The Greatest Disgrace in Marine History

South Blue — Sorbet Kingdom

The sky was shrouded in gray as snowflakes drifted down, blanketing the world in pure white.

Atop the royal castle of the Sorbet Kingdom, a towering figure sat on the edge of the parapet, legs dangling freely.

He wore a strange trapezoidal hat dotted with bear-like ears. Black woolen curls spilled from beneath the brim. A dark coat hung over his broad frame.

Expressionless, serious beyond his years, he looked no older than twenty, yet carried an air of unusual calm and gravity.

Snowflakes settled on his hat and shoulders, but he remained motionless, fully absorbed in the thick, leather-bound book in his hands.

Beside him lay a folded newspaper.

The world was utterly silent—save for the occasional sound of turning pages.

"Didn't expect the king of Sorbet to be so young."

A low, amused voice suddenly sounded from behind.

The man's hand paused.

Adjusting his rimless glasses, he quietly closed the book and turned slowly.

The air above the castle twisted strangely—tiny whirlwinds formed, gathering into a tall figure cloaked in a dark green hooded coat, exuding deep, overwhelming Haki.

"Pleased to meet you, Your Majesty, King of Sorbet—Bartholomew Kuma."

The man removed his hood, revealing a square-jawed face brimming with steely resolve.

No eyebrows. Crimson tattoos slashed across the left side of his face, a stark contrast against the snowstorm.

"I know who you are."

Bartholomew Kuma spoke in a hoarse voice, eyes calmly meeting the intruder's.

"The 'Son of the Hero,' Monkey D. Dragon."

Dragon gave a faint smile.

"Not much of a 'hero's son' anymore," he said, tapping the scar across his face.

"Just a world-class criminal now—one with a bounty sky-high from the World Government and Marine HQ."

Kuma pressed his lips together.

"So, Mr. Dragon… why have you come?"

"Sorbet Kingdom has only just regained peace and stability. For someone like you to arrive here, uninvited… it puts me in a very difficult position."

Dragon gave a slight bow.

"Please forgive my intrusion."

He glanced at the book Kuma had been reading—the word Bible embossed on the cover.

Suddenly, he asked,

"Do you believe in gods, Kuma?"

Kuma's face didn't change.

"In this sea, the gods sit high above the clouds… Isn't that something you know all too well, Mr. Dragon?"

Silence fell.

Kuma set the book aside.

"State your purpose. And then leave. If the government learns you're in the Sorbet Kingdom, this nation will never know peace again."

Dragon studied him quietly, then smiled.

"Kuma, I came to ask you to join me... to help change this world."

Kuma's expression remained unmoved.

He slowly removed his gloves, revealing a hand shaped like a bear's paw.

Pink paw pads sat in the center.

Yet that deceptively "cute" hand made Dragon's pupils contract.

Kuma spoke softly.

"I'm sorry. I refuse."

"Mr. Dragon, it's time for you to go."

"If you're traveling—where do you want to go? Perhaps I can send you."

Dragon frowned.

"You're not even going to hear me out?"

Kuma shook his head.

"No need. I only want to protect the people of this kingdom. Everything else... is not my concern."

His gaze drifted toward the distance. A softness flickered behind his eyes.

Beyond the snowy rooftops, smoke rose from chimneys. Peace. Quiet. A home for many.

"I see..."

Dragon let out a long breath and laughed.

Then, seemingly unrelatedly, he spoke:

"Half a month ago, a slave ship en route to Mary Geoise was sunk. All the slaves vanished. Every guard was killed."

"Two months ago, a slave market in South Blue's Locke Port was destroyed. Over 500 slaves disappeared."

"Five months ago, a slave-trading magnate was assassinated. His entire human-trafficking fleet was wiped out the same day…"

He looked directly at Kuma, smile deepening.

"There are many more stories like these. Would you like me to continue?"

Kuma was silent for a while, then said in a low voice:

"You've done your homework, I see."

Dragon gave another respectful bow.

"If I've overstepped, I apologize."

He raised his head, locking eyes with the man who looked like a giant bear.

"But Kuma, the reason I came to you... is because I know you and I are the same."

"This world is rotten—drenched in filth and darkness. Only through revolution can we bring true change."

He glanced at Kuma's paw.

"If I'm right… those hands of yours—they're hands of liberation, aren't they?"

For the first time, Kuma's expression shifted.

Even when Dragon had revealed his underground acts of resistance, he hadn't reacted.

But now—his eyes narrowed sharply.

"What do you know?"

Suspicion flared in his voice.

Dragon sighed.

"Not enough. My old man tried to protect me too well… tried to keep me from seeing the world's horrors."

"But he never understood—some truths cannot be hidden forever."

He looked up at the clouds, expression hard, voice bitter.

"Who would've thought... the greatest devils of this world aren't in hell—they're in the sky."

…

Half an hour later.

Snow still fell.

Kuma and Dragon now sat side by side, gazing out over the silent Sorbet Kingdom.

"I see…"

Dragon exhaled, breath fogging in the icy air. His voice was low, tinged with grief.

"So that's the truth behind the God Valley Incident..."

"The so-called 'heroic' battle was just a bloody genocide…"

His smile twisted with bitterness and disbelief.

"No wonder the old man never wanted to talk about it…"

Nine years ago, the God Valley Incident had not been a heroic stand—but a "hunting game" orchestrated by the Celestial Dragons.

They'd sealed off the island and treated it like a game reserve—slaughtering the native people and captured slaves for sport.

The prizes? Priceless Devil Fruits—including the Mythical Zoan Fish-Fish Fruit, Azure Dragon form.

Big Mom had taken that fruit… and gifted it to Kaido.

And Kuma? He had been one of the slaves. Alongside Ivankov, he had fought to steal one of the prizes—

The Paw-Paw Fruit.

Using its power to repel people across vast distances, Kuma had saved as many slaves as he could… and barely escaped with his life.

Kuma muttered,

"Garp did what he could…"

His gaze fell to his hands, eyes reddening.

"You asked if I believe in gods…"

"I don't."

"I pray because—"

"Guilt," Dragon finished for him.

"Yes."

Kuma's voice dropped to a whisper.

"If there really is a god… even if I can save just one more person… I'll consider that enough."

"But… I couldn't save them all."

His face was full of sorrow.

Such a gentle soul, Dragon thought, fists clenching as he looked at Kuma's impassive expression.

"Kuma, there are no gods. No saviors."

"Even the Celestial Dragons, who claim to be gods—their blood is the same as ours."

"If we want to save the world… we have to do it ourselves."

"Join me. Let's save it—together."

He held out his hand.

His gaze was firm. Honest.

Kuma looked at the man in front of him.

Images surged in his mind.

Blood. Screams. Slaughter. Celestial Dragons' twisted laughter…

He took a deep breath.

And reached out.

Their hands clasped.

A vow—silent, yet greater than any word.

…

"So where to next?"

Kuma's voice was quiet.

Dragon thought for a moment.

"We need allies. People we trust. Since Ivankov is your friend, we should visit him first."

Kuma nodded.

Sorbet Kingdom was small. Its government light. The administration could be left to capable officials.

"I know where he is."

Dragon nodded back with a smile.

His eyes wandered to the newspaper on the ground. He paused—then widened his eyes.

"…Well then."

He let out a stunned breath, chuckling softly.

"Not bad, Darren… Looks like I'll have to pick up the pace, or you'll leave me in the dust."

Kuma gave him a curious look.

"You know this Commodore Darren?"

Dragon turned away from the page, a warm smile spreading across his face.

"He's my…"

His fist clenched.

"…closest friend."

---

To be continued...