Chapter 164: A Familiar Face #164
As he flew away from the scene atop his fire cloud, Cedric's keen eyes caught sight of a contingency of Marine soldiers marching through the desert. They were following behind a familiar face – Vice Admiral Sicily, an officer Cedric had encountered before and his gateway to joining the Marines. Smirking mischievously, he decided to have some fun. With a swift leap off his fire cloud, he landed gracefully in front of the bewildered soldiers.
Their hands instinctively reached for their weapons, but Vice Admiral Sicily raised his hand, commanding them to stand down. "You're no match for this young man. Stand down," he advised his expression a mix of amusement and respect.
Cedric's grin widened at the acknowledgment, and he bowed his head politely. "It's been a while, Vice Admiral Sicily, sir," he greeted with genuine warmth.
Sicily let out a nostalgic sigh, acknowledging the passage of time. "It has indeed... you've come a long way from the drifter I met in the South Blue," he remarked, his eyes appraising Cedric's transformation. He shook his head, a hint of concern crossing his features. "Looking at you now... maybe it would have been better for you to stay that way."
Cedric's smile turned wistful, understanding the sentiment. "I would have preferred it that way as well, but you know what they say," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "The winds rarely blow as the sailors would wish..."
Sicily chuckled, appreciating the philosophical response. However, curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't resist asking, "That they don't... but I have to ask. Why did you do this? Why target Crocodile?"
Cedric had his reasons for targeting Crocodile, but he knew better than to reveal them, even to someone as trustworthy as Vice Admiral Sicily. He understood that divulging certain information could jeopardize the standing of Alabasta's royal family. So instead, he chose his words carefully, raising an eyebrow at Sicily's question before replying, "To stick it to the World Government... I'm going to make them eat shit, and this is just the start."
Sicily's expression turned resigned as if he had anticipated Cedric's response. "So you still hold a grudge after all," he remarked with a sigh, knowing the fiery determination that burned within the young man.
Cedric chuckled softly, acknowledging the truth of Sicily's observation. "Well, but of course," he admitted with a hint of mischief. "Not against you, though. And not against the Marines." He pointed upward with his index finger, emphasizing his point. "Just the shit eaters at the top."
Sicily couldn't help but crack a smile at Cedric's candid reply. Despite his unorthodox attitude, there was a certain charm to the young man's fiery spirit. He knew Cedric was not one to be swayed by politics or to adhere to rigid command chains. He followed his own code of justice, even if it meant taking on the powerful forces of the world.
"You certainly know how to be a pain in the ass... I'll give you that much..." Sicily admitted, admiration evident in his voice. "I only pity Fleet Admiral Sengoku... god knows he's got enough paperwork and headaches already...."
Cedric's laughter echoed in the desert air as he and Sicily shared a moment of camaraderie. "I could definitely see the Fleet Admiral drowned in a mountain of paperwork," he remarked with amusement, imagining the overwhelming administrative duties that came with the prestigious position. His grin widened mischievously as he added, "He should have known what to expect when he accepted such a pain in the ass, thankless job."
Sicily chuckled in agreement, nodding his head. The two shared a knowing smile, the bond between them forged through their unique perspectives on the world.
"Well," Cedric said with a sigh, his expression turning slightly somber, "as much as I'd like to share a drink with you and catch up, it wouldn't do for you to be seen with a wanted pirate for too long." He understood the implications of their encounter and the risks that came with being seen by someone with a bounty on their head.
With a swift movement, Cedric materialized a fire cloud beneath his feet and rose into the air, ready to continue his journey. "Take care, sir," he bid farewell to Sicily with respect, his voice carrying a sense of sincerity.
Sicily watched as Cedric ascended into the sky, the fire cloud leaving a trail of flames in its wake. The vice admiral remained silent, contemplating the encounter with the young pirate and the resolve that burned within him. He knew that Cedric was on a path of his own, guided by his unique sense of justice and determination.
