Chapter 97: Ace

——Captain of the Spade Pirates, "Fire Fist Ace"!! Rejects the Warlords’ Invitation!!

That was the headline in the newspaper on a certain day this year. A rookie from "East Blue" had made a name for himself in the "Grand Line", defeated one of the Warlords, and earned the government’s recognition—only to turn down their offer to join the Seven Warlords, humiliating them in the process.

But honestly, that alone wasn’t anything particularly special. Every year, a few hotshot rookies with bounties exceeding hundreds of millions would appear and eventually enter the New World.

Being invited to become a Warlord and refusing—that was a bit rare these days, but back when the Warlords' roster changed more frequently, it happened often enough.

So an incident like this wasn’t something the "Emperors" of the sea—the "Four Emperors"—would pay much attention to. At most, they’d welcome the guy if he showed up in their territory. If he couldn’t even make it that far, then who cared? Until then, they’d just keep him in the back of their minds while looking down from above.

Well, "Whitebeard" probably got a kick out of spirited youngsters and would chuckle reading the news, while "Red-Hair" barely cared about others to begin with. As for "Big Mom" Linlin, she was too busy thinking about sweets to even remember something like this.

And as for us—we had bigger things to worry about.

"…………"

"…………"

"CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP!! Munch, chew… gulp…!!"

"Mmm~♡ As expected of me. The tamagoyaki, the fish, the meat stew—everything’s perfect~♡"

—Onigashima, the land of Wano.

This was the stronghold of our "Beast Pirates", one of the Four Emperors, and a fairly large island where our mansion stood.

Right now, in one of its rooms—a vast tatami-covered space—four dining trays were laid out in the center. One ridiculously large one, and three normal-sized ones. The seating cushions were arranged the same way: one huge, three regular.

Four people sat facing each other as they ate. The lineup was as follows:

—Kaido, who, as usual, wore a stern expression while slowly bringing food to his mouth—though he drank far more than he ate.

—Yamato, arms crossed, ignoring Kaido and refusing to touch the meal.

—Musashi, who paid no attention to anything as she devoured her food with reckless abandon, manners be damned.

—And then there was me—Nue-chan, sitting properly in seiza, savoring my own flawless cooking while dressed adorably.

Yes… unbelievably, what was happening here was a first in the history of the Beast Pirates—

——A family meal.

"…Hey, Yamato. Why ain’t ya eatin’?"

"…………"

"…! Hey, Yamato!! Answer me!! Why won’t ya take a bite?!"

"Tch… Shut up. I’ve got no appetite. Leave me alone."

"Don’t lie!! I heard ya haven’t eaten a damn thing all day!! Just eat already!!!"

"…Hmph. Hard to eat with a loudmouthed old fool like you in front of me."

"The hell did ya say?!!"

……Sigh… Ahh… Nothing warms the heart like a nice family meal with lively conversation… Somehow, the food tastes even better today. Did my cooking skills improve?

As I watched Kaido and Yamato bicker, I continued eating. No matter what, good food is good food. I’m not so weak-willed that my mood ruins the taste.

"Munch, munch… Mm… Hey, gimme seconds."

"Ahahaha~♡ A little rude, aren’t we, Musashi? Call me properly~♡"

"…No. Just give it to me. And hey, isn’t it embarrassing to still be playing idol at your age? You’re already fifty—"

"—Say another word, and I’ll drown you in a sea of miso soup~♡"

"…? There’s no such thing as a sea of miso soup. Are you stupid?"

"Shut up~♡"

I smiled sweetly as I spoke. Calmly—yes, calmly. The golden chopsticks Jack once gave me snapped with a sharp crack, but I am an idol. And this was a family meal—the one being rude was just a child. I wouldn’t let anger show over something like this. Forgiving Musashi’s insolence was the adult thing to do.

Though I did want to clutch my head and wonder who she took after. But I suppose Kaido’s genes just made kids rude. I’d decide to believe that. Because if I didn’t, I’d lose my mind.

