On the Spade Pirates' ship, there was deathly silence. Ace, who had read the newspaper, felt his mouth go dry.
What kind of mess is this!
For the first time, he had companions to entrust with life and death, and once again, he encountered Sakura at sea.
These two joyous occasions overlapping, should have brought happiness as blissful as a dream... But why, why did it turn out like this?
Deuce and the others also took the newspaper from Ace, gathered together to read the headline, and finally realized the gravity of the situation.
The influence of the Higanbana Pirates' flag being burned was far more far-reaching than they could imagine.
As for how they knew the implications of this incident?
Of course, they figured it out from the newspaper! Morgans had placed the news of the Revolutionary Army overthrowing another kingdom in the West Blue right after the report of the Higanbana Pirates' flag burning!
"This is really troublesome." Sakura frowned.
The most troublesome part of this matter was that it was in the newspapers.
If she didn't take action against the Spade Pirates, this behavior would be seen as a signal of weakness.
In this environment where pirates surrounded her like wolves, Marian Island would immediately become the target of every ambitious person. The days ahead would probably never be peaceful again.
'Indeed, this whole thing was Morgans' fault. Next time I saw him, I would use my Flame Fist on him!'
Up in the sky, Leviathan, responsible for managing the processed clouds over the entire Marian Island, flapped her wings and landed. From the sea clouds, Fisher Tiger, who was in charge of entry and exit vessels, also climbed onto the pirate ship and sat on the gunwale.
One Emperor plus two executives naturally brought immense pressure to the entire Spade Pirates crew.
"What to do now~, Ace-chan." Leviathan still had that tone of someone enjoying the chaos.
But in reality, she had also notified Tiger. If things reached a point of no return, she and Tiger would intervene and bear the bloodshed for Sakura!
"I..." Ace gripped the sword in his hand and stepped forward.
He understood that his reckless willfulness had created this situation.
If he could have told his companions beforehand... If he could have contacted Sakura in advance... but unfortunately, reality had no 'ifs'.
Now, it was time for him, as the captain, to give everyone an account!!!
"Sakura-nee, let me..."
"Let me take responsibility for this!" A figure stepped past Ace and knelt before Sakura on both knees.
The person was none other than Ace's vice-captain, Deuce. He raised his hand, holding up one index finger. A flickering flame light rose.
"I set the fire. I am the Mera Mera no Mi user. So, if you need an account, please take my life!"
Deuce slammed his head heavily onto the ground. "But I beg you, please spare my companions!"
"This guy..." Sakura raised an eyebrow.
'It seemed that when the two of them split the Mera Mera no Mi at Sixis Island, Deuce had been a bit faster and eaten the Devil Fruit first?'
"Quite spirited." Leviathan quietly leaned towards Tiger and whispered.
"But provoking us is an undeniable fact. It would be a pity to lay hands on such young people." Tiger turned his face to her, also somewhat troubled.
"Don't talk nonsense, Deuce." Ace rushed forward in a few strides and grabbed him by the collar. "Who allowed you to take such liberties? I'm the captain of this ship! If anyone is going to make a decision and sacrifice themselves, it has to be me!"
"But don't you still have your journey and the things you must accomplish?" Deuce smiled at him. "From the day we escaped Sixis Island, I already decided I would help you achieve your dream. Now is the time for me to do what I should do!"
"Shut up!" Ace gritted his teeth, his pupils trembling. "We're companions! Without your medical skills, how would I reach the Final Island!"
The two young men argued in front of Sakura, their willingness to sacrifice for each other pure and scorching, moving the other Spade Pirates' members to tears.
"Wah wah wah, Captain, Vice-Captain..."
"It's not your fault! Blame us!"
"Yes! If someone needs to sacrifice, let it be me!"
A group of Spade Pirates' members cried and wept, kneeling before Sakura, begging for mercy.
"You little brats, do you think my place is a store where you can bargain?" Sakura's gaze hardened, her sharp voice echoing.
A hurricane erupted. Tens of thousands of dark lightning bolts swept through, carrying the conqueror's overwhelming will bombarding every inch of space on this ship.
The deck and mast of the pirate ship cracked under the shock of her spirit. Unable to resist this will, the Spade Pirates' members immediately fainted.
"And you two brats, have you forgotten that besides the flag, you also burned down my luxury goods mall?!"
Sakura's slightly open mouth emitted white mist. With one hand each, she grabbed Ace and Deuce.
"Wait... Sakura-nee!"
This familiar feeling made Ace's face turn pale. Then he and Deuce felt a spinning dizziness. Wrapped in Haki, the two were slammed viciously onto the deck.
Coughing up two mouthfuls of blood, they were smashed hard into the cabin below.
"Anyway, the damage is done. As for you little brats, hehe." Sakura grinned, revealing a sweet smile. "Just obediently use your bodies to pay the debt!"
After saying this, Sakura tilted her head towards Leviathan.
Receiving the boss's signal, the Night Sparrow began to expand. In just a few seconds, she became a giant creature large enough to cover the entire pirate ship.
Then, the darkness on her body flowed like a tangible substance, slowly spreading through the sea clouds to form a swamp, causing the Spade Pirates' ship to sink as it was devoured by the darkness.
"Done deal, Sakura." Leviathan shrank back down and perched on Sakura's shoulder.
Letting Sakura grab her and Tiger, using Space-Time Ninjutsu to leave the port.
…
After experiencing a long darkness, when light once again appeared before Ace's eyes, he found himself in a huge underground space.
Looking around and seeing that Deuce and the others were also safe and sound, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Rubbing the bruised spot where Sakura had just hit him, Ace got up from the ground and began to explore his surroundings.
Somehow, he felt several gazes staring at him. So he turned back and woke Deuce up. "Hey, Deuce, give us some light with fire!"
"Can you have a little sense of urgency? We've been captured by that Emperor!" Deuce coughed forcefully a few times, clearing out some congealed blood.
"Don't worry, Sakura-nee won't hurt me." Ace shrugged at him. "Besides, with her strength and status, what do I have that she would covet?"
Hearing this, Deuce helplessly shook his head. But obeying the captain's order, he raised his arm, ignited a wisp of flame to its maximum, illuminating the entire underground space.
Then they discovered two massive figures crouching in a corner, their gazes fixed on them.
One was about fifty meters tall, with a blue face and fangs. The other was twenty meters tall, with snow-white long hair and delicate features.
More importantly, the face of the twenty-meter-tall giant was one they had just seen outside.
Ace's eyes widened even further as he exclaimed:
"Huh? Sakura-nee?"