One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

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Logue Town…

"Sorry, I didn't hurt you, did I?" Ace asked gently, a soft smile on his face as he looked at the flustered girl in front of him.

"No, no! It was my fault for not watching where I was going. You shouldn't apologize!" Tashigi waved her hands in panic, her face flushed with embarrassment.

"No, I really should apologize," Ace said, bowing politely.

"No, no, no! It's my fault!" Tashigi insisted, bowing even deeper, her voice flustered.

"No, it's me—" Ace began again.

The onlookers nearby stared in confusion. Were these two competing to see who could bow the deepest?

"How about this," Ace suggested, breaking the cycle of apologies. "Could you do me a favor?"

"A favor?" Tashigi straightened up, looking relieved. "Of course! That's a great way for me to make up for bumping into you."

"I'd love to see the famous execution platform here, but I'm not sure where it is. Could you take me there?" Ace asked, smiling politely but with a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Oh! Of course!" Tashigi replied quickly, grateful for the chance to help. Though it might delay her visit to the sword shop, it was only right to assist, given her role in the collision.

"Please, follow me," she said, pointing in the direction of the platform.

——

As they walked, Tashigi broke the silence, "I haven't asked for your name yet. I'm Tashigi, by the way."

"My name is Ace," he replied with a friendly smile.

"So, Ace-san, are you here to see the platform because of its history? The one where the Pirate King was executed?" Tashigi asked, her curiosity piqued, unaware of who she was speaking to.

"Yeah, I've always wanted to see it for myself," Ace responded, his tone unreadable.

"Honestly, there's not much to see. Even though the Pirate King was executed there, it feels like his death only inspired more pirates," Tashigi said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"Oh? Sounds like you have dreams of your own, Tashigi," Ace remarked with a knowing smile.

"Huh? How did you know?" Tashigi asked, looking at Ace in surprise.

"Just a feeling. That look on your face when you talk about the platform—it says a lot," Ace replied, smiling gently.

"Well… yes. My dream is to recover all the famous swords that have been taken by evildoers," Tashigi said with determination, her eyes shining.

"That's an amazing dream," Ace said, encouraging her with genuine enthusiasm.

Tashigi blushed, unused to receiving praise for her dream. "It's not that amazing…" she said shyly.

"What about you, Ace-san? Do you have a dream?" Tashigi asked, curious now.

Ace turned his gaze toward the execution platform in the distance. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "My dream? I want to end the era of the Great Pirates, the one that started with Gol D. Roger."

Ace's words carried a quiet power, his smile confident and full of resolve.

Tashigi stared at him in disbelief. End the era of the Great Pirates? Could that really happen? Could this man bring an end to the age of rampant piracy?

"That's… that's an incredible dream, Ace-san!" Tashigi suddenly grasped Ace's hands in excitement, her eyes wide with admiration.

Ace chuckled softly. "Really? Then, if I ever need your help, will you lend a hand?"

"Of course!" Tashigi replied seriously, her determination matching his.

"That's good to hear," Ace said, the corners of his mouth lifting in a slight grin.

"Oh! Ace-san, we're almost at the execution platform," Tashigi said, her excitement growing. She suddenly realized she was still holding Ace's hands, and her face turned a deep shade of red. Embarrassed, she quickly let go and pointed toward the platform, which was now visible in the distance.

"It's just ahead," she said, trying to compose herself.

Ace smiled and nodded. "This should be interesting."

——

Meanwhile, nearby…

"Tashigi, Chief Petty Officer?"

A group of marines patrolling the streets of Logue Town spotted Tashigi walking with Ace. They found the scene odd—wasn't their Chief Petty Officer supposed to be at a sword shop, not strolling hand-in-hand with a man?

One marine squinted at Ace's face and felt a cold sweat break out across his skin. His pupils constricted in shock and terror.

"That man… that's…!!!" the marine whispered, his voice trembling.

——

Elsewhere, in the center of Logue Town…

"Tch. Just another bunch of small fry," Smoker muttered as he stepped on a pirate with a bounty of three million Berries, clearly unimpressed. His cigar smoldered in his mouth as he glanced around, looking for a bigger challenge. "Where's this guy, Ace?"

"C-Colonel Smoker!"

Smoker looked up to see his subordinates running toward him, their faces pale with panic.

"I told you guys I didn't need any help. I can handle this alone, remember?" Smoker said, his voice calm but firm.

"N-No, sir! It's Chief Tashigi!" the marine gasped for breath, pointing frantically toward the execution platform.

"Tashigi? What did that fool do this time?" Smoker growled, biting down harder on his cigar.

"C-Chief Tashigi was taken by Portgas D. Ace! They're heading to the execution platform!" The marine barely managed to say the words through his frantic breaths.

"What?!" Smoker's expression shifted, and the corner of his eye twitched in frustration. That stupid girl!

"Get everyone ready! We're going to the execution platform, now!" Smoker barked, already running toward the location.

"Yes, sir!" the marines shouted, scrambling to follow.

——

At a nearby shop…

"Kaya, what's wrong?" Nami asked, noticing the panic on Kaya's face.

"Ace…"

"That guy, Ace… he always causes such a commotion!" Nami sighed, rubbing her forehead in exasperation.

"Well, let's go. If our captain's in trouble, we've got to help out," Nojiko said with a smile, straightening the gun she had just bought.