One Piece: Get Stronger by Watching Battles

Colonel Smoker stood up and ordered the marines, "Send word: Destination, Alabasta."

The marine saluted, "Yes, sir!"

Chapter 20 Ace

Sea area near Alabasta.

“Report, Colonel Tina,” a marine saluted and said loudly, “There is a situation that the reconnaissance naval personnel on the watchtower believe needs to report to you.”

"Huh? What's going on?" Colonel Tina was looking at Zhou Ze with great joy when the marine came to disturb her, making her look annoyed.

"Well, our ship encountered five ships from the same company this morning. They also seemed to be heading to Alabasta. The patrol marines thought the situation was a bit strange, so..."

Upon hearing the name "Alabasta," Zhou Ze, who was studying a map of Alabasta on the table, looked up and asked, "Which company?"

The marine first looked at Colonel Tina, and seeing that her expression was becoming even more unpleasant, he immediately saluted Zhou Ze again, saying, "They are flying a 'Baroque Works' flag."

Zhou Ze nodded. It seemed that Crocodile was already gathering his troops, and the decisive battle was about to begin.

“Bru bru bru…”

Colonel Tina's Den Den Mushi rang at that moment. She gestured for the marines to step back and then answered the Den Den Mushi.

"Tina, change the meeting point. We'll meet directly in Alabasta."

Colonel Smoker's voice came through the Den Den Mushi.

“My warship will dock in Alabasta soon, you can come over by yourself.” Tina glanced at Zhou Ze’s expression and then replied to Smoker in a stiff tone.

Smoker was taken aback. Ignoring Tina's tone, he asked urgently, "You're already near Alabasta? You knew something all along?"

"Know what?" Tina frowned. "What are you talking about? Tina, I don't understand."

“I captured someone codenamed Mr. 11…” Smoker recounted the intelligence he had gathered, and finally asked, “And why did you go to Alabasta?”

Colonel Tina was also greatly surprised after hearing Smoker's words, and she looked at Zhou Ze with astonishment.

Zhou Ze felt a bit of a headache. How was he supposed to explain this?

“Ahem, ahem,” Zhou Ze thought for a moment, then coughed lightly twice. “Colonel Smoker, the criminal organization you mentioned is called ‘Baroque Works’.”

Then he met Tina's gaze. "Yes, it's the company that Marine reported earlier."

"Tina, who was speaking just now?" Colonel Smoker asked in utter shock.

"Colonel Smoker, my name is Zhou Ze, Lieutenant at Naval Headquarters," Zhou Ze said, introducing himself.

"Ah, it's Lieutenant Zhou Ze!" A woman's voice suddenly came through the Den Den Mushi. "Lieutenant Zhou Ze, hello! My name is Tashigi. I've heard that you are a great swordsman who can rival Hawkeye Dracule Mihawk. Please... Ouch!"

Tashigi cried out in pain, followed by a loud thud as something crashed onto the deck.

"Damn it, Tashigi, are you an idiot? Is this the time to be talking about this?" Colonel Smoker's angry voice came through the Den Den Mushi.

It looks like Tashigi got punished.

"Oh, Zhou Ze, he really is quite famous," Colonel Smoker said with a hint of sarcasm. "How did you get this information?"

Smoker has always believed that Zhou Ze is a character deliberately created by the world government, so he naturally dislikes him.

Zhou Ze was unaware of these things. He sensed Smoker's sarcastic tone and felt a surge of anger. "You, who will be beaten to a pulp in two years, still dare to talk sarcasticly at me?"

“I have my own sources of intelligence,” Zhou Ze said coldly.

Colonel Tina, who was standing next to him, also noticed that Smoker's tone was off, and Zhou Ze, who was beside her, also seemed somewhat dissatisfied. She was even more annoyed with Smoker now, saying, "Smoker, now that we've finished talking, let's leave it at that."

After saying that, he hung up the Den Den Mushi.

Smoker heard a "click" sound and stared blankly. What was wrong with Tina today?

"Well, Smoker and I actually..." Tina looked at Zhou Ze somewhat awkwardly and began to speak.

“Ah, you two joined the Navy at the same time, that’s no secret, I know that.” Zhou Ze interrupted Tina, pointing to the map. “I’ll go ashore here later.”

Tina turned to look and saw the port city of "Vegetable Flower," also known as Rapeseed Flower, in Alabasta. It was the largest port city on the southeastern coast of the kingdom.

……

Zhou Ze changed into his casual clothes, jumped off the boat, and was about to leave when he saw Tina jump off as well. She was wearing a figure-hugging black suit, a light pink robe, and a veiled hat.

Under Zhou Ze's questioning gaze, Tina gently draped a sea-blue outer robe over Zhou Ze and handed him a matching veil.

"Alabasta has a lot of sandstorms, so this can effectively prevent sand erosion and save energy."

Tina said softly.

Zhou Ze stared blankly at Tina. "Mature woman, you've really got it wrong, haven't you?"

