Chapter 100: Debt

Most of his childhood memories were filled with adults cursing.

——Gol D. Roger is the root cause of this world’s chaos. The lowest scum in history.

——That bastard never should’ve been born. A piece of trash who’s nothing but trouble, alive or dead.

——What if Roger had a kid? Hah, execution’s too good for ‘em.

——Hell, I’d volunteer to kill the brat myself.

Just by existing, it felt like every person he met rejected him.

Starving for food and affection, his resentment festered. To him, his father was nothing but a curse—the worst kind of fate, clinging to him as long as he lived.

Even after finding irreplaceable comrades… sworn brothers who shared his sake cup… that truth never changed.
He became a little more optimistic, no longer showing hostility to everyone he met.

But his goal remained the same. To live without regret. To break free from his father’s shadow by surpassing his infamy. To destroy everything standing in his way.

He couldn’t afford to lose. No matter the hardship, he would rise to the top.
And with that thought, Portgas D. Ace lost consciousness.

---

Cold. Hard. Unable to move.

His entire body ached. Blood and stomach acid surged up his throat. The clinking of chains echoed nearby.
When his senses returned, the first thing he registered was his helplessness. His body wouldn’t obey. He was completely restrained.

"——Ah, awake already?"

"…!! You…! Cough…! Hah… Hah…!"

Someone was there. A girl with strange red-and-blue wings sprouting from her back.
The moment he saw her, he choked—spewing blood and bile onto the ground before gasping for air.

"Ahaha! Gross! Was it really that bad?"

"Shut up…!! Who the hell are you…?"

"Eh~? You don’t know? Wow, that’s shocking… You really can’t tell who I am just by looking at me?"

She shrugged, disappointed, as if his ignorance was genuinely upsetting.
And despite Ace’s irritation, she showed no fear. Even when he glared at her, she didn’t flinch.
If anything, his reaction amused her. Her grin widened, eyes crinkling like she was about to pull a prank as she introduced herself.

"My name is Nue, the Phantom Beast. New World idol and Vice-Commander of the Beasts Pirates~♡ Nice to meet you, Ace-kun♡"

"…!! You’re…!?"

Ace’s eyes widened in shock. This girl—was she really the second-in-command of the Emperors’ crew? Kaido’s sworn sister, his most trusted subordinate? It had to be a sick joke or a lie—

"Fufufu~ Not a lie. Here, my bounty poster~"

"…! You… right now…!"

"Hehe, cuter than the poster, right? Surprising, isn’t it~♡"

Indeed… she was unmistakably Nue. Though she seemed smaller in person, her face matched the poster.
But what unsettled Ace more was how she’d anticipated his words before he spoke. How?
He didn’t know the full extent of Observation Haki. He never considered that Nue had seen seconds into the future. She smirked knowingly before continuing.

"Anyway~ This is Onigashima’s prison. After King utterly crushed you, you passed out and got tossed in here~"

"…!"

Right. Ace had lost.

His opponent was the Beasts Pirates’ top executive, "Wildfire" King. Neither his powers nor Haki had worked. He and his crew had been annihilated. The memory made him grit his teeth.
Then another thought struck him—his crew. Were they alive? Captured like him? Or… His mind spiraled into grim possibilities.

"Your friends are all alive and unharmed, so don’t worry~♡"

"! Wh… what?"

Nue’s reassurance only deepened his suspicion. They’d lost. Been captured. Yet they were alive—just as King had said, they were being spared.

"Why? Like King told you, we recruit anyone strong enough~♪ The tougher they are, the more we’d rather capture than kill~♡ ——Well, if they were weaklings, we’d just sell ‘em off or kill ‘em for fun, but you guys showed promise! So relax~!"

"!"

Her smile was sweet, her tone light—but her words were anything but. Yet there was no hostility in them. No intent to harm. And that infuriated Ace.

They were being mocked. To the Beasts Pirates, the Spade Pirates weren’t even worth killing. Just a minor nuisance.
In the lawless world of pirates, sparing an enemy was the ultimate insult. Defeat meant death. Survival was a gamble. That was the way of pirates.

