Ace's gaze lingered on her for a moment, and a thought involuntarily flashed through his mind: 'Hmm, she is indeed... exceptionally gifted.'
'No wonder that deadpan Gray would complain that "her chest is heavy, my back hurts" after they accidentally swapped bodies in the future...'
The newcomer was none other than Lucy, the female protagonist of 'Fairy tail'.
She was skilled at tsukkomi, had a lively and cheerful personality, and deeply valued her comrades and guild members.
Through adventures with her companions, she would eventually become an outstanding celestial spirit mage.
Lucy's gaze also landed on Ace at the first moment—or more accurately, on the Canis Minor key he was playing with in his hand.
Her eyes lit up instantly, but then, as she got a clear look at the key's owner, a flash of amazement involuntarily crossed her eyes.
'So... so handsome!' Lucy exclaimed subconsciously in her heart.
"Th-That!" Lucy composed herself, trying to make her voice sound natural.
She stepped forward with a sweet and slightly probing smile on her face.
"Hello, I-I'm Lucy. Excuse me... is that key in your hand a celestial spirit key? Are you a celestial spirit mage too?"
"No." Ace withdrew his gaze from the port and turned to Lucy, answering calmly.
At the same time, he held the key out in front of her so she could see it more clearly.
"It's just a little trinket I happened to get."
Seeing the clear Canis Minor symbol on the key, Lucy's eyes grew even brighter.
This was the very key she had been looking for, and the only one she could possibly afford at the moment.
With it, she would be one step closer to becoming a full-fledged celestial spirit mage.
"Um... Mister," Lucy's cheeks flushed slightly from excitement and a bit of shyness in front of a handsome man.
"I-I really need this key! It's very important to me! Please... can you sell it to me? I can pay!"
"You can," Ace's reply was still concise. "Twenty thousand Jewels."
"Twenty thousand!" Lucy's heart sank.
The price was the same as she had heard before, but for a girl who had secretly run away from home and was living on the little pocket money she had saved, it was an absolute fortune.
If she bought it, she would have to tighten her belt for the next month... no, maybe two or three months, and eat nothing but black bread every day!
'What should I do, what should I do...' Lucy struggled internally.
She wanted this key so badly!
'But the money... right!'
'Maybe... I can try that? It's a bit embarrassing, but he's so handsome, and he seems... quite easy to talk to?'
Lucy took a deep breath, forcing an even sweeter, more "charming" smile onto her face.
She leaned forward slightly, "showcasing" her impressive figure just a little, and softened her voice.
"Um... handsome mister, you see... we're both people who love magic, and this key is really, really important to me! Could you... maybe make it a little cheaper? Please~"
After speaking, she even blinked her large, watery, azure eyes, putting on a pleading, pitiful expression.
It was a little "flirt-for-a-discount" trick she occasionally used on some difficult shopkeepers or men.
Although she didn't use it often, its success rate was... well, barely passable.
Ace found it rather amusing to watch the girl's earnest "performance." Lucy in the original story was indeed a bit of a money-grubber and a little mischievous, and he didn't expect to see it so soon.
However, his face remained expressionless.
He just let out a faint "Oh," as if he didn't understand her hint, and then said slowly.
"Is that so... In that case... let's make it nineteen thousand, nine hundred Jewels."
"..." Lucy's smile froze on her face.
'One... one hundred Jewels?! Is my charm... only worth a hundred Jewels?!'
Lucy felt her self-confidence suffer an unprecedented blow.
A little version of herself was already on the ground, crying.
She could almost hear the sound of her own heart breaking!
Seeing Lucy's cute expression—as if she'd been struck by lightning, dumbfounded, mixed with grievance and disbelief—Ace finally couldn't hold it in anymore.
The corners of his mouth curved up into a clear, slightly teasing arc.
He stopped teasing her and placed the Canis Minor key in his hand directly into Lucy's palm, which was slightly open and forgotten to be closed in her shock.
"Eh?" Lucy subconsciously grasped the key, the cool touch bringing her back to her senses.
She looked up, staring blankly at Ace, not understanding what he meant.
'Did he... change his mind?'
"It's a gift," Ace said with a smile.
The morning light fell on his face, making the smile seem exceptionally bright.
"A g-gift?!" Lucy was completely stunned.
Then, a strong blush and a hint of inexplicable anticipation, instantly spread from her neck to the tips of her ears.
'Wh-Why would he give me something so valuable? Could it be... could it be that he... fell in love with me at first sight? does he wants to pursue me?'
The thought popped up uncontrollably.
'Although it felt a bit too fast, he was so handsome, had such a good temperament, and was so generous... it seemed... maybe its not impossible for me to date him? But I don't know what his personality is like, how it would be to get along with him...'
Just as Lucy's mind began to play out various romantic drama scenarios, Ace's next words pulled her back from her wild thoughts.
"I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other again very soon," Ace said, looking at her with a knowing smile she couldn't comprehend.
"And maybe... we'll even be partners in the same guild. Consider this an early meeting gift."
After saying that, Ace didn't linger.
He nodded at her, then turned and walked toward the stairs.
His black cloak traced a dashing arc as he turned.
"S-Same guild? Meeting gift?" Lucy stared blankly at his departing back, her mind a mess.
'What did he mean by that? Does he know I want to join Fairy Tail? Impossible! Or is he also joining Fairy Tail? But Fairy Tail is the best guild! Could it be another guild? Why is he so sure we'll meet again?'
By the time she came to her senses and wanted to ask more, Ace's figure had already disappeared.
Lucy clutched the key, still warm from his palm, her feelings complicated and hard to describe.
There was the ecstasy of getting the key, curiosity about the mysterious handsome man, confusion about his final words, and a faint trace of disappointment she herself hadn't noticed—why did he just leave?
'He should have at least... at least asked for my name, or left some contact information! Will I... ever see him again?'
Meanwhile, as Ace descended the stairs and merged into the morning crowd of the port.
'Lucy has appeared... In that case,' his gaze swept over the crowd who were excitedly discussing and putting up "Salamander" posters.
'Where are those two clowns, Natsu and Happy, and that fake Salamander Bora right now?'