Pirate: I, Ace, am the King of Eclipse!

Karina smiled and shook her head, then turned to get the wine.

Looking at his energetic companions on the deck, Ace casually put the 50 million bounty poster, which was enough to shake the entire East China Sea, into his pocket, leaned against the ship's side, and gazed at the shimmering sea in the distance.

……

Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Goa, behind Windmill Village.

"Wow! W ...!"

Fourteen-year-old Luffy, clutching the bounty posters for Ace and Sabo, bounced around on the roof of Dadan's wooden house, making the tiles rattle.

"So cool!"

"Ace and Sabo are so cool!"

"Fifty million Berries!!"

Luffy pressed down on his straw hat, looked up at the azure sea, and roared with high spirits:

"Damn it! I need to get out to sea right now!"

"I'm determined to get a bounty even higher than Ace's in the future!"

"I'm going to be the Pirate King!!!"

Below, the bandit Dadan looked at the two wanted posters that had fallen out of the newspaper, his face turning from red to white, and then from white to green.

Finally, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed onto the floor, foaming at the mouth.

"It's over, it's over!"

"When Lieutenant General Garp comes back, he'll definitely tear us all apart!"

……

Let's turn our attention back to the East China Sea, aboard the Eclipse.

After a brief celebration, the deck was filled with the aroma of grilled meat and sake.

Karina took a sip of juice and then spread out the nautical chart.

"Captain, after the Baratie incident, the East China Sea Navy will soon shorten its shipping routes, and several major ports will begin to strictly inspect us."

She ran her fingertips lightly across the nautical chart, her tone regaining its usual rationality.

"Staying in the East China Sea will not be very profitable, but will only bring more trouble."

"We have basically done what we needed to do in the East China Sea."

Karina looked up at Ace.

"Should we set the route directly to the entrance of the Grand Line—Reverse Mountain?"

Upon hearing the words "Upside Down Mountain," Sabo and Buggy simultaneously looked at Ace, who was sitting on a wooden barrel gnawing on meat with bones.

Ace, who had just been all smiles and fighting with Buggy for meat, paused slightly.

The laughter and chatter on the deck subsided.

Ace put down the grilled meat in his hand and his gaze fell on the sea chart.

A moment later, he stretched out his finger and pointed to a coordinate.

"Before we enter the Grand Line, let's go to one place first."

Karina followed his fingertip and paused for a moment.

"Roggetown?"

"That place known as the Town of Beginnings and Ends?"

She quickly realized what was happening, and her brows furrowed slightly.

"But it's still a long voyage from Reverse Mountain, and the Navy Captain White Hunter Smoker stationed in Loguetown is a Logia-type Devil Fruit user."

"Going there now with the highest bounty in the East China Sea would definitely cause a lot of trouble."

"So what?"

Ace stood up, the sea breeze ruffling his dark red trench coat.

"Whether it's a natural-type or the naval fleet stationed there."

"Anyone who dares to stand in front of the Eclipse will be crushed."

His voice wasn't loud, but it made Bucky and Karina instinctively straighten their backs.

Ace turned around and looked at Sabo and Buggy.

"Turn the rudder."

"Go to the place where the old era has come to an end."

"Before embarking on the Grand Line, let the East China Sea remember the name of Eclipse."

Chapter 22 Unexpected Fortune

East China Sea, Rogge Town.

This island, known as the "Town of Beginnings and Ends," is a gathering place for merchants, naval personnel, and pirates preparing to sail to the Grand Line.

When the Eclipse's streamlined black hull slowly docked in the harbor, it immediately caused a stir.

"Look at that pirate flag."

At the port, several sharp-eyed bounty hunters looked up, their faces instantly turning pale, and they subconsciously took a few steps back.

A striking pattern is painted on the high-flying mainsail.

In the center of the black background is a pale, traditional skull. Behind the skull, a pair of crimson-gold wings spread out like a divine bird in flight, surrounded by a ring of dark red flames, like the corona that appears during a solar eclipse, enveloping the skull and wings.

Death, holiness, and the all-consuming flames.

This is the flag of the newly formed pirate crew, the Eclipse Pirates, who just broke the East Blue record with a bounty of 50 million.

"Karina, Sabo, you two go and browse the shops in town."

Ace stepped off the gangway, casually adjusted the dark red trench coat draped over his shoulders, and said to the two:

"Buy a few of the best quality logging pins. The magnetic field of the Grand Line is very chaotic; without them, our ships can't sail out no matter how fast they go."

"Leave it to me, Captain."

Karina patted the delicate little leather bag in her hand, her tone light and cheerful.

With Saab as a partner, it's much safer to keep track of procurement records and get information about ports along the way.

Ace turned his head and looked at Buggy, who was about to sneak back to the living room for a nap.

"Bucky."

Pakistan froze.

Ace, as if ignoring his actions, gave the order in his usual tone:

"Go to the backstreet market, replenish the ship with a hundred barrels of rum and juice, and buy enough meat and premium spices for half a month."

"Meet at the central square in the evening."

"A hundred barrels? That's enough meat for half a month?!"

Bucky's eyes widened on the spot.

"I'm not a mule hauling goods! Why do I always have to do this rough work!"

"You're the chief steward of the Eclipse, if you don't do it, who will?"

Ace replied casually and waved his hand.

"Hurry up, don't be late for tonight's banquet."

"Tch, all you do is order me around."

Bucky muttered under his breath, cursing as he obediently dragged a large cart off the deck and headed toward the market.

Watching the three of them leave in different directions, Ace stretched and strode off alone toward the old neighborhood deep in Loguetown.

……

Half an hour later, on a secluded back street.

A dilapidated tavern, its signboard almost falling off, stands quietly in the shadows.

Ace bent down slightly, pushed open the low wooden door, and stepped into the dimly lit little house.

There were no other customers in the tavern.

Behind the bar, an elderly man with gray hair was slowly wiping glasses. Directly behind him hung a huge skull pierced by a sharp sword.

Gold Roger Bar.

"Boss, bring me your strongest liquor."

Ace walked to the bar, pulled out a high stool, and sat down.

The tavern owner, Rael, stopped wiping the glasses and glanced at him.

The black-haired youth in front of him was tall and had a calm demeanor; he was nothing like an ordinary pirate commonly seen in the East Blue.

Rael was silent for a moment, then turned around, poured a large glass of pungent, cheap liquor, and pushed it in front of Ace.

"Judging from your physique and demeanor, you don't seem like a mediocre talent from the East China Sea."

Rael's aged voice echoed in the quiet tavern.

"The town of Loguetown is now full of stupid pirates who yell and scream at the sight of the execution platform. This tavern hasn't had a decent customer in a long time."

"Yeah."

Ace picked up his glass, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

The spicy liquor rolled down my throat, bringing a rough, burning sensation.

He put down his glass and looked at the huge skull behind the bar.

"I heard that more than 20 years ago, the man known as the Pirate King was a regular here before he set sail."