Goodbye Ace

Chapter 155: Goodbye Ace

"Stop! Catch the one who's eating the all-you-can-eat!"

The restaurant owner, holding a cleaver, led a group of waitstaff in pursuit of Ace.

"If Rodney finds out, he'll definitely cause trouble for me!"

"Roar!" 

A gray wolf leaped and bounded on the roof, then pounced toward him.

"Whoa!" 

Ace dodged the wolf's attack. The wolf's eyes emitted a green glow as it spoke in human language, "Eating for free in Avalon under Lord Rodney's rule? You've got some nerve! Avalon Prison welcomes you!"

"Fruit user?" 

Ace raised an eyebrow. The one in front of him was one of the security officers who had consumed the Gray Wolf Zoan Fruit. Rodney had sent this guy to guard Avalon's security.

"Roar!"

At this moment, a colorful tiger rushed out, roaring, "Quite audacious! It's been a while since I've seen pirates like you. Wait, that emblem is... Whitebeard Pirates?!!!"

Whitebeard Pirates held vast territory in the New World, and their reputation was the greatest. Everyone recognized the iconic Whitebeard.

The Gray Wolf security officer was also somewhat intimidated, and the faces of those around him changed. The reputation of Emperor Whitebeard was well known, and if they angered him, would Rodney find it troublesome?

"I don't need the money... How about we forget about this matter?" 

The restaurant owner also felt apprehensive. After all, these were Whitebeard Pirates. While they were relatively kind to civilians, pirates were still pirates, and it was frightening.

"What's going on?" 

Rodney's voice came. Ace raised his head and greeted with a smile, "Hey, Rodney!"

Seeing the person he was looking for, Ace was in a good mood, but one sentence from Rodney wiped the smile off his face.

"Isn't this Ace? Your bounty still seems quite high."

Ace: ???? WTF!!!

He forgot that he was a pirate hunter!

I, a pirate, have ended up in a pirate hunter's territory...

"Long time no see," Ace said.

"What are you here for?" Rodney raised an eyebrow. 

"I don't welcome freeloaders in my territory, especially you. It's been a year, and you still like to dine and dash."

He jumped down and walked up to Ace, delivering a punch to Ace's head.

"Ouch! You've even learned Haki!" 

Ace had been with Whitebeard Pirates for so long, that he couldn't not know Haki. He had learned Haki now, or else he would have been hammered by him when he fought with Smoker back then.

"Pay the restaurant owner what you owe."

"I didn't bring any money. Do you think I'd have money with this appearance?" Ace's words revealed his freeloading tendencies.

Rodney: (;一_一) Forgot this guy's only good at eating for free.

"Then, can you lend me some? I'll definitely pay you back next time!"

"I need to discuss this with my wife, don't I?!"

"Aren't you still single? Wait, do you already have a wife?"

"So there's no discussion to be had!"

Ace thought for a moment, took out a priceless-looking gem from his bag, and gave it to the restaurant owner, saying, "I found this on the way. Consider it payment for your meal."

"No, no need. It's too valuable, and the meal isn't worth that much money." 

The restaurant owner waved his hands repeatedly. He dared not accept the money. These were Whitebeard Pirates after all. Although Rodney was here, he still felt nervous.

At this moment, Rodney spoke, "Accept it. I heard he damaged your restaurant; consider it compensation."

"Yes, thank you, Lord Rodney! Lord Ace!" The restaurant owner accepted the gem with joy and left with his people.

Rodney then instructed two Zoan Fruit security officers, "Alright, you two patrol elsewhere. No need to watch out for this guy."

"Understood."

The Gray Wolf and the Tiger transformed back into two burly men and left with their group. Ace was about to say something when Rodney said, "Go find my main body. This is just a clone."

After saying that, he disappeared with a bang.

"Another clone? This one seems different from the previous clone." 

Ace recalled the troubles he had faced with the Water Clone of Rodney.

"By the way, where does that guy live?" 

He scratched his head, trying to remember. 

"I think I have a map somewhere."

Finally, Ace found where Rodney lived, knocked on the door, and was startled when a skeleton appeared, poking its head out. Brook smiled and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

"A talking skeleton?"

"Yohohoho, I may be dead, but I can still talk. I don't have vocal cords, though."

"That's so cool!" 

In some ways, Ace's interests were similar to Luffy's.

"So, who are you looking for?" Brook asked. 

"Or are you the guest Mr. Rodney mentioned?"

"Ah? If there's no one else coming, then it should be me."

Brook nodded and removed the top hat from his explosive hair, saying, "Yohohoho, then let me show you the way. I have nothing else to do."

"That would be great."

Rodney and his group resided in a place that occupied just over a thousand square meters in Availerton. It might be small for many people, but for their group, it was just right. Too much space was unnecessary.

"Mr. Brook, who is this?" 

Connor, who had a very low presence, appeared from somewhere. With his hawk-like gaze, he looked at Ace, the newcomer to the Black Pearl, who was unfamiliar with the term "crew." However, he had decided to cooperate with them, at least until he defeated Rodney. Before that, they were partners.

"He's the guest Mr. Rodney mentioned," Brook replied with a smile.

Connor's eyes flickered, and he nodded, saying, "I see. He's in the backyard. I happen to be going there too."

"Then let's go together."

Ace felt a sense of unease that he couldn't quite pinpoint as he followed Brook and Connor to the backyard.

The so-called backyard was essentially a green area with a flower field and a small forest.

Rodney and a few others were enjoying afternoon tea. Even Isabella from Avalon's First Hospital had joined them, sipping tea brewed by Leicester. Of course, there was one more person—Ace.

The sunshine was not scorching, and there was a gentle breeze.

Robin, who was reading a book, looked up and said, "Oh my, Captain, is this the 'Fire Fist Ace' you mentioned?"

"That's right, Mr. Garp's grandson. I spent quite an effort to let him go back then." Rodney stood up. 

"So, Ace, how's the treatment in Whitebeard Pirates? How does it feel to give up your own dreams for others?"

"Rodney... I..." 

Ace knew that Rodney was angry because he had betrayed their promise.

"Shut up! You! You didn't even consider Mr. Garp's feelings, did you?" Rodney finished his cup of tea in one gulp and crushed the cup.

"I'm sorry... I... I'm sorry, Grandpa. But!" Ace's eyes showed determination. "I will make Whitebeard the Pirate King! Rodney! I'm sorry! I broke our promise!"

"Such promises are hard for strong people." Rodney said, "Ace, this is your future now. I won't change it anymore. Leave here. The next time we meet, I'll be hunting you down. I won't spare any pirate with a bounty, even if it's Whitebeard Pirates."