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--xLOVEx--
Usopp made his way back to the crew, his heart still pounding but feeling a lot more confident after fooling Smoker. He found the others waiting near the marketplace, and he couldn't help but grin as he approached.
"Mission accomplished!" Usopp announced proudly, throwing his arms up in victory. He flashed the deed sheet handed to him by Smoker, showcasing the signature at the bottom along with the promised reward of 55 million Beli. The deed would allow Usopp to collect his reward at any Marine base, since Smoker didn't have that much cash on him.
Coby grinned, giving Usopp a nod. "See? I told you it would be fine."
Usopp puffed out his chest, clearly enjoying the praise. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Just a regular day for the great Captain Usopp!"
Nami walked over, glancing at the deed before giving Usopp a playful shove. "Don't get too full of yourself, Usopp. You're lucky Smoker didn't lock you up for good."
"Hey, I wasn't even worried," Usopp shot back with a smirk, though everyone could tell he was still a bit shaken from the encounter.
Sanji lit a cigarette, exhaling a puff of smoke. "Good job, Usopp. We'll be able to resupply properly now."
As the crew returned to the ship to load the supplies, Luffy arrived with Ace, both laughing like old friends. Luffy grinned widely as he introduced his brother to the crew.
"Guys, this is my brother Ace," Luffy said proudly.
Ace gave the crew a respectful nod, his expression warm. "Thank you for taking care of my troublesome little brother," he said with a grin, his voice carrying gratitude and affection.
The crew greeted Ace, each of them quickly warming up to Luffy's older brother. As they climbed aboard the Going Merry, Ace's demeanor shifted slightly. He looked at Luffy, his eyes serious.
"I can't stay long," Ace said, a hint of regret in his tone. "I'm on a mission to find someone, but before I go… Luffy, why don't you join the Whitebeard Pirates? He is the strongest pirate in the world and I will make him the King of the Pirates!"
Coby was really irritated. Ace knew better than anyone what Luffy's dream was. Even Coby didn't know what Luffy's real dream was, as it hadn't been revealed in the anime before he transmigrated. Yet, Ace still asked if Luffy wanted to join another pirate crew. That felt really disrespectful to Luffy's dream. But since Luffy didn't say anything, Coby kept his mouth shut too.
Luffy shook his head with a grin. "Thanks, Ace, but I'm gonna become the Pirate King with my own crew!"
Ace chuckled, seemingly unsurprised by Luffy's response. "I figured you'd say that."
Coby was about to curse, "If you knew, why the fuck you asked? Do you like disrespecting him and insult his dream?" But there was no point arguing with a doughnut.
After their brief exchange, Ace reached into his pocket and handed Luffy a small piece of paper. The rest of the crew looked on curiously, not quite sure what it was.
Ace explained. "It'll help us find each other. Keep it safe."
Luffy accepted the Vivre Card and tucked it into his hat without much thought. The rest of the crew, still unfamiliar with what a Vivre Card was, didn't question it further.
Ace then turned to the side of the ship and prepared to leave. His small boat, powered by his Devil Fruit abilities, waited below. He gave the crew a final wave before hopping down to his boat.
Just as Ace was about to depart, a line of ten ships appeared on the horizon, headed straight for the Going Merry. The crew tensed, readying themselves for a potential fight, but Ace simply smirked.
"Leave this to me," he said confidently.
Ace raised his arm, gathering flames into a massive fist. "Hiken!" he shouted, launching a fiery punch that engulfed the approaching ships. The flames roared through the air, striking the ships with devastating force. Within moments, the entire fleet was reduced to burning wreckage, the charred remains sinking into the sea.
The crew watched in awe as Ace casually dismissed such a powerful attack, barely breaking a sweat. He then waved one last time, his voice carrying over the waves as he set off. "Take care, Luffy! We'll meet again!"
With that, Ace's boat shot off into the distance, propelled by his fiery abilities, leaving the crew to process what they had just witnessed.
Luffy waved back, his grin never fading. "See you later, Ace!"
Zoro, leaning against the railing, let out a low whistle. "That guy's something else," he said, clearly impressed.
"Yeah," Nami agreed, her eyes still wide from the display of power. "Luffy's family is full of surprises."
Luffy nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Ace is really strong. Even I didn't know he ate a Devil Fruit though. We used to spar all the time, and I was never able to beat him."
Nami raised an eyebrow in surprise. "A normal person could beat you?"
Sanji smirked, lighting a cigarette. "A monster's brother is also a monster."
The crew chuckled at that, the mood lightening. Soon, they set sail towards Yuba, where they believed the Rebel Army was stationed. Coby went to speak Nami in secret, knowing they were heading in the wrong direction. The real base of the Rebel Army was in Katorea, and he had a plan to take Vivi there. If he told them now, others would question how he knew, well not that they wouldn't notice soon that their direction was wrong.
As the Going Merry sailed through the calm waters, the crew settled into their routines. Zoro dozed off on the deck, his swords resting beside him. Sanji was in the kitchen, preparing a meal that would likely have everyone's mouths watering. Usopp and Chopper were busy tinkering with the ship's cannons, trying to make some "improvements" that would probably end in an explosion.
Coby stood by the railing, keeping an eye on the horizon. He could feel the heat of the desert air growing stronger as they neared the center of the Alabasta. Vivi was nearby, her eyes focused on the distant land ahead. She looked anxious, her fingers gripping the railing tightly.
"We're getting close," Coby said, glancing at her. "Don't worry, we'll find a way to stop the rebellion and save your kingdom."
Vivi smiled weakly at him. "I hope so. I just want to end this without more bloodshed."
Coby nodded. "We'll do everything we can."
Just then, Luffy burst onto the deck, his usual energy on full display. "Alright! I'm starving! Sanji, is the food ready yet?"
Sanji poked his head out of the kitchen, a ladle in hand. "Almost done, you bottomless pit! Just wait a few more minutes!"
Luffy groaned dramatically but sat down at the table, already imagining the feast. As he waited, he turned to Vivi. "So, Vivi, what's the plan once we reach Yuba?"
Vivi hesitated, glancing at Coby before answering. "We'll try to meet with the Rebel Army's leader, Kohza. He's an old friend of mine. I believe I can convince him to stop the rebellion."
Soon, Vivi realized they were going the wrong direction and looked at Nami in confusion, who glanced at Coby. He noticed their silent exchange and cleared his throat. "I heard a rumor while we were in Nanohana that the rebel army is in Katorea," Coby explained, his tone casual. "It's at most half a day from here, so I wanted to check it out."
Vivi frowned, uncertainty flickering across her face. "But my sources said the rebel army was in Yuba. Could they really be in Katorea?"
Coby shrugged, not dismissing her concerns but offering another possibility. "Yuba's been having trouble with sandstorms, right? It's possible they moved. We'll find out soon enough."
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