The Son of the Pirate King, Captured!

"Vongola Storm"

"Uh-huh?"

What are your thoughts on... 'Pirate King'?

Ace remained silent for a long time before finally asking this question hesitantly.

Pirate King?

Storm raised an eyebrow and asked with some interest.

Are you referring to the world? Or your father?

"... Roger!"

Ace hesitated for a while, then, like a stubborn little devil, he forced out his father's name.

"Pirate King Roger... What's your opinion of him?"

Ace had no idea how Storm knew he was Roger's son.

But aside from his "family, "Storm was the first "outsider" Ace encountered who knew about his past.

Moreover, judging from Storm's attitude just now...

Unlike ordinary people, the other party did not harbor feelings of fear, disgust, or rejection towards "Pirate King".

From childhood to adulthood, apart from his "family," Ace lived in a social environment that was hostile to "Pirate King," and very few people had different opinions about "Pirate King."

"So you're talking about your dad..."

Storm stared at the Near Sea King's roasted meat, pondered silently for a while, and finally gave his assessment.

"A pitiful person born at the wrong time."

"... ah?"

Upon hearing Storm's words, Ace was instantly dumbfounded.

He hoped that Storm would give him a different answer.

But I never expected it to be this "different"!

Poor thing?

Even Ace never felt that his father's image could be associated with the word "pitiful".

"From a pirate's perspective, your father's life was indeed quite legendary. He sailed the seas for so many years and accomplished something no one had been able to achieve in the past few centuries."

At this point, Storm changed the subject.

"But it's a pity. If your father had been born eight hundred years earlier, he might have been the 'savior,' and even the 'savior' who ultimately won the victory."

"If your father had been born fifty or sixty years later, he might have become the 'savior' of this generation."

"But unfortunately, your father was born in the wrong era."

Hearing him call him "your dad" repeatedly, Ace's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

"What's so pitiful about that? My dad—no, Roger— was the Pirate King!"

"Yeah, I know, so what?"

Storm gave Ace a somewhat strange look.

"Your father is the Pirate King, but that doesn't affect my opinion of him."

"And to be honest, from a pirate's perspective, your father was quite successful."

"But from other perspectives, he is also an absolute loser in life."

"However, never mind, death is the greatest tragedy."

What kind of nonsense is "the dead are the greatest"?

Several more veins bulged on Ace's forehead.

"Vongola, did you come looking for me because I'm... the son of the Pirate King?"

"That's part of the reason. After all, he's the son of the Pirate King, like some kind of super famous person. It wouldn't be a loss to meet him."

"I can say that very frankly, "Storm said.

"However, my decision to recruit you has absolutely nothing to do with your identity."

"I'm recruiting you because you have enough potential to become a good helper in the future."

"Furthermore, changing the course of this world... is also one of my goals."

Storm's candor surprised Ace somewhat.

Ace remained silent for a while.

"Don't you think the 'son of the Pirate King's is some kind of devil's descendant?"

"Huh? Are you trying to steal Douglas Bullet's nickname?"

"What?"

"Douglas Bullet, your father's apprentice in the pirate crew, his nickname is 'Devil's Descendant'."

"Who is this guy you're talking about? I don't know him!"

Ace snorted coldly and looked away.

"Besides, my father Roger is Roger, and I am me. What does being an apprentice in Roger Pirates have to do with me?"

"That's quite true."

Storm nodded, and seeing that the Near Sea King's roast meat was almost done, he leisurely flipped it over.

"Your father is your father, and you are you."

"I can't just arrest you and hand you over to the Marine Headquarters or the World Government just because you're the 'son of the Pirate King,' and then publicly execute you like your father did to intimidate the world..."

"That would be too tragic."

"No one in this world should be born destined to die."

Storm's last words.

It was like a bullet that hit Ace's heart directly.

"Hey, Vongola."

"How?"

"I've already decided to set sail and become a pirate."

"Oh, I know."

"Originally, I wanted to go to sea alone and be my own Captain."

"And now?"

"..."

Ace fell silent again, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

Under Storm's calm gaze.

Ace launched into a long, rambling speech.

"I don't understand any of those things you're talking about, like 'Red-Haired,' 'Straw Hat,' 'fate,' 'Devil Fruit,' etc., and I don't know if they're even real."

"However, since you say they are all related to my brother, I can't just ignore this matter."

"I can travel with you, but I'm not on your crew."

Storm smiled, casually picked up a grilled Near Sea King skewers, and handed it to Ace.

"You're so awkward, Ace. Even the girl I recruited before wasn't as awkward as you."

Speaking of which...

Storm has been away from the Konomi Islands, where Cocoyasi Village is located, for several days now.

After this trip to Dawn Island is over, let's return to the Konomi Islands...

"My personality isn't awkward at all!"

Ace took the grilled meat, took a bite, and the scalding heat made him exhale repeatedly.

"Whoosh... It's so hot!"

