OPTC Chapter 290 Ace and Luffy VS the Negative Ghosts
Zhang Da Ye wasn't surprised that the Navy was planning to change admirals. By that time, Aokiji and Akainu would likely be promoted to full generals.
As for Sengoku asking Garp to keep an eye on certain people—since Garp could mention it so casually—it clearly wasn't a serious matter.
Garp only looked unreliable on the surface; he wasn't truly foolish. If Sengoku had seriously warned him never to reveal something, Garp wouldn't have uttered a single word about it.
Sengoku probably gave him this assignment simply because the East Blue was considered a "symbol of peace" for the Navy—too important to ignore—and it needed to be watched. Or perhaps Sengoku was just irritated at seeing Garp so idle and gave him some busywork.
Afterward, Garp asked a few questions about the Golden Lion, and Zhang Da Ye briefly explained Shiki's purpose and what happened in the end.
Then Zhang Da Ye asked, "Didn't Sengoku tell you about all that?"
"I might've accidentally fallen asleep at the time, hahaha!" Garp laughed heartily, then looked a little wistful. "Shiki, that old bastard… if he escaped from prison, why couldn't he just find somewhere quiet to retire?"
After all, they were of the same era. Though they would fight to the death if they met because of opposing sides, once the other truly died, there was still a faint sense of loss.
Especially when Garp remembered that Shiki was ultimately defeated by that little girl who used to fight Luffy for meat. For a moment, he wondered if he was getting old.
"Was that Golden Lion Shiki guy really strong?" Ace, who had been quietly listening to Zhang Da Ye and Garp's conversation, asked curiously.
Zhang Da Ye replied casually, "Shiki was a great pirate who was once as famous as the Pirate King, Roger. He made a mess of Marineford back then before being captured. Later, he cut off both legs to escape from prison. His strength has probably declined a lot since then."
But Ace only heard the words "as famous as the Pirate King Roger" and nothing after that.
"Ace…" Garp's expression grew complicated. He knew that the name Roger was the one Ace least wanted to hear—the man whose very existence once made Ace question whether he should have even been born.
"Mr. Zhang Da Ye, could you please spar with me?" Ace asked. Seeing Zhang Da Ye doing most of the talking with Garp, he assumed Zhang Da Ye was the strongest person in the crew—the one who had defeated Shiki.
Zhang Da Ye raised a brow. "Why do you want to fight me?"
Clenching his fists, Ace said, "I want to know what kind of strength it takes to defeat that man."
To the unknowing, "that man" might have referred to Shiki, but Zhang Da Ye knew Ace meant Roger.
Ace knew he was Roger's son—the man called the sinner who started the Great Pirate Era. Countless people had suffered because of pirates and hated Roger to the bone.
Once, Ace had asked strangers what they would do if Roger had a child. Their replies were full of venom and curses. He fought them afterward—but he also began to doubt whether his very birth was a mistake. He wanted to do something to prove his worth.
Like surpassing that man. Like becoming someone even more famous.
And now, standing before him was someone who had defeated a pirate once said to rival Roger. Of course, Ace wanted to test himself.
"But Garp's right here," Zhang Da Ye said dryly. "If you can defeat him, that'd be enough."
Ace's face darkened immediately. Garp had become a psychological trauma for both him and Luffy. Every time before meeting Garp, they'd feel stronger than before—yet every time, they couldn't even take a single punch from him.
"He doesn't count! I want to see how strong you guys really are!"
"But you couldn't even withstand one of Perona's attacks," Zhang Da Ye teased, mimicking Ace's despairing voice from earlier. "I have no face to call myself a pirate!"
"Hahahahaha! Ace, you're such an idiot! That was so lame!" Luffy laughed without restraint, his belly stuffed round and full, as if he hadn't been flattened by the ghosts himself earlier.
Artoria glanced at Luffy, still calmly eating. The boy ate quickly, but his capacity was lacking. This time, she won.
