Chapter 193 – Kuma and the Revolutionary Army
"Kid Ace, after this battle, my health is completely gone. Next, I want you to inherit the Whitebeard Pirates and become the captain of my bunch of idiot sons. What do you think?"
Whitebeard suddenly said, looking at Ace with rare seriousness.
"Uncle, now's not the time." Ace shook his head, then looked back at Whitebeard and replied, "I already have a plan. It will take one to two years, but when the time comes, I'll bring down all of the current Four Emperors in one strike, completely overturn the balance of the New World, and start a new era."
"So, Uncle… just enjoy yourself for another year or two. Keep sitting on that throne of a Yonko for now." Ace grinned as he raised his glass.
"A new era, huh?" Whitebeard's deep eyes lingered on Ace before he burst into his booming laugh.
"Gu-ra-ra-ra-ra! That's quite the ambition. Very well, I'll keep my seat warm. Let's see what kind of world your so-called new era will create."
Ace lifted his cup toward him with absolute confidence.
"Don't worry. The new era won't let you down!"
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After leaving Whitebeard, Ace stayed on Sun Island for a few days. Once he was sure the World Government wouldn't act against him immediately, he and Sabo set sail toward the Revolutionary Army's headquarters.
Sabo's severed hands and feet, taken by Blackbeard, had been reattached thanks to Trafalgar Law's Ope Ope no Mi. After a week of training, his body had almost fully recovered. Though he had lost the power of the Yami Yami no Mi, Sabo's strength was still formidable—at least on the level of a Warlord of the Sea.
Before his talk with Whitebeard, Ace had considered finding another powerful Devil Fruit for Sabo. But after Whitebeard reminded him of Roger's words—"Don't place too much faith in Devil Fruits"—Ace abandoned that plan.
The Revolutionary Army's headquarters lay on a snowy island in the New World called Baltigo. When Ace and Sabo arrived, most of the Army's top cadres were already gathered there, including their leader—Monkey D. Dragon.
On the road, Ace even caught sight of a towering figure: Bartholomew Kuma.
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"Sabo-kun!"
As soon as they set foot on Baltigo, a young woman sprinted straight into Sabo's arms.
"Koala… I'm fine," Sabo reassured, though he was visibly flustered by her tight embrace. His hands hovered awkwardly, unsure of where to rest.
Koala buried her face against him, sobbing, "Sabo-kun, it's really… really good that you're okay!"
Hearing her cries, Sabo's expression softened. He gently wrapped an arm around her and whispered, "Sorry… for making you worry."
Sabo's safe return filled the headquarters with joy. As his brother and longtime ally of the Revolutionary Army, Ace too received a warm welcome.
That night, in the Army's conference hall, Ace, Dragon, and the other cadres gathered.
"Ace-boy, you've made quite the name for yourself this time," said the flamboyant Emporio Ivankov with his usual flair. "Identity, status, strength—at Marineford, the whole world saw your true power! But beware, your name is now etched firmly onto the World Government's blacklist. You could face assassination from CP agents at any moment, so keep those eyes open, hip-hop!"
"If I can be taken down that easily, then it just means I wasn't worthy in the first place. Hahahaha!" Ace laughed carelessly. Then, turning to Kuma, he grew serious.
"Mr. Kuma… there's something I've wanted to say for a long time. Now I finally have the chance."
He stood tall before the Revolutionary Army cadres and declared with complete sincerity:
"I like you. Join my crew. Be my nakama!"
For a moment, the entire hall went silent. Then—
"Pfff—hahahaha!"
The room erupted with laughter.
"Well… Ace-kun's sincerity is real, but doesn't that sound more like a love confession than a crew invitation?"
"Yeah! 'Come be my partner'—he sounds like an idiot proposing to his crush!"
"Mr. Kuma, for Ace's sake, why don't you just accept already, ho-ho-ho!"
The laughter rolled on, but to Ace's surprise, no one—not even Dragon—objected to his bold request. Instead, many of the cadres seemed genuinely supportive, urging Kuma to accept. Ace could see it in their eyes—they weren't joking. They truly wanted Kuma to have this choice.
Dragon himself only smiled faintly, saying nothing as he watched the scene unfold.
This reaction left Ace more confused than anything else.
Only Kuma remained silent. With his usual unreadable expression, he gave Ace a small, apologetic nod—his answer was a gentle refusal.
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Afterward, the meeting shifted toward Ace's real purpose for coming. What followed was a three-hour secret discussion between Ace, Dragon, and the Revolutionary Army—talks that would carry weight for the entire future of the world.
Later, in private, Sabo and Koala approached Ace.
"Ace-kun, are you surprised?" Koala whispered. "Everyone really hoped Mr. Kuma would accept your invitation." Her voice trembled, tears brimming in her eyes. "The truth is… we all love and respect him deeply. He's too kind, too gentle. No one here wants to see him suffer… and with his current situation, maybe leaving the Revolutionary Army really would be best for him."
Ace frowned. "Because of… the deal with the World Government? With Vegapunk?"
"That's right," Sabo answered grimly. "After Kuma returned from his last trip, we all felt something was wrong. He brought back valuable technology from Dr. Vegapunk, but his words… it was like he was leaving us his last will."
Ace's expression hardened. "Talking like a man preparing for his own funeral…"
His gaze shifted to Kuma, standing silently behind Dragon at the far end of the hall. Ace's voice dropped, carrying a quiet resolve.
"If there's even one chance to save his life… I'll find it."
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