"Scary~"
Borsalino, who appeared before Meiser and the others, narrowed his eyes as he stared at Meiser and said, "To even control a Rear Admiral, what an absurd ability."
Everything Meiser had done earlier was witnessed by him.
It had to be said, this Ninja's ability was truly bizarre.
"Kizaru!"
Seeing Kizaru appear before them, Ivankov's expression immediately changed.
"Finally showing up, Marine Admiral!"
Observing Meiser's eager and ready expression, Borsalino's lips curled slightly. Was he being targeted?
Interesting!
"Marine Admiral?" Luffy looked at Borsalino in confusion and said, "He's a Marine Admiral too?"
Borsalino: ???
This kid actually didn't recognize him?
"Hey, you don't know Kizaru?" Ivankov exclaimed in shock, looking at Luffy. "This guy is really famous!"
How could there be someone on these seas who didn't recognize a Marine Admiral?
"I've never seen him before, of course I don't know him," Luffy replied honestly.
Ivankov: —
Even if he hadn't seen him, he should have read the newspapers. Could it be this kid doesn't even read the papers?
"What a rude brat," Borsalino slowly spoke. "No matter, I'll capture you all right here. That should satisfy those Celestial Dragons."
As his words fell, Borsalino raised his foot and activated his Devil Fruit Ability.
"Bzzzt"
A dazzling light shone from Borsalino's foot, followed by an incredibly terrifying Laser shooting out from it.
"Whoosh" "BOOM!!!"
A terrifying explosion erupted from the ice surface, blasting an enormous crater into it.
Not only that, but even Whitebeard's other Pirate Ship was destroyed and began to burn.
"Whoosh"
"Click"
Meiser, who had grabbed Luffy and leaped aside, glanced back at the burning Pirate Ship and said, "This power... As expected of a Marine Admiral, I suppose."
"I almost died."
Luffy, lying on the ground with his tongue out, said with a look of lingering fear, "Thank you, Meiser."
"No need to be polite with me," Meiser replied dismissively.
At that moment, another glow lit up from the side, immediately catching their attention.
"Is it Kizaru's Laser again?!"
"No... wait!"
Looking at the figure in the distance opening its mouth and charging up a Laser, Meiser said, "It's Kuma!"
"Kuma?!" Luffy was stunned for a moment, then said excitedly, "Then we—"
"Shut up, Luffy!"
Meiser grabbed Luffy and whispered, "Don't reveal that he saved us before."
"Huh?"
"Oh, right."
At that moment, Luffy remembered what Meiser had told him earlier.
When encountering Kuma, don't casually mention that he saved them, or it might bring danger to Kuma.
"You two idiots, stop spacing out!" Ivankov yelled.
Then, the man launched his attack.
"Death Wink!"
"BOOM!!"
A powerful shockwave struck the ice beneath Meiser and the others, violently blasting them away.
The next moment.
"BOOM!!"
A terrifying laser explosion hit the spot where Meiser and the others had just been, blasting a massive crater into the ice surface.
Meiser: —
Lying on the ground, Meiser's expression was utterly helpless.
How could he not have seen Kuma's attack coming?
He was fully confident he could have escaped with Luffy before the attack landed.
What he hadn't expected was that Ivankov would take action directly.
But he couldn't really complain, since the guy was trying to save them, right?
"Whew."
"Glad you're okay." Ivankov sighed in relief.
"Thanks, Ivan-chan!"
"No need to thank me!" Ivankov laughed heartily. "I came here to protect you!"
"Shaba!"
Even if it cost him his life, he would protect the Straw Hat Boy's life!
Hearing Ivankov's words, Luffy grinned, baring his teeth.
"Huh?"
"Where's Kizaru?"
Meiser glanced at the spot where Kizaru had been, a question mark popping up in his mind.
Where did he go?
"What's the meaning of launching just one attack and then running away? Just for show?"
Activating his Sharingan, Meiser scanned the battlefield on the ice but found no trace of the opponent.
This meant... that man had already returned to the Marine Headquarters plaza.
At this thought, Meiser's lips twitched. He couldn't quite figure out Kizaru's intentions.
Just then, Kuma teleported nearby and launched another attack at Ivankov.
Ivankov: ???
Wait, why is he still chasing me down?
"Rotating Beauty!!"
"Whoosh"
Dodging a laser attack, Ivankov began spinning wildly in the air like a power ball, moving erratically to evade Kuma's subsequent laser assaults.
After landing, Ivankov shouted angrily, "Bastard, what's your problem?!"
Even considering his position as one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, there's no need to keep attacking him like this.
Aren't they still friends who escaped from God Valley together, damn it!!
However, Kuma didn't respond, merely staring silently at Ivankov.
"Something feels off about this."
Watching Kuma, Meiser subconsciously furrowed his brow.
"It really is strange!" Ivankov, who had run over to Meiser, glared at Kuma with annoyance. "This bastard is acting like he doesn't even know me, constantly..."
"Wait, what did you say?"
"I said, it really is strange."
"No, the next part."
"This bastard is acting like he doesn't know me..." Before Ivankov could finish, he froze.
Then, with an incredulous expression, he said, "Could it be that he really doesn't recognize me now?"
But why?
It can't be that he ejected his own memories...
Meiser didn't answer, only frowned intently at Kuma as if trying to discern something.
Just then, a man with his hands in his pockets walked over casually, his expression looking utterly arrogant.
"Fufufufufu~ You all look so confused," Doflamingo laughed.
"You're... Doflamingo?!" Ivankov frowned.
"That's right, it's me."
"So, do you know what's going on here?" Meiser asked.
