Goa Kingdom.
Beautiful.
I spit with disgust, having in front of my eyes a huge dump called Grey Terminal. The fumes and stench were unbearable, and when I discovered the organisms living in there, commonly called people, I doubted everything. Between piles of rubble and scrap of all kinds lived the old and the young, stripped and mutilated. Some of their features showed a particularly bad character; they had eyes as if they were just waiting for you to fall asleep, to rob you and slit your throat. Oh, where were the times when a serious murderer was hiding under the mask of decency and good manners?
I didn't even move when several alleged bandits approached me from behind, with chipped, rusty knives. Their smiles could be considered ominous if it wasn't for the caries and cavities. Besides, whoever sail on the ocean knew that torn clothes and wretched equipment were evidence of the ability of the owner. And these abilities were apparently extremely poor in this case. And although I expected such a situation sooner or later, I experienced a temporary disappointment. I was used to the fact that pirates and Marines are afraid to speak with me, I did not understand how a bunch of vagrants from a subordinate islet on East Blue would dare to approach me so openly. I had enough patience for a whole minute.
The five person gang was lying there, and to give the whole action a little taste, I lit a cigarette. Weather I wanted it or not, I had to delve into this disgusting stench, because Dadan told me that Ace is mostly in the Grey Terminal.
Dadan... Ah, yes, a woman, the boss of a mountain band of thieves, Ace's nanny from childhood. Garp came up with this idea. To put the baby at the murderers and looters. Although looking at the wooden cottage and herd of chickens I thought that this band is more concerned with rural life than with real thieving. They seemed a bit unskilled.
The only thing that annoyed me was the reaction to my announcement why I came. I didn't expect that Dadan would raise her hands to heaven and begin to give thanks for "the end of torments with the devil's child".
I barely stopped myself from breaking her red head.
'It doesn't look good'
I crooked, disgusted, and strolled through a large, empty room, in the middle of which there was only a hearth. I was walking around the wooden floor and such walls, empty and unpleasant, and there was a stench of sweat and smoke, not particularly disturbing to me. Dadan, calling herself the boss of the band, looked at me with reserve. I threw out the whole bunch into the courtyard where the hens were running around, dealing with a woman alone, having her as the only witness.
'Didn't Garp show any signs of insanity?'
I finally stood in front of the woman and woven my hands behind my back, sending her a serious look.
'A... But you won't tell him about it?'
She had too pleasant a tone, and in that case, it would be possible to come to an agreement.
'No.'
'I was against it!'
She woven her hands on her abundant breast, decorated with red beads, and started to talk about everything she thought was unfair.
'He came here and set up a nursery! He didn't pay for that brat's food or anything else, he left everything on my head and as long as Ace was a baby, there were no problems. He ate or slept all the time!'
With nostalgia I listened to the short story of his childhood, but although I wanted to choke out every word, I kept quiet about everything.
'And when he grows up, the snouts started, escapes, he comes home at night... I don't care about that bastard child! But demon's child has demonic luck, that's for sure!'
'Then you won't have anything against, old woman, if I take Ace with me? Your problems will be over. You will never see him, nor he will see you again.'
'But Garp won't agree!' She protested, while trying to keep me from changing my decision. 'He will be angry! He's a vice admiral!'
'I know who this old geezer is, but Jones is my witness, I have more rights to this child than any other man walking on this earth!' I yelled with passion, silencing the woman.
'Ace will come with me. He will go, even if you don't agree. He will go, even if Garp comes here with the whole Navy fleet. This child. Is. Mine.'
She didn't understand. Thank God, she didn't understand a single word and didn't draw any conclusions, what wouldn't happen if I talked to someone intelligent. I was carried away because I had a "demon's child" and a "bastard" in my memory; the terms she operates so easily, and which burned out in my mind like scars.
In the end, she wished me luck and slammed the door, not having the slightest idea how close to death she and her gang were.
As a result of this situation, I was walking around the Grey Terminal, wondering where my nephew is located. If I hadn't been able to find him in the dump, there was still the High Town, located in the middle of this pile of scrap metal, separated by a high wall. Apparently, it was the most beautiful city in East Blue, and if so, it must have been very rich. For obvious reasons it was the most important for me.
'What are you looking for here, lady?'
I was caught up by some ragged man, who was apparently tempted by my navy467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuKsoCv0u4
blue coat decorated with golden buttons. I looked at him from under the hat and thought that if he came across himself, it would be a sin to let him go without any information.
