164 Gratitude!

Ian followed after Kuzan with a simple almost effortless jump on his part, and then called for him to stop. (A/N: Plz check this paragraph comment)

"Hey, Kuzan! I still need to do something so wait up for a bit!" Ian said as he stepped up lightly on the wooden ground of the crow's nest.

Kuzan turned his head, a puzzled look in his eyes.

"Do something?" Kuzan asked giving voice to his confusion and waiting for Ian to explain.

Ian turned his head downward and looked at Kuzan's left leg. Although it was covered since he was wearing a boot, Ian knew that he had already lost it. And that the leg there right now was a substitute made of ice!

He had already lost his limb, or rather than lost it, it was more accurate to say that it was a casualty of his fight against the current fleet admiral Akainu.

Kuzan followed Ian's gaze towards his leg and understood that Ian wanted to do something about his missing limb.

Still, he kept silent as he didn't understand what Ian was able to do in that regard. Though a small part of him couldn't help but hope that Ian had a way to help him.

Fortunately, Ian didn't keep him waiting as he pointed ahead at the room inside the crow nest and said.

"Let's go inside! I'll help you with that problem of yours!" Ian said then started heading inside soon after.

As for the ship, since a while ago Libell has been the one to steer it! They had gone towards Kuzan with her steering the ship all the way. And there was no accident. And with that Ian was confident she would manage her newest position.

Their destination now, was just like they had talked back on Zou. They were heading towards big Mom territory.

Sanji was with them too, but he was probably busy with cooking along with Bert, as he hadn't come out when Ian and Kuzan had stepped on the ship, unlike Bert.

Perhaps Sanji thought that it was not his business or maybe he didn't sense Kuzan due to their huge difference in strength.

Well, in any case, Ian figured they were going to meet each other later anyway.

Kuzan followed after Ian, and he found him sitting on a chair near a bed.

Kuzan stepped closer a bit and then waited for Ian to explain what was going on.

If Ian had a way to heal his missing limb, Kuzan would like to hear what it entailed first.

"Well, I'll help restore your missing leg and heal any injuries you have! Even scars too! So just lay down on the bed for a bit!" Ian explained. He was not one to beat around the subject.

"H-How is that possible?" Kuzan muttered a bit shocked at hearing that, and also suspicious.

He didn't know if Ian would drug him and inject him with something if he was unconscious.

But Ian continued on talking.

"Just like with Whitebeard! You must have known how the health of the old man was deteriorating right? But then at the war, he shocked everyone with how strong he still was! Well, that's because I healed him and even Garp and Sengoku had been healed by me, although in their case, I more or less restored their bodies to their peak! Also, you don't have to worry, you will still be conscious when I heal you! Just lay down on the bed already!" Ian explained to him. He thought that if he told him about Garp, Sengoku, and Whitebeard having done the same it would put him at ease.

He also knew that Kuzan would not think he was lying, as what he claimed can be confirmed with a single call.

Kuzan now understood.

When he was still with the marines, they did speculate that the change with Whitebeard might have something to do with Ian, they just couldn't prove it!

Kuzan chose to trust in Ian and laid on the bed. He was after all his caption now! And it will do well for him to listen to his orders.

Ian smiled and then started the process.

Nothing too shocking as usual. Just circulating the energy through the body for a few times, and boom there you go. By now he had done it enough times for him to do it with ease.

The first cycle managed to heal all internal injuries that Kuzan was not even aware of. And then with the second cycle his scars, on his neck and arms, started to heal at a visible rate to the naked eye.

Kuzan who was at the moment conscious couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"Just how?" He muttered.

And then he moved his eyes to his left leg, from which he had hurriedly removed his boot and dissolved the ice limb.

And then under his watchful eyes, the limb started restoring slowly and slowly until it had been healed completely.

Kuzan was shocked beyond what words could explain.

Though he didn't show it, the loss of his limb had left him angry and sad. It had actually reduced his fighting capabilities by a lot. He couldn't move just as fast. But the most thing about it was that it reminded him of his loss against that hateful guy.

Every time he would take a bath, it was there to remind him of the bitter truth.

But now… he no longer had to think about it anymore. He knew he lost and he accepted it, but he didn't need to be reminded about it every second he breathed.

Well, he no longer would be after today.

He looked at Ian with a gratitude-filled gaze.

Kuzan was not one to show many emotions. And ever since meeting Ian, he had been getting shocked out of his mind. But right now, he truly felt thankful to Ian.

From now on he decided to be a part of this crew for real. And Ian would have his loyalty.

"Well rest for now! Later I'll take you towards Garp and Sengoku to tell you the information we agreed on!" Ian told him before he started to leave the room.

And just as he was about to step out a voice managed to catch his attention.

"Thank you!" Kuzan had muttered looking straight at Ian.

But Ian heard him clearly.

"No problem" Ian just grinned back before leaving completely.

(A/N: Should big mom die? or should I keep her alive and reform her into a good person somehow?)