Bartolomeo and Flame Fist Ace

Noki took out a Den Den Mushi. He had an address book containing the numbers of every Marine officer's office, issued to him by headquarters as a matter of routine when he was promoted to rear admiral, so officers could contact one another easily.

Following the number recorded in the book, Noki called Vice Admiral Garp's office.

A moment later.

The Den Den Mushi connected.

"Hello, who is this?" The voice coming from the Den Den Mushi was not Garp's, but Rear Admiral Bogard's, whom Noki knew well.

"Rear Admiral Bogard, this is Noki. I'd like to speak with Vice Admiral Garp. Is he there?"

"Vice Admiral Garp went to have tea with Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Hold on, I'll go get him."

"Thank you."

Bogard hurried to the door of Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office, knocked twice, then pushed the door open and entered. "Vice Admiral Garp, you have a call."

Garp held a bag of Senbei in his hands, crunching away. "Is it important?"

Bogard glanced at Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who wore black-rimmed frog glasses and was bent over his paperwork, then gave a slight nod.

"I see..."

Garp and Bogard had shared a tacit understanding for many years. With one look, he understood that this was probably something Sengoku could not be allowed to know.

It was probably related to that brat Ace.

Garp lowered his crossed leg, stood up, and snatched the bag of Senbei off Sengoku's desk. With a chuckle, he said, "Old friend, I'm heading out. I'll come by for tea another day."

"Hey, you old bastard, those are my snacks!"

Watching Garp slip away like an old child, Sengoku felt helpless, yet amused.

Garp returned to his office, picked up the Den Den Mushi receiver, and dug in his nose with his little finger as he asked, "Noki, how's the matter I assigned you going?" Bogard had already confirmed his suspicions on the way back.

Noki looked at Ain's delicate profile beside him. "I met your grandson, Ace. He's quite strong, and he has become a Logia user of the Flame-Flame Fruit."

"Oh, really? That brat's pretty lucky, then." Garp burst into laughter.

Lucky?

Noki gave a dry laugh. Everyone knew that "even dogs wouldn't eat the Flame-Flame Fruit," because in the New World, people who could use fire were practically everywhere.

Of course, that was mostly a joke. The Flame-Flame Fruit was still powerful, but it fell short compared to other top-tier abilities. After all, according to the setting, it was merely an inferior ability to the Magma-Magma Fruit.

But nothing in this world was absolute. Who knew what changes the Flame-Flame Fruit might undergo after awakening?

Noki continued, "To better draw out Ace's potential without exposing my true purpose, I plan to train him in a rather harsh manner. You won't mind, will you?"

"How harsh?" Garp asked curiously.

"Nothing much. I'll just beat him black and blue and leave him half-dead every time." Noki spoke calmly, as though he were talking about something entirely unrelated to him.

"Hahahahaha! Brat, you and I think alike. As long as you don't beat Ace to death or cripple him, I'll support however you train him."

When Garp had trained Luffy and Ace's vitality back then, he had used much the same method, often leaving them on the verge of death. The results had proven quite good.

Ain kept shaking her head as she listened. What kind of grandfather was that? Other people raised their grandsons like precious treasures, but Garp did the complete opposite. Someone was tormenting his grandson, and he was laughing and encouraging them to keep at it.

This Marine Hero truly could not be judged by ordinary standards...

Noki understood Garp's thinking. He simply wanted to raise Ace into a man as indomitable as Pirate King Roger, to make Ace suffer every hardship and build up his strength before he encountered true danger, so that when danger really came, he would not lose his life.

"With your word, I'm relieved. If anything else comes up, I'll contact you again."

Noki hung up the call and smiled at Ain. "Looks like I won."

A faint blush inexplicably spread over Ain's lovely face. "Then what condition does Noki want me to agree to?"

"Hmm... I haven't thought of one yet. I'll bring it up once I do."

"Oh~"

Ain understood Noki's intentions. He liked finding chances to make these especially flexible conditions. Because of that, Noki could take the initiative in most matters.

She had suffered losses in that regard before, yet she could never resist Noki's temptation. When she had the chance to make someone she liked agree to any one condition, how could she possibly hold back?

On a street in Loguetown.

Bartolomeo and several of his underlings were beating up several fierce-looking burly men and a heavily made-up woman in the street.

