What the hell, what secret of yours do I know?
Also, you saying you've got dirt on me sounds really weird.
Can't you get some young, pretty girl to 'hold' it instead?
"Sigh!" Taro's cheek twitched violently a few times before he finally let out a sigh.
Kureha raised an eyebrow. "I can teach him, but if he insists on leaving, I won't stop him!"
Hearing this, Taro was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, if he dares to run, I'll just go and cut down his little brother. You can tell him that!"
"You wouldn't dare!"
The door to the medical room was shoved open violently. Ace, leaning against the wall with one hand, glared at Taro with fire in his eyes.
"Oh? You're awake?"
Taro turned his head and sneered dismissively. "Try me. See if I dare or not!"
Kureha shot Taro a glare, then roared at Ace.
"Get in here! Anyone I save, even if they're going to freeze to death, needs my permission first!"
"Dr. Kureha, don't mind him. If he's so hot-headed, let him cool off in the blizzard!" Taro said nonchalantly.
Hearing Taro's words, Ace instead walked inside.
Taro's mouth twitched. What a rebellious kid!
"Sabo... is my little brother really still alive?" Ace was still very weak, but his eyes shone with vitality at the mention of Sabo.
"Of course!" Taro raised an eyebrow. "However, I won't tell you where he is. Same goes for Luffy!"
"You...!" Ace was furious!
Taro waved his hand dismissively, acting casual.
"Me what? Stop with that nonsense about protecting your brothers. Don't you get it? With your current strength, you can't protect anyone!"
Ace clenched his fists tightly, small flames flickering out. "Zhou... Ze...!"
Taro rested his hands behind his head, still unmoved, his tone carrying a hint of scorn. "Do you really want to kill me? Do you have the strength for that?"
Kureha suddenly kicked out, sending the chair Taro was sitting on flying.
"Why'd you kick me?" Taro pivoted on his foot, turning halfway around, and stood up.
"He's already awake. Why are you still provoking him?" Kureha glared at Taro and tossed him a bottle of liquor.
Taro caught it, unscrewed the cap, and took a swig. "This isn't provocation. It's just helping him face reality."
Ace ground his teeth in hatred, staring daggers at Taro.
"Don't look at me like that. Looks can't kill." Taro pulled over another chair and sat back down.
Kureha lightly tapped the medical room's bed with her toe, looking at Ace. "You, get on that bed and lie down!"
Ace stood in place for a long moment before obediently climbing onto the bed.
Taro nodded imperceptibly. Not bad, at least he's not as impulsive as before.
"Sabo is doing fine now. Luffy is also somewhere learning how to use Haki."
Ace's reaction made Taro's attitude soften a bit. "The New World isn't a place just anyone can go. They're both working hard to get stronger. You've already died once; you need to work even harder!"
"Taro, what exactly do you want?" Ace asked in a low voice.
"I don't want anything. I don't have any particular designs on you guys. I just don't want you to die so easily!" Taro shook his head.
"It's just... a bit of regret. For you, for Whitebeard, and even for Luffy and the others. Your deaths made a lot of people very sad!"
Ace couldn't understand what Taro was talking about, and Taro didn't care.
"From now on, just focus on cultivating here. Don't cause trouble for me, for Dr. Kureha, or for this country!"
A simmering anger rose in Ace. "Why should I listen to you?"
Taro raised his fist, a dark blue-black Armament Haki instantly coating it. "Because you can't beat me. Is that reason enough?"
Ace's breath hitched. Then he heard Taro continue, "Think carefully about the people who care about you, and those who gave their lives to save you. That's the meaning of your life!"
Then he gave a mocking laugh. "It's best if you listen to these words. If you don't, I'll kill you right here. After all, the whole world thinks you're already dead!"
"You think I'm afraid of death?" Ace roared in anger.
Taro shook his head and sighed. "Of course I know you're not afraid of death!"
Then, he stood up. "Death can be lighter than a goose feather, or heavier than the Red Line. How you choose to die is your own choice!"
"Dr. Kureha, I'll be troubling you with this guy from now on!"
With that, Taro turned to leave.
"Stop! Explain yourself clearly!" Ace struggled, trying to get off the bed.
Taro looked back, somewhat rueful. "Ace, you promised Luffy you wouldn't die. You also promised the people of Wano Country... Ah, forget it. You make promises so easily, yet you almost never got the chance to keep them."
"You... you'd better behave!"
Ace stared, dumbfounded, and roared, "How do you know these things?"
Pulling open the door, a howling blizzard rushed into the room. Taro transformed into a Falcon and shot up into the sky.
"Ace, haven't you always wanted to know what kind of man your father was?"
"You'll tell him, right? Granny Kureha! Hahahaha!"
Taro's voice, carried by the wind and snow, flooded into the medical room.
"Bastard!"
Hearing this, Kureha was furious. She grabbed the chair beneath her and hurled it out the door!
...Alabasta, Elmal District.
Taro landed on the roof of the Government Hall facing the morning sun. Returning to his office and just about to take a nap, the den den mushi rang.
"Huh? Mack, is something wrong at Sabaody?"
Receiving Mack's call, Taro's heart tightened.
"Ah, no, Vice Admiral, Sabaody is fine!" Mack on the other end was momentarily stunned, then quickly explained the reason. "It's a young man. He says he's been transferred to your command under Admiral Aokiji's orders!"
"Grant?" Taro remembered this matter.
After a soft inquiry on Mack's end, he confirmed it. "Yes, Vice Admiral! That's the name!"
"Hmm, that's right. I recall. Keep him then!"
"But, Vice Admiral, he demands to see you!"
Taro was taken aback. "See me?"
"Taro, I am Olhant Grant. Admiral Aokiji has some words he wants me to deliver to you in person!"
A somewhat youthful voice came from the den den mushi, mixed with Mack's scolding, "How dare you be so disrespectful!"
"It's fine, Mack!" Taro rubbed his forehead. "Grant, come over then."
"Click."
Hanging up the den den mushi, Taro frowned deeply. What message does Aokiji have for me?
He thought carefully. Recently, the only major event in the Marines is the Fleet Admiral competition, and that matter was already clarified before!
Just then, Princess Vivi and Betty walked in together.
"Oh, you're back?" Betty was quite surprised to see Taro.
Taro was even more surprised. "Why are you two together?"
"Is there something wrong with that?" Vivi raised an eyebrow.
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