Chapter 36: Future Doughnut

"We're in East Blue, Mr. Luo Ning. What's next?" the sailor asked after a long, uneventful journey. Even with the Marines' warship, the trip took a while, especially since they hadn't stopped for supplies.

But Luo Ning didn't need much – just food and water, which he could take care of himself.

"Alright, listen up," Luo Ning said, pulling out a compass. The needle spun and settled on a direction. "Head there, and follow my orders closely."

He eyed the compass, knowing it pointed towards Nami. Unless he was back with Arlong, Nami would be on the move somewhere. He'd need to guide the way.

The jailers followed orders without question, even if they were unsure of Luo Ning's plan. After all, he was still in charge.

Thus, Luo Ning's ship reached East Blue ahead of Garp.

"The East Blue feels peaceful compared to the Grand Line." There, pirates were crazy enough to attack Marine warships. Luo Ning's ship even holds a bunch captured by him during those attacks.

He wasn't killing them, planning to take them back to Impel Down. Luo Ning knew that prison well enough – killing them seemed pointless, Impel Down felt like the right place. He even had the pirates snitch on each other to make sure none were innocent. Luffy's kind of pirate? Rare, maybe one in ten thousand.

"Mr. Luo Ning, I found a small boat ahead with a pirate flag hanging on it. However, this pirate group isn't registered in our system. They must be new pirates."

Luo Ning soon received another update. Typically, he'd be briefed on pirates before taking them down. But this time, there were no records.

"Show me," Luo Ning demanded.

A quick glance left Luo Ning confused. He recognized the flag.

"That's Ace. Just set sail, it seems he found a crewmate. He must have the Flame-Flame Fruit power now"

Ace surprised Luo Ning. He didn't dislike Ace, but thought him reckless. Recklessness that cost him twice - against Blackbeard and at Marine Headquarters. Ace's temper, much like his flames, burned hot.

Ace was definitely impulsive. But he always had a reason, even if it seemed crazy at first. The first time, his crewmate killed someone, and Ace felt responsible as the captain. Makes sense.

The second time, he lost it when that bastard Akainu insulted Whitebeard. Reckless, sure, but it shows how much he cared. If he didn't care about Whitebeard, he wouldn't have bothered.

And let's not forget how he took that attack for Luffy. Maybe things wouldn't have gotten that bad if he hadn't been so impulsive. but at least it shows he cared deeply about his family and friends.

So yeah, Ace is reckless. But his recklessness comes from a good place. He cares too much.

"Ace, we seem to have encountered a warship!"

Ace and the others have naturally discovered the warship, after all, the warship is so conspicuous.

"Don't pick a fight, but if they start something, they'll regret it"

Ace looked at it and wasn't looking for trouble. He wasn't scared of them either, being a Logia Devil Fruit user and all.

"Mr. Luo Ning, are we going to attack?"

Even though they're some no-name pirates with no bounty, a pirate flag's a pirate flag.

"Leave them be"

Luo Ning wasn't interested in messing with Ace right now. Beating him wouldn't mean much. Maybe another time.

"Yes, sir!"

The guards didn't argue. Luo Ning made the call, and that was that. The warship and Ace's boat just passed by, neither side bothering the other.

Ace scratched his head. They were flying the Jolly Roger, a pirate flag that usually got Marines riled up like bees in a bonnet. Yet, this ship just let them pass.

Suited him just fine though. He wasn't like some pirates who just wanted to wreck havoc. He was after the Pirate King title, same as Luffy. Later on, he even wanted to help Whitebeard become the Pirate King.

Whatever Ace's plans were, Luo Ning didn't care right now. He had his sights set on Nami and then dealing with the Arlong Pirates. Thinking about Arlong and his fishmen made Luo Ning disgusted.