Chapter 40. It's time for Mango

Ace wasn't aware, but Hancock's personality wasn't arrogant just as a pretence, her arrogance was real, to the point of it almost being tangible.

If she was pushed just enough, she would've revolted against the Marines even before she met Ace. And now that she had become a force to reckon with? Someone equal to an admiral?

She also had two sisters who could fight an admiral together.

In addition to that, she had an army of women who knew armament hai. She was a force to be reckoned with.

Yet, she also knew that although she was willing to stop being a warlord, she couldn't start a war with the marines.

On paper, they only have three admirals, but everyone who is considered as one of the elites of the sea, knows that the marines are scarier than that.

They only have three admirals, not because they are lacking in strong marines, but because it isn't good to allow many people to have the authority of an admiral.

They have countless of vice admirals, and among them there are more than a few that could take on the mantle of an admiral.

And Admirals have to power to command any marine that is ranked under them. They can move the whole marine force with a command. The only rank above them is Fleet admiral. That's why the marines don't have more than three admirals at any given time.

And Hancock knew this. She was willing to lose her title as a warlord but she wouldn't start a war.

Ace looked at his crew with pride.

The vice captain, Hammerfist Jojo Pojo stood beside him with a big grin, he could finally sail the sea again!

"Captain! I still disagree with this! I should be the vice captain and the face of this crew! Look at him, then look at me! If people know that you chose his face over mine, wouldn't they think that your brain is fried?" Cavendish complained.

"Hmm you might be right, how about this, if you beat him, you can take his spot?" Ace said.

"Ah, never mind, now that I look at his brutish face, it kinda looks cute if you squint hard enough!" Cavendish said as he turned around and pet his horse.

"Hmph, kid, I'll take on a challenge from you anyday, anytime!" JoJo barks back.

"Wow, you're so shiny and nice today!" Cavendish said to his horse as he fed him a carrot.

They all walked to the shore, lots of Kuja warriors ran up to them and said goodbye. It seemed like his Nakama had become close friends with them during the last year.

There was one young, petite lady that was very short, she seemed like the timid, meek type of girl that would get scared by the smallest of sudden movement.

Her cheeks were pink and she has short hair. Overall, she was the petite, tiny cutiepie type. She said goodbye to everyone but her eyes flicked to Urouge every now and then as she blushed.

Ace noticed this and felt suspicious so he looked at Urouge and noticed that every time the short little lady looked at him, he seemed to blush as well while his eyes averted her gaze.

Looking at Urouge, the tall muscular man comparable to JoJo, then at the small, petite women that only reached Ace's stomach in height, Ace came to understand that this was a Shaq type of situation, so he kept silent about it.

"Ah, when will spring come for me!" Ace said jokingly.

"I'm right behind you." A voice said, surprising Ace.

"Ah Hancock, what'cha up to? Come to say goodbye?" He asked.

"Mm." Hancock seemed slightly disappointed by his words, as if she was waiting for another response.

'Maybe he doesn't want to... Kiss... Infront of the others?' Hancock tried to use her brainpower.

"Here" Hancock said as she handed him her vivrecard.

Ace took it and looked at her, he could see a small hint a blush on her face.

"Thanks, see'ya." Ace said with a smile as he jumped onboard of his ship. The others joined him while saying their goodbyes.

Urouge seemed to be hesitant about something. Suddenly he gathered his courage as he shouted something hilariously awkward.

"LOLLY WAIT FOR ME! I'LL CONQUER THE SEA AND THEN COME BACK TO MARRY YOU!!!" Urouge shouted at the short little cutie pie.

"UROUGE-KUN, I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU FOREVER!" Her small voice shouted back as a few tears fell.

"So my sister-in-law's name is Lolly?" Ace asked Urouge.

The big fool blushed.

"And my sister-in-law's name is Hancock?" Urouge retorded back awkwardly.

"Huh, who did Hancock marry?" Ace pretended to not understand.

As for Hancock and Lolly, they just stood there silently while their tears silently fell as they watched the Black Pearl sail away.

"Empress, I don't think I can wait that long for my prince charming." Lolly said in her loli voice.

"..." Hancock silently agreed.

"Captain... Are you sure about this destination... That guy isn't an easy opponent." Jojo said as he stood with Ace.

"I don't mind it, plus, I did kinda promise Law."

"Hmm, there were rumours going around back then that he was in cahoots with Kaido, and if they are true, we might be clashing with them because of this." The vice captain of Demon Ace pirates spoke to the captain, Flame Emperor Ace.

Ace didn't answer but he gave a big grin that made Jojo realise that not only was Ace aware of this piece of information, but it was also precisely what he was aiming for.

"Captain, I like the way you think CHAHAHHA!" Jojo Pojo laughed.

"What? I didn't say anything! Don't accuse me of wanting to clash with big ol' scary dragon Kaido!" Ace said nonchalantly as he started walking back to his chambers for a good night's sleep.

"Of course not captain, I wouldn't dare to blame you for such scary thoughts CHAHAHAH!"

"Hey what do you think they were talking about?" Apoo asked the whitebear-mink, Bepo.

He didn't know why but he got the shivers when he saw the captain and vice captain talking alone on the other side of the ship.

He got the feeling that something horrible was about to unfold.

"I don't know... Maybe it's my fault?" Bepo said as he became very depressed, thinking that the captain and vice captain were disappointed in him.

"No, I get the feeling that this is something else... Something bigger..." Apoo wispered. He didn't know why, but right know, he felt like jumping into the sea and swimming far away, sadly, he would drown if he did that.

"Maybe you're wrong?" Bepo asked back.

"No, I actually have the same feeling." Suddenly Nami appeared behind them mysteriously and spoke her mind.

She did startle Apoo and Bepo, as they turned around they saw Yennow, Gaga and Ronaldino nodding in agreement.

"You guys, you finally understand me!" Apoo started to get teary-eyed.

"Don't get your hopes up, it's just that whenever our captain thinks hard about something, something always goes wrong!" Ronaldino sighed.

They all nodded.