Chapter 449: Capturing Ace Alive

Evening, Water 7 harbor.

"Are you done talking with Robin?"

Kuzan nodded: "Yeah! It's finished. It seems that from today on, I don't need to look after her anymore."

"Indeed! She already has her own companions, and you need to work hard too! Strive to become the Fleet Admiral of the Navy as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Kuzan couldn't help but show a bitter smile: "It's not that easy. Sakazuki has the support of the World Government. With my current merits, it's too difficult to firmly surpass Sakazuki."

"Hahaha! Keep it up. As long as you make the World Government shut up, you'll have won for sure. And the opportunity... uh, the Den Den Mushi is ringing, hold on."

Karl took out the Den Den Mushi: "Moshi moshi?"

"Karl, I just received news that Shanks and Bai Huzi met during the day today. It's unclear exactly what they were talking about, but the underlying reason is definitely not simple."

"They met so quickly? But Shanks is a generation younger than Bai Huzi; there's no way Bai Huzi would agree to an alliance with Shanks, right?"

"Based on my understanding of Newgate, that should be the case. Regardless, with Bai Huzi around, the Bai Huzi Pirates are the strongest pirate crew in the world. If they were to form an alliance with Shanks, it would be troublesome."

"Mm-hmm, what do you need me to do?"

"Is Aokiji with you?"

Karl turned his head to glance at Aokiji: "Yes, I was just talking to him."

"That's great, it saves me from calling him again. The situation on the sea has been unstable lately; you'd best not travel too far. Try to operate near Navy Headquarters and be ready at any time."

"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."

After hanging up, Karl looked at Kuzan with a smile: "Look, hasn't the opportunity arrived?"

"What opportunity?"

Karl shook his head: "Don't pretend you don't understand, Kuzan. Fleet Admiral Sengoku has been wanting to make a move against the Bai Huzi Pirates for more than a day or two. As an Admiral, it's impossible for you not to know."

"The only thing missing now is a catalyst—a catalyst that would make Bai Huzi lose all reason."

Kuzan nodded silently, then sighed: "Is the sea, which has been calm for so long, finally going to descend into chaos?"

"Nonsense, when has the sea ever been calm since Roger died? Anyway, enough talk. Where is that old man Garp?"

Kuzan looked toward the direction of Water 7: "Not sure, but he's definitely not on the warship."

Karl rubbed his chin: "Can't be bothered with him. Let's spend the night here today! By the way, I heard there's a great bar in Water 7. I'm planning to go check it out. Do you want to come along?"

"No, it's better not to drink during this period."

"Tch, who goes to a bar just to drink! Forget it if you're not going, I'll go myself."

Kuzan suddenly thought of something and grabbed Karl's sleeve: "Hey, you aren't planning on going to flirt, are you? Does Ain know about this?"

"Hi, it's just for show. How would she know if you don't say anything? Besides, I'm just giving back to the fans. At most, they get my body, but they will never get my heart."

Kuzan silently gave a thumbs up, a solid 6.

The next day, Banaro Island.

Fire Fist Ace and Blackbeard's group encountered each other.

"I've been looking for you for so long! Teach." Ace crouched on the eaves, his gaze cold as he looked at Teach on the ground. The others were naturally ignored by Ace; in his eyes, only Teach was the most important.

"Zehahaha, isn't this Commander Ace?" Teach grinned and walked a few steps toward Ace.

"Shut up! As things stand, I'm no commander. Don't think I'll let you go just because of that!"

Laffitte, behind Teach, gave a wicked smile and said sarcastically: "Oh my, you must be that Fire Fist, Ace!"

Ace replied perfunctorily: "Yeah, yeah, that's me." Then he turned his gaze back to Teach.

"You're a prominent captain now, aren't you? Blackbeard Pirates, Captain Marshall D. Teach..."

"Zehahahaha, what's this, Ace? Long time no see! What's wrong? How did you know I was here?"

"Teach, let's stop with the nonsense. You, who have lived many more years than others, can't possibly not understand the current situation, right..."

Teach waved his hand: "Hehe, I know. Talking about this is meaningless. By the way, Ace, do you want to become my companion and conquer the world with me?"

Teach raised his hands high and shouted in a bewitching tone: "I have already planned the path to supremacy!"

"The era of Bai Huzi is over. The Pirate King should be me!"

"First, let's go kill Straw Hat Luffy in Water 7 as a gift for the World Government!"

Hearing that name, Ace's gaze hardened: "Luffy, what are you talking about?"

"Ah! Do you know him?"

Ace slowly stood up from the eaves and said coldly: "I have even less reason to let you go now! The Luffy you're talking about is my brother!"

Click~ Bang!

Van Augur raised his musket, and a bullet instantly pierced Ace's forehead. Unfortunately, Ace was a Logia user; ordinary bullets could only hit empty air.

"There really is a rude guy here... Musket!"

This also signaled the official start of the battle between Ace and Blackbeard!

Water 7.

"Old lady, this is delicious sea salt, right! You've gathered so much, why don't you sell me some?"

"Sure, young man. I'll share a bag with you! Pay whatever you think is fair!"

Karl said without hesitation: "Old lady, I'm not short on money. Can you sell it all to me?"

The old lady shook her head. This was delicious sea salt she had painstakingly scraped from the eaves and sifted clean; she didn't want to sell it all.

"Young man, if you want delicious sea salt, there's plenty more on the roofs over there. You can go get it yourself. I need to keep this for myself to eat!"

Karl shook his head helplessly, turned to shout at the pedestrians on the street: "I am Navy Vice Admiral Karl. I need to purchase a batch of delicious sea salt as military supplies to be sent to Navy Headquarters. I'll take as much as there is!"

"The purchase price is 30,000 Berries per catty!"

"What! Is that true?"

"There's such a good deal?"

The crowd suddenly felt they had encountered a legendary sucker. Merchants hadn't failed to buy it before, but the price was only around 10,000 Berries. This Navy officer was offering 30,000 Berries; if that didn't make him a sucker, what did?

Karl didn't care what others thought; he wasn't short on money anyway.

Soon, the news spread among the citizens on the street, and one after another, they climbed onto the roofs to tear off tiles—it was quite a scene.

Brrr-brrr-brrr.

"Hello, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. What? Ace was defeated? When? Just now?"

"Okay, okay, I understand. I'll go escort Ace to Impel Down immediately." ===== CHAPTER 451 =====