Chapter 70: Ace
However, as a village that had produced a Marine hero, the villagers, though nervous, were not in a panic.
They sent someone to notify the village chief while returning home to pack away their valuables.
Compared to the orderly chaos of Windmill Village's residents, the distant Marine surveillance ship was in utter disarray.
"How could the Beasts Pirates go to Windmill Village?"
The monitoring branch’s Major was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing frantically in the small bridge, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
Others might not know, but he did: Windmill Village was Vice Admiral Garp's hometown.
Every year, Vice Admiral Garp would return there for a few days during his leave.
This was an open secret within the East Blue Marine.
Now, the vicious Beasts Pirates had set their sights on this place; if they decided to go on a rampage, he could forget about keeping his hat.
His adjutant stepped forward and advised, "At this point, we can only report the situation and let Marineford decide."
"Oh, right."
The Major suddenly came to his senses, slapping his forehead.
He had been so flustered.
Was the matter of the Beasts Pirates something a mere branch Major could handle?
He had already earned his Marine salary by risking his life to track the Beasts Pirates; there was no need to seek more trouble.
Soon, Marineford received the Major’s report.
Given the safety of a Marine hero's hometown was at stake, the Marine Lieutenant Commander who received the intelligence did not delay, urgently submitting the information to Sengoku.
After quickly browsing the intelligence, Sengoku frowned, momentarily unable to figure out Kain's objective.
If Kain had some conspiracy, then after he arrived in the East Blue, besides fighting Hawkeye, he hadn't caused any other disturbances.
But if he was just traveling, what was he doing in Windmill Village?
He should have gone to the Goa Kingdom; that was the famous tourist destination.
But no matter what, with his old friend's hometown's safety involved, both publicly and privately, he had to intervene.
He couldn't let Zephyr's tragedy repeat itself with Garp.
Coincidentally, these days were Garp's leave, so he should be somewhere near the East Blue.
Sengoku dialed Garp's Den Den Mushi, which rang for a while before a low, calm voice answered,
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! This is Bogart."
"Where's Garp?"
"The Vice Admiral is currently clearing out pirate crews in the East Blue."
Saying that, Bogart held the Den Den Mushi towards the center of the battlefield.
From the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Garp's boisterous laughter clearly echoed.
"Fist Meteor."
Immediately following that was a series of explosions.
Garp didn't make Sengoku wait long; the casual pirate clearing activity quickly ended.
This was just a small diversion during his journey.
A wild, unrestrained laugh sounded from the other end of the Den Den Mushi: "Hahaha, Sengoku, it's only been a few days, and you already miss me?"
"Cut it out, I wish you'd stay out for a few more days. At least then no one would steal my senbei."
After the two old friends habitually exchanged a few jabs, Sengoku got to the point.
"Listen, Garp, Heavenly Disaster Kain is currently in Windmill Village."
"Nani?!"
Garp's forehead veins bulged, and he immediately hung up the Den Den Mushi, shouting, "Depart for Windmill Village! Full speed ahead!"
The Raikougo slowly docked.
Windmill Village's tavern welcomed a group of special guests.
"Is there anything special here? It just looks like an ordinary village to me," Violet wondered.
"Don't underestimate this place, oh." Kain chuckled, "This is the hometown of Marine hero Garp."
The speaker had no intention, but the listener took it to heart.
The tavern owner, Makino, frowned, her gaze instinctively darting towards the Straw Hat boy who was eating and wandering in the corner.
Are they here for Mr. Garp?
She never hesitated to assume the worst intentions from pirates.
"Makino, another plate!"
Luffy held up an empty large plate, his cheeks stuffed full.
"Luffy, you've eaten a lot already. Once you're full, hurry up and go," Makino hinted.
"Huh? But I'm not full yet," Luffy said blankly. "I want another plate."
Idiot.
Makino sighed, she really shouldn't have had high expectations for Luffy's intelligence.
"Hey, Straw Hat over there."
Kain said with a grin, "Can I borrow your Straw Hat to look at? I can treat you to a meal, you know."
"Really?"
Luffy's eyes lit up, and he immediately handed the Straw Hat to Kain, not forgetting to earnestly instruct, "Be careful! Shanks gave me this hat, it's my most important treasure!"
Then, he turned to Makino: "Give me three more plates of meat."
Makino sighed and returned to the kitchen to prepare food for Luffy.
"Wait."
Violet reacted, "Shanks? You don't mean that Red Hair Shanks, do you?"
"Yeah!" Luffy nodded vigorously, looking completely natural. "Shanks is my good friend! Do you know him too?"
"It's rare for someone not to know him. That's the man closest to the Pirate King in the New World."
Violet looked at Luffy in shock, "It's hard to imagine a man like that having a friend like you."
Is this kid crazy?
"I wouldn't lie!" Luffy jumped off the stool, hands on his hips, and loudly declared, "I, Monkey D. Luffy, am the man who will become the Pirate King!"
The tavern instantly fell silent.
To Luffy's surprise, Kain and the others didn't mock him like everyone else.
"A magnificent dream!" Yamato gave a thumbs up.
The others slowly nodded.
Not everyone dared to declare their dreams in public.
Dreams should not be mocked.
Kain toyed with the Straw Hat in his hand, a symbol of Roger's inherited dream.
It was an ordinary, old Straw Hat, useless except for being comfortable to wear without any burrs.
But with the blessings of Roger, Shanks, and Luffy, it could be considered a sacred relic.
Too bad he didn't have a system for collecting items.
Otherwise, it would at least be an SSR-level treasure.
"Here, take it back."
Having satisfied his curiosity, Kain placed the Straw Hat back on Luffy's head.
Just then, a black-haired boy casually walked in.
"Luffy, you're here indeed."
Hmm?
Kain raised an eyebrow.
What a coincidence!
The boy also noticed Kain and his group, who were strangers in the tavern.
"Who are you?"
Having just come down from the mountain, he was still unaware of the news about pirates landing.
Kain turned his head and clearly saw the boy's appearance.
He looked about ten years old, by actual age, a year older than Zoro and Sanji.
His small face had many freckles, and he wore a red vest with 'Justice' written on it and black shorts.
Without Kain needing to speak, the boy's eyes lit up.
"Heavenly Disaster Kain!"
He shouted, "Come and duel me! If I beat you, then I'll be qualified to challenge Kaido, right?"
In a blink of an eye, Ace had already planned out his duel opponents.
First battle Kain, then Kaido, and finally challenge Whitebeard to become the Pirate King!