Luffy happily greeted Empress Boa Hancock, while on the other side, Emporio Ivankov directly confronted Kuma.
〖Kuma fired a laser directly from his mouth, charging towards Ivankov, who barely managed to dodge the attack.
"You scared me to death! I was almost hit! Kuma, what are you doing? How could you just attack me like that? Don't you recognize who I am? If you keep this up, I won't be able to hold back from fighting back!"
Furious at Kuma's merciless attack, Ivankov shouted angrily at him.
At that moment, Doflamingo, who was nearby, suddenly laughed.
"Fufufufu, although I'm not clear on what relationship you have with Kuma, I advise you to give up. Don't bother talking to him anymore; it's useless behavior, Revolutionary Army Cadre, Sir Ivankov."
"What do you mean?" Ivankov asked, confused.
"I think the person you know is probably Bartholomew Kuma, the man once known as the 'Tyrant.' Unfortunately, he's already dead. The guy before you now is not the same Kuma you knew," Doflamingo said ruthlessly.
Ivankov couldn't believe it. "What nonsense are you talking? How could Kuma possibly be dead? If he's dead, then who is this standing before me? He is clearly Kuma! How can he not be the same person I know?"
He turned to look at Kuma, seeking confirmation. "You are Kuma, the Paw-Paw Fruit ability user, right? Answer me!"
Ivankov's voice grew louder and louder, but the Kuma before him gave no response.
Then, Doflamingo spoke again.
"Fufufu, didn't I already say it? Talking to him is useless. Because just a few days ago, the Kuma you knew was finally completely transformed into a human weapon by the World Government scientist, Dr. Vegapunk. In other words, he was Bartholomew Kuma, but now he is no more."
"W-what do you mean?" Ivankov's voice trembled, as if he didn't dare believe it.
Doflamingo laughed again.
"You should understand what I mean. The guy in front of you, for some unknown reason, voluntarily became the experimental subject for the World Government's human weapon research. First it was the hands, then the feet. While retaining his own consciousness, various parts of his body underwent long-term, gradual modification. Until now, he has lost all human consciousness, becoming a monster that only fights on the orders of the World Government." 〗
[Emporio Ivankov: This is impossible! Kuma hated the World Government the most, how could he voluntarily become an experimental subject? Hey, Kuma, are you in there? If you are, answer me!]
[Civilian 1: Yeah, it's really strange. Straw Hat Luffy was so fierce in the previous videos, defeating so many opponents. Why is he now so easily defeated by this Marine? Why is that?]
[Sir Crocodile: Hah, you idiots. It's because Smoker is a Logia. Ordinary physical attacks have no effect on Logia users. Looks like Straw Hat kid is finished this time.]
[Cat Burglar Nami: Logia? By that logic, aren't you a Logia too? But Luffy still defeated you! I believe he will defeat his opponent like he did that time!]
[Civilian 2: Huh? What is that Cat Burglar Nami talking about? Wasn't it the Marines who defeated Crocodile? How is it related to Straw Hat kid?]
[Pirate 1: Who knows? Maybe the Straw Hats were the ones who truly defeated Crocodile, and the Marines stole the credit? After all, the Marines released that information.]
[Marine 2: Hey! What do you mean? Don't spout nonsense!]
[Pirate 1: Who's spouting nonsense? This is just a reasonable guess!]
[Marine 2: You!]
[Pirate 2: Enough! Stop arguing! The key point now is that Straw Hat kid is clearly no match for that Smoker. Do you think he'll be killed?]
[Eustass Kid: Don't worry, he'll die before Straw Hat does. Even though I can't stand him, as an opponent I acknowledge, he won't fall so easily here.]
[Trafalgar D. Water Law: Right. Straw Hat-ya will definitely win.]
[Donquixote Doflamingo: Fufufufu! It's truly a dangerous moment. So, what will you do next, Straw Hat?]
[Pirate 3: Look! Those familiar long, white legs! It's her!]
[Pirate 4: What? What?]
As a pair of beautiful legs appeared in the video, the attention of many male viewers was captured.
〖Just as Luffy was knocked onto the ice by Smoker, an angry female voice suddenly rang out.
"You bastard! Let go of Luffy this instant!"
Accompanying the voice was a long, fair leg that kicked Smoker away fiercely.
"Boa Hancock! What are you doing?! Do you also want to stop being a Warlord like Jinbe?!" Smoker shouted angrily after being kicked away.
Hancock responded with equal fury, "Shut up! I am so angry I can't hear anything! How dare you treat my beloved like this! I will absolutely not let you live! I have never been this angry before! I will tear you to pieces and feed you to the beasts!"
Hancock grew increasingly furious, wishing she could immediately attack Smoker. But then, three simple words instantly extinguished the rage in her heart.
It was Luffy, who had noticed Hancock's arrival, happily calling her name. "Hancock!"
Hearing this, Hancock's expression instantly turned shy. "Yes... you called my name again."
Hancock's behavior shocked everyone present. But the next scene made many feel indignant.
After greeting Hancock, Luffy felt it wasn't enough and directly rushed over to hug her.
Faced with this sudden embrace, Hancock's cheeks flushed red, and she began panting heavily, as if she had just done some strenuous exercise.〗
[Pirate 5: Oooohhhhh! Empress-sama! You've finally appeared again! I am your loyal follower!]
