A few days passed while Yamato and Ace were enjoying their stay in MockTown.
Although there were many pirates in MockTown, because of these pirates, there were various luxurious hotels and bars here.
Pirates usually spent boldly, just like when Ace during their travel in the New World robbed a pirate of 14 million berry fees and just spent the whole 14 million berry on food and wine on Yamato.
So, it's just like that. Pirates did not care much about money—if they had money, they would spend it boldly, and if they didn't, they would just rob it.
And thus, MockTown was also very prosperous, and pirates would also not kill or rob the people of MockTown if they did not have berries.
If they kill everyone, then what's the point of looting and robbing money, as they can't even enjoy them.
Also those who could open shops and other things in MockTown also had connections with pirates, This formed the City of Pirates.
---
Today, when Ace ( disguised ) and Yamato were wandering around MockTown, he finally saw a familiar face. It was the crew of Luffy and the others.
Ace knew that if Luffy and his crew were here, then Blackbeard would definitely be nearby. So Ace ( disguised) said to Yamato, "Well, Yamato, looks like that person has also arrived."
Yamato, hearing this, stopped eating her skewers—though she still had a mountain of them in her hands—and nodded seriously… before continuing to munch.
Yamato truly enjoyed the outside world; back in Onigashima, she never had this much food, freedom, or variety.
Ace ( disguised) and Yamato started walking toward Luffy. When Ace got close enough, he spoke casually, "Hey, this is the Grand Line. This isn't a place where brats like you can play house-house."
As soon as Luffy and the others heard this, they became alert—Zoro's hand moved to his sword, and Sanji was ready for a fight. But before Ace could see their reaction, Luffy simply stared at him blankly.
Then suddenly, Luffy shouted, "Ace! You're here!"
He leapt forward and hugged Ace. Ace ( disguised ), baffled, asked, "Who is Ace?"
Luffy blinked and said, "Of course it's Ace, my brother! It's so cool—how did you change your face? And your voice sounds different too!"
Now Ace was confused. His disguise wasn't perfect—anyone with good Observation Haki could still sense his signature flame-like aura and identify him. But Luffy didn't have Observation Haki… so how did he know?
Ace dropped his disguise and smiled at him. "Luffy, I was planning to surprise you, but you surprised me instead."
Luffy burst into laughter, "Hahaha! Ace, you can't deceive me!"
Ace laughed too, "Yahaha!" He knew Luffy had beast-like instincts—maybe this was one of those moments.
Ace then greeted Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Nami, Chopper and Robin, bowing slightly.
"My name is Portgas D. Ace — sworn brother of Monkey D. Luffy.
I owe you all my gratitude.
Thank you for sailing with him through storms he would never survive alone.
Thank you for seeing him not just as a captain — but as family. "
As soon as Ace said this, everyone was shocked.
Not because Ace resembled Luffy—
but because he was nothing like him.
Ace spoke politely, carried himself with etiquette, and showed refined manners.
Luffy, on the other hand, was more like a wild monkey—energetic, impulsive, and chaotic.
After that, Ace casually told everyone,
"Well, I'm staying at a resort. You all can come too—enjoy yourselves and have fun in MockTown."
Then he turned to Luffy.
"Well, Luffy, let's also have a competition."
Luffy's eyes instantly sparkled.
"Let's see who eats more food!"
Ace grinned.
He glanced at Yamato who had silently appeared beside him.
"Well, this is my friend Yamato—and she's also from Wano in the New World."
Then after thinking of something, Ace said to Zoro—
"I think you and Yamato may have something in common."
Ace after saying this continued walking with Luffy, chatting as they went.
On the other side, Zoro was puzzled.
Why would Ace say I have something in common with her?
I was born in the East Blue—I've never even heard of Wano, he thought.
So Zoro approached Yamato.
"Do you know why Luffy's brother said that about me?
I don't think I have any connection with Wano."
Yamato looked at him and asked,
"You're a swordsman, right?"
Zoro nodded.
"Yeah. I'm a three-sword style user—and my dream is to become the world's strongest swordsman."
Yamato studied him again, this time with a hint of admiration.
"You are ambitious. If you want to learn further swordsmanship, you can come to Wano.
Samurai there practice different forms of swordsmanship.
Even the legendary swordsman Ryuma came from Wano.
And you can get better swords there too—the blades forged in Wano are famous across the world."
Zoro's eyes widened with interest.
And just like that, Luffy's crew followed Ace and Yamato to the resort where Ace was staying.
---
An hour passed just like that as Luffy and everyone finished their dinner.
Now Ace, Yamato, and Luffy's group wandered through MockTown—eating, talking, and laughing.
But while enjoying the stroll, Ace's focus was elsewhere…
He was searching for Blackbeard.
He didn't know whether Teach would fight him directly or avoid him because of his new bounty.
Then suddenly—Ace stopped walking.
Luffy blinked, confused,
"Eh? Why'd you sto—"
Before he could finish, a booming laugh echoed from the shadows:
"Zehahahahaha…"
"Captain Ace. It looks like fate truly wished us to meet here.
So let's follow destiny—
leave that old sinking ship and join the Blackbeard Pirates.
Together, we will conquer the world!"
Teach laughed again,
"Zehahahahaha!"
Ace remained calm and looked around him.
There were only three present with Teach—
Jesus Burgess, Van Augur the sniper
and Doc Q, the eerie rider of Blackbeard's original crew.
Laffitte was nowhere here.
Then Ace remembered, currently, Laffitte is in Mary Geoise, negotiating with Sengoku for the vacant Shichibukai position left after Crocodile's defeat.
Ace didn't fully understand Laffitte's strength—but he knew one thing clearly:
If Blackbeard recruited someone, then that man had to be strong.
Secondly, Laffitte managed to infiltrate Mary Geoise,
enter the castle where the meeting was taking place,
and remained undetected until he spoke aloud.
That alone showed how dangerous the man must be.
Thus, absence of him meant his chances of winning is higher than before.