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94.11% One Piece: Dark Justice Spandam / Chapter 80: Ace's Return and the Songstress's Letter

Chapitre 80: Ace's Return and the Songstress's Letter

In the seas of the New World, aboard the Moby Dick, renowned as Emperor Whitebeard's ship, Ace, who had set out to pursue Blackbeard, returned. Welcomed by many crew members, Ace walked towards Newgate with a somewhat unsettled expression.

"...Old man, I was—ugh!?"

Ace was about to say something, but before he could, Newgate's fist struck down upon Ace's head faster than his words. The immense impact caused Ace to clutch his head and crouch down.

Ace was well aware of the reason for the punch. Ignoring Newgate and the other crew members' attempts to stop him, Ace had forcefully pursued Teach. And the outcome had been a disaster, to say the least—Teach's death by someone's hands. Needless to say, it was the result that Newgate and the others had feared.

Acknowledging his own recklessness, Ace was about to apologize to Newgate, enduring the pain, but before he could, he was enveloped by a massive embrace.

"...You had me worried, you idiot son."

"Old man... I'm sorry. Even though you all tried to stop me, I..."

"Don't worry about it. As long as you're back safe and sound, that's all that matters."

"...!?"

Upon hearing Whitebeard's words filled with profound relief, tears welled up in Ace's eyes. Born as Roger's son, he had struggled with his existence, wondering if he was even wanted...

That's why the words of Newgate, who cared for nothing else but "Ace's safe return," and the warm gazes of his companions brought him such indescribable happiness. Ace held back his voice and shed tears for a moment.

After a while, having composed himself, Ace explained the sequence of events to Newgate. He recounted his pursuit and battle with Teach on Banaro Island, his defeat, and the fact that when he woke up, Teach was already dead.

"...Do you know how long you were unconscious?"

"No, not exactly... But judging from the position of the sun, it shouldn't have been that long."

"So, the one who killed Teach not only took care of him after your fight but also swiftly killed Teach, who possessed the strength to defeat you, and his crew without leaving a trace..."

Newgate had been cautious of Teach's strength to the extent that he had instinctively tried to stop Ace from pursuing him. Indeed, Teach had gained enough strength to challenge even Ace, the 2nd division commander.

To effortlessly eliminate him and his crew without a trace was impossible for an average power. For a moment, the thought of Spandam, mentioned in a recent conversation with Shanks, crossed Newgate's mind. However, he quickly dismissed the idea.

Firstly, there was no apparent reason for someone to target Teach, who wasn't particularly famous at this point. Even if someone did target him, there was no reason for them to spare Ace if they had the power to defeat Teach. This reasoning led Newgate to conclude that Spandam's involvement was unlikely.

Ultimately, there were no answers to be found by pondering further. Newgate settled on a conclusion: to remain vigilant but not overly concerned about the situation.

***

During the festivity held to celebrate Ace's return, he moved away from the bustling deck and found himself alone at the back of the ship, gazing at the accessory in his hand—the memento left by Teach—with a complex expression.

"...Being the center of attention, and yet here I am, doing this."

"...Marco... Well, I've been thinking about various things."

"About Teach?"

"Yeah, he broke the iron rule. I can't forgive him for killing Thatch, and I was planning on killing him myself. It's not like I managed to kill him, but at least there's closure in some form, I guess."

After murmuring this far, Ace tightened his grip on the accessory in his hand and, as if squeezing out the words, continued.

"But... that doesn't mean I can say I'm relieved that Teach is dead."

"He was your subordinate in the Second Division. You had a lot to talk about, and it's not easy to simply come to terms with it."

"He was an old-timer, and he taught me a lot of things, and there were times he helped me out... He used to say that without luck, he would have given up... It might be pointless to think about it, but I can't help it. If the Yami Yami no Mi hadn't been found... I mean, what if..."

"Yeah... It's true that Teach broke the iron rule and killed Thatch. But it's also true that he was your comrade for quite a while."

"I didn't even dislike his annoying laughter."

Ace nodded in response to Marco's quietly spoken words. He couldn't forgive him... yet, he couldn't fully despise him either.

While there was hatred, Ace didn't want to further degrade the deceased. He closed his eyes for a moment, as if praying, with the thought that they should rest in peace.

"Well, enough of this somber talk. Let's talk about something brighter."

"Brighter talk?"

"Yeah, for example... How about your little brother's achievements?"

"Is that... Luffy!? Did his bounty go up!? 300 million Berries... Haha, he's really becoming quite the pirate...!"

As Ace looked at the wanted poster handed to him by Marco, he smiled when he saw Luffy's face depicted there.

