Chapter 67: Good Advice is Hard to Follow, Attending the Banquet Alone.

"Hahaha, you've found a group of reliable companions, Luffy."

Ace, carrying his luggage, suddenly stopped as he walked slowly towards the port and asked without turning his head.

"So, what business do you have, sir?"

Rustle,

Sheets of white paper formed a human shape about ten meters behind Ace. Roman looked at the polite man in front of him but couldn't suppress his:

Disgust.

Because of him, Luffy had a near-death experience!

"I'm here to advise you."

Roman suppressed his chaotic thoughts and slowly spoke.

"Continuing to chase Blackbeard is not a wise choice."

Even if Blackbeard hadn't obtained the 'Dark-Dark Fruit', with his ability to scar Shanks' face, he was no easy opponent. And with the Dark-Dark Fruit, Blackbeard became even more formidable. Ace's fate if he continued the chase was already sealed.

"You will fail, and then—"

"Heh, the newcomers these days."

Ace turned around, and a chilling aura rose, instantly enveloping Roman.

"What gives you the courage to lecture me, newcomer?"

"I..."

Roman sighed after thinking for a moment. Should he say: I'm a transmigrator, understand?

What if Ace responded with an evil smile: What a coincidence, so am I.

"The Dark-Dark Fruit, after consumption, allows the body to transform into darkness, possessing the infinite gravity of a black hole, capable of absorbing everything that comes into contact with the darkness, compressing and crushing it with infinite force, and nullifying the abilities of ability users, but it must be done by hand."

Enduring the immense pressure, Roman's calm voice made Ace pause, and his aura instantly receded.

"At the same time, the Dark-Dark Fruit has its own flaws."

"Darkness can attract everything, including bullets, blades, attacks, flames, and lightning. So, after elementalization, the Dark-Dark Fruit user, due to the black hole nature of the fruit, will still attract attacks to their body, unlike other Logia users who can avoid attacks. Additionally, they are much more sensitive to pain than ordinary people."

"These are..."

Ace frowned. If the boy in front of him wasn't lying, then such valuable information...

"Don't get me wrong, personally, I don't like you."

Roman shook his head calmly.

"You, as a person, are usually polite, warm, and sincere, with intelligence and strength... but:"

Roman's tone changed.

"At critical moments, you mess up."

"Compared to Luffy, you're far inferior!"

—Silence.

"Hahahahaha~~!!"

Facing Roman's sarcastic words, the man opposite him laughed heartily.

"Thank you,"

"Thank you for thinking so highly of my brother, I'm very grateful."

!

"Hey! Ace, did you even understand what I meant?!"

Roman took a deep breath and finally realized that this guy's stubbornness and disregard for others were just like Luffy's.

"Let me be clear, you are no match for Blackbeard. If you keep chasing him, you're just sending yourself to…"

"And what about you?"

Faced with Ace's question, Roman was stunned and frowned.

"I don't understand what you mean—"

"Your whole body is like a torch in the night, filled with killing intent,"

Ace pointed at Roman.

"And there's a sense of determination in that killing intent. At first, I thought you were coming for me."

But now it seems that's not the case, otherwise, he wouldn't have told me all about Blackbeard's fruit abilities.

"So, are you planning to fight some strong enemy?"

"That's my business!"

Roman waved his hand firmly, forcing himself to continue, "Didn't you hear me? I said you are no match for Blackbeard…"

"So, are you going to give up?"

"Hey, don't answer my question with another question!"

Faced with the impatient Roman, Ace looked at him seriously.

"Obviously, you won't give up the upcoming battle. — Neither will I."

Alright, it's hard to persuade someone who is determined to die!

"Ace, do you really think Whitebeard can become the Pirate King?"

!

"You,"

"Whitebeard's health condition is no secret on the sea. Maybe he can live for another year, maybe he can only hold on for a month, or maybe even tomorrow he will—"

"Shut up!!"

— Solar Flare.

Roman's vision was instantly filled with huge flames!

Ace casually threw a punch, and a pillar of blazing sun fire, several meters long, gathered and pulled out a sky-covering firestorm, engulfing everything within a dozen meters around Roman!

Oh no,

Ace, who instinctively threw the punch, immediately realized that the other party was his brother's companion and had come specifically to tell him about Blackbeard's fruit abilities and weaknesses. Yet he…

Boom!!

The flames instantly engulfed Roman. Even though Ace immediately withdrew his follow-up power, the entire desert was still burned into a long, conical black mark! The ground, still steaming, even reflected rainbow colors under the sun, as the yellow sand was turned into glass-like crystals by his punch.

"Please don't…"

In the place where Roman was standing, a huge white tower shield stood! As the charred paper on the surface peeled off layer by layer, the unharmed Roman was revealed behind it.

"See, as soon as Whitebeard is mentioned, you lose your mind."

"Whew,"

Ace first let out a sigh of relief, then raised his eyebrows, resisting the urge to punch the other person again.

"You know Whitebeard is..."

"I know,"

Roman sighed, preparing to make one last effort.

