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The moment those words left Logan's mouth, Bartholomew Kuma's expression tightened in immediate discomfort.
The latter part of the deal was whatever.
For Bonney, he'd throw away his own life without hesitation—following Logan was nothing in comparison.
But the first condition…
Out on the seas these days, the moment someone mentioned Logan's name, a few labels instantly popped into everyone's mind.
Maybe they weren't all the same—but one of them was absolutely universal:
A total pervert.
Kuma absolutely did not believe that Logan spent his days surrounded by over a dozen beautiful female crewmates just to admire their looks.
If Bonney were an adult, and if Logan cured her illness, then letting her sail with him wouldn't be outrageous. A life-saving grace like that? Kuma would accept it.
But the problem was… Bonney was only nine.
A little girl.
Her current appearance was nothing but the result of her Devil Fruit ability—a disguise.
Thinking of that, Kuma's expression grew more tangled and conflicted.
"Think carefully, Kuma," Logan said, crossing one leg over the other, voice relaxed. "This offer won't come twice."
He wasn't in a hurry at all—everything was in his hands anyway.
Kuma glanced at Bonney, and in his mind flashed the image of Ginny on her deathbed. He clenched his teeth. Whatever last hesitation he had completely disappeared.
Saving Bonney came first. Everything else could wait.
"Fine. As long as you cure Bonney, I accept your terms." Kuma's voice rang firm and clear.
Logan nodded, pleased, then looked at Bonney."And you? Are you willing to stay with me from now on?"
Bonney, usually bold and brash, suddenly looked like the little girl she really was. She fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, peeked up at Kuma for reassurance, then gave a small nod.
Logan smiled. "Smart choice."
Then he walked to her side and placed his hand on her, channeling healing energy into her body.
Kuma stared at her with burning focus, trying to catch even the tiniest change.
Under the power of the healing force, it took only a few breaths before Bonney's Jade-Scale Disease was completely cured.
"That's it?!" Kuma stared blankly as Logan calmly returned to his seat.
"What, were you expecting me to take all day?" Logan shrugged.
Kuma was completely lost.
He had even activated his Observation Haki to catch any signs—and it still ended in seconds?!
"Bonney!"
Snapping back to reality, Kuma rushed to her side.
"It's gone—it's really gone…" Kuma choked up as he stared at her now unblemished cheeks. Tears burst out as he pulled Bonney into a tight embrace.
His joy wasn't just because the illness was cured.
It was because he could finally face Ginny in the afterlife.
Bonney touched her own face in disbelief.
The gem-like crystalline patches… were really gone.
Her Jade-Scale Disease… cured? Just like that?!
A disease that even the most famous doctors in the world couldn't do anything about—Logan fixed it as easily as breathing?
"F-Father… I'm really cured…" Bonney sobbed as she threw her arms around Kuma.
For the next half hour, Kuma repeatedly checked her condition from head to toe, then spent a long moment crying and talking with Bonney in a touching, heart-wrenching father–daughter scene.
Logan quietly stood aside, not interrupting.
After a while, Kuma wiped his tears, composed himself, and bowed deeply to Logan."Captain Ranno, on Bonney's behalf, thank you for saving her life."
"No need to get emotional. We had a deal," Logan waved off casually."From now on, you don't need to go back to Marineford. And you won't be participating in Ace's execution."
"Yes, Captain." Kuma nodded immediately.
The Marines had only been able to force him because of Bonney.
Now that she was cured… Marines? Who cares.
"Captain, the Revolutionary Army…" Kuma hesitated.
Dragon had treated him well. Even if he was joining Logan now, he still wanted to give Dragon a proper farewell.
"We parted ways peacefully before. But now that I killed Luffy, Dragon and I are enemies to the death." Logan glanced at him. "You should know what that means."
"Captain… you—you killed Luffy?!"
Kuma's face went pale. He could only sigh in resignation.
Luffy was Dragon's only son. His death made Kuma's heart sink too.
But between Luffy and Bonney… Kuma knew which one mattered more.
Letting go of the last bit of hesitation, Kuma straightened and asked firmly,"Captain, tell me what you want me to do from now on."
Logan stared at him, thinking.
He couldn't leave Kuma in the crew. Not on Amazon Lily either.
