After the World Military Draft, the Marine Headquarters' lineup of Admirals was quickly established— three active Admirals and three Admiral candidates.
Of course, one doesn't earn the title of Admiral by drawing straws; overwhelming strength is the sole standard. The three active Admirals were slightly stronger than the candidates, though the difference wasn't too vast, save for so exceptions.
For a while, the world was shaken by this developnt.
Yet, despite the increase in Admiral-level power, Marine Headquarters didn't dare recklessly attack the Yonko, especially the most fearso of them — Elior's pirate crew. Not even Marine HQ would risk moving against them without full preparation. In fact, the sa went for any of the Yonko. Without readiness to suffer heavy losses, launching an assault was out of the question.
For now, the focus was on suppressing the waves of pirates stirred up by the One Piece frenzy, along with curbing the activities of smaller and mid-level forces.
Half a month quickly passed. Though the new Marine HQ in the New World was still under construction, the administrative functions had largely returned to normal.
The Marine organization was slowly regaining its stability, and overall, thanks to the World Draft, its strength had grown. But this was equally true for the pirates—the sea was growing even more chaotic, and no matter how strong the Marines beca, they couldn't afford complacency.
At that ti, in Marineford's temporary Fleet Admiral's office—
"In another half month, we'll finally enter the New World"
Kizaru remarked with a sigh, unimpressed by the current conditions of their makeshift HQ.
Akainu looked around the room, where all the top military powers were gathered — the three Admirals, the three candidates, Tsuru, and even Sengoku, who stood at the door feeding goats.
"There's an important mission from the Gorosei that I need to assign" Akainu stated.
Everyone focused on him, awaiting his orders.
"Jewelry Bonney, one of the Supernovas, is to be retrieved. Who volunteers?"
Akainu then explained why Bonney was significant to the World Governnt. First, she was the adopted daughter of Kuma. Kuma had agreed to beco a governnt test subject — essentially a guinea pig — in exchange for Bonney's safety, which led to the creation of the fearso Pacifistas. Secondly, Bonney's Devil Fruit allowed her to manipulate age, turning an old man back into a youth. Just like the Op-Op Fruit, the World Governnt was eager to seize this power.
For the Governnt — specifically certain Celestial Dragons seeking eternal life — Bonney was of imnse value.
"That Bonney... she's on that monster's territory, isn't she? Hachinosu... now called Paradise Island?" asked Ryokugyu.
Akainu confird, "Exactly. Last ti, on Sabaody Archipelago, Elior captured her. We couldn't act then, but the mission remains."
"Has anything happened to her? She's quite a beautiful woman after all" noted Tokikake.
Akainu replied coldly, "The only priority is that she stays alive. Everything else is irrelevant. This is a direct order from above."
When it ca to Elior, not even the World Governnt dared to act lightly. Paradise Island was like a gateway to hell, and the Marine avoided it at all costs.
"I'll go" announced Gion, standing up confidently without hesitation.
"Fine, but be careful" Akainu warned. "Paradise Island might be even deadlier than Onigashima or Whole Cake Island. Do you need reinforcents?"
"No need" Gion answered firmly. "Going in alone will draw less attention. I'll infiltrate and disguise myself. That man won't notice "
"Very well. We're counting on you."
Thus, Gion began her journey — though for her, it wasn't going, it was returning. It had been over a month since she last saw Elior, and just the thought of seeing him soon made her secretly happy.
anwhile, outside Paradise Island, the frozen sea had been shattered and broken apart.
On the shore, a large crowd watched two figures fighting atop the ice — Elior and Bullet. They were sparring.
In truth, it was Bullet who had challenged Elior, eager to gauge his strength. Elior had honored his promise and accepted the fight — and defeated Bullet decisively.
"I've lost, just as I thought!" Bullet admitted, kneeling on one knee, his upper body covered in wounds. The battle had raged for over three hours, but in the end, Elior crushed him completely — an outco Bullet fully accepted. Elior was simply too strong.
Defeat only ignited Bullet's ambition anew— to one day surpass Elior, just as he once aid to surpass Roger.
Elior, for his part, rely chuckled without replying.
"Bullet, seek your breakthrough. Maybe you'll awaken your Devil Fruit yet" Elior advised with a smile. In the original story, Bullet awakened his devil fruit, fusing an island's entire surface into a colossal monstrosity.