With that, I scooped rice into Musashi’s bowl and tossed it to her—she caught it effortlessly—before turning my attention to Yamato.

"…Yamato, you’re really not eating? I’d be happy if you tried my cooking~♡ Or rather—eat it~♡"

"Shut up, Nue… Who knows what you put in your food? No way I’m eating that."

"It’s all normal ingredients, though? You don’t trust me? Musashi’s eating plenty."

"Musashi’s just dumb enough to eat anything."

"Guh!!? Gulp… What was that, Yamato?! Who’re you calling dumb?! Say it to my face!! Depending on your answer, sister or not, I’ll scrub the rust off this blade with your—"

"…I heard the 'Hawk-Eyes' is actually the world’s biggest idiot."

"Wh-what…? N-no way… I’ve never heard that!! You’re lying!!"

"And 'Red-Hair' is just a hungover moron all year round."

"What…? That… kinda sounds familiar… Tch… But I won’t be fooled… I won’t…! …Just in case, I’ll acknowledge it a little. —That’s right!! I am the world’s dumbest daughter, Musashi!!! So I’m only half as dumb!!"

"—Still dumb as hell."

……Yep. Definitely Kaido’s daughter. Watching Musashi get tricked into spouting nonsense by Yamato just confirmed it.

And of course, Kaido roared again upon hearing Musashi’s declaration.

"Hey, Musashi!! Sayin’ that crap again?! You ain’t the kid of Hawk-Eyes or Red-Hair!! You’re my daughter!!!"

"N-no!! I’m the child of swordsmen across the world!! And the child of idiots!! …Wait. If I’m the child of idiots, doesn’t that make me your kid?!"

"The hell does that mean?!!"

"Enough… Can I say it now? Let me make this clear—there’s no way 'Kozuki Oden' could sit here and eat peacefully with you people!!!"

"The hell’re you spoutin’, Yamato?! I acknowledged you as my son, but you ain’t Oden!!"

"Sigh… I went through all the trouble of forcing this family meal together… Well, if this is how it’s gonna be, my singing will surely dissolve all this tension!! So let’s kick things off with the world’s greatest idol’s most cheerful number—"

"Don’t you dare start singin’ now, ya damn fool!!"

"You think that’ll fix anything, idiot?! It’ll just piss us off more!!"

"…Honestly, an idol in a pirate crew? Are you even dumber than me?"

"I don’t wanna hear that from you idiots!!! MORONS!!!"

I screamed at the fools, watching as Kaido and Yamato started brawling while Musashi fled. Chasing after them, I clutched my head—Ugh… When’s Ace getting here?

Though I’d have to deal with these idiots first…

---

──The New World, "Yukiryu Island"

This winter island was the territory of one of the Four Emperors, "Red-Haired" Shanks, who flew the flag of the three-scarred skull. And now, it served as the stronghold of the elusive Red-Hair Pirates, whose movements were harder to track than any other Emperor.

Today, a certain rookie had come to pay his respects.

"You came… to greet me?"

"Nah—not like that!!"

The rookie had arrived to introduce himself, but Shanks—misinterpreting his intent in the usual way—gripped his sword and unleashed his Haki to intimidate the newcomer. Seeing this reaction, the captain of the Spade Pirates, "Fire Fist" Ace, hastily clarified.

Following the old ways of the underworld, Ace showed his open palm, delivered his formal introduction, and stated his origins. He spoke of Foosha Village in the East Blue, mentioned the name of a bar girl named Makino, and explained that he grew up on nearby Mt. Colubo. But when he brought up his little brother, the expressions of the Red-Hair Pirates shifted.

"Hoh… So you’ve got a brother, huh? Well, well—come on in! Tell me more!"

Shanks’ demeanor flipped instantly, his face breaking into a friendly grin as he clapped Ace on the shoulder and welcomed him to the bonfire circle.

From there, a feast began between the Red-Hair Pirates and the Spade Pirates.