As the last traces of Cedric's fiery departure vanished into the horizon, Sicily's expression turned resolute. He turned to his subordinates and issued firm orders, "Move it. We have a job to do!" The Marines quickly snapped into action, their duty calling them to handle the aftermath of the battle between Cedric and Crocodile.
With Cedric's parting words echoing in his mind, Sicily knew that he had just witnessed a significant moment in the grand scheme of things. The world was changing, and the emergence of new forces like Cedric would undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on history.
As Sicily led his men forward, he couldn't help but wonder what the future held for the fiery young pirate. Only time would tell, but for now, Cedric's journey continued, fueled by his determination and unwavering spirit.
...
East Blue, the island of Sixis, basked in the soft glow of the setting sun. Ace, exhausted from a day of fruitless searching for food, returned to the makeshift home of his newfound companion, the young man he now called Masked Deuce. As the evening settled in, they found themselves engrossed in conversation, seeking to understand each other's pasts.
Ace couldn't help but be curious about Deuce's decision to leave his home island and abandon his birth name. With genuine interest, he asked, "I understand why you decided to leave your home island... but why did you abandon your birth name—the one your family gave you?"
Masked Deuce let out a soft chuckle, the light from the nearby fire dancing in his eyes. "I was a medical student back home," he began, a tinge of self-deprecation in his tone, "a horrible one according to my grades." He continued, "My parents were famous doctors, so they weren't particularly pleased with my lack of talent."
A sigh escaped Deuce's lips as he added, "They weren't bad parents... they were simply indifferent, and I didn't feel particularly attached to them either." He paused for a moment, reflecting on his past.
"Still," Ace inquired, still puzzled, "is that enough reason to abandon the name they gave you?"
Deuce's grin widened, and he shook his head. "It's not that I hated the name they gave me," he explained. "It was too boring for the kind of life I wanted to lead." With a glint of excitement in his eyes, Deuce confessed, "I grew up reading books about adventurers, and they all had cool names... I figured I'd have a cool name too if I were to go on an adventure of my own."
Lounging comfortably on the hammock, Deuce turned his gaze skyward. "Never got around to choosing one, though," he admitted, his voice filled with a sense of longing and possibility.
Ace, always one to seize an opportunity, couldn't resist offering a suggestion. "Then what about the one I gave you? Masked Deuce?" he proposed, a hint of pride in his voice.
Deuce burst into laughter, genuinely amused by the name. "It definitely has a ring to it," he remarked, his grin still visible in the dim light. "I think I like it."
"What about you? What was your family like?" Deuce asked, feeling intrigued. He was eager to know what sort of upbringing would produce such an overly cheerful kid like Ace.
Ace sighed, clearly not eager to speak about his family. Still, He could see the curiosity in Deuce's eyes, and with a hint of reluctance, he began, "Well, what about me? My family was complicated."
Deuce's interest was piqued, and he urged Ace to continue. "As a toddler, I was picked up by a troublesome geezer," Ace revealed, his tone holding a mix of amusement and exasperation. "He was a marine soldier, so he left me with one of his old friends in the mountains."
His expression softened as he delved into his memories. "An old hag who used to be a bandit," he said, recalling Dadan, who had taken him in and "cared" for him during his early years.
Deuce raised an eyebrow at the unexpected combination. "A bandit and a marine soldier as friends... how unusual," he remarked, clearly intrigued by the contrasting backgrounds.
Ace chuckled, fully aware of the eccentricity of his family's connections. "There's nothing usual about my family," he admitted, shaking his head.
Gathering his thoughts, Ace continued his tale, "Anyway... I lived on my own for the most part, then two troublesome kids started following me around... they were my sworn brothers." His eyes sparkled with nostalgia as he reminisced about the days he spent with Luffy and Sabo, the bonds they formed, and the adventures they embarked on together.
"They were annoying as hell," Ace teased, a fond smile playing on his lips. "But they were also my family, my brothers," he said, his voice filled with affection.
"That sounds like a good family to have... I almost envy you..." Deuce said, letting out a soft smile of his own, infected by Ace's cheerful nature. "But what about your real parents? Any idea who they were?"
...
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