146. Alabasta

"How long till the log pose locks onto the nearest island?"

Leo asked Mace.

"Two hours."

Leo nodded. They had no idea where they were.

Two hours passed by. The needle on the log pose rotated and it settled on a particular direction.

Their ship set out in that direction. When the sun was almost sinking into the horizon an island's shadow was seen in the distance.

Once they docked on the port Mace got to work and checked where they are.

"Sir, we are in Alabasta."

Leo was familiar with this country. It was located on the first half of the Grandline. A desert country.

The crew settled in. Leo reported to Sengoku about their situation and rested for the day.

When the sun broke through the sky the crew was prepared to leave but Leo gave them a day off to which all of them cheered.

As Leo and Shinobu were walking through the wide streets they saw a group of pirates making a ruckus. Leo frowned, just as he was about to make a move the sand beneath their feet started to move.

Oh?

Leo looked up. Some distance away, on a tall building, a man was standing there wearing a cloak. He was missing an arm and in it's place was a golden hook.

He knew who this was, one of the Shichibukai, Crocodile!

The sand twisted and surrounded the pirates. Howls of anguish cam from the sand. Several seconds later the sand dispersed and the pirates fell down.

Their skin was cracked and they looked bony.

Heh, he sucked out the moisture in their body.

Leo thought to himself. His gaze never left Crocodile. Sensing someone looking at him Crocodile turned his head and saw Leo.

For a moment he was startled. He was a Shichibukai and a famous pirate, so he knew about the recent appointment of two vice admirals who were a couple.

Taking back his gaze Crocodile's body dispersed into sand and flew away with the wind.

Devil fruits sure are convenient.

Thinking to himself Leo and Shinobu walked around for a bit. When it was close to noon they chose a restaurant to have lunch.

When he walked in he was surprised to find someone he knew inside.

"Smoker, what are you doing here?"

Leo asked.

Hearing someone call his name Smoker turned around and saw Leo. He puffed out a cloud of smoke and said, "I have been chasing a particular group of pirates. They should be here in this country."

Leo was surprised, "Are they that strong?"

Smoker shook his head, "They ain't that strong."

"Then?"

Smoker didn't know how to explain and said vaguely, "I am annoyed whenever I see their Captain."

Ha?

Baffled by his response both of them sat down and ordered some food.

Suddenly Smoker's attention was drawn to a man seated further inside the restaurant. He was chomping down on plates of food, while eating he fell asleep occasionally and would wake up immediately and continue to eat.

He had a tattoo on his back. A pirate skull with a beard on it.

It was Whitebeard's insignia!

"Fire Fist Ace, what are you doing in Alabasta?"

Ace looked back and saw Smoker, he grinned and said, "I am having a meal."

He continued to eat. Smoker spoke no more, he took out his jutte and stabbed at Ace.

"Whoa!"

Ace jumped up and dodged the attack. Smoker turned his body into lumps of smoke and attacked.

In response to Smoker Ace's body started to change. Flames surged from his entire body and blocked Smoker's attack.

Bang!

Both them collided and was thrown back. They crashed through the wall and fell on the streets.

"Ace!?"

Suddenly Ace heard someone call him and turned around. He was surprised by who he saw and yelled back.

"Luffy!"

Leo was watching all of this from the restaurant. He looked in Ace's direction and saw a guy about 16 or 17 with a straw hat on his head. Several others stood beside him.

"Strawhat!"

Smoker saw Luffy and yelled before charging at him. However Ace blocked him and said.

"You guys run, I will catch up later."

"Ok!"

Luffy ran with his friends and disappeared into the distance.

"Damn!"

Smoker cursed, he turned his body into smoke and rushed after them. But Ace blocked his path and said.

"Wait a while."

Ace smirked. Flames rose from his body and blocked the entire street. Smoke and Fire collided against each other and came to a standstill.

Neither of them got the upper hand!

"What's your purpose here, Fire Fist Ace?"

Smoker calmed down and asked again.

Ace tipped his hat and said, "I am just visiting my brother."

Brother? Strawhat Luffy is his brother?

Smoker was startled, his face turned solemn. If Strawhat Luffy is his brother then the situation is quite tricky. Fire Fist Ace is not a nobody.

He is the Second Division Commander of Whitebeard Pirates!

He is the subordinate of the strongest man in the world!

As Smoker was thinking about a lot of things Leo walked out of the restaurant and studied Ace.

He doesn't have any malice, in fact his spirit is very pure. Is he really a pirate?

Leo thought to himself. He then walked towards Ace and said, "You destroyed the restaurant, pay for the damages."

Ace was surprised when he heard Leo. Then. he turned to look at the restaurant and felt embarrassed.

He ran to the owner who was fuming and bowed repeatedly. He then gave him a stack of cash.

The owner beamed when he looked at the cash in his hand. This was more then enough for the repairs.

Ace smiled bitterly when he turned around. His cash reserves were running low after that episode.

Leo chuckled when he saw Ace. He was amused to see a pirate act in such a way.

Wasn't pirates greedy, unreasonable andcruel. Then what kind of pirate was this guy Ace?

I guess birds of the same feather flocks together.

He had a good impression of Whitebeard, he was arrogant and proud and would never stoop low and hurt other people. Seeing Ace he knew they were the same kind of people.

Smoker didn't pursue Ace. He turned to Leo and said, "What was that?"

Leo raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"Why would you speak politely to a pirate?"