"Everyone! Something's wrong!"
Yamato shouted, panic in her voice.
"What happened?"
"Is the president in danger?"
"What's going on?"
The Fairy Tail girls rushed forward, anxious.
"No… it's not the president," Yamato gasped, clutching a newspaper. "This is from three days ago… Ace… Ace was captured by the Marines and will be publicly executed!"
Tension and fear twisted Yamato's face.
"What? Is that really true, Yamato? Don't overreact!" Runti said coldly.
"Don't say that! Runti, Ace… Ace is my friend!" Yamato replied seriously.
Ace was the first real friend Yamato had made in this world. Seeing him captured and facing execution stirred something deep within her.
"This Ace is aboard Whitebeard's ship. He's scheduled for a public execution. The Whitebeard Pirates are handling it—don't cause any trouble!" Runti waved her hand dismissively.
"I didn't expect something like this during our vacation. The war between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates is inevitable now!" Robin frowned.
"Rabby, what should we do?" Mirajan asked nervously.
"Ace… Ace of the Whitebeard Pirates is Luffy's older brother!" Lebby's eyes widened with anxiety.
"What should I do? If Luffy finds out, he'll…"
"Calm down, Lebby. Don't worry. The president already knows about this!" Erza quickly reassured her.
"That's right!"
"The president must have known!"
"Perhaps that's why he left this morning!"
"Because he wanted us to enjoy our vacation without worrying!"
The Fairy Tail girls nodded, understanding dawning.
"Since we know now, we can't let the president handle this alone. We are Fairy Tail!" Mira said firmly.
"Um!" All the girls nodded in agreement.
Calm Belt.
Nine Snake Country.
"Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, I deliver the government's urgent summons. Depart immediately and report to Naval Headquarters to fulfill your Shichibukai duties!"
The Vice Admiral's voice was stern, carrying authority.
"The concubine refuses!" Boa Hancock declared without hesitation.
"Pirate Empress, refusal may result in the stripping of your Shichibukai title!" The Vice Admiral tried to warn her.
"No! Even if I don't attend, I remain Shichibukai. The concubine is too beautiful to care about titles!" Hancock said proudly.
A flash of Mero Mero Mellow petrified all the sailors who had come with the Vice Admiral.
Daughter Country, Castle Tower.
"Snake Princess, what are you thinking?!" Gloriosa, the sour-faced elder, scolded her.
That night, the Vice Admiral returned.
"Pirate Empress, have you decided?"
"I… have questions," Hancock replied thoughtfully.
"In this war, will Sugisawa Yuuto and Fairy Tail appear?"
The Vice Admiral was startled.
"I don't know the details, but Marshal Sengoku did send a commission to Fairy Tail," he explained.
"So… there's a chance I'll meet Yuuto and Fairy Tail?" Hancock asked, intrigued.
The Vice Admiral nodded.
"In that case… let's go!" Hancock said decisively.
He was left completely dumbfounded, wondering how a Shichibukai summons related to Fairy Tail at all.
Time passed.
Four days later.
Sabaody Islands, Thirteenth Red Tree.
"Shakky, we're back!" Rayleigh pushed open the door and entered.
"Ah, welcome back. How's Little Monkey's training?" Shakky asked, offering him wine.
"Luffy is incredibly talented," Rayleigh nodded appreciatively.
In just one week, Straw Hat Luffy had progressed from zero to novice mastery. He had grasped the basics of Conqueror's Haki and was ready to advance further.
"Next, I'll take Luffy for advanced training. This time, it may take longer," Rayleigh said casually, sipping wine.
"Longer? Why?" Shakky asked.
"Old Lei, don't you know what's happening recently?" Shakky handed him a newspaper.
Rayleigh read the report and gasped.
"Hey… is the Marine serious? Going to war with the Whitebeard Pirates? Have they lost their minds?"
The Straw Hat, who had been focusing on his Haki practice, tilted his head.
"Ah! I remember! The Whitebeard Pirates… Ace is there! They're going to war with the Marines… so is Ace going too?"
"It's not about going or not. Fire Fist Ace, captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' 2nd Division, is the spark that will ignite this war!" Shakky explained.
"Huh? What's wrong with Ace?" Luffy asked, confused.
"Fire Fist Ace was captured by the Marines. He will be publicly executed at Naval Headquarters in three days," Shakky said gravely.
Luffy's eyes widened in shock. "Wait… Ace… he's my brother!"
"How… how could such a powerful Ace be caught by the Marines?" Luffy whispered, despair evident in his voice.
"Whitebeard's Ace is your… brother, Little Monkey," Shakky said slowly.
"Ace is going to be executed? No! This can't happen… I have to save him!" Luffy jumped to his feet.
"Calm down, Luffy. This isn't something you can handle alone," Rayleigh held him firmly.
"But…" Luffy hesitated.
"It's okay, Little Monkey. The Whitebeard Pirates will never allow their own to be killed without fighting back. The Revolutionary Army is no different—your father will never just watch an execution happen," Shakky reasoned.
"But… Ace isn't my father's son!" Luffy protested.
Rayleigh and Shakky froze.
"Ace and I are sworn brothers. His biological father… was One Piece King Roger."
Luffy revealed this secret, shocking even the most seasoned pirates. The room fell into a stunned, deathly silence.
After a long pause, Shakky finally whispered, "Nani… Ace is your eldest nephew?!"
...
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