'Listen, you!' I reached into my pocket and got out a little purse stuffed with some coins, and his eyes were shining.
'I will give you that money, if you tell me where I can find Portgas D. Ace, a seven467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMB6gBYD4h
year old boy.'
The thief laughed mockingly and shook his head.
'What, did the tiger's cub get under the skin? But with such a knife there will be no problem to punish him.' He pointed at Habanero and was smart enough to guess that I do not wear a katana for fun.
'I'll tell you, there's no harm in doing so. This tiger's cub running around the forest, not an hour ago I saw them, him and Sabo, on the edge, right there.'
He pointed his hand in the opposite direction to my wandering and stretched his hand for purse. I threw it to him and followed the direction, turning back.
'If I don't find them there, I will come back' I warned him as I walked away.
Tiger's cub...
Adequately.
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I did not like simple things, because who does? To appreciate something that came to easily, may only someone without ambition, and although there is much to be said about me, it is certainly not that I am without aspirations. I had some hopes that Ace would get to know me quickly, accept me and everything would be fine, but I was hoping more for a hard battle. Divine providence liked to play games with me, sometimes she listened to my prayers, more often not, but in this case she decided to go for me. So I received a full blessing for the upcoming war.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUmYceBLSO
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27g3HFQBdb
The sun stood high in the sky as I was wandering patiently through the edge of the forest, walking up Korubo mountain, and I wondered myself why I had such a patients. I should have cut this forest to the ground, and yet I walked quietly, breathing in the smell of resin, and it didn't bother me that I chased the child for half a day.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81pDrEPEKN
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3H9P3qDAP1
It took me far away from the Terminal, and even from the middle of the forest, the trees grew less and less often, and in front of me there was a slope of a huge mountain. Overgrown with bushes of all kinds, it did not look like a tourist route, and after a while I found out why.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe9DMSI78s
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ8K05xwVX
On my right side two kids came running up. Both were holding long tubes in their hands and every now and then they were looking behind them, completely unnoticing me. One had an orange T-shirt, soiled with dust from feet to elbows, and breathed hard, as if he had a long run. The second kid had a cylinder on his head, a really unusual one, and blue goggles on it. He was also dressed in very posh way, because who normal runs around with a scarf under his neck and in black, elegant boots?467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DHkcX650q
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTzwl2i3bd
A bear was chasing the children. And it was probably the biggest specimen I was able to see, and I saw a lot of them. Almost ten times bigger than a normal animal, it rushed on all fours at an incredible speed for its size, and I had a feeling that two kids would not manage.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIpcgjU00B
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'Run!' 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsR9wMpS44
The one in the cylinder yelled at me, speeding up.
Really, children with their frightlessness...
I pulled out Habanero and cut on the side, above the little ones' heads. They stopped immediately, not knowing who to fear more, women with an katana or a furious animal. I found myself more frightening. The cut knocked down a few of the nearest pines and the bear chopped almost in half. The ball of fur collapsed with a bang, blood was spilled from the long wound, the children looked at the dead animal in disbelief, and then slowly turned towards me. Habanero returned to her place.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjrrkB2OKI
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc3uJ3YNir
'Hey, kids, I am looking for Portgas D. Ace...'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAK0Yyq7qV
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vd9ouzIFs
'I don't know him .' The one in the cylinder muttered, but he gave the other one a worried look. The black haired, freckled child lifted Roger's dark eyes up on me, straightened up, and said despite his fear:467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYriPAys4X
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyniatrv9w
'I am Ace.'
Oh, yes. There was no mistake about it. The same eyes, the same bold look, the same attitude of "nothingscaresmecomeandtry". The facial features were a mixture of Roger's sharp shapes and something delicate, he probably inherited it from Rogue. For a moment I couldn't believe that there was a copy of my childhood brother in front of me.