"However, a 200 million increase all at once... What the heck did he do?"

"He seems to have clashed with a large-scale pirate coalition. They managed to obliterate it and even slipped past a Navy fleet that appeared in the middle of it all. It's become a bit of a news story."

"Heh, doing it in such a flashy way... As expected of my little brother."

Actually, there was something Marco hadn't informed Ace about intentionally. The significant increase in Luffy and his crew's bounties was also due to another factor: their battle against the pirate coalition and their successful escape from a Navy fleet by utilizing an unexpected storm.

This series of events reminded some who were familiar with the past of a battle from long ago—the legendary "Battle of Edd War" between the Roger Pirates and the Golden Lion Pirates.

Partially due to this, among the few old pirates who remembered that era, rumors of Luffy being the "second coming of Roger" had started to circulate... However, knowing Ace's strong aversion towards his own father, this was not the kind of information Marco would share.

"Your little brother is getting closer to the New World."

"Yeah, that's right... It's definitely getting close... But it's too soon. The current Luffy... isn't ready yet..."

"Hmm? Is something wrong?"

"Nah, it's nothing... Anyway, let's head back to the deck! I'm getting hungry!"

After flashing a bright smile in response to Marco's question, Ace moved towards the lively deck.

***

At Uta and Gordon's house in Elegia, I sipped on the tea they had served while recounting recent events. I had visited them to deliver the newly issued bounty posters of Luffy and his crew to Uta and also to check on their well-being.

"What!? Spandam-san, you met Luffy!?"

"Yeah, I ran into him by chance and had a brief chat."

As I explained about the barbecue and conversation I had with Luffy, Uta's expression became one of surprise. After a moment of fidgeting with her hair and averting her gaze slightly, she finally spoke.

"B-By the way, did Luffy say anything about me or... you know..."

"He claimed to be on a 183-win streak."

"Oh, there it is. Luffy's sore loser attitude."

Uta's character was considerably brighter compared to FILM RED, perhaps due to the difference in circumstances, and her actions indicated that she was more conscious of her childhood friend of the opposite sex.

This was evidence of Uta's mental composure compared to FILM RED, and it was a pleasing realization for me since I owed her a debt of gratitude regarding Totland.

"Also, unlike when I mentioned Shanks and Garp's names, when I mentioned your name, he seemed like he wanted to meet you."

"Huh? Luffy... re-really? I mean, Luffy might seem that way, he's kind of lonely at heart... hehe, I see..."

"Keep in mind, this is just my impression from what I saw. It's not like Luffy directly said anything."

"But, Mr. Spandam is amazing, and I'm sure you're right... hehe..."

It seemed that Uta also had a more relaxed state of mind, as her interest in Luffy was more pronounced than in FILM RED. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she appeared to be pleased. It was quite a straightforward reaction.

"Well, he's traveling to various islands on his journey, so he might visit Elecia at some point."

"Yeah! I'm looking forward to it... Oh, um..."

"What's the matter?"

"Well, um... If it's possible, I mean... could you do me a favor, Mr. Spandam?"

"What do you need?"

"Well, um... It's just... if you could... deliver a letter to Luffy..."

Observing Uta's hesitant demeanor as she made her request, I offered a slight wry smile.

"It's not something I'd ask of a government official."

"Uh, yeah, you're right... I'm sorry."

"But, well, I suppose it's fine. Just one letter, though. Have it ready by the time I come next."

"Really!? Thank you, Mr. Spandam!!"

Uta leaped up in joy, and I chuckled wryly. At that moment, Gordon arrived with an apple pie he had baked. The former king had become quite skilled at cooking.

"By the way, the reconstruction of Elegia seems to be progressing well."

"Yeah, it's still going to take time, but it's steadily making progress. It's amazing how people's efforts can change things. It wasn't just me and Gordon—without the help of various people, the once-ruined city is transforming."

"And did you manage to renovate the concert venue too?"

"I said it could wait, but everyone insisted we prioritize it."

"Well, music is starting to fill the city from all over, and it's quite nostalgic for me too."

"Yeah, yeah. Just walking around is enjoyable!"

Thanks to the World Government's formal cooperation, the reconstruction of Elecia was progressing at a considerable pace. The population had also increased to a certain extent, bringing vitality back to the once-desolate city.

As I listened to Uta and Gordon's conversation, I felt that if this pace continued, they might be able to restore the country's functions within 5 to 10 years.

