Conqueror's Haki

Around noon, Ruidio finally came across an island.

He put the large ship away and took a look around the island. Finding a town with a decent amount of commerce, he went to the South Blue and brought Bonney over to look around.

"Ruidio, there are so many people here!"

Bonney, her long pink hair flowing, stood on Ruidio's shoulders with both hands braced against his head as she looked around. The girl gazed at the bustling streets and the people coming and going, her young face full of wonder.

"It's just a small place."

With Bonney on his shoulders, Ruidio walked into a dessert shop and gave the owner a pat to receive a task. "Your new dessert isn't selling, is it? Let my little sister try some."

How did you know? The owner was puzzled, but a customer willing to try his new dessert was just what he wanted. He hurriedly brought out a plate of it.

Bonney was already drooling. She stuffed a mouthful in, her eyes lighting up.

"Slow down, slow down. There's more, there's more..."

The way the big-eating Bonney devoured the dessert was enough to whet anyone's appetite. Soon, passersby couldn't resist coming in to try it too, and the owner grinned from ear to ear as he made more on the spot at full tilt.

[Task completed]

[Task reward: 3 Essence]

Ruidio went on to complete the other two simple tasks his radar had found, with Bonney in tow. Bonney thought it was just a game with him and threw herself into it, laughing all the while.

If I gave Bonney the Omniscience Potion, she should be able to remember her mother, Ginny, right?

And they would be memories she experienced as if she were there: the feeling of being held in her mother's arms, the sensation of nursing, her mother's voice and scent... She would remember all of it clearly.

Ruidio looked at the little blue-green stones growing out of the flesh on innocent Bonney's left cheek and put the thought aside. Ginny's appearance before she died had probably been extraordinarily terrifying. It was better for the child not to remember.

If nothing unexpected happened, Kuma would return to the South Blue on his own within a year at most and take Bonney to Vegapunk for treatment. Once father and daughter were reunited, Ruidio's task would automatically be completed, needless to say. When he met Kuma then, he could also use the chance to establish contact with the Revolutionary Army.

The moneybags has arrived! Everyone in the Revolutionary Army who can teach Haki, step forward!

Bring Dragon over here!

"Ruidio?"

Sitting in his arms, Bonney noticed how quiet he had become and looked up at him.

Ruidio smiled. "It's about time. I'll take you back."

Bonney obediently nodded. "Okay."

Of course, if he could cure Bonney before Kuma came home, that would be best.

Ruidio took Bonney around a street corner and vanished on the spot. A moment later, he appeared again alone.

He looked up at the sky and asked someone on the street. Sure enough, they were not far from the Goa Kingdom, less than a day's sail away.

Ruidio picked a random inn and lay on the bed, swinging a pocket watch back and forth before his eyes in an attempt to hypnotize himself. He rested that way for the night.

Early the next morning, he set his course, found a quiet stretch of shore, took out the former Black Cat Ship, and sailed away.

The weather was lovely, and the sea breeze was gentle. The wind, the waves, the cries of seabirds in the distance...

Ruidio leaned against the edge of the deck, basking leisurely in the sun.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he suddenly heard someone exclaim, "What a huge ship! It's really nice. Is that a pirate ship?"

He could recognize it even with the flags taken down? What kind of thief's eyes are those?

Ruidio opened his eyes and looked back down at the sea—

In a battered little fishing boat stood a youth who looked about seventeen or eighteen. He wore black shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, with an orange-red hat on his head. A pair of laughing and crying face ornaments decorated its brim.

Those really are a thief's eyes! Ruidio smiled.

Ace, his face covered in freckles, looked up at the ship. The blurry figure silhouetted against the light called down to him, "Hey, can I ask you for directions? Foosha Village is up ahead, pretty close by, right?"

Chapter 47: Conqueror's Haki

Going to Foosha Village?

Ace was surprised. "That's a little village in the middle of nowhere. What are you going there for?"

Ruidio leaned over the railing and thought for a moment. "I'm looking for someone. I want to try killing him."

"Do you have a grudge against him?"

Ace was even more puzzled. Was there some extraordinary person hiding in that peaceful little fishing village? "Who are you looking for?"

Ruidio smiled. "Monkey D. Luffy."

"What did you say?!"

Ace's face turned cold. Holding his hat in place, he said, "That's my little brother!"

"That's great!"

Ruidio seemed delighted. He clapped his hands and laughed. "Then you must know him really well. How about you show me the way?"

Like hell I will!

The little fishing boat rocked violently as Ace leaped with all his strength, soaring high toward the ship's rail and swinging his fist straight at Ruidio.

Ruidio tilted his head to dodge the punch, then reached out, planted a finger on Ace's forehead, and gave him a gentle push.

"Hey!"

With nothing to brace against in midair, Ace was sent flying back the way he had come. His limbs flailed, and he landed in the little boat with a clang. He scrambled up angrily and jumped again!

