholomew Kuma, the king of this nation, showed no signs of arrogance or extravagance.
He must have been a good king. What a shame he had to become an enemy of the World Government… Stussy thought to herself.
With a soft rustle, Kuma turned a page. After a moment, he finally looked up, his gaze passing over Stussy and landing on the hall's entrance.
A figure was slowly walking in, his footsteps much heavier than Stussy's. He had short, messy black hair that still held a sharp edge, and he was incredibly well-built. A Marine Justice coat was draped over his broad shoulders, with Vice Admiral epaulets attached. He exuded the aura of a true powerhouse.
Kuma had never once considered Stussy a threat. She was too weak to force him to abdicate. He had been waiting for the person who could truly crush his resolve, the one who would shatter the last bit of hope in his heart. And that person had arrived.
"Vice Admiral Rodriguez Diarmuid, the 'Ferocious Tiger of Marine Headquarters'?" Kuma said, closing his Bible and looking at the figure.
The newcomer was, of course, Diarmuid. His Nagasone Kotetsu swayed at his waist with each step. He stopped in front of Stussy and looked at the famous tyrant with a curious expression.
"That's me. A pleasure to meet you, Bartholomew Kuma… Your Majesty," Diarmuid said softly. Unlike Stussy, he didn't call him "mister," instead addressing him as "Your Majesty." This made Kuma's expression turn complex.
He was surprised to hear such a title from a member of the World Government. Stussy looked at Diarmuid strangely but didn't say a word. It was clear that Kuma didn't care about her at all and had only spoken to Diarmuid. That was fine with her.
Stussy knew how to protect herself, and while she was doing her best to maintain her composure and elegance, she was also secretly terrified of Kuma. As a member of CP0, she knew exactly how powerful this dethroned king was! Having Diarmuid here to take on the pressure for her was the best she could ask for.
"You're a Marine. You're supposed to uphold Justice, aren't you? Do you think what you're doing is just?" Kuma asked.
Diarmuid smiled and shook his head. "The Justice the Marines uphold is a matter of order. The order of the Sorbet Kingdom has collapsed. You know that better than anyone, Your Majesty. And the fastest way for the Marines to restore order and Justice here is… for you to abdicate."
"Order, huh?" Kuma murmured softly. Wasn't this order destroyed by your World Government in the first place? But he understood Diarmuid's meaning and didn't press it further.
"What happens next? What will happen to the Sorbet Kingdom?" Kuma asked.
Diarmuid didn't speak. It was Stussy who answered. "Please don't worry, Kuma-san. You will bear all the sins. As long as you abdicate, the World Government will forgive the Sorbet Kingdom and the royal family and will select someone from the royal line to inherit the throne…"
"So, as long as I abdicate, I will bear all the blame, and the World Government will spare the royal family and the Sorbet Kingdom?" Kuma asked.
"That's right. As a form of punishment, you will also be exiled and will never be allowed to set foot in the Sorbet Kingdom again," Stussy said, nodding.
Kuma didn't say a word. But in his heart, he had already accepted the terms. He had resisted, but he had ultimately failed. Before accepting his defeat, however, he wanted to make one last stand for his dignity as king.
Thinking this, Kuma stood up from his throne. His immense body, almost seven meters tall, made him look like a small giant. Thanks to his size and incredible strength, his presence instantly became overwhelming.
Stussy felt the pressure, her heart pounding. She glanced at Diarmuid in front of her. Seeing his calm expression, she felt her own anxiety calm down.
Whoosh… Whoosh… Whoosh…
A strange sound emanated from Kuma's hand. As he stepped down from his throne, he began to condense something in his palm, a transparent sphere, as if he was holding a ball of air.
It was air.
Diarmuid recognized this technique. He was compressing the air using his Paramecia-type Paw-Paw Fruit power, which could repel anything, even intangible concepts like pain and fatigue.
Of course, Kuma probably hadn't developed his power to that extent yet. But the Paw-Paw Fruit was incredibly powerful, no less so than his own Gravity-Gravity Fruit.
As far as he could remember, Diarmuid couldn't find a single weakness in Kuma's power in twenty years.
His strength was obviously extraordinary. His speed, enhanced by his ability, was so fast he could teleport. He could even seamlessly insert himself into a battle between Silvers Rayleigh and Admiral Borsalino. And his offensive power was also tremendous, able to defeat Oars Jr. in a single blow. He could even repel the damage he took.
He was truly a powerhouse with no shortcomings, an all-around invincible force. No wonder he was called the "Invincible Tyrant" after becoming a pirate, and later an "Invincible Slave" even without his own consciousness.
When he really thought about it, Kuma's power truly reached the level of "invincible." Perhaps his cyborg modifications were actually a weakness? Perhaps the modifications didn't enhance him at all but instead weakened his power?
But those were all thoughts for another time. Diarmuid didn't think that Kuma was as strong as he would be in twenty years.
Seeing Kuma take action, Diarmuid put his hand on the hilt of his Nagasone Kotetsu. The ground beneath him began to tremble. The solid floor of the palace buckled at the edges as an invisible force of gravity, radiating a faint purple aura, spread out from Diarmuid.
"Do you want me to give you a send-off?" Diarmuid asked Kuma.
"Thank you," Kuma replied softly.
In the next instant, his figure vanished from Diarmuid's sight. He was so fast that Stussy couldn't even see him. She gasped in shock. If that speed had been aimed at her, she would have had no way to defend herself.
"Ursus Shock!" Kuma shouted, his palm, holding the transparent energy, striking toward Diarmuid.
Diarmuid kept up with Kuma's speed. Although his eyes couldn't follow him, his Observation Haki could. He grabbed the still-dazed Stussy and put his strength into his feet, retreating backward.
He felt a little something springy under his hand, but he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination. In the next instant, Kuma's palm slammed down, leaving a perfect bear paw print on the ground.
After landing, Stussy looked at Diarmuid with a dazed expression. His hand was still on her body. While she was grateful that he had remembered to save her while dodging Kuma, his "Bear-grabbing transfer technique" was a bit too much. It hurt, you bastard!
Diarmuid didn't notice any of this. His eyes were locked on Kuma. He pulled his hand back, drew his Nagasone Kotetsu, and said, "You're welcome." The moment he spoke, his aura exploded!
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