To them, this wasn’t a battle. Just a disturbance.

"…Don’t fuck with me!! We fought with our lives on the line…! If we lost, then kill us…!!"

"…………Ahahahahaha!!!"

Nue froze for a second—then burst into laughter, clutching her stomach like she couldn’t contain it. Ace’s declaration of pride as a pirate was hilarious to her.
His glare sharpened, teeth grinding, but her amusement didn’t waver.

"The hell’s so funny!?"

"Ahahaha!! Aha…! Phew—sorry, sorry! It’s just… wheeze… you reminded me of someone! Totally different personality, though~!"

"The fuck’re you babbling about…!?"

Ace’s patience thinned. But he was a prisoner. He needed to escape, yet his flames wouldn’t ignite, his strength sapped by the seastone cuffs. He was powerless—

"Ahh, brings back memories~ The last time I talked to your daddy was in a cell too~♡"

"!!?"

Ace’s breath caught. His mind went blank.

That casual remark struck like lightning. How? The only ones who knew his father’s identity were Garp, the bandit Dadan,

his brother, and his first mate, Deuce. No one else.
Had they tortured Deuce? No—he’d never talk.

His thoughts raced, searching for an explanation… but none came.
Struggling to stay calm, he forced out a reply.

"…………Wrong guy. I don’t have a father."

"Ahahaha! What’re you saying? Everyone has a father. No matter how much you hate him, no matter if he’s dead—blood ties don’t disappear. Don’t you agree? ——Gol D. Ace-kun~♡"

"…!! You…! Don’t call me by that name…!!"

Instantly, he snapped.
Being addressed by his father’s surname was unbearable. Forgetting the seastone, he lunged—only for the chains to yank him back. The cell rattled as he strained against them, fury burning in his eyes. Nue just laughed.

"Ahaha! That angry face is just like his~! Well, except the personality—total opposites!"

"Shut up!! I’m…!! I’m…!!"

"Tsk tsk, thrashing around like that with seastone cuffs on~ Calm down a little, will you?"

Nue waved a hand dismissively, as if scolding a rowdy child. Despite his fury, Ace forced himself to steady his breathing. He needed answers.

"…………Who told you?"

"Hmm~… If I had to say? Your father, I guess~♪ Well, technically, it was twenty years ago… The day before he died, I snuck into a Marine prison ship all the way from the New World to East Blue’s Loguetown. Phew, what a hassle that was~♪"

"…You went out of your way to see that bastard?"

"Mmm, pretty much. I had a debt to settle… And honestly, it wasn’t that unusual. Every big-name pirate and Marine back then flocked to see it—the moment the ‘Pirate King’ who conquered the seas drew his last breath."

"…………"

Ace stayed silent, but inwardly, he felt a sliver of relief. Not because his father was being spoken of favorably—but because his identity hadn’t been leaked by someone he trusted. He’d never doubted Luffy or Dadan, but Garp… that old man was unpredictable.

"…Fine. I don’t give a damn about some dead man’s story… but answer me one thing."

"What? Sorry, my measurements are a company secret~♡"

"Why the hell would that bastard… tell you about me?"

"Ehhh~? You’re supposed to ask for the measurements here! Ugh, no sense of fun at all."

Ignoring her teasing, Ace pressed on. This mattered.
If even a top-tier pirate like Nue knew, did that mean his lineage was an open secret among the elite? Shanks hadn’t seemed to know, but…

"Hmm~… Who knows what Roger was thinking? But if I had to guess… it’s that ‘debt’ I mentioned earlier~?"

"…A debt?"

"Yep!♪ I actually hitchhiked on Roger’s ship for a few months once~♪"

"…! So you’re like Shanks? One of his crew?"

"Ahaha, nope! I was just a temporary guest—courtesy of my old captain. More like rivals, really. And nah, I never met Shanks. This was way before he was born… like, forty years ago~♪"

She wagged a finger, grinning. Forty years? That’d make her older than she looked—older than Shanks, even.

"…So this ‘debt’ is from when he let you onboard?"