It was because those people had bought things without paying that Bartolomeo had lost track of Senior Noki while carrying out justice as a Marine.

Seeing that the people had been beaten beyond recognition, the shop owner took pity on them and stepped forward to persuade him. "Sir Marine, please stop. If you keep hitting them, someone's going to die."

"Wuh ruo wuh ruo..."

One of the burly men kept trying to say something, but both his cheeks were swollen, making his words completely unintelligible.

Bartolomeo still did not feel satisfied. He spat viciously in their faces before leading his Marine underlings away.

Not long after Bartolomeo left.

Those people supported one another to the harbor and found a broad, burly man.

The man was startled when he saw their condition. "How did you end up like this?"

It took the group quite some effort to explain the whole matter.

"I see. You ran into the Marines, huh? Didn't you reveal your identities?" The man frowned deeply, clearly angered.

"Captain, those Marines had no sense of honor. Before we could finish speaking, he led his men in and started beating us. We didn't even get a chance to talk."

"Hmph. In the past, when our people came to Loguetown to obtain supplies, the Marines always turned a blind eye. We kept out of each other's way. But now they've struck us in the face. This is intolerable!

Lord Krieg has recently been looking for a target to further build his prestige. Since Loguetown is being so unruly, I'll suggest that Lord Krieg take this place!"

"Men, set sail and rendezvous with Lord Krieg!"

"Yes!"

Loguetown Hospital.

Deuce handed Ace over to the doctor to be taken into a ward for his wounds to be dressed, then stared at the medical bill in deep thought. He clearly did not have that much money, so he could only find work first.

Deuce found a restaurant hiring temporary workers. The pay was decent, and it provided food and lodging, so he settled down there for the time being.

Ace recovered quickly. Two days later, he was basically able to move normally. When he learned that Deuce was working from morning until night every day to pay off his medical bills, he was touched. For the moment, he put aside his thoughts of challenging Noki and joined him at work.

His injuries had not fully healed anyway, so he could use the chance to rest for a few days and recover his strength.

That evening.

Bartolomeo brought his underlings to eat at a restaurant he used to like. Back when they were mountain bandits, they had loved this place. They had wanted to bring Senior Noki along, but he had mercilessly refused.

"I'm sick of the food at the base. Tereina and Carmen are such good cooks, but they always make us the same few dishes without ever changing them. I heard the rear admiral's menu doesn't repeat a single dish from one day to the next."

Bartolomeo crossed one leg over the other as he flipped through the menu. "How could Senior Noki be like us? If he were the same as ordinary people like us, would he still be the idol in our hearts?"

"Hehehe, Boss is right."

"Waiter, order!"

"Coming."

Deuce carried an order slip over to Bartolomeo's table. Only after seeing their Marine uniforms and confirming that Noki was not among them did he breathe a sigh of relief. "What would you gentlemen like to eat?"

Bartolomeo stared at Deuce's face. "Eh? You're a new waiter, aren't you? Why do I feel like I've seen you somewhere before?"

Deuce smiled. "It might just be your imagination."

"Hmm..."

Bartolomeo did not think any further about it and casually ordered seven or eight dishes.

Ace waited by the serving counter. When steaming-hot dishes were brought out from the kitchen, he held a tray in one hand and walked toward Bartolomeo's table.

"Boss, it's that kid!"

One of the underlings was the first to recognize Ace's face.

Bartolomeo had not looked closely before, but the moment he did, he slapped the table and stood up. "No wonder he looked familiar. He's one of the two who publicly insulted Senior Noki a couple days ago."

They did not recognize Deuce, but Ace had left an extremely deep impression on them. After all, they had been looking for him for a long time.

"Marines!?"

Noki's beating had left Ace with a bit of psychological trauma. Instinctively, he threw the tray in his hands, splashing food and soup all over Bartolomeo and the others.

"You little bastard, I'll kill you!"

Bartolomeo was completely enraged. He crossed the index and middle fingers of both hands, and a sturdy transparent barrier swept forward.

Ace refused to be outdone. Raising his fist, he shouted, "Flame Fist!" Ferocious flames shot straight at Bartolomeo and the others.

The flames crashed into the barrier, sending sparks flying violently.

