Free Web NovelChapter 801: Chapter 800: I Hate Fire
"This place isn’t safe. An idiot like you should stay far away from here."
Taking away the last piece of food and refusing the bills Ace handed over, the slum kid said to him.
Ace’s kindness didn’t earn much gratitude, or rather, this was their way of showing goodwill.
In their eyes, someone like Ace who openly showed his wealth would be targeted very quickly. They had no concept of real force; to them, the block boss was the scariest person.
...
"Let’s go, Dues, let’s check over there and see what’s going on."
Ace didn’t care about that way of addressing him. He just pressed his hat down and walked in the direction they’d mentioned. He wanted to see who exactly was doing that kind of thing.
Although he sometimes looked like an idiot, he knew no one did good deeds for no reason.
On the other side, Iscariot continued to gather the children willing to leave with her. They were naïve and willing to believe what she said, making them easier to mold. Those little brats who were already full of wariness and had turned into slick old foxes were not the target of this operation.
For better or worse, they had already found a way to survive here. Iscariot’s targets were the weaker children.
"Big sis, are you taking us to be cannon fodder?"
"No, of course not. Why would you think that?"
"Those gangs have done that before—one big meal in exchange for fighting for them. But you’re giving way more than they do. If we can eat a few more meals, being cannon fodder is fine."
"No, we’ll be taking you to school. After that, we’ll see what you’re good at and arrange a suitable position for you."
Strictly speaking, the people she recruited were being trained as future grassroots officers. Depending on their talents, they might also be assigned to factories or companies under Hundred Beasts Fruit as managerial staff.
Their massive enterprises all needed people to manage them. This was also why Iscariot put her heart into this work. Recruiting cannon fodder was something her personality truly couldn’t do.
In her eyes, this path was far better than wandering here.
"We will bring this era to an end. When God’s radiance returns, no one will have to live like this anymore."
Rami’s preaching voice carried over here, but from the reaction of the people below, not many believed him. They cared more about the food right in front of them and Rami’s strange ability.
It was around this time that Ace and Dues arrived. Seeing the strange behavior of those inside, especially the kids planning to leave with Iscariot, Ace couldn’t help feeling that something was off about them.
He wasn’t some Knight, but when he saw something he felt was wrong, he would still step in to stop it. Yet just as he shared his thoughts with Dues, his arm was grabbed.
"What is it?"
"Ace, let’s leave first. There are too many things like this; you can’t take care of them all. Besides, those people... they’re from the Hundred Beasts Pirates..."
He had seen the pattern on the back of a suit—Kaidou’s demon skull and Arceus’s Thousand Cosmos Bracelet embroidered left and right across the back, like a pair of unfurled wings.
Before he came to look for Ace, Scar had once again stressed that he had to keep an eye on him.
[Boss Dues, even though Boss Ace’s goal is definitely to surpass the Pirate King, it’s not time yet. Especially with those monsters—now is not the time to provoke them.]
As the ship’s intel officer, Scar had a certain understanding of the New World. He knew the Four Emperors were all terrifying Great Pirates, and even the youngest, Shanks, was no exception.
If they wanted to challenge them, they at least had to reach the New World in one piece. That’s why he had reminded Dues to keep Ace in check and not cause trouble when their ship’s coating wasn’t even finished yet.
"Dues, I should’ve told you already."
"Uh..."
"On the road to the peak, I don’t want to take detours. Whether it’s Kaidou or Whitebeard, they’re all targets I’m going to challenge. I swore on my own Pirate Flag."
Seeing Ace’s expression, Dues knew he had already failed. At this point, he didn’t try to persuade him anymore and instead followed his Captain’s stride.
"Can’t do anything about you, can I."
...
"Hey! Wait a second!"
On the road out of the slums, Ace blocked Iscariot and her group.
"Sorry to barge in, but where exactly are you taking these kids?"
Spreading his arms to block the road, Ace asked Iscariot in what seemed to be a very polite tone.
Iscariot didn’t answer him. Instead, she looked at the pirate beside her.
"Lady Iscariot, that’s this year’s Super Rookie, Fire Fist Ace. Bounty: 290 million Belly."
Her subordinate quickly gave the answer, and Iscariot’s face turned cold. She was now one of the Hundred Beasts, but she had no fondness for other pirates, not even the BIG MOM Pirates, who cooperated to a certain extent with the Hundred Beasts.
"It has nothing to do with you. Move. Don’t block the way."
With a wave of her hand, several pirates understood what she meant and stepped forward to drive Ace away, while Iscariot smoothly changed her route.
A few sturdier pirates also stood in front of the children, blocking their line of sight.
Even though he was this year’s Super Rookie, people under the Four Emperors generally looked down on these hotheaded newcomers who had just reached Shampodi.
Iscariot’s disregard gave Ace a certain misunderstanding. Watching her try to leave, he swung his arm.
"Enjomo!"
A wall of fire shot skyward, cutting off Iscariot’s path.
"Um, sorry, but I can’t rest easy letting them leave with you."
His intentions were good, but he used the worst possible method.
"Id... idiot! What the hell are you doing, you moron?!"
Seeing Ace’s move, the two pirates who were trying to chase him away went pale. Following their boss, they naturally knew what she was like, and the thing Iscariot hated most was fire—especially a sea of flames like this. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Whenever she saw a similar wall of fire, she would recall that past nightmare. Even though she had already overcome her fear, she still loathed this kind of thing.
She could tolerate it if it was an ally’s technique, but if an enemy unleashed flames...
The two pirates who rushed up to Ace were knocked down. Although they didn’t cause much trouble, it made Ace realize they were different from ordinary pirates—their fists could actually hit him. This was something he had never experienced during his voyage.
Before he could think more, a sudden sense of danger welled up in his heart, and a crimson silhouette had already appeared at his side.
"The thing I hate most... is fire!"
A side kick sliced past in front of him. Even though he chose to duck just in time, a sharp pain still shot through the tip of his nose. When he wiped it with his hand, blood was slowly running down the side of his nose...