Even under the banner of a Four Emperor, pirates were still pirates. And the Red-Hair Pirates, rumored to be the direct successors of Roger’s legacy, were true to the old ways—kind and easygoing with those they befriended or had ties to.

"So… he still has that straw hat, huh?"

"Yeah. Says it’s more important than his life. He made a promise to you—that he’d return the straw hat you lent him one day. When he becomes the Pirate King."

Ace spoke of his brother, a mutual acquaintance Shanks also knew. Hearing this, Shanks and the veteran members of his crew smiled nostalgically.

Ace mentioned that his brother would set out to sea in about two years—and that he’d catch up in no time. Shanks nodded, taking a swig of liquor. Hope so, he thought.

"He mentioned Loguetown, didn’t he? That place… Did you see the execution platform? Where the Pirate King died… Where the Great Pirate Era began."

Suddenly, Shanks changed the subject.

Ace’s expression darkened for a moment before he answered vaguely.

"Yeah, saw it. Tourist spot and all. But me… I ain’t interested in the Pirate King."

"Oh?"

The conversation then shifted to Ace himself.

If he had no interest in the Pirate King, why had he gone to sea? Did he have any real goal? Benn Beckman, the first mate, posed the question. Ace’s response was firm.

"I’m gonna make my name echo across the world."

His eyes burned with a smoldering flame. His ambition? Fame. But he made it clear—he wouldn’t become the Pirate King. To Shanks and the world, Roger was a legend. But to Ace, he was just a dead man who’d been gone since the day he was born. No interest at all.

So he’d make his name another way. And then, Ace revealed his plan.

"──The Four Emperors. First, I’ll take down one of them."

"…………!"

"…Hahaha."

The festive atmosphere turned tense. Of course it would—they were sitting in the territory of one of those very Emperors. Ace’s declaration was practically a challenge. Against any other crew, such boldness might’ve gotten him crushed on the spot.

But Shanks just laughed, easing the tension—and Ace quickly realized.

"…Ah, no no. I ain’t sayin’ I’m after your head. I paid my respects, and you’re my brother’s savior."

"Glad to hear it. But… Roger was my captain. …Did you know that? I figured even kids these days still admired the Pirate King, but guess not. Man, getting old sucks."

"Didn’t mean to kill the mood. My bad."

"Then, as entertainment… tell me this. Which Emperor are you after? Big Mom? Kaido? Or… Whitebeard?"

"Yeah──Whitebeard."

Ace declared it outright. He’d take Whitebeard’s head first—the man who had once been Roger’s rival.

After all, Ace had already burned Whitebeard’s flag in Fish-Man Island. That was his declaration of war.

"…Well, ain’t my place to say anythin’."

Shanks smirked, thinking for a moment before dismissing it. Ace’s journey was his own. If Whitebeard was his target, things probably wouldn’t go too badly. And even if they did, that was Ace’s choice.

"Good. Then even if I take Whitebeard’s head… it won’t be a slight against you."

Ace provoked him, utterly fearless.

Among the Four Emperors, Shanks was the newest. If Ace spoke so casually of toppling those above him, it could easily be taken as disrespect toward Shanks himself.

The Spade Pirates broke into a cold sweat at their captain’s reckless words. Ace was strong. Reliable. Charismatic. Everyone knew that.

"My enemies are the whole damn world. The Warlords, the Four Emperors, even the Celestial Dragons… I’ll bring ’em all down. Every last ‘peak.’ With these flames… I’ll raise my name on a flag—to surpass the ‘Pirate King’ Gol D. Roger. Taking down ‘Whitebeard’ Edward Newgate is just my starting point—Portgas D. Ace’s first step."

──But it was far too reckless.

And more than that, Ace’s ambition was fierce yet hollow, his resolve steeped in something darker.

Even if he succeeded… what then? There was no vision beyond destruction. No interest in adventure or treasure. Just a desire to tear the world apart—to rampage for its own sake.

Benn Beckman, listening quietly, dismissed him as just another overconfident rookie who’d eaten a Logia and thought himself invincible. The seas were full of fools like that.

