Pirate: I Maxed Out Conqueror's Haki First Because I Can't Die

It was after that incident that he decided to work hard and grow stronger.

"The Marines don't have a king, Ace."

"Only Pirates call themselves kings."

Xia Le shook his head and laughed.

"Then I'll become the Pirate King!"

Ace puffed out his cheeks.

"Sure, sure!"

"Then Uncle Xia Le will watch you become king!"

Xia Le burst out laughing.

The little tyke was only two. He probably didn't even know what the Pirate King was and was just talking nonsense.

Xia Le lifted Ace up and leaped into the air, where he hovered.

Still a small child, Ace immediately erupted in delighted laughter.

"Higher! Higher!"

Caught up in the child's laughter, Xia Le asked, "Is this high enough?"

"High!"

Ace answered in his babyish voice.

"Hahahaha!"

Laughter rang across all of Marine Headquarters.

"See that? That's the commander's son."

"He just took his mother's surname."

Buggy spoke in a low voice as he looked up at the figure in the sky.

The Marines beside him looked astonished—and excited.

The commander's son!

Not far away, a white-haired young man stood with a cigar between his lips, his expression calm. He paid Buggy no attention.

Two years had passed. They had all become Junior Officers, and their strength rivaled that of Marines older than them.

"This is top secret!"

"You only know because you're my subordinates. But remember..."

"Don't tell anyone!"

Buggy lowered his voice even further.

Suddenly, light flashed across the sky. A bolt of lightning struck, engulfing him.

"Ah!"

Buggy looked up in panic. He managed only a scream before the lightning swallowed him.

Several Marines beside him were left smoking and collapsed with a thud.

"Serves you right!"

Not far away, Smoker blew out a puff of smoke, openly enjoying Buggy's misfortune.

Two years on, Buggy still hadn't