***

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Chapitre 81: Meeting with the Straw Hat Pirates

On the enormous pirate ship Thriller Bark, the Straw Hat Pirates, having defeated one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Gecko Moria, in a fierce battle and welcomed the musician Brook as a new crew member, were now heading towards the underwater paradise of Fish-Man Island.

Zoro, who had been gravely injured, had fully recovered with Chopper's treatment, and the crew was sailing happily towards their destination, celebrating Brook's addition.

"Whoa, it's a Sea King!? It's huge!"

"Hmm, this one's on a super scale. It's even bigger than the one I took down back then. It's probably around 150 meters long."

"This is no time for that! We need to run!!"

Upon seeing the Sea King that appeared during their voyage, Usopp yelled in surprise, Franky expressed admiration, and Nami scolded and urged them to escape.

It was a typical sequence of events. However, at that moment, things were slightly different. The Sea King that had seemed ready to attack the ship suddenly stopped moving and began trembling visibly.

"Something's off... It's trembling, and it's diving into the sea to escape."

"...What could it be? It looked like it was afraid of something."

As the Sea King trembled unexpectedly and disappeared into the sea, Sanji tilted his head in confusion, and Brook murmured curiously.

Right after that, as if slipping through a gap in consciousness, a shadow landed on the deck of the ship.

"Get out of my way."

"Wha!?"

The crew's expressions turned to shock in an instant. Not only had no one noticed the approaching presence until it landed on the ship, but its aura was also distinctly different.

A man in a white shirt with a dark brown jacket, with black markings around his nose and eyes... Spandam appeared in civilian attire. Most of the crew showed bewildered expressions, while two members, who knew him, reacted differently.

"Hey, Spandam!? What the hell are you doing here..."

"Oh, it's you, Panda! Haven't seen you since Water 7!"

Franky wore a surprised yet wary expression, while Luffy smiled and greeted him warmly.

Robin, on the other hand, was the most affected by the appearance of Spandam. For Robin, the World Government was an enemy seeking her, and due to stories she had heard from Crocodile, she held fear towards Spandam.

Spandam's power was beyond their understanding. Sanji and Brook exchanged uneasy glances, realizing the gap in their strengths. It seemed that if Spandam were so inclined, he could wipe out the entire crew in an instant, as Zoro had implied.

"Relax, Usopp, Nami... If he really wanted to, we'd all be dead by now. The fact that we're still alive means he's not here to kill us."

" "But we can't really feel safe, can we!?" "

Zoro tried to reassure Usopp and Nami, who were in shock. However, his own heart was not at ease.

(Who is this guy... No matter what I do, I can only see a future where I die if I fight. His presence is so overwhelming, like he's on a completely different level as a being.)

While the crew was in chaos, Robin's reaction stood out the most. To her, the World Government was an enemy, and especially after hearing Crocodile's stories, she had feared Spandam.

But the words that followed Spandam's utterance of her name were unexpected.

"It seems my idiot father caused some trouble on Ohara... Well, that's fine. Anyway, I'm not interested in you, and I have no intention of capturing you. You have no connection to my current business."

"Huh?"

"The rest of you don't need to be on guard either. I'm not here on a mission, and I have no intention of fighting."

Although Spandam's words were calm, they did little to dispel the air of confusion and wariness on the ship's deck.

However, some showed a lack of concern for the tense atmosphere.

"Panda, thanks again for last time. The meat was delicious!"

"Well, as long as you've resolved the situation... Now, onto the matter at hand. Black Leg Sanji, this is for you..."

"What's this? A piece of paper?"

Upon Spandam's sudden address, Sanji's guard was up, and he took the offered paper. Looking at its contents, he saw what seemed to be an address written on it.

"Take a photo of yourself and send it there. This bounty poster is pitiful... It's too late for this one, but when they update it next time, I'll let them know to change the photo."

"Wha... You... You're a decent guy, huh..."

Sanji's expression turned emotional at Spandam's words. After all, the man before them was the head of Enies Lobby, one of the three great powers of the world. The possibility that he would act on his words was high.

Since the next update was a while away, it meant that they could replace the photo when the bounty was raised next time. To Sanji, who had been feeling down about his wanted poster's sketch, this offer felt like a godsend.

Spandam, of course, was aware, based on his knowledge of the original work, that Sanji's bounty update was still far off, two years later. He also knew that there would be no opportunity for a photo to be taken anywhere other than Sabaody Archipelago at this point. However, he still made the offer, acknowledging the pitiable state of the sketch.

"Me too! Me too!"

"Huh?"

"I fought bravely too! And yet, look at this! Just 50 berries..."

"It's not like I'm the one setting the bounty..."

