Night fell.
The island, battered by the storm, finally regained some peace.
A bonfire burned in the center of the harbor.
The three Adventure Groups and the islanders sat around it, with freshly delivered food and hot soup filling the tables.
Enel sat in the most conspicuous spot, accepting the villagers' toasts as though it were only natural.
Ze Yi quietly checked on the wounded and their recovery.
Law leaned nearby, head lowered as he wiped down Kikoku.
Ace held a cup of liquor and stared at the dancing flames before him for a long time.
After the daytime clamor faded, the words that had been buried in his heart for so long gradually rose to the surface.
He suddenly looked up.
"Law."
Law did not raise his eyes.
"What is it?"
Ace fell silent for a moment.
"Did you always see me as Roger's son?"
The motion of wiping the blade stopped.
Law looked up at him without avoiding his gaze.
"At first, yes."
Ace's grip on his cup tightened slightly, and the smile on his face faded a little.
It was not unexpected.
Ever since he was born, too many people had looked at him that way.
Some feared him.
Some despised him.
Others simply heard that name and decided he would inevitably become a pirate, walking the same path as Roger.
But Law quickly continued.
"Not anymore."
Ace froze.
Law slowly sheathed Kikoku, his tone remaining calm.
"The person competing with me today was Ace, captain of the Spade Adventure Group."
"The guy who charged into a swarm of sea beasts, yet still knew to keep his flames away from the villagers' homes."
"It had nothing to do with Roger or pirates."
The bonfire crackled.
Ace said nothing.
Those words were not complicated.
Yet they were like