"That, and he saved my life a couple times~ Fufufu, good memories. Roger was such an idiot—he’d cozy up to enemies like me, kept trying to recruit me. Always begging to ride my UFO, giggling like a kid… But the second we fought? No mercy. Beat me and Kaido to a pulp—"

"Tch…! I don’t care."

"…Oho? Daddy issues~? That sour face says it all~♪"

Ace’s glare sharpened. He’d long outgrown punching anyone who mentioned his father, but this was still an enemy. No reason to humor her nostalgia.

"I don’t give a shit about that trash… What the hell are you planning to do with me—with my crew?"

"…Fufufu."

"…The hell’s so funny?"

Nue’s lips curled, her crimson eyes glinting like she’d just remembered a private joke. The silence stretched—until she finally spoke, her voice dripping with mischief.

"Fufu… Sorry, sorry. I just couldn’t help imagining your reaction when I tell you~"

"…Tell me what?"

"Kuku… Well, guess I’ll spill~♪"

She leaned in, grinning like a child about to unleash chaos. Ace braced himself—but nothing could’ve prepared him for her next words.

"You and your crew? I’m letting you all go—completely unharmed~♡"

"Wha—!!?"

The answer was so absurd, Ace’s mind blanked.
This was too convenient. There had to be a catch.
…Or was it just another reminder that, to an Emperor, they weren’t even worth killing? The thought burned, but—

"Ah, but there’s one teensy condition~♡ Don’t worry, it’s nothing impossible, and I won’t lay a finger on your friends! Promise~!"

"…What’s your game?"

"What do I mean? Hehe, I already told you—it's a 'debt.'"

"!! ...A 'debt,' you say...?"

Ace's face twists in shock again. The bad feeling in his gut grows stronger than ever.

Nue's "debt" refers to what she owes Roger. There’s no mistake—he just heard about it moments ago. But now, as he recalls their earlier conversation, a chilling thought strikes him.

...If she went to see Roger right before his execution to settle a debt, did she repay it while he was still alive? Roger is already dead—gone from this world. You can’t repay a debt to someone who no longer exists.

So logically, she must have settled it while he was alive. But... what if the debt remained unpaid when the other person died? What then?

As the answer dawns on him, his heart churns with unease. Then Nue meets his gaze head-on, her lips curling into a demonic smile—one that revels in others' suffering.

"My debt to Roger—that’s the reason I’m sparing your life. The condition? You admit with your own mouth that you’re Roger’s child. ♡"

"...!!! D-Don’t fuck with me!!!"

Instantly, his mind boils over. Blood rushes to his head in fury. It’s not just that she’s treating him like a child—she’s treating him as that man’s child, offering him mercy solely because of that accursed bloodline.

"Ahahahaha!!! So angry, so angry!! But... why, I wonder~? You get to live thanks to the debt your hated father left behind—shouldn’t you be happy? ♪ There’s nothing to be mad about! Oh, maybe this’ll even make you start liking him! Ahahaha!!"

"SHUT THE HELL UP!!!"

He’s being mocked. Looked down on. Laughed at. He finally understands.

This woman, Nue, is toying with him completely. She knows exactly what he despises—and she’s wielding it against him with glee. Her claim about a debt to Roger might not be a lie, but she sees Ace only as Roger’s son, not as himself.

The chains of the father he loathes—she’s forcing them back onto him.

"Ahahaha!! It’s simple, right? Just say, 'I’m Gold Roger’s son, buh-buh-buh~ ♡ I love my daddy~ ♡' and you and your crew get to walk away alive! ♡ And hey, I’m the only one listening—it’s not even that humiliating!! Come on, say it~! ♪ I’d love to hear little Ace’s daddy confession! ♡"

"LIKE HELL I WILL!!! Quit screwing with me...!!! I... I don’t have a damn father!!!"

"Bzzt~! ♪ No matter what you say, Roger is your father. That’s why I’m letting you go. ♡ Can’t be cruel to the child of the man who helped me—gotta send you off with love and care! ♪"

"SHUT UP!!! Keep talkin’ like that... and I won’t forgive you...!!! Close your damn mouth, you hag...!!!"

"...Hmm~? Won’t forgive me?"

"!"