Ruidio dodged again and pushed him back again.

Ace kept jumping, and Ruidio kept pushing him back.

Are you a stubborn mule? How can you be so single-minded? Surprised as he was, Ruidio fended off every attempt.

"Are you ever going to stop?!"

Knocked down yet again, Ace stood on the bow of the little boat, seething with anger. Baring his sharp teeth, he shouted up at Ruidio, "If you've got what it takes, let me up there for a proper fight!"

He made as if to jump, but suddenly summoned all his brute strength and punched the hull of the large ship before him.

If I can't jump up there, why not smash the ship and make that guy come down?

Ace's idea was sound, but when he threw the powerful punch, it hit nothing.

Huh?

The large ship had vanished into thin air. With nothing blocking his view, all he could see ahead was an endless expanse of blue sky and sea... Splash! Ace's punch struck empty air, and he lost his balance and plunged headfirst into the water.

Bubble, bubble, bubble...

Ace kept his mouth tightly shut underwater. Suddenly, he heard a muffled thud above him. Looking up, he saw what seemed to be a figure standing on his little boat.

Splash!

Ace surfaced to find Ruidio sitting in his boat, smiling at him. "See you~~" Then Ruidio swung the oars, shooting across the sea like a cannonball!

"Get back here!"

Furious, Ace could only swim after him with all his might. His strokes sent white spray soaring as he pursued his own little boat just as swiftly.

"Weren't you asking me to show you the way? Come back and I'll show you!" His strokes pounded against the water as he shouted at the top of his lungs.

Ruidio rowed rapidly from side to side and laughed aloud. "You didn't seem too willing. I don't like forcing people to do things!"

And so he rowed ahead while Ace swam freestyle behind him.

"Hahaha..."

Under the brilliant sun, crystal-clear waves sparkled, and laughter and cheerful voices carried across the sea all the way to a small fishing village that was indeed not far ahead.

Even from a distance, they could see numerous tall windmills standing among the village buildings on shore, their blades turning slowly in the sea breeze. The village had been named for them.

Bang!

The bow hit the shore, and Ruidio leaped out. The force of his push sent the boat flipping backward, and it landed with a clang right on the face of Ace, who had been swimming desperately after him.

"Bastard... Now I'm really mad!"

Before long, Ace burst out of the water and scrambled ashore like a drowned rat. His eyes were red from the seawater, and veins throbbed on his forehead as he sprinted toward Foosha Village. "Stop right there!"

"Ace?"

Someone in Foosha Village saw him charging in and asked in confusion, "Didn't you go out to sea to become a pirate?"

"Did you forget something?" a villager asked with a smile.

"I forgot my idiot little brother!" Ace shouted.

He raced from one end of Foosha Village to the other, but found no sign of that man anywhere, nor did he see his little brother Luffy. Finally, he pushed open the door to Makino's little tavern with a bang.

Everyone in the tavern laughed. "Ace? Retiring already?" "Being a pirate isn't so easy after all, is it?" "Hahaha..."

The crowd roared with laughter, filling the tavern with a cheerful atmosphere.

"Hello, Miss Makino."

Ace went straight to the bar to find the young proprietress. After sitting down, he politely said, "I'll have some fried rice... No, wait! Have you seen Luffy?"

Wiping a glass, Makino smiled. "After seeing you off, he seemed to go straight back to the mountain. He said he had to train even harder so he'd be stronger than you when he went out to sea himself three years from now!"

Ace asked in puzzlement, "Didn't anyone come looking for Luffy just now? A man about my age?"

Makino shook her head.

"Nobody asked about Luffy," another customer said, "but a young man about that age was asking where Mount Colubo was just now."

He pointed north.

"Thanks!"

Ace rushed out again and raced north toward Mount Colubo. Just as he was about to enter the mountain, something suddenly occurred to him, and he skidded to a halt with a long screech.

Wait! Was that person really fast enough to disappear without a trace?

"So that's the direction he's in. Thanks!"

A figure jumped down from a tree near Ace. It was Ruidio. Smiling, he waved to Ace and headed straight in the direction Ace had just been rushing into the mountain forest.

"Stop!!"

Ace roared and sprinted after him, leaving a trail of dust behind.

How can this guy run so well?!

Ace followed Ruidio at a full sprint for half an hour, unable to keep from marveling inwardly.

He had traveled this mountain path thousands of times since he was little, which was why he could run along it as easily as if it were flat ground. Yet this guy ahead of him was visiting this deep mountain forest with its complicated terrain for the first time, and he could still maintain such a fast pace while constantly dodging and vaulting over fallen trees, jagged rocks, and deep ravines!

Roar! A multicolored tiger six or seven meters tall sprang out and blocked their path.

Ruidio slid into it, lifted the giant tiger, and hurled it at Ace behind him. Then he ran backward, waving to Ace.