Chapter 356: Bartholomew Kuma
The young king's words stunned the surrounding soldiers.
Before they could react, the boy had already disappeared from the city wall.
In the next instant—
He appeared just ten meters in front of Charlotte.
Charlotte studied the boy carefully; he looked very familiar.
The boy had a burly build, wearing a white, trapezoidal hat with scattered brown spots and two bear ears, along with frameless glasses.
His black curly hair hung down his back, and he wore a black coat with a crosshair emblem on the chest.
"Greetings, honorable Mr. Rockefeller Charlotte.
Welcome to the Sorbet Kingdom.
I am Bartholomew Kuma, the King of Sorbet."
Standing in front of Charlotte, Kuma bowed slightly and introduced himself.
Charlotte looked at him with mild surprise.
This was the first king to bow to him.
"Hello, young king.
Rest assured, I have no intention of making enemies here."
Charlotte said, sensing Kuma's constant, tense vigilance.
"Thank you for your mercy.
The Sorbet Kingdom welcomes your arrival!"
Bartholomew Kuma bowed again, his face as emotionless as ever.
Charlotte wasn't quite used to this dead-fish expression but said nothing more.
"May we enter the Sorbet Kingdom?"
Charlotte asked politely, glancing meaningfully at the soldiers atop the walls, ready to fire at any moment.
Kuma hesitated for a moment, glancing at Charlotte and the thousands behind him—
then gritted his teeth slightly and moved aside.
"Please."
He gestured, opening the way.
Because he knew—
even if he refused, he couldn't stop them.
Better to show good faith than to provoke unnecessary conflict.
"Thank you."
Charlotte nodded and led his people, following behind Kuma into the city.
---
Inside the city—
It was not the prosperous scene Charlotte had imagined.
Instead, the streets were bleak and rundown.
Charlotte looked around, frowning slightly.
Kuma noticed his reaction.
"Apologies.
Our Sorbet Kingdom is remote and constantly harassed by pirates.
Thus, we are poor."
Kuma explained.
"Oh?
With your strength, you should be able to deal with pirates easily, no?"
Charlotte asked, half-joking.
"My strength isn't that impressive.
It's only thanks to my Devil Fruit that I can barely fend off pirates."
Kuma replied calmly.
"Devil Fruit user!"
Hearing this, the kids following Charlotte exclaimed in surprise.
Charlotte shot them a glare—
As if they weren't all Devil Fruit users themselves.
Kuma looked at the children, pausing for a second.
Then he pulled off his gloves, revealing a pair of large hands.
In the center of his palms were several fleshy paw pads—
like bear paws.
"My Devil Fruit is the Paw-Paw Fruit.
It's not a particularly powerful ability."
Kuma said with his usual deadpan voice—
utterly humble to the point of being annoying.
Charlotte rolled his eyes again.
If he hadn't watched One Piece in his previous life,
he might really have been fooled by this "modest" act.
"Paw-Paw Fruit, huh?
Not bad!
Just now, you seemed to move instantly from the castle to the city wall—
I suppose that was thanks to the Paw-Paw Fruit's elastic power?"
Charlotte asked knowingly.
Hearing this—
Kuma's expression changed for the third time.
He stared at Charlotte in shock.
Because Charlotte had guessed it correctly.
Charlotte smiled lightly,
ignoring Kuma's astonishment,
and continued strolling deeper into the city.
---
As they moved forward, the streets gradually became livelier—
though still far from bustling.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
Wherever Kuma passed,
the civilians would bow respectfully,
greeting him with admiration and awe.
Kuma nodded solemnly in response each time.
"Seems you're very beloved by your people."
Charlotte praised sincerely.
"I simply make sure my people have enough to eat,"
Kuma said matter-of-factly.
"..."
Charlotte almost stumbled.
Talking to this kid was exhausting.
"Hahaha!
That's already an incredible achievement.
I've seen many kingdoms—
even Flower Country, the strongest nation in West Blue,
still has people starving daily.
Yet you've managed to feed your citizens.
You're better than 99% of the world's rulers."
Charlotte said seriously.
Kuma paused for a moment.
"Really?"
His eyes wavered slightly.
"Of course.
Why would I lie to you?"
Charlotte smiled.
Hearing this,
Kuma lowered his gaze slightly.
"Are people outside this kingdom truly suffering so much?"
Kuma asked softly.
Charlotte almost stumbled again.
He had thought Kuma would be proud of himself,
but instead,
the boy was worrying about people elsewhere.
"This world is like that,"
Charlotte said quietly.
"The strong control 80% of the world's wealth.
The weak divide the remaining 20%.
But there are far fewer strong than weak.
And you, young king,
as a strong one,
chose to care for the people,
to fill their bellies.
That's something truly admirable."
Charlotte finished meaningfully.
Kuma gripped the Bible in his hands tightly,
silent.
---
After a moment—
"What is your dream?"
Charlotte suddenly asked as they walked side by side.
Kuma froze,
clearly not expecting the question.
But after a moment of hesitation, he answered:
"I want to make my people prosperous,
so they will never suffer from hunger and cold again."
"Hmm!
That's a noble dream.
One of the greatest I've heard."
Charlotte smiled warmly.
"You know,
I've heard someone dream of conquering the entire world before.
Hahaha!"
(Yes, he was laughing at you, Golden Lion Shiki!)
Kuma didn't respond,
but his silence was expressive enough.
---
"And your dream?"
Kuma asked with rare courage.
Charlotte, who had been laughing moments ago,
fell silent.
He turned to glance at the children following him—
Kaiser, Barrett, and the others.
"My dream…
is to protect my family
and let them live peacefully in this world."
Charlotte said lightly,
with a hint of self-mockery.
"Sounds mundane, right?
Even I think so."
He laughed bitterly.
"No,"
Kuma said firmly.
"Your dream is great too.
Everyone has their own dreams.
We shouldn't laugh at others' dreams."
His calm but sincere words
completely froze Charlotte in place.
After all,
he had just laughed at Shiki's dream moments ago.
Charlotte scratched his head awkwardly.
The kid was right.
---
They walked in silence for a bit.
Finally, Charlotte broke it.
"Have you ever thought of going out to sea?
I can feel it—
you have a yearning for the ocean."
(To be continued...)
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