I opened my eyes wide and hesitate to answer, even though it occurred to me that the child was impatiently asking what I wanted from him. I absorbed the sight and after a few long moments I forced myself to hide tears under my hat. Something unknown squeezed my throat. This something mixed with the longing for my brother, the grief after my old life, but most of all I was overwhelmed by the irresistible feeling of harm done. My nephew grew up on this disgusting island, among mountains of garbage, he was threatened with death from wild animals, and I... I, Emeral D. Ralagan, his only family, I got drunk and I vilified that life was not going as I wanted it to. How pathetic I felt then...467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXDrmKfgDB
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFHUGz5Jhx
'I am... Pebble' I managed to strangle it, but it was all about the truth. 'Dadan sent me to... I am to watch over you.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5bSdB5QXE
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPL9SV5j2T
'Dadan?' A blonde man in a cylinder, with a tooth check in his teeth, looked at Ace with an unintelligible eye.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DJzOHO2M1
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY95OtYowi
'Yeah, right. Dadan would be happy if I died. She probably sent you to cut me down with that big katana.'
Ace didn't really want to let himself be fooled, and what's more, his words were surprisingly well467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfhFD8fTf3
fitting in my theory about Dadan. But it was one thing to think and another to hear such words from a seven year old, so the blood was boiling inside me.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRFm083yTA
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXivxYRpej
'Listen, young blood, when I say I'm going to keep an eye on you, that's the way it's supposed to be.' I snapped, but the child shrugged disrespectfully and intended to pass me by.
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'So many years at sea, and in my old age I had to take care of the rebellious generation. You are your father's real son, tiger's cub' I laughed, watching Ace turn one hundred and eighty degrees and looking at me with his eyes wide open. The mention of his father aroused anger in him and I didn't understand it at all. 'But Roger was stronger.' I ended up drawing little satisfaction from the real fury in the dark eyes of the seven year old.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGe8ZydPAD
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuIzbViIY7
'You know...! How?! Who told you?! That stupid Dadan!' He screamed, ignoring the blonde one trying to calm him down. Hoho, the doubtful charm he may have inherited from his father, but the temperament was definitely mine.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vkgtVlmqs
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJd4Zg4kCHM
'Calm down or I will skin you. Nobody will yell at me. I am a pirate, and I will not stand such hysteria.' I patted him on the head, which was too depressing for a seven year old majesty, so he announced it to me with a series of blouses, not necessarily offensive to me. There was nothing I could do about it that made me laugh, so I did laugh for at least a minute. The "damn" and "what the hell" curses sounded too funny in his mouth, but I decided to remove this ugly clash. I could curse and only I.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0MmhfYb2B
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsW1vbTHNO
'Ace! Ace get a grip. Hey! Calm down'!467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMmwa6Tjb4
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagT5grEEN3
'Let go of me! Woman or not, I'm gonna punch her...'
I was silent at once and looked at him impassively, which effectively interrupted the rally. It caused the child to unwittingly retreat, but he was not satisfied with it. I leaned over him with a cold expression on my face and grabbed his shirt.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadWHhULk6i
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq0FfUIP4n
'You can beat up whoever you want, brat. Stand up to fight with stronger than yourself, but never, ever, ever dare to raise your hand on a woman, whoever she may be. Do you understand?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVH4E7Hlx66
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiDrIvCshq
'N... well...'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAC3c76Rsj
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'What?!'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7F39m4XRN
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'Yes, ma'am!'
He was smart as for a seven year old, he was able to judge, correctly, the strength of his opponent. But his manners were... In fact, he did not have them. I looked at the blond in the cylinder, big eyes were looking at me calmly and with some shade of sympathy, although maybe I was too hasty in judging.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNHbExbWrn
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35bahZKSCV
'I am Sabo.' The blond one bowed politely, taking off the cylinder and then pointed at the bear. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7kAnAnjRQ
'I have never seen anything like it. It was incredible! How did you...'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSK8gyw49l
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJIxa6buBl
'I am Pebble.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKrWtanwrj
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC9n8jUeiy
'That's your name? And you're gonna watch over Ace? Yeah, he could use that, because he's been getting into trouble all the time lately.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50tm2det1e
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaLecOuc0U
'Shut up, you fool! Wanna piece of me!'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43gd9SiNrQ
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVhSdBqFz1
'Like I'm afraid of you, you idiot!'
'Well, well, that's enough.' I grabbed the metal pipes before they moved. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3RDRN57oW
'Now be kind enough to tell me why this animal was chasing you.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiCm7uzcS9
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gEauuj6Kv
'We won't be kind! Leave us alone! And don't you dare to follow me!'
No, it definitely couldn't have been too easy. Even if he had some judgmental skills, nature gave him paternal bravado. The war had to start.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtan540D8Bm
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnucERD6pGK
'And where do you live?'