"Don't fight in here!" The owner stamped his feet anxiously.

The customers screamed and ran out of the restaurant.

"Boss, Boss, calm down! This isn't a place to fight."

The Marine underlings hurried forward and grabbed Bartolomeo's arm.

Bartolomeo came to his senses as well. He slapped his underling's face and cried out, "It's over! I've caused trouble! If Senior Noki finds out, he definitely won't spare me!"

"Boss, don't panic. At this point, the only way to make up for it is to capture this kid."

"That makes sense."

Seeing that things were going badly, Deuce grabbed Ace's hand tightly and took off running with him.

"Stop right there!" Bartolomeo led a group of Marines in desperate pursuit. As they ran, the entire group left Loguetown.

Ace shook off Deuce's hand. "Why are we running? They're just a few small fry. Watch me deal with them!"

What Deuce was worried about was not this group of Marines, but their commanding officer!

Still, they had already left Loguetown's boundaries. That person probably could not get here so quickly.

"Ace, finish this quickly!" Deuce reminded him.

"Yeah, I know."

A bright flame flickered and boiled atop Ace's fist.

"You little bastard."

Bartolomeo assumed the standard stance for summoning a barrier, ready to strike.

"Flame Fist!"

"Barrier Impact!"

The two attacked almost simultaneously.

Surging flames blasted against the barrier, and firelight soared into the sky!

"Too weak!"

Bartolomeo smiled faintly and controlled the barrier as it continued advancing.

"Damn it!"

Ace realized that this guy was no ordinary opponent. As expected of that person's subordinate.

"Divine Flame: Shiranui!"

Ace grabbed two spear-like flames, shouted, and hurled them forward.

"It's useless. No one can break my barrier except Senior Noki!"

"Watch out!"

As the barrier drew closer and closer, Ace shoved Deuce aside, intending to take the damage alone.

To everyone's surprise, the barrier merely passed through Ace's body.

Ace did not feel even the slightest pain.

"Eh!"

Bartolomeo stared dumbfounded. What was going on?

Refusing to believe it, he summoned another barrier and slammed it toward Ace.

Flames surged around Ace's entire body once more, whirling and rolling rapidly around him. The surrounding temperature rose sharply. He raised his arm and threw a fierce punch forward.

"Mirror Flame!"

A vast sheet of fire surged toward Bartolomeo.

"I already told you it's useless. Just die obediently!" Bartolomeo shouted.

The result was no different from before.

The flames could not break through the transparent barrier, while the barrier could not cause Ace any real harm.

The two exchanged blows for more than half an hour, neither able to do anything to the other.

At night, the firelight was extremely conspicuous.

Noki easily found the two of them. Stepping through the air, he descended from the sky, his beautiful eyes sweeping coldly across everyone. "Bartolomeo, don't you have something you should explain to me properly?"

At this moment, Bartolomeo and Ace were both panting heavily, having clearly spent considerable stamina.

"And you, why are you still on this island? Didn't I tell you to disappear from my sight forever?" Noki's gaze settled on Deuce as killing intent surged from him.

"Senior Noki, please listen to my explanation. What happened was..."

"Enough. We'll talk after we return." Noki raised a hand and stopped him.

Ace gritted his teeth hard, glaring at the beautiful, captivating man before him. "I said it too. I won't leave this island until I defeat you. Flame Fist!"

A few days ago, Noki had drawn inspiration from observing Flame Fist. The Dark-Dark Fruit's black smoke was, in some ways, similar to flames. Since Ace could create Flame Fist, why could he not develop a similar skill?

Thus, a brand-new skill was born.

"Black Hand!"

Noki extended his right arm. Black smoke rapidly formed across the surface of his snow-white skin, covering his entire arm in mere seconds. Then he aimed at Ace's Flame Fist and threw a punch.

The black mist instantly expanded, transforming into a giant hand that completely wrapped around the Flame Fist and devoured it into nothingness.

"Cross Fire!"

Ace crossed his index fingers and fired a beam of flame.

"Dark Finger Pistol."

Noki extended his index finger. Black smoke shot from his fingertip like several spirit snakes twisting around one another, piercing through the blazing flames and striking Ace squarely in the chest.

"Urgh!" Ace's injuries had not yet healed, and now they worsened again.