Bulldog beside him gasped, eyes bulging.
A bounty of 2.9 billion Berries was an astronomical figure he couldn't even imagine.
After all, in the South Blue, bounties were generally a notch higher than in the weakest sea, East Blue.
But a pirate worth more than fifty million was already considered famous—enough for a South Blue king like him to keep a wary eye on.
And if the bounty exceeded one hundred million…
Then a small South Blue nation like the Sorbet Kingdom had no way to resist.
It was said that pirates with bounties over a hundred million were rare even in the Grand Line and could be called Supernovas.
A bounty of 2.9 billion… Bulldog couldn't picture how monstrously strong such a pirate would be.
Especially since this man had killed the king of an Affiliated Nations.
He had even slain an Admiral.
An Admiral!
The mightiest force of the World Government!
What business did a Great Pirate from the New World, powerful enough to kill an Admiral, have coming to a tiny South Blue kingdom?
Surely he hadn't sailed all the way from the New World just to rob them?
"We're finished—our Sorbet Kingdom is doomed!" Bulldog was on the verge of tears.
Connie frowned deeply, slowly shook her head, and said firmly:
"Don't jump to conclusions! A pirate of that caliber wouldn't bother with something so petty. He's here for a reason. Come on! Let's go see him and find out what he wants."
A scene she'd witnessed the night before flashed through her mind.
It couldn't be coincidence.
Could this New World pirate have come for those refugees?
Meanwhile,
off the coast of the Sorbet Kingdom,
"Look, Carlo! That's Kuma's homeland—Sorbet Kingdom!"
Ivankov dashed excitedly to the prow and pointed at the approaching island.
Smack!
A hand chopped the top of his head, sending Ivankov crouching and clutching his skull in pain.
"Who said you could call him Carlo? Show some respect! It's Captain Carlo, or Lord Tianwang! Don't forget—you're still an apprentice of the Sky Pirates!"
John snarled.
Ivankov crouched at the bow, rubbing his head and muttering, "I never agreed to join you! My dream isn't to become a pirate!"
John burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, too bad. Once you're on this ship, you don't get off so easy. Think this is some ferry? This is the Sky Pirates—the crew destined to be the world's strongest!"
"Right, Carlo?"
He turned toward the white-haired youth reclining in a wicker chair on the afterdeck.
"World's strongest? Isn't that a given? Don't you think so, little Ginny?"
Carlo grinned, reached out, and ruffled Ginny's hair.
"Cough… cough… Captain Carlo… the smoke…"
Ginny broke into a coughing fit from the cigar smoke, wriggled free, and scampered to the bow.
"Hey! You haven't agreed with me yet, Ginny!"
Carlo called after her.
"Nyah-nyah!" Ginny stuck out her tongue.
Carlo laughed, turned to the quiet, statue-like boy beside him, and patted his head.
"Kuma, do you think we can become the world's strongest pirate crew?"
"Mm." Kuma nodded shyly.
He lifted his gaze to Carlo's bandage-wrapped frame and the Captain's gentle smile, then nodded again, more firmly.
"We definitely can, Captain Carlo! If it's you…"
"How many times have I told you? Drop the honorifics—it makes us strangers. And… Kuma, are you still unwilling to be my son?"
"Was I unclear last time, or do you think I'm unworthy to be your father?"
"Let me ask once more."
Carlo smiled and extended his hand.
"Kuma, be my son—Sorus Karlo's son!"
"Bear my flag and ride the seas in freedom!"
"From this day on, no one will threaten you, no one will steal your freedom—you'll have everything you desire!"
Tears welled in Kuma's eyes as he listened.
He shook his head frantically, voice trembling.
"Captain Carlo, that's not what I meant! How could you be unworthy? You're so strong, so kind."
"It's me… I'm unworthy to be your son."
He lowered his head, unable to meet Carlo's eyes, and choked out:
"I'm a Bacania Tribe… born a slave, a natural criminal, an unforgiven race. Wherever I go, the Marines hunt me. I don't want to bring trouble to you, Captain…"
"Born a slave?" Carlo frowned. "Who told you that—Saturn, that old bastard?"
"Saturn… who?" Kuma asked softly. "An important-looking old man told me…"
Carlo sneered, "That geezer is Saturn—one of the Gorosei."
"Gorosei?" Kuma clearly didn't know the term.
Ivankov chimed in, "The Gorosei are the highest authority of the World Government—they can order every Marine."
Understanding dawned on Kuma; he lowered his head again and murmured, "So that old man really was important… what he said must be true…"
"True, my foot!" Carlo snorted.
"Important? You born a slave? Rubbish! Kuma, remember this: no one is born noble, and no one is born a slave! Nobility isn't blood—it's character. To me, you're a hundred times nobler than that old fossil Saturn!"
"Exactly! Well said, Carlo! No one's born noble! Kuma, your character's a thousand times better than that Gorosei's!" Ivankov shouted.
"It's Captain Carlo!" John smacked him again.
"Ten thousand times!" Ginny chirped, raising her hand with a bright grin.
"Hold your head high, Kuma!" Carlo commanded.
Kuma flinched, then slowly lifted his head; his dull eyes met Carlo's blazing gaze.
"A man bows to no one. Live proud, live confident!"
"Yes… Captain Carlo…" Kuma bit his lip, fighting back tears.
"Still calling me Captain?" Carlo ruffled his hair with a smile.
Kuma lowered his head, trembling; at last the tears fell, darkening his clean shirt.
Carlo sighed and stood.
He knew the knot in Kuma's heart wouldn't untie so easily.
The scars of the past were too deep for a child so young.
Carlo pressed no further; he simply patted the boy's shaking shoulder.
"All right, Kuma. Let's go settle those poor souls, then head back to the New World."