Chapter 41: Ace's Template
The scene returns to Reiner and his group. After Chopper discovered the abnormality with the cart, the group quietly followed it.
Reaching an alley, Reiner confirmed no one was around and summoned four undead falcons, sending them circling into the sky for surveillance.
After a series of twists and turns, Reiner and the others found themselves following the cart all the way to the edge of the city.
"What's going on? Aren't they the local underground forces of this city?"
Watching the cart leave the city and head towards the desert, Reiner rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then added, "We need to head back and rendezvous later. Maybe I should just send the undead to sneak up, capture them, and ask?"
"Wait, Reiner! Look over there!" Nami's voice was low but urgent as she pointed into the distance.
Another group of people, even larger in scale, emerged from the town and headed towards the same cart they had been tracking.
"Chopper, smell anything unusual?" Reiner asked, gently nudging the small reindeer legs dangling in front of him.
"No, just ordinary provisions," Chopper replied softly after sniffing the air.
"Then they're likely the Rebel Army, or people working for them."
If it were a local gang or underground organization rooted in the city, they certainly wouldn't need to transport an entire convoy of provisions.
Lingering there for a while, Reiner noticed convoys of various sizes continuously emerging from the city, all heading in the same direction.
With Chopper's olfactory investigation, most were confirmed to be carrying arms and provisions, with even a very small amount of medical supplies – something Chopper was extremely familiar with.
"Looks like someone spotted us. Rebel Army or Baroque Works?"
An eagle summon swooped down, landing on Reiner's arm, its beak pointing towards an alley to their right.
"Nami, remember this location. Let's buy a map and head back to meet up."
"Ah, okay."
The crouching group stood up and promptly turned to leave before whoever was coming could arrive.
Rainbase. Within the casino's secret underground meeting room, an oval long table stood in the center of the spacious chamber. The azure stone tabletop was carved with simple yet meticulous patterns. Twelve chairs of similar design surrounded the table.
Currently, six people were seated on either side, all eyes focused on the leader at the head of the table.
"Crocodile! To think it was actually you."
"I never expected our boss, whom we've never met, would be one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"Wait a minute, Croco-boy! Doesn't that mean Honey is now working under a pirate!?"
This was the first time any of them had seen the mastermind behind Baroque Works, and they were all shocked by his identity.
"Originally, I had other arrangements for you, but the situation has changed."
Crocodile's deep voice resonated as he tossed several bounty posters and pictures onto the long table.
"This group are members of the Straw Hat Pirates. Based on their speed, they should have arrived in Alabasta by now."
Crocodile rested his golden hook on the armrest of his chair, leaned back, and continued:
"Now, aside from Mr. 2 who will proceed according to the original plan, the mission for everyone else has changed: eliminate them and Princess Vivi."
Crocodile took the cigar from his mouth, slowly exhaled a smoke ring, his face hardening into a cold smirk.
"After the Rebel Army receives these supplies, I will force them to launch a final offensive within the next two days. If these people interfere with my plan..."
"We understand, Boss," everyone on both sides of the table murmured, nodding slightly.
"Hehehehehe~ Then I wish you success..." With those words, Crocodile dissolved into swirling sand and departed.
"Well then, I'll be off too," a crisp laugh echoed as a woman with a sexy figure, dressed in white leather clothes and a cowboy hat, stood up, smiled, and left the meeting room.
Only after she left did the remaining agents finally let out sighs of relief.
"The Warlord Crocodile... It's still hard to believe even thinking about it now."
"The Utopia Plan, huh? Sounds quite interesting."
"To think Honey became a pirate's subordinate! I never expected it!"
On a hidden stretch of coast near the port, aboard the Going Merry...
Zoro, Sanji, and Vivi had already returned to the ship, having bought some supplies needed for crossing the desert.
"Hey everyone! I'm back!"
Luffy's voice echoed from the distance. He bounded forward excitedly in his straw sandals. "You gotta see who I ran into!"
Hearing this, the crew members on board shifted their gazes behind Luffy. A man wearing an orange hat, shirtless with black shorts, followed calmly behind Luffy with a leisurely stride.
"Heehee, Reiner and the others aren't back yet?"
Luffy leaped onto the Going Merry, looking left and right, then sighed disappointedly.
"Aw, too bad! I can't introduce Ace to them."
"How unfortunate?"
A clear voice sounded as Reiner's group strolled up from the other side. Chopper sat perched on Reiner's shoulder, waving his little hooves and shouting,
"Luffy! We're back!"
After regrouping on the Merry, Reiner finally got a good look at Ace (lit: pockmark - likely a typo or derogatory internal nickname).
"Hahaha! Great! Ace, look!"
Luffy excitedly pointed at Reiner. "That's Reiner! He set sail with me from Foosha Village!"
"Is that so? Didn't expect to meet someone from home after being out at sea for three years."
Looking at Reiner in his blue shirt, Ace, who had been squatting on the railing, smiled, jumped down onto the deck, bowed respectfully to everyone, and said softly:
"Hello everyone. My name is Portgas D. Ace. I'm Luffy's older brother. It's nice to meet you all, please take care of me."
Everyone except Reiner was clearly stunned.
"Luffy, you have a brother!!?"
"Heeheehee! We're not related by blood."
Luffy grinned, the joy of meeting someone from his past evident on his face. "We're brothers who grew up together. Ace set sail three years before me..."
"Oh, I see..." Everyone understood now. No wonder the two brothers looked nothing alike – one was refined and courteous, the other... well, simple-minded.
Luffy then proudly introduced everyone on the crew to Ace one by one. It was clear Luffy was in high spirits.
"Looks like you've found yourself a group of reliable nakama."
Ace looked dotingly at Luffy, then turned to the others. "My idiot brother doesn't have the best manners. I'm sure he's caused you all quite a bit of trouble."
At this, Ace bowed again. "But I ask that you please continue to look after him in the future."
"No need to be so formal. This idiot is our captain, after all," Zoro chuckled, arms crossed.
"Luffy's brother is so polite!"
"Hard to believe he's related to that idiot."
Ace's demeanor couldn't help but impress the crew.
"Alright Luffy, take this." As he spoke, Ace produced a piece of paper from his hand, holding it between two fingers and flicking it forward.
"What's this?"
"It can point you to my location."
Ace reached up, touching the hat on his head, and instructed seriously, "Keep it safe. In the future, you can use it to find me."
"Okay~ Got it!" Luffy grinned, carefully folding the paper and clutching it tightly in his hand, afraid of losing it.
"Well then, I'm off, Luffy."
Ace turned, leaving Luffy with a view of his back and side profile, a faint smile playing on his lips as he said coolly:
"The next time we meet... will be at the summit of this sea."
"Yeah! I know!"
Who knew then how quickly that statement would come true...
Luffy replied firmly. Ace then jumped off the ship and strode away.
The summit of this sea, huh... Reiner couldn't help but think. He lit the cigarette in his mouth, tilted his head back, and stared up at the blue sky, lost in thought.
Wonder if I can get Whitebeard's template...
Reiner didn't mention anything about Blackbeard. Even Luffy wouldn't interfere in Ace's adventure, let alone Reiner, who barely knew Ace.
As for the Summit War... if Luffy went, he would go too. As long as that plan succeeded by then, charging into Marineford wouldn't be impossible.
Thinking this, Reiner felt filled with drive. Tsk tsk, happy again.
Eh? Wait a second, feels like I forgot something.
Holy crap!
"Wait up, Ace! Let me touch you for a sec!"
Reiner hastily chased after him, quickly asked Ace to let him swipe a template, then returned to the ship.
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