Pirate: I have a Hollow living inside me!

Regardless of the other party's subjective intentions, they did indirectly save them.

This is a favor, and he will express his gratitude.

of course.

Ace had another idea.

That is to invite Rocks to become his partner!

"..."

Lox was taken aback.

So that's what this guy was thinking.

However, Lox had no intention of being subordinate to anyone, and shook his head in refusal: "Sorry, I have no intention of being subordinate to anyone."

After a pause, Rocks extended an invitation in return: "Your strength is considerable; would you like to become my partner?"

"I can teach you how to use Haki, so that you will be able to fight against Logia-type Devil Fruit users in the future."

"Forehead……"

Ace was both amused and exasperated.

He invited her, and she invited him...

Ace at this point has not met Whitebeard, nor has he been attracted by Whitebeard's charisma.

Having their own dreams and goals, they cannot become someone else's partner.

He only lives for himself!

So Ace also declined: "Like you, I have no desire to be subordinate to anyone. I appreciate your invitation, but I have my own dreams and goals."

Strictly speaking, becoming someone's partner is not the same as "submitting to someone else".

But a ship has one captain and one will.

If Ace wanted to surpass that man and follow in his footsteps, he had no choice but to become the captain himself.

"is it?"

Rocks was not surprised by Ace's answer.

Before meeting Whitebeard and experiencing "fatherly love," Ace would not easily change his goals.

Rocks didn't have any "fatherly love" at all; he was only seventeen.

I was just saying that casually. It would be great if Ace could be a partner, but if not, then so be it.

Trying it costs nothing.

"Although I can't be your partner, we'll be friends from now on."

Ace said, "My name is Ace. If you ever need any help in the future, you can come to our Spade Pirates."

Locus: "..."

How did we become friends?

This guy's pretty outgoing...

"Okay, I've got it."

Lox nodded, then briefly introduced himself: "My name is Lox."

Whether they are friends or not is not a topic for discussion for now.

Since the other party has made this offer, why not take advantage of this free favor?

If Ace had become the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates as in the original story, then this favor might have been somewhat useful...

It seems that Old Duke, the adoptive father, still owes Whitebeard a favor.

Although Old Duke told Rocks not to worry about Whitebeard's favor, Rocks would repay it on Old Duke's behalf if the opportunity arose.

The son should pay for the father's debts.

Favors are something you have to repay, no matter how much you need them.

"Lox..."

Ace repeated a sentence.

He clearly didn't know the meaning of the name; he simply memorized it.

Ace looked at Rocks, his tone very serious: "Although I am not as strong as you now, I will surpass you in the future, and we will repay this favor!"

Rocks smirked: "Surpassing me won't be that easy."

After chatting for a couple more minutes, Ace and Deus left.

Their ship was destroyed, and they needed a new one to set sail again.

As for what methods they would use to get the ship, Lockes didn't care; it was none of his business.

Kuina, who hadn't spoken before, looked at Lox and asked, "Do you know them?"

"I'd say we know each other."

Lox recounted his previous encounter with the shady shop.

After hearing this, Guina was speechless: "He sounds like a kind-hearted person."

Nami chimed in, "Is someone like that a pirate?"

Because of the Arlong Pirates, she has a prejudice against pirates.

However, this Spade Pirates crew, consisting of only two people, doesn't seem like the kind of pirates who do all sorts of bad things.

"The navy has its good and bad sides, and so do pirates."

Rocks said, "It's like if we became pirates, we wouldn't be the kind of pirates who burn, kill, and plunder."

"It's more accurate to call this kind of person an adventurer than a pirate."

"So we'll be 'made' into pirates in the future?"

Nami sighed, "So we've really gotten on a pirate ship. After this incident, Rocks, you'll definitely have a bounty on your head from the Navy, right?"

"Probably, but it doesn't matter. This kind of thing was expected, it was just a matter of time."

Rocks ruffled Nami's hair and laughed, "What? Scared? It's no use being scared. You're on a pirate ship now, and you can only follow me down this dark path."

Nami slapped away Rocks's mischievous hand and said, "I'm mentally prepared, anyway, you'll protect me!"

Lox shrugged: "That's not necessarily true. If we encounter danger, I'll throw you away to attract the enemy's attention, and then I'll turn around and run!"

Nami: "..."

This person really doesn't know how to talk!

Nami knew, of course, that Rocks was joking. She turned her head away haughtily and snorted, "Then I'll get off the ship now, and you can all get lost on the high seas!"

Lox deliberately feigned a terrified expression: "Don't try to scare me with such scary words!"

Nami, with a smug look on her face and an air of superiority, patted Rocks on the shoulder: "Then we'll see how you perform, Rocks!"

Locus: "..."

He exclaimed, "Wow!"

Xiao Luo is here!

This little girl is really outspoken!

"..."

Seeing the interaction between the two, a slight smile appeared on Kuina's lips.

When they have nothing to do, the two of them sometimes bicker, which adds some fun to their lives.

Perhaps it's because she felt relieved after her hometown was saved, or perhaps it's because she got to know them better, but Nami's personality is becoming more and more lively.

They're quite cute and endearing.

Kuina tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said, "Lox, have you eaten? We've been walking around for a while and we're a little hungry now. We're planning to go eat."

"Let's go together," Lockes said. "I didn't eat enough while watching some fun."

Nami crossed her arms in front of her chest, raised an eyebrow at Rocks, and said, "Your chance to shine has come, Rocks. I want to eat the most expensive and delicious food!"

"Row."

Rocks patted Nami's head again, saying affectionately, "I'll do my best this time and will definitely satisfy our navigator."

"Don't rub my head!"

Nami slapped Rocks' hand away, protesting wildly like a puffed-up kitten: "You won't grow tall!"

Chapter 55 Heading to the Naval Branch Base!

the next day.

News of the battle that broke out at the eastern port has spread throughout the entire island.

This is a massive melee between pirates and the navy.

Its scale is quite rare in the East China Sea.

It involves the recently popular Buggy Pirates, the rising Krieg Pirates, and a person who ate a Logia-type Devil Fruit...

And a Marine captain who is about to take over as the commander of the Loguetown Marine Branch Base and is a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, and a Marine Rear Admiral who inexplicably arrived here from Marine Headquarters...

of course.

The person who has garnered the most attention and interest is someone else.

A mysterious and powerful individual who forcefully killed a Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral!

To this day, no one knows the other person's origins, or even their name.

It just appeared out of nowhere.

He killed a Navy Rear Admiral in front of many people and then disappeared.