130 Chapter 130: Gurarara!

Ace won't be able to continue his pirating career if he remains stuck in Impel Down for decades. So, it seems like a good outcome.

Seeing Ace, Luo Ning even considered sending Luffy to Impel Down to become a jailer.

Luffy's sole reason for wanting to be a pirate is Shanks' portrayal of the adventurous side of the pirate life. He has no other motivations. Additionally, Shanks losing his arm to save him solidified Luffy's desire to become a pirate.

But what if Luffy were sent to Impel Down? He could become a jailer. He believe both Dragon and Garp would highly approve.

Furthermore, Luo Ning has already released the wrongly imprisoned inmates from Impel Down. The remaining prisoners are heinous criminals. Witnessing the evil side of these pirates might quickly dispel Luffy's romanticized notion of the pirate life.

Of course, the most important thing is to educate Luffy about Shanks' true strength. Upon returning, Shanks could deliberately reveal the reason for his missing arm, letting Luffy know he was misled. That would be quite amusing.

However, these plans will have to wait until their return. For now, keeping both boys in Impel Down will prevent them from causing trouble. As for the protagonist's halo, it holds no power here in Luo Ning's presence.

"It seems his pirate career is indeed over, but that's good news!"

Everyone sympathizes with Ace, but assuming he enjoys being a pirate ignores the consequences of such a life. It's not okay to be a good person who wants to be like a bunch of animals.

***

"I... where am I?"

A day later, Ace woke up from the coma, likely due to Luo Ning's harsh treatment. The consumption of soul and physical strength had rendered Ace unconscious for tenfold the usual time.

"Captain, we've been captured," a crew member said helplessly. "They're sending us to Impel Down. We're basically finished!"

The other crewmates looked at Ace with a mix of resignation and anger. While they'd voiced concerns about Ace's challenge, they'd also believed he could at least escape if defeated.

Now, however, they were all too weak to fight back. Ace had been recklessly captured, and they themselves had been beaten to a pulp by the jailers. It was a sorry state of affairs.

"Captured!"

Ace bolted upright, trying to activate his Devil Fruit power. But he quickly realized it was unavailable.

"Damn it, Seastone shackles!"

Not only was his power inaccessible, but his physical strength was also severely hampered. He was as weak as a newborn colt, unable to exert himself in the slightest.

"Don't bother struggling, Captain," a crew member advised, shaking his head. "You've got Seastone on your hands, feet, and neck. Escape is impossible."

They were right. Unless Ace severed his own limbs and head, he wouldn't be getting free. And even then, he'd be as good as dead.

"Damn it, why am I so far behind?!"

Furious, Ace punched the cell floor. Unfortunately, the only consequence was throbbing pain in his fist. The floor remained completely unharmed.

***

"You're too weak! What were you thinking? A rookie who doesn't even know Haki dares to provoke Lord Luo Ning!"

The nearby guards couldn't hold their tongues any longer. Though Ace was a powerful Logia user, he truly didn't possess Haki, as they'd gathered from talking to the other crewmates.

Apparently, Ace had relied solely on his elemental intangibility to rampage through the New World, never encountering an enemy who could counter him with Haki. The jailer couldn't help but scoff at Ace's incredible luck.

It seemed Ace's rapid rise had come at a cost. He hadn't spent enough time in the Grand Line to face significant challenges.

The Marines, preoccupied with Luo Ning, hadn't paid him much attention, allowing the young pirate to sail all the way to the New World.

Ace, in turn, used his conversations with the jailer to glean information. He needed to understand why the ship was headed for Whitebeard's territory.

After some time at sea, the ship entered Whitebeard's territory. His arrival triggered a swift response from the Whitebeard Pirates. After all, Luo Ning hadn't made any secret of his location.

Newspapers plastered Luo Ning's face across their pages, making his objective clear: he was heading straight for Whitebeard's turf. Whitebeard and his crew were well aware that Luo Ning was coming for them.

"Pops, I just got word that that guy's entered our territory. What's our plan?"

Marco's expression darkened upon receiving the news. They couldn't forget about Big Mom's demise at Luo Ning's hands, leaving them uncertain about his next move.

"Gurarara! Don't you worry, sons! I am Whitebeard! This young pup may be strong, but not strong enough to frighten us. If he wants a fight, let him come! I want to see what he truly desires!"

Whitebeard declared that even if he knew he wasn't Luo Ning's equal, he wouldn't back down. Luo Ning was clearly after him, and avoiding him wouldn't solve anything. So, he'd choose to face him head-on and see what the young man intended.

"By the way, Marco, let your brothers disperse to various places in our territory!"

Whitebeard, despite his bravado, felt a pang of fear. He wasn't afraid for himself, but for his sons being captured or killed by Luo Ning. It was a scene he couldn't bear to witness. Dispersing everyone was the most logical course of action.

Marco's expression shifted at his father's command. He wasn't a fool and understood the reason behind the order.

"Do it!" Whitebeard boomed, leaving no room for argument.

Marco relayed the message, but to his surprise, no one left. Instead, the entire crew assembled on Whitebeard's Moby Dick.

"What's going on? Didn't you hear my orders?" A hint of unease in Whitebeard's voice.

"Pops, we are a family," one of the captains declared. "There's no reason for a family to be separated like this!"

"That's right! A son shouldn't let his father face danger alone!"

"If need be, we'll fight them together. Running away isn't an option!"

The captains voiced their opinions one by one. In truth, most of the Whitebeard Pirates were men of honor and loyalty.