After the water-spraying incident just now, Ace looked quite preoccupied. Nami and the others thought Luffy's brother was simply feeling a bit reserved, so they didn't pay it much mind.
At this moment, Sherlock also stopped bringing up his sister, Lisanna, and began asking Ace about Logia ability users.
Their strongest opponent on this journey was Crocodile, who had eaten the Sand-Sand Fruit. How to counter a Logia user was a question Sherlock had harbored since Loguetown.
And as a Flame-Flame Fruit user and a "veteran" who had made his way in the New World, Ace was the perfect person to answer this question.
"How to counter a Logia?" Ace paused slightly, then suddenly came to a realization. "Right, in the first half of the Grand Line, the elementalization of Logia types is indeed a real headache."
Luffy and the others recalled the sense of powerlessness they felt when facing Smoker in Loguetown and nodded in deep agreement.
"Logia ability users have weaknesses too." Ace cleared his throat and began to explain to Sherlock and the group. This was only because these people were his precious little brother's crewmates; if it were anyone else, Ace certainly wouldn't be brain-dead enough to reveal these weaknesses.
"First is the universal weakness of all Devil Fruit users: Seastone. Although the effect is significant, trying to touch a user who can freely turn into an element with Seastone is still too difficult."
"Uh-huh!" Everyone was listening with rapt attention to Ace's valuable experience. Even Luffy, usually the most unreliable, stared with wide eyes, evidently caring a great deal about his brother's words.
"Secondly, you can use things that counter the opponent's ability. For example, water can extinguish fire, so if I get soaked, I can't turn into my element."
Ace smiled faintly and continued, "Also, Pops once told me that there are counter-relationships between Devil Fruit abilities too. Just like that 'Natural Enemy' in the Marines—her fruit ability could be said to be the nemesis of all Logia types."
Speaking of this, Ace's expression became quite grave; he was evidently rather wary of this so-called nemesis of Logia types.
"Natural Enemy..." Sherlock adjusted his glasses, silently memorizing this name in his heart. He opened his mouth, about to ask for some information regarding this person, but was interrupted by an extremely arrogant shout from Luffy.
"Haha! Ace, if that's the case, I'm not afraid of you anymore!"
Everyone looked towards the sound, only to be shocked to find that Luffy had run off to the side at some point. His belly was bulging like a ball, and judging by the empty water barrels at his feet, it wasn't hard to deduce what was inside his stomach.
"Water Luffy!!" The comedic captain struck a pose in front of the stunned crowd, then laughed loudly, "Ace, I already know your weakness! Come duel me!"
"This time I will definitely take revenge for you stealing my roast meat when we were kids!!"
(Can you stop being a moron in front of your brother?)
The crowd silently looked at the smug face of this goofball, feeling as if ten thousand Sea Kings were stampeding through their hearts.
"Luffy..." Vivi's beautiful eyes went round; she no longer knew how to use language to describe her current mood.
"How do you remember him stealing your food so clearly?" Usopp's forehead was covered in fine sweat.
Chopper stared at Luffy's round belly for a long while before speaking uncertainly, "Um, the water we need for these next few days..."
"Luffy, I'm begging you..." The green-haired swordsman gripped one hand tightly over the other hand that was intending to draw a sword. "Don't force me to cut you down in front of the brother you haven't seen in so long!"
Sanji lowered his gaze, silently smoking without a word. Although he looked very calm, the speed at which his cigarette was burning—far faster than usual—revealed that the curly-browed cook was actually suppressing something deep inside.
"You, you big idiot!!!" Compared to the men who had stronger self-control, Nami was much more direct. Flustered and exasperated, she threw a vicious punch at the foolish captain who was giggling away. "You drank all the water! What are we going to drink later?!"
One had to remember, they were going to cross a desert later. How could they manage without water?
Perhaps realizing he had made a very serious mistake, Luffy rubbed his head, which now sported a large bump from the punch, and apologized sincerely:
"I'm sorry! It's my fault. I'll spit all the water I drank back out..." Saying this, the idiot actually picked up a wooden bucket with a serious face, looking ready to vomit.
Silence...
This extremely idiotic move by Luffy was undoubtedly the final straw that broke everyone's rationality.
"Who the hell can drink that?!" X5
(I can't take it anymore! Even in front of your brother, you're getting a beating today!)
Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Chopper (who transformed into his Heavy Point) leaped up instantly. Having lost their reason, they grabbed chairs, brooms, and other weapons, roaring as they pounced on the idiot captain...
