"Huh, why are you at my table?"
Jewelry Bonney stared in surprise as Shirogai walked straight toward her table and pulled out a chair.
She had not expected this Fifth Emperor to approach her directly.
Could it be he knew she had been looking for a chance to ambush him secretly?
Bonney's eyes widened with a flicker of unease.
"Heh heh, Jewelry Bonney, right? I was asked by someone to find you for a matter."
Shirogai smiled, quietly studying the "social girl" with long, straight pink hair and a seductive yet elegant demeanor.
Who could have guessed that such a mature and feisty appearance was actually the result of Bonney's Age‑Age Fruit ability — projecting her 24‑year‑old future self, when she was actually still a minor?
"I know your father…"
Before Shirogai could finish, Bonney clenched her greasy fist and swung it fiercely at him.
"Liar! Don't try to deceive me! My father wouldn't know someone like you!"
Bonney mistook Shirogai for someone connected to the Celestial Dragons.
She had seen Celestial Dragons before and knew all too well their repulsive arrogance, contempt, and self‑important superiority.
Now, seeing Shalria's behavior before, she assumed Shirogai was associated with that same detestable class.
Slap.
Shirogai casually waved his hand, deflecting Bonney's punch and sending her flying.
"Hmph!"
Bonney snorted coldly as she spun and flipped through the air to absorb the recoil, landing steadily.
"Your hand!"
Bonney's eyes went wide as she stared at the pink paw pad protruding from Shirogai's palm.
"That's my father's ability! What did you do?!"
Bonney's eyes glowed red with rage.
That paw pad was unmistakably the effect of the Paw‑Paw Fruit, an ability only her father, Bartholomew Kuma, wielded!
Could it be that her father had already been…
Bonney's body twisted, instinctively preparing to shift into her strongest form.
But her body suddenly froze mid‑twist.
Just like Hawkins, Kid, and Killer — she could no longer move.
"What did you do to my father!"
Bonney's body was immobile, but her head remained under her control.
Her voice trembled with anger.
"Did you kill him? You actually killed him! I will avenge him! You motherfucker %￥%￥…%…! *&%…"
"Peasant! Who are you cursing at?"
Shalria, face flushed, pointed at Bonney with annoyance and indignation.
"How dare you insult Darling like that! This Princess will order someone to kill you! Kill your whole family! Let your whole family die to atone to Darling!!!"
If only Shalria had stopped there — but her words only stoked Bonney's fury further.
"I %%…&…, you %￥%￥&**...*!!!"
"Peasant! This Princess will tear your mouth!"
Shalria was so enraged by Bonney's barrage that she impulsively wanted to rush forward and tear her apart.
"Shalria, don't cause trouble."
Shirogai gently lowered Shalria's head with an amused smile, stopping her from storming forward.
"Hehehe, okay, Darling!"
Shalria shyly covered her head, eyes glazed with adoration at Shirogai, cheeks flushed, even her ears turning a faint red.
"Wuwuwu, Darling touched my head, so happy! How many children should I have with Darling — ten? fifty? a hundred?"
Shirogai rubbed his temples, looking helplessly at Bonney, who was still muttering curses.
"…"
Bonney finally shut her mouth in irritation.
"I was truly sent by your father to find you, and this Devil Fruit imprint is Kuma's ability, one I learned."
Shirogai smiled, and his eyes drifted momentarily out the window.
Outside, a powerful aura — nearly impossible to conceal — hovered cautiously beyond the restaurant window.
And just moments ago, when Bonney briefly transformed into her older form, the emotional fluctuation of that aura spiked with gloomy tension.
…
Outside the Restaurant
"Cough cough, cough cough cough…"
A massive figure, wrapped in a large cloak, struggled to remain hidden, peering at Bonney inside the restaurant as she spewed profanities.
He clutched his chest, trembling as he tried to calm himself.
After years at sea, dealing with pirates, children inevitably pick up bad influences…
So who taught my precious child to curse like that? Who?
Reveal yourself!
I won't beat you to death!
One of the bear ears on the large cloak twitched uncontrollably as he gritted his teeth.
It's so hard… my fist feels so hard!
…
Back Inside the Restaurant
"Wuwuwu!!!"
Under Shirogai's control, Bonney's body — which had been immobilized — reluctantly walked back toward the dining table.
She extended her hand toward him with extreme reluctance.
"Your father had me check if your illness still has a chance of recovery."
Shirogai placed his hands gently on Bonney's wrist, eyes closed as he spoke softly:
"Although he places great trust in Dr. Vegapunk's technology, after all, Dr. Vegapunk is backed by the World Government. They may have left a hidden issue within you as a way to threaten Kuma."
"…"
Bonney froze, her eyes locked on Shirogai.
This time, for the first time, she believed he might truly be someone entrusted by her father.
The secrets of her illness were known only to a handful of people.
Besides her father, the only others who knew were World Government personnel — and they would never treat her condition.
They would use her as a hostage instead.
"But if that's true, they'll hear you!"
Bonney suddenly realized she could speak and warned anxiously.
"Don't worry, they can't hear what we are saying."
"Ah?"
Bonney looked around and noticed the remaining patrons and a few pirates were not reacting to her voice — they acted as though they couldn't hear her conversation with Shirogai.
"…"
Shirogai opened his eyes and smiled at her confidently:
"Excellent. The Sapphire Scales have completely disappeared from your body. Once this condition is fully eliminated from the human body, the immune system will generate corresponding antibodies, and it will not return."
"Sapphire Scales?"
Shalria looked at Bonney in disgust.
"You actually had this disease, what a filthy thing! Darling, let's go to a hospital and disinfect ourselves immediately. This condition is contagious!"
"You bitch, what do you know!"
Bonney glared back at Shalria with contempt.
"You Celestial Dragons have never been anything good!"
…
Outside the Window
A large cloaked figure grasped his chest tightly, sobbing silently.
Bonney… father didn't want to see you this rude…