Chapter 9

—Alvida POV—

–Year 1522: March 2–

—Grandline: Alabasta – Nonohana—

"We've been ordered to gather at Spider's Cafe at 8 o'clock," Gem said as he looked at the Den Den Mushi, which had just disconnected. Mikita nodded, confirming the news.

"I see. We'll go there, kick your boss's ass, and then make him join our crew," I said as I looked at the white paper in my hand, a Vivre Card of Ace.

A number was written on it: "865-567." It was the number of Ace's personal Den Den Mushi.

"This is good news, isn't it, Captain?" Kuro asked me as we walked through the town. We had just parted ways with Ace after earning his trust.

"Of course. Now we have some power to hold onto in the New World. Having Whitebeard's favorable view is no joke," I said as I put the Vivre Card into my pocket.

It is indeed good for us; we got the bigger and fatter end of the stick in our transaction. Taking out a small handbook from the same pocket, I looked at it with a smile.

"Haki: Basic and Advanced." It was a book that I'd written after cashing in on the favor from Ace.

[Flashback.]

"So, Ace, what if I said that I want to cash in on that favor right now?" I asked Ace as we sat down at the table we took from downstairs.

"Fine with me. What do you want?" he asked me with a smile as he looked straight into my eyes.

"I want to know everything there is to know about Haki from Whitebeard," I said with a smile as his face took on a look of surprise.

"I see, you learned about Haki from someone. But you still don't know everything. Though from what I can tell, you have pretty strong Haki for a pirate from the East Blue." He looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze and took out a white Den Den Mushi.

"Very well, I can ask Pops to tell you what you want to know about Haki."

"Puru puru puru... kacha!" The Den Den Mushi gained a glorious mustache, and a rough, gruff voice came from it.

"Ace. Tell me, you fool, how many days has it been since you last called?" It was the voice of Whitebeard, no doubt.

"Pops, sorry about that. Also, I learned something about Teach," he said as he turned serious. The same could be said about the Den Den Mushi, as it also turned serious.

"Tell me. Everything."

Ace began to explain what I had told him and, after a while, he finished with the matter of my favor.

"Haki, huh? Oy, Alvida brat! You have my gratitude." The Den Den Mushi was addressing me now, and I wasn't sure how to respond.

"No need, I did it for the favor and nothing else." I didn't know how to address him yet. This was a man I had admired and respected even before I came into this world. From the anime, manga, and even fanfictions, Whitebeard was always a man who deserved respect.

"I'll tell you everything you need to know about Haki. Take notes if you want to." Ace looked at me with a smile and nodded as he saw me take out a small handbook that I kept on my person, along with a pen.

"I'm sure you have a basic understanding of Haki already," he said, and I nodded, humming in confirmation as I looked into the eyes of the den-den mushi.

"So I'll tell you about the advanced forms of Haki, along with some basic exercises to make it easier to use your Haki."

That's it! That's all I wanted. Advanced Haki? I didn't know what the hell that was, but did I need it? Yes, absolutely.

"First, I'll explain the advanced form of Observation Haki. Stay sharp and write it down. I'll never explain twice..." He began to elaborate on Haki, and I started to write it down in the book.

The more he talked, the more stupefied I became. Sneaking a glance at Ace, I saw he was equally flabbergasted. I began to grasp the extent to which the abilities of an Emperor of the Sea spanned, and I was terrified and excited at the same time.

By the time he finished explaining everything about Haki to me, I had decided that one day I would pummel these Emperors and take my rightful place as the strongest and most beautiful woman in the world.

Bzzt

A small buzz which radiated from me interrupted my thoughts. Conqueror's Haki? Is it mine? Looking at the shocked Ace, I realized that I had awakened my Conqueror's Haki in the heat of the moment.

"Oi, brat, I expect you to come see me in the New World." Whitebeard's voice cut through the silence in the room.

"Ah, will do," I said with a nod, then looked at the Den Den Mushi again with a cheeky smile. "I expect a welcome party to be thrown for me, though."

"Gurarararara! Don't disappoint me, brat." With that, the Den Den Mushi disconnected, leaving us in silence, which continued for a few minutes.

"So, what is your dream? Being the Pirate King?" Ace's voice snapped me out of my thoughts about how the future would go now that I had essentially changed it.

"Oh no, not the Pirate King. Even though I'm curious and want to see what the One Piece is, being the Pirate King is not my dream," I said with a small smile gracing my face, leaning back in the chair.

"Then? Tell me, tell me," he excitedly asked as he leaned in, his elbows on the table with his knuckles supporting his chin.

Is he trying to get information out of me by acting cute? Or is he really excited to hear my dream? Well, whatever; I'll tell him, all right.

"My dream is to be the most powerful and most beautiful woman in this world. I heard that Big Mom is the strongest woman and Boa Hancock is the most beautiful."

Yes, at this moment, my dream of seeing the One Piece for what it truly is became a secondary goal for me.

"Well, I've never seen Boa Hancock face to face, but I think you're a beautiful woman," he said with a cheeky smile, looking at me with his cute face.

This guy... he's too cute.

"I see, thank you, Ace." I said with a smile as I stood up and walked to the balcony, overlooking the town while he walked to my side.

"Take this with you." Hm? I looked to the side and saw him holding a piece of paper in his hands—a Vivre Card, huh? But why does he want me to have it?

"Based on your reaction, I assume you know what this is and that you want to know why I'm giving it to you..." he said, and I nodded, confirming his speculation.

"Why I'm giving this to you, huh? Well, you saved me and my family from certain death, after all," he said with a smile. He took my hand in his, placed the small piece of paper in my palm, and closed it with his hand.

"Thank you, truly," he said, standing on his toes and leaning in toward my face as I stood frozen like a statue. Unable to move a muscle, I thought, What? What is this guy doing?

Chuu

Leaning back, he smiled and walked away while I remained frozen, before finally snapping out of it.

He just kissed me. That jerk! How can he do that? Kissing a lady like that! It's embarrassing. Although I won't say no, this is too quick...

[Flashback End]

"At least ask me out on a date before kissing me, bastard," I whispered with a smile as I touched my lips, still feeling the lingering sensation of that kiss as I looked up at the sky.

"Alvida-sama? What's wrong?" Mikita looked at me and asked with concern.

"Nothing."

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Make sure to read the author's note, some reviews would be great to motivate me to write more you know.