Vir was absolutely losing it:
‘Conqueror’s Haki.’
‘Another one with Conqueror’s Haki!’
‘Old man Whitebeard, we really are bros for life!!’
‘What’s yours is mine, what’s mine is yours—cut the crap!’
‘Now you owe me a favor?!’
‘You’re giving me a gift, yet you’re the one owing me?’
‘Old Man, you’re too damn polite!’
‘I don’t even know what to say.’
‘This is just too good! Too damn good!’
‘Zehahahaha!’
Vir was laughing his ass off.
Side effects? He’ll handle that part!
No problem at all!
Poison? You bet he can make it!
Guaranteed to turn the Golden Lion into the Black Lion.
And it won’t even slow Shiki down in a fight.
In fact…
Vir already had an antidote in the form of that lip-shaped device. Included the deluxe package, no extra charge!
Riding that wave of glee, Vir called Whitebeard on the spot.
No one knows exactly what the two said to each other.
But their laughter echoed for miles.
Yamato and Marco? Completely dumbfounded.
Why does it feel like… Vir’s more excited than the customer?
They exchanged glances and saw the same confusion mirrored in each other’s eyes.
And today…
Was the fifth day of their journey.
Up ahead, they could already see the towering bubble trees of the Sabaody Archipelago.
Vir leaned over the railing at the ship’s bow, watching the island grow closer.
Merry was perched on his shoulder.
Yamato crouched beside him, peering ahead with anticipation. Marco, as always, was steering the ship.
The helmsman role? Locked in.
Yamato’s face was filled with visible excitement.
It was her first time visiting a human settlement outside of Wano.
Her heart was a storm of emotions—thrilled, nervous, even a little panicked.
She kept stealing glances at Vir, who seemed lost in thought.
She wanted to say something to ease her nerves—but she was afraid of disturbing him.
So she acted like a thief—glancing over every few seconds…
Vir found it a bit ridiculous.
But he let it slide.
His Observation Haki had already picked up on what lay ahead.
Beneath the giant tree marked 40, a ship sat quietly docked.
A ship with a lion-shaped figurehead.
The Thousand Sunny, of course.
Looks like Luffy and the crew had already arrived.
He wasn’t too late.
And once he stepped foot on the island…
It wouldn’t take long for things to get lively.
Judging by how quickly the Golden Lion made it from East Blue to the New World in three days…
Today should be his arrival day too.
Add himself, Yamato, Marco, and the Supernovas on the island into the mix…
Plus Bartholomew Kuma, and Silvers Rayleigh…
Oh man.
Let’s go!
Let’s go big!
No matter what else happens, Vir had one goal this trip:
Knock Old Ray flat on his ass!
What he didn’t know was… Momousagi was also on the island.
Yep, Gion.
Add her to the mix?
Now it was truly a full house.
No one could predict what kind of sparks would fly from this lineup.
At that moment on the island, Luffy, now with a 380 million bounty, was walking around with Hatchan, Camie, and a starfish.
The starfish? Literally just a regular starfish.
Hatchan? Former member of the Arlong Pirates, an octopus fish-man.
Now reformed, and traveling with Luffy as a friend.
And now?
They’d somehow managed to lose Camie—a mermaid—right before their eyes.
Yep.
Straight-up lost a mermaid.
Right in front of them.
Kidnapped by some two-bit gang.
Just like that.
Luffy, when he’s reliable, he’s really reliable.
But those moments are… rare.
A guy with a 380 million bounty, and some random thugs kidnapped someone right under his nose…
Yeah.
No comment.
So now the Straw Hats were forced into a mission to rescue Camie.
Meanwhile, back at Grove 40…
Vir had just arrived.
The moment he stepped ashore, he sensed three powerful auras on the island.
One was definitely Rayleigh.
Another was Kuma.
But the third…
He hadn’t expected that one at all.
Momousagi was here?
What the hell?
What’s she doing here?
This has nothing to do with her, right?
Vir thought it over, but couldn’t figure it out.
Whatever. He’d ignore her for now.
After landing, he immediately headed for Kuma’s location.
Why?
For Chopper and the others, of course.
This island was no joke anymore.
Vir couldn’t predict how things would spiral from here.
He needed to check if Kuma could still warp them out safely.
If not, he’d have to change his plans.
Because if he didn’t step in, there was a real chance Robin and the rest would die here.
He might be able to save some of them.
But not all.
Kuma was the key.
Looking back at the nervous Yamato following behind him…
And Marco, walking with all the swagger in the world…
Vir spoke as he walked: “You don’t need to follow me. I’ve got some business to take care of.”
Marco didn’t care either way.
But Yamato looked uneasy.
She didn’t know the island at all.
What if she got kidnapped or something?
Just as she was about to protest—
Merry flew over to her and landed on her head.
“I’ll stay with you~”
With that, Yamato calmed down instantly.
She straightened her back and walked with confidence.
No more hunched shoulders, no more sneaky glances.
With her best buddy here, she was golden!
All set.
“What about finding us later?” Marco asked, thinking ahead.
What if Vir needed them?
Vir just waved him off casually.
“Wherever the biggest commotion is—head that way.”
Yamato didn’t really get it…
But with Merry around, she wasn’t worried.
Soon, Vir vanished into the crowd.
Marco headed for a tavern.
Yamato, following Merry’s suggestion, went off to an amusement park—
Time to experience the childhood she never had.
Vir, meanwhile, quickly found Kuma’s location.
Observation Haki was so convenient for finding people.
At that moment, the Tyrant Bartholomew Kuma was leaning on the window of a restaurant.
Smiling, he stared at the voluptuous woman inside who was devouring an entire roasted pig.
The plates on the table? Overflowing.
Her crew’s only job was to keep moving the empty ones away.
She was one of the Supernovas—The Glutton, Jewelry Bonney, and also Kuma’s daughter.
For certain reason, Kuma couldn’t let her know he was there.
But just watching her from outside the window brought him peace.
She looked healthy and happy.
‘Bonney…’
‘Live your life with joy.’
‘Your father won’t be able to protect you anymore.’
The thought that his consciousness would soon be completely erased made Kuma’s eyes redden slightly.
‘I may forget you…’
‘But my love for you will never fade.’
He was still smiling.
But his heart ached.
Thinking back to the short time they’d shared…
He truly felt happy.
Bonney had been the brightest light in his life.
She soothed every scar he carried.
‘If only…’
‘I could stay by your side forever.’
But he quickly shook off the thought.
Checking the time, Kuma knew he had to leave.
He gave Bonney one last long look.
And turned to leave.
But just as he moved—
A hand suddenly landed on his forearm.
Kuma’s eyes widened in shock.
He hadn’t sensed anyone approach.
Yet now, someone had silently slipped right beside him.
Instinctively, he prepared to retreat—
But the words that came from that person’s mouth made him stop in his tracks.