Nue’s face suddenly looms inches from Ace’s. Up close, her eyes—

They’re the eyes of a beast. Like a Sea King’s or a predator’s when enraged. Her pupils are thin, slit vertically.

And the pressure—it’s suffocating. Worse than King’s Haki. A primal, instinctive terror.

"And what’ll you do if you don’t forgive me? Kill me? Ahaha—don’t make me laugh! ♡"

"Gh...!!"

"Let me spell it out for you: without Roger’s name, you’re just a weak little brat. Maybe you got cocky dominating the first half of the Grand Line... but someone like you could never conquer this sea."

Nue presses a single finger against Ace’s chest—just a light push, yet the pressure crushes him like a vise. This isn’t a girl’s strength. If she wanted, she could pierce through his ribs with that finger. Tear him apart bare-handed.

This is the power of a beast standing at the apex of this sea. And if she’s the second-in-command... how strong is Kaido?

"Word is you came to Onigashima to take down me and Kaido... but that’s just pathetic. Twenty men and a monkey? ♡ That’s not even a fight—just playtime for us."

"...!! Shut... up...!! I’ll... ugh...!!"

"You’re weak. Pitifully so. You wanna surpass Roger? Let’s be real—you’re not even close. ...Though I do kinda like your reckless streak. ♡"

Compared to Roger. Treated like a child.

The pressure on his chest intensifies, pain like a hydraulic press grinding into him. Even without the seastone cuffs, her strength feels dozens of times beyond his.

"Let me teach you a lesson, little prideful weakling: ‘The weak don’t get to choose how they die.’"

"...!!"

"In these waters, the weak have no rights. They exist to be devoured by the strong. All you have to do... is obey. Silently."

The New World is ruled by the Emperors.

Every pirate who enters must choose—kneel to the Yonko, or be crushed. Submit, and you buy safety. Defy, and you lose everything. Only corpses remain.

Only the strong survive. The weak die. That’s the law.

With that, Nue finally lifts her finger and turns her back, adding one last thing:

"—But... you do have a choice."

"!"

She takes a few steps, then spins back with a grin, raising a finger like a teacher making a point.

"Option one: Join the Beasts Pirates. Like I said—we welcome anyone strong enough, no matter how mouthy. ♡ We’ll even forget all the damage you caused! Isn’t that generous? Most crews would’ve slaughtered you by now! ♪"

Her first offer: bend the knee and become one of them. She beams at Ace, almost giddy.

"Pick this, and I’ll personally train you. ♪ Sure, you’re weak now... but you might even reach the Flying Six. Or maybe a Calamity! ♡ Sounds fun, right? Highly recommended~!"

"...Not a chance... I’d rather die than join you...!!"

"Tch... Well then, option two: I let you go because you’re Roger’s son. Crew, ship—all safe, promise."

She raises a second finger, explaining the alternative—the same "debt" offer from before.

"...I don’t need that debt paid... and I sure as hell don’t owe you anything...!!"

"Even if you don’t owe me anything, I owe him. So, whether you acknowledge it or not... if you don’t choose to join us by tomorrow, I’ll have you forcibly released. Personally, I’d prefer otherwise, but... well, debts unsettle me if left unpaid."

Nue turns her back and starts walking away, seemingly done with the conversation. As she unlocks the cell door, she adds:

"I’ll come back tomorrow. Until then, neither you nor your crew will be harmed. ...Of course, if you stubbornly refuse both choices—well, you might just get a taste of hell. ♡"

"...!!"

"Do try to avoid that, won’t you?"

With those final words, Nue leaves.

---

Time loses meaning in the sunless underground prison. Ace has no idea how long it’s been—only that hours have passed since he woke.

"...Hah... hah...!! Damn it...!!"

Nothing has changed.

The seastone cuffs remain unbreakable, sapping his strength. If they were ordinary chains, Ace could turn his body to flame and escape in an instant. But now, he’s powerless—left to thrash uselessly as time slips away.

His only hope is rescue from his crew, some unforeseen intervention... or—

"Join them... or accept that debt... Shit...!!"

Two choices to survive.

The first means the end of his journey. The second means swallowing his pride.

