Chapter 188: I Dislike Tragedies
New World, Egghead.
"Rising—it's truly Island Cloud!"
"Quick! Quick! Record the data, record the structural changes of the clouds."
"As expected of Dr. Vegapunk, I studied Sky Island structure for forty years without replicating the Imperial Cumulus structure; he finished the artificial development of Island Cloud in less than half a year."
In the factory area, researchers looked at the "Labophase" of Egghead rising slowly into the sky and the almost completely obscured sky, exclaiming sincerely.
A white-haired researcher even shed tears, unsure if due to the completion of a lifelong research topic or the feeling that his lifelong effort was insignificant before a genius's flash of inspiration.
"Scientific research is like this—our lifelong effort might just save Dr. Vegapunk an afternoon."
His friend comforted him.
But now, most people clearly had no time to care about him.
"Isn't it flying a bit too high?"
"A bit... and aren't there too many Island Clouds? Can't see anything up there!"
Soon, some researchers asked.
"No problem, cloud structure is stable—and didn't Dr. Vegapunk say recent days are just for 'Island Cloud Experiments'?"
"Labophase or floating Island Clouds, he needs to confirm before full use. Before that, to ensure safety, no one is allowed in."
Another group of researchers said.
With this, everyone dismissed their doubts.
"As expected of Dr. Vegapunk, such strong safety awareness!" (xN)
People exclaimed one after another.
Naturally, they wouldn't know.
At this moment, wrapped in massive Island Clouds.
Atop the rising Egghead Labophase, another island appeared silently.
On that dreamlike island surrounded by seven-colored glows.
"Incredible! Too incredible!"
The revered Dr. Vegapunk was running around the island with widened eyes and extended tongue like a country bumpkin.
"What's with this island's structure... Island-Island Fruit? And these creatures—ho, this grass is greeting this old man... Hello! Do you have a name?"
Clearly over fifty, he greeted a blade of grass on the ground like a child.
"It's called 'Oddish' (Walking Grass), can't talk, but you can ask it to carry things for you, grandpa?"
Linlin, passing by, said casually.
"Oddish? Thanks for reminding... wait! Little girl, what are you!?"
Vegapunk greeted instinctively, but then widened his eyes instantly, tongue straightening as he jumped.
"What's wrong with your body? No... are you a hologram?"
His voice trembled, speech incoherent.
Hearing this, a question mark appeared over Linlin's head.
But she didn't dwell on it, patting her chest immediately. "...I'm not a hologram, I'm Charlotte Linlin, I'm a soul! Soul!"
Vegapunk nodded. "Oh, it's Linlin, a soul, that makes sense...!"
He gasped instantly, eyes widening further!
"Charlotte Linlin, isn't that Big Mom... wait! How can a soul exist? The Soul-Soul Fruit effect can't give a soul a tangible body!"
He leaned toward Linlin, asking questions incessantly.
"Linlin promised Brother Hitsujii not to talk nonsense—that's a promise!"
Linlin felt this grandpa was weird, so she said this hurriedly and ran toward her friends behind.
"Excuse me, is Dr. Vegapunk always like this?"
Watching Vegapunk with his big head running toward Linlin and the children like a weird grandpa, Hitsujii (Sheep) was speechless.
"...He's not usually like this."
"And you might not believe it, but I haven't known him for long."
Kuma glanced at his friend silently, then chose to distance himself euphemistically.
Not familiar.jpg.
Although joking, Hitsujii understood Vegapunk's attitude.
The source of a researcher's motivation is "Curiosity".
Especially for a super genius like Vegapunk, leading the world by five hundred years, he must possess super strong curiosity.
Only by now, few things in this world remained unknown to him.
So most of the time, he was a "Kind Wise Man".
But undoubtedly—the situation on Neverland was something he had never seen before.
So his behavior was excusable.
Moreover, Vegapunk's understanding of Devil Fruits shown in a few words was enough for Hitsujii to value.
"Excuse my presumption, but... are you sure this is safe?"
Hitsujii scanned the "Egghead — Labophase" below Neverland, asking casually.
"Mm."
Kuma nodded. "After my conversation with you was eavesdropped by Saturn last time, Vegapunk conducted modifications and comprehensive information blocking—for meeting you this time, he strengthened it five times."
