"Yahaha! Now that's a bounty fitting for a god!"
Inside the Upperworld hospital. The tall man, wrapped in bandages leaving only one eye exposed, let out a brilliant laugh.
His gaze was glued to the brand new amount written on the wanted poster… 1.24 billion Berry. At the same time, he kept his mouth open, letting the beautiful Wing tribe nurse beside him feed him.
Tiger, carrying a flower basket, came to visit the several people in the ward.
Seeing Enel's state, he couldn't help but remark: "The great God of Thunder... could you maintain some dignity?"
"You bastard! Why is your bounty higher than mine?!"
Hearing Tiger's voice, Enel's originally smug expression immediately melted, his exposed single eye igniting with flames.
The wind lifted Enel's wanted poster at the top of the newspaper, revealing Tiger's wanted poster underneath, which read 1.25 billion Berries.
"Well, maybe because you let your opponent escape~"
Tiger lightly retorted to Enel's unreasonable fuss.
This remark struck Enel's sore spot. Behind Tiger, his whole body wrapped in lightning, he roared.
"So noisy! If you have this much energy early in the morning, why not go patrol outside the island a few times?"
The ward was covered by a massive shadow. Leviathan's figure emerged from the darkness.
Casually, she stuck her own wanted poster, which read 2.27 billion, onto Enel's face. Dark chains gushed from the paper, binding Enel tightly and sealing his abilities.
"How is Kuina?"
Withdrawing her hand, Leviathan turned her gaze to Tiger, who was sitting by Kuina's hospital bed.
"Still unconscious." Tiger was melancholy. "If she wakes up and finds out her bounty has risen to 1.1 billion, she'll be really happy!"
"It's okay. Once Sakura recovers, everything will be fine!"
Leviathan patted Tiger's shoulder, encouraging him. "Oh, and when you go on patrol later, if you run into Thormud, tell him he's obtained bounty too!"
A brownish-yellow wanted poster was handed to the fish-man, carrying the scent of fresh printing ink.
Tiger took the wanted poster and looked at it, revealing a knowing expression.
—Flaming Hammer Thormud. Bounty: 1 Billion Berry.
"Don't worry. I'll go directly to the giant village to find him!"
Tiger nodded, folded the wanted poster, put it in his pocket, stood up, and pushed open the door to leave.
On the other side, inside the giant village in the Underworld.
The damaged houses were half-repaired. A bonfire burned in the central square. The aroma of roasted meat and the scent of malt from sake filled the air.
The leader, Thormud, held sake and clinked glasses with the tall man who had fought side-by-side with them a few days ago.
"Ooh! Good drinker, Buccaneer boy!"
Thormud watched Kuma beside him finish the sake in a cup as big as himself and laughed heartily.
According to giant custom, such a 'strong one' deserved special attention!
So, the surrounding ancient giants and ordinary giants began to stir with excitement, gathering towards him.
"Hey, you big guys! Don't you dare get my dad drunk!"
Bonney dropped her toys, ran over from a distance, and stood before the group of giants, scolding them.
"Hahaha!"
The giants let out friendly laughs. They glanced at Kuma's happy expression, then abandoned their original plan and started feeding Bonney food instead.
"Sigh, I hope she gets better soon."
Kuma, sitting in the distance, watched Bonney playing with the giants. A trace of heartache showed in his eyes.
Because of Bonney's illness, he had no choice but to bring his daughter to hide in this Underworld, perpetually surrounded by wind, snow, and darkness.
"Get better?" Thormud frowned. "Is that child sick with something?"
"Yes! A very rare disease."
Kuma lowered his head dejectedly, his gaze wavering as he stared at his own palms.
He hated that these palms, capable of repelling all pain, were powerless against his own daughter's illness.
"Then trust the captain. At least she's the best doctor I've seen in my over two hundred years of life!" The overage bachelor Thormud couldn't understand the thoughts of this old father, Kuma, so he could only casually find a reason to comfort him.
"Yes, it's just..."
Thinking of his conversation with Sakura a few days ago, Kuma's expression grew increasingly bitter.
"Just what?"
A crisp voice came from behind Kuma, startling him as he turned his head.
Then, joyfully, he saw Sakura, covered in bandages, approaching him with Ginny.
"Kumachi!" Ginny's eyes lit up and she threw herself into his arms.
Kuma lovingly caught his wife and raised a hand to gently stroke the bridge of her nose.
"Mom! Sakura-nee!"
Bonney, playing happily, heard the commotion and abandoned her giant playmates, running towards them.
Sakura reached out both hands and picked up Bonney, rubbing her cheek against hers. "You're still adorable. Unlike some people who get all mushy the moment they're together."
Bonney pretended not to understand and let out a giggle.
Behind them, Kuma and Ginny blushed slightly and separated with some embarrassment.
"Alright. Bonney will stay with me for a while!"
Sakura, holding her, walked up to Kuma and Ginny. "As for you two, go somewhere cooler!"
"Huh? Will Bonney be staying on the island for a long time?"
Ginny, sensing the meaning in Sakura's words, felt somewhat reluctant. She walked to Sakura's side and held her daughter's hand.
"After all, preserving her original body requires a long treatment cycle."
Sakura comfortingly bounced Bonney a little. "If you're willing to stay, you're welcome. But doesn't the Revolutionary Army need you?"
At these words, Kuma and Ginny fell into silence.
On one side was the ideal of saving those who had lost their freedom and were in deep distress, while on the other side was companionship with their daughter....
When family love and ideals are placed on the scales, even the strongest person cannot make a decision in an instant.
Bonney sensed her parents' anguish. She broke free from Sakura's embrace and jumped to the ground.
Taking tiny steps, she came to her parents and took their hands, saying, "Mom, Dad, you go! Bonney hopes you can become heroes for everyone!"
"Bonney..."
Kuma and Ginny's voices choked. The three embraced, tears flowing.
The giants behind Sakura watched this scene, also crying and weeping, each patting their chests and swearing to protect this child.
"Go on. Your daughter has even given you a push!"
Sakura walked forward and picked up Bonney again.
"Yes. Please take care of Bonney!"
Kuma and Ginny exchanged a glance and bowed deeply to Sakura.
"Leviathan, take all the wounded to the Celestial Realm!"
Sakura, through telepathy, issued the command to Leviathan, far away in the Upperworld.
The petite ship spirit, nearly overwhelmed by the island's affairs, laughed and tore up the documents upon hearing Sakura's voice.
Her entire ship submerged into darkness for an instant, then flew across various locations on Medical Island, picking up the several people in the hospital, as well as Sakura and Bonney in the Underworld, and flying to the Sky Island.
In the depths of the Sky Island, a giant slug sensed the shadows on the ground beginning to writhe unnaturally. It raised its head from the dense forest.
Then, it saw its contractor descending from the sky with many wounded, shouting loudly:
"Katsuyu, give me a hand! There are wounded to treat!"