Ace's Template

Reiner and the others had been quietly following the truck ever since Chopper noticed something unusual about it.

Arriving in an alley, Reiner confirmed no one was around, then summoned four Undead Hawks, sending them soaring into the sky to circle.

After a series of twists and turns, Reiner and his group found themselves at the edge of the city.

"What's going on? Aren't they part of the city's underground?"

Seeing them leave the city and head into the desert, Reiner stroked his chin in thought, then said, "We still need to rendezvous later. Why don't we just have the Undead go in and grab them to ask some questions?"

"Wait, Reiner, look over there." Nami pointed into the distance, her voice soft but urgent.

Another group, even larger, emerged from the town and headed towards the truck they had been tracking.

"Chopper, do you smell anything unusual?" Reiner shook the two short legs dangling in front of him.

"No, it's just ordinary food," Chopper whispered, sniffing the air.

"Then they're probably the rebels, or people working for them."

If it were a local gang or underground organization, they certainly wouldn't need to transport an entire convoy of food.

After lingering there for a while, Reiner noticed that various convoys, large and small, were continuously leaving the city and heading in the same direction.

Under Chopper's keen nose, most of it was arms and provisions, with even a small amount of medical supplies, which Chopper was all too familiar with.

"Looks like someone's spotted us. Is it the rebels or Baroque Works?"

A hawk swooped down and landed on Reiner's arm, its beak pointing towards an alley on the right.

"Nami, note the location. We'll go buy a map and head back to rendezvous."

"Oh, okay."

Reiner and the others, who had been crouching, stood up and turned to leave before the other party could reach them.

In Rainbase, within a secret underground meeting room in the casino, an oval long table stood in the center of the spacious room. Its cyan stone surface was carved with simple yet intricate patterns, and twelve chairs of similar style surrounded it.

Currently, six people were seated on both sides, all their gazes fixed on the person at the head of the table.

"Crocodile, it's actually you."

"I never imagined our unseen boss would be a Warlord of the Sea."

"Wait a minute, Mr. 0, does that mean I'm now a subordinate of a pirate!?"

It was the first time anyone had met the mastermind behind Baroque Works, and they were all utterly shocked by his identity.

"I had other arrangements for you, but the situation has changed."

A deep voice emerged as Crocodile threw several wanted posters and pictures onto the long table.

"This group is the Straw Hat Crew. Judging by their speed, they should have reached Alabasta by now."

Crocodile rested his golden hook on the armrest of his chair, leaned back, and said, "Now, except for Mr. 2, who will proceed with the original plan, the mission for everyone else has changed to eliminating them and Princess Vivi."

Crocodile took a drag from his cigar, slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, and sneered with a dark expression.

"After the rebels get these supplies, I'll force them to launch a full-scale attack in the next two days. If these few people mess up my plan..."

"We understand, Boss." Everyone on both sides of the long table nodded and whispered.

"Hehehehe~, then I wish you success." With those words, Crocodile transformed into sand and vanished.

"Then I'm off too." A clear laugh rang out as a woman with a sexy figure, dressed in a white leather jacket and a cowboy hat, stood up and smiled as she left the meeting room.

The remaining people finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Crocodile, a Warlord of the Sea... Even now, it still feels incredible."

"The Utopia Plan, huh? Sounds interesting."

"I can't believe I've become a pirate!"

On the Going Merry, at a secluded beach near the harbor.

Zoro, Sanji, and Vivi had already returned to the ship, having bought some food for their desert crossing.

"Hey everyone, I'm back!"

Luffy's voice echoed from a distance, his two straw sandals striding excitedly. "Look who I ran into!"

Hearing this, the eyes of those on the ship shifted backward. A man with an orange hat, bare-chested with black shorts, was casually strolling behind Luffy.

"Hehe, Reiner and the others aren't back yet?"

Luffy jumped onto the Going Merry, looked around, and said with a disappointed expression, "What a shame, I can't introduce Ace to them now."

"How much of a shame?"

A clear voice rang out as Reiner and the others strolled in from the other side. Chopper sat on his shoulder, swinging his short legs, while waving and shouting, "Luffy, we're back!"

Reiner only began to properly observe Ace after returning to the Going Merry with the others.

"Hahaha, this is great, Ace, look!"

Luffy excitedly pointed at Reiner. "That's Reiner! He sailed out from Foosha Village with me!"

"Really? I can't believe I'd run into someone from my hometown after three years at sea."

Looking at Reiner, who was dressed in a blue shirt, Ace, perched on the railing, couldn't help but smile. He jumped down onto the deck, bowed to everyone, and said softly, "Hello everyone, my name is Portgas D. Ace, and I'm Luffy's older brother. It's a pleasure to meet you all, please take care of me."

Everyone except Reiner was clearly shocked.

"Luffy, you have a brother!?"

"Hehehe, we're not blood relatives."

Luffy grinned, his joy at meeting someone from home evident. "We grew up together like brothers. Ace sailed out three years before me."

"So that's it," everyone understood. No wonder the two brothers didn't look alike at all – one was polite and well-mannered, while the other was a bit of a ditz.

Luffy then introduced everyone to Ace, as if showing them off. It was clear Luffy was in a very good mood.

"It looks like you've found a very reliable crew."

Ace looked at Luffy with affection, then turned to the others. "My idiotic brother isn't very well-behaved, so I'm sure he's caused you a lot of trouble, hasn't he?"

At this, Ace bowed again. "But I ask that you please continue to look after him in the future."

"You don't have to be so polite. This idiot is our captain, after all," Zoro said with a light chuckle, arms crossed.

"Luffy's brother is so polite."

"I can't believe he's this idiot's brother."

Ace's demeanor left everyone in awe.

"Alright, Luffy, here, take this." With that, Ace pulled out a piece of paper and flicked it with two fingers.

"What's this?"

"It can tell you where I am."

Ace raised a hand to touch the hat on his head and instructed, "Keep it safe. You'll be able to find me with it later."

"Oh, I see!" Luffy grinned, folding the paper and gripping it tightly in his hand, afraid of losing it.

"Well, I'm heading off, Luffy."

Ace turned, presenting Luffy with his back and a side profile. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he said, "The next time we meet, it'll be at the pinnacle of this great sea."

"Ah, I understand!"

Who knew those words would soon come true?

Luffy responded with a firm nod, and Ace leaped off the ship, striding away.

The pinnacle of this great sea, Reiner couldn't help but think. He lit the cigarette in his mouth, tilted his head back, and gazed blankly at the blue sky.

Can I get a Whitebeard template?

Reiner didn't mention anything about Blackbeard. Even Luffy wouldn't interfere with Ace's adventure, let alone Reiner, who wasn't close with Ace.

As for Marineford, if Luffy went, he'd go too. As long as that plan succeeded, Marineford wouldn't be impossible to crash.

Thinking of this, Reiner felt energized. Tsk, tsk, I'm happy again.

Eh? Wait, I think I forgot something.

Holy crap!

"Wait, Ace! Let me touch you!"

Reiner frantically chased after him, and only returned to the ship after asking Ace for another template.