Ace is gone, but you must live.

_________________

•———•———•———•———•

Chapter's Events:

—————————

"What is that black cloth? Blackbeard and Whitebeard are inside!!"

Everyone who saw this scene was surprised; none of them had any idea what he intended to do inside.

"What are they planning!?"

Behind the curtain, Blackbeard's pirates stood guard, making it clear that their main purpose for coming here was for this reason.

"Hohoho."

"Now now… Nobody can enter for the time being."

Laffite laughed and said.

"I'm looking forward to this!!"

Catarina Devon, the female pirate among Teach's crew, was excited about it too.

"If it fails, are we splitting up?"

At this moment, Shiryu wasn't asking anyone but himself due to the importance of the matter.

•———•———•———•———•

In the Calm Belt, aboard a warship, Teach was reading the manga, laughing louder each time.

"Zehahaha!! Has that moment finally come?"

"I've always imagined it in my wildest dreams, thinking the fantasy was beautiful… But I didn't think it would be this amazing in reality!"

"Zehahaha!! The great Whitebeard's body at my counterpart's hand! I'll give you the ultimate show!!"

Teach took his counterpart's words and said them with excitement.

His hatred for Whitebeard and his crew in this reality was far greater than in the manga, as the One Piece manga had revealed his intentions prematurely, causing Whitebeard to beat him severely, even imprisoning and torturing him cruelly while feeding him useless Zaon!

He was now the donkey man! Well, at least part of him was…

Every time he remembered that, that part of him would feel an unimaginable rage.

The scene of Whitebeard's death and the disgrace of the Whitebeard Pirates in the manga was incredibly satisfying for Marshal D. Teach.

"Well, it seems my secret is about to be revealed..."

Now he realized that his greatest secret would be seen by the whole world.

And the reason?

The One Piece manga, once again.

…

In another corner of the world, in Marigoa, the Gorosei were gathered, discussing the latest developments in the manga.

"This Blackbeard... He's a dangerous element."

"If his counterpart in reality is anything like this, we must be cautious. Maybe we acted rashly when we assigned him to Impel Down?"

Saint Mars spoke with a grave tone.

"Yes, but the revelation of his secret... This could be our advantage. Knowledge is power, after all."

Saint Ju Peter nodded, then added;

"Anyway, he is already one of our employees; we will use his secrets to our advantage…"

"We need to monitor him closely. The world is changing, and we need to be prepared for anything."

The eldest Gorosei, Saint Ethanbaron concluded.

But at that moment, the Den Den Mushi in front of them began to ring, "Purupurupuru~*"

"This call from Impel Down, right?"

…

Back in Ohara, Doflamingo was still fixated on the manga, a sinister smile playing on his lips.

"So, Teach... What's your ultimate show?"

"I really want to see it…"

…

"It's interesting how events have turned in this direction..."

"Additionally, it's fascinating to see Sengoku and his group just watching without taking action to stop Teach from achieving his goal..."

"That's true, I find it strange as well... What are they doing? Why are they just watching?"

"Have they been possessed by the spirit of the clown Buggy?"

"Are you mocking Buggy? Look, it seems like he's crying bitterly... He must be deeply affected by Ace's death and his inability to do anything to save him."

"After all, Ace was the son of his former captain, wasn't he?"

The readers in Ohara have already moved past their grief and depression over Ace's death and have refocused on the rest of the events because the volume isn't over yet, after all.

…

•———•———•———•———•

"Captain Buggy!! Where are you…!!?"

"We're getting outta here, you idiots!!!"

"We can't take Whitebeard's head anymore!!!"

Buggy was using his ability to fly away from the battlefield while the prisoners he brought along chased after him in haste.

(I couldn't do it!! I was so scared, I couldn't even get close!!)

No one knows his true thoughts.

"If you think I'm pathetic, go right ahead!!! We'll part here, bastards!!!"

No one knows why he was really crying either.

( I was so scared!!! Whitebeard is scary!!! The summit is scary!!!)

"Captain Buggy… Is crying…"

"You know what they say: yesterday's enemy is today's friend."

"Whitebeard was truly his great rival!"

"He showed Whitebeard a man's mercy!! Even though he could have taken Whitebeard's head!! And then he left without making any excuses!!!"

"Wait!!! Take us too!!!"

"Captain Buggy!!!" The prisoners, who were imagining and connecting events in their heads, ran after Buggy as they chose to follow him.

…

"Haa… Luffy!!! Hang in there!!! You have to live!!! Haa…"

At that moment, Jimbei was still running, carrying Luffy, trying to get him away from there.

"Ace is gone, but you must live… Day after day!!"

"You have to… Hang in there… and survive!!!"

…

("Jimbei… If I die like this… Could you look after my little brother for me?")

These were the words Ace said to him back then in the prison.

("I'm sorry, Ace. You shouldn't think too highly of me… I'm not that good of a person.")

("And even if it's your brother… He lives in the Pirate World. I only lend my hand and protection to men that I respect.")

And this was Jimbei's response at the time.

•———•———•———•———•

"And now he is doing everything he can to save him and get him out of danger..."

"It's as if Ace, the loving older brother, anticipated such a situation where his little brother would need protection..."

"Your counterpart, Jimbei, was the perfect candidate for this role."

On Fish-Man Island, precisely inside the art store in Mermaid Cove, Jimbei, Tiger, and some acquaintances were sitting at the same table.

The events in the manga converged gradually to this scene where Jimbei was running, carrying Luffy, trying to urge him to keep living.

Hearing this, young Jimbei wiped his tears and nodded appreciatively to Tiger's words.

"That's right, my counterpart is doing exactly what he told Ace... Clearly, he respects Luffy a lot; otherwise, he wouldn't lend him a helping hand."

"And who deserves respect more than Straw Hat Luffy? Ace must have laughed when he heard my counterpart's answer."

"His thought must have been, 'If my brother doesn't deserve your respect and admiration, then no one in this world does.'..."

Both Tiger and Jimbei looked around them, not surprised by the sad expressions of the fishmen and mermaids... After all, the tragic end of the Whitebeard Pirates touched all their hearts.

"Sigh~ I hope my counterpart can get Luffy out of this alive."

"Damn! Why does that bastard Akainu insist on trying to kill Luffy?"

…

"Why do you think your counterpart is crying for?"

In Baterilla, Shanks looked at Buggy and asked.

"I don't know..." Buggy looked away and answered without looking at Shanks.

"He said it himself, didn't he?"

He said he couldn't do it… He was so scared, he couldn't even get close… didn't he?"

"I think he means he didn't have the strength to get close to the execution platform and save Ace."

Hearing this, the rest of Roger's pirates looked at Shanks and Buggy.

The scene of Buggy crying in the manga was quite interesting.

No one believed he was crying like that because he couldn't take Whitebeard's head… that didn't make sense at all.

So Shanks' explanation seemed somewhat acceptable.

_________________

Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):

_________________

Chapter 757: Two Powers in One Body.

Chapter 758: Blackbeard's Ambition to Sink Marineford!

Chapter 759: The MVP of the War, Crocodile!

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