226 Chapter 226

226

"And that is why, Mr. 1, I suggested not going in there head first." Nico Robin said as the Baroque Works grunts were taken care of swiftly by the Straw Hat pirates.

Mr. 1 looked at Miss All-Sunday, "Didn't we poison the food? It was one of our best restaurants, they are going to destroy it at this rate… so why isn't it taking effect?"

"Well, we didn't poison the food." Nico Robin cleared, "I just put some strong sleeping potion in it. Mr. Zero did want us to bring them for a bargain… killing them here wouldn't do us any good when they could be much more useful as a bargaining chip later for the princess." Also the fact that she didn't want to actually kill unless needed.

Daz Bonez nodded.

"It would be better if we retreat. Fighting them head-on will only cause problems…"

Both Nico Robin and Daz Bonez (Mr. 1) were hiding in an alleyway, looking towards the restaurant where the Straw Hats were. In the middle of the night, they could easily hide so no one could see them.

"No," Daz Bonez said, pointing to something, "Look there… Who is that?"

Nico Robin frowned and looked at the figure that Daz was pointing at. To get a better view she used her fruit powers to sprout an eye near the restaurant. And what she found shocked her. "No… it can't be. It's the 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates; 'Fire Storm' Ace!"

"What's he doing here…? Does he have some connections with the Straw Hat Pirates?" Daz Bonez asked, but the answer came when Ace suddenly the front of the shop burst into flames and ice. "I will take that as a 'no' for an answer."

.

"You're 'Fire Storm' Ace?!" Kuina shouted in question as she clashed blades with the fire user.

Ace blinked, confused, "Yes, I am, but why are-"

Kuina cut him off, "Then fight me!" With that, she attacked relentlessly as her blade started getting cold, gathering frost. The area around her dropped down to freezing temperatures.

Ace sidestepped a stab from the odd girl, before taking a step back to avoid a slash aimed at his chest. From the brief interaction, he deducted two things. First, she was much weaker than him, and second, she wasn't actively trying to kill him, more like challenging him to test out his skills or to test herself. Which confused him even more, as he didn't know the lady.

But if it's a fight she wants, a fight she will get. With that, Ace activated his powers, countering hers, the temperature shifting to a boiling point on his side as he blocked and parried her strikes.

"What's your name, lady? Do I know you? If I did something wrong I'm sorry, I guess?" Ace said as he easily countered Kuina's strikes. Sparks of frost and flames flying in the air. Ace jumped back, gaining a little distance.

"Kuina, and no you don't know me. Anyway, fight me!" Kuina said, "Sakura Hurricane!" A giant blast of ice that looked like small sakura petals dragged toward the Whitebeard pirate.

Ace sighed, "What's with girls always picking a fight with me..?" He mumbled thinking about a certain large girl, who also wore a white kimono. Also, about a certain orange-haired marine. And lastly, about a pink-haired female pirate that really loved to eat. "Blaze Burn!" he announced, swiping his blade upwards as a volley of flames ate away at the ice, canceling out the Ice Lady's attack.

"Gorgeous, Beautiful, and Blood-thirsty, you really know how to pick em, huh captain?" Masked Deuce said, lazily leaning on a nearby wall, the flames or frost not touching him.

Hearing the words of his First Mate, Ace's eye twitched but before he could respond Kuina was on him yet again. Pushing him with her attacks to an empty section of the town, Ace could only watch in annoyance as his First Mate waved him a goodbye.

"Crap!" Gin called out coming out of the restaurant, "Why is Kuina fighting him!? She knows who he is!"

"Who is he?" Chopper asked, returning back to his smaller form, and he was also feeling a bit sleepy, "Is it me, or am I a bit sleepy?"

Gin blinked, "Now that you mention it…" he said, narrowing his eyes. "Someone drugged our food."

"What?! Then we need a doctor! We need a doctor!" Chopper screamed, running around Gin, before the taller pirate grabbed the panicked mink.

"You ARE the doctor," he said nonchalantly.

"Oh… but why aren't the drugs taking effect? I'm used to overdosing on drugs since I was little, so it doesn't affect me, much… but what about you and Kuina? I mean White Fury is already asleep."

Gin blinked and checked to see that the large snake really was asleep. The large White Snake also had a bulging stomach, it seemed that she didn't leave anyone behind, earning a respectful nod from the Man-Demon.

"I had a lot of alcohol tolerance before joining the crew. Could drink anyone under the table… good to know I still have that skill in me." Gin said, "But then again, I've been trying to learn Life Return for quite a while now, so maybe that might have been the case. I think Kuina's case is similar, she is the third one I know that has fully learned the technique."

Chopper's eyes took a shine in them, "Oh, that technique that uses Bio-Feedback. I am trying to learn that as well." Gin nodded, "Anyway, why is Kuina attacking that guy again? Who's that guy, anyway? He seems quite strong."

"That's 'Fire Storm' Ace, and of course, he would be strong." Gin said, "Well, he is Captain's…" But he was cut off, as his words froze. Chopper blinked at why suddenly his friend stopped talking.

A man with blue hair and a mask casually walked towards them.

"You shouldn't just go around telling those kinds of things around here… not when there are eavesdroppers around here, rookie," Masked Deuce said, pointing towards a certain empty alleyway. He then let go of Gin, making the pirate blink in confusion. "And, yes, I do know about that relationship between your captain's and mine. I'm sorry that my captain didn't recognize her immediately, but he seems to be enjoying the fight. So let's leave them be. Come out, little listeners!"

But no one came out.

"Huh, It seems they are making a run for it. What should we do?" he asked Gin.

Gin shifted in his place, he recognized the man. Even though Luffy didn't actively tell others about his family. The rubber man trusted Gin enough to give him key details about Ace. And this man was Ace's First Mate, Masked Deuce. Gin promptly took out his transponder snail, "Um, let's call my captain."

Masked Deuce blinked. "Wow… carrying a transponder snail like that. Resourceful… and a good idea."

And so Gin made the call.