Refusing both would mean death—not just for him, but his crew.

Three options. But only two lead to survival.

So... does he have to say it? Admit it, and at least his crew lives. His journey continues.

He’s clung to his pride this long. Dragged his crew into danger for it.

But his crew matters more. That’s never changed. If it’s between them or him, Ace would choose himself without hesitation.

So... the decision’s already made, hasn’t it?

"...I’m..."

To stubbornly reject the debt left by his father, the Pirate King Gol D. Roger—to let his crew suffer for his own defiance—would only tighten the chains he hates.

A little humiliation? A small price. Better to endure it and return to the sea.

Stuck here, he can’t fight Kaido. Can’t challenge Whitebeard or the other Emperors. First, he needs freedom.

As his mind cools, the answer seems clear.

"...This is it...!!"

"Huh?"

Just then—the cell door creaks open.

A towering woman with horns steps inside. Ace recognizes her.

"Yamato...? What’re you doing here?"

"...I came to talk."

She shuts the door behind her, but Ace’s suspicion only grows.

"...Here to mock me too?"

"No. It’s just... well..."

"? Spit it out."

Yamato hesitates, fidgeting under Ace’s gaze.

Who is she? A member of the Beasts Pirates? But last he heard, she was hunted like him. A rebel? A Wano native?

Finally, she blurts it out:

"...Ace, was it? You... you’re really Roger’s son? The Pirate King’s?"

"! ...You heard that?"

"By accident. I—I overheard my parent talking about it earlier."

"Your parent...?"

Yamato avoids his eyes, guilt flashing across her face. Then, with a resigned sigh:

"...Hiding it’s pointless. And unfair. ...My parent is—Kaido."

"! You’re... Kaido’s daughter?"

"Not daughter!! Son!!"

Ace’s eyes widen. Kaido’s child—biologically female, but insisting otherwise.

"...But you’ve got a woman’s body."

"Urgh...! That’s—! Doesn’t matter!! I’m Yamato! Kaido’s son and Kozuki Oden!!"

"...The hell’s that mean? Anyway—why’re you here? Come to vent at the guy who tried to kill your old man?"

"Tch—! As if!! I don’t care what happens to him!"

Ace expected rage, but Yamato’s vehement denial throws him.

There’s something familiar in her defiance. Like... himself, years ago. No—like now.

"...You hate your dad?"

"...Yeah. I... I admire Kozuki Oden, the samurai. I want to be him. When I said that, my father nearly killed me... I’ve been trapped on this island ever since."

"...? Who’s this ‘Oden’?"

"Me."

"You’re Yamato."

"I am! But I’m also Oden!! He’s my ideal—I’ve always wanted to be a man like—"

"...Still lost. So you’re not Oden?"

"How dense are you?! Fine—right now, I’m about... one-third Oden!!"

"One-third Oden?! What does that even mean?!"

...This makes no sense.

But Ace pieces together enough: "Oden" must be a title or legend from Wano. Yamato idolizes him—wants to embody him.

The details don’t matter. What does: Yamato is Kaido’s child. And she hates him.

"...So? What’d you wanna talk about?"

"...No, well... sorry. I don't have anything specific to talk about... but you're the first pirate who's ever come to this island... More than wanting to talk, I want to hear your stories."

"You want to hear stories...? If it's pirate stories you want... couldn't you just ask your parents or people around you?"

"That's not it!! What I want to hear... aren't stories about who's strong or who killed who like my father tells... I want adventure stories!!"

Yamato insisted passionately. Ace had given the most natural response - that as a pirate's child, Yamato could just ask their parent. But it seemed Kaido, Yamato's father, wasn't the type to tell the kind of stories Yamato wanted to hear.

"...I don't know... a single one of the Pirate King's... old man's adventure tales."

"I don't need Roger's stories. I want to hear yours."

"...Oh, in that case—"

Hearing this, Ace had no particular obligation to share... but before he knew it, he had started talking.

Happy times pass in the blink of an eye. An hour disappears in an instant. About that much time had passed since Ace and Yamato began talking when they realized they'd completely forgotten they were in a prison cell, chatting animatedly and growing comfortable with each other.

