A crimson trail rapidly extended across the surface of the Santara River, with scorching heat waves churning at the stern of the vessel.
Giyu stood on the narrow platform—this was his first time experiencing such a high-speed mode of travel, racing across the river's surface propelled by flames, his haori flapping noisily in the fierce wind.
"How about it?"
Ace's voice came from ahead, carrying a hint of laughter. "My brother as a captain."
Hearing Ace's words, Giyu fell into a brief reverie, his mind conjuring an image of Luffy carrying Nami on his back while biting onto Sanji as he climbed a cliff on Drum Island.
[Manual of Interpersonal Relationships (Trial Version)]
[Subject: Ace]
[Status: Happy, burdened]
[Interests: Companions, family, Luffy]
[Suggestion: Talk to him more about Luffy]
"He's outstanding," Giyu said.
After a moment of silence, he added, "No matter what happens, he would never abandon his companions." Ace turned his head, his eyes beneath the brim of his hat lighting up. "Oh?"
"On an island covered in snow, he carried his sick companion on his back and climbed a five-thousand-meter cliff alone."
Ace burst into laughter, the sound echoing across the river. He thought about the places he had been before. "That place... Hahahahaha, that sounds just like something he would do.Giyu looked in the direction of the Port of Canola Flowers, recalling the Marine captain who had turned into smoke. Uncharacteristically, he continued speaking, "Although he's not strong enough now, he grows with every battle."
"Perhaps one day, even I won't be able to keep up with his strength."
Hearing this, Ace's smile deepened. "That kid, he's really doing great..."
His tone was filled with the pride of an older brother, but then he looked at Giyu with some confusion. "But you don't need to say that. Seeing someone as strong as you appearing on his ship, I find it a bit strange."
The flame-powered boat continued racing across the river's surface, the scenery on both banks gradually transitioning to sandy yellow.
Giyu's gaze drifted into the distance as he recalled his original purpose for boarding this ship. "I'm looking for a place called Wano Country."
"Wano Country?"
Ace's voice carried a note of surprise. "What a coincidence. I've been there."
"That place..."
He began reminiscing—back then, playing with Tama, weaving straw hats together. It was truly a time that could be called happy.
"And there are such amazing beings as ninjas." Then Ace suddenly began scrutinizing Giyu's clothing, scanning him from head to toe. "Now that you mention it, I suddenly think your attire is quite similar to theirs."
He stroked his chin thoughtfully, carefully comparing the similarities between the outfits.
"Are you perhaps a refugee from Wano Country?"
Ninjas...? According to Sound Hashira Tengen's description, his family was the last ninja clan. That place actually still has ninjas too...
"I don't know either... That's my only clue..." Giyu's voice was very soft. In truth, he had already sensed during his travels across this vast sea that returning home wouldn't be easy—this was a path that might lead nowhere.
Ace looked at Giyu's expression and chuckled softly, patting his shoulder. "Don't worry about it. That place is in the second half of the Grand Line. You'll understand once you get there."
"Mm."
"However... that's where Kaido is located. You'll need to be careful if you go there."
Giyu looked at Ace with slight confusion. "Kaido?"
But the other man showed even greater bewilderment. "A pirate who doesn't know Kaido? That guy is one of the Four Emperors."
Under Ace's control, the small boat soon reached a shore. Before them stretched an endless desert, with heat waves distorting the air above the sand dunes.
Ace steadily docked the boat, the flames gradually extinguishing as Giyu stepped onto the desert. "This is the shore closest to Alabasta. Just keep walking straight ahead and you'll reach it."
After a moment's thought, Ace tossed a water pouch from the boat to Giyu. "We left in a hurry earlier. Take this water pouch - you'll need it to cross this desert."
"In the desert, this water pouch is more useful than your sword."
Giyu caught the water pouch, feeling the rough texture of the leather in his hand. He looked at Ace, thinking that this man was indeed very considerate, quite different from Luffy...
"Mm." Giyu nodded, then remembered Ace's earlier mentioned voyage purpose. "I wish you success."
Ace was momentarily stunned, then burst into hearty laughter: "Hahahaha, good! See you then!"
He made a waving gesture and restarted the small boat. Flames reignited, propelling the boat to turn around, soon becoming a distant red trail on the river surface.
Giyu stood in place until the trail completely disappeared from view.
He looked down at the water pouch in his hand, tied it to his waist, then turned to face the endless desert.
.............
Hot wind swept up sand grains, striking against his haori. After walking for about an hour, arguing voices came from behind a small sand dune ahead, breaking the desert's silence.
He quickened his pace, climbing to the top of the dune to look down at the commotion below.
A King's Army squad of three soldiers had stopped an elderly man and his grandson riding a camel. Several bulging sacks were loaded on the camel's back.
"How many times do we have to tell you, old man!"
The leading soldier captain impatiently stamped on the sand. "We need to inspect the goods! These are critical times - all supplies heading to Alabasta must be strictly checked!"
The white-haired old man desperately protected the camel, his voice pleading. "Sir, please have mercy! These are really just ordinary flour! If you open the bags and the wind blows, it'll all scatter! What will happen to us then!"
"Grandpa!"
A dark-skinned boy who looked about ten years old clung to his grandfather's clothes with one hand and the sacks with the other, his face full of fear but still shouting, "You can't open them! These are what Grandpa and I are taking to sell in the city!"
"Get lost, you little brat!"
The soldier captain roughly shoved the boy aside.
The boy staggered a few steps and fell heavily onto the sand, his mouth filled with grit, but he immediately struggled to his feet and lunged at the soldier again, trying to block the burlap sacks with his frail body.
"Keep this up!"
The soldier captain, thoroughly enraged by the repeated obstructions, his face twisted with brutality, snarled, "It won't just be a shove next time! I'll make sure you and your grandfather stay here for good!"
Seeing the boy charge at him once more, a vicious glint flashed in his eyes. His right hand shot to the hilt at his waist, drawing his military saber!
"Stop."
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