Sabo, on the other hand, presented a completely different personality. I was wondering where the kid dressed like that came from, but I decided that I shouldn't ask about it for now. The patience had to become my second name.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA4rns1Xga
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInadA9hsLV
'What do you care? Are you stupid or what?! Why do you ask that?! How did she...'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0clwcSfxx
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'Nowhere, I just arrived.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwfShONoSr
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo9vmcOJ0F
'What? On a ship?!'
Now both of them had their faces and shiny eyes interested, and when I was nodding my head, they almost wrote down their excitement. Banshee was supposed to save my skin.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1kE1y5hg2
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'Well, what do pirates sail on?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53v45RNM3e
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbCXeWdPMN
'Pirates?! You really are a pirate!'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcC3DFDd4j
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSryNIM2a0Z
'But you are a girl!' My nephew protested, showing me an unpleasant character trait.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FYt02RWOe
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'At sea, girls are stronger than boys.' I instructed seriously, but they didn't really believe me.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMtRxy7X93
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjquL3iXqYi
'Would you show us you ship?' Sabo dared to ask, Ace stood sulking, but it was clear that he was just waiting for permission to go to the indicated shore. I was happy with this desire for ships, sea and pirates. Maybe Garp didn't spoil the child enough so he did not dream of being a Marine. That would have been the thorn in my side, a sizeable thorn.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbfAazthy3
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6GCMOUOVn
As a cunning Emperor, outlawed of course, I quickly saw my opportunity in that question and I decided to strike the iron while it was hot. It was really nice of me to trick two seven467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMw7iCprsG
year olds, and Ray would laugh at me.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfGUBw2KsB
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'Who knows?' I asked, shuddering. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjbuQgestf
'First I would have to meet you... You must not show your ships to young children if you do not know them. And you, tigers' cubs? Maybe you want to come and destroy my beautiful ship?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbTnIavNH2
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They started to claim that they would never in their lives absolutely dare, but seeing that I wasn't really convinced by that, they chose a different tactic. Probably very sneaky in their opinion.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKS5ZI8nxS
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFCKqnJhxw
'Well, we will let you watch over us for a week.' Ace graciously gave the conditions; the desire to see a pirate ship was much stronger than pride.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJucrhdPsA
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'For a week's watch I will bring you a piece of fabric from the sails.' I bargained relentlessly. The kid squeaked disrespectfully and murmured something under his nose.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53gjIZoQIq
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'A month!'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs6AaHekDA
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'Two pieces.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAXYd1p9JY
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'What? This is stupid! I want to see the whole ship.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5Y1SLV4nw
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ9LZCZFIt
'And I'm here to watch over you, what can you do?' I pulled the barrel and the cigarette case out of my pocket. I sat down in front of a bear bodied corpse and in peace and quiet I lit the tobacco. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE14lwlLm4
'If I sit here with you for a year and keep an eye on you, and you will behave yourself, I will take you on a cruise to the South.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡra53tQTZmr
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The outbreak of joy stunned me, the children caught up with me and they both demanded assurances with big smiles that I was telling the truth and I will definitely take them away.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbh8pS3WpN
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW75CMCKDJX
'Aye, why should I say no? But only if you keep your part of the deal.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SztbLqrca
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'And you are not bluffing?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3v7375VcA
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'I should be dragged the hell if I lied.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KxX7mdLZn
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'Good, a year, we agree!'
So I bribed two seven year olds with a cruise to South Blue.
