[Prologue]
Whitebeard is smiling in a captain room and reads a newspaper that reports Ace's rejection about World government's offer to join Shichibukai.
Thatch enters the room. Whitebeard praises that sea snake soup was delicious today.
("Sea Mamushi/海マムシ soup" in raw. Mamushi drink is usually used in Japan to improve sexual desire, so...
)
Thatch tells him to take a medicine since otherwise Thatch would be scolded by a doctor. 4th division where Thatch belongs is responsible for a kitchen in WB pirates.
Thatch is a cook. He tells Whitebeard that Jinbe is going to leave the ship.
Whitebeard goes out of his room and finds Jinbe, who is about to dive into the sea.
Whitebeard complains to him that he leaves the ship and goes to Marineford without saying any words.
Whitebeard hands over the newspaper about Ace to Thatch and asks Jinbe if he knows Ace.
Jinbe already knows his name and DF ability since so many bounty posters about Ace are spreading .
Thatch says to Jinbe that Whitebeard needs to refrain from eating salty foods for his health.
Thatch asks Jinbe to let them know if Jinbe gets to know more info about Ace. Thatch and Jinbe talk politely.
Thatch calls Jinbe "Boss Jinbe" (Jinbe-Oyabun) and Jinbe calls him "Thatch-san" like he calls Ace "Ace-san".
[Chapter 1]
Spade Pirates are in Fishman Island. Many of the crewmates visit Mermaid Cafe as soon as they arrive at the island.
Deuce is worried that Ace might visit there as well, but Skull says he doesn't know Ace's whereabouts.
Actually Ace is sleeping with eating in a cheap restaurant in Gyoverly Hills. Customers are staring at this weird man.
When he wakes up, Ace wipes his face with a apron of a female staff (eel fishman).
A tough-looking guy with a long hair talks to Ace. He tells Ace that Princess Shirahoshi has no choice but to hide in a Palace due to Vander Decken IX.
Ace tells him that rebellions might occur under such a weak King who can't even protect his Princess enough. The long haired guy warns Ace not to say that again.
Ace apologizes that he doesn't care about a country he passes by since he is a pirate. The guy tells Ace that rebellions will never occur thanks to 2 guys; Whitebeard and Jinbe.
Ace seems interested and stares at the long haired guy. "Whitebeard..."
The guy feels he shouldn't underestimate Ace despite his young age. Ace drinks up his liquor instantly as if he wants to declare that he will drink up Whitebeard as well.
The guy asks Ace about his name. Ace replies, "I'm Portgas D Ace. Even in this deep sea, everyone will hear my reputation in the future."
The guy is surprised since he has already heard about his name via newspaper. The guy turns out to be Aladine.
He is wondering if Ace is just a idiot or a big shot. The restaurant staff realizes that Ace left without paying money...
Ace comes back to his ship called "Piece of Spadille". He is jealous of other crewmates who are out to enjoy Mermaid Cafe.
According to Miharl, who was a teacher before and gives lessons to crewmates how to read newspapers,
other members didn't ask Ace to visit the cafe since they thought Ace would be pretty popular among mermaids.
Ace says that the weakest point of Spade Pirates is that they don't have a cook. A middle-aged female pirate named Bancy usually cooks for them,
but Ace says that even the bandits in Mount. Colbo ate more delicious food.
Deuce returns to their ship and shows new Ace's bounty poster. Ace is glad that his bounty is more than 100 million berry now.
On the other hand, Deuce is worried if they can survive in tough New World. He is surprised that Ace is staring at a pirate flag of Whitebeard.
Deuce tells Ace not to pick a fight against Whitebeard.
Ace says, "We'll be aiming to reach the "summit" of pirates. Anyone has been able to join Spade Pirates, but from now on,
those who don't have the courage to fight should just keep running after mermaid's ass!"
Ace burns Whitebeard's pirate flag with his DF. It looks like a fire flag. "This is the flag of Spade Pirates with my reputation!"
Crewmates come back to the ship. None of them have a fear even after seeing WB's flag burned by Ace.
They need to leave Fishman Island before many people notice this incident. Ace's ambition is burning like a fire. "Let's set sail to New World!"