"And the route I 'Patted' Neverland here was very hidden. Plus Vegapunk's helper inside the World Government hiding traces secretly, no one should discover."
His attitude was very good, even overly sincere.
Not just hiding from Saturn, he even told Hitsujii about Vegapunk having a helper inside the World Government.
Hitsujii almost didn't need to guess who Kuma's "Helper" was.
One of the Six Emperors of the Underworld, Queen of the Pleasure District "Stussy".
Her secret identity was a CP0 agent; her deeper secret identity was the first successful clone created by MADS led by Vegapunk years ago.
She had always been on Vegapunk's side; in the original story, she even attacked other CP0 agents directly for Vegapunk, betraying the World Government completely.
So regarding this, Hitsujii didn't ask much.
He just glanced at Vegapunk, then raised his hand gently.
RUMBLE!
Rocks on the island rose out of thin air, forming several slides. Vegapunk slid back to the two along the slide immediately.
"Amazing! 'Soul Materialization', this is this old man's new topic No. 304!"
Vegapunk was even muttering.
"Wah!"
At the same time, the three heard a faint exclamation.
Turning around, they saw a little girl with pink hair hiding near the "Island Cloud Stairs" between Egghead and Neverland.
Covered in thick black cloth, hiding in the shadow, but strange crystals on her face were still visible.
She looked at the distance enviously.
"Bonney?"
Seeing her, Kuma's figure disappeared with a gust of wind.
Next second, he appeared behind Bonney, blocking the sunlight for her.
"Why are you here?"
His usually gentle voice carried rare anxiety now.
"I... I just woke up, saw this island, and found Grandpa Vegapunk and Father you weren't here..."
Bonney clearly knew she made a mistake, lowering her head.
Hearing this, Kuma paused slightly.
He glanced at the direction Bonney was looking at just now.
There, Linlin and Sheep's House children were playing on the newly risen "Slide".
So...
"..."
Pity flashed in Kuma's eyes. "I'm not blaming you, Bonney... I mean, you should have called me to bring you up."
He said gently. "Remember our promise? Wherever I am, as long as you call me, I will come."
"Mm!"
Bonney's somewhat dispirited expression became bright again.
"Lord Kuma, is she the Miss Bonney you mentioned?"
Just then, accompanying the voice.
Hitsujii and Vegapunk arrived beside the father and daughter.
"Yes, please don't mind, Lord Hitsujii—my action just now was a bit abrupt."
Kuma said apologetically.
"Of course, I won't mind such small things."
Hitsujii smiled.
[Devil Fruit User 'Jewelry Bonney' Discovered]
[Confirmed Devil Fruit: 'Paramecia · Age-Age Fruit (Lineage Factor)' (Toshi Toshi no Mi), analyzing...]
[Fruit Ability: Manipulate age freely.]
[Effects by Level]
[LV3: Gain full fruit effect. Manipulate age of others and oneself freely by touch. Extracted age turns into jewels. Requires 1.1 Billion Berries for Unlock.]
[LV4: Deep-Dive Development. Increase age manipulation intensity. Can make objects rot to dust, give attacked people a 'Near-Death Experience', turning into white bones briefly. Requires 3.2 Billion Berries for Unlock.]
[LV5: Fruit Awakening · Distorted Future. Unleash true fruit effect. Transform oneself and other creatures into 'Future Forms' via imagination. As long as one believes a future is truly possible, it can be materialized. Maintaining state consumes massive stamina and mental power; duration has a limit. Closer the distorted future is to current 'Reality', lower the consumption. Requires 13 Billion Berries for Unlock.]
[Analysis Progress: 0%]
How could he mind?
Or rather, Bartholomew Kuma and Jewelry Bonney, this father and daughter pair, were almost among the people he wanted to meet most in the entire Pirate World.
Reasons were obvious.
Kuma's "Paw-Paw Fruit" was a prize from the God Valley battle, a truly top-tier Devil Fruit.
Bonney's "Age-Age Fruit", in Hitsujii's view, had effects even stronger than her father's.
External manifestation was "Age Manipulation", but actually, the "Distorted Future" effect after awakening was the most terrifying—in the original story, Bonney even briefly transformed into "Nika" with this fruit.
This was a truly limitless ability.
The only surprise for Hitsujii was the note behind this fruit.
"Lineage Factor..."
Hitsujii muttered internally.
