Then, a little girl tumbled out of the bear-paw-shaped bubble.
*Thud!*
She landed hard on the deck.
That's right.
It was Bonney.
Vir looked at Bonney, utterly baffled.
Why... why would she end up here?
What kind of mess is this?
Even if Bonney was in danger, wouldn't it make more sense for Kuma to send her back home, or directly to the Revolutionary Army's base?
Why send her here?
And from the looks of it—
Kuma only made a rough guess about the location.
Was he really this confident?
What a load of nonsense!
Bonney, sensing the unfamiliar atmosphere around her, finally stopped crying.
She had cried all the way here.
Where... was she?
Why had her father sent her here?
She looked around at the confused faces staring at her, just as puzzled as she was.
No one knew what was going on.
What's Vir up to this time?
He just waved his hand and suddenly a little girl shows up?
"Kid."
Vir suddenly spoke up from behind Bonney.
Hearing the voice, Bonney slowly turned her head.
She looked at the handsome man in front of her and, for some reason, she suddenly felt calm.
Her heart wasn't as panicked anymore.
Dad had sent her to this person.
And this person had just talked to Dad about something important.
They must have a good relationship.
There was nothing to be scared of—otherwise, Dad wouldn't have sent her here.
"Since your old man sent you here, I can't just ignore you. Stick with Robin. If anything comes up, talk to her."
Vir said, his voice full of impatience.
Then he waved his hand dismissively.
He had to act like he really didn't like her.
To keep her at a distance.
He didn't like kids. Noisy and annoying.
Bonney looked a little disappointed after hearing that, but she didn't say anything.
She quietly got to her feet.
And walked over to Robin.
Robin crouched down as she approached and gently patted her head.
"Don't mind him. He just talks like that. Come on, let me wipe your face."
Robin gently wiped away the tear-stained mess on Bonney's cheeks.
Then she took her hand.
She didn't know whose child this was...
But she was adorable.
And so pitiful, it tugged at the heart.
Robin couldn't help but think how nice it would be to have a child this cute someday.
With that thought, she stole a glance at Vir, who was now using his lightning to wake Rayleigh.
Her face flushed slightly, and she quickly looked away.
Bonney, feeling how gentle and kind Robin was, leaned in closer to her without realizing it.
Meanwhile, Vir channeled a tiny spark of purple lightning into Rayleigh's body.
The others looked on, puzzled.
Bonney had no idea what was going on either.
It wasn't until Robin explained that she understood—this was supposed to be treatment for the badly injured old man.
But when she saw Rayleigh suddenly spring three meters into the air a second after the zap, she started to doubt everything.
Is... this really treatment?
Yep.
Rayleigh was up—
straight up in the air.
Three meters wasn't an exaggeration.
It was Vir's first time using the purple lightning, and to be honest, he hadn't quite mastered the intensity.
So Rayleigh, who was lying flat, got jolted straight into the air.
Straight-up airborne!
*BAM!*
He crashed back onto the deck.
His eyes were as wide as saucers, locked onto Vir with an intensity that even made him feel a slight pang of guilt.
"Uh... hey, Uncle Ray, you're awake? Did you sleep well?"
Vir asked awkwardly, not quite meeting his gaze.
Rayleigh said nothing.
He just stared at Vir.
After a few moments of silence across the whole deck—
Rayleigh finally spoke.
"Brat... did you trick this old man into fighting just for fun? You happy now, seeing me like this?!"
His voice was weak but sharp.
Vir's inner thoughts: 'Hell yeah! Happy as hell!'
"Hey, Uncle Ray, what kind of person do you think I am! I'm a man of honor! How could I do such a thing?"
"What I did—was all for a sneak attack on Akainu!"
"The war is coming! The more damage we do to the enemy now, the better Ace's chances of survival!"
Vir said seriously, face deadpan.
Rayleigh looked utterly unconvinced.
He was sure this brat had done it on purpose.
But just as he was about to say something else, someone else couldn't hold back anymore.
"Rayleigh! I'm sorry, but I gotta say this! Vir did all this for us—the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"If you've got a problem, take it up with me! I'll take responsibility! Our entire crew will!"
Marco's voice was firm, his conviction unshakable.
Vir's words had moved him deeply.
'This guy... he's always looking out for us. Ace is lucky as hell to have a friend like him.'
'I won't let him be misunderstood!'
"Yeah, you old geezer! And here I was thinking about saving you earlier! Didn't think you were this kind of person! Vir was only trying to save Ace! What's he done wrong?!"
"I should've just blasted you with my— Wait, no... Huh? That doesn't sound right either..."
Hearing that Vir's actions were for Ace's sake, Yamato's admiration for him shot up even higher.
Meanwhile, poor Uncle Ray was becoming the group's target.
Just moments ago, Marco had pitied him for the "treatment" Vir was about to inflict.
Now?
Marco looked ready to strangle him.
'How dare this old fossil slander my brother?!'
'Absolute audacity!'
'Try me!'
Rayleigh's face turned a little sour.
Even he was starting to feel awkward.
Vir had dealt Akainu a serious blow...
Fine, fine.
Let's just say it was for Ace.
With that thought, Rayleigh let it go.
He tried to sit up—
But the moment he moved, it felt like his body was falling apart.
His abdomen throbbed with pain.
His face was burning.
Shoulders hurt. Head hurt.
He felt like a proper old man with every ailment imaginable.
Seeing this, Vir quickly stopped him.
"Uncle Ray, we appreciate your sacrifice for Ace's sake. But you're in no shape to move."
"Good thing I'm a doctor. I know a thing or two about medicine. How about I treat your injuries?"
Vir said, his tone smooth and persuasive.
Rayleigh's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
He'd been around long enough to smell a trap.
But then, Vir held up a mirror.
In the reflection, Rayleigh saw his once-handsome face—now marred by a deep, flip-flop sole-shaped bruise.
Vir (internally): 'Guaranteed removal! All injuries treated! Not even a scar!'
Rayleigh wavered.
"Rayleigh, don't be ungrateful! Do you have any idea how skilled Vir is?!"
Marco chimed in from the side, backing him up.
"Yeah! Don't be blind!"
Even Yamato, for once, said something she didn't believe.
"Vir is a miracle doctor! He completely healed our Pops! People offer Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits just for information on him, let alone an actual treatment!"
"You broke geezer—you're getting this for free and you're still picky?!"
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