"Shakky, sister!!"
Hancock said weakly.
"Do you now understand how dangerous the outside world is? Are you still going to sneak out?"
Shakky was scolding Hancock, but she shot a glare at Li Yuan. As a woman from Amazon Lily, she could tell what Hancock's gaze meant. This little girl was probably mesmerized by Li Yuan's heroic act of saving her just now! "I-I understand now, we won't dare to do it again, Shakky sister!"
Hancock lowered her head in apology, stealing glances at Li Yuan from time to time.
"Since you have too little knowledge of the outside world and are easily deceived, then join the Infinite Pirates and train well. Only by becoming stronger can you avoid danger."
Li Yuan didn't notice Shakky glaring at him. Hancock had good potential, and if nurtured properly, she could become a formidable force in the future.
"Mm mm, I'm willing!"
Upon hearing Li Yuan's words, Hancock seemed to think of something, her face flushed, and she immediately agreed.
In response, Shakky couldn't help but cover her forehead. Sometimes she doubted whether Li Yuan was doing this on purpose, or if he was completely oblivious, or perhaps he genuinely didn't notice anything unusual!
"Since that's the case, let's go. We'll head back to the Limitless Sea Area first."
With that, everyone left the auction house.
"Boom boom boom!!!"
However, not long after Li Yuan and the others left the auction house, those who had been knocked unconscious by the shockwave had not yet woken up when the entire auction house suddenly collapsed, burying everyone inside under the rubble.
"Ah ah ah ah ah, run!!!"
The collapse of the auction house instantly caused panic among the surrounding crowd, who began to flee. Who knew if the next building to collapse would be the one next to them!
"What? You're saying you sensed a strong Conqueror's Haki and then you were knocked out?"
When the navy arrived, they immediately began to dig through the rubble of the auction house, rescuing those who were still alive.
It turned out that there were a few experienced navy personnel inside the auction house, so they were very clear that what had knocked them out was definitely Conqueror's Haki, and not just any ordinary Conqueror's Haki.
Otherwise, it would be impossible for a navy colonel to be knocked out without even being able to withstand it for a second.
The situation was immediately reported back to the navy headquarters.
Navy Headquarters:
"What? A strong Conqueror's Haki appeared in the Sabaody Archipelago, and a World Government-controlled auction house was destroyed?"
"Immediately check the surveillance to see what happened!"
"Also, investigate the whereabouts of those notorious pirates."
Upon hearing this news, Sengoku's expression darkened. Due to the continuous decline of the World Government's economy, they had intervened in many local businesses. The Sabaody Archipelago, being close to the Red Line and the navy headquarters, had many industries secretly managed by the World Government, including that auction house! "Marshal, the other notorious pirates are staying in their territories and have not appeared near the Grand Line. The Infinite Pirates' Captain Li Yuan has been moving unpredictably, appearing in the New World, Fish-Man Island, and also in the Sabaody Archipelago."
"The intelligence department speculates that it is likely due to those three women from Amazon Lily, and since Li Yuan happened to be in the Sabaody Archipelago, he took action."
"From this, we can infer that the relationship between the Infinite Pirates and Amazon Lily is quite unusual."
A few hours later, the intelligence officer delivered the information.
"Damn it, it's Li Yuan again!"
"Send the information to the World Government; we, the navy, will not get involved in this matter."
Sengoku angrily smashed the table, waving his hand to throw the pot away.
Limitless Sea Area, Morrison Island:
In a fruit shop, Rouge was busy packing the fruits that customers needed, while Ace was diligently helping his mother with the work.
At the same time, feeling tired from working, Ace's eyes darted around, and he picked up a fruit and took a big bite.
However, at the moment Ace bit into the fruit, it suddenly changed, covered in all sorts of strange patterns.
"What a terrible fruit! How could we have such a terrible fruit at home? Which fruit plantation sent this over!"
The moment Ace bit into it, his face turned dark, and he immediately wanted to spit it out, but the fruit he had already swallowed wouldn't come back up.
"Ah ah ah ah ah, Mom, Mom, help me!!"
But the next moment, Ace noticed that his hand was suddenly on fire, and no matter what he did, he couldn't extinguish it, and it didn't even hurt. Panicking, he rushed to find his mother.
"Ace, what's wrong!!"
Seeing Ace's hand on fire, Rouge quickly brought water to douse it, and instantly the fire on Ace's hand was extinguished, returning to his normal palm.
But the next moment, the previously extinguished flames reignited.
"Ace, how did you end up like this? Does your hand hurt?"
Rouge hurriedly asked.
"Wah, Mom, I don't know what happened! I just snuck a bite of a fruit, but it was so awful, and after eating it, my hand caught fire!"
Ace cried.
"Fruit? That must be a Devil Fruit!"
"Ace, calm down and listen to your mom. Just think slowly, and if you want your hand to return to normal, it will recover on its own!"
Although Rouge had never eaten a Devil Fruit, she had heard Roger talk about them and often saw news about them in the newspapers.
"Mom, it really went out!"
"Mom, does this mean I have a powerful ability? Can I join the Infinite Pirates in the future?"
Seeing the fire in his hand really extinguished, and then with a thought, the fire appeared again, Ace was as happy as if he had found a new toy.
"Mm, it's very powerful, but Ace must be good and not use this ability to harm innocent people!"
Rouge said gently.
"Mm mm, don't worry, Mom! When I grow up, I will protect you and won't bully innocent people!"
Ace said obediently.
"Nine years have passed in the blink of an eye. As for the future, let's leave it for the future!"
Looking at Ace's happy expression, Rouge couldn't help but feel emotional.
Back when she followed Li Yuan here, after Ace was born, she opened a fruit shop. Business was good, and they didn't have to worry about food and drink. Living a simple life here made her very content.
She thought this life would continue indefinitely, and that Ace would grow up normally, get married, and have children, living a simple life like this.
But she never expected today's scene. Ace, who originally wanted to venture out, after gaining the power of the Devil Fruit, she, as a mother, wouldn't be able to stop her son from going to sea in the future.
(End of Chapter)