Ace has to obtain a huge reputation that can change the era and go beyond Pirate King. Otherwise, his hatred toward his own father and the world would kill himself.
[Chapter 2]
Spade Pirates arrive in New World. Some of the crewmates complain that they want to eat delicious foods in Mermaid Cafe again.
Ace tells them that they should at least appreciate the fact that they can eat hot food on the sea thanks to Ace's fire. They want their own cook for a crewmate.
Deuce tries to stop Ace from going to meet Yonkou Shanks. According to unknown sources related to World Government,
Shanks is scary when he gets mad; Whitebeard is scary when someone does bad things against their honor and humanity; Big Mom is scary when she is in a bad mood;
Kaido is scary enough with his existence. If we consider WB and Big Mom as old generation, Kaido and Shanks belong to younger generation.
To let crewmates know about Shanks' personality, Ace mentions the incident between Shanks and a bandit (Higuma) in Windmill Village.
No one else in Spade Pirates has heard about it. Deuce is surprised that Shanks apologized to a bandit despite him smashing a bottle.
Deuce asks him if Ace has met Shanks before, but he denies. Ace wants to know what made Shanks become Yonkou.
It is more difficult to know the whereabouts of Shanks than any other Yonkous.
Ace appears in a cave in winter island where Red Hair Pirates are holding a dinner party. None of the executives are not surprised at his sudden visit.
Shanks asks Ace, "You want to greet me...?" The fire on wood fuel wavers. Actually it was Shanks' Conqueror Haki, but Ace is strong enough to withstand it.
Ace starts a pretty polite and old-fashioned greetings to Shanks. Ace introduces himself about where he was born and was brought up, but he forgot his bounty.
"Well.. Do you happen to know how much is my bounty..?"
Ace says Makino told him about this way of greeting. Red Hair Pirates are interested to hear the name of Makino and decide to receive a big bottle of sake from Ace.
Ace tells Shanks that his brother is Luffy. Red Hair Pirates shout, "You should have told us about it, first of all!!"Shanks pats Ace on the shoulder and a party starts!
Ace and Shanks talk about Luffy. When asked if Ace visited Logue Town, he replied that he is not interested in Pirate King unlike Luffy.
Ace says the he wants to make his reputation spread all over the world. At this moment, Shanks notices a dark fire lit in Ace's eyes.
He asks, "How do you improve your reputation if you are not interested in Pirate King?" Ace replies that he is aiming to defeat Yonkou.
He adds that he has no intention to defeat Shanks. Shanks asks, "Will you tell me among other Yonkous whom you want to defeat? Kaido? Big Mom? Or perhaps..."
Ace says, "Whitebeard."
All executives in Red Hair Pirates including Shanks are surprised. Ace feels his resolution is getting more solid as he talks with Shanks.
"My enemy is this whole world. I'll defeat Shichibukai, Yonkou and even Celestial Dragons."
Ace asks Shanks from whom he got his scar on the face. Ace is surprised that just a normal crewmate in Whitebeard Pirates hurt him.
Red Hair pirates are surprised as well since Shanks has rarely talked about that scar.
Shanks says, "I don't know what he is doing now. This scar has not been aching these days..." The party ends. Spade Pirates leave the island.
Shanks says, "Actually I had noticed Ace's Haki ever since he was off the coast of this island. He was like a fire itself, wasn't he?"
Beckman says, "Yeah, that's why the snow melted away. Now that he left, snowstorm is coming again."
Shanks asks clever Beckman about the evaluation for Ace. Beckman says, "Ace is more naive than his appearances.
He seems like a fighter rather than a pirate. He should have joined Revolutionary Army if he wants to destroy this world.
At this rate, he will not be able to become a captain of multiple ships."
Beckman doesn't consider Ace deserving a Shichibukai. He is wondering if there is some reason with World Government behind Ace's too high bounty
which is far more than 100 million berry.
Shanks says, "Ace said he was born in Baterilla, South Blue." He then repeats, "Baterilla..." Shanks smiles and recalls that Ace had known Roger's true name including D.
Beckman thinks the smile looks a bit different from what he usually has seen from Shanks.
