The next day.
Ash's good mood from winning the takoyaki contest the previous day disappeared after a call from Sali.
It seemed Sali had gone easy on Ace last time. Because of that, in just half a month, Ace had returned again as if nothing had happened.
Ash had no patience for this.
More importantly, members of the Dawn faction frequently moved through Twin Capes. If Ace kept coming and going like this, it would eventually expose them.
This time, Ash intended to settle the matter completely.
When he arrived at the cliffs of Twin Capes, he saw Dicken sitting firmly on Ace's back. Dicken wore loose shorts, his legs exposed, while Ace lay face down with a scorched backside.
Ash stared at the scene with a strange expression.
It was obvious what had happened. Dicken must have knocked Ace down, then used Armament Haki to pin him in place, preventing him from escaping through his Logia ability.
"You're here, Ash," Dicken said when he noticed him.
"If you're worried about him escaping, why not use Seastone handcuffs?" Ash asked.
Dicken shrugged. "We don't carry that around. We don't deal with Marines, and pirates usually don't stay alive long enough to need it. Only ships or large operations keep that kind of equipment."
"Fair enough."
Ash didn't argue further.
Dicken stood up immediately and left without hesitation, heading straight toward the Dawn ship.
Ash could guess what was on his mind. Ace had probably stirred his fighting spirit, but since Ace wasn't strong enough, Dicken had no choice but to find someone else to spar with.
Ash silently spared a thought for Scopper Gaban and Silvers Rayleigh.
Those two had been extremely busy lately.
Looking down, Ash saw Ace still lying there, pretending to be unconscious.
Ash sighed. "Are you planning to keep repeating this? Do you think I won't kill you just because I know Monkey D. Garp?"
"I'm not relying on the old man!" Ace suddenly shouted, lifting his head. "I have my own reason to go to sea!"
Ash let out a cold laugh. "You say that, yet you've already survived three times because of him."
"You have your reasons, but that has nothing to do with me. Anyone who raises a pirate flag here has two outcomes. Death, or going home."
He paused briefly, then added, "Or there's a third option. Take your crew and go raid a town right now. I'll personally handle you afterward."
Ace froze. "What do you mean?"
"A full service," Ash replied flatly. "Cremation and scattering your ashes."
Ace fell silent.
"Stubborn," Ash muttered.
He took out a pair of Seastone handcuffs from his storage ring and applied slight force.
Snap.
A small fragment broke off in his hand.
Ash raised his hand, and Ace's body lifted into the air against his will.
Then Ash pressed the Seastone fragment directly against Ace's chest before releasing him.
Ace collapsed to the ground instantly, his body limp and powerless.
"What… did you do to me?" Ace asked weakly.
"Nothing complicated," Ash replied. "I left a piece of Seastone in your body. From now on, you'll stay in this weakened state."
"You want to go to sea? You'll be lucky if you can even stand properly."
Ignoring Ace's stunned expression, Ash drew Shusui and focused.
He adjusted the spatial coordinates in his mind, targeting Foosha Village in the Goa Kingdom.
With a single swing, a spatial gate opened.
Ash grabbed Ace by the waistband and dragged him through like dead weight.
When they emerged, the surroundings were lively, completely different from the isolation of Twin Capes.
The gate had opened near the village tavern, quickly drawing attention.
Villagers gathered, staring in shock.
Among them, Ash immediately spotted Monkey D. Luffy, standing with a dazed expression, his mouth hanging open.
As expected.
After confirming the location, Ash tossed Ace onto the ground.
He had no intention of staying.
It wasn't that he lacked interest in Luffy, but with so many people around, it wasn't worth the trouble.
Besides, the moment he arrived, his Observation Haki picked up something else.
A ship was approaching the village.
On its bow stood a cloaked man, alongside Sabo, recognizable by his small top hat and facial scar.
Ash considered it briefly, then chose not to interfere.
He stepped back through the spatial gate.
As it closed, he faintly heard Luffy shouting in panic, calling Ace's name over and over.
Back at Twin Capes, Ash didn't linger and returned directly to the Sabaody Archipelago.
The auction was less than a week away.
The next day at noon.
Ash rested inside a floating soap bubble attached to the Ferris wheel at Soap Bubble Park, half-asleep.
Just as he was about to drift off, his Den Den Mushi rang.
"Sigh… what is it now?" he muttered.
Sali's voice came through. "Vice Admiral Tsuru is looking for you. She said you've been impossible to reach, so she asked me to contact you."
Ash frowned slightly.
After ending the call, he took out another Den Den Mushi and connected the line.
"Hello, Granny Tsuru. Shouldn't you be resting at this time?"
A different voice answered.
"Wahahaha! Brat, it's me!"
The loud laughter nearly burst his eardrums.
Ash's expression darkened instantly.
That old man had completely ruined his nap.