The silence lingered.
A few seconds passed, stretching just enough to make the air feel heavier.
Then Ace sighed, leaning back slightly before speaking with a faint smile.
"And why do you think I'm here for some special reason?"
He shrugged.
"I could just be wandering around, you know…"
Kael chuckled, unfazed.
"I don't think a 100 million berry pirate—"
He paused slightly.
"—and not just any pirate… but one from a Yonko crew…"
His gaze sharpened just a little.
"…would be wandering around in the first half of the Grand Line."
Ace stared at him for a moment.
Then shook his head with a small laugh.
"You're way too smart, you know that?"
He smirked.
"Pops would be really happy to have a strong fighter with a brain like yours on the crew."
Kael returned the smirk.
"I have no doubt about that."
Then his tone shifted.
Subtle.
But clear.
"But let's not drift away from the topic."
His eyes locked onto Ace.
"You're here for something important… right?"
Across the table, the women exchanged glances.
Looks like even he doesn't know something this time…
Ace exhaled slowly.
Then nodded.
"…Alright."
"I don't mind telling you."
A small grin appeared.
"You're my friend now, after all."
He leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table.
Everyone's attention focused on him instantly.
The atmosphere turned serious.
Kael simply leaned back, crossing his arms.
Calm.
As if he already knew what was coming.
"Good," he said lightly. "Let's hear what—or who—you're looking for."
Ace chuckled once more.
Then his expression hardened.
"Alright… so it's like this."
And then—
He told them everything.
About what happened on their ship.
About Teach.
A crewmate who broke the ultimate taboo among pirates—
Killing one of their own.
All for the sake of a Devil Fruit.
Ace's voice remained steady, but there was something beneath it.
Something burning.
He continued, explaining how he had heard that Teach was somewhere in the Grand Line.
How he had been tracking him ever since.
Relentless.
Determined.
"Teach was part of my division," Ace said, his tone firm.
"As the commander… it's my responsibility."
His eyes darkened.
"To find that bastard."
"And kill him."
"To avenge my crewmate."
Silence followed.
This time—
Heavier than before.
The women's expressions shifted throughout his explanation.
Shock.
Anger.
A hint of sadness.
And slowly—
Respect.
Vivi let out a quiet breath, relief flashing through her eyes.
Good… he's not an enemy.
Kael-san is already going against Crocodile for Alabasta…
I don't want him to fight someone like this too…
Ace leaned back once he finished, exhaling.
"So yeah… that's why I'm here."
He turned to Kael with a grin.
"Happy now?"
Kael closed his eyes for a moment.
Then nodded.
"…I see."
But inside—
(I already knew… but it never hurts to ask, right?)
The women froze.
Their eyes snapped toward him.
He knew?!
So he was just playing along?!
Nami's eye twitched.
"This bastard…"
"He's way too good at acting!!"
Without warning—
Thud!
Her fist landed straight on Kael's head.
A bump instantly formed.
The others just sighed.
They already knew why.
Kael, on the other hand, was caught completely off guard.
He grabbed his head, wincing.
"What the hell?! Why did you hit me, Nami?!"
Nami grinned unapologetically.
"Just felt like it."
There was a brief pause.
Then—
Ace blinked.
Once.
Twice.
And burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha!!"
He pointed at Kael.
"Now we actually look the same!!"
Kael groaned, glaring at Nami.
"At least respect your captain in front of others."
Nami huffed.
"You don't deserve it."
Kael sighed in defeat before turning back to Ace.
"Stop laughing, idiot. You're disturbing everyone in the restaurant."
Ace wiped a tear from his eye, still grinning.
"Oh? Is that so?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"Or are you just embarrassed because everyone's staring at the swollen potato on your head?"
"Hahaha!!"
Kael's expression twitched.
"…Nami, this is your fault."
Nami simply stuck her tongue out at him mockingly.
Kael's brows twitched again.
"Alright then…"
"No money for the rest of the week—"
"NOOO!!"
Nami immediately jumped up.
"You can't do that!!"
Kael smirked.
"Oh, I absolutely can."
Before he could react—
Nami lunged at him dramatically, clinging onto him.
"Kael please!! I take it back!! Don't do this to me!!"
The other three women watched the scene unfold.
Then sighed.
This was… normal at this point.
Meanwhile—
Ace leaned back, laughing freely as he watched the chaos.
Around them, the other customers exchanged tired, confused glances.
Where did these crazy people come from…?
And just like that—
The chaos continued.
After some time, the dramatic chaos finally settled.
Kael and his crew stepped out of the restaurant.
Behind them—
The moment the door closed—
A collective sigh of relief echoed inside.
The workers slumped.
Customers relaxed.
Someone muttered,
"…Finally."
Another groaned,
"What kind of maniacs were those people?"
"Seriously," someone else added, rubbing their ears, "all that yelling… my ears are still ringing."
Then suddenly—
"LOOK!!"
A loud voice cut through the room.
Everyone turned, annoyed.
"Why are you yelling too?! We just got some silenc—"
The man slammed two bounty posters onto the table.
"Look here, fool."
The room went quiet.
Eyes dropped to the posters.
Then widened.
"Wait… aren't these…?"
The man nodded, excitement and fear mixing in his voice.
"Yes! These two—"
He pointed.
"—they were sitting here just a few minutes ago!"