Storm looked at the scene before him and chuckled again.

After Ace finally managed to eat the piece of meat in his mouth, he continued to ask.

"Besides me, who else did you recruit? Was that big, dumb guy from earlier?"

"No, that Clay Doll just now was King of Lizards Hanafuda, the former Shichibukai, the Lizard King."

At this point, Storm couldn't help but glance at Ace.

Ace's talent level was indeed outstanding.

If it weren't for Storm's interference...

The one who truly defeated the King of Lizards was Ace!

In just one year at sea, he defeated the infamous Shichibukai.

Moreover, she is a Zoan - Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit User can do sit-ups.

That's a very strong record!

Ace nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

"I know! The newspapers say you defeated that Shichibukai and took his place."

"Yes... I have other subordinates."

Images of Robin and the others flashed through Storm's mind.

"By the way, Ace, there's something I need to remind you of."

"My subordinates, to be precise, two of them, might really dislike you."

Ace tightened his grip on the fish.

"Why? Because of my identity."

"It's not just because of that."

Storm shook his head and offered a casual explanation.

"They were both from the South Blue, and one of them was born in 1501."

Ace tilted his head, and several large question marks vaguely appeared on it.

"What did you say? I don't understand..."

Simply put...

Storm gave a brief overview.

"In 1500, your father fell seriously ill and surrendered to the navy, and was then publicly executed;

"After that, the World Government inexplicably discovered your existence."

"In order to find you, the World Government and the navy launched a massive search operation in the South Blue, during which a large number of pregnant women and babies were 'disposed of', creating many human tragedies."

"Hey, what's with that gloomy look on your face?"

Ace said, filled with self-reproach and anguish.

"So all those people... died because of me, right?"

"Huh? Are you out of your mind?"

Storm's words were elegant and gentle.

"This matter involves the World Government and the Marine Headquarters, your father, your mother, and even that old man Garp cannot escape responsibility."

"But you?"

"You were just a bunch of cells back then, or even just—cough! Anyway, you shouldn't be blamed!"

The words may be rough, but the principle is sound.

According to Storm...

No one can choose their own birth.

When the World Government and the Marine Headquarters launched the search operation in the South Blue, Ace was still in his mother's belly!

How can you blame this on Ace, who wasn't even born yet?

Storm's words were rather harsh.

But at least it alleviated Ace's feelings of guilt.

"I'll apologize to those two when I meet them later..."

"... Whatever, whether they accept it or not is beyond my control."

The two people Storm was referring to were none other than Kid and Killer.

Killer was born in 1497, Kid was born in 1501.

And if Storm remembers correctly.

At least Killer knew about the "South Blue Navy's arrest of pregnant women and infants." (Chapter 43)

It is highly likely that both of these people were eyewitnesses to the "South Blue manhunt incident" years ago...

As Storm pondered this, he suddenly frowned.

"Why do I suddenly feel like something's not quite right?"

Ace, who was eating the Near Sea King barbecue, looked up in confusion.

"What's wrong?"

"If I include you, my team composition seems a bit strange!"

Storm's expression turned a little strange.

The Bear is a descendant of the Buccaneer Tribe.

Bonney was a test subject of Saint Saturn.

Robin is the successor of Ohara.

Ace is the son of the Pirate King.

That means...

Four people in Storm's group are undisputed enemies of the World Government!

Only he, Kid, Killer, and Nami have relatively "clean" backgrounds.

Ace didn't understand what Storm said.

"What exactly happened?"

"It's nothing... It's all the World Government's fault!"

Storm stopped talking and quickened his pace of eating the meat.

Seeing this, Ace felt a strange competitive spirit well up inside him and also sped up his eating.

A vast, Near Sea King.

Storm and Ace quickly devoured it.

Ace was so bloated he was like a balloon, slumped on the ground, unable to move.

Storm's belly was also stuffed full.

But he simply took a deep breath, and [Life Return] quickly began to operate.

In the time it takes to breathe.

Storm's body then returned to its original size.

Ace witnessed this scene and was instantly shocked.

"Clam!?"

"I'm about 70% full!"

Storm touched his stomach, then looked at Ace.

"Ace, do you want to leave with me now, or do you want to say goodbye to your brother and the others?"

"I think I'll go back to Mt. Colbo first."

Ace glanced at the sea not far away, a longing flashing in his eyes.

"At least... I need to see Luffy, and Dadan too."

"What ever."

Storm left Ace his Den Den Mushi contact information.

"Contact me when you decide to go to sea."

"I'll come pick you up."

Ace accepted the string of numbers, then looked up as the Blue-Eyes White Dragon flew away.

Not long after.

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon disappeared into the horizon.

Ace had also digested most of the roasted meat from the Near Sea King that he had just eaten.

He stood up, looked around, and suddenly realized a big problem.

Without a boat, how do I get back to Dawn Island?

At midnight, ten thousand words are presented!

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I'll continue updating tonight.

Around 8 o'clock?