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'But you know what Pebble?' Sabo looked at me over the flames when we were sitting on the beach in the evening and baking pieces of bear meat. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvZL58mdbB
'I didn't know you were so strong.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr5DfwrXZU
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7H8ANufgh7
'We've known each other only half a day, you'll see a lot more' I smile, pleasantly complimented and clearly admired the blonde with a smile.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUd6tEBBM8
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIDYeixtjE
'And where will you live? On your ship?' 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwECJJmcVEy
In addition, he seemed to be the most sober-minded in this duo, and his concern was absolutely charming. The seven year old boy who was worried about my accommodation was more than adorable.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTVZ4moWUl
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRxzP0eNwc
'No, if I had to wander to your junkyard every day, I would have gone mad. You have big, solid trees in this forest, so I think I will build a house on one of them.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gHXNlXI9g
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VaWfgIyc4
'A house on a tree?! Really?!' Ace spoke to me for the first time in thirty minutes, and while I already had an ally in Sabo, my nephew was against me. The vision of the voyage was still mumbling, but his inborn stubbornness made him show his horns, and he decided that it would be best done in silence.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBui47jJvL
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'I want to do it too! I will live with you! I have nowhere to live anyway! May I?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM17TyklDwV
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'Tch. I have to stay with Dadan. Grandpa Garp would kill me...'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8povmctMN
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB5ZcDBBTU
'Nay, he won't do anything to you. ' I said. Ace looked at me surprised and for the time of our short conversation he stopped eating, and I noticed that it was one of his favourite activities.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHo8SQB5Db
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8CjN6GjXe
'How do you know? He told me to live here and Dadan to take care of me.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TVm0hduUn
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgJ0pLPMZ1
'Before I came here, I had a chat with him. He agreed to let me take care of you. You want his permission on paper?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwyzlS6zkl
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmyLpYM9S7
'What for? I can't read anyway.' He snorted surprisingly honestly, not knowing that the idea of buying out all the books of the High City appeared in my mind. 'So... can I live in a tree house with you?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0GMUsrvla
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ww8rkddqj
'Aye, mate. Together with Sabo, of course.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n3aZgEPoF
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'And no one will do anything about it?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXM26QRmUp
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9L3SpHMXN
'If somebody tries, I'll skin him' I smiled, arousing even more admiration. 'Sabo, what does it mean you have nowhere to live?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnM35bbJUB
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeVizoaMNb
'Well, because I was born in Gray Terminal and I don't have any parents and I've been living in the forest for two years and it's cool' he said on one breath. I gave him a mocking look, which he may not have understood, but he guessed I didn't believe it, so he turned his head blushed.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNSkx0G1K3
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4yRqIlVhP
'Oi, Pebble.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4jQe5C2bG
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhwOxjYmku
'Don't call the woman "oi", tiger's cub.'
A sigh was the only answer, then Ace looked at me with intensity.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZCKpPe8gT
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvTG4zW4cl
'What do you think about Gol D. Roger? '
His face was shimmering with a thousand emotions, from waiting, through rage to sadness, and it depended on my answer what will ultimately win. I was in no hurry. I noticed his reaction to the mention of Roger earlier and suspected that Garp had managed to tell him nonsense.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BF1aGLnp9
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxcVnIc2b9
'The best thing to do is not to think about the dead, darling' I said a noncommittal murmur, but as befits a seven year old, he wanted to hear the details.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNz3LKYgApI
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9FO6Dsd3e
'But you know that I am his son, and that the demon's child is devilishly lucky and they should cut off my head!'
He was talking nonsenses, but it wasn't that complicated to draw the conclusion. I watched him in silence, letting him throw it all away, and when the cry finally took away his speech, I decided to crack down on all those who had bullshit about death and unwanted descendants. Regretting life? Sorry for being born?467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF3ee1NR2R
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWqXQRDWku
They will pay for it. They will cry bitterly when I track them down, even if after that the demons will drag me to hell.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkOeS9wIOv
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtod9Kz5qw
'Listen, Ace, you told me you wanted to go out to sea one day...' I put the barrel on and lay down comfortably on the sand, leaning my head against my rolled up coat.
'When you cross the Red Line and find yourself on the other side, you will hear things about Roger that nobody here in Blues knows.'