"Wow really...? The sea has such amazing places...!!"

"Yeah. If you ever get out to sea, you should check them out yourself."

Ace told Yamato about his adventures with his crew. Some places Yamato knew from books - locations they'd heard about in Oden's adventure tales too.

The Grand Line's countless islands included places unknown, known, and some beyond imagination. Though Ace's voyage had only lasted a little over a year, it was more than enough to make Yamato's eyes shine with excitement.

"...I can't."

"Huh?"

But... Yamato's bright expression clouded at Ace's suggestion to see for themselves. For Yamato, that was the most impossible thing of all.

"I can't leave this island."

"...If you hate your old man that much... why not just run away? Is it impossible?"

When Ace carefully phrased it that way, Yamato shook their head. Then they lightly showed the shackles on their wrists.

"These handcuffs... they'll explode if I leave the island. Or so I'm told. Might be a lie though..."

"...I see."

Hearing about being confined by a parent, the first thing that came to Ace's mind was his now-deceased sworn brother.

Violating a child's freedom. Ignoring a child's feelings. Treating people as less than human.

Sabo, who hated such parents and ran away seeking freedom... had died.

Listening to Yamato brought those memories back. It's the same everywhere on the seas. Parents and bloodlines... are like curses that always haunt children. If they're good, fine - but if bad, the child suffers.

"...Hey, Yamato."

"?"

Perhaps because he remembered this, or maybe out of sympathy for Yamato's situation... before he realized it, Ace was speaking.

"You... think you could get me out of here?"

"Eh... oh, yeah... well... actually, I was planning to let you go after we finished talking anyway..."

Yamato nodded though somewhat flustered. From the start, Yamato had intended to free Ace's crew. They'd wondered if they were bad people, but that possibility seemed slim, and after talking, Yamato felt certain - Ace and his crew, especially Ace himself, weren't bad people.

So freeing them wasn't an issue. Yamato knew where the keys were too. It might take some effort, but Yamato vowed to somehow help them escape. However, after thanking Yamato for the rescue, Ace continued:

"After you free me and my crew... next is you, Yamato. We'll find a way to get those cuffs off."

"!"

"Then... if you want, come aboard my ship. That way... you'd be free, right?"

Ace said it so naturally. Yamato was stunned hearing this. They never expected such an offer. And it made them happy. But—

"...I'd love that... but... these cuffs have no key, and no amount of force can break them..."

"We'll find a way. First, get these cuffs off me."

"........."

Hearing this, Yamato thought honestly - that's impossible.

Brute force won't work. Maybe someone on Kaido or the All-Stars' level could do it, but that's not realistic. Any other method would require knowledge only Kaido or the All-Stars would know.

Which would mean putting Ace in danger again. After being defeated by King, one of the top officers, Ace stood no chance against the All-Stars or Kaido.

Yet even so, Yamato—

"...I'll remove them."

"Yeah, thanks."

"...No need for thanks. More importantly... why do you want to help me...?"

Originally, Yamato had planned to free just Ace first, having already found and obtained his key. Now using that key to remove Ace's cuffs, Yamato voiced their doubt. Honestly, Yamato couldn't understand why Ace would offer help.

Maybe it was just a ploy to get rescued. Considering that slim possibility while seeing Ace's serious expression, Yamato listened as Ace slowly began speaking.

"...I remembered my brothers."

"...Brothers?"

"Yeah. Not by blood though... sworn brothers from when we were kids. One of them, Sabo, had his freedom taken by his parents... and when he tried to escape—he died."

"!! That's..."

Yamato fell silent, unsure how to respond.

But Ace's tone was cheerful. While talking about parents made Ace dark and troubled, speaking of his sworn brothers brought light to his face.

"Back then, me and Luffy... oh, there's another weak, crybaby brother too... we promised. To live without regrets—for Sabo's sake too..."

"........."

"Remembering that... well, I never forgot really... but hearing your situation made me feel like I should do this. So... no deep reason. If I had to say... I just took a liking to you. You're helping me too... so it's only right I help you back."

"...! I... I see..."