"The bare-chested one with the hat—100 million berries."
"And that tall swordsman in the long coat—80 million berries!!"
Silence.
Heavy.
Then murmurs spread like wildfire.
"So… they weren't just random people?"
"Yeah… those were pirates…"
"And not small ones either…"
The restaurant owner wiped sweat from his forehead, hands trembling slightly.
"Thank god… I didn't throw them out earlier."
"…Who knows what would've happened…"
A shiver passed through the room as people imagined it.
Then—
A smug voice spoke up.
"That would've been interesting though."
"You should've tried it."
The owner's head snapped toward him.
"Oh yeah?"
His voice dropped dangerously.
"Why don't you go ahead and try it yourself then?"
The man scoffed.
"Why should I? It's your restaurant. You deal with it."
"You—!!"
Before the owner could explode—
Another voice cut in, calm but sharp.
"You really think only the owner would've suffered?"
Everyone paused.
The man continued, expression serious.
"You know how pirates assert dominance."
"Especially big shots like them."
"…If he had provoked them—"
He didn't finish.
He didn't need to.
The meaning was clear.
The smug man swallowed hard.
The owner crossed his arms.
"Exactly."
The smug man quickly clasped his hands together.
"Uh… I'm sorry, boss."
"Good thing you didn't get involved with those… evil scum."
The owner waved it off.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Outside—
Kael walked ahead with the others.
But with his heightened senses—
He caught bits and pieces of the conversation inside.
"…evil scum…"
He exhaled softly.
"...Huh."
A faint shake of his head followed.
Disappointment flickered across his face.
Ace noticed immediately.
"Huh?"
"Kael, you alright?"
Kael blinked, snapping out of it.
"Yeah."
Ace studied him for a few seconds.
Then nodded.
"You seem a bit down."
A grin returned to his face.
"Is it because I'm leaving?"
"Don't worry, we'll meet again soon—"
He started rambling.
Kael's mouth twitched.
(This bastard is so full of himself…)
The women heard that and rolled their eyes.
Like you're any different…
After finishing his dramatic rant, Ace looked satisfied.
Kael sighed.
"You done?"
Ace paused.
"…Yeah."
Then his tone softened slightly.
"I'll be back in Alabasta after a few days."
"But… you won't be here by then, right?"
Kael nodded.
Ace extended his hand.
"Then… looks like this is farewell."
Kael stepped forward and clasped it.
A firm handshake.
His expression turned serious.
"Ace…"
Ace immediately caught the shift.
"You're still worried about Teach?"
He smirked confidently.
"Don't be."
"You've seen how strong I am."
"I'll handle it. Hahaha!!"
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Still."
"Be careful, alright?"
"The Dark-Dark Fruit…"
Ace nodded without hesitation.
"Just trust me, Kael."
Kael's jaw tightened slightly.
(How…?)
(How can I trust that… when I know what's going to happen?)
(Damn it… I want to stop him…)
(But Marineford…)
(That arc is too important… if I change it—)
His grip tightened unconsciously.
Ace frowned.
"…Oi?"
The girls noticed too.
Confusion crossed their faces.
Why is he this worried…?
Who exactly is this Teach…?
Is he really that dangerous?
Inside Kael's mind—
The system spoke.
[Host… you're quite smart.]
[I was almost certain you were about to trigger your first punishment.]
Kael frowned.
(You know how evil that sounds, right?)
(Instead of commenting, how about giving me a solution?)
(How do I stop Ace without disrupting the storyline?)
[I'm sorry, Host.]
[That's not possible.]
[As you said yourself, the Marineford arc is one of the most important events.]
[Even I cannot interfere with that.]
(Useless…)
[Don't worry, Host.]
[Just save your friend when the time comes.]
(And the butterfly effects?)
(What guarantees things will go the same way?)
[…]
(Exactly. No answer.)
"Oi!! Kael!!"
Ace's voice snapped him back.
"How long are you planning to crush my hand, you bastard?!"
Kael blinked.
"Huh?"
He quickly loosened his grip.
"Sorry… I was just—"
He paused.
Then frowned.
"…Wait."
"Why didn't you use elementalization?"
Ace's eye twitched.
"You think I'm an idiot?"
"You're using Armament, you jerk!!"
Kael glanced at his hand.
"…I used it unconsciously…"
"…How?"
"It shouldn't be possible at my level…"
Ace waved it off.
"Hey, don't start spacing out again."
Kael shook his head slightly.
"Ah… sorry."
Ace grinned.
"Yeah, yeah. No worries."
Then he turned, taking a few steps away before looking back over his shoulder.
"Well then…"
"It's goodbye."
He raised his hand.
"Bye-bye, ladies!"
The women nodded politely, returning the farewell.
Ace then looked at Kael.
"Oi, stop sulking."
"You've got things to do here, don't you?"
Kael paused.
Then smiled.
"…Yeah."
"I do."
He raised his hand as well.
"See you again, Ace."
"And try not to bump into strangers again."
"Not everyone's as forgiving as me."
Ace scoffed instantly.
"It was you who bumped into me, bastard!!"
"And I was the one who forgave you, kid!!"
Kael shot back.
"We're the same age, idiot!!"
A pause.
Then—
Both burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha!!"
And just like that—
Ace turned and walked away.
His figure gradually disappearing into the distance.
Kael watched silently.
(…Be safe, Ace.)