South Blue, Sorbet Kingdom.
The sky hung heavy with gray as withered snowflakes drifted to the ground, blanketing the world in white.
At the top of the royal castle in the Sorbet Kingdom, a towering, bear-like figure sat at the edge of the rooftop, his legs casually dangling.
He wore a strangely patterned, trapezoid-shaped hat with two bear ears on top. Tufts of curly black hair peeked out from beneath it, and a black coat draped over his shoulders. His face was serious, unsmiling—he looked about twenty, yet there was a distinct air of maturity and calm about him.
Snow fell silently, landing on his hat and coat, but he didn't react. His attention remained fixed on the thick, leather-bound book in his hands. Beside him lay a folded newspaper.
The world around him was utterly still, the only sound the occasional rustle of turning pages.
"I didn't expect the king of the Sorbet Kingdom to be so young."
A low, amused voice suddenly rang out from behind him.
The man paused, adjusted his rimless glasses, and slowly closed the book. With a dull expression, he turned around.
The air atop the castle twisted oddly, forming a miniature tornado visible to the naked eye. It quickly took shape, revealing a human figure.
Tall and imposing, the newcomer wore a dark green hooded trench coat, emanating an overwhelming and profound presence.
"Pleased to meet you, Your Majesty, King of the Sorbet Kingdom—Bartholomew Kuma."
The figure let out a deep chuckle, raised a hand, and pulled back his hood to reveal a square-jawed face radiating fierce intensity. He had no eyebrows, and his left cheek was marked with jagged blood-red tattoos—striking against the whirling snow.
"I know who you are."
Bartholomew Kuma stared calmly at the man before him, his hoarse voice breaking the silence.
"Monkey D. Dragon. 'Son of a Hero.'"
Dragon gave a small smile.
"I'm no longer the 'Son of a Hero.'"
He tapped the blood-red tattoo on his face.
"Now, I'm just a world-class criminal, with a massive bounty placed on my head by the World Government and Marine Headquarters."
Bartholomew Kuma pressed his lips together and replied flatly,
"So, Dragon-san, why have you come looking for me?"
"The Sorbet Kingdom has only just begun to enjoy peace and stability. For someone like you—a wanted criminal of your level—to show up in a peaceful country like this... frankly, it puts me in a difficult position."
Dragon gave a slight bow.
"I offer my sincere apologies for the sudden intrusion."
His eyes glanced at the thick book in Kuma's hands, its cover bearing the word "BIBLE." Then he asked,
"Do you believe in the existence of gods, Kuma?"
Bartholomew Kuma responded expressionlessly,
"In these seas, gods stand high above the clouds. Surely, Dragon-san, you're well aware of that."
Dragon fell silent for a moment.
Kuma set the book aside and said,
"Please get to the point, Dragon-san. And leave as soon as you can... If the government finds out you're here in the Sorbet Kingdom, this country may never know peace again."
Dragon gazed at him deeply, then suddenly smiled.
"Kuma, I want to invite you... to help me change this world."
Bartholomew Kuma's expression didn't change.
He slowly removed his glove, revealing a paw-shaped hand.
Pink pads dotted his palm.
That deceptively "cute" hand made Dragon's pupils shrink sharply.
Bartholomew Kuma said calmly,
"I'm sorry. I refuse."
"Dragon-san, you should leave now."
"If you're planning a trip, where would you like to go? Maybe I can take you there."
Dragon frowned.
"You're not even going to hear me out?"
Bartholomew Kuma shook his head.
"There's no need. I only want to protect the people of this country. As for everything else, I neither want to get involved nor have the power to."
As he spoke, he looked off into the distance, a quiet warmth in his gaze.
Under the climate of the Winter Island, smoke gently rose from chimneys across the island. A sense of peace and calm filled the air.
"I see..."
Dragon chuckled.
Then, he suddenly brought up something seemingly unrelated.
"Half a month ago, a slave ship en route from the South Blue to Mary Geoise was sunk. All the slaves on board vanished, while every guard was found dead."
"Two months ago, the slave market in Rock Port, South Blue, was destroyed. Over five hundred slaves disappeared without a trace."
"Five months ago, a slave trader in the South Blue was killed in his own home. That same day, every ship in his human trafficking fleet was wiped out..."
Dragon looked meaningfully at Bartholomew Kuma and smiled.
"There are plenty more stories like these. Do you really want me to go on?"
