Chapter 390: Chapter 390: The Most Gentle Flower Blooms Among the Thorns
Chapter 390: The Most Gentle Flower Blooms Among the Thorns
"Hahaha! Look at my new slave!"
"To think he has such great strength at such a young age. He’s just like an ox, hahaha!"
"Whoa—! As expected of the Buccaneer bloodline! How enviable! If only I could buy such a slave."
In front of the magnificent palace, a boy with a shaved head, though young, was already sturdily built, gritting his teeth and bending his waist.
Pressed on his back were boxes of heavy objects that did not need to be moved. It was only because his master wanted to show off that these heavy objects had to be borne by him.
The boy wore tattered, patched-up clothes and heavy shackles. Cold iron chains bound his freedom, held by a man in gorgeous clothes.
The laughter of the two Celestial Dragons was so piercing, like demons, cruelly destroying his heart.
His overloaded legs began to tremble. The boy gritted his teeth and held back the tears that were about to be squeezed from the corners of his eyes, not daring to relax his strength in the slightest.
He knew that if the things on his back were to fall, what would await him would be the merciless lashing of a whip.
Although he knew that he would not be able to hold on much longer, and that he could not escape a painful punishment, he just didn’t dare to relax his strength in the slightest.
Looking at his trembling legs, the boy’s tears were full of despair and helplessness.
"Eh? Where is this?"
Luffy stood in a corner of the hall with a puzzled expression, looking around at the unfamiliar environment.
"Hey—! Everyone!"
"Where are you all! Uncle, Bonney—!"
Luffy put his hands to his mouth and shouted a few times to the left and right. His clear and loud voice echoed in the empty hall, but he received no response.
Even the people in the hall seemed to ignore him.
"Emmm, how strange."
Luffy frowned and scratched his head.
Bang—!
Suddenly, a loud noise made Luffy turn his head to look. Countless heavy objects ’clattered’ and fell from a boy’s back, smashing onto the boy and burying him.
"Hey! Are you alright!"
Luffy’s tone was worried as he shouted, striding forward in a hurry.
However, he was only halfway there.
"Who allowed you to drop the things! You piece of trash!"
The Celestial Dragon holding the iron chain was furious. He drew a long whip from his waist and fiercely lashed at the boy’s body!
Slap!
"Hiss, ah—!!"
The whip struck his back, and the flesh immediately split open, bloody. The boy burst into tears and wailed.
"I-I’m sorry! Don’t hit me!"
"You actually dirtied my clothes! You damn slave!"
His begging did not receive forgiveness. What awaited the boy was only a more cruel, more painful lashing.
Slap!
"Waaah—! It hurts! It hurts so much!"
"Please, master! Don’t hit me! I know I was wrong! I’m sorry!"
"No! Don’t hit me anymore! Please, if father sees this!"
The boy held his head in his hands, lying on the ground, his face streaked with tears and snot as he cried.
At least!
At least I have to protect my front. This way, when I see father, he won’t worry about me.
With this thought, the boy gritted his teeth and endured the painful torture. The whip drew one long, bloody gash after another on his back.
"You bastard! Stop it!"
Luffy gritted his teeth and jumped forward, his eyes glaring angrily at the demonically ferocious Celestial Dragon. He drew back his tightly coiled fist and punched out with all his might!
Boom!!
However, his fist just passed straight through the Celestial Dragon’s phantom-like image and violently smashed into the ground, causing it to collapse.
In the violent shaking of the palace hall, the scene before Luffy’s eyes also shattered like a reflection in water.
"What on earth is going on!"
Luffy was astonished. His vision went black, and before he could react, the scene before him suddenly changed, and he was on a clean street.
A few Celestial Dragons stood in the middle of the street, talking and laughing. In front of a house, a few slaves were huddled in a corner, finally getting a brief respite.
"Hey! Are you alright!"
Luffy recognized one of the boys at a glance. He hurriedly ran over and reached out for the other’s shoulder, but once again, his hand passed through the boy’s body.
Just then, a shadow covered him. Luffy hurriedly turned his head to look. It was a tall man with a somewhat honest and simple expression.
"Are you alright, Kuma? How have you been these past two days?"