Ah—he had an idea.
"I'll send you to Thriller Bark. You'll stay there. I'll call you when I need you."
"Thriller Bark? Moria's territory?"
Kuma frowned, then understood immediately.
No guessing needed—Moria must've already joined Logan.
"Alright. I'll follow your orders," Kuma said without objection.
He had nothing left to worry about. Whatever Logan said, he'd do.
After saying goodbye to Bonney, Logan grabbed Kuma and teleported straight to Moria's domain.
Thriller Bark was basically an empty shell now.
Moria had responded to the Marines' call and gone to Marineford.
Only Hogback and a few scattered zombies were left.
Logan left Kuma a Haki training manual, then prepared to teleport away.
He'd let Kuma explain things to Hogback himself.
"Captain…"
Just as Logan was about to vanish, Kuma called out hesitantly.
"What now?" Logan frowned.
Kuma's expression twisted in embarrassment. After a long pause, he muttered,"Captain… Bonney is only nine this year."
Then he immediately disappeared.
He believed Logan understood the message.
Logan: "…"
Back on the ship, Bonney stood alone in front of Logan, clearly feeling awkward and nervous.
Logan looked at the stunning girl in front of him and felt a headache coming on.
Nine years old. Way too young.
She wasn't even in double digits.
With no other choice, Logan could only mark Bonney first so he could claim the reward. Anything else would have to wait.
As for Bonney herself… she could grow up a few more years first.
[Congratulations, host. Crew member Bonney successfully recruited. Receive reward?]
"Yeah, take it," Logan said, not in the best mood.
[Congratulations, host. You have obtained the item: Eternal Pose to Sleepy Hollow.]
Sleepy Hollow?
Logan's eyes lit up. If he remembered correctly, the Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire — a Mythical Zoan — was hidden in Sleepy Hollow.
Even among the Mythical Zoans, that fruit was top tier.
In the original timeline, after the Marineford War, the Red Count escaped Impel Down and found the fruit in Sleepy Hollow.
But now? No way Logan was letting anyone else get their hands on it.
Satisfied, he pocketed the Eternal Pose, then took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed Hancock.
Sabaody Archipelago.
With Vice Admiral Tsuru and several other Vice Admirals joining the fight, every Supernova except Bonney had been completely subdued.
The captured rookies, all wearing seastone cuffs, were being escorted onto Marine warships.
At the same time, someone reported to Tsuru that Logan had been spotted in Area 1, where he had clashed with the Straw Hat Pirates.
By the time Tsuru and her team reached the scene, it was already surrounded by crowds. Everyone was whispering in shock.
Tsuru sent the Marines to clear the area, then examined the site.
Logan and Bartholomew Kuma were nowhere to be found. All that remained were the unconscious Straw Hats… and the corpse of their captain, Monkey D. Luffy.
The moment Tsuru saw Luffy's body, her expression changed drastically.
After securing the scene, she rushed back to Marineford and immediately reported it to Sengoku.
Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office.
Sengoku stared at Tsuru, voice low. "Tsuru… you're certain the one who died was Straw Hat Luffy?"
Tsuru nodded gravely.
"It's over." Sengoku pressed a hand to his forehead, face full of despair.
Tsuru frowned. "Garp will be back any minute. How do we tell him?"
Even someone as composed and brilliant as Tsuru felt lost.
News of Luffy's death was already spreading across Sabaody. Soldiers and Vice Admirals had seen the body. There was no hiding it.
As part of the old trio, Sengoku and Tsuru were among the few who knew the truth about Ace and Luffy.
They were both Garp's grandsons.
And Luffy… was his biological grandson.
Ace was about to be publicly executed, and Garp was already on the verge of collapse.
And now his other grandson had died at Logan's hands. If Garp found out, he would lose his mind.
Sengoku rubbed his temples. "I told him from the start… I told him to warn Luffy not to become a pirate. Not to become a pirate. And now look."
"Sengoku." Tsuru shot him a look, shaking her head.
Before either of them could continue, Garp walked in with a dark expression, grief still lingering on his face.
"Sengoku, what did you call me in for?" he asked, voice low.
He had just returned from Impel Down when Sengoku contacted him. Did something happen with Whitebeard's crew?
