Chapter 39

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In Windmill Village, atop Mt. Corvo, in the Bandit Dadan's hideout grassland.

"What did you say? That jerk Zyhark ran off with his shop?!"

Ace punched the ground in anger, his young soul instantly filled with the deceit and filth of the adult world.

"What's wrong? Although Zyhark occasionally hits people and serves overnight beef to customers, he's a good person who cooks delicious food!"

Luffy, sitting across from him, was utterly confused.

The day after Zyhark and Aqua set sail, the Red Hair Pirates left Windmill Village, and Shanks passed on the straw hat, symbolizing his legacy, to Luffy.

Coincidentally, just as the Red Hair Pirates departed, Marine hero Garp returned home for a vacation.

Given their differing stances, he deliberately avoided meeting Shanks, a pirate.

Upon learning about the tavern incident, Garp took Luffy, who was loudly proclaiming his desire to become the Pirate King, to Dadan.

It's unclear what the old man was thinking, entrusting his grandson, who wished to become a pirate, to bandits for care.

Perhaps it was due to trust in Dadan, or because Luffy had eaten the Gum-Gum Fruit, or maybe it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision...

Thus, Luffy, sent to Dadan's, managed to strike up a conversation with the aloof and cold Ace over the common topic of Zyhark.

"A con artist like that, how could he ever be a good person!"

At this time, Ace and Luffy's bond wasn't particularly strong; Ace just thought this simpleton was too naïve, duped without even realizing it.

"Huh?"

Little Luffy, scratching his nose, couldn't understand why the slightly older boy before him was so angry.

"The day I set out to sea and become a pirate, he better not let me catch him!"

Ace clenched his fist, vowing to remember that sinister man.

"Do you want to be a pirate too? Me too! I want to become the Pirate King!"

Hearing about pirates, Luffy's eyes immediately lit up.

"The Pirate King" were words that only added fuel to the fire for Ace at that moment.

Glancing at the naïve and childish Luffy, he stood up and walked towards the deep, beast-filled forests of the mountain.

"Don't follow me anymore, we're from two different worlds."

Luffy, oblivious to Ace's impatience, hurriedly followed.

Soon, they would experience the moment with Sabo and swear brotherhood over cups of sake.

…

Meanwhile, on the East Blue sea, aboard the Endless Dreams.

Zyhark, idly sipping tea at the front desk, suddenly straightened up with a start.

He finally remembered what that strange feeling of forgetting something was about when setting sail from Windmill Village.

Caught up discussing Haki with the Red Hair Pirates, dealing with Aqua's constant troublemaking, and preparing for the voyage, he had completely forgotten about it!

"Ah well, given Ace and Sabo's maturity, they'll surely understand," Zyhark sighed lightly.

There was no need to make a special trip back now; they'd eventually set out to sea, and he could compensate them then.

"Zyhark, Zyhark! Come quickly, I've finally caught a fish!" 

The sound of footsteps on the stairs came as Aqua, who had been fishing on the second deck for most of the day, ran over.

She waved the sea fish flapping in her hand, her blue eyes shining with pride, "See, there's nothing I can't do if I put my mind to it!"

Zyhark glanced at the blind fish, responding half-heartedly, "Impressive, truly worthy of Aqua-sama."

"Damn it! What's with that disdainful look? I caught a fish, a sea fish!" Aqua emphasized loudly.

"So, I said you did well, didn't I?"

Zyhark ignored her emphasis, turning back to the newspaper about the Grand Line.

Despite being in the East Blue, with a little extra money, it was easy to get newspapers from other regions.

(Considering the Straw Hat Crew's adventures in the Grand Line and the New World are known even in Windmill Village, it should be easy to get them.)

"Fish-Man Pirate Captain, who incited a slave revolt in Mary Geoise, the atrocious pirate Fisher Tiger, has finally met justice and died yesterday."

"Famous stage actress Victoria Cindry died after falling from the stage during a performance, unable to be revived."

'Tiger, a true man who freed countless slaves, is labeled as a vicious pirate in the news, typical of the World Government under the Celestial Dragons.'

Zyhark couldn't help but inwardly criticize the Celestial Dragons' actions.

The current News Coos, Morgans, apparently hadn't yet taken a firm stance against the Five Elders, like publishing a picture of Nika Luffy without their approval.

With Tiger's death at this time, it meant that Jinbei would soon accept the World Government's invitation to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

And the imprisoned fish-man Arlong would be released, bringing the Arlong Pirates to dominate Cocoyasi Village in the East Blue!

As for Victoria Cindry, if he remembered correctly, she was the beautiful actress turned into a zombie by Moriah, right?

It seems the Thriller Bark, lurking in the Florian Triangle of the Grand Line, had just been established not long ago.

These were two pieces of valuable information worth utilizing in the future.

Zyhark noted this in his mind, putting down the newspaper as Aqua continued to boast about her catch.

"Alright, Aqua, since you've caught it, let's have sour cabbage fish for dinner."

"How could we! I want to keep it in the aquarium, maybe next year we'll have baby fish to eat!"

"That fish is blind, and you're hoping it'll breed? Besides, if you want to eat fish, just fish for one. It's not like it takes all day to catch one, what are you worried about?"

"Jerk! You're mocking me, aren't you?! Wait, I'll go catch another one right now to show you!"

…

The monotonous sea voyage passed with training in two types of Haki and Aqua's constant bickering.

Strangely, after Zyhark exchanged bounties at the Marine branch, pirates coming for meals significantly decreased.

The only pirate crew that did show up paid their bill very orderly, lacking any pirate's resolve or pride.

This left Zyhark slightly disappointed.

However, with over twenty million in assets satisfying the Wish Pond's condition and daily needs, he didn't mind much.

Two days later, the vast ocean finally revealed the silhouette of an island.

The area where the Buggy Pirates were active, the Organ Islands, had arrived!

(End of Chapter)