[Pirate 6: Damn it! I really want to know how Straw Hat kid and Empress-sama met! Why does Empress-sama act like that around Straw Hat kid?]
[Pirate 7: I want to know too! I have no interest in who wins the Summit War now! I only want to know about the relationship between Empress-sama and Straw Hat kid!]
[Pirate 8: I wish I was the one who made Empress-sama show that expression!]
[Pirate 9: No! I can't take it anymore! Straw Hat kid! I must duel you! How dare you hug my Empress-sama!]
[Pirate 10: Bastard Straw Hat kid! Let go of Empress-sama! Damn it! Why does Empress-sama protect Straw Hat kid? And why doesn't she push him away when he hugs her?!]
[Pirate 11: Empress-sama actually said Straw Hat kid is her beloved! No! I can't accept this! I absolutely cannot accept this!]
[Black Leg Sanji: Why?! Why can Luffy meet a great beauty like the Empress, while I have to face... that... What did I do wrong?!]
[Soul King Brook: Yohohohoho! I almost saw her panties! But Mr. Sanji, what's wrong?]
[Black Leg Sanji: Heh... hehehe... Someone, save me... I really don't want to stay here anymore...]
[God Usopp: It seems Sanji has encountered something terrible.]
[Tony Tony Chopper: Hmm, I hope he has good luck.]
[Nico Robin: It seems everyone encountered quite a few things during the time we were separated.]
[Pirate 12: Waaaah! My Empress-sama!]
On the sky screen, Hancock suddenly protecting Luffy in his moment of danger and personally declaring him her beloved caused a large number of gentlemen to lose their minds.
After all, Pirate Empress Hancock was known as the World's Most Beautiful Woman, and many regarded her as their goddess.
Now, their goddess had publicly announced she was in love with someone else. How could these people not be heartbroken?
[Vegapunk: My apologies. I've just finished modifying this gentleman, Kuma. I'm afraid he can no longer answer you. However, you will soon meet the all-new Kuma, also known as PX-0.]
[Doflamingo: Fufufufu, Dr. Vegapunk, so your modifications are already complete. I thought the appearance of the Sky Screen would have forced your project to halt.]
[Vegapunk: Hahahaha, unfortunately, the Sky Screen appeared a bit too late. My experiment is already concluded. Kuma was a very satisfactory test subject.]
[Emporio Ivankov: Damn you, you bastards. I will definitely avenge Kuma.]
[Plague Queen: Hahahaha, you there, okama. Anyone can talk big, but I don't think you'll be able to do it.]
[Emporio Ivankov: Hmph, just you wait and see.]
[Charlotte Katakuri: There is one matter you should all pay attention to. That Ivankov was previously mentioned in a video to be a member of the Revolutionary Army. And Bartholomew Kuma was a Warlord of the Sea. How exactly do these two know each other? And it seems there is an unusual bond between them.]
[Brulee: As expected of Big Brother Katakuri, so observant.]
[Scratchmen Apoo: Hmm, it is indeed strange. These two must have known each other before. Perhaps that Kuma was a mole planted within the Marines by the pirates.]
[Drake: Now that you mention it, it does seem very possible. I heard that Kuma was once ordered to capture the Straw Hat crew, but he didn't catch a single one, instead sending them all flying away. Thinking about it now, perhaps Kuma was using that method to protect the Straw Hats?]
[Capone Bege: If that's the case, then Kuma was a loyal and righteous man. It's a shame his ending was so tragic.]
[Jewelry Bonney: That Kuma... is there really no saving him? It can't be possible, right? He was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea; how could he die so easily? I haven't even...]
[Buggy: Haven't even what? Why did you stop halfway?]
〖On the Bonney Pirates' ship, Jewelry Bonney simply couldn't believe that Kuma had lost his life just like that.
She hadn't even had the chance to meet him. Was she going to lose him forever now?
"Damn those World Government bastards! I will never forgive them." 〗
〖At the Revolutionary Army base, Koala also wore an expression of disbelief. "How is this possible? What happened to Mr. Kuma?"
"This is outrageous! To think Kuma was transformed into a weapon for the World Government. How can we allow such a thing to happen!" Cadre Belo Betty angrily punched the wall, then turned to look at Dragon.
"Mr. Dragon, what should we do? Should we go rescue Kuma?"
"Of course we must rescue him! Kuma is our important comrade!" Another cadre interjected before Dragon could respond.
Dragon didn't mind. He looked at the image of Kuma on the Sky Screen and sighed.
"So this was your choice, Kuma." 〗
〖Within the Impel Down group, Luffy was also watching the Sky Screen. He saw Ivankov's furious and worried expression caused by the video and felt concerned, though he didn't know how to console him.
Later, from the speculations of others on the Sky Screen, he deduced that Kuma's previous attacks on him and his crew might have been to protect them.
He had also just learned from Ivankov that Kuma was a comrade of his father's.
Because of all this, the hatred in his heart for Kuma suddenly dissipated greatly.
Seeing how worried Ivankov was and hearing about Kuma's plight on the screen, he couldn't help but feel sympathy for him.
Although seeing Kuma still inevitably reminded him of the feeling of powerlessness when his crewmates were sent flying away one by one before his eyes, now that he knew the truth, he slowly began to choose to forgive Kuma in his heart.
However, this was his decision alone. Whether his crewmates would forgive him was their business; he would not interfere.〗