Sengoku and Tsuru exchanged glances, silently trying to push the burden onto each other.
Garp's brows knitted. Something felt wrong.
"What happened?" His tone grew sharper.
"Garp, no matter what you hear next, you need to stay calm," Sengoku ordered, slipping into the authority of a Fleet Admiral.
Realizing how serious it sounded, Garp exhaled sharply. "Say it. Ace is about to be executed. What else could possibly break me now?"
Sengoku stared into Garp's eyes and said heavily, "Earlier, I sent Tsuru to Sabaody to capture the Supernovas."
Garp's pupils contracted instantly.
Luffy.
"You arrested Luffy?" Garp snapped.
Sengoku opened his mouth but couldn't force the words out.
Tsuru sighed helplessly. "Garp… we did capture most of the Supernovas. But Luffy wasn't among them."
Before Garp could relax, she added, "He… he was killed by Logan. His body is in the morgue."
Boom.
The moment Tsuru finished speaking, a terrifying pressure erupted from Garp's body.
Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki exploded at the same time. Black and red energy crashed outward like a tidal wave, obliterating the entire conference room and sweeping across the whole of Marineford.
Thunder rumbled.
Lightning writhed across the sky like crazed serpents, tearing the clouds apart.
The once-clear sky darkened instantly, turning apocalyptic.
"What the hell is happening?"
"It's Vice Admiral Garp! He's enraged!"
"Oh God, what happened?"
Panic spread as Marines stared upward, trembling.
"Garp!" Sengoku transformed into a towering golden Buddha, radiating blinding light.
"Tsuru… say it again. Who died?"
Garp's eyes were blood-red as he spat out each word like ice.
He looked like a rabid beast.
Ace was about to be executed, and now his grandson was dead too.
"Garp, calm down!" Sengoku's massive golden palm slammed onto Garp's shoulder to hold him down.
But Garp, consumed by rage, was far from controllable.
"Logan!"
A violent shockwave blasted the golden Buddha backward.
"Stop!"
"Vice Admiral Garp, please stop!"
Three voices shouted from three directions at once.
Admiral Akainu, Admiral Aokiji, and Admiral Kizaru finally arrived.
"Restrain him!" Sengoku roared, charging back in with his massive hands.
The three Admirals rushed in to assist.
Impel Down.
The world's greatest underwater prison. Iron walls, impossible security.
Only one man had ever escaped alive: the Golden Lion.
Because of Ace, Impel Down's security was at its highest in years.
Level Four, the Blazing Hell, in the restroom.
Magellan was miserable. Because of his Doku Doku no Mi's side effects, he usually spent nearly ten hours a day on the toilet.
And now he was even busier because of Ace.
To make things worse, the Pirate Empress just had to visit Ace at a time like this. What was she even thinking?
Gurgle.
Gurgle.
Stomach churning, Magellan focused on the "task" in front of him.
Elsewhere on Level Four, inside a rest room.
"Mmm…"
Sadie, the chief guard with long curly hair, dressed in a pink leather crop top and tight flared pants, let out a satisfied sigh.
She had just finished today's "work," whipping over a dozen prisoners until they screamed for mercy.
As a natural-born sadist, nothing thrilled Sadie more than the sound of a criminal's agony.
It made her tremble with excitement.
Tap tap tap.
Tap tap tap.
Sadie stared intensely at several bounty posters laid out on the table, tapping her fingers rhythmically.
"Logan…"
Looking at Logan's photo, her whole body tingled.
The guards of Impel Down rarely interacted with the outside world, but the Marines always sent newspapers straight to the prison.
Sadie had been keeping an eye on Logan for a while now.
At first she didn't think much of him. But after he killed Crocodile, destroyed part of Impel Down, and kidnapped a Celestial Dragon…
Sadie couldn't get him out of her head.
Not because she liked him.
But because she wanted to break him. She wanted to wrap her whip around him, hear his pained screams.
She was sure Logan's cries would be the most beautiful sound in the world.
Only someone like Logan could truly satisfy her sadistic heart.
"Mmm…"
Staring at his picture, Sadie's eyes went hazy as she licked her bright red lips.
"Logan… when are you finally going to fall into my hands?"
"....."
