"As expected of Captain Ace. After lying low for a year, he shocks the whole world the moment he sets sail!" Urouge looked at Ace's wanted poster with admiration on his face.
After sailing through the Grand Line for a year, Urouge now understood clearly what a bounty of 855 million berries meant. Not to mention—Ace had escaped unscathed while being pursued by two Navy Admirals at the Sabaody Archipelago.
In the world of pirates, "Admiral" is synonymous with the highest military might of the World Government—the strongest fighting force on the seas. Escaping unscathed from such power proved that at this point, Portgas D. Ace had already reached the very top tier of strength in the pirate world.
Urouge put down the newspaper, walked out of his cabin, looked over the sea, and muttered to himself, "Captain Ace has become world-famous. Looks like I can't keep drifting leisurely like this anymore."
---
Skypiea, Upper Yard – God's Shrine.
Enel was training his four priests in the use of Haki, while also monitoring the ongoing construction of the Maxim using his Mantra (Observation Haki).
---
New World – Dressrosa, King's Plateau.
Within the palace atop King's Plateau, Donquixote Doflamingo, King of Dressrosa and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, held a glass of red wine as he stared at Ace's wanted poster with a dark expression.
"Fuffuffuffu... The brat from a year ago has come this far?"
He slammed his palm onto the table and picked up a Den Den Mushi, placing it down and dialing a number.
Back when Ace had suddenly disappeared from the seas a year ago, Doflamingo had paid some attention, especially after Ace had taken the Flame-Flame Fruit (Mera Mera no Mi) from under his nose. But as time passed and Ace's name vanished, Doflamingo lost interest. After all, he was deeply tied up in the world's largest underground arms network and preoccupied with producing SMILE artificial Devil Fruits in his dealings with Kaido of the Beasts.
Who would've thought that after a year, Ace would return in such an explosive fashion—his name spreading across the seas once more?
---
The Den Den Mushi connected.
"Moshi moshi! Who's this?"
"It's me," Doflamingo answered coldly.
"Oh? Joker, what can I do for you?" the other end responded cheerfully.
"I want detailed intel on Portgas D. Ace—everything. Where he was born, who his parents are, where he grew up. Leave no stone unturned."
"Ah, the rookie who took the Mera Mera no Mi from you a year ago? Hmm… wait a moment."
There was the sound of rustling papers, then a surprised voice said: "Quite the big deal, isn't he? Escaped from Admiral Akainu and Admiral Kizaru during the Sabaody incident? That kind of power is no joke."
"Hmm… He seems to have close ties with Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp, the Navy Hero... Oh-ho, now that's interesting. No wonder he got away."
"This rookie's background is complicated. I'll need time. Give me a few days, and I'll uncover everything."
"Fine. Just make sure you dig up everything. I want it all."
"No problem, Joker. Leave it to me. Oh-hohoho…"
The line disconnected.
Doflamingo looked again at the wanted poster in his hand, smirking. "The grandson of 'Hero' Garp, huh? Portgas D. Ace… You're becoming more interesting by the minute."
---
Marine Headquarters – Marineford.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku the Buddha stared at Ace's updated wanted poster for a long while before sighing. He opened a drawer and took out a Den Den Mushi, dialing it carefully.
It connected to the office of Commander-in-Chief Kong, the top authority of the World Government's military forces.
"Moshi moshi, Kong? It's me—Sengoku."
"Oh, Sengoku. What's the matter?"
"About the Shichibukai candidate I recommended earlier—Portgas D. Ace—has he been approved?"
"Sorry, Sengoku. Even though he's powerful enough, the Five Elders (Gorōsei) disqualified him. He severely injured a Celestial Dragon before—so he's off the table."
"I figured as much," Sengoku said with disappointment. "Thank you, Kong."
"You're welcome. Anything else?"
"No, that's all." He hung up.
Looking again at Ace's bounty, Sengoku sighed deeply.
He had known of Ace's relationship with Garp, though at this point, he did not yet know that Ace was the biological son of Gol D. Roger, the former Pirate King. After Ace's dramatic reappearance during the Sabaody Archipelago incident and his name shook the world, Sengoku tried to push for Ace to become a Warlord of the Sea—one of the Seven Shichibukai—in hopes of protecting him.
But the Five Elders had rejected it outright.
Sengoku then tried an alternate route—petitioning his old superior Kong. But he, too, had no choice but to decline.
Sengoku had done it all for the sake of his old friend Garp, hoping Ace could become a "legal pirate" under government protection. But now that this road was closed, it seemed no such protection could be offered.
And little did Sengoku know, even if the offer had gone through, Ace would never have accepted it. He had always refused to serve the government, even in the original timeline.
"Oh, Garp… I tried my best," Sengoku whispered bitterly.
---
The New World – Aboard the Moby Dick, flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Pops! A powerful new pirate has appeared on the seas—and he's already entered the New World," said Marco the Phoenix, holding up Ace's new bounty.
"Oh?" Whitebeard, the world's strongest man, took the poster and gave it a glance.
"Bring it here. Let me take a closer look."
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