As he spoke, Meiser carefully examined this Royal Seven Warlord of the Sea who dressed like a flamingo, wondering if the guy had some peculiar tastes.
"I do know indeed."
Doflamingo approached Kuma and glanced at the large figure. "Though I don't know exactly what relationship you have with him, I can tell you for certain that the Kuma you knew is dead~"
"Fufufufufu~ Dead?!" Ivankov said incredulously. "How is that possible?!"
Kuma was standing right here perfectly fine - how could he be dead?
He didn't believe it!
"Dead?"
Luffy turned to look at Kuma, staring for a moment before saying, "No, he's still alive!"
The man was standing right here perfectly fine - how could he be dead?
Meanwhile, Meiser frowned as he looked at Kuma. "Could it be... that modification?"
He remembered seeing the other's body in a modified state back in Devil's Triangle.
So... was it possible the modification had progressed to the brain?
That would explain why he didn't recognize Ivankov.
"It seems you know quite a bit," Doflamingo laughed. "That's right, according to the intelligence I've received, this guy has indeed had his consciousness erased and become the World Government's killing machine."
"So it's perfectly normal that he doesn't recognize you."
Upon hearing this, the three of them fell silent.
Consciousness erased?
Wasn't that just like being dead?
After a moment of silence, Meiser roared angrily, "Bastard, what kind of joke is this?!"
After their last parting, he had been thinking about properly thanking their Straw Hat Pirates' savior, and now this man had his consciousness erased by the World Government?
What difference was there between this and death?!
Ivankov's veins bulged on his face, his eyes turning red with rage.
This comrade who had survived the life-and-death battles of God Valley with him had now become the World Government's modified weapon... How could he not be furious?!
"Then is there any possibility of him recovering?" Luffy looked up and asked.
If he could regain consciousness, then Kuma could come back to life, right!
Hearing Luffy's words, Meiser's eyes also lit up.
If he remembered correctly, the Pacifistas were created by that Vegapunk. Meiser thought to himself: In that case, Kuma's modification surgery might have been done by him too, so... could he possibly restore him?
If he could restore him, then they should make him bring back Kuma's consciousness!
If that still didn't work - they could only try using Ninjutsu.
"That I don't know," Doflamingo shrugged. "But most likely there's no way to restore him."
Based on his understanding of the World Government, those guys probably wouldn't leave Kuma any chance of revival.
After all... those five old men were exactly that kind of people!
Hearing Doflamingo's words, the expressions of the three turned grim.
"Alright, let's get down to business," Doflamingo said. "Blood-Eyed Ninja Meiser, are you willing to join my ranks?"
Meiser!?
Luffy: !!
What, poaching right in front of him?
Did they think he was invisible?
"You bastard, what kind of nonsense are you spouting!" Luffy roared. "I'll punch you into next week!"
No sooner had he spoken than Luffy threw a punch.
"Don't be so impulsive," Doflamingo dodged the attack with a grin. "I did provide you with valuable intel, didn't I?"
It would be ideal to recruit this guy, but if not, so be it—he wasn't going to force it.
Seeing Luffy preparing to strike again, Doflamingo added, "Don't you want to save your brother?"
"The Marines might be making their move soon."
At those words, Luffy froze mid-action.
"Alright, Ivankov, take Luffy to the execution platform," Meiser said, his gaze fixed on Doflamingo. "I'll handle things here."
"Understood."
This time, Ivankov didn't hesitate, nodding and leading Luffy away.
"What, planning to fight me?" Doflamingo raised an eyebrow. "Or do you intend to take on both of us alone?"
As he spoke, the image of Meiser boldly declaring he'd fight three Marine Admirals flashed through Doflamingo's mind.
If he dared challenge three Admirals, he'd likely have no issue facing the two of them.
"If you stand in my way, I won't mind cutting you down," Meiser snorted.
Ignoring Doflamingo's darkening expression, Meiser turned and approached Kuma.
Kuma, seeing Meiser approach, immediately opened his mouth, gathering energy for a laser attack.
"Fufufufufu... You're not still trying to wake him, are you?" Doflamingo sneered. "Give it up."
Once consciousness is erased, it can't be restored.
Meiser paid no attention to the noisy man, instead fixing his Mangekyō Sharingan on Kuma and commanding, "Look at me!"
"Clang!"
"Look at you?"
Doflamingo, standing to the side, smirked mockingly.
What could possibly happen even if he looked?
There's no way he could—
But before he could finish the thought, the laser in Kuma's mouth fizzled out.
Doflamingo: ???
What was that about?
"So it's true..."
A trace of sorrow flickered in Meiser's eyes as he looked at the now-controlled Kuma.
Faced with his Illusion Technique, Kuma, devoid of consciousness, offered no resistance and fell under his control instantly.
Meiser knew all too well what that meant.
After a moment of silence, he sighed.
"Never mind, now isn't the time to dwell on this," Meiser murmured to himself. "Let's finish this war first."
As for saving Kuma... that would have to wait until after the battle!
"Hey, what did you just do?"
"Hey!"
"You're so annoying!" Meiser glared at Doflamingo. "Do I have to take you out to make you shut up?!"
At that, Doflamingo's face darkened. "I'm really being underestimated here."
"I—"
"Kuma, take him out!"
Before Doflamingo could finish his sentence—"You think he'll listen to you..."—he noticed Kuma turning around, opening his mouth as he began charging power.
Then, a terrifying laser shot out, heading straight for Doflamingo!
"Whoosh"
"BOOM!!"
Doflamingo, who had used his String-String Fruit ability to fly up and evade the attack, stared in disbelief.
This guy... actually managed to control Kuma, one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea?!
How... how is this possible?
At that moment, Doflamingo was utterly shocked!!!