(Vol 2) CHAPTER - 42 { New Bounties }

Hell Realm___

The underground basement of the laboratory, Maba looked at the huge glass cylinders filled with some kind of green liquid.

There were the bodies of the Angel Children, cables connected to their back for energy supply.

Their bodies had changed, increasing in both size and power.

"How long until it's complete?, " Asked Maba, beside him was Hamburg grinning.

"About a year, " Replied Hamburg, he picked the CS-M2 and started scrolling.

"Increase the energy!, " Shouted Hamburg looking at the scientists in the room next to the cylinders.

Maba didn't disturb their work, he headed towards the other section of experiments.

* * *

Somewhere___

The room was lit by a single fire, two tables touching the wall and a single chair.

"Do you think we should send our man there?, " Asked a voice which belonged to a woman in the call.

"No, if they get caught then we won't get another chance again, " Replied the man who held a den den mushi on his left hand while holding a newspaper on his right.

"Then what to do about them? If the time passes more, we might get tracked, " Said the woman with a very worried voice from the other side of the call.

"I will make a plan but for now, just stay low, " Said the man before ending the call and sighing.

Due to the fire being on the side of the man, only half of his face was visible.

He had a tattoo on his left side of his face, and had a bit of stubble on his chin. He is dressed in a long green cloak.

On the wall, five wanted posters were hung. All of them were new ones with each having a bounty of more than a billion.

The youngest of the Four Emperors, also the Chief of the Red Hair Pirates Crew.

[Wanted Poster]

[4,048,900,000 billion berries]

[Red-Hair Shanks]

The only female member amongst the Four Emperors, also the Captain of the Big Mom Pirates.

[Wanted Poster]

[4,388,000,000 billion berries]

[Charlotte Linlin]

Renowned as the world's 'Strongest Creature', he is the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates and one of the Four Emperors ruling over the New World.

[Wanted Poster]

[4,611,100,000 billion berries]

[Kaido]

More commonly known as 'Whitebeard', he is the Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates and is widely known as the 'Strongest Man in the World' and, after Gol D. Roger's death, the "Man Closest to One Piece.

[Wanted Poster]

[5,046,000,000 billion berries]

[Edward Newgate]

There are four major forces that provide World Balance, they are the Marines Headquarters, Seven Warlords of the Sea, Four Emperors and the last.

Known as the 'Devil of the Sea'. Also the Captain of the biggest pirate force ever formed, 'Devil's Pirates' that could rival even the Marines.

[Wanted Poster]

[5,890,200,000 billion berries]

[Wholeheart Akuma]

* * *

Paradise___

Nowadays, a new pirate crew is getting the spotlight in Paradise.

The Spade Pirates, the total number of pirates in this crew was not more than 20.

Portgas D. Ace is the captain of the Spade Pirates and also the user of Mera Mera no Mi.

The Mera Mera no Mi is a Logia-type Devil Fruit that allows the user to create, control, and transform into fire at will.

But well, for the big pirates in the New World it was an unnoticed crew.

Sabaody Archipelago___

The Spade Pirates arrived here a few days ago, wanting to coat their ship to sail towards Fish-Man Island.

*Boom!*

A huge fire explosion occurred near the slums, causing the flames to burn down many houses.

"Surrender Ace! You can't escape the Marines!, " Shouted Vice Admiral Draw, he was about a head taller than Portgas D Ace.

On his arms, he wears cylindrical attachments that hold his flamethrowers, which when covered by his coat make his arms appear broad.

"I will never surrender!, " Shouted Ace back at Vice Admiral Draw, his fist burning in red flames.

Ace attacked Draw, but struggled against the Vice Admiral's Busoshoku Haki.

Draw grabbed Ace by the neck and prepared to kill him, but Ace's flames caused Draw's fuel tank to explode, injuring both of them.

"I won't die! I have a promise to fulfill!, " Shouted Ace, his eyes glowed in determination and his fist clenched.

Ace felt as if some kind of new energy invaded his body and headed towards his hands.

'Armament Haki!, ' Thought Ace, because of today's incident he awakened the Armament Haki.

Ace then started overwhelming Draw in the fight, and after a final clash he defeated the Vice Admiral.

"Ace! What are you going to do?, " A voice sounded behind Ace, he turned to see a female marine.

'Nailing' Isuka is a Marine Ensign that has confronted the Spade Pirates many times.

Short vermilion hair, brown eyes, a bandaid on her left cheek and a burn scar on the back of her hand.

She typically wears a Marine uniform with a collared, buttoned shirt, a tie, brown gloves, shorts and heeled boots. On her shoulders she wears the standard Marine coat with 'Justice' on the back.

She recommended Ace quit being a Pirate, as she does not see him as evil. She even offered Ace the chance to become a Marine, but Ace did not like the idea.

Ace gave Isuka the opportunity to go on his ship and hunt him down in close quarters, but she refused.

Ace and Deuce, his first mate, returned to their ship as it left Sabaody, bidding a final farewell to Isuka.

While all of these happened, a shadow bloomed around the corner and watched them.

"Portgas D. Ace! A rookie pirate that became infamous very quickly, also a logia devil fruit user!, " Said the shadow slowly showing his face from the dark corner.

Red eyes, a face full of white makeup and his crazy smile. The sides of his lips were also cut in such a way that he looked smiling even if he didn't.

"Ha Ha Hahahahaha Hahahaha!, " The man went back in the dark, disappearing away.

He was a very popular person in Paradise, a Division Captain from Devil's Pirate.

Joker, devil fruit unknown…