But Shanks kept watching, still analyzing. Where did this darkness come from?

And why had this man been offered a Warlord position? That alone was suspicious. The Warlords weren’t so easily impressed. The Elders and Sengoku wouldn’t recruit someone just for a Logia.

Yet Ace had been invited. His bounty, too, was absurdly high for his achievements—over 300 million, when he should’ve barely crossed 100 million. There was more to him.

As Shanks pondered, nearly smiling at the intrigue, Ace turned the conversation to him. And when asked about his scars, Shanks gave a warning laced with provocation.

"The one who gave me this scar… was the Whitebeard Pirates."

"…!! Whitebeard himself!?"

"Nah. Just… one of his nameless crew."

Shanks pointed to the three scars over his left eye. Not a commander. Not even a division leader. Just a single, ordinary pirate.

"You expect me to believe that…?"

"Think I’m lying if you want. But if you’re gonna take down Whitebeard… you’ll have to crush all of them."

That depth was what made an Emperor an Emperor.

Though Shanks’ words carried another meaning. Lately, his scar hadn’t ached—so maybe nothing would come of it.

But if it did start throbbing again… it wouldn’t be from Whitebeard’s mark.

No, the wound that still bothered him came from a different Emperor.

The one Shanks truly kept his guard up against.

If that scar began to burn… something might be coming.

As he watched Ace leave the feast, Shanks couldn’t help but wonder:

──Hope he doesn’t get crushed by them before he even reaches Whitebeard.

---

The seas of the New World defy all common sense.

It wasn’t just the "Emperors" that crushed the pirates who ventured into these waters.

The Spade Pirates, still navigating these treacherous waves, were learning that the hard way.

"What the hell is up with these waves!?"

"Hey, there’s an octopus!!"

"Holy shit, that’s a massive carp!!"

Unfamiliar storms, towering waves—along with bizarre creatures like mysterious octopi and enormous carp—the Spade Pirates were struggling against a sea full of things they’d never seen before.

"Hey, Ace!! This is all because you picked some insane route!!"

"What was I supposed to do? …More importantly, that carp looks tasty. Wanna catch it and grill it?"

"This is NOT the time for that!!!"

Ace’s partner, Deuce, couldn’t help but yell at the carefree captain. Even though this mess was technically Ace’s fault, the man himself seemed convinced things would work out somehow.

"But if this keeps up, we’re gonna capsize, Boss Ace!!"

"That’d be bad. Skull, you got any info on how to ride these waves?"

"I ain’t a navigator, damn it!!"

The man wearing a skull mask—Skull, the crew’s pirate enthusiast and self-proclaimed intel broker—snapped back. With only twenty men (and one other creature) aboard, the Spade Pirates weren’t exactly a large crew, so everyone was pitching in to deal with the raging currents.

"Goddammit!! Do you guys always sail through insanity like this!?"

"Not always, but—hey, octopus!! Don’t you run away!! Damn it… I was really in the mood for takoyaki…"

"We’ve got bigger problems!! Stop chasing the damn octopus!!"

Amidst the chaos, there was also a woman on board with her own complicated reasons for being there—Isca, a former Marine lieutenant.

She had ended up on their ship after the incident where Ace was offered a Warlord position, refused, and all hell broke loose. A beautiful woman with burn scars on the back of her hand, she had once pursued the Spade Pirates through the Grand Line as a young Marine.

Her hometown and family had been burned down by pirates when she was a child. The culprit? A Marine Vice Admiral she had once respected. When she learned the truth—and that Ace had been the one to send that man flying in Sabaody—she confronted him, only to get injured in the fight. She was brought aboard for treatment… and now, here she was.

Officially, though, she wasn’t part of the crew. Instead, she had become a bounty hunter, constantly aiming for Ace’s head—because Ace himself had told her to, just so she wouldn’t have to become a pirate.

The Spade Pirates had plenty of people like that. Drifters with nowhere else to go, some not even strictly pirates, just folks allowed to stay on the ship.

