"Did that guy have anything else to pass on to you?" Ace asked Shakky, his tone growing colder.
"The person who entrusted me only told me to give you the letter and the photo, nothing more," Shakky replied, smiling playfully. Even the Pirate King had family issues, it seemed.
Ace remained silent for a moment before downing his whiskey in one gulp. He then stood up and headed towards the door. "Brothers, prepare to set sail!"
Deuce and the others quickly followed suit, making sure to finish their expensive whiskey. After all, it would be a waste not to drink such pricey liquor.
"Kid, remember to pay me back, alright?" Shakky called out.
"Don't worry!" Ace replied, his back turned to her.
"They really are alike, father and son," Shakky mused, turning to Vista. "Do you still have any contact with Roger? It seems you both aim to create a new era."
"We haven't been in contact. It was the captain who was close to Roger's crew," Vista said succinctly. Only Nicholas had a deep connection with Roger's crew, and since he hadn't recovered, there was no contact between them.
"By the way, my sources say Whitebeard's health is deteriorating. He now needs regular IV drips. If you're planning to fight the World Government, have you considered recruiting Whitebeard? He's known as the strongest man in the world since Roger's disappearance. His support would undoubtedly increase your chances against the World Government."
Shakky leaned back in her chair, legs crossed.
"The captain once said that Whitebeard, Roger, and he are not the same. As long as the World Government and Navy don't interfere with his pirate 'family,' he won't oppose them."
The World Government was lenient towards New World pirates, seeing the so-called Four Emperors as less threatening than the Revolutionary Army, whose ideas could shake the foundations of their rule.
...
The Spade Pirates continued their journey. After coating their ship, they sailed towards Fishman Island. As they neared the island, the underwater scenery amazed Ace and his crew.
Under the guidance of Fishman Island's guards, they finally entered the island.
Isuka, leaning over the railing, excitedly took in the sights. "Look, Ace, sharks are flying! And there's a sea turtle! Look at those huge corals! There's a massive octopus—wonder how it tastes grilled."
"Sorry, my crew can be a bit noisy," Ace apologized to Jinbei.
"Hahaha, no worries. Young people are full of energy," Jinbei laughed. He found the rising star of the sea to have a good personality and saw potential for friendship.
Jinbei seemed to be a good friend in Ace's eyes, living up to his reputation as the "Knight of the Sea." In a short time, they had become close friends.
"Jinbei, do you know Vista?" Ace suddenly turned to Jinbei, curious if he knew anything about the man due to his age and early fame.
"Vista?" Jinbei paused, recalling the large man who was as imposing as Whitebeard. "Where did you hear about him?" Jinbei asked, frowning. With Nicholas's disappearance, news about Nicholas's pirate crew had dwindled, and it seemed unlikely for someone as new to the sea as Ace to know Vista's name.
Ace noticed Jinbei's change in expression but continued, "I didn't hear about him; I saw him in Sabaody Archipelago." Ace then described his encounter with Aokiji and Vista on Sabaody.
"Oh, and he mentioned bringing Master Tom to Fishman Island, so they might arrive soon," Ace added, but Jinbei's thoughts were already elsewhere.
"Ace, did Vista really tell Aokiji to tell Sengoku, 'Our captain is coming back soon'?" Jinbei asked, clearly emotional. He knew the significance of that name to Fishman Island.
"Yes, I was close by and definitely heard it right," Ace confirmed.
"Ace, I need to report this to King Neptune immediately. Your news is too important. Don't worry; I'll make sure you're well taken care of later," Jinbei said, trying to contain his excitement.
"Hey, Jinbei, who is this captain that got you so worked up?" Ace asked, puzzled by Jinbei's reaction.
"He was once known as the youngest, most likely to surpass the Pirate King. He sailed alongside Roger, Shiki, and Whitebeard, and he even defeated Kaido and Big Mom together. He was a true legend of the sea," Jinbei explained.
"A legend? Are you kidding? Defeating two Yonko together—is that even possible?" Deuce asked incredulously. The Yonko were famously powerful, and defeating two at once seemed like a tall tale.
"What happened to him then? How could such a strong person suddenly disappear?" Ace asked.
"We're not sure what happened to him, but we suspect he encountered an unimaginable enemy," Jinbei said, reminiscing.
…
"Are you sure it was really him and that's what he said?" In the Navy office, Sengoku asked Aokiji sternly, while Garp, Tsuru, and the others looked on seriously.
Aokiji, who had rushed back from Sabaody, understood the impact of his news. "Yes, Vista said it himself," Aokiji replied gravely.
"It seems the sea is about to become turbulent again," Vice Admiral Tsuru remarked, holding her teacup thoughtfully.
"Hahaha, I thought that kid was dead, but it looks like he's giving us a big surprise," Garp laughed heartily.
"It's going to be a troublesome era," Sengoku said, his voice heavy with the weight of the impending challenges.