"The second batch of maintenance teams has arrived, clean up the town square immediately!"
"Search and rescue team report! Preliminary statistics include 3 civilian deaths, 31 serious injuries, and 214 minor injuries; 4 contestants died, 3 serious injuries, and 3 minor injuries."
"Report from the search and rescue team! Members of the 'Spade Pirates' were found at the scene and have been initially detained. They are awaiting further instructions."
"Where's the supplies class? Hurry up and count the supplies and building materials needed!"
"The medical team will start rescue now."
The port of Batelila Island is filled with ships of all sizes, and each ship has a coral V-flag flying. A large amount of supplies are transported from the ship, and the rescue workers coming and going wear different styles of uniforms according to different divisions of labor.
Haoshi has been sent to the hospital ship for further treatment, while Lafayette and Ace are still receiving on-site first aid. Fortunately, Dr. Satsuma, the deputy captain of the coral medical team, happened to be on the nearby Solimu Island and received the emergency call.
He immediately summoned a medical team and rushed to Badelila Island as quickly as possible.
"Lafayette's injuries were mainly burns, and he fell into a coma because he consumed too much domineering energy. But this kid..."
Dr. Satsuma held up the frame of his glasses with the back of his hand and bandaged Ace a little faster: "The injury is very serious. Once the first aid is over, he will be sent to the headquarters for further treatment. By the way, he is a pirate, right?
Are you sure you want to save him?"
"Sure!" Nami, who was also bandaged, said with a serious face: "Please, Dr. Satsuma."
Dr. Satsuma pouted behind her, and Nami turned her head knowingly and found her master not far behind her, frowning slightly and looking at Ace lying on the ground.
Nami bit her lower lip, walked up to Victor and said softly: "Master, I...I promised him that as long as he helps us face the enemy together, I will let him and his pirate group leave. I checked,
They didn’t do anything bad! Really!”
Victor didn't speak, but just looked at Nami, pondered for a while and said: "...That's right, you have indeed reached this age."
"???"
Nami was mortified: "Master, what are you talking about? This kid helped me block the fatal blow, so I put in a good word for him!"
Victor looked at Ace, smiled and said, "Okay, don't worry, he's about to wake up."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ace, who was lying on the ground, let out a groan, frowned and slowly sat up, completely ignoring Dr. Satsuma's astonished look on his face to stop him.
He looked around and saw Nami with a toothy smile: "Oh! Nami! The battle is over?"
Dr. Satsuma looked Ace up and down, as if he had discovered a new species: "Awakening now? Amazing vitality...are you really a human?"
Victor waved his hand gently, Dr. Summer nodded and picked up the medical kit beside him, stood up and went to find other seriously injured people. Although Nami still wanted to say something nice for Ace, she could only leave with her head hanging down.
go.
For a moment, only Victor and Ace were left in this small clearing.
"Hello! Are you Nami's master, Victor the 'Vicious Chain'? I've really admired your name for a long time."
Sitting on the ground, Ace bowed politely to Victor.
Victor put his hands in his pockets, tilted his head slightly and looked at Ace with a smile: "'Fire Fist' Ace... you have made a lot of noise this year. It is said that the world government has extended an olive branch to you, but you
But he refused straight away. Why, you don’t look down on the position of the Shichibukai?"
"I have no interest in working as a thug for the World Government." Ace did not consider at all that the person in front of him was the most powerful and powerful being in the Shichibukai. He laughed and said: "Originally, my goal was to take down
I’ll take Whitebeard’s head, but now I think it’s not a bad idea to challenge you first. Come on, let’s fight one on one!”
As he said this, he wanted to get up, and actually planned to challenge Victor with this seriously injured body. If he risked his life and fought the vicious chain one-on-one, then his companions might be able to save their lives, right?
Victor stretched out his hand and pressed softly, but Ace was forced back to the original position as if he was under heavy pressure, with a look of surprise on his face.
"Ace, can I call you that?"
Victor patted the dirt on the ground, and then sat directly next to Ace regardless of appearance: "You helped my men, so I won't take action against you and your men. Don't worry, it's just a chat.
, relax.”
Ace was a little confused, but since his companions were no longer threatened, he could temporarily relax: "Then what do you want to talk about?"
"How about we talk about your [motivation] for going to sea?" Victor said in a gentle tone: "Why do you want to be a pirate? Judging from your behavior, you are more of an adventurer than a pirate."
Ace was stunned at this. He scratched the back of his head and hesitated for a while before saying: "Uh... how should I put it? I have a younger brother who has always longed to become the Pirate King. I don't seem to be infected by him either.
I’ve considered options other than pirates.”
"Anyone who goes to sea will have [goals], that is, [dreams]." Victor shook his head gently: "You are very strong, but I can see that you are very confused."
Ace was silent for a while and then said: "...No, I do have a [goal]. I want to surpass! Surpass the Pirate King Roger!"
"One Piece?" Victor raised his head slightly: "I see, that's why you set your target on Whitebeard. Do you plan to prove yourself by defeating Whitebeard, who is evenly matched with the Pirate King?"
Ace nodded heavily: "My brain is not working well. After much thought, this is the only way to prove that I have surpassed the Pirate King!"
"Then why are you obsessed with surpassing Roger, the Pirate King?"
"..." Ace suddenly turned into a dull gourd, hanging his head and muttering for a long time without saying anything.
Victor smiled and patted Ace on the shoulder: "Forget it, just stop talking if you don't want to say it. I have a more interesting idea here, do you want to hear it?"
Ace raised his head in confusion.
"Become the strongest bounty hunter, Ace!"
Victor's blond hair shone in the sun, and his words seemed to go straight into the deepest part of Ace's heart: "As a pirate, at your best, you will only be the second Pirate King. But if you reach the top of the world as the natural enemy of pirates,
Doesn’t that prove that you have surpassed the Pirate King?”
"hunter……?"
Ace was at a loss at first, and then little by little, his face became excited. Yes, being a pirate is not a pleasure. [That guy] is already the pinnacle of pirates. No matter how good he is, he will not be happy.
It's impossible to surpass him. Why not consider becoming a hunter? Hunters can live a freer and happier life without having to fight with those annoying navy and bounty hunters every day. If you become the top hunter, wouldn't that prove it?
Have you truly surpassed [that guy]?
The more Ace thought about it, the more excited he became, but suddenly he fainted: "No, I am a pirate and a criminal with a high reward wanted by the World Government, so I am not qualified to be a hunter."
"Whether you are qualified or not, I have the final say." Victor smiled and said, "As long as you join Coral and become my subordinate, your bounty and criminal status can be erased."
"...What about my partner?"
"Join Coral together. At that time, whether you will continue to command or join other departments depends on your own wishes. Of course, their criminal status will also be eliminated."
Ace looked at this blond man who was not much older than himself, and suddenly an impulse he had never felt since he was a child was ignited in his heart - I want to follow this man, and then surpass him!
"I agree." Ace was full of energy. With a clear goal, he felt that he had endless energy: "Do you need to take a test to become a hunter? I can accept any test!"
Victor stood up and stretched out his hand towards Ace: "No need, in view of the character, will, strength and mind you showed in this battle, as the president of the Hunter Association, I specially approve you -"
"Portcas D. Ace has officially become a [Hunter]!"