But in reality, everyone aboard knew they were part of the Spade Pirates. They might play along with Ace’s easygoing attitude, but they were all ready to risk their lives for him as their captain.

And on this ship of misfits, one man suddenly appeared, holding a rope.

"Captain Ace!! Tie this rope around that carp!!"

"!"

"Kukai!! What the hell are you talking about!?"

Kukai, one of the crew, shouted at Ace, while Deuce demanded an explanation. Was this really how they were supposed to enter this island?

"To get into Wano, we gotta climb that waterfall!! And the only way to do that is by riding the carp!!"

"You’re saying the carp can climb a waterfall!?"

"That sounds… awesome. Alright, leave it to me!!"

Because—Kukai was a samurai.

Which meant he knew how to enter Wano Country, the isolated nation atop that waterfall. He’d left Wano long ago, but he remembered the method from stories his family told him as a child.

"Go for it, carp!!"

"…! No way…!!"

Just like that, Ace tied the rope to the carp. And as if by magic, the carp began ascending the waterfall, pulling the ship higher and higher.

Beyond lay Wano Country—a mysterious, isolationist nation shrouded in secrecy even in the New World.

What awaited them there? Standing at the bow, Ace was the first to see it. Floating in the sky—

"!! —Hey!! Look at that!! A UFO!!"

"Huh!? No way!! More importantly, we’ve got whirlpools and reverse currents to deal with!!"

"!!? Wait!! A UFO!? That means—"

"Shit!! We’re getting dragged under!! Hold onto the ship!!!"

While Ace pointed excitedly at the sky, the rest of the crew was in no position to care. Led by Deuce, the Spade Pirates were too busy fighting against the violent currents waiting beyond the waterfall.

Only Isca reacted to the word "UFO," her face paling—but before she could explain, the ship was swept away, forcing everyone to cling on for dear life.

—And by the time Ace and the others came to… they had been captured.

"Ugh… wh-what…?"

"Hurry, haul them in!!"

"There’s tons of food and water here…!!"

"Ah, we’re saved… this’ll keep us from starving…"

The ship and its crew had washed ashore, only to be surrounded by emaciated people in tattered kimonos. Some had unusual hairstyles—clear proof they were in Wano.

"Hey, Ace… we’re tied up and can’t move… what do we do?"

"Boss. If this keeps up, they’ll take all our supplies."

"…Yeah, they will."

"‘They will,’ my ass… ropes like these mean nothing to you."

One by one, the Spade Pirates regained consciousness, realizing they were bound and their supplies were being looted. They turned to Ace for answers. As a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, physical restraints were meaningless against him—only Haki or seastone could hold him.

Meaning, he could break free anytime and stop the theft.

"B-but what about these people, sir…?"

"They’re pirates!! Who cares…!!"

"That’s right…!! Because of pirates… we’re suffering like this…!!"

"…………"

"Hey, Ace."

Yet Ace remained silent, watching as the villagers desperately took their food and water. Even when Deuce and Isca called out to him, he didn’t respond—until finally, in a quiet voice, he spoke to his crew.

"…Don’t lay a hand on them."

"Don’t lay a hand on them…?"

"…You sure?"

"Yeah. Trust me on this."

The seriousness in Ace’s eyes left no room for argument. Even Deuce, who’d known him the longest, could only sigh and comply—as if he’d expected this.

One look at the villagers told the story. They were desperately poor—their village in ruins, clothes and sandals in tatters. The adults were gaunt, the children malnourished. It was clear they hadn’t eaten properly in a long time, maybe even struggled for clean water.

"…Hey, Kukai. Is Wano always this poor?"

"No… my father told me it was once called the Land of Gold, a country rich in nature… no one should’ve gone hungry here…"

"But that was a long time ago, right? Maybe things changed…"

"Maybe the environment shifted… or the rulers changed. There could be many reasons. The gap between rich and poor might’ve grown."

A man named Mihal, who had the unusual background of being a former teacher, also listened to Kukai's story and analyzed it. Seeing the children drinking water while crying, he concluded the latter possibility was more likely.

