When Sakazuki's (Akainu's) gaze fell upon the young man standing at the door, a rare spark of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
Out for a casual drink, and he runs into Portgas D. Ace himself?
Could luck get any better than this?
If he could capture Ace here and now, the Navy's upcoming operations would move ahead flawlessly.
"Fire Fist Ace," Akainu's voice rumbled low, carrying a cruel smile. "It was unfortunate you slipped away last time. What's the matter? No Rayleigh around to babysit you today?"
He rose slowly from his stool, every step toward Ace heavy, deliberate, and menacing.
Ace's lips twisted into a wry grin. "Seems my luck just ran out. Boss, I'll have to come back for that drink another day."
Keeping his voice calm, he began to back out of the tavern.
Even as a Logia user, he wasn't arrogant enough to think he could take on a Marine Admiral alone — not in the middle of Sabaody.
If a fight broke out here, reinforcements would arrive within minutes.
The smart move was to run.
"Drinks will always be waiting," Ron said lightly, shrugging. "That is, if you make it out alive."
Then, with a faint smile, he added, "Oh, and just so we're clear — no fighting inside my tavern or within five hundred meters of it. Violate that rule, and you'll pay the price."
This tavern was the foundation of Ron's life in this world.
If it were destroyed — if even a single wall cracked from a fight — he wouldn't hesitate to "educate" both sides, Admiral and pirate alike, in the art of respect.
But Sakazuki wasn't listening.
He had already followed Ace out the door, his body shifting into molten magma as his arm swelled to monstrous size.
"If it's a fight you want," Akainu growled, "then I'll gladly oblige."
Ace spun around, his expression turning cold. Fire burst from his feet, spreading outward in a ring of searing heat.
Every blade of grass within reach ignited and crumbled into ash.
In the next instant, all that fire converged above him, gathering into a massive sphere — a blazing sun hanging overhead.
Ace's strongest move.
Its destructive power was enough to level an entire city.
Ron stepped out through the tavern doors, his tone calm but firm.
"I'll say this once — take your fight somewhere else. This is a tavern, not a battlefield."
Akainu's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp.
"If your tavern gets destroyed, file a complaint with the Navy. But if you dare to obstruct Marine justice, I'll personally drag you to Headquarters!"
Without another word, his magma-coated arm shot forward, aiming to crush Ace.
"Great Eruption!"
The punch roared through the air like a volcanic blast.
This was his chance — with Rayleigh gone, now was the perfect time to capture Ace. Miss it, and it would take months to corner him again.
Ace sneered. "The Marines sure are persistent."
He braced himself, pouring all his power into the burning sphere above.
"Entei — Flame Emperor!"
With a thunderous boom, the enormous fireball descended toward Akainu's magma fist.
And just as the two devastating attacks were about to collide—
A figure appeared between them.
"What the—?!"
"Boss, get out of the way!" both Ace and Akainu shouted at once, their hearts seizing in shock.
They knew Ron was strong — but to stand between their strongest attacks? That was suicide.
And it was too late to stop the clash now.
But Ron didn't flinch.
He slowly extended his right hand toward Ace's direction, a powerful suction force bursting outward.
In an instant, the enormous fireball began to shrink — flames folding inward, collapsing like a dying sun.
Then, Ron drew a small blade — one used for cutting ice — and wrapped it in a fierce swirl of Conqueror's Haki.
A low hum filled the air.
An overwhelming pressure exploded from his body, rattling the ground beneath their feet.
Ron took one step back, reversed his grip on the knife, and slashed twice — once to the right, once to the left.
Two crimson arcs of sword light tore through the air.
The magma fist halted mid-flight, shattered, and crashed harmlessly to the ground.
The shrinking fireball disintegrated into sparks and vanished.
All that remained was scorched earth — the once-green grass turned to blackened ash.
Ace and Akainu stood frozen, eyes wide.
No explosion.
No deafening boom.
Just silence — and the faint hiss of cooling magma.
Ron had neutralized both of their attacks with nothing more than two casual swings.
"…That's terrifying," Ace muttered unconsciously, borrowing Kizaru's favorite line.
Akainu's heart pounded.
In that moment, he understood why Sengoku had been so insistent on recruiting this man — even offering him privileges fit for a legend.
Forget the so-called "world-shaking" Devil Fruits.
This level of Haki, this mastery of Conqueror's Infusion, was the pinnacle of strength itself.
Ron dusted his hands off, speaking as if nothing had happened.
"Fight all you want, just not in front of my tavern. I'll let it slide this time. Next time…"
He didn't finish the sentence — he didn't need to.
Both of them were smart enough to know what that meant.
"There won't be a next time." Ace sighed, rubbing his neck. "Boss, what was that just now? My Flame Emperor vanished like it hit a wall."
"Just a little self-defense trick," Ron said casually, waving it off.
Before anyone could reply, a sharp smack echoed from nearby.
All three turned their heads — and there stood Silvers Rayleigh, slapping his own forehead.
"Self-defense again?! How many damn times are you gonna use that excuse?" he grumbled.
Akainu frowned, his eyes narrowing. "So if I step outside your 'no-fight zone,' you won't interfere?"
Ron nodded. "Exactly."
Rayleigh drew his sword in one smooth motion, its edge flashing with icy light.
"Well then, I'll handle this. Hey, brat — still sore about our last spar?"
Akainu's expression darkened. The air trembled between them.
Meanwhile, Ace raised his hands in mock surrender. "Yeah, uh… I'll leave you gentlemen to it. See ya."
He waved lazily, turned, and bolted into the shadows.
Akainu made to chase — but before he could take a single step, Ron stepped in front of him.
"You really want to start a war with me, Admiral?" Ron asked, voice soft but cutting.
Akainu's jaw tightened. "…You wouldn't dare."
Ron smirked. "No need for threats. But before you chase anyone, maybe settle your tab — and the damages."
Akainu's face twitched. "How much?"
"Nothing outrageous," Ron said smoothly. "Fifty million Berries total. A small price for a Marine Admiral."
"WHAT?!"
Akainu's pupils constricted.
Black shop!
This was daylight robbery!
If it weren't for Sengoku's orders to treat this man as a potential ally, he'd have buried the tavern under a volcano right then and there.
"You're extorting me," he growled.
Ron spread his hands. "Come on now — a dignified Marine Admiral wouldn't skip the bill, would he?"
Fifty million.
That brought today's total earnings to exactly fifty million — just four hundred million more, and the tavern would level up again.
Akainu's face darkened like storm clouds. Grinding his teeth, he spat, "Fine. I'll pay."
He slapped down a payment card on the counter, then stormed off — only to realize Ace had long vanished into the chaos.
Fuming, he snatched out a Den Den Mushi and barked an order, "Search the area around the tavern! Seal every exit!"
Meanwhile, somewhere else on Sabaody—
In the grandest hall of the island's most luxurious pleasure house, a man draped in a pink-feathered coat strode in.
His steps echoed sharply against the golden-carpeted floor as two servants pushed open the towering doors.
Under the dim chandeliers, the man's grin stretched wide beneath his sunglasses.
"Years I've spent fattening those damn Celestial Dragons with my money," Donquixote Doflamingo snarled, dropping into a gilded leather sofa. "And when I finally need them to do one little thing for me—"
His voice turned into a furious shout.
"—they can't even manage that?!"
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