The sky sparkled with a million stars. It was wonderful to look at them, listen to the ocean and lie on the beach, accompanied by two seven year old boys. At that moment, the meaning of the Yangtze words slowly reached me. They need you she said.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFNHDpwAo6
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzsR73k5hf
'Listen and remember what I will say now. No real pirate will say a bad word about the King. It was Roger who showed people that they could be free. Someone who says otherwise should be hanged.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEA9zNOzu4
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uL4J07LX8
'I...' Ace shed tears from his freckled cheeks and sniffed his nose out loud 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJ8UVal27S
'I want to be free too.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbtRJt5fYQ
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvafKl6yCO
'I want to be free too! And we will sail to the ocean! I will write a book about it.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshA5zpTM9C
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD4do5q8k1
If he wants to become a pirate, you will bless him and make him the most powerful child of the sea.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzf4iQl33B
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2XVHQLBHm
I will, Ed.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWleT0fLza
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2eoQOaNCL
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCEVFx8TlW
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq3m1LggWs
I was woken up by the orange glow of the rising sun and the quiet snoring. Ace and Sabo slept at their best, covered with my coat and presented themselves with an idyllic and carefree image.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dY4KxSPy6
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSNUrvasRs
I have never remembered feeling so happy and calm before. The emotion bordering on ecstasy and mental fullness accompanied me throughout the day and gained strength as my eyes registered the image of the boys right next to me. I had no doubt that this is what mothers feel and for this happiness they are ready to sacrifice their bodies, health and life. I just couldn't decide if I was happier or if I wanted to kill the people responsible for the loneliness of the children, but something new was shaping up inside me and I was fully aware of it. It was something in Ace's black eyes, in Sabo's joyful smile. I was transformed to the extent of a great revolution, and was captivated by all my previous feelings and views, began to carve my soul anew, make room in my heart. I was amazed to find that twelve hours later I was a completely different person from the one who wanted to be stuck in a cabin with gallons of alcohol, locked up without any company. At the same time, I understood that these two children would do with me whatever they wanted, and I would smile and allow it.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZE6CkuPYR
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26TkMakFCd
'Oh, good morning.' Sabo yawned and rubbed his sleepy eyes.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrI3BvwbLoo
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp0ZhqSh0Y
'Good morning, or at least it looks like it. Well, child? You want to eat?' I smiled, shaking the sand from my shoes.
'Well, I would have eaten something.' he admitted, looking for leftovers from last night, but I didn't even want to hear about it.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJA6i597n3
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLTrjFFdBu
'Ace, you have to get up.' The blond poked the sleeping boy.
Ace slept in a righteous dream, entangled in my coat, and apparently, he had pleasant dreams, because he smiled a little.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP85XjcsdX2
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkuBzZ8Izi
'Ace, we are going to eat without you!' I called out and, according to my calculations, the seven467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYM2TF17XKr
year old rose to sit down almost immediately.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN59dRM2w7E
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHShknPHQeQ
'What? Where?' He asked sleepily and got a little offended when he saw nothing.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK0623nCEx
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxCjCn8zs5
'We will go into town. We will eat something and then we have to get down to work. Are you sure you have a sawmill here? There's no way you don't it with such a forest. We need some furniture, glass for windows, some pipes...' I was calculating on the way, planning in detail the construction of a new house.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctUVgsUwSU
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvHp5wGXlO
'And you will buy it all?' Ace mocked out.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIyfV2mL9L
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdTzuTWSpr
'Why should I steal a few boards? Darling, you only steal something that is worth risking your life. And wood, whatever it is, in my opinion, has no such value.' I immediately started our life with a few life-wisdoms.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEexigzU7C
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMzCaU6Uo9
'Pebble, and how do you want to pay for it?' Sabo, as you can see, was a great supporter. I sighed hard.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSHuVANDEu
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqR9nUITMY
'Normally, with money.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRydEa2Dh3K
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7i0vrGjx7
'You stole it?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFDVYOdkr5
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI604KKnr8j
'Oh, good God... No, I didn't steal it. I earned it honestly.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfJbmYg0da
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6wFxfciYm
'Actually, you didn't tell us your ship's name.' Ace put his hand on his neck. I moistened my lips with my tongue and it wasn't the first time I thought that this duo would eventually lead me to the edge of endurance.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMwGF0Yt3y
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGjuJE0swK
'Banshee.' I reluctantly admitted. They moaned in unison, as if they were disappointed with the name of the fearful ship on second half of the world.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgfKbvI93r
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPfLTjQCIp
'Don't you think that Sea Snake is better?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IHehvIz4C
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7vstXiV0t
'Or the Infernal Sea Warrior?' They suggested, probably in good faith. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1gtN7PmjF
'Change it for something cooler.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOM31wcb2xw
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuYlkd80N7
'Oh, you tigers' cubs, you want to go out to sea and you don't know the basics? Who brought you up? Listen, the ship gets only one name.' I said it with a serious voice, and the duo listened as if enchanted.