Hearing such straightforward words, Yamato unintentionally averted their gaze, focusing on removing Ace's cuffs.

"...It's off."

"Oh... good. Now I can get out."

Seeing the cuffs removed, Ace briefly turned his fingertips to flame. Without the seastone cuffs restricting him, he could use his powers to escape the cell. Though Yamato had already opened Ace's cell door, he'd still need his abilities to rescue his crew. Standing up, Ace urged Yamato:

"Know where my crew is being held?"

"Ah—this way. Follow me quietly."

"Got it."

Yamato spoke softly, leading Ace without another word. They didn’t say anything unnecessary.

Because they believed the best course of action was to give up on themself—for Ace's sake.

Freeing the Spade Pirates from the underground prison of Onigashima, the stronghold of the Beast Pirates.

Somehow, there were barely any guards. From the drunken clamor echoing from above, Ace and his crew guessed there might be some kind of feast going on.

Even so, slipping past the few patrolling pirates, Ace and his crew followed Yamato’s guidance until they finally reached the exit. Hidden by the lake, their ship, the Piece of Spadille, was docked. Seeing their crew unharmed and without even receiving medical treatment, Ace had already suspected it, but it seemed the "debt" was indeed genuine.

"Ace, we need to set sail now!"

"No, first we have to do something about Yamato’s cuffs!"

"But Captain!! If we waste time, the pursuers will—!!"

It was only a matter of time before their escape was noticed and chaos erupted.

Even if they left Onigashima, they were still in Wano—the heart of the Beast Pirates' territory.

And even if they escaped Wano, they’d still be in their domain. They couldn’t relax until they were completely out of their reach, and the possibility of being chased down couldn’t be ignored.

But Ace had decided to free Yamato. So he couldn’t just leave yet.

His crew knew they couldn’t stop him once he’d made up his mind.

Even if it meant facing the Beast Pirates again—they couldn’t stop their captain from trying to save a friend.

So they stopped themselves from interfering.

"Go, Ace."

"! Hey, what are you saying? Then you’ll—"

"I’ll be fine, Ace. It’s not like… I’ll die if I stay on this island. This is still my home, after all…"

Yamato cut him off, standing at the ship’s bow with the same resolute expression.

"But you—all of you—will die if you stay here!! So… just go."

"Yamato…!!"

"Ace… I really appreciated your words. But… I can’t fulfill my wish at the cost of your lives. This is… my problem. My selfish desire."

So, Yamato told Ace, who refused to back down.

"Someday, I’ll convince my father… and set out to sea!! When that time comes… invite me again."

If they didn’t resolve their family issues, escaping to the sea wouldn’t truly free them from their chains.

Besides, Yamato still had reasons to stay.

That’s why they refused Ace’s offer. Even if they wanted nothing more than to sail with him… they couldn’t.

"…Alright. Then… it’s a promise."

Understanding their resolve, Ace responded in kind.

"—Yeah, a promise."

Yamato sealed that promise too. That someday, without fail, they would go to sea.

Hoping that by then, both Ace and Yamato would be free of their burdens—Yamato watched as Ace’s ship set sail, and Ace, in turn, watched Yamato, who had chosen to remain on Onigashima.

---

And then—eighteen hours after the Spade Pirates escaped Onigashima and fled Wano…

"Nn… yaaawn…"

"Good morning, Lady Nue."

"Mornin’… nn—"

Nue woke up in her bedroom.

She had slept for a full twenty-four hours. A whole day had passed since she spoke with Ace.

Part of the reason was that she hadn’t slept properly after nearly a month of fighting with Kaido—but the biggest reason was something else. It was because of the debt she owed.

The moment she woke up, she received a report. From Sono, one of the Tobiroppo, who greeted her alongside the news.

"The Spade Pirates escaped Wano approximately eighteen hours ago."

"Ah, so they ran. Guess Yamato helped 'em or somethin’?"

"Yes. As a result, Lord Yamato was scolded and beaten by Lord Kaido."

"Tch, tch… I woulda let 'em go once I woke up anyway… But if Yamato helped 'em, then the debt’s repaid without causin’ trouble. Guess it all worked out."

