The harbor docks were bustling.
Ships of every size came and went, crowding the piers in chaotic disorder. Dockworkers sweated under the sun as they hauled cargo back and forth, their shouts and footsteps weaving together into a scene of lively prosperity.
All the way here, Ace had been trying to cheer Tuanzi up.
Lollipops.
Candied hawthorns.
A doll.
Even a particularly frilly pink dress.
Yet no matter what he bought, the little girl barely reacted. She spoke less and less, silently following behind Logan, her head lowered.
"Big Brother Logan… Tuanzi really cares about you," Ace sighed, then gently rubbed her head.
Tuanzi resisted at first, but after Ace showered her with gifts, she reluctantly allowed it.
Hearing those words, she only lowered her head further, kneading the doll in her arms until it was completely misshapen.
Logan let out a helpless sigh and nodded.
"That's exactly why I have to make her understand what she can do—and what she absolutely cannot."
Ace hesitated, then asked, puzzled, "By the way… how exactly did she manage to hurt me? She's still so young. There's no way she knows Armament Haki, right?"
He quickly added, "Only Armament Haki can counter Devil Fruit users like us."
Logan shot him a strange look, brows knitting together.
"What kind of logic is that?" he said flatly. "No matter how talented she is, she's only eight. Of course she doesn't know Armament Haki. The reason she hurt you is simple—the blade she uses is special."
He paused, then added, "You can think of it as something similar to Seastone."
"Ohhh." Ace nodded, suddenly enlightened.
Logan rolled up his sleeve, revealing his pale arm. In front of Ace, he clenched his fist—
And in an instant, his entire arm turned pitch-black.
He lightly punched Ace in the chest and laughed as he scolded him, "You think I don't know what Armament Haki is? You really think you need to explain it to me?"
Ace's eyes bulged as he stared at Logan like he'd just seen a ghost.
"What… do you have some kind of misunderstanding about me?" Logan frowned. "Have you seriously been treating me like an ordinary foot soldier all this time?"
"It's just Armament Haki. Is that really worth making that face?"
Ace stumbled back three steps, clutching his chest dramatically, pointing at Logan with a trembling finger.
"I never thought… Big Brother, you were this strong! You even secretly learned Grandpa's Fist of Love!"
"Stop acting," Logan snorted. "I barely used any strength. This doesn't even count as impressive. That's just because you've never seen me when I—"
He stopped mid-sentence, coughed awkwardly, and waved it off.
"Forget it. The past is the past."
At that moment, Luffy and the others had already noticed them. Standing on the Going Merry, they waved enthusiastically, urging Ace to hurry over.
On the Going Merry
Luffy grinned ear to ear as he introduced Ace to Zoro and the others, proudly declaring that Ace was also his brother. As for Logan, Zoro and Sanji already knew him.
When Luffy noticed Tuanzi, his eyes lit up.
"Big Brother Logan! Who's this little girl? Is she your daughter?! She's so cute!"
Logan laughed helplessly and punched Luffy straight into the deck.
Since Logan wasn't using Armament Haki, Luffy's rubber body bounced wildly across the ship, ricocheting off the planks.
As he bounced around, Luffy made exaggerated faces, desperately trying to make Tuanzi laugh.
"Are you an idiot, Luffy?!" Nami snapped. "Big Brother Logan isn't even married!"
"Exactly! When we saw him last time, he definitely didn't have a kid!" Usopp added.
The two of them launched into relentless roasting.
But at that moment, Tuanzi—her large sword strapped to her back—suddenly raised her eyebrows and smiled for the first time, a smile Ace had never seen before.
She squatted down and offered her lollipop to Luffy.
"Uncle Luffy… I'll treat you to candy."
Luffy didn't hesitate. He opened his mouth wide and swallowed it whole.
What kind of candy it was didn't matter to him.
Ace stared in disbelief.
"That worked?! Luffy, what did you even do?"
"Oh~! Cute and beautiful Lady Tuanzi~! Might I be blessed with the divine honor of sharing a cup of fine wine with you?"
Sanji twisted his hips as he appeared out of nowhere, holding two glasses of red wine.
Nami instantly exploded.
"She's a child! You're letting her drink alcohol?! Idiot! You're all idiots!"
She clutched her head in despair. "Why did I ever get on this pirate ship… If you keep this up, I'm switching sides and following Big Brother Logan instead!"
Sanji finally realized the issue and awkwardly tried to take the glasses back.
Tuanzi swallowed, looked up at Logan, and only after seeing him nod slightly did she happily snatch both glasses—
And drank them in one go.
Like water.
Her expression didn't change at all.
Nami and Sanji stared at her, completely stunned, words failing them.
Luffy lay on the deck, clapping excitedly.
"Wow! Tuanzi is a real heroine!"
Tuanzi smiled gently at him, flashing a row of white teeth.
"She was probably just thirsty…" Logan said awkwardly, trying to explain.
Ace blinked. "Didn't she just drink two barrels of water at the restaurant?"
The moment he said that, he met Tuanzi's icy stare.
Ace instantly sidestepped, then straightened up and spoke solemnly to Nami and the others.
"Luffy has had terrible manners since he was little. Sorry for all the trouble he's caused you."
"No, no, not at all!"
Nami, Usopp, and Sanji shook their heads in perfect unison.
Sanji cautiously asked, "Since you brothers just reunited, you must have a lot to talk about. Should I prepare some tea and food? What do you like?"
"No need, thank you," Ace replied apologetically. "I still have things to do. I'll probably be leaving soon."
Nami and Usopp stared at Ace, then at Logan, utterly shocked.
"I never thought Luffy of all people would have one brother who's so strong and another who's so polite."
"Right? Look at Luffy—he's completely hopeless."
"The world really is full of wonders."
Only Vivi spoke up softly, defending Luffy.
"Don't say that… Luffy is really a good person."
Right on cue, Luffy picked his nose and grinned.
"So, Ace! Aren't my partners awesome?!"
"They really are," Ace said with a smile.
Though inwardly, he couldn't help wondering—
Big Brother Logan is polite…? Am I missing something?
Suddenly, a massive disturbance erupted behind them.
Ace's expression changed as he spun around.
Five pirate ships were charging toward them, packed with ferocious-looking men.
From the lead ship, someone shouted:
"Straw Hat brat! Don't think you can escape this time!"
"Today, you'll witness the power of Baroque Works' Billions!"
"Third squad—fire!"
A massive cannonball screamed through the air toward the Going Merry.
Zoro leapt skyward, spinning midair. A flash of steel—
The cannonball split cleanly in two and exploded above the ship.
"At least five hundred men," Zoro said grimly.
Usopp threw his head back and laughed.
"Only five hundred? Big Brother Logan is right here! What's there to be afraid of? Just have him fire another Kamehameha like last time!"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Ace grew even more confused watching their calm reactions.
"Relax. I'll take care of them," Ace said, stepping forward.
"Huh? You?" Usopp squinted skeptically, whispering to Luffy.
"How strong is your brother Ace? Can he really handle it?"
Luffy burst out laughing.
"Don't worry! Ace is super strong!"
Ace kicked off the deck, about to rush forward—
When Logan grabbed him by the belt and yanked him back onto the ship.
"Don't wipe them all out," Logan said calmly. "Leave some scraps for my eldest disciple."
A chill ran down Ace's spine.
He turned and saw Tuanzi gripping the upward-angled hilt of the blade at her waist, head lowered, shoulders trembling slightly—
Like a predator barely holding back.
Ace swallowed hard.
…Understood.
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