"The Goro Goro no Mi... this power is truly unmatched. Why would someone as strong as you toy with us rookies?" Hawkins stammered.
"Toy? No! I'm just conducting an experiment. How can an experiment be linked to 'toying around'? When you pirates set out to sea, you should've considered that one day you might be on the receiving end, right?"
"..." Hawkins was speechless. He pondered the sins he'd committed, realizing they were so numerous that even being torn to shreds wouldn't atone for them.
"Let's conclude the experiment here. When you arrive at the afterlife, remember to mention my name. Sayonara, Basil Hawkins!"
Hikaru flashed directly above Hawkins' head, dazzling lightning gathering in his eyes before bursting forth in a searing beam.
"Damn it! Is this really my fate?" Hawkins' vision was consumed by blinding white. He was filled with profound regret. If only he had known, he would have drawn his tarot cards to calculate his survival rate before even stepping onto the Sabaody Archipelago. He never fought a battle unprepared, yet today, a moment of negligence had led him to such a desperate, lamentable situation.
Zhi—!
Hawkins' straw-filled head couldn't withstand the intense heat of the lightning and instantly ignited, then exploded. The sudden arrival of death forced him back into his human form. Under the immense pressure, his headless body spurted the blood of a loser. Hikaru, seizing the moment while the Straw-Straw Fruit's power lingered in Hawkins' remains, plundered it with his white lightning and deposited it into a treasure vault within his fortified city.
Bonney, who had witnessed the entire crushing battle, became even more terrified of Hikaru. In such a short time, she hadn't been able to rouse her "uncles."
[Zi, Yuyu, Porto, Pat… We're finished!] she thought frantically.
"What's finished? My little Bonney, are you afraid I'll kill you too?"
Hikaru instantly reappeared beside Bonney, casually sitting in mid-air. He cradled her child form in his arms, playfully poking her cute face with his fingers, teasing her relentlessly.
"Woo… What do you want?! Stop teasing me!" Little Bonney couldn't take it anymore and transformed back into her adult "Big Bonney" form.
The sudden resistance caught Hikaru off guard, causing the finger he was poking at her face to bend awkwardly.
"I wasn't teasing you; it's just that you're so adorable. I just want to get close and be friends with you~"
"Huh?! You actually think I'm cute as a child? Eh… I am indeed cute." Big Bonney had intended to accuse Hikaru of perverse behavior, but she found herself realizing he might be right – she was the cutest girl in the world!
"Change back now, or I'll spank you until you agree!"
"Tsk! I won't listen to you!"
"Oh? I want to see how stubborn little Bonney's mouth is. I bet she can't handle three hits…" Hikaru said, raising his hand and pretending to spank her.
Bonney gasped. She felt something serious was about to happen. She quickly shrunk back to her child form, muttering, "Stop, stop, stop! It's just changing back. I'll do it!"
Hikaru then smiled, pinching her little face softly. "That's a good girl! Little Bonney, don't worry, I won't kill you. You see, you're one of my targets this time."
"I'm one of your targets?" Bonney looked suspicious. She pointed towards the second floor and the distant remains of Capone Bege and Hawkins. "What were they, then?" she mumbled.
"Oh, them? Just two unlucky guys with Devil Fruits. Don't mind them. I'm here to help you."
"Help me? I don't need help. You and I just met today; how could you possibly know what I want?!" Bonney curled her lips. Hikaru's words sounded exactly like the tactics used to deceive little girls. But she was a grown-up girl now; how could she be tricked?
"Little Bonney, you want to meet Bartholomew Kuma, don't you?"
"What!? How did you know…"
Bonney could no longer sit still, nor could she resist Hikaru's playful fingers on her face. She stood up, staring at him with tearful eyes, as if she would burst into tears if he didn't explain. How long had she been sailing? The people who knew her background and the pirates around her were all trusted elders. Yet, her true purpose was known by a complete stranger. It was inconceivable how surprised she was.
Hikaru smiled but said nothing. When Bonney finally showed a cute, angry pout, he said, "Because I'm very interested in Bartholomew Kuma and have been secretly investigating information about him. Your existence was an important piece of intelligence I uncovered during my research."
Hikaru's excuse was remarkably effective. Bonney's expression cleared, as if understanding had dawned on her, and it was clear she believed him.
"So? Do you want to accept my help?"
"I…" Bonney fell silent for a moment. She had set sail to find her father, but could the man in front of her truly be trusted? She asked this with a touch of naive hope. "How can I believe you're here to help me find Bartholomew Kuma? Instead of using me… to harm him?"
Hikaru shook his head. This little girl was quite perceptive. He had told her everything he'd found out about Kuma, yet she had used her father's full name, even to him, to conceal her identity as his daughter.
"Don't be so wary around me. I know your relationship with Kuma. We're not enemies, little Bonney. Don't you understand? I'm explaining this to you so patiently. Can't you feel my kindness?"
Bonney was stunned. Kindness? she thought, Look at your hands, still kneading my face! Is this how you express kindness?
"Besides… you have no choice now, do you? From the moment I mentioned Bartholomew Kuma, you must have already made your decision."
"Otherwise, you might miss this opportunity to see your father…"
Bonney fell silent. Just as Hikaru said, she hadn't found any trace of her father, so she couldn't refuse the olive branch Hikaru offered!
"I understand…"
A large, crystal-clear teardrop unexpectedly fell onto the back of Hikaru's hand, only to be ruthlessly wiped away by Bonney's own hand the next moment. Those were the tears of hardship she had endured along the way, but how could she shed them easily when she had failed to find her father?
"Help me! Onii-chan, as long as you can help me find my father, I'll agree to anything you want, even… my favorite pizza! I'll give it all to you!"
"Huh!? Pizza? You should definitely keep that for yourself!"
Hikaru didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He truly couldn't fathom why Bonney loved pizza so much. Was pizza a specialty of the Sorbet Kingdom? Or was it Bartholomew Kuma's favorite?