"Hey, Ace, you really hate your father, don't you? Hate the suffering he brought to these seas."
Kai knocked Ace down, but Ace had forgotten to get up.
He stared in shock, his eyes full of amazement: "You know who my father is?"
Kai nodded and revealed information that shocked everyone present: "Gol D. Roger. Of course, he has a more well-known nickname: the Pirate King!"
"What?!"
Everyone's eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
This kid was a descendant of Pirate King Roger?!
They had never heard of such a thing!
But judging from Kai and Ace's expressions, this didn't seem fake.
"The Pirate King's son living in the hometown of a Marine Hero... this... it can't be..."
Violet kept swallowing, quite frightened by her own speculation.
She felt like she had learned some incredible secret.
Born a princess of a kingdom, through exposure and influence, she wasn't ignorant about dirty dealings among government higher-ups.
"That's right, I hate him! That bastard Roger is nothing but scum!"
Ace didn't hide his hatred at all. The title of Roger's son had never brought him glory, only curses and death.
His mother Rouge had sacrificed herself to protect him.
He was born carrying original sin!
"That's not true! In Oden's diary, Roger could be temperamental sometimes, but he was straightforward, cared for his companions, and definitely wasn't scum."
Yamato spoke up in disagreement.
The diary Oden wrote recorded his travels with Roger, giving Roger high praise.
"Don't joke around!"
Ace wasn't intimidated by Yamato, who was more than a meter taller than him, and shouted: "The Great Pirate Era he started... do you know how many lives it cost?"
How wonderful.
Two people, both dissatisfied with their fathers, were actually arguing.
Kai found it somewhat amusing.
In the original story, Ace was Yamato's only good friend.
"Then Ace, want to try ending this era?"
Kai bent down and extended his hand to Ace, smiling as if merely discussing what to have for afternoon tea.
Ace wasn't simply giving up on himself. Deep in his heart, he still had a tenacious will to survive and wanted to save himself.
Sabo and Luffy's appearance gave him the first reason to live: taking care of his younger brothers.
In the future, Whitebeard's appearance would give him the second reason to live: making the old man Pirate King.
Now, it was time for big brother Kai to interfere as a third party.
"What?"
Ace was stunned.
"Since you hate the Great Pirate Era your father started so much, then go overthrow it. Go establish a peaceful new order; go prove you're far stronger than your father."
Kai's smile didn't change: "Starting with the father, ending with the son... isn't that interesting? It's better than you sitting here feeling sorry for yourself."
Ace's pupils dilated with shock.
He had never thought of this path. If he really accomplished it...
"Don't rush to answer me. I'll be staying here for a few days." Kai said with a smile.
After much hesitation, Ace reached out and grasped the hand Kai extended.
"Before you leave, I'll give you my answer."
After speaking, Ace limped away from the clearing.
"Ace, wait for me!"
At this moment, Luffy finally emerged from the forest, running after Ace.
Mt. Colubo, not far from Windmill Village.
Looking at the distant large wooden house, Ace was somewhat dazed.
He had clearly wanted to find a quiet place to think about his future life but somehow unconsciously ended up here.
Just then, an orange curly-haired woman led a group of fully armed subordinates out.
"It's Ace and Luffy! Boss Dadan!"
A sharp-eyed subordinate shouted excitedly.
"You two little brats, you're still alive!"
Dadan took a big puff of her cigarette and shouted fiercely: "Saves me from having to collect your corpses."
Seeing Ace and Luffy, the woman's worried heart also relaxed.
Earlier, after hearing from her subordinates that the Beast Pirates had landed on the island, she had been constantly worried about the two's safety.
Given Ace and Luffy's temperaments, it was hard not to cause trouble.
This was also why she had brought her subordinates out.
"Come in and eat!"
Dadan grumbled: "If you two brats starve to death, that old bastard Garp will definitely give me trouble."
"Alright!" Luffy was the first to respond enthusiastically.
"Idiot, aren't you full? Didn't you just finish eating at the tavern?"
Ace held his forehead helplessly.
"Did I? I forgot. Hehe." Luffy rubbed his stomach: "After fighting that guy, I feel really hungry."
"Fighting who?" Dadan's steps paused, her brow furrowing. Only now did she notice the dirt and disorder on both of them, which didn't seem to be from fighting wild beasts.
"That... um... that?"
Luffy frowned hard, thinking deeply, then after a long while: "I forgot!"
THUD! Everyone fell over.
"Are you a goldfish?" Ace roared: "It was Kai! Natural Disaster Kai!"
"What? That guy from the Beast Pirates?" Dadan was shocked.
She hurriedly welcomed Ace and Luffy inside and instructed her subordinates to guard the main gate.
"You really fought with Natural Disaster Kai?" Dadan asked impatiently.
In her heart, she found it hard to believe.
After all, two children challenging a world-famous great pirate and returning unharmed seemed like a fairy tale no matter how you looked at it.
"Yeah." Luffy nodded directly and said in amazement: "That guy is really strong. He sent me flying with one hit."
"But I'll win back eventually."
Luffy was full of confidence.
Dadan felt like her world was collapsing.
"You two, don't go anywhere now; just stay here! No negotiating!"
Dadan didn't dare bet on Kai's group's kindness.
All she could do was hide Ace and Luffy until Garp appeared.
Ace had never seen Dadan like this before.
Her gaze was firm with a trace of resolution.
He suddenly realized that this woman who had always acted like she disliked the three brothers might actually love them deep down.
Ace's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
He suddenly understood that he had already made his decision long ago in his heart. He just couldn't bear to leave Dadan and her family.
"Thank you, Dadan, and everyone. Thank you for taking care of us all these years."
Ace's sudden gratitude startled Dadan.
"What nonsense are you talking about, you little brat!"
Dadan made an exaggerated expression and shook her body as if she were cold.
"I've decided... I want to join the Beast Pirates!" Ace said decisively.
Dadan's world completely collapsed.
"You, you, what did you say?"
Dadan was so shocked her mouth hung open, and the cigarette fell from her mouth without her noticing.
"I want to follow Kai to sea and end this era." Ace emphasized.
"Have you gone crazy?"
Dadan grabbed Ace by the collar, trying to find traces of hesitation in his eyes. Unfortunately, there weren't any.
"I'm going to end my father's sins."
Ace stared firmly into Dadan's eyes.
The hands gripping Ace's collar slowly loosened. Dadan understood she could no longer stop this boy.