However, he still has many things to do, and he'll talk to Colonel Tina about it after the Alabasta incident is resolved.

"Let the warship wait for Smoker in the open sea. It's too conspicuous for a naval warship to be parked here."

Zhou Ze said to Tina.

Tina nodded and turned to give instructions to the marines on the ship.

…………

The terrain of this desert kingdom is very similar to that of the pyramid kingdom of the previous life, with a large river running north to south, dividing the country into two halves.

Walking down the town streets, Zhou Ze was curious about everything. The exotic atmosphere was wonderful! Having never been abroad in his previous life, Zhou Ze, full of energy, looked around excitedly.

"According to intelligence, the situation in Alabasta has been chaotic recently, and the rebels could start a war with the Kingdom's army at any time. Lieutenant Zhou Ze, we'd better be careful."

Colonel Tina spoke during the moment when Zhou Ze was haggling with a roadside vendor, her tone quite serious.

"Well, well, Tina, just call me Zhou Ze," Zhou Ze handed Tina an orange, "Don't reveal that we're from the Navy."

Zhou Ze scoffed dismissively, "After all, the world government didn't order our navy to intervene in this civil war."

Tina took the orange, oblivious to the sarcasm directed at world governments in Zhou Ze's tone. Instead, she nodded, "Yes, we really can't interfere."

Zhou Ze: "..."

This decisive and disciplined older woman is quite different from that chain-smoking Smoker...

Just as Zhou Ze was complaining, a man walked up to them, handed them a piece of paper, and asked:

"Excuse me, have either of you seen this person before?"

Zhou Ze was stunned when he saw the bounty poster for Straw Hat Luffy.

The man in front of him was about the same height as Zhou Ze, wearing an orange cowboy hat, with black hair and playful freckles on his cheeks. He was shirtless, revealing the "ASCE" tattoo on his left arm, with the "S" crossed out. He was wearing black shorts and had a dagger tucked into his left hip.

Zhou Ze stared dumbfounded at the very polite man in front of him, his mind completely blank.

Hold the grass!

Chapter 21: Dissuasion Fails! Zhou Ze vs. Ace

Fire Fist Ace!

Captain of the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates!

Gol D. Roger's son!

The future Pirate King Luffy's older brother!

After being shocked, Zhou Ze was so excited that he wanted to cry. He had actually met this passionate and fiery man with such a tragic fate so casually.

Tina recognized Ace too, and she exclaimed, "Fire Fist Ace!"

Ace paused for a moment, then pushed up his cowboy hat with his index finger, revealing a smile. "You guys know me? Hahaha, I didn't expect I'd become this famous."

Colonel Tina stepped forward and shouted, "I am from Marine Headquarters..."

Zhou Ze was speechless. He quickly grabbed Tina's arm, smiled at Ace, and then looked at Tina, "Calm down, don't fight!"

"Are you from the Navy?" Ace's gaze froze for a moment, then he turned and ran away like the wind.

Tina broke free from Zhou Ze's grasp and chased after him.

Zhou Ze opened his mouth, paused for a moment, and then followed.

The three chased each other for several blocks before Ace finally stopped at the end of one block.

"Navy, I just wanted to ask you about someone. Why are you always chasing after me?" Ace said casually to Colonel Tina, who had caught up with him, while pressing down on his hat.

"I'm a Marine, you're a pirate, I'm going to arrest you right now..."

"Lady, you can't beat him!"

Zhou Ze was on the verge of tears, "Wait, listen to me!"

"Let's fight outside, let's fight outside, not in the city. These civilians are innocent. If we destroy their houses, will you compensate them?"

Ace looked at Zhou Ze, chuckled, and didn't say anything.

Tina, however, kept her eyes fixed on Ace and ignored him.

Zhou Ze rubbed his forehead, feeling a bit of a headache. "If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes."

"Go, go, all of you go."

Seeing that the two hadn't made a move yet, Zhou Ze waved to Ace and gently nudged Tina, signaling them to hurry up.

The hot desert wind occasionally whipped up gusts of yellow sand, and Zhou Ze's throat felt dry as he looked at the two men facing off.

"I said, can we not fight for now?"

"I'm so sorry I couldn't continue our trip, Tina. I'm so sorry to have spoiled your fun." Tina glanced apologetically at Zhou Ze, then stared at Ace. "But I'm determined to arrest this pirate!"

"Hey, Navy, you've got a big mouth, huh? Come on, give me a try! Hehe!"

Ace raised his head, grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, and flames ignited on his body.

Tina said no more and rushed forward, while Ace also threw a punch to meet her.

Zhou Ze's lips twitched as he watched the two exchange blows several times in an instant.

Fine, go ahead and fight if you want.

The two exchanged blows using their fists and feet for a while. After creating distance once again, Tina raised her arms and softly shouted, "Cha Yu Lao".

Suddenly, her arms transformed into two iron bars, one on the left and one on the right, rushing towards Ace. After connecting behind Ace, they quickly converged again, attempting to trap him.