Chapter 238: Brothers Meet

"How could it be that fast, hahaha."

Karl took the ring from Hancock's hand and instructed: "There is no doubt that Pure Gold has the effect of making people live forever, but you need to wear it all the time for it to take effect."

"You mean, as long as I keep wearing it, my appearance will be frozen?"

"Smart, that's about it. Come, let me put it on for you."

Karl took Hancock's fair and tender hand and slowly put the Pure Gold ring on her ring finger: "Wear it, and you will be mine forever. You can't go back on your word!"

Hancock nodded with emotion: "Mm!"

"By the way, if I wear it, can we still have children?"

Karl: How obsessed are you with having children!

"Cough, Hancock, now that you have eternal life, you never have to worry about aging again. Why are we in such a hurry to have children! Don't you think?"

"That may be so, but..."

Karl covered Hancock's mouth directly and said firmly: "The relationship between us doesn't need children to maintain. Why not take advantage of the infinite time ahead to properly cultivate the successor of Amazon Lily? That way you can get away and stay by my side every day, can't you?"

"Mm, I will listen to you."

Five days later, Amazon Lily.

Under the witness of all the citizens of Amazon Lily, Karl took Hancock's hand and looked at her with love.

"My dear Hancock,

Today, I, Karl, officially make a lifelong promise to you.

I love you deeply. Thank you to the heavens for letting us meet and letting me have the honor to walk the long journey of life with you.

From this moment on, I will always be by your side, protecting you, cherishing you, and giving you happiness and joy.

I solemnly promise that in the days to come, I will always respect you, love you, support you, take care of you, become your strong backing, and face the challenges and difficulties of life with you.

Finally, I want to tell you that I love you, and I will love you forever, until the end of time.

Are you willing to accept my vow, my lover—Boa Hancock?"

Hancock took a deep breath, choked back tears of excitement, and said: "Yes, I am willing!"

Subsequently, Karl took out the Pure Gold ring and solemnly put it on Hancock's ring finger. After the ring was on, Hancock could no longer suppress her excited heart, hugged Karl, and offered a sweet kiss.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!"

"Woooo, that's great, Snake Princess-sama is finally with Karl-sama, woooo! I really, it's too sweet!!!"

"Snake Princess-sama is so happy today! I've never seen her this happy before!"

"It's so romantic! It makes me want to find a man to kiss too!"

After the engagement ceremony, Hancock was still absent-minded, liking to stare at the ring alone when she had nothing to do, which made Karl a bit unable to watch.

"Hancock, is there any need for this? We just got engaged, is it worth it?"

Hancock rolled her eyes at Karl: "My dear, you don't understand. I'm just thinking that when we get married, we must let the whole world witness our wedding."

Karl covered his mouth and coughed: "That, don't forget Ain."

Hancock's expression immediately slumped, and she pouted: "Fine, witness the wedding of the three of us. By the way, am I the first, right?"

"What first?"

"The Pure Gold ring, am I the first one you gave it to?"

Karl held up four fingers: "I swear, you think it's the first."

"Hmph, that's more Move Move Like it."

Alabasta, Spice Bean Restaurant.

Smoker looked at the back in front of him and took a deep breath. He recognized this tattoo; it was the mark of the Whitebeard Pirates.

"That is the mark of the Whitebeard Pirates. Why is he here?"

"What is a famous big-shot pirate doing in this country?"

Ace said without looking back: "I'm looking for someone, my brother."

After speaking, Ace turned his head to look at Smoker. Smoker's mouth curled up slightly: "Your brother, is that Straw Hat Luffy? That's right, you are both grandsons of Vice Admiral Garp."

"Then, what should I do?"

"Obediently get caught! Whether it's you or Straw Hat Luffy, you only have one destination, and that is Impel Down."

"Hahaha, sorry, I refuse."

Smoker shook his head: "That's really troublesome. I only wanted to catch Straw Hat Luffy, but now I have to catch you two brothers together!"

Pfft~

A large amount of smoke immediately appeared around Smoker, and soon it filled the entire room.

"Eat, eat, eat, eat, eat~~~~"

Boom~

Luffy, who didn't know where he ran from, was Move Move Like a starving ghost reincarnated, charging straight toward the restaurant, ignoring Smoker standing in front and behind, and rammed into Smoker's back. Unfortunately, Smoker had already passively elementalized.

Luffy passed straight through Smoker's body, failing to send Smoker flying, but instead rammed directly into Ace's arms.

"Eh! Ace?"

Ace's eyes were shocked: "Luffy?"

Then Luffy hit the brakes and stopped precisely in front of Ace, picking up the food on the table and stuffing it into his mouth. While eating, he gestured and danced in front of Ace, mumbling something he didn't know.

Ace looked at Luffy with doting eyes: "You guy is really the same as always!"

Luffy, with his mouth stuffed full, squeezed out a smile and continued to eat.

"Straw Hat Luffy, Fire Fist Ace, it seems I can catch you all in one net this time."

"Smoke Prison Array!!!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~

The smoke flowed at high speed, driving the airflow and making a whooshing sound. While shrouding Luffy and Ace, the civilians were also pushed away by the materialized smoke to avoid being caught in the battle.

"Luffy, now is not the time to eat! This guy is very troublesome!"

"Ace, I know him, he's very strong! I can't beat him!"

Ace chuckled: "It's okay, leave it to me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, scorching flames ignited around Ace, intertwining with Smoker's white smoke. Smoke and fire, neither conflicting nor compatible.

Smoker seemed to realize this too, raising his dark fist and rushing toward Ace.

"Armament Haki? I didn't expect a Marine in Paradise to possess such Haki. It seems I underestimated you!"

Ace was slightly surprised, but he wasn't stupid. He grabbed Luffy by the neck and retreated quickly, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

If Luffy weren't there, Ace would have been interested in playing with Smoker, but with Luffy there, it was better to run away.

Hmm? Where are the people? Smoker looked left and right.

"Damn it! This guy actually ran away!"

Smoker waved his hand, dispelling the smoke, and looked at the figure running wildly in the distance, silently saying.

"You can't run away."