And then, after a while—after watching the villagers devour all the food, Ace finally turned his body into flames, released his restraint, and burned through the sailors' ropes… That was when the villagers realized.

"Ah, h-hey!! The pirates are untying their ropes!!?"

"No way…!!"

"W-what do we do…!? We ate all their food…!! If this keeps up, they’ll take revenge on us…!!"

"The kids are deeper in the village…!!"

Seeing Ace and his crew free themselves from their restraints, the villagers trembled in fear. To them, the most terrifying thing was "pirates." In this situation, they all feared for their lives.

Amidst this, Ace walked up to them… and flashed a disarmingly kind smile, as if to dispel their anxiety.

"—So, where can we get some dessert?"

"……Huh…?"

The villagers gaped at him, as if they couldn’t understand his words. Everyone was dumbfounded.

"……You’re not… gonna get back at us?"

"Hm? Oh… nah, that food and water… yeah. It didn’t suit our tastes. We were just about to throw it away anyway… right?"

"Tch… yeah, that’s right."

"See? You did us a favor by eating it. And as thanks… you guys must want some dessert too, right? So I was wonderin’ where we could get some. Mind telling us?"

"……You guys…"

They could tell immediately that his words weren’t true. A consideration unbecoming of pirates—an image of pirates they’d never seen before.

And then, they realized. They had been saved by the very pirates they had attacked.

They could have freed themselves at any time. They could have stopped the looting. The only reason they didn’t was out of sheer kindness.

"……S-sor…"

"Sor?"

The moment Ace tilted his head in confusion, the villagers dropped to their knees.

"We’re sorry!! We… we stole your precious food and water…!!"

"……Nah, it’s fine. Our supplies weren’t that much anyway. We can just take more from some other pirates or bounty hunters."

"We’re so sorry… but you really saved us…!! We hadn’t eaten properly in so long… we lost our minds when we saw all that food right in front of us…!!"

The villagers bowed their heads, tears streaming as they apologized and thanked them. Ace and his crew exchanged glances, unsure how to react.

"……So, what now?"

"Dunno…"

"Boss. We should probably confirm whether this is Wano Country or not."

"Yeah, good point. —Hey, you guys. This is Wano Country, right?"

Following Skull’s suggestion, Ace asked. —Just then, a man’s voice rang out from among the villagers.

"—Indeed. This is Kuri, in Wano Country. The ‘Hakumai Village,’ close to Kuri Beach."

"Whoa… some guy with a long nose just showed up… Who’re you?"

"My name is Tenguyama Hitetsu. I am a swordsmith."

The man who stepped forward before Ace and his crew wore a black mask with wings and a long nose, clad in wooden sandals with a single tooth—an elderly-looking figure who introduced himself as a swordsmith.

The Spade Pirates found his bizarre appearance intriguing. Did Wano Country have a lot of strange folks like this?

"You have my gratitude for providing the village with food. …But why have you come to Wano Country?"

"Why? Well… just happened, I guess. We’re pirates, after all."

"…I see… But precisely because you are our benefactors, I must advise you… it would be best not to linger here for long."

"…Oh? But we’d like to stay a while. We wanna look around a bit."

"…Staying is not an issue, but…"

"…?"

Hitetsu answered evasively. Looking around, the other villagers wore similarly complicated expressions—apologetic, yet also fearful of something.

Unable to grasp their circumstances, yet sensing it would be rude to pry further, Ace suddenly remembered something from earlier and decided to lighten the mood by bringing it up.

"Oh, hey, speaking of which, we saw a UFO up by the waterfall… Do you guys get those a lot in W—"

"A… UFO!!?"

The villagers reacted with shock. Ace and the Spade Pirates expected surprise—but not this kind of reaction.

"…Hey, Ace. Your crazy story just freaked out the whole village. You sure you didn’t just imagine it?"

"Nah, I really saw it!! That’s why I asked… Hahaha, guess even in Wano, UFOs are surpris—"

"No… no…"

"…! Hey… what’s wrong?"