"Mm. Don’t worry, father. My master is very good to me."
"Is that so... that’s a kind of luck, I guess. Hahaha."
The tall man smiled with a hint of bitterness and reached out to pat the boy’s head.
"Hee hee hee."
Kuma also began to giggle. The unhealed wounds hidden on his back and the new slave’s clothes were faintly seeping a bit of crimson.
"What do you mean, you’re fine! You bastard! You’re so badly injured!"
Luffy gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, his face a little grim, his eyes showing a mix of anxiety and helpless anger.
He already understood. The scenes before him were like the holograms on Future Island. He could only watch, not touch. The others couldn’t hear or see him.
The father and son, one large and one small, sat on the steps. Kuma hugged his knees, his gaze fixed on the stone-paved street before him. He asked in a small voice,
"Father... mother..."
"...I haven’t seen mother for a few days."
He didn’t dare to look at his father, and even less did he dare to hear the answer from his father’s mouth.
The man didn’t speak, just stared blankly at the ground. After a long silence,
"Your mother... she’s already dead..."
Kuma’s heart suddenly tightened. An inexplicable sharp pain, as if a hand had tightly gripped it. His left arm went numb, and the soles of his feet began to twitch uncontrollably.
"You said... mother, she..."
"Mm..."
The father clenched his fists tightly, his face forcing a smile as he looked at Kuma. But hot tears and snot streamed down his face.
"Living in a hell like this, death is perhaps a release...!!"
"Mother... waaaah!!"
Finally, Kuma couldn’t hold back and burst into tears.
"Why! Why is this happening? Father! Why do we have to suffer like this!"
Luffy stood behind the two of them, leaning his head against the wall, his face hidden in the shadow of his hat’s brim, his expression unreadable.
He watched as Kuma’s father frantically comforted Kuma, dancing the legendary dance of Nika, a symbol of liberation, for him.
Luffy just stood there quietly, not saying a word.
Until the Celestial Dragon heard the commotion and came over. In front of Kuma, he nonchalantly shot and killed his father.
What the hell is this!!
Luffy gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, the veins on the back of his hands popping.
Soon, the scene changed, and he was in another place.
In the South Blue, at God Valley.
A Celestial Dragon’s hunting game was about to begin, and their prey was—
—the natives and the slaves!
Luffy discovered that he could only see what was happening around Kuma. The moment he left Kuma’s side, all the scenes became blurry.
Soon, the hunting game began. Everyone fled for their lives. Despair and fear enveloped the entire area.
Luffy continued to follow in Kuma’s footsteps. Among the crowd who had lost all hope and faith, two people bravely stood out.
"It’s useless to hide! There will be no survivors in this game!"
"If we want to live, we must escape this island completely!"
A person with a purple afro stood on a stone pillar, organizing the crowd. He immediately attracted Luffy’s attention.
"Eh! Could it be you!!"
"Is that little Iva?!!"
Luffy cried out in surprise, looking at the young Ivankov.
Besides Ivankov, there was also another girl named Ginny.
Soon, the two of them spread the information that the Azure Dragon Fruit and the Paw-Paw Fruit were on the island and planned to seize the Paw-Paw Fruit to save themselves.
"Let me be the decoy. I’m bigger. I should be able to live longer than the others."
Kuma smiled憨憨, stood out, and volunteered to be the decoy to attract attention for the others.
And just as the trio began to act with the crowd of prey, a loud noise came from the east side of the island.
Luffy frowned and looked over, chasing after Kuma.
It seemed someone had attacked this place.
No one would care about a group of slaves who had become prey. And this had just become Kuma and his group’s opportunity. Coupled with the sudden attack, the slaves’ actions were surprisingly smooth.
While fleeing and dodging attacks, they made their way towards the center of the island.
Soon, they had actually, under the cover of chaos, stolen the two Devil Fruits, which were guarded by only a few guards.
"Ye-hey! We got them!"
Ivankov held the Azure Dragon Fruit in both hands and raised it excitedly. Kuma also took out the Paw-Paw Fruit from a wooden box.
"Well done!"
Luffy became excited. Just watching, he couldn’t help but feel happy for them.
