Just as Gern Reginald Sigmar and Mihawk parted ways in the first half of the Grand Line—
On the other side of the seas, in the New World, within the waters under G-10's sphere of influence, lay Karyak Town.
Bartholomew Kuma and Enel, who were responsible for this round of patrol and security, had just completed a routine inspection of the town and the surrounding waters.
But as the two were preparing to board their ship and leave—passing through a corner of the port stacked high with cargo crates, sparsely populated with people—
Kuma's massive body suddenly halted.
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze locking firmly onto a figure not far ahead, leaning against the shadow of stacked containers, cloaked in a worn, dark-green mantle.
Though the hood was deliberately pulled low, concealing the face, that distinctive presence—and the faint outline of the figure—
Was enough for Kuma to recognize the person instantly.
Mr. Dragon?!
Waves stirred in Kuma's heart, though his face remained as calm and impassive as ever.
Why would he appear within G-10's territory? And… was he waiting for me here?
At the same time, Enel—walking ahead with his golden staff lazily wedged behind his neck, humming an off-key tune—
Noticed that Kuma had suddenly stopped. He turned back impatiently, annoyance written all over his face.
"Hey, you kind-hearted big guy, what's wrong? Why'd you stop all of a sudden?"
"Hurry it up! This god still has a bunch of ill-mannered pirates to deal with—gotta properly welcome them to the descent of divinity!!"
Kuma remained silent, offering no immediate reply.
Or rather, he hadn't heard Enel at all—his mind was racing, rapidly weighing how to deal with this unexpected situation.
Especially given his current identity.
Dragon's appearance was no coincidence. He had to be careful.
Seeing Kuma's hesitation and lack of response, Enel frowned slightly. He pulled the golden staff off his shoulder, spun it once in his hand, and strode toward him.
In no time at all, he stood right in front of Kuma's towering frame. Tilting his head, he raised a hand to stroke his chin, curiosity flashing across his face.
"Hey~~ you…" Enel drawled.
At the sound of his voice, Kuma's heart tightened. Seeing Enel suddenly so close, panic flickered within him as he scrambled to think of an explanation—
Only for Enel's next words to nearly make him choke.
Enel clapped his hands as if a realization had struck him, flashing a wide grin—the unmistakable I get it look.
"Don't tell me, don't tell me—did you forget again to buy that troublesome little Bonney the toy or snacks she wanted?"
"Man, kids are such a pain! Just like last time when she yanked my ear—tch!"
As he spoke, Enel put on a what-can-you-do expression and patted Kuma on the arm.
"Ah well, ah well. Since you're so pitiful…"
"This god will show mercy and wait for you over by the main harbor."
"Hurry it up, yeah? Don't keep this god waiting too long!"
Without waiting for a response, Enel hoisted the golden staff onto his shoulder again, humming cheerfully as he swaggered toward the main port.
Tiny arcs of electricity crackled around him, as if deliberately flaunting his divinity before mere mortals.
Watching Enel's retreating back, Kuma stood silently for a few seconds, emotions churning within him.
He hadn't expected Enel to "help" him out like this—completely unintentionally, of course.
Once he was certain Enel had truly left, Kuma slowly turned his head again, directing his gaze back toward the shadow among the containers.
The dark-green figure had straightened at some point.
Beneath the hood, a tattooed face lifted calmly, eyes steady as they met Kuma's.
After a brief silence, Kuma began to walk forward—step by step—into the shadows.
"Mr. Dragon… you shouldn't be here."
"G-10's patrols are extremely tight. Especially with Enel's Observation Haki—"
"Kuma."
Dragon cut him off.
From beneath the hood, his gaze fixed on Kuma without any pleasantries, cutting straight to the point.
"I need your help."
At the blunt request, Kuma's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. After a moment of silence, he spoke.
"Mr. Dragon, you should understand my current position."
"I am a Marine now. I serve under G-10's 'Natural Disaster.'"
"It's not about the Revolutionary Army!" Dragon interrupted immediately, urgency in his voice as he stepped closer and lowered his tone.
"It's my son. I need you… to help them."
"Your son…?" A trace of surprise surfaced on Kuma's usually unshakable face.
His mind drifted back to that boy he had once seen in Foosha Village—the one training tirelessly for the day he'd set sail.
Seeing Kuma hesitate, Dragon pressed on, his words coming faster.
"Sigh… that kid, Luffy… since setting out to sea, he's caused quite a stir—but overall, things have gone too smoothly for him."
"He's defeated a Shichibukai now, his name's spreading fast. Add the incident at Enies Lobby, and the World Government has begun focusing far more attention on them."
A flicker of worry passed through Dragon's eyes.
As a father—and as someone who knew the World Government's darkness all too well—he understood exactly what that kind of 'attention' meant.
"Based on their route and their personalities, they'll head to the Sabaody Archipelago next, and then attempt to enter the New World."
Dragon's voice grew heavier.
"But the New World… is absolutely not a place they can step into at their current stage!"