Enjoying the taste on her tongue and the small victory, Artoria's eyes narrowed in satisfaction, her ahoge swaying softly on her head.
Ace's face turned red from embarrassment. He grabbed Luffy's cheeks and stretched them out. "Idiot! I just let my guard down! And you were no better—what right do you have to laugh at me?"
"Mmmm! I wash just carewesh! Next time I'll punch the ghost away!" Luffy mumbled through his stretched cheeks.
Carla blinked and asked curiously, "What's wrong with that kid's body and face? Is he related to Tom?"
You couldn't blame her for asking. Tom's belly was also stuffed round right now, and he was tugging at his cheeks to see if he could stretch them like Luffy's.
Wendy guessed, "Maybe… maybe it's a Devil Fruit power, like Perona's?"
"I'm a rubber man who ate the Gum-Gum Fruit!" Luffy, unable to resist Ace's grip, decided to introduce himself proudly, pulling his other cheek to demonstrate. "That cat, did he eat a Devil Fruit too?"
"No, he's just a special kind of housecat," Shark Chili answered calmly.
That immediately drew Luffy's attention away from Tom. He stared at Shark Chili with wide eyes full of excitement. "You… you're not a robot, are you?"
"Yes, I am," Shark Chili replied confidently. "I'm a B-series robot, Unit No. 9—Shark Chili." By now, he fully understood how popular he was in this world, and he even struck a pose for good measure.
"Awesome!" Ace and Luffy's eyes both lit up. Ace caught himself, though—he couldn't show admiration after issuing a challenge—so he coughed and pretended not to care.
Luffy, however, didn't bother. He rushed forward, circling Shark Chili eagerly. "Transform! Transform! Can you shoot lasers?"
"Of course I can," Shark Chili said smoothly. "But I only transform when facing truly powerful enemies."
"That's so cool!" Luffy's eyes practically turned into golden stars. "Ace! A transforming robot! A transforming shark robot!"
"Shut up, Luffy! I'm trying to challenge them!" Ace snapped. Still, a transforming robot that only revealed its true form against strong foes… if he could make them fight seriously, maybe he could see it! Idiot Luffy couldn't even think of that.
"Then I wanna fight too!" Luffy shouted, naturally following his brother's lead.
Zhang Da Ye glanced at Luffy's round belly helplessly. "If you fight like that, you'll throw up."
"I won't! My punches are as strong as bullets—just one hit and—bleh!" Luffy's grand gesture nearly made him vomit. He quickly covered his mouth.
"Hey, do you even dare to accept my challenge?!" Ace resorted to provocation now.
"I'll accept," Zhang Da Ye said calmly, "but only if you two can handle Perona's Negative Ghosts first." He looked to Garp. "No objections, right, Vice Admiral?"
"Go ahead," Garp said easily. This had been his idea anyway. Even if it didn't change their pirate dreams, at least it'd teach them something.
"Why do I have to fight them?" Perona complained, displeased at not being asked first.
Zhang Da Ye had some experience dealing with tsunderes like her. "Because your powers are amazing. I'm counting on you."
"Hmph, what a half-hearted compliment. Everyone else on this ship is stronger than me." Perona pouted, but wasn't fooled.
Then Wendy added sincerely, "I think Perona's power is really amazing—it can instantly stop an enemy!"
"Eh?" Perona blinked at her, blushing slightly. "W-well, since Wendy says so… fine, I'll do it."
Zhang Da Ye gave Wendy a subtle thumbs-up. Good assist.
Wendy just blinked back, not understanding what he meant. She was only being honest.
Ace got into stance. "Come on! I won't underestimate you this time!"
Luffy did the same. "Me too! I'll punch those ghosts away!"
"As if you could hit them! Negative Ghosts!" Perona snapped her fingers, sending out two small ghosts.
They moved fast, but both brothers reacted quickly—throwing punches. The ghosts passed right through them, and the next moment, both dropped to their knees.
