January 16th, 1519 (Sea Calendar)
Marine Headquarters, Marineford
"Seraphina, do you know this person?"
Sengoku picked up the latest newspaper and placed it on his desk, pointing toward a photograph dominated by raging flames.
The figure within the flames was difficult to make out clearly, but the man's identity was unmistakable to anyone who had been following recent events on the Grand Line.
Sengoku looked toward the white-clad Vice Admiral sitting across from him.
"Who?"
"Fire Fist Ace, the pirate who has recently gained considerable notoriety on the Grand Line."
Sengoku paused for a moment before remembering that Saint Roselith Seraphina could not see the newspaper's photograph.
He immediately abandoned the attempt to show her the image and simply explained the situation.
"I heard that he broke through Vice Admiral Gion's defenses and has been causing trouble along the Grand Line."
"No."
Saint Roselith Seraphina answered without hesitation.
"…"
Sengoku stared at her for a moment, a faint trace of helplessness appearing in his expression.
"That isn't what I meant."
He placed the newspaper back on his desk.
"The World Government is currently looking for a suitable candidate to fill one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea positions."
Saint Roselith Seraphina's expression became slightly puzzled.
"The Seven Warlords?"
"Yes."
Sengoku leaned back in his chair.
"I've been observing Ace's movements for some time, and despite being a pirate, his behavior isn't typical of the more ruthless pirates we've encountered."
"He has attacked pirates, protected ordinary civilians on several occasions, and rarely causes unnecessary casualties among civilians."
"Rather than allowing some ambitious pirate to occupy the position, I believe Fire Fist Ace may be worth approaching."
Saint Roselith Seraphina remained silent for a moment.
She understood what Sengoku was thinking.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea were pirates granted authority by the World Government in exchange for cooperating with the government and assisting against other pirates.
From the perspective of the Marines, the arrangement was far from ideal.
It was a compromise that allowed dangerous pirates to operate with a degree of legal protection.
"If you already have an opinion of him, why are you telling me this?"
Saint Roselith Seraphina asked.
Sengoku folded his hands together.
"I want you to go and meet him."
"…Me?"
"I want you to determine whether Fire Fist Ace is suitable."
Saint Roselith Seraphina was silent for several seconds.
"And if he refuses?"
"Then he refuses."
Sengoku shrugged.
"This isn't an order to force him into becoming a Warlord."
"It is simply an invitation."
Saint Roselith Seraphina considered the matter carefully before finally nodding.
"Alright."
"But I can't guarantee that he'll accept."
"I know."
Sengoku smiled.
"Just do what you can."
Saint Roselith Seraphina rose from her seat and prepared to leave.
As she stepped outside the Fleet Admiral's office, the sound of seagulls echoed above Marineford.
Warm sunlight spread across the Marine Headquarters, illuminating the massive fortress and its surrounding buildings.
Saint Roselith Seraphina tilted her head slightly toward the sound of the wind.
"Fire Fist Ace."
"So you've finally become a pirate."
She had already heard about Ace's departure from the East Blue.
She also knew that Portgas D. Ace was the son of Gol D. Roger, although the World Government had gone to extraordinary lengths to keep that truth hidden from the world.
And yet, despite everything, Ace had still chosen the path of a pirate.
Saint Roselith Seraphina sighed quietly.
"Garp really couldn't stop that boy."
She had warned Garp before.
Unfortunately, some people were simply impossible to restrain.
And Ace was one of them.
"Vice Admiral!"
A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
Bruce approached from ahead, already prepared for departure.
"Everything is ready."
Saint Roselith Seraphina nodded.
"Good."
"Prepare the ship."
"We're heading toward the central section of the first half of the Grand Line."
"There is a troublesome young pirate we need to meet."
Bruce accepted the newspaper she handed him.
"Yes, Vice Admiral."
He glanced briefly at the article before folding the newspaper and putting it away.
Saint Roselith Seraphina suddenly stopped.
"Bruce."
"Yes?"
"Your strength has improved considerably."
Bruce smiled.
"Has it?"
"I've heard you've recently dismantled several pirate bases."
Saint Roselith Seraphina could sense the difference in his presence.
His physical strength, combat instincts, and overall aura had all improved substantially.