"The waters there are too deep. Too murky. The Four Emperors dominate it. Major pirate powers are tangled together. And G-10—with Gern and you—stands watching like a predator."
"With their current strength and state, entering the New World would be like lambs walking into a tiger's den. They'd be torn apart."
At that, Dragon lifted his head fully, locking eyes with Kuma beneath the hood—and even grabbed his hand, pleading.
"So I want you… when they reach Sabaody—or rather, before they attempt to enter the New World—find a way to stop them."
"Not capture them. But… give them a lesson they'll never forget."
"Make them understand how cruel reality truly is."
"Make them realize that right now… they have no right to step into that ultimate sea."
"Mr. Dragon…"
"Kuma—only your ability, and your current position… allow you to do this at the right moment, in your own way."
"To wake them up. To buy them precious time to grow."
"This is… a father's selfish request."
...
As a father himself, Kuma ultimately couldn't refuse the weight of Dragon's plea.
He said nothing—but his silence was his consent.
Yet just as he finished speaking with Dragon and slowly stepped out of the dim alley between the stacked containers—
A teasing voice suddenly rang out from above and behind him.
"Oh? Done already?"
Kuma spun around instantly.
Enel was perched casually on the edge of a nearby warehouse roof, one leg crossed over the other, his golden staff tapping the tiles lazily.
"Enel!!"
"Oh come on~~ don't make that face," Enel drawled smugly.
"This god's Mantra—my Observation Haki—across all of G-10, aside from that bastard Gern, who could possibly compare?"
"You really thought your little movements would slip past me, Kuma?"
Hearing that, Kuma's heart sank. His hand clenched slightly as he spoke in a low voice.
"So… you know?"
As Kuma scrambled to think—wondering what Enel's intentions were, even preparing himself for the worst—
Enel's expression suddenly shifted.
A grin full of anticipation spread across his face.
He jumped down from the roof, landing lightly in front of Kuma, rubbing his hands together excitedly.
"Beating up some cocky, clueless teenagers?"
"That sounds ridiculously fun! Yahahaha! This god's joining in!"
"But—" Kuma tried to stop him.
After working with Enel for so long, how could he not know what kind of person this man was?
"Hey!" Enel cut him off immediately, hands on his hips, head tilted, dragging out his words deliberately.
"What should we do about a certain super~ tall~ guy secretly meeting the world's most dangerous criminal—the leader of the Revolutionary Army—hmm~?"
"And if Gern found out…"
Kuma: "..."
Seeing he'd struck home, Enel's grin widened.
"So, no problem then, right?"
"..." Kuma fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded heavily.
"…Fine."
"YES! Fantastic!" Enel cheered, then leaned in closer, lowering his voice as mischief sparkled in his eyes.
"But just beating them up is boring!"
"You've gotta work with me—we need to put on a show!"
"Make it dramatic. Make it divine! Only then do we send them flying!"
"Let you enjoy yourself?" Kuma's voice carried a hint of exhaustion. "Then wouldn't they end up… half-dead at best?"
He shook his head.
"No. Absolutely not."
"Ohhh?" Enel immediately switched back to his threatening tone, raising his voice deliberately.
"What if Ginny finds out her husband secretly met the Revolutionary leader—the one who once stood by and did nothing to save her—hmm~?"
Kuma: "You—"
"Hehehe!" Enel laughed smugly, his body dissolving into lightning.
In the next instant, he was sitting cross-legged on Kuma's broad shoulder.
"Relax! Who doesn't know that I, Enel, have excellent self-control?"
"I guarantee they'll receive a 'lesson' they'll remember for the rest of their lives!"
He paused deliberately, then leaned in close to Kuma's ear, whispering seriously so only the two of them could hear.
"And besides…"
"And besides what?"
"I'll be eating this secret for the rest of my life."
KRAK—
Kuma's glasses shattered instantly.
Watching Enel burst into laughter, Kuma pressed his lips together.
From the day he was born until now—
This was the first time he'd ever truly wanted to curse someone out.
"No… swearing isn't right…"
At that moment, Enel jumped down and waved his hand.
"No time to waste! Let's finish the patrol first!"
Watching Enel turn his back, the back of his head fully exposed, Kuma quietly glanced down at his bear-paw-shaped hand.
And then—
Without the slightest hesitation—
The gentle bear raised his palm and softly smacked Enel on the back of the head.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?" Enel snapped, spinning around, a flash of red lighting up his Observation Haki.
"Nothing," Kuma replied gently, smiling warmly. "There was something dirty just now."
"Bastard! Why are you smiling so gently? What were you thinking—trying to slap my memories out of me?!"
"Of course not," Kuma said kindly. "We're partners. I'd never hurt a partner."
What Enel's Mantra actually picked up, however, was the truth:
[Forget it. I'll just slap that part out later too.Just like last time when Bonney pulled his ear—if I remove it the second before, he won't remember, and it'll just loop.Anyway, once it accumulates enough, it'll all return to him eventually.]
Enel: "..."
..…
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