"Whitebeard is a man who stands tall and proud. I apologize for what I said earlier. But I still have to say, if—"

"If I exchange someone's information with you, can you give up on chasing Blackbeard?"

"No—"

"That person's name is," Roman interrupted Ace's refusal, uttering a name that made Ace freeze.

"Sabo!"

—Dead silence.

Facing Ace, who was like a volcano being forcibly suppressed, Roman remained calm and even took a step forward.

"How about it?"

"If you agree, I will—"

"Hahahahahaha~!!!"

Seeing Ace laughing wildly, Roman stopped in his tracks, his face turning gloomy after a while.

"You think I'm lying to you..."

"No!"

Ace, having laughed enough, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and looked at Roman with a happy expression, because he had already deduced the 'truth' from Roman's expression and tone!

If it were news about Sabo's enemy, the other person would instinctively show disgust. If Sabo were in danger, the other person would show anxiety. Since Sabo is also Luffy's brother, and considering how much this boy named 'Roman' cares about Luffy, he wouldn't be indifferent to news about Sabo. —Just like how he openly dislikes Ace but still came to inform him about Blackbeard. So:

There is only one truth!

Sabo is alive and well.

"I know you're serious, and I know you're not lying, so—"

"Today is a great day!"

The man opposite pressed his hat and bowed seriously to Roman.

"You let me know that both of my brothers are safe, and I sincerely thank you."

?

What a sharp guy, or should I say advanced Observation Haki?

"Very well, then—"

"I'm going to continue chasing Blackbeard."

??!!

So I wasted half a day talking, spoiling, and provoking, and you just let it go in one ear and out the other?!

So frustrating! If our strengths were swapped, I'd make you kneel and call me dad...

Uh, just a figure of speech, Ace's Pops died so tragically.

"Forget it,"

Having nothing more to say, Roman turned and walked away. He took one last deep look at the man named Ace.

"You'll regret it."

---

"Alright, I've repaid the favor of him helping me overcome my shortcomings."

Roman spread his palm, and sheets of white paper flew out of thin air. Although they looked exactly like the previous paper, these were all life paper!

"Fireproof, waterproof, and with the steel hardness I gave them."

Roman clenched his fist tightly. This was the strongest he had ever been since his transmigration! With just a simple move of 'Paper Dance - Maple Leaf Fall' combined with 'Elementalization', he was confident he could face the entire Straw Hat crew alone! So:

"If I can't defeat Crocodile, then you guys are just going to your deaths."

"If you insist on challenging Crocodile, then fine—"

I'll take the lead!

Rustle,

Sheets of paper flew all over the sky, slowly forming a streamlined fuselage, main wings, horizontal stabilizers, vertical stabilizers...

"Paper Dance - J-20 - Mighty Dragon!"

This was the first time Roman had constructed such a large and complex creation. Even with his inhuman physique, he started gasping for breath after making it in one go.

In the desert in front of him stood a streamlined fighter jet. The canard layout with upturned canard wings and sharp leading-edge extensions made Roman nod in satisfaction, but:

"It's just for show."

Indeed, it was just for show. No matter how it looked, it was essentially a 'paper airplane'. But it didn't matter:

"Fly, Mighty Dragon!"

As Roman jumped into the cockpit, the jet's exhaust nozzle spat out two crimson flames!—This was Roman using ordinary paper as 'fuel' to provide kinetic energy, with life paper forming the heat-resistant shell. Then:

Whoosh—!

The paper fighter jet was propelled forward by the flames, slowly accelerating, then its light body lifted off the ground, finally soaring into the sky.

In the cockpit, Roman spread out the map he had bought. Although the scale was an exaggerated 1:5,000,000 and only marked with a bunch of abstract city names, it didn't matter. Because:

"At this time, there are only two places with abundant water sources, oases, and population."

Alubarna,

The capital of the Alabasta Kingdom, where the royal family resides. And:

Rainbase,

The dream city of Alabasta, Crocodile's stronghold! So:

Direction: Rainbase.

Target: Crocodile's head!

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

The pure white plane streaked across the sky, making the people in the desert look up at the strange 'big bird' flying overhead.

"Nami, what's wrong?"

"Nothing,"

Nami smiled, but her smile was too forced for Vivi to bear.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have dragged you all into this..."

In her mind, Roman had been repeatedly emphasizing how powerful and formidable 'Sand Crocodile' Crocodile was along the way. He had already planned to escape...

"Vivi,"

Zoro, holding the hilt of his sword, looked seriously into the distance.

"Roman is not someone who would back down in the face of a strong enemy!"

"I'm sorry..."

Vivi kept bowing her head and apologizing. Because of her, the entire Straw Hat crew was enveloped in a heavy atmosphere, and the people she considered 'companions' were parting ways. This made the strong princess feel heart-wrenchingly sad.

"Ahhh, it's so hot!"

Luffy, with his mouth wide open, turned around and waved at them.

"Hurry up,"

"I'm going to beat that sand crocodile!"

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