For someone who had remained close to her for so long, the progress was obvious.
"Isn't a Vice Admiral supposed to improve as well?"
Bruce replied with a faint smile.
Saint Roselith Seraphina smiled.
"Fair enough."
The two continued toward the harbor.
Soon, the Marine warship prepared to depart Marineford.
Their destination was the Grand Line.
Their target was Fire Fist Ace.
Somewhere in the first half of the Grand Line
The Spade Pirates' ship sailed steadily across the sea.
Inside the cabin, a young man with black hair stumbled through the doorway with a bottle of liquor in his hand.
A thin trail of foam slowly gathered around the mouth of the bottle.
"Deuce!"
"Are you still writing in that diary?"
"Stop writing and come drink with me!"
Ace walked over and slapped a hand onto the shoulder of his first mate.
Deuce's pen immediately stopped.
"I'm writing a novel, you idiot!"
Deuce glared at him.
"You nearly set the ship on fire the last time you got drunk."
Ace scratched his head awkwardly.
"I'm sorry."
"You're the captain!"
Deuce sighed heavily.
"Sometimes I seriously wonder whether you're aware of that."
Ace laughed.
"Of course I know!"
"I'm the captain!"
Deuce closed his notebook and stared at Ace for several seconds.
His expression gradually became serious.
"Ace."
"Hm?"
"From the moment we met on that deserted island, I decided that I would follow you."
"My resolve hasn't changed since then."
Ace's expression gradually became more serious.
Deuce continued.
"So I'll ask you one more time."
"Are you truly serious about the path you've chosen?"
Ace's drunken expression disappeared.
His eyes became sharp.
"Of course."
"I, Portgas D. Ace, will become one of the greatest pirates on the sea."
Deuce stared at him.
Then he smiled.
"Then let's go."
"The Spade Pirates will pursue that dream together."
Deuce slammed his palm against the table.
"We'll challenge the strongest pirates on the sea."
"We'll make the world remember the name of the Spade Pirates."
"And we'll help our captain reach the top!"
Ace grinned.
"That's right!"
"I'm going to become the Pirate King!"
The atmosphere inside the cabin became heated.
Then suddenly…
Bang!
The wooden door was thrown open.
"Captain!"
A member of the Spade Pirates rushed inside.
Ace and Deuce immediately turned toward him.
"What happened?"
"There!"
The pirate pointed toward the sea.
"There appears to be an island ahead!"
Ace immediately stood up.
"An island?"
"Yes!"
"It looks strange!"
Ace's eyes lit up.
The Spade Pirates had only recently entered the Grand Line, and every strange phenomenon still felt like an incredible discovery.
The Grand Line was infamous for its unpredictable weather, bizarre islands, dangerous creatures, and countless mysteries.
Anything could appear on this sea.
Ace grabbed a pair of binoculars.
"Let's go take a look."
The crew hurried toward the deck.
The moment Ace stepped outside, the salty sea breeze struck his face.
He raised the binoculars and looked toward the distant horizon.
For a moment, he saw nothing.
Then…
There it was.
A strange blue shape appeared in the distance.
Ace's eyebrows rose.
"What is that?"
Deuce took the binoculars from him and looked carefully.
His expression slowly changed.
"I don't know."
"An island surrounded by that color of water?"
Ace grinned.
"So this is the Grand Line."
"Everywhere we go, there's something strange waiting for us."
The Spade Pirates stared toward the mysterious destination.
None of them realized that this seemingly ordinary discovery would soon bring them into contact with one of the most dangerous forces on the sea.
Nor did Ace know that a Marine warship was already sailing toward him.
And aboard that warship was a white-haired Vice Admiral whose name had already begun to spread throughout the Grand Line.
Saint Roselith Seraphina.
The Marine known by the codename Hakutaku.
The woman who had once crossed blades with some of the strongest pirates on the sea.
The woman who had already drawn the attention of the World Government.
And now…
She was coming for Fire Fist Ace.
WE ARE CURRENTLY ON CHAPTER 242 ON PATREON.
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCED CHAPTERS BEFORE PUBLIC RELEASE OR PURCHASE THE BOOK FOR LIFETIME ACCESS!
Patreon.com/HACKDWORLD