Clang, bang, thump! Amidst the punching and kicking, utter chaos ensued, and the Going Merry returned to its usual rhythm...
Watching his idiot little brother being surrounded and pummeled by the furious group, the corners of Ace's mouth twitched a few times. He hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply once again to Vivi and Sherlock, the only two who hadn't raised their hands.
"I'm sorry, my idiot brother has really caused you trouble!"
"He's truly hopeless..." Sherlock sighed helplessly.
Only after the water in Luffy's stomach had been beaten out of him did Sherlock calmly step in as the peacemaker. When he retrieved water—which he had swiped from the Marine warship's kitchen—from his Mirror Space, the guys who had turned into demons finally cooled down.
The group returned to their seats.
"Um, Mr. Glasses..." Vivi whispered to the warlock sitting beside her, "Why didn't you bring the water out earlier? Luffy got beaten so badly just now."
"Oh, I simply forgot." Sherlock gently pushed up his glasses, the corners of his mouth curving into a perfect arc.
However, sitting opposite him, Nami once again read his true thoughts from Sherlock's unchanging, calm black eyes:
(Oh, I simply wanted them to beat that idiot Luffy for a little while longer...)
"Ugh..." The navigator felt an inexplicable shiver.
(Don't let Sherlock's usual gentle and refined appearance fool you; actually, this four-eyed guy is quite black-bellied...)
Glancing at his idiot brother, who was bruised and swollen yet still laughing heartlessly, Ace smiled bitterly and continued, "There is one other method to deal with Logia types, and this method is also the most commonly used."
After speaking, Ace extended his right hand and clenched it tightly.
—Armament: Hardening!
Whoosh! Ace's fist and the skin above his wrist instantly took on a dark, metallic sheen, looking as if it had been dyed in black lacquer. The crowd watched in surprise, inexplicably feeling that this merely recolored fist was filled with explosive power. Sherlock and Luffy, in particular, felt uncomfortable for no reason, as if that fist posed a massive threat to their Devil Fruit abilities.
"It's Haki!" Ace said, then forcefully rapped his right fist onto his idiot brother's head.
"That hurts!!" Luffy let out a cry of pain. clutching his head. He asked in extreme confusion, "Ace, why is your fist just like Grandpa's?"
Sherlock and the others looked shocked. This idiot captain had eaten the Gum-Gum Fruit; logically speaking, he shouldn't cry out in pain from blunt force of this magnitude.
"Armament Haki is like invisible armor. It can drastically increase attack and defense power in close combat, and it can hit the substantial body of a Logia user." Ace returned his right hand to its original state and smiled at Luffy. "If you don't know Haki, you won't be able to survive in the [New World], Luffy."
(Not good. This Haki stuff seems to counter Mirror Reflection significantly.) Sherlock didn't feel very happy after solving the problem that had troubled him for so long.
(Oh~~ As long as I learn Haki, I can hit that Smoky Guy!) Luffy thought to himself, little stars twinkling in his eyes.
(Oh~~ As long as I learn Haki, teaching Luffy a lesson in the future should actually make this rubber idiot remember the pain!) Sanji and the others thought to themselves, looking at Luffy with dangerous glints in their eyes.
"Teach me, quick! Ace!" Luffy shouted excitedly, and the others also looked at Ace with anticipation.
"Uh, actually my Haki is only half-baked..." Ace scratched his head awkwardly. "Because my fruit is a Logia, I focus more on developing the fruit's abilities. I haven't paid too much attention to Taijutsu and Haki."
"But if you ask Pops, he can definitely teach you. His Haki is far, far stronger than mine."
Mentioning his "Old Pops," Whitebeard, two beams of light shot from Ace's eyes. As if suddenly remembering something, he said to his idiot brother, "By the way, Luffy, do you want to join the Whitebeard Pirates? Your crewmates can come too."
"Whitebeard?" Luffy tilted his head in confusion.
"Yes, Whitebeard." Ace showed off the tattoo on his back to the Straw Hats with a face full of pride, his tone filled with heartfelt reverence. "He is the greatest pirate I've ever seen! I'm going to make him the Pirate King, not you, Luffy."
(Right, if they all join the Whitebeard Pirates, then "Silver-Haired" Lisanna will only go look for Pops if she wants to cause trouble in the future. Besides, Pops seemingly always wanted that female devil to be his daughter... Haha, I'm so witty!) Ace thought to himself.
"I refuse!" Luffy rejected it without hesitation. He gently took off his straw hat and held it in his hands.