"Maybe..." Bullet clenched his fists, his new life's goal clear — surpass Elior. But the path to awakening his fruit remained elusive. Still, the challenge excited him, and Bullet never shied from a challenge.
"Bullet got beaten by the Captain!"
"Well, that's normal, isn't it? The Captain is the strongest — that's a given."
"Still, the Captain's strength is unreal."
"Yeah, terrifying... it's a hopeless kind of power."
Hawkins and the others muttered in awe, and the residents of Paradise Island looked on in reverence. Elior was like a god to them—unreachable, invincible.
After the battle, Elior returned ho, nursing minor injuries that hardly fazed his powerful body.
He then descended to the dungeon — where Bonney, the girl the World Governnt so desired, was imprisoned.
Unlike when she was first captured — where she scread and cursed like a madwoman — now, at the re sight of Elior, her eyes filled with unending terror.
At first, she had been shackled with Seastone, but Elior no longer bothered with it—she wouldn't dare leave even unchained.
Elior wasn't rciful. He'd used every thod imaginable to break her will. Over a month in the dungeon had been a nightmare — an endless, suffocating darkness.
Bonney sat curled up, hugging her knees, trembling as if trapped in a nightmare when she saw Elior.
"Who am I?" Elior squatted in front of her.
"M-My Lord..."
Elior smiled.
"Don't be afraid. With around, no one will hunt you anymore."
She nodded fearfully.
"Good. You don't need to stay down here anymore."
He led Bonney out of the dungeon, where Reiju was waiting.
"Take her to bathe."
"Yes, my lord."
Seeing the once-defiant Bonney now trembling and broken made Reiju shudder slightly. She quickly escorted Bonney to clean up.
While bathing, Bonney couldn't hold back her tears when Reiju kindly comforted her — it was the first kindness she'd felt in ages after the hellish days underground.
Reiju said softly,
"Just behave and he'll treat you well. Like —he tells jokes, takes shopping for pretty clothes, even teaches Armant and Observation Haki."
"As long as you're obedient, you'll see—he can be kind of cute, especially when he talks in his sleep" Reiju smiled gently.
"And don't cry in front of him. He wants strong, capable, useful, and beautiful won — not just pretty faces. Pretty won? They're everywhere."
Bonney nodded, understanding.
"Good. Just stay here and don't overthink things" Reiju advised.
Elsewhere, Elior had learned through a Den Den Mushi call that Gion was coming.
She also inford him that Marine HQ and the World Governnt were planning to rescue Bonney.
"Bonney, why are you so important to the World Governnt?" Elior asked her directly. He only knew she was Kuma's niece—not his daughter—but he wanted more.
Bonney told him everything she knew.
Elior still found it odd — surely the Governnt didn't covet her just because she was Kuma's daughter? After all, in the original tiline, even Kuma beca a mindless slave to the Celestial Dragons, discarded after losing his value.
Gion explained,
"It's because Bonney's powers can alter age. So Celestial Dragons don't want to die—they want to control her ability."
"I see... that makes sense" Elior muttered coldly.
At that mont, Gion's explanation finally made things clear to Elior. Indeed, Bonney's ability allowed her to freely manipulate a person's age, turning an 80-year-old man back into an 18-year-old youth. Naturally, she could also accelerate aging at will.
This was fundantally different from Ain's powers. Ain could rewind soone's age by twelve years, but it wouldn't restore their bodily functions to what they were twelve years ago. Bonney, however, could fully rejuvenate a person—body and all.
When put that way, it was easy to understand just how terrifying Bonney's ability truly was.
Do the Celestial Dragons want to die? Of course not.
No one in that class would ever willingly face death. They all craved immortality.
By using Bonney's powers, they could effectively prolong their lives indefinitely. For instance, if a Celestial Dragon on the brink of death at 80 were reverted to 18, it would be as if they gained an extra 60 years of life.
No wonder the World Governnt was so desperate to capture her.
Faced with this revelation, Elior simply smiled.
The World Governnt wants to take Bonney? Keep dreaming.
That evening, during dinner, Elior glanced at Bonney, who was now sitting beside him. She was far more pleasing to the eye than before — her garish lipstick had been wiped off, and she no longer gorged herself like she used to.
At last, she looked like a normal woman. Still, Elior secretly wished she would regain her Supernova spirit and arrogance.
After all — Bonney was already his now.
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