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On the sea, the wind had died down and the waves were calm, presenting a peaceful scene—a stark contrast to the violent storm that had just passed. After learning that the large fish had been devoured by Goku, Ace wasn't angry. Instead, a hint of nostalgia flashed in his eyes as he smiled.
"You're very much like one of my brothers; he was also a legendary big eater when he was little."
Goku, scratching his head, chuckled. "Is that so? I also met a very big eater once; he could eat even more than me!"
"Oh? That's quite a feat."
Neither of them pressed for details, unaware that the "brother" and the "eater" they were describing was actually the same rubber-bodied pirate.
The Search from the Skies
After finishing the meal, Ace glanced at the tail behind Goku. Rather than asking about his biology, he focused on the situation at hand. "So, you still haven't told me—did you encounter a shipwreck?"
Ace knew the previous storm was a ship-killer. Hearing Goku's explanation—that he had been swept away by the current while chasing a fish—Ace couldn't help but find it amusing.
"So the fish you were chasing happened to be the one I caught? What a coincidence!" Ace said, a glint of respect in his eyes. To survive such a violent current and swim out of it was no small task for a child.
Goku looked around the empty horizon, feeling a bit troubled. "I can't see them. Where did the Dream Chaser go?"
Suddenly, an idea struck him. He pushed off the small boat and leaped high into the sky. Standing higher allowed him to see farther. Without his Ruyi Jingu Bang to carry him, he used Moonwalk to maintain his altitude, scanning the distant horizon.
Below, Ace looked up, his brows furrowing. "Is that the Marine Six Styles' Moonwalk?" he wondered. He doubted a Marine could be that young, but the technique was unmistakable.
Soon after, Goku descended, the small boat rocking as he landed. "Ace, I found a ship! It's over there!"
A Heartbreaking Sight
Goku pointed into the distance. Though Ace couldn't see it from sea level, they began to row in that direction. Ace was running low on fresh water after losing a bucket during the storm, and Goku mentioned that Nami had stocked plenty of supplies on their ship.
Half an hour later, they approached the vessel. However, Goku's face fell. "That's not my ship..."
"It looks like a passenger ship," Ace noted, identifying the flag.
As they watched, a commotion broke out on the deck. A little girl, crying heartbreakingly, was held up over the railing and then mercilessly thrown overboard. She plunged straight into the sea with a desperate splash.
"Hey! Let's save her!" both Goku and Ace shouted at the same time.
They exchanged a quick smile before springing into action. Goku dove into the water, his powerful strokes reaching the girl in seconds. He handed her up to Ace, who placed the unconscious child on the boat and pressed her abdomen to clear her lungs.
Pfft—! Cough, cough!!
The girl spat out a stream of seawater and slowly opened her eyes. Seeing two strangers, she was about to burst into tears again until Ace gently covered her mouth. "You're alright, little girl. We rescued you. Don't cry."
Goku grinned from the water's edge. "That's right, you're safe now."
The Father's Betrayal
Once the girl calmed down, she told them a harrowing story. Pirates had taken over the passenger ship and demanded a ransom of 1,000,000 Berries per person.
"My father... he didn't have enough money for all of us," she sobbed. "He had to choose. He saved my brothers... and he told the pirates to take me."
Grrr! Goku gritted his teeth, his tail bristling with rage. "How despicable! Those pirates are the worst!"
Ace's face turned grim, his eyes burning with a cold fire. As someone who valued the bond of brothers and family above all else, he was disgusted by the cowardly father who had sacrificed his daughter.
The two look at each other. No words were needed.
Objective: Defeat the pirates.
Mission: Rescue the passengers.
Goal: Teach that "father" a lesson.