'You must not change it, because the spirit of the ship is bound to it. If you baptize the ship again, you will be unlucky and you will sink.' I concluded gloomy, but true, to the second cry of horror.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbizOnG2hYn
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwYb3te4fH
'Impossible!'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEXGBeP9rJ
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgtKO18nIU
'And yet! I once met a man who belonged to the crew of a Silver Clam ship, they were attacked, they lost, and their ship was conscripted into the Navy fleet and baptized into Freedom. He sank four days later.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsDP4u6K4M
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmlobpebQm
'No way...'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlFysTdZdF
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqhpgkPo8n
'The ocean is an ancient power, never joke about its rights.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzn8cpLh9D
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjd1VovB83C
If we take the average person's intelligence quotient and add to it caution, attention to detail and the ability to correctly assess the situation, we will come up with material for a good leader. But if we add the same IQ to bravura, forgetfulness, quick but not always accurate assessment of the situation, we will get a clay for an idiot. And this idiot is a fearless idiot, and a very problematic kind of people. In both cases, the basic factor is strength and good character, and the desire for freedom, but the other ingredients are different from each other like heaven and earth. And these two types were presented by my subjects.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZkjvYTzze
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQjvZt07FX
Ace was not afraid of anything, almost, and always came out in front of the line. Sabo usually thought for a while before he faced a stronger opponent, and although he was still too small to try a large scale strategy, the beginnings were promising.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmls3FkDlB
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNg0xYHTpu
A week after building the tree house very stylish, I dare say, two future warriors of the seas decided to test my strength. They demanded a serious fight and tried by all means to force the exposure of Habanero. It was only after a few screams that I changed my tactics, i.e. I lowered my tone and gave them a cool look, they calmed down.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdYT0KaZqC
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76fHMRRbUR
'This katana has no mercy and only serves to defend herself against real enemies.'
Have you ever imagined a duel between two kittens and their mother's tribune? It would be roughly similar to the fight there. The metal tubes were aimed at me and tried to reach me in the midst of a battle cry. Unfortunately, each time they missed, and when one was too close, it shrank by several millimetres. After a few minutes of fruitless weapon waving, if you can call it that, the boys withdrew, sending me surprised glances.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6tY3Oj10M
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyMtMhADZP
'Well, that's all?' I asked, pretending to be surprised. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVjAx6vt6e
'In that case, it is my turn.' I made a face that showed bad intentions and apparently the boys understood the horror of the situation.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzREjnQzo7
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhPZKptAfT
'Retreat! Retreat!' Sabo commanded, and Ace, hesitating for a while, gave him time to run away.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ080Nc8aieu
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIvvLSoQ3i
'Where to?' I asked and kidnapped my nephew first, and then I caught up with the blonde, and ran straight to a high cliff.
'Hey! Pebble! What do you want to do?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBk7bcPns7
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtm3r0nq9GN
'What do you mean what? Get rid of my enemies, I'll drown you' I was glad to hear their terrified voices. Using Slide, it took me a few moments to get to the shore, and as intended, two seven467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLhcBs63hx
year olds hung over ragged rocks hit by the waves.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmAERuRbu9
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48U9DPCTRh
'Are you giving up?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRIT5d7nHG
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpHBtYXvH4
'Yes, yes, but do not let us go! Pebble! Don't let go!'
I put them on the ground, and after a few deep breaths, my duo calmed down and the whole fight was settled with laughter.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3t7zekFu4
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjOpVuGwZO
'We are terribly weak.' Sabo said looking at me, ashamed.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX7buECD4i
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntu7CEyn1Q
'Nonsense, tiger's cub. You are only seven years old, what do you expect?'
I looked at the sea in front of us and smiled nostalgically, feeling an irresistible desire to summon Banshee and sail towards the setting sun...467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2n5C9WgT7
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzCFnfvAP8
'Pebble, I want to be so strong too, teach me! '
An order was given somewhere around my hips. Ace's black eyes looked at me with determination and persistence, and after a while I saw the same expression in Sabo's gaze. I wondered for a moment as if such a decision would cost me a great sacrifice, and only after a long, very long moment I reluctantly spoke:467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekBqSjNXBt
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqpd9tZbIK
'But then I will have to stay here longer.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRU6N3xyuvi
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2dLUldaty
'It's okay.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPVZJ26Say
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZOuBFcgIa
'Agreed.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6py5O8gqcZ
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMf4zqPWeV
'And is it not too soon you made a decision?'
I laughed at the serious faces. They stood shoulder to shoulder, with their hands crossed on their fragile chests, and presented a picture of true seriousness and determination. I leaned over them and the careless haircuts were destroyed by my hands.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJVfdDpwVY
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1sYCOMpVL
'I will make you the strongest pirates of this world, my tigers' cubs.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvGdQojM4M
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRl5AtW5fTO
