Chapter 230 – Different Paths
"I can't beat her yet, but she can't do anything to me either." Ace said with a confident smile. "And I believe it won't be long before I can truly defeat her."
Because of the involvement of CP0, the complete details of what happened on Whole Cake Island were never made public. Most people only knew that Ace and Big Mom had clashed, but few knew the true cause or the final outcome.
"Hahahaha." Rayleigh laughed heartily upon hearing Ace's words. "If it's you, I have no doubt. I'm looking forward to that day myself."
As a pirate from the same era as Big Mom, and having fought her more than once, Silvers Rayleigh knew better than anyone how powerful that woman was.
That was exactly why he was even more astonished by Ace's rapid growth.
As the man who had personally taught Ace Haki, Rayleigh understood his potential better than anyone else.
By Rayleigh's estimation when he left Skypiea, Ace would need at least three years before he could rival the Four Emperors.
Yet in just a single year, Ace's power had already reached that level.
If this rate of growth continued, it wouldn't take another year before Ace could truly compete with the Yonko—or even surpass them.
"Heh, I won't keep you waiting too long." Ace smiled, then suddenly remembered something. He took out a bottle of wine from his backpack, placed it on the bar, and said, "This is a bottle my friend brought back from Skypiea. I hope you like it."
"Skypiea, huh…" Rayleigh picked up the bottle, nostalgia flashing across his face. Then he chuckled. "I like it already. You're thoughtful as always."
"As long as you like it." Ace slung his pack over his shoulder. "I shouldn't stay here too long. I'll come visit again later."
After giving a polite bow, he turned and walked toward the door.
Rayleigh's gaze lingered on the door after Ace left. "It seems you've chosen a completely different path from Roger, Ace-kun," he murmured.
From the very first time he met Ace, Rayleigh had sensed that his goals and Roger's were not the same.
And after today's meeting, he was sure of it — this man, Roger's only son, had found a path of his own.
A path completely unlike his father's.
"I'm really looking forward to your future, Ace." Rayleigh sighed inwardly, then turned to look at Monkey D. Luffy. His eyes softened as he stared at the straw hat on the boy's head — a familiar sight that stirred deep memories. In that boy's spirit, he felt something strikingly similar to Roger. It reminded him vividly of the day he first met the Pirate King.
Compared to Ace, who inherited Roger's blood, this boy seemed more suited to inherit Roger's will.
"It seems that will isn't passed down by blood alone…" A nostalgic smile appeared on Rayleigh's face. Then he looked at Luffy and said warmly,
"Alright, Luffy, as promised, I'll teach you Haki. But be warned — my training won't be as 'gentle' as the women of Amazon Lily. You'd better be prepared!"
"Hehe, that's exactly what I wanted!" Luffy pressed his hand on the brim of his straw hat and grinned widely. "I'm the man who'll become the Pirate King! I'll grow stronger than anyone!"
"Hahahaha! You said it so boldly, even I'm getting excited." Rayleigh laughed aloud. "The training will take at least a year. If you have anything left to settle, do it now. Once we begin, I won't let you slack off for any reason."
"One year?" Luffy thought for a moment and nodded with a carefree grin. "That's fine. I've already promised my crew we'll meet again in two years."
"Good." Rayleigh nodded approvingly. "Then get some rest tonight. I'll take you to the training site tomorrow."
"Training site?" Luffy asked eagerly. "Where is it, Master Rayleigh?"
Because Rayleigh had agreed to teach him Haki, Luffy had started calling him "Master" just like Ace once did.
"You'll find out soon enough," Rayleigh replied with a smirk. "Let's see if you can still smile like that once you get there. Now go rest. I've got to prepare — it's been a long time since I've left the Sabaody Archipelago."
Although Rayleigh was often away for days at a time, he rarely left the archipelago entirely. Other than the year he spent on Skypiea training Ace, this would be only the second time in two decades that he planned to be away for an extended period.
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Meanwhile, after Ace stepped out of Shakky's Rip-Off Bar, he immediately sensed several hidden presences targeting him.
But these people didn't attack — they were simply observing from afar.
"Hmph, Navy and CP agents, huh?" Ace smirked. "They've got eyes on me the moment I arrive. Looks like the World Government is watching me very closely these days."
He could clearly sense the distinct auras of Marines and Cipher Pol operatives.
But he didn't care — instead, he just smiled and began walking toward Area 33.
Ace wasn't worried that the World Government would immediately send an Admiral after him. At his current level, even they wouldn't act rashly without full preparation.
To capture him now would require at least three Admiral-class combatants.
And mobilizing that kind of power simultaneously wasn't easy — Admirals didn't just happen to be drinking tea together at Marineford on a whim.
If they attacked without sufficient planning and failed, it would only boost Ace's growing legend.
Neither the World Government nor the Navy Headquarters would risk such humiliation.
Moreover, Ace never traveled blindly. Before coming to the Sabaody Archipelago, he had already gathered intelligence on the Navy's current deployments.
With the Admiral selection dispute underway, Aokiji and Akainu were busy suppressing unrest in the North Blue and West Blue respectively, leaving Kizaru as the only Admiral stationed at Headquarters.
Originally, Ace had planned to stay a day or two with Yamato, Carol, and Tama, but now that he was being tracked, lingering here was no longer an option.
At the moment, Yamato, Carol, and Tama were playing at Bubble Park in Area 33.
Ace decided to meet up with them first — and then set sail for Fish-Man Island.
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