He knew Bonney's acquisition of the fruit ability was unique—she didn't eat the fruit herself, but gained the ability as an infant through Saturn's experiments on her mother Ginny.
In fact, the source of the special Sapphire Scale disease on Bonney and Ginny lay here too.
"Lord Hitsujii, Bonney's illness prevents sun exposure—her vitality is weak, not good to stay outside too long."
While Hitsujii was thinking.
Kuma patted Bonney's head, saying to Hitsujii, "If convenient, let's continue talking in the Labophase..."
He was prepared to give everything.
But...
"About that..."
Hearing this, Hitsujii smiled.
"I think that's unnecessary."
Speaking, Hitsujii extended his hand gently.
"Just the sun—this island can do without the sun."
As he spoke.
Bonney, wrapped in black "Sun Protection Clothes", saw a dreamlike scene.
A mist appeared in the sky of Neverland.
Like a veil, the mist obscured and absorbed the sun's scorching light.
Replacing it were layers of hazy, dreamlike seven-colored glows falling from the veil.
The "Fairytale Forest" below and the swaying "Tree of Dreams" began to dance at this moment.
The entire Neverland's existence faded gradually under the veil's cover.
[Dream Creation · Sun-Blocking Veil]
"Wah!"
Bonney, seeing the magnificent dreamlike scene, was stunned.
Her small mouth opened slightly; her big eyes reflected the colorful sky and forest.
This wasn't the end.
"Besides—just weak vitality, not a problem either."
Because now, Hitsujii extended his hand again.
Drop!
Seven-colored Fountain of Youth water flowed from his hand.
With a gentle flick, a drop of water landed directly on Bonney.
"Ooh!"
Bonney's body shook violently.
Next moment, her originally weak and pale cheeks turned rosy visibly.
She could clearly feel her heavy breathing becoming incredibly smooth.
"I don't feel uncomfortable at all!"
She looked at Hitsujii excitedly. "Sheep Head Uncle, you're amazing!"
Hitsujii nodded, smiling.
"Now go play with friends, Miss Bonney."
Then, he pointed at the frolicking children not far away.
"There are several dream theme parks on the island, well-received recently—I recommend 'Cake Paradise', you'll like it."
He said.
Bonney froze.
She turned to look at the lively bobbleheads.
"I... play together?"
She suddenly became timid, looking at her body instinctively—even with vitality restored, the green scales and jade structures on her body remained.
She didn't care about her appearance.
But she didn't remember how long it had been since she played outside since getting sick.
She never remembered having "Friends"—she always had to stay in dark corners alone.
So, she looked at her father instinctively.
"..."
Kuma's body trembled imperceptibly.
But he just nodded, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, smiling at his daughter.
"Go, Bonney."
His voice was gentle as always.
Bonney seemed to gain courage.
"Mm!"
She showed a big smile too, turned around, and ran courageously toward the children.
"Oh my, someone came!"
"Is it a new friend brought by Lord Hitsujii—eh, those scales on you... what race are you?"
"No, this is 'Sapphire Scale'!"
"Sapphire Scale? Weird race name."
"Doesn't matter, just missing someone for 'Tag', winner gets the biggest cake piece, wanna play? Oh right, I'm Linlin!"
"I'm Bonney!"
Children got familiar quickly.
"..."
Watching Bonney stepping bravely on flying clouds, laughing happily.
Kuma seemed not to have reacted yet.
"Lord Hitsujii."
He looked at Hitsujii incredulously. "Why did you..."
Clearly haven't discussed the transaction, clearly he hadn't "Paid" yet, why did the other party help him?
"Ha?"
Hearing Kuma's question, Hitsujii glanced at him.
Then...
"Of course, right?"
He said puzzledly. "Transaction or negotiation, talk later—letting a child watch others play without joining... The Zodiac isn't such a heartless organization."
He said, adjusting the mask on his face casually.
"Moreover..."
"I dislike tragedies."
As his words fell.
Kuma's emotions could no longer be concealed.
He rarely cried these years; he always forced a smile before his daughter.
He rarely laughed these years, seeing the world's darkness deeply.
He was used to giving, used to being taken from, used to injustice.
"Th..."
So, Kuma's massive Buccaneer body trembled uncontrollably.
Tears flowed from under his glasses.
Before, smiling wasn't joy.
Now, crying was joy.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
☆☆☆
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