Bartholomew Kuma was silent for a while before replying in a low voice,
"Seems Dragon-san has done his research."
Dragon bowed deeply again.
"If I've overstepped, I offer my sincerest apologies."
He straightened up, eyes fixed intently on the towering figure before him.
"But Kuma, I sought you out because I know we're the same kind of people."
"This world is filthy—soaked in darkness and corruption. Only a complete upheaval can bring true change."
His eyes drifted to Kuma's massive paw.
"If I'm right, those hands of yours... they're the 'hands of liberation' that bring freedom to others, aren't they?"
Bartholomew Kuma's expression shifted—just slightly.
It was the first time any emotion flickered across his face.
Not even when Dragon had listed all the incidents tied to slave rescues had he reacted like this.
"What do you know?"
He stared at Dragon, alert and guarded.
Dragon let out a sigh.
"I don't know much. My old man sheltered me too well back then, trying to keep me from seeing the world's ugliness... But some things can't be avoided."
He looked up at the sky, his eyes sharp and filled with scorn.
"Who would've thought—the most terrifying demon in this world isn't in hell, but in the heavens?"
...
Half an hour later...
Snow was falling heavily.
At some point, Dragon and Bartholomew Kuma had sat down side by side, gazing quietly at the peaceful Kingdom of Sorbet.
"So that's how it was..."
Dragon let out a long breath, which turned into a cloud of mist in the frigid air. His expression was somber.
"The so-called 'heroic' battle of God Valley back then... it was nothing but a genocidal massacre."
His smile brimmed with indescribable bitterness and deep shock.
"No wonder the old man always looked like he didn't want to talk about it whenever I asked..."
The truth behind the God Valley Incident nine years ago—it had been a "hunting game" where the Celestial Dragons slaughtered the native inhabitants!
They sealed off the entire valley, turning it into a blood-soaked arena, where the natives and enslaved people were hunted as prey. The victors were rewarded with invaluable Devil Fruits.
One of the prizes was even the Mythical Zoan-type—Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu!
During that battle, Big Mom stole the Devil Fruit and gave it to Kaidou.
Bartholomew Kuma had been one of the slaves brought to God Valley. Together with Ivankov, he managed to steal one of the prize Devil Fruits... the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi.
Using the power of the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi to repel people, he continuously saved other slaves, eventually managing to escape—just barely.
In a low voice, Bartholomew Kuma said:
"There wasn't much Garp-san could do."
He looked down at his hands, his eyes tinged red.
"Earlier, you asked if I believed in gods... I don't."
"I only pray because—"
"Guilt," Dragon cut in.
"Yes."
Bartholomew Kuma lowered his gaze and clenched his fists.
"Even if it's just one person... If there really is a god, I want to pray—to be allowed to save just one more person. That would be enough for me."
"But... in the end, I couldn't save them all."
He spoke with quiet sorrow.
Such a gentle soul... Dragon stared at Kuma's emotionless face, then slowly tightened his own fists.
"Kuma, there are no gods in this world. No saviors, either... Even the Celestial Dragons, who claim to be gods, bleed just like any other human."
"If we want to save everyone, we have to rely on ourselves."
"Join me. Let's save this world together!"
He extended his hand.
His eyes were firm.
Bartholomew Kuma looked at the young man before him, whose smile radiated sincerity.
In that moment, countless bloody images flashed through his mind.
Escape... blood... corpses... screams... the twisted grins of the Celestial Dragons...
Bartholomew Kuma took a deep breath.
And then...
He reached out.
Their hands clasped tightly.
As if sealing the most sacred promise in the world.
...
"So, where are we headed next?"
At Kuma's question, Dragon paused in thought.
"We're short on manpower. We need to rally all the trustworthy allies we can find... Since Ivankov is your comrade, we should go meet him."
Bartholomew Kuma nodded.
The Sorbet Kingdom was a small country with light political duties—he could leave its administration to the civil officials without worry.
"I know where he is."
Dragon smiled and nodded.
He glanced casually at a newspaper lying nearby. Then his eyes suddenly widened.
"This..."
Dragon took a sharp breath, then let out a soft chuckle.
"As expected of you, Daren... Looks like I need to pick up the pace, or you're going to leave me in the dust."
Bartholomew Kuma gave him a curious glance.
"You know Commodore Daren?"
Dragon turned his eyes away from the paper, a deep smile spreading across his face.
"He's my..."
He clenched his fist.
"My dearest friend."