The clock turns back to earlier that morning. On the bustling streets of a civilian district far from the auction houses, Ace and Deuce walked at a leisurely pace, casually chatting as they took in the sights. Deuce held his trusty notebook, occasionally jotting down observations or a fleeting spark of inspiration for his chronicle.
Crack, crunch, crunch.
Ace, meanwhile, was methodically working his way through a massive bag of rice crackers, the sound of his snacking providing a steady rhythm to their stroll. His pace of walking did nothing to slow his pace of eating.
"Hey, Deuce," he said between mouthfuls, his eyes already scanning the shops lining the street. "Help me keep an eye out for more of these crackers. I'm almost out, and I'm definitely not full yet."
Deuce glanced at the still-hefty bag in Ace's arms, then back at his captain. "No way. You've been eating nonstop since we left the ship for breakfast. How are you still not full?" he asked, genuinely baffled by the sheer volume of food Ace could put away. He wasn't entirely sure what Ace's definition of "almost out" even was.
"What do you mean?" Ace asked, a look of honest confusion on his face. "This is still breakfast, isn't it?" As far as he was concerned, the meal wasn't over until he was full.
Deuce sighed and lowered his head, refocusing on the words taking shape in his notebook. "Fine, fine. Just pick a direction and we'll see what we find," he mumbled, completely absorbed in his writing.
"Alright, this way it is!" Ace said cheerfully. Seeing his friend lost in his own world, he took the lead, randomly picking a narrow alley and ducking into it.
A short while later, Deuce finally looked up, a strange feeling prickling at him. "Eh? Ace, where are we?"
The atmosphere had changed completely. Ace shrugged, his cheeks still bulging with crackers. "You said to just go anywhere, so I did. How would I know where this is?"
Deuce put a hand to his forehead, letting out a helpless groan. "Thank you for taking me so literally." He looked around at the gloomy, narrow street, the dilapidated houses, and the piles of garbage. They had stumbled into the slums.
"Well, they definitely don't sell rice crackers here," Ace mumbled, his brief survey of the area confirming his disappointment.
As they walked deeper into the desolate neighborhood, they began to notice small figures hiding in the dark alleyways and ramshackle doorways. They were skinny children in ragged clothes, peering out at the two strangers. Their curious eyes, however, weren't fixed on Ace, but on the fragrant bag of crackers in his arms, their gazes filled with a deep, heart-wrenching longing.
Ace stopped. He turned to the children and offered them a warm, disarming smile. "Hey, you want some of this?" he asked, his voice gentle. "It's okay, you can come out."
Perhaps it was the brightness of his smile, or perhaps it was the simple, genuine warmth he radiated. After a moment of hesitation, the children's wary expressions softened, and they slowly, cautiously, walked out to meet him.
Ace happily held out the bag, letting the children take handfuls of crackers until every last one was gone. They scurried back to the safety of their homes and alleys, clutching their unexpected treasures. Ace's own snack was gone, but he didn't mind in the slightest. He just grinned, waving at one of the children who turned back to look at him one last time.
"I thought you weren't full yet," Deuce said quietly, his eyes flickering with a complex emotion as he watched his captain.
"Yeah," Ace replied, turning his head. "But they were hungry, weren't they?"
"That's true…" Deuce looked at Ace's shining, earnest eyes and said no more, a small smile touching his own lips.
"Well, well, 'Fire Fist.' To think you'd wander all the way out here. You really gave me quite the runaround."
Isuka's clear, sharp voice cut through the quiet street from behind them.
"Really?" Deuce groaned under his breath. "How does she always find us in these remote corners?" He had been hoping for one peaceful day on the island before they had to set sail that afternoon. So much for that.
"Hey there!" Ace turned around and raised a hand in a friendly greeting.
Isuka stood there in her full Marine officer's uniform, but her demeanor today seemed different. She wasn't as tense as usual, and the hint of a smile played on her lips as she approached them at a relaxed pace.
Behind her, however, stood another, much taller Marine figure whose presence was anything but relaxed. His uniform coat, emblazoned with the characters for "Justice," fluttered in the breeze, and his tall, powerful frame radiated an aura of immense pressure. He was stone-faced, staring at Ace with sharp, analytical eyes, looking him up and down as if measuring him.
"I want to make it clear that we're not here to fight today," Isuka said as she closed the distance. "We're here on official business. Vice Admiral Draw will explain the details."
The tall man stepped forward, opening a document folder he held in his hand. "I am Vice Admiral Draw of Marine Headquarters," he stated, his voice a deep baritone. "You are the pirate, 'Fire Fist' Ace, correct?"
"Uh, yeah, that's me," Ace replied politely, seeing that they weren't immediately drawing their weapons. "What can I do for you?"
"Please review this document," Vice Admiral Draw said, his expression unchanging as he handed the folder to Ace.
Deuce leaned over to look. His eyes went wide. "An invitation… to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea!?" he exclaimed, his voice cracking with shock.
The Seven Warlords were one of the Three Great Powers, a collection of seven powerful and notorious pirates who had struck a deal with the World Government. While Ace was certainly strong, Deuce felt he still lacked the global infamy and influence to warrant such an offer. His first reaction was disbelief, but the document was undeniably official, brought by a Vice Admiral and stamped with the seal of the World Government itself.
Deuce looked at Ace, his mind racing. If Ace accepted, the Spade Pirates would be pardoned. Their bounties would be frozen. They would no longer be hunted.
"This is exactly what you wanted, isn't it, 'Fire Fist'?" Isuka said, her voice full of genuine happiness for him. She had always believed the Spade Pirates were good people at heart. She had even tried to recommend that they join the Marines, an offer Ace had flatly rejected. "Now you can continue being a pirate, but without having to be hunted by the marine day and night! It's the best of both worlds!"
Ace noticed the expectant, hopeful looks in both Deuce's and Isuka's eyes. He felt a pang of warmth, but in the end, his heart was resolute. He made his choice. "I refuse."
"What? Why?" Isuka asked, her smile faltering in confusion.
"Because I don't like the Warlord system," Ace stated simply, his voice calm but firm. "A pirate is a pirate. If you belong to the World Government, what does that even make you? It's because of that broken system that some of the Warlords can get away with doing whatever evil they want, and no one punishes them for it!"
"Is that so…" Isuka opened her mouth to argue, but found she had no words. Everything he said was true.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Vice Admiral Draw began to applaud slowly, a mocking smile spreading across his stern face. "Well said, 'Fire Fist' Ace. Not bad at all! Coincidentally," he sneered, "I also can't stand this damned system!"
He suddenly snatched the document from Ace's hand and, with a vicious rip, tore the official invitation into pieces, letting them flutter to the ground.
Before anyone could react, the Vice Admiral attacked. His massive fist, a hardened weapon of war, shot forward, aimed directly at Ace's chest. The attack was launched with blinding speed, closing the distance in an instant.
Acting on pure instinct, Ace grabbed Deuce, flung him backward out of the line of fire, and crossed his arms in a defensive stance, his body already igniting.
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