The moment Ace mentioned the UFO, one of the children clutched their head and doubled over.

Frowning, Ace called out to the child, but by then, the other villagers had also begun to… tremble violently.

"Ugh… uuugh…!!"

"N-no… I don’t wanna die…!!"

"We’ll do anything, just spare our lives…!!"

"!? What the—"

The Spade Pirates were stunned. In particular, Deuce broke into a cold sweat as he observed the villagers’ state. PTSD—this was clearly a trauma response.

Coming from a family of doctors and having once been a medical student himself, he quickly realized that the UFO was the root of their trauma. A moment later, Ace and the others also noticed the severity of the situation and hurriedly apologized.

"Sorry!! I dunno what’s goin’ on, but did we scare you!? We didn’t mean to—"

"…No, it’s fine. We understand. We don’t think you meant any harm… O-Tama."

"Y-yes!"

Hitetsu, calmly assessing the trembling villagers, assured Ace they weren’t at fault and called over what seemed to be his granddaughter—a small but remarkably resilient child—to tend to them.

"…If it’s something you don’t wanna talk about, we won’t ask. You’ve got your own troubles, right? We’ll be fine just staying here a little while."

"…Your consideration is appreciated, but… if they have spotted you, then your arrival is already known… We cannot stay silent."

"…Huh? Our arrival’s known? Wait… you’re not saying that thing was man-made, are you?"

Avoiding the word "UFO," Deuce pressed the question. There was no way that thing was human-made—unless Wano’s technology was far more advanced than they thought.

But Hitetsu nodded, answering with a grave expression.

"Indeed… It would take much time to explain in full, but… in short, that flying object was created through the sorcery of a woman known as Nue."

"……!!"

"Nue!? You mean… wait, you’re serious?"

"…? Skull, you know about this?"

Skull’s voice cracked in shock. Isuka, too, paled at the name. The rest of the crew tensed as they waited for Skull’s response.

"Know about it? Well, if it’s that Nue… then we’re dealing with someone real bad, boss…"

"…A pirate?"

"......The Beasts Pirates of the Four Emperors - 'Kaido of the Beasts.' And I'm the Vice Captain."

"Wha──!!?"

"One of the Four Emperors... Kaido...!!?"

"So that's why the name sounded familiar...!!"

──The Four Emperors. The four great pirate emperors who rule these seas, equals to Whitebeard whom Ace aims to surpass and Red-Hair whom they recently met.

And everyone knew the name "Kaido of the Beasts." Even Ace had learned it from Skull when entering the New World, listed alongside the other Emperors.

The strongest creature in these seas... no, in this entire world... The man they say "If you want a one-on-one fight, go after Kaido." A combat-focused Emperor whose raw strength is said to surpass even Whitebeard himself.

And this woman "Uo" is his right hand - Kaido's sworn sibling.

"...So you're saying Kaido and Uo... the Beasts Pirates are here?"

"You know of Kaido? The Beasts Pirates led by Kaido and Uo have ruled this country as overlords for over 18 years...!! Allied with Shogun Orochi, they've turned most of Wano into lawless wastelands...!!"

"W-wait wait wait... You're saying Wano is the Beasts Pirates' headquarters? Now that you mention it, intel about their base was suspiciously scarce... But to think it was here all along..."

Even information broker Skull seemed caught off guard by this revelation. While Emperor-level intel is never easy to obtain, organizations that large usually leave some traces. Yet the Beasts Pirates were famously opaque about their territory. Despite Skull's government connections, he only had fragments - mostly about key officers.

"...I see. So Kaido's why this village is so poor."

"...To cement their rule, they only provide food and water to those who submit and profit them. Recently, they've even stolen the rain..."

"Since when can you steal rain...?"

"Don't know how, but they can make blessed rain fall only on lands under their control while denying others entirely."

"So submission's the only option."

"Indeed. Resistance brings Kaido's armies to reduce everything to rubble...!! Those UFOs can sniff out rebels and attack relentlessly... Once marked, they'll hound you endlessly."

