Chapter 35: The Entei Pirates Set Sail!  

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A Marine warship was anchored near the waters of the former Arlong Empire.

"Damn brat! You actually defeated Arlong and his crew... My profits..."

Colonel Nezumi gritted his teeth as he glared at a portrait of Ace.

In the portrait, Ace could be seen extending his index finger, which had transformed into a pillar of flame, pointing forward.

It captured the exact moment when Ace killed Arlong.

"I'm going to put a bounty on your head! I'll make sure you never find peace, day or night!"

Nezumi faxed Ace's portrait to Naval Headquarters and then started preparing his report.

"I'm telling you, he's an extremely dangerous pirate! He wiped out the Arlong Pirates and is a huge threat. His bounty should be at least 30 million!"

Nezumi shouted into the phone transponder.

"What's his name?" came the reply from the other side.

Nezumi paused, trying to recall. He hadn't been close enough to hear clearly.

"I think his name is... A-Aa?"

"You mean Ace?"

A quiet laugh suddenly interrupted Nezumi, causing him to smile nervously.

"Yes, yes, Ace! Tha—"

His words froze in his throat as his eyes widened in terror. The figure he feared had appeared before him.

"You...you…"

Colonel Nezumi began to tremble uncontrollably.

This was the man who single-handedly destroyed the Arlong Pirates.

"Help! Somebody! Get in here!"

Nezumi screamed at the top of his lungs, but no one responded.

"Don't waste your breath."

Ace's cold eyes pierced through Nezumi as he slowly pointed his flaming finger at him.

The sailors outside had already been knocked unconscious by Ace's Conqueror's Haki.

"I warned you. Anyone who makes my navigator cry... dies."

Ace's cruel smile appeared as flames engulfed Nezumi's body, reducing him to ash amidst his screams.

"Hey! What's going on?!" a voice from Naval Headquarters yelled through the phone.

"He's dead," Ace calmly replied, picking up the transponder.

"W-who are you?!" the voice on the other end demanded in shock and anger.

"Remember this: it was Portgas D. Ace who defeated the Arlong Pirates and killed Colonel Nezumi. The man with the powers of the Mera Mera no Mi."

Ace finished with a smile and hung up the transponder.

"Click."

The phone bug slumped down, falling into a deep sleep.

——

Stepping out of Nezumi's quarters and onto the warship's deck, Ace gazed out at the vast ocean.

Memories of his childhood, with Luffy and Sabo, drifted through his mind.

Slowly, he opened his hand, revealing the letter Sabo had written long ago.

Sabo must still be suffering from amnesia...

Unlike in the original timeline, where Ace's death by Akainu's hands shocked Sabo into regaining his memory...

This time, Ace had a different plan: to make his name resonate across the sea, loud enough to bring Sabo's memories back.

"Wait until you hear my name, Luffy... and Sabo."

Ace's lips curled into a smile.

——

Aboard the Going Merry.

"Ace, we don't have a pirate flag yet!" Nami exclaimed happily as Ace returned to the ship.

Now, both Nami and Nojiko were free from the tattoos that had once scarred their arms, thanks to Kaya's healing fruit abilities.

Nojiko had gotten her tattoo in solidarity with Nami, who bore the mark of the Arlong Pirates. But with that hateful tattoo now gone from Nami's arm, Nojiko had also chosen to remove hers.

Without the tattoos that had once reminded her of pain, Nami's excitement for creating a new pirate flag soared.

"We don't even have a name for our crew yet," Kaya chimed in, her eyes shining with interest.

Ace thought for a moment, then picked up a paintbrush and began to sketch on the blank flag.

After a short while, an emblem appeared: a skull with his symbolic hat surrounded by blazing flames, radiating an aura of strength and determination.

"The Entei Pirates! That's what we'll call ourselves from now on!"

Ace grinned proudly.

"What an awesome design! Hey, Nojiko, let's get it tattooed on our arms!" Nami said excitedly, pointing to her arm.

"Huh? Well, it is pretty cool... I'll get it tattooed on me too," Nojiko said, stunned for a moment, before breaking into a heartfelt smile.

"Nami, I really love this pirate crew. It's time to let go of the past. Thank you, Ace, for healing Nami... and for saving me, too."

Nojiko glanced at Ace, her lips curving into a soft smile.

"And I..." Kaya began, only to be interrupted by Ace.

"Kaya."

Ace looked at her warmly, his smile gentle.

"There's no need for you to force yourself to fit in. You're already one of us."

He patted Kaya's head gently.

Kaya blinked, momentarily startled, before returning his smile with a sweet one of her own.

"Mm-hmm!"

Nami and Nojiko exchanged a look and shared a knowing smile.

——

"Set sail! Destination: the Grand Line!"

Ace pointed towards the horizon and laughed.

"Yeah!" Nami cheered, holding the navigation chart. Nojiko manned the helm, while Kaya flipped through her medical book, each of them smiling.

"Oh, and don't forget about my 3 billion beli Devil Fruit, Captain!"

Nami suddenly clung to Ace playfully.

"Three billion beli Devil Fruit? I have no idea what you're talking about."

Ace replied with mock confusion.

"Ace! You're messing with me! Give me back my 3 billion!"

Nami shouted in frustration.

"Hahaha!"

Kaya and Nojiko shared a laugh as they watched Nami and Ace playfully bicker.

Though Nami was still her same lively self, all the money she had recovered from Arlong had been left behind in Cocoyasi Village.

With a final cheer, the Entei Pirates set sail! Their destination: Loguetown, the starting point of the Grand Line!