"I made a promise to Shanks. I'm definitely going to become the [Pirate King]!" Luffy looked at his precious straw hat with a nostalgic expression, the look in his eyes incredibly focused.
"Luffy..." The others looked at their captain and revealed knowing smiles.
(If this simple-minded idiot had agreed, I would have suspected he was Mr. 2 in disguise...)
"Is that so? You haven't changed at all, Luffy." Ace took a deep look at his brother, then broke into a huge grin. "After all, that is the precious hat Red-Haired gave you..."
(Wait!!!) As Ace looked at the straw hat in Luffy's hand, it was as if a bolt of lightning flashed through his mind. He suddenly understood why Lisanna loved finding trouble with him so much.
(I remember the two-sword style swordswoman on their ship once told me that their captain, Silver-Haired, has admired the Pirate King since she was a child. Also, she has a very close relationship with Red-Haired, and Shanks' straw hat was once worn by the Pirate King...)
(Could it be that she holds a grudge against me, the big brother, because Luffy took the straw hat she had her eye on?!)
Just because of a straw hat, he had to take the blame for his little brother. As the dignified Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, he was forced to act as an exclusive stove for a bunch of female pirates—roasting chicken wings, roasting lamb skewers, roasting sweet potatoes, roasting corn, roasting...
The more Ace thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. He felt a ball of wicked fire in his heart that urgently needed venting. So, without saying a word, he grabbed Luffy by the collar and dragged him out of the cabin. Sherlock and the others followed them out, looking baffled.
"Luffy, I suddenly want to see how strong you've become," Ace said through gritted teeth with a dark face. "Just like when we were kids, let's have a duel!"
"..." Luffy felt a chill attack him from behind.
Ten minutes later...
Because they were on the ship, neither of them used their full strength, but the result of the duel was exactly the same as when they were children.
Even without using the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit, with the help of Haki, Ace still pummeled Luffy. It made Usopp tear up, exclaiming that the brotherhood shown through fists and feet was what was truly moving!
"Phew~ I feel much better..." Ace, having vented his frustration, let out a long breath, then pulled his idiot brother up from the deck.
"Haha, Ace, you're still so strong!" Luffy grinned widely, acting as if he wasn't the one who just got beaten up.
"Hmph, naturally. If you want to beat me, you're a hundred years too early, kid!" Ace laughed along with him.
(These two really have a good relationship!) Nami and the others lamented inwardly.
"By the way, take this." Ace took a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Luffy. "This is a Vivre Card. It will let us meet again."
"You have to keep this with you forever!"
"Oh, got it." Although he didn't know what use such a small piece of paper could have, Luffy still put it away solemnly.
After all, it was something his brother gave him.
Ace nodded, then picked up his backpack and shouldered it. "Alright, seeing you lively and kicking puts my mind at ease."
"With such a 'gem' of a little brother, it's not easy for me as a big brother." Ace smiled somewhat helplessly.
Sherlock and the others nodded in strong agreement.
Ace swept his gaze over everyone, lingering on Sherlock's face for a moment longer, then bowed solemnly once more. "My idiot little brother—I'm leaving him in your care! We'll meet again!"
With that, Ace leaped up and landed on his small sailboat.
Luffy exclaimed in shock, "Ace! You're leaving so soon?!"
"What a pity, I was planning to make a grand feast to treat you," Sanji said with some regret.
"That small sailboat seems to be powered by fire!" Usopp seemed very interested in the engine on Ace's small boat.
"Yeah, I have important business."
Ace explained, "I came out this time to capture a man named Blackbeard!" Mentioning the traitor who had killed a comrade, Ace's face turned somewhat iron-green as he briefly recounted Blackbeard's crimes to the Straw Hats.
"Blackbeard??" Sherlock frowned slightly. This was the third time he had heard of Blackbeard. He hadn't expected this guy to have such a background, actually having worked under a Yonko.
(However, what are these confusing actions of his for?) Sherlock gently pushed up his glasses. Although he couldn't figure out Blackbeard's goal, what he could be certain of was: if this guy wasn't a lunatic, he was definitely plotting some heaven-shaking conspiracy!
"Luffy! I hope that the next time we brothers meet..." Ace tipped the brim of his cowboy hat slightly and said coolly:
"...It will be at the highest peak of the pirates!"
"..."
Luffy grinned in default agreement; everything was understood without words.
--
Support me & read more advance & fast update chapter on my pa-treon:
pat reon .c-om/windkaze