And just as the fruit was about to be eaten...
"Mamamama~"
"Finally found it! Give it to me, you brats!"
A woman with long pink hair and a sexy figure suddenly appeared!
Charlotte Linlin reached out and grabbed the Azure Dragon Fruit, sending Ivankov flying. She turned her head and glanced at Kuma at the side, who was holding the Paw-Paw Fruit with a panicked expression.
"That was a close call. I almost ate it. Give me that one too!"
"Stop it, you bastard! That’s their life-saving trump card to escape!"
Luffy roared in anger.
He didn’t recognize Charlotte Linlin. Both her appearance and her figure were too different.
Clenching his fist, Luffy charged straight up. Unsurprisingly, he passed through Linlin’s body again.
"Damn it! I almost forgot I can’t touch them!"
Luffy gritted his teeth in anger, able only to watch helplessly.
"Don’t hesitate, Kuma-boy! Eat it quickly! Even if only you can be saved!"
"I... I know!"
At Ivankov’s shout, Kuma quickly reacted. He lowered his head and took a large bite of the Devil Fruit.
"Tch!"
Charlotte Linlin’s face was displeased as she gritted her teeth and scoffed.
"Yeah!!"
Ivankov jumped up excitedly.
And at this moment, another accident descended.
Bang!
A tall man with white hair sent Kuma flying.
"As a Buccaneer, you only have two choices: death or slavery..."
Saint Saturn stood with his cane, looking down coldly at the fallen Kuma.
"Eeyaaah!!"
One wave had not settled and another rose. Luffy was so anxious his heart was on fire, his teeth grinding.
"This is too strange. Some people are born high and mighty, while others are born to suffer a lifetime of pain..."
Kuma, lying on the ground, struggled to prop up his body. He gritted his teeth and looked up at Saint Saturn.
"What’s the meaning of a life like this! A world like this is a bit too strange!!"
Boom!!
Suddenly, with a loud bang, several figures burst in.
Saint Saturn’s attention was instantly drawn over. Luffy also turned his head to look at the same time.
"Hahaha, Roger! Watch me send you to prison today!"
"Stop talking big, Garp! Come at me!"
Boom!!
Two men laughed heroically, their fists and swords clashing. The fierce collision sent out a powerful wind pressure.
"Grandpa?!"
"And Roger?! Wait a minute! Is that Ace’s father!"
Luffy’s eyes widened in shock.
Soon, a few more strange yet familiar figures appeared. Luffy was so shocked his jaw dropped to the ground.
"Whitebeard?!"
"And Kaido?! Golden Lion?! Wait, wait! What on earth happened here!"
Luffy held his face in his hands, his eyes spinning, his brain almost unable to keep up.
"Run, Kuma-boy! Now’s your chance!"
But soon, as Kuma activated his ability and fled the battlefield with Ivankov and Ginny, Luffy’s vision also disappeared.
In the South Blue, on the coast of the Sorbet Kingdom, a small sailboat was docked. Ivankov stood at the stern, smiling and waving at the two on the shore, shouting.
"Goodbye, Kuma! And Ginny! You two have to live well!"
"Mm! Goodbye, little Iva!"
"Goodbye!"
The boat slowly moved away. After saying goodbye to Ivankov, Kuma and Ginny returned to a dilapidated, abandoned church.
"From today on, this will be our new home... ouch!"
Ginny stood on her tiptoes and spun in a circle, then staggered and fell into Kuma’s arms.
"Hee hee hee, Kuma-boy."
Ginny hooked her arm around Kuma’s neck and looked up at the somewhat embarrassed teenager with a smile.
"Did you hear what little Iva said? We have to live happily here."
"G-Ginny... I... I... um..."
Kuma, who was four years younger, had not yet reached the age of first love. He was just a little shy about contact with the opposite sex and was a little at a loss at Ginny’s teasing.
Looking at Kuma, who had finally been liberated from hell, a relieved smile appeared on Luffy’s face.
With his strong physique, chopping wood or hunting was not a big problem for Kuma. They did not have to worry about their livelihood.
