Countless candidates flashed through Shiro's mind—only to be rejected one by one.
Then, suddenly, his eyes lit up.
Kuma.
Kuma was powerfully built, steady in temperament, and unfailingly reliable. If anyone was suited to keeping Onigashima stabilized, it was him.
"Jinbe—don't set sail yet!"
Shiro called toward the helm, his voice carrying clearly into the bridge.
"I need to step out for a bit. I'll be right back!"
"Understood, Captain!"
Jinbe's calm reply came without hesitation.
With that settled, Shiro didn't waste another second. He lightly struck his own chest, and space twisted ever so slightly around him.
In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished from the deck of the Virtue.
The next instant, he stood upon the land of the Sorbet Kingdom.
The Sorbet Kingdom of today was nothing like the suffering nation it had been two years ago.
Gone were the gloomy streets and crumbling shacks. In their place stood neat brick houses, their windowsills adorned with vibrant flowers.
People bustled along the main roads, their faces no longer hollow with fear, but filled with hope. Vendors called out cheerfully, selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Children ran through the streets chasing one another with pinwheels in hand.
Even the guards atop the city walls carried themselves differently now—eyes gentle, yet resolute.
The entire kingdom radiated vitality, steeped in the peaceful warmth of a land where people could finally live and work in safety.
All of this had begun two years earlier, with a revolution that changed the nation's fate.
Back then, the former king of Sorbet, driven by selfish desire, enforced a brutal policy of discrimination—reducing nearly half the kingdom's population to slaves, condemning them to endless labor and abuse.
The country fell into darkness.
Unable to endure the suffering of his people any longer, the kind-hearted Kuma rose up.
With overwhelming strength and an unbreakable will, he led the oppressed in open rebellion. But even Kuma knew that strength alone would not be enough to overthrow a rotten regime.
So he sought help—from Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army, and Emporio Ivankov.
With Dragon's mysterious power and Ivankov's sharp mind and fearless resolve, the Revolutionary Army successfully toppled the tyrant king, freed the enslaved citizens, and gave the Sorbet Kingdom a second life.
And Kuma—beloved and trusted by the people—naturally became the new king.
After ascending the throne, Kuma never forgot what it meant to be an ordinary man.
Knowing how deeply the people had suffered under crushing taxes, his first decree was a sweeping reduction of levies, ensuring every household could finally breathe.
He personally led efforts to reclaim farmland, repair waterways, and revitalize agriculture and crafts—teaching efficient techniques with his own hands.
Under his leadership, barren fields yielded rich harvests once more, and abandoned workshops echoed again with the sound of labor.
A nation once on the brink of collapse had risen, step by step, from its ruins—becoming a true homeland where people could live in peace.
Shiro had only just passed through the palace gates when he was suddenly surrounded by Revolutionary Army soldiers in crisp uniforms.
They reacted instantly—rifles raised, muzzles aimed squarely at him. The air grew tense.
"Don't move!"
A tall, stern-looking officer stepped forward, eyes sharp with suspicion.
"State your purpose! Why have you appeared here?"
Shiro immediately raised both hands, signaling no hostility.
"Easy. I'm a friend of your king. I came to visit him."
"That's impossible!" the officer snapped.
"According to protocol, anyone wishing to meet His Majesty must request permission in advance. You appeared here without warning—this is trespassing!"
His expression hardened as he raised a hand, preparing to order Shiro's arrest.
Shiro sighed inwardly.
No point explaining further.
In the next moment, Conqueror's Haki erupted from him.
The overwhelming pressure swept through the hall like a tidal wave. The soldiers' eyes went blank, and one by one, they collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Silence returned.
Straightening his coat, Shiro continued down the palace corridor.
Just as he rounded a corner—
A massive black figure charged toward him from the far end of the hall, tearing through the air with thunderous force.
Shiro sensed the familiar presence instantly through Observation Haki.
Kuma.
He stopped and waited.
Kuma skidded to a halt before him, eyes widening in disbelief. For a moment, he stood frozen.
Then realization struck.
"Shiro?!"
Joy flooded his face. He stepped forward and wrapped Shiro in a crushing embrace, his voice trembling with emotion.
"What are you doing here?! I can't believe my eyes!"
"Brother Kuma—long time no see!"
Shiro laughed, slightly short of breath from the hug, but clearly just as happy.
Reaching up, he grabbed Kuma's massive arms, grinning broadly.
"It's been years. Of course I had to come see you. What—am I not welcome?"
"How could you not be?" Kuma said quickly, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment, his familiar gentle smile returning.
"Ginny and I talk about you all the time. We've missed you."
Shiro glanced around the bright palace hall but didn't see a certain familiar face.
"Speaking of which," he asked curiously,
"Where's Ginny? I don't see her. Is she doing well?"
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