Chapter 489: The Light at Ace's Cell Door
Yakumo Yukari showed no intention of leaving, and Yakumo Ran was even less inclined to go. Why would she? Here, there was no work, endless entertainment, and a constant supply of delicious food. If she could, she would gladly photosynthesize, turning into a permanent fixture of the shop.
Nami let out a long, weary sigh. "I seem to remember the journey to the Sabaody Archipelago was supposed to take three days. But at this rate... forget three days... it's going to be a while. This is such a headache..."
Lucifer tilted her head, a thoughtful glint in her eyes. "Worst case, you can just wait for Zoro to find his way here. Your world's time is the most flexible, after all. Who knows, maybe he'll even manage to bring a couple of guests with him."
"Zoro only knows so many people..." Nami mumbled, resting her chin in her palm. "He knows Hawk-Eyes, but Hawk-Eyes has already been here, even before him. Ugh... my head hurts... Shopkeeper Ren! A refill!"
Ren glanced at her empty glass, a look of genuine confusion on his face. "So, Nami, I have to ask. How many stomachs do you girls actually have?"
His question drew the attention of every woman in the room, Nami included. Seeing their blank stares, Ren elaborated as if explaining a simple fact of nature. "You all said you were full after the meal. Then you downed that entire glass of juice in one go. Now you're asking for a refill. Were you actually full just now?"
"I was," Nami confirmed.
"Then how can you still drink so much juice?"
"Eh? That's... a good question. Why can I?"
Ren sighed, a world-weary expression on his face. "The evidence proves it. When women eat, the main course goes into one stomach, dessert into another, drinks into a third, and snacks into a fourth. It's at least four stomachs."
Lucifer tilted her head, considering this. "I don't believe I'm like that."
"That's only a recent development," Ren countered without missing a beat. "Back when you were watching the shop, your hands never stopped moving between my snacks and desserts."
The corner of Lucifer's mouth twitched. She fell silent, a faint blush creeping up her neck. After a long, tense moment, she suddenly shouted, "Ren! I want a chocolate crepe! With extra nuts!"
Ren just sighed again. Lucifer, however, felt no embarrassment whatsoever. In her mind, the desire to eat and the state of being full were two entirely separate concepts. Perhaps, Ren mused, all women thought that way.
After Ren retreated to the kitchen, Nami's expression grew serious again. "If the Shichibukai are being gathered now," she said, her voice low and laced with worry, "does that mean something huge has happened?"
Meanwhile, in the cold confines of a prison cell, a young man sat with his eyes closed, trying to find a moment of peace. Had Luffy and his crew been present, they would have gasped his name in shock: "Ace!"
Ace let out a ragged breath, his gaze falling upon the massive iron door before him. A bitter, self-deprecating smile twisted his lips. 'I really let myself get played...' he thought. "If only I could get out of here... Damn it! I'm going to drag Pops and everyone else into this! Damn it! Damn it all!"
The sheer foolishness of it all gnawed at him. To be captured so easily... Ace knew his capture would implicate many, but he couldn't possibly imagine the true scale of the storm that was brewing—a storm that was about to engulf the entire world, all because of him.
Back in the shop, Nami glanced at her watch. A significant amount of time had passed. The three-day promise to meet at Sabaody was now an impossibility. Her immediate concern shifted from her crew's reunion to the unfolding crisis in her world.
Yakumo Yukari and the others, however, were simply looking forward to the evening's entertainment. They wondered what other absurd figures might wander through the door tonight. It was like watching a grand assembly of pirates, one arriving after another... with a Marine Admiral thrown in for good measure.
Just as Ren emerged from the kitchen, pushing a food cart with a freshly made chocolate crepe, news was spreading like wildfire across Nami's world.
On the island of Amazon Lily, Elder Nyon, who had been chatting with Luffy, suddenly looked up from a newspaper in surprise. "Hmm? Portgas D. Ace, a commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, has been captured?!"
The name hit Luffy like a physical blow. He froze, his entire body going rigid. "Gramma Nyon," he said, his voice dangerously quiet, "what did you just say?"
Elder Nyon sighed, her ancient eyes filled with grim understanding. "Ace, a commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, has been captured. He's scheduled for public execution in seven days."
"Ace... Ace is going to be executed?!" Luffy's voice cracked, raw disbelief warring with dawning horror.
"You seem quite agitated by this news."
"Ace... he's my brother!"
Elder Nyon's pupils constricted. After she quickly laid out the monumental disadvantages and the sheer impossibility of a rescue, Luffy gritted his teeth, his knuckles white. "But there's no time! How can I get there fast?! If I'm late, Ace will be in danger!"
The old woman thought for a moment. "Your only option is to beg the Snake Princess for help. As one of the Shichibukai, she... Eh?! Hey! Why doesn't this kid ever listen to someone finish their sentence?!"
Watching Luffy sprint away like a man possessed, Elder Nyon sighed deeply. 'The Snake Princess's mind is completely consumed by that shop right now. There's no way she'd agree to help that boy...'
Elsewhere on the island, the Snake Princess, Boa Hancock, was proving Elder Nyon's assessment correct. She was thinking of anything but global politics, instead hugging a pillow to her chest while complaining about Pandemonica and the others, her muttering constantly circling back to one person.
"Honestly... this concubine is not some little girl! But to be addressed that way... it truly makes this concubine's heart race! What in the world is happening to me?"
"Ah! I'm so furious! I want to stay there too! But..."
The sound of her door bursting open startled Hancock from her reverie. She looked up to see Luffy charging in. Hancock's brow furrowed in annoyance. "Straw Hat boy! What is the meaning of this?! Do you wish for this concubine to kick you off this island?!"
Without preamble, Luffy blurted out the entire situation. As Hancock listened, her crimson eyes narrowed. "And why," she asked coolly, "should this concubine help you?"
Though her words were dismissive, her mind was racing. 'Was this what Kizaru was referring to earlier? But why would he tell me about the gathering specifically?'
Hancock shook her head, clearing the thought. An event of this magnitude would naturally require the presence of all the Shichibukai. It wasn't a matter of extending a courtesy; it was a summons.
She was pulled back to the present by Luffy, who was still pleading and begging at her side. It was no use; Hancock remained completely unmoved, still trying to piece together the unsettling puzzle in her mind.
Finally, she sighed, waving a dismissive hand. "This concubine needs to think! We will speak of this again later tonight!"
Luffy had no choice but to retreat. Hancock was his only hope of reaching Ace in time; he had to seize this chance. As soon as he was gone, Hancock flopped back onto her bed, resuming her quiet muttering about her own, far more important affairs.
Back in the terrifying depths of the great undersea prison, Ace stared at the Seastone handcuffs shackled to his wrists. He clenched his fists, straining with all his might, but the cold, energy-sapping stone rendered him powerless. He couldn't even begin to break free.
He stalked over to the cell door, his frustration boiling over. He slammed a fist against the cold iron. "Damn it! Damn it!" he growled, his voice a low rasp. "Is there any way out of here?! I absolutely cannot stay here!"
As the words left his lips, Ace froze.
The solid iron door in front of him began to glow. A soft, ethereal light emanated from its surface, bathing the dark cell in an otherworldly luminescence.
Ace stared, utterly dumbfounded. What did this mean?
Was this... a divine sign?
[Akarin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/AkarinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/AkarinTL
🔗 All My Links: linktr[.]ee/AkarinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]