"That explains it..."

Their warning against staying too long meant pursuers might already be en route.

"...Ace. We should sail. At this rate, we'll──"

Deuce voiced his concerns. Targeting Whitebeard was reckless enough - picking a fight with Kaido mid-journey crossed from reckless to suicidal. The villagers' plight was tragic, but retreat seemed the only option. The crew agreed.

But Ace──

"...Nah, we're staying."

"Ace!!"

"We won't cause trouble. If pursuers come, we'll leave the village. Won't breathe a word about this place... Deal?"

"...We've no objections..."

Tenguyama and the villagers reluctantly nodded. They couldn't refuse their benefactors. But as the crew's disagreement grew audible, the villagers quieted while the Spade Pirates grew louder.

"Ace!! You realize who we're dealing with!? That's─"

"A 'Four Emperor.' I know... We won't pick a fight... for now."

"Damn it, you─"

Deuce gritted his teeth. That "for now" meant they'd retaliate if provoked. Everyone knew Ace's ambitions and sympathized with the villagers.

This was madness - utter madness. Yet they all knew no one could stop him once his mind was set.

"Let's prep for camping."

"...Fine. But remember - if things turn south─"

"──EMERGENCY!!!"

As the crew resignedly agreed and Deuce tried warning Ace, a drenched man came sprinting into town.

"What happened!?"

"Beasts Pirates...!! Just a few, heading straight here...!!"

"You can't be serious!!?"

The moment arrived abruptly - undoubtedly Ace's pursuers.

"Too damn fast...!!"

"What now, Ace!?"

"...We intercept them outside town. A small group can be subdued quietly."

"They'll notice missing men... No time to debate!!"

Thus, Ace's crew hid in bamboo groves to ambush the pursuers─who appeared moments later.

"Found them!?"

"Not yet. But find them and promotion's ours...!!"

"That's the Beasts Pirates? Don't look so tough."

"...Probably just grunts?"

A sword-wielding official-looking man and a beast-masked man, both riding large lizard-like creatures. Definitely Beasts Pirates. Their dialogue confirmed they were hunting Ace's group.

"Ready?"

"Yeah. I'll go first... Now!!"

Ace alone could handle these foes. With backup, capturing them would be easy.

As Ace signaled the ambush─another figure burst from the bamboo.

"Opening spotted~~~~!!!"

"Guh!!?"

"Huh!!?"

One pirate went flying... not from the Spades' attack.

"W-wait!! Lord Kaido seeks─"

"Who cares!! I return when I please!! If you insist on dragging me back... train until you're worthy of being my papa!! Then teach me some secret technique!!"

"That's absurd─Gack!!"

"Hmph... Weaklings... Frogs in a well... My victory... How stifling!!!"

A black-and-red-haired girl wielding twin blades swiftly defeated the pursuers. After declaring victory, she turned to leave─only to lock eyes with Ace's group.

"Hmm..."

"......Ah, uh, hello. Pardon the intrusion."

Ace instinctively straightened up and bowed politely. The girl tilted her head in puzzlement.

"...To think I, of all people, failed to notice your presence with my Kenbunshoku... A swordsman who disrupts Observation is beneath contempt."

"Er... And you are? Ah, I'm Portgas D. Ace, from Baterilla in the South Blue—"

"You ask for my name? Fuh... HAHAHAHA!!! Then I shall grace you with it! Behold the majesty of...!!"

With a proud grin, the girl dramatically declared:

"My name is... Red-Haired Golden Lion of the Flower Sword, Kozuki·Shimotsuki·Juraquíl·Fuse·Silvers·Jack·Gol·D·King... et cetera!! MUSASHI!!!"

"LIAR!! THERE’S NO WAY THAT’S YOUR REAL NAME!!!"

"! ...Gol... D?"

"Fuhahahaha!!! Are there any swordsmen among you!? If so, step forward!! Let us duel in honorable combat!!!"

——And thus, she was an absurdly long-named... utterly ridiculous girl.