"I didn't have any particular intentions, just sensed the aura of gold and jewels around here and came to check it out."
Zyhark's gaze was calm, showing no surprise at the appearance of Ace and Sabo in front of him.
"Attack!"
The moment the words were spoken, Ace, already on alert, didn't hesitate to charge with a steel pipe in hand.
The treasure hidden in the tree trunk was the wealth he and Sabo had accumulated over more than two years, preparing for their future adventures. Any potential threat had to be eliminated!
"Understood!" Sabo followed closely behind.
Their experiences in harsh environments and dealing with thugs had made them far more decisive and brave than other kids their age.
Although just kids, both were quick, closing the distance to Zyhark in a few breaths.
Their coordination was impeccable, sealing off Zyhark's attack routes from both sides. If one was countered, the other's attack would surely hit!
However, to their utter surprise, the mysterious man in front of them did not attempt to attack or evade. Instead, he opened his arms in a blatantly arrogant posture, as if he didn't see them as a threat at all.
Bang! Bang!
Two dull sounds echoed as Ace, leaping forward, landed a pipe on Zyhark's forehead, while Sabo, aiming for the lower body, hit Zyhark's right leg.
"Is that all you two got?"
Zyhark, having taken the hits squarely, remained in his original stance, expressionless, looking at Ace and Sabo with a mocking gaze.
In that moment of contact, Ace and Sabo realized the man before them was a formidable opponent.
After a quick exchange of looks, they retreated at high speed to their original positions.
Zyhark relaxed his tense nerves, his lips twitching slightly.
Damn, that hurt! Wasn't my body's defense supposed to have greatly increased? Why's my head buzzing?
Was this really the strength expected from kids their age?!
If Ace and Sabo knew his inner thoughts at that moment, the scene would undoubtedly be quite amusing.
"To be honest, I do know you've hidden a lot of gold and jewels here."
Zyhark casually scratched his head, directly addressing the two, "But you don't have to be too nervous."
Having their secret mentioned outright, Ace and Sabo's faces showed incredible shock and disbelief.
They were still kids, after all, with all their thoughts written on their faces, unlike Zyhark, an adult who knew how to hide his pain behind a smile.
"Although I have the power to wipe you out instantly, I'd rather talk about a potential partnership than resort to violence."
In the world of pirates, disputes were traditionally settled with fists, which is why Zyhark let himself be hit by the pipes and sticks to demonstrate his strength.
Of course, he also wanted to test his current level of defense.
And the results were not bad, considering Ace and Sabo already had the strength to defeat large wild beasts at this point in time.
"Stop joking around! You arrogant people always think you can just take what you want, so come at us if you dare!"
Ace clenched the curved steel pipe tightly, showing no intention of backing down, "Setting sail is my dream, and no matter what enemies I face, I will not run away!"
Growing up, Ace was constantly mocked for being the son of the infamous Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, which fostered a distrustful and solitary character.
This only fueled his desire to set sail and make a name for himself on the seas, escaping Roger's shadow.
Seeing Ace ready to retreat, Sabo gritted his teeth and stepped forward, determined to stand his ground against this formidable foe.
"So, your dream is to save money and set sail. Then you have even more reason to cooperate with me," Zyhark said with a light smile.
Just when he was worried about convincing them, they conveniently provided the perfect reason themselves.
After a brief contemplation, he looked at the anxious Ace and Sabo, clarifying, "You seem to have misunderstood something. I'm not one of those ruthless villains; I'm just a regular restaurant owner from Windmill Village."
"My restaurant's facing some financial issues, and I need to cover some gaps. If you're willing, you could invest some money, and we'll split the profits three ways."
Seeing their puzzled expressions, Zyhark continued to tempt them, "Compared to cautiously saving money in harsh conditions, this way is much safer and easier."
His words left Ace and Sabo in silent contemplation.
"What do we do, Ace? If he's not lying, it doesn't seem like a bad deal for us," Sabo whispered to Ace.
"It's suspicious. He could easily rob us, so why go through all this trouble?"
Ace furrowed his brows, reminded of the adults who sneered whenever he spoke of setting sail.
Looking at the ever-smiling man before them, their suspicion deepened.
"You're just eyeing our treasure with no real interest in our dreams of setting sail!"
Ace's firm accusation was met with what he expected: the fading smile of a man caught in a lie, about to reveal his true, ugly intentions.
However...
"Don't underestimate me! Do you think I should mock and question two men bravely pursuing their dreams?!"
Zyhark's serious expression wasn't what Ace anticipated, breaking through their defensive stance.
No adult had ever affirmed their dreams on equal terms, facing only ridicule instead.
And now, this powerful stranger, unfazed by their attacks, acknowledged them as "men," not just kids.
"What exactly do you want?!"
Ace raised his head, shouting without letting the tears in his eyes fall.
"I said it before, I want to work with you," Zyhark calmly stated.
After that affirmation, the same words resonated differently with Ace and Sabo, causing them to hesitate.
"If you still don't trust me, you can come to Windmill Village and check out my restaurant. Then decide."
Zyhark offered a compromise.
Maintaining their guard, Ace and Sabo exchanged looks, finding it a reasonable suggestion.
Thus, Ace, as the elder brother, was the first to lower his steel pipe, stepping forward to agree.
"Alright, we'll tentatively trust you and visit Windmill Village!"
(End of Chapter)