Also, the honest and simple Kuma would be bullied by children of the same age. The hot-tempered Ginny would never let him suffer in silence, but would take a wooden stick and go to their door to stand up for him.
Just like that, the two of them lived here for five years. Kuma also gradually grew up and became a pastor.
The people living in the southern part of the Sorbet Kingdom were all poor people who had been expelled by the kingdom. There were often sick people who couldn’t afford a doctor who would come to the church to pray.
Kuma would use his ability to repel their pain and suffering. The patients were amazed at Kuma’s magical means, and gradually, more and more people came to find Kuma.
Only Ginny knew that this repelled pain and suffering did not disappear, but was gathered together and borne by Kuma alone once a week.
Seeing Kuma lying in bed in pain, Ginny’s heart was twisted as if it were being squeezed.
She would scold Kuma with red eyes, telling him not to do this anymore, and the reply she received never changed.
"Heaven gave me this body, so it must also hope that I can better help everyone. It’s fine, Ginny. I’m so big. I can live much longer than others."
Kuma would always say this with a憨笑.
Luffy sat at the side, pouting, a little annoyed.
Idiot!
This guy is definitely an idiot!
If he wants everyone to be able to afford meat... no, a doctor... he should just go and beat up that bastard king!
Although Luffy’s idea was also immature, if Reiner were here, he would definitely agree. Never mind if the next king will be good or not. It’s definitely right to get rid of this rotten one first.
In the bright living room, Reiner and the others were all gathered together. Luffy, who was immersed in Kuma’s memories, was lying on a long table behind the sofa.
While he was absorbing Kuma’s memories, Reiner and the others also learned some information from Vegapunk.
"Did they live there all along after that? Then how did Kuma go out to sea? I remember Kuma was once a Warlord."
Hearing this, Nami continued to ask.
"Because of a policy of the king of the Sorbet Kingdom."
Vegapunk cleared his throat and, putting down his coffee cup, said:
"He wanted to enslave the poor who had been expelled to the southern part of the country because they couldn’t pay their taxes. With fewer common people, he could reduce the tribute to the heavens."
"What?!"
"That damn beast!"
Sanji and the others’ eyes burned with anger as they cursed resentfully.
Vegapunk continued to speak:
"Kuma and Ginny led the people to rise up in resistance and were eventually imprisoned. It wasn’t long after that that Dragon’s newly formed autonomous army arrived in the Sorbet Kingdom and liberated it."
"Kuma met Ivankov again and, taking Ginny with him, joined Dragon’s group. From then on, the Revolutionary Army was formally established, and Ginny also became a cadre of the Eastern Army."
"So that’s how it is..."
"I never knew Kuma had such a past..."
"Wuwuwu~ That guy looks so cold, but he’s actually a super gentle man, you bastard!"
Franky, the manly man, shed tears, his tissue covering his nose as he cried his heart out.
While the group was immersed in Kuma’s past experiences, Bonney’s gaze turned cold. She grabbed Vegapunk by the collar and questioned:
"Although I didn’t even know about these experiences! But this has nothing to do with him losing his consciousness! What happened after that!"
"That’s right. And if he joined the Revolutionary Army, how did he become a pirate and then a Warlord?"
Nami also couldn’t help but be curious.
"After that..."
Vegapunk blinked. He looked at the blade at his neck, and two unmanly lines of tears streamed down his face.
"Don’t force me anymore, Bonney! I promised Kuma! I really can’t tell you what happened after that!"
"Are you kidding me! After all that talk, it has nothing to do with my father losing his consciousness, you bastard!"
Bonney was instantly enraged.
Even Usopp and Chopper began to support her.
"Don’t leave us hanging at a critical moment!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
Crackle!
Just then, the communicator in Vegapunk’s ear suddenly let out a noisy sound wave.
"Main body. We’ve already packed up the things we need to take. Although I’d like to say we can leave at any time, but..."
"Did something happen, Lilith?"
Vegapunk frowned and asked anxiously.
"A warship is approaching. It has the World Government’s emblem. And the Seraphim in the research institute..."
"...are all gone!!"
(End of Chapter)
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS Chapter
♧♧♧
-> 25 Advanced Chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that’s help the story a lot Thank you