Chopper, holding up his bounty poster with "50 berries" written on it, pleaded for a better reward. Spandam pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Alright. I agree that your bounty should be at least 20 million berries, and I'm willing to talk. But, in return... I'd like you to give me a Rumble Ball."

"A Rumble Ball? Well, I'm okay with that, but the Rumble Ball I make is tailored to me, so it won't work for anyone else."

Chopper tilted his head curiously as he addressed Spandam's request for a Rumble Ball. He explained that the Rumble Ball's effects wouldn't work for anyone else other than himself.

Spandam, however, wore a calm smile.

"I don't mind. It's purely out of curiosity. Despite how I may appear, I have a decent understanding of pharmacology and was somewhat intrigued."

"Is that so? Are you a doctor?"

"No, I'm not a doctor, but I have some knowledge about pharmacology."

He wasn't lying. Spandam had used various secret medicines during his body modifications, and as a result, he had a considerable knowledge of pharmacology. In reality, although his intentions were different, he had developed a certain level of camaraderie with Chopper and wanted to obtain a Rumble Ball. Therefore, he had some items on hand to appease Chopper and improve his mood.

"Is that right... Well then, here you go. This is the Rumble Ball."

"Thank you. As a token of our newfound acquaintance, let me give you this as well. It's a rare book that contains information about unique medicines."

"Huh? Wow... There are so many unfamiliar medicines in here. Can I really have this!?"

"Yes, I remember the contents already, so it's not a problem."

"Thanks! You really are a good guy, just like Luffy said!"

Chopper's bright smile indicated that he had put his trust in Spandam after receiving the unusual pharmacology book, and his initial caution seemed to have disappeared.

At that moment, Luffy finished reading the letter and flashed a cheerful smile.

"...If you have a reply or a message, I'll take it."

"Sure... then, please tell them that I'll come to see them someday."

"Got it, I'll convey that. Well then, since all the matters are settled, I should take my leave soon."

"Aww, you're leaving already? It's a rare occasion, so why not stay and relax..."

"It's not feasible for a government official to linger on a pirate ship for too long. Well, if fate permits, we might meet again someday..."

"I see... understood. Thank you for everything."

As Spandam was about to leave after finishing his business, Luffy's expression turned disappointed, but he didn't try to detain him and instead expressed his gratitude.

After giving a light smile, Spandam leaped lightly, disappearing from view in an instant as if he had been shaved away.

"Whoa, amazing, Panda. Can you fly through the air too?"

"...Hmm, he was certainly an extraordinary individual, but maybe he's not a bad person like Luffy said?"

"It's good that he didn't attack us out of nowhere. We lucked out."

Watching Spandam leave with an amused expression, Nami and Usopp sighed with relief.

"Hey, Robin, are you okay? I know it's hard to believe, but it seems he's genuinely not interested in Ancient Weapons, so you can probably feel somewhat at ease."

"Yes, thank you, Franky. After he treated me so indifferently, it's calming to know that he genuinely lacks interest. It seemed like he wasn't lying or joking; he truly had no intention."

Although initially pale with fear, Robin found it somewhat reassuring that Spandam displayed no interest or even acknowledgment of her. This attitude reassured her that he wasn't actively trying to capture her as he had done before. She understood that he wasn't making an attempt to actively pursue her, and he had no intention of capturing her.

"The sea is vast, indeed. Who would have thought there'd be such a monster..."

"Scared, Marimo?"

"Hey, you bushy-eyebrowed funny guy, what are you saying?"

"What was that, you bastard? Wanna fight?"

"Bring it on."

While Zoro and Sanji bickered as usual, Brook, a bit further away, muttered in his usual tone.

"Well, well, quite an extraordinary person indeed. Just being in his presence sent shivers down my spine... Although, I don't have a spine to chill! Yohoho!"

"I think he's a pretty good guy. He gave me a book!"

"He didn't seem particularly aggressive, indeed."

As Chopper happily embraced the rare pharmacology book Spandam had given him, Brook chuckled with his skeletal face.

***

You can indulge in more than 10 chapters ahead of the regular schedule by visiting our Patreon page and subscribing.

Feel free to explore our Patreon at:

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Your support will enhance our productivity in creating more captivating and wonderful works.


L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS
KangTL KangTL

Hey, you... Yes, you, you have a tremendous potential to shape the future destiny of this novel. Why have you remained silent all this time and wasted the enormous potential you possess? Utilize the Power Stone you have and craft the future of this novel with us. In return, we will reward you with 3-5 chapters ahead of the update schedule if we reach 1000 Power Stones.

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