Ace muttered, "I'm such a terrible pirate… I shouldn't even dream of being one…"
Luffy groaned, "If there's a next life, I wanna be… a sea cucumber…"
Seeing his two grandsons slumped over, Garp should've been sad—but their words were so refreshing! Being a sea cucumber was far better than being a pirate!
Zhang Da Ye, on the other hand, had the opposite thought. Being a sea cucumber was dangerous too—and could get one's reputation ruined by association.
"Hohohoho! Serves you right!" Perona laughed gleefully at the two brothers' misery. Then she got a new idea and said to Zhang Da Ye, "Hey, let's make them copy my elementary school rules as punishment!"
Was it revenge for having once suffered herself? No, no—Perona saw it as helping these two misguided children improve themselves.
Zhang Da Ye gave her a thumbs-up. "Good idea. Here's a tip—challenge them to a bet. Every loss means copying it once. If they hesitate, mock them: 'If you're scared of this, stop talking about being pirates!' Kids like them can't resist a challenge. It'll work—and afterward, Garp might even thank you."
"Yes yes yes!" Perona nodded eagerly with a mischievous grin. Clever plan! But then she eyed Zhang Da Ye suspiciously. She'd have to be careful not to get tricked by him someday.
Soon, Ace leapt up again. "Damn it! I won't lose! Again!"
Luffy followed. "Me too!"
"Wait a minute!" Perona stopped them, following Zhang Da Ye's script.
Ace and Luffy casually picked their noses with their pinkies and flicked away the results. "Elementary school rules? What's that?"
Tom's eyes lit up. He'd just learned a new way to tease people.
"Gross! What's with that attitude?!" Perona snapped, fuming—but she still took the time to explain, determined to make them suffer for it.
As she spoke, Ace and Luffy's heads gradually tilted to one side, clearly lost. Even Garp mirrored the gesture, looking equally puzzled.
"So it's just writing as punishment? Fine, whatever—let's start!" Ace said impatiently, ready for round two.
"Wait, Ace! I hate writing!" Luffy whined.
"Idiot! Then just win and you won't have to!" Ace grabbed a metal pipe from his back.
"Whoa, you're amazing, Ace!" Luffy picked up a pipe too. If fists didn't work, use a weapon. Genius!
Perona facepalmed. "These two are complete idiots."
Whoosh! Two small ghosts flew through the air, passing right through both brothers again.
Ace collapsed. "It's hopeless… I'll never be a pirate…"
Luffy moaned, "Next life… I wanna be… a starfish…"
Perona raised one finger. "Hohoho! One time!"
"Damn it! Again!"
Whoosh whoosh!
"Two times!"
…
"Again!"
Whoosh whoosh!
"Thirty-three times…" Perona yawned. "Hey, maybe it's time to give up? Just admit defeat already."
"Huff… huff…" Ace was breathing hard. The Negative Ghosts didn't hurt, but being drained of motivation over and over clearly wore on the spirit.
Luffy was sprawled flat on the ground now, tongue lolling out, barely able to move. Even so, he kept muttering faintly, "I didn't lose… I don't wanna be a bug… I'll be Pirate King…"
Ace, still leaning on his pipe, refused to yield either. "I… won't give up. I'll… become a pirate… I'll… keep winning… and… earn the greatest fame… that's… how I'll prove… I exist…! Again!"
Perona, exhausted herself, frowned. "What's with this guy? He can't even fight my ghosts, yet he keeps spouting big words!"
Zhang Da Ye glanced at Garp, who looked completely calm and not angry at all—so he didn't intervene. The old man clearly believed in tough love.
Artoria and Shark Chili looked at Ace with mixed emotions—admiration and pity. Such strong will… what a good kid. Why did he have to dream of being a pirate?
Wendy and Carla were even more emotional. If they'd known Ace and Luffy better, they probably would've shouted encouragement by now.
"Negative Ghosts!"
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