Chapter 60

Erza carefully went over the details of Ace's commission's execution for Ace, one by one.

It could be said that, regarding Ace's side's needs, Fairy Tail's side had given the greatest response.

They had deployed the squad most adept at this kind of work to search specifically for Blackbeard.

If Blackbeard weren't entirely a character Lin Cheng had fabricated out of thin air, Fairy Tail's side might already have had something to report back with, perhaps.

"Hahaha, to receive such wholehearted assistance from everyone."

Listening to Erza report the mission's progress to him, Ace tipped up his slightly tilted cowboy hat with his index finger, revealing a brilliant smile, and said, "I'm very grateful."

"However, if I remember correctly."

"Mr. Ace, you seem to be a member of the Bai Huzi Pirates, don't you?"

At this moment, Lucy, who was sitting beside Erza, leaned over curiously and asked, "Bai Huzi and Blackbeard seem to have some connection — is that Blackbeard an enemy of Bai Huzi?"

After various hints and nudges from Lin Cheng's side, Lucy had finally taken the initiative to voice the curiosity in her heart.

And as Lucy's words fell, the others around them quietly pricked up their ears as well.

Everyone was still very interested in Ace, and in the Bai Huzi Pirates behind Ace.

However, after Lucy asked that question, everyone present could also feel Ace's mood suddenly turn somewhat off.

"Mr. Ace, I'm sorry."

"Was I not supposed to—"

Looking at Ace, whose mood had suddenly turned somewhat low, Lucy's face showed an apologetic expression.

She felt she had asked something she shouldn't have, after all Ace had such a 'my face is written all over with stories' look.

"Sorry, it's really not that big a deal."

"Blackbeard is just a title; his name is Marshall D. Teach."

Ace looked at Lucy and gave a slight smile, his tone somewhat low as he said, "Teach was once one of my closest friends in the Bai Huzi Pirates — we could talk about anything."

As Ace spoke, everyone around showed an even more attentive expression.

After all, how had a once-close friend who could talk about anything developed to the point of becoming enemies?

At this moment, even Natsu, who had been making a bit of a ruckus on the floor, had gone somewhat quiet, listening attentively to Ace's account — Natsu was the sort of person who treasured his companions most of all.

'So he was Mr. Ace's friend…'

'Such a sharp killing intent toward a former friend…'

Erza's brow furrowed slightly.

Compared to the others, Erza's observation of Ace was a touch more meticulous.

In the instant Ace had mentioned Blackbeard just now, a flash of killing intent had suddenly shot through his eyes.

In other words, Ace harbored murderous intent toward this former closest friend of his — a friend he could talk about anything with.

"Yes, Teach really was a very good friend of mine."

"In fact, the position of commander of the Second Division of the Bai Huzi Pirates should originally have been Teach's."

"In the Bai Huzi Pirates, everyone's relationship was very good, just like blood brothers."

Ace looked at Erza and the surrounding members of Fairy Tail and said, "Much like the atmosphere here."

"That's why I really like Fairy Tail."

"And there's also someone like Natsu here — a reckless fellow, just like my little brother."

Saying so, Ace reached out and ruffled Natsu's head.

Faced with Ace's gentleness, Natsu's expression suddenly became somewhat at a loss, but compared to all that, Natsu cared more about the matter between Ace and Blackbeard.

"If it's like blood brothers—"

Natsu raised his head, looked at Ace's face, and asked with some concern, "Then why did Blackbeard Teach become your enemy, Ace?"

"Everyone in the guild will absolutely never become enemies!"

Natsu's gaze was unusually serious.

Natsu believed what Ace said, so Natsu believed that everyone in the Bai Huzi Pirates Ace spoke of must be, just like everyone in Fairy Tail, the most reliable of companions.

Likewise, Natsu absolutely could not tolerate the day when companions became enemies.

"Hahaha, yes, I used to think so too."

"In our Bai Huzi Pirates, even if someone left the Bai Huzi Pirates for their own reasons, I and the others would still treat that person as a brother."

"No matter the reason — even defecting to another pirate crew — we would not become enemies."

Ace looked into Natsu's determined eyes and said, word by word, "But there is one prerequisite."

"And that is: absolutely no killing one's own, no murdering one's comrades."

Boom!

As Ace's words fell, Natsu felt as though something had hammered his brain hard.

And then came an unprecedented fury.