The journey back was uneventful.
Even Luffy, known for his boundless excitement, didn't shout as enthusiastically as he did initially.
Orange Town marked their fifth destination. Atlas revealed to them the darker aspects of human nature, laying bare the ugly faces of the pirates before their eyes.
The once symbolic representation of freedom and adventure, the pirate profession, underwent a complete subversion in their hearts.
"How's it progressing? What are your thoughts?"
Atlas took the initiative to dispel the dullness. He hadn't gone out of his way to take these three youngsters on an outing.
"...By the way, can you set us down and ask again?"
Ace felt a bit self-conscious; the way they looked now was truly peculiar.
The perpetually rolling waves left a slender white trail on the sea. At this moment, Atlas was sprinting across the water, gripping the back collars of Ace and Sabo with both hands, while Luffy clung tightly to his shoulders, his clothes fluttering in the wind.
He chose not to use the ship; on a whim, he wanted the three to witness this grim world and understand the extent of the damage inflicted by pirates on the world.
"Do you still aspire to be a pirate now? To harm innocent lives? To engage in burning, killing, and looting?"
Atlas paid no heed to Ace's embarrassment. Education is most effective in moments like these. Once the momentum fades, he might not be as receptive.
"I...the kind of pirate I aspire to be is different from this. I pursue freedom and adventure as the reasons for becoming a pirate!"
Ace appeared a bit unconvinced, scratching his neck before shouting.
"Then, how do you acquire your food, clothing, transportation, and living expenses? Naturally, you can also trade with the treasures you obtain through risky ventures."
Ace was on the verge of nodding when Atlas' expression suddenly turned serious.
"When you hoist the pirate flag, and news of your exploits spreads across the sea, countless lives will be impacted by the information. People might abandon their families and loved ones, much like your father, Roger!"
"Don't always bring up Roger to me; he's not my father!" Ace suddenly looked ferocious. "I bear a evil bloodline, the lineage of the Pirate King that shouldn't exist in this world. My birth led to my mother's death, and that bastard Roger is the one who killed her!"
Sabo and Luffy were taken aback by Ace's sudden outburst. While Ace typically resisted the mention of Roger, Sabo usually refrained from bringing up Roger in Ace's presence. It appeared to be a sensitive issue for Ace.
"Do you despise Roger? Do you harbor resentment towards the era he ushered in?"
"I despise Roger; he doesn't deserve to be my father."
"Then why have you chosen to tread the same path as Roger?"
"I aim to surpass Roger and demonstrate that everything he did was wrong. I refuse to live in his shadow for the rest of my life!"
Ace was undeniably in pain. Upon learning that he was Roger's son, he had sought advice from others about what to do with the bloodline left by Roger. However, all he received were vicious curses and abuses, causing him to question whether he had any place in this world.
"As a pirate, the pinnacle you can attain is to become another Pirate King. It doesn't even surpass Roger!"
"But..." Atlas raised the corners of his mouth, unveiling an intriguing smile. "How about putting an end to the era of great pirates that Roger initiated with your life?"
"After Roger's death, his words stirred the entire sea. The era became tumultuous, and pirates sprouted up incessantly! And you, as the son of the Pirate King, have the opportunity to set this chaotic era back on course. Aren't you the one destined to accomplish this mission?"
"..."
Ace fell silent.
"Or... perhaps, you are secretly longing for a father's love," Atlas glanced down at Ace, whose expression remained serious, and said with a smile, "What do you think about... becoming my son?"
Ace was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized and retorted, "What nonsense are you spouting, you scoundrel!"
"Hahahaha! How about considering joining the Marines, Ace!"
"But how could the Marines accept the bloodline of the Pirate King?" Ace was a bit moved but still hesitant. He had heard countless curses against Roger since childhood, and... his mother was compelled by the Marines and the World Government. She had no choice but to conceal his birth, ultimately leading to her demise.
"The Marines accept individuals with a righteous heart, regardless of their origin! And... as for the World Government... Heh!"
Sengoku was undoubtedly aware that Garp had adopted Roger's son, but he chose to turn a blind eye for the sake of their longstanding camaraderie. Perhaps, he even took the initiative to assist in concealing this information from the World Government, akin to how Aokiji let Robin go without pursuing her. Instead of probing further, he opted to feign ignorance.
"Yes, yes, when the time comes, I will become the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, and Ace, you will rise to the rank of Marine Admiral!"
Luffy also joyfully concurred.
"Idiot, what can you do with your limited strength, I'll be the Marine Fleet Admiral!"
Ace rolled his eyes in exasperation. While the recent battle with the King of Mt.Colubo had improved his opinion of Luffy, it didn't alter his disdain for Luffy's strength.
"But...."
Sabo, who was on the left, witnessed Ace being successfully led away, and his expression became tangled. Hadn't they agreed to set sail together and become pirates? He had been saving money for three years, and now Ace was turning around and saying he wanted to join the Marines?
"Do you despise your noble parents?"
Atlas naturally caught sight of Sabo's expression. To safeguard the fruits of his victory from being squandered, he decided to seize the opportunity, strike while the iron was hot, and then deceive Sabo into joining, bringing together the three "ASL" brothers.
"Huh? How does Mr. Atlas know?"
Sabo had numerous conjectures swirling in his mind. He recalled that he hadn't seemingly disclosed his background, and even Ace wasn't aware of his noble status. (T/N: It appeared that Sabo's noble lineage was only revealed when the Gray terminal was incinerated.)
"Sabo, you're actually a noble!"
Ace appeared surprised.
"I didn't intend to keep it from you. I grew weary of the hypocritical and sordid life of that noble group, so I ran away from that family at an early age. I've always been deeply ashamed of my noble status!"
"What's nobility? Is it something tasty?"
Luffy the food enthusiast is back in action.
"Idiot! That's not something to eat!"
"Oh, okay."
Atlas took his time and articulated the words he had prepared, "I've mentioned Haki to you before. There's a special form called Observation Haki, which allows one to see into people's hearts..."
"Seeing into people's hearts?"
Ace and Sabo exclaimed, not anticipating such a formidable ability to exist in the world!
"You sense it correctly, Sabo. This world is ailing. If the world were a tree, the common people would be the roots, and all the nobles, including the Celestial Dragons, are pests gnawing at those roots."
"There are only two ways to alter the world..."
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Bonus chapter for reaching 100 powerstones.
Read 35 chapters in advance in Patr*on: patr*on.com/Cosmic_Kaminari