Ace and Dadan cried their hearts out.
When a child leaves, a mother will naturally feel sorrow.
But after the tears, it was time for a proper farewell.
Dadan handed Ace all his clothes that she had brought down from the mountain and gave him some nagging advice on how to behave when away from home.
It was just like a real mother.
Although Ace complained, his lips were curled up in a smile.
But no matter what, the time for parting finally came.
Ace boarded the Golden Dragon ship, and Dadan stood on the dock, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief as she waved goodbye. "Ace! You have to be okay!"
"I'll come back to visit you, Dadan!"
Ace waved back with all his might.
Nearby, the Red Force was also ready to set sail. On the dock, Luffy, without his straw hat, was crying loudly. "Shanks! I'll definitely come find you!"
Shanks' precious daughter was also at the ship's railing, tearfully saying goodbye to her friend.
"Then we'll meet again someday, Luffy."
Shanks smiled lightly.
Every parting is just for the next reunion. The sea is vast, and there will always be another time to meet.
"However," Yasopp had a slightly awkward expression. "The Goa Kingdom has been completely destroyed. This country is no longer fit to live in. Luffy will probably be taken away by his grandfather."
"In that case," Lucky Roo scratched his head. "The next time we meet, do you think Luffy will become a Marine?"
Even the usually indifferent Ben Beckman couldn't help but chuckle. "Luffy becoming a Marine? It's hard to imagine."
"Hahahaha!"
Shanks laughed heartily. "No matter what their status is, a friend is always a friend!"
As they looked forward to their next reunion, Ian couldn't help but reflect.
This is ridiculous. Luffy has no straw hat now, and he doesn't even want to become Pirate King.
Is this even right?
The plot has completely fallen apart.
So, who's going to save Cocoyashi Village, Alabasta, Skypiea, Fish-Man Island, and Dressrosa now?
Hmm?
Looks like they don't need saving anymore.
Haven't they already been saved?
Cocoyashi Village, Arlong is still paralyzed on Fish-Man Island.
Alabasta, Crocodile has been out of the picture for a long time.
Skypiea, Enel is now on his own ship.
Dressrosa, while Doflamingo is still stationed in that country, he probably doesn't have the guts to do anything to it.
Ian clicked his tongue.
This is getting interesting.
Two ships set sail at the same time, heading toward the darkness under the night sky.
"How's it going?"
Ian glanced back.
He looked at Mihawk, who was still aboard his ship.
Mihawk touched his chest, unable to hide his surprise as he looked at Law. "So this is the power of the Ope Ope no Mi? It's truly astonishing."
He had already completely stitched up his wound so quickly.
"So, what do you think? Want to join the Beasts Pirates?"
Ian smiled. "That way, you'll have access to Law's stitching services whenever you need. He'll help you out every day."
Mihawk immediately had black lines appear on his forehead. "Do you think I get cut every day?"
How many people in this world could defeat him?
"However, the offer to join the Beasts Pirates is genuine."
Ian said seriously. "Don't rush to decline. When you get tired of fighting on the seas, come find me. I can offer you a place to rest."
"Hmph."
Mihawk didn't even have the interest to respond, merely letting out a cold grunt.
He didn't think he'd ever have such a day.
Ian just smiled.
Young, still young, Mihawk.
In the future, to avoid trouble, you might even allow Buggy the Clown to be above you.
Lone wolves don't have it easy in this world.
Otherwise, Mihawk wouldn't have chosen to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Fujitora and Green Bull could only choose to join the Marines to fulfill their ambitions.
"What's your plan next?"
Ian asked, "I'm going back to the New World. Want to join me?"
"No, thanks."
Mihawk shook his head, "I have an agreement with the government. I'm required to help eliminate pirates in Paradise regularly."
Ian nodded slightly.
Of course, the Seven Warlords couldn't just enjoy power.
Aside from the secret Seraphim Project that required their bloodlines, the role of the Seven Warlords was to serve as deterrents to the countless pirates in the seas.
As for how to deter them… well, killing was the answer.
"We can go back together!"
A voice suddenly came from the side, "We're heading back to the New World too."
Ian turned in surprise.
On the deck of the Red Force, which was sailing alongside the Golden Dragon, Shanks was laughing.
Ian immediately felt a pain in his forehead. "Shanks, are you heading back to the New World too?"
"Yeah."
Shanks laughed heartily, "I came to the East Blue to avoid the territorial wars of the New World, but now that you guys have settled things, of course I should return."
Besides, his main purpose for coming to the East Blue had already been fulfilled.
The kid's doing well. He might have some psychological issues, but with Ian should be fine, right?
Ian tugged at the corner of his mouth.
No way.
This guy is serious.
So, who's going to fill in the missing Nika piece for me?
Did this guy come to the East Blue just for Ace, and not for Nika?
After thinking for a moment, Ian felt like an idiot.
The World Government had spent eight hundred years and still couldn't find the Gum-Gum Fruit. So why is Shanks so sure that the Gum-Gum Fruit will appear in the East Blue?
The Five Elders said that the Gum-Gum Fruit has its own will.
So maybe it wasn't that Shanks found the Gum-Gum Fruit, but that the Gum-Gum Fruit found its way into Shanks' hands.
So, how should he go about finding that fruit?
Should he keep an eye on Luffy?
In the original story, the Gum-Gum Fruit chose him, and he certainly didn't disappoint that choice, successfully awakening the Gum-Gum Fruit that had been dormant for eight hundred years.
Although Luffy didn't get Roger's straw hat and didn't want to become Pirate King, in the original story, Luffy had already eaten the Gum-Gum Fruit before all that.
Or should he start with Who's-Who?
In the original, Shanks' Gum-Gum Fruit was taken from his hands.
It wouldn't be bad to recruit that big cat into the Beast Pirates early.
Wait!
Ian suddenly remembered something.
Wasn't that guy Who's-Who from CP9 before he lost the Gum-Gum Fruit?
Ian tugged at the corner of his mouth again.
When they attacked Enies Lobby, Dorry and Brogy had used a single Hakoku Sovereignty to blow the upper half of the Tower of Justice into the air.
That guy, he should have survived that, right?
He acted impulsively.
**********
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