"Indeed. Everything went exactly as you planned, Lady Nue. I underestimated you."

"Heh, you can praise me more, y’know~?"

"That might be… against labor regulations."

"Praising me is against the rules?! That’s not even a real rule!!"

Sono grumbled at Sono’s usual lazy, half-hearted response, but inwardly, she was relieved. Without a doubt, the reason Ace and his crew escaped safely was because Nue had turned a blind eye.

But if she had openly let them go, it would’ve caused tension with Kaido and led to another fight. So, if Yamato could take the blame, then let them. And by overlooking it, she could repay her debt to Roger. That’s why she slept—so she wouldn’t "notice" them escaping.

Sure, using Observation Haki to specifically sense Ace’s crew would’ve been tricky, but she could’ve detected anyone leaving the island if she’d been paying attention. If she had, she’d have had to catch them—and then she wouldn’t have known how to repay Roger. Honestly, she just wanted them to hurry up and leave.

That said, the best outcome would’ve been them joining the Beast Pirates, but given Ace’s personality, that was unlikely. So, she figured it couldn’t be helped.

"Sigh… Finally, that weight’s off my shoulders. Man, a little gratitude wouldn’t hurt, y’know? It’s not like I’m this nice and considerate all the time. I’m practically an angel, aren’t I? Me!"

"Yeah, you're right. Lady Nue, you are kind. A real angel. —So, can I go home and rest now?"

"Nope~♡ Isn’t just being near someone as sweet as me better than resting? Lucky you~♡"

"How cruel... I’ll die from overwork at this rate."

"Since when are you that fragile?!"

Nue sighed after firing back. At the very least, she had repaid her debt—that much was certain. From now on, she wouldn’t have to worry about Ace anymore. If they met again, she could mess with him properly, no holds barred.

"Alrighty~ I’m up, so after a bath and breakfast, what should I do…? —Oh, I know! Maybe I’ll go bother Yamato or Musashi for once… …Hm?"

"? Did something happen?"

As Nue pondered her plans for the day, she considered seeking out Yamato or Musashi. Once in a while, that wasn’t so bad. Doing it every day would be stressful, but occasionally was fine.

Thinking that, she focused slightly to locate them with her Observation Haki—and then froze.

"…………Musashi’s presence is gone."

"…Huh?"

"…………No way…!!"

Nue noticed the absence of Musashi’s presence in Onigashima—no, in all of Wano—and her mind went blank.

But she quickly snapped out of it, running through possibilities… until she arrived at the one answer that made her want to scream.

"…That brat… don’t tell me… she got on that ship…?!"

---

A few hours after Nue woke up…

"Finally… we’re out of their territory…"

"I seriously thought we were gonna die this time…"

"No kidding… Ace. Learn from this and be more careful next—"

"Next up is Whitebeard… Alright, how should we—"

"WILL YOU CHILL OUT, YOU IDIOT?! WE JUST BARELY ESCAPED ONE EMPEROR AND YOU WANNA PICK A FIGHT WITH ANOTHER?!"

By sheer luck, the Spade Pirates had escaped the Beast Pirates’ waters without losing a single member.

Now that they could finally relax, just as they were slipping back into their usual carefree banter on deck—a figure emerged from the cabin, stretching lazily.

"Mmmnnn… Finally out of their territory—WHOA!! So this is the open sea, teeming with swordsmen?! My blood’s boiling!! It’s boiling!!"

"……Huh?"

"Wha…?"

"You… wait, what?"

The crew stared, dumbfounded, at the girl who had just stepped onto the deck.

Unfazed by their stares, the girl’s eyes sparkled as she took in the vast ocean before finally noticing their attention. Calmly, she raised a hand in greeting.

"Oh, my bad. Name’s Musashi. Starting today, I’ll be in your care. No need for introductions—you already got it. Also, I’m Yamato’s little sister—so, yeah. Nice to meet ya."

"Wha—Yamato’s sister…?"

"Wait, then that means… the daughter of Emperor Kaido—"

—The moment that realization hit, the entire Spade Pirates crew snapped in perfect unison, their voices erupting across the open sea.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!!"