One Piece: The sky is azure, I just time-traveled today.

Page 54

Lu Jiu paused, looking at the three children's expectant eyes, and gently shook her head: "You need to find Mr. Liu Jiu for this. You know, Mom doesn't like fighting and killing."

Ace's face immediately fell: "But Uncle Liu only teaches Kuina..."

"That's because Kuina took the initiative to ask for help," Rouge continued cooking. "If you really wanted to learn, you should have gone and asked yourselves."

The three children looked at each other, hesitant as they recalled the oppressive feeling they had experienced in the yard that day.

"What are you afraid of!" Luffy was the first to jump up. "I'm going to find Uncle Liu Jiu right now!"

He ran into the yard and shouted at Liu Jiu, who was sharpening a knife, "Uncle! Teach us how to be domineering!"

Ace and Sabo followed, anxiously awaiting a response.

The sound of sharpening the knife paused for a moment. Liu Jiu looked up, his gaze sweeping over the three boys.

"Get up early tomorrow," he said briefly, then lowered his head to continue sharpening the knife.

The three boys stood there stunned for a while before realizing that this meant they had agreed.

"Great! I can beat Kuina tomorrow!"

Luffy jumped up happily.

Ace and Sabo exchanged a smile, their eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Rouge watched this scene from the kitchen, smiling and shaking her head.

These kids are really something. Why can't they learn from Robin and become scholars someday?

Time flies, and another year has passed in the blink of an eye.

That morning, during a sparring session between Ace and Kuina, the moment their weapons clashed, an invisible shockwave suddenly erupted from Ace.

The fallen leaves in the courtyard moved swiftly without wind, and the pages of the book in Robin's hand, who was reading nearby, rustled as she turned them. Luffy and Sabo both took a step back in unison.

Kuina sheathed her sword in surprise and stepped back: "This is... Conqueror's Haki?"

Ace stared blankly at his hands, not yet realizing what had happened.

"Wow! Ace!" Luffy was the first to rush over, circling around Ace. "That move was amazing! Teach me!"

Sabo, unusually, showed a look of envy: "I never expected Ace to be the first to awaken Conqueror's Haki. It's so unfair! Everyone's been training like their lives depend on it this past year!"

Even the usually composed Robin closed her book and looked at Ace thoughtfully.

Kuina sheathed her sword and suddenly said, "It seems our training should come to an end."

"Why?" Ace asked, puzzled.

"There's no point in practicing anymore." Kuina pointed at him. "You've awakened Conqueror's Haki, how are we supposed to fight? Are we just going to become your sparring partners?"

Sabo chuckled and replied, "Indeed, if things continue like this, the gap will only widen. But... is it really such a waste to break up like this?"

Luffy pouted: "That's not fair! I want Conqueror's Haki too!"

Ace, a little embarrassed by his friends' teasing, scratched his head and laughed, "Well... to celebrate, I'll treat everyone to dinner in town!"

"Really?" Luffy immediately perked up. "I want to eat grilled meat! Lots and lots of grilled meat!"

Robin suddenly said, "Don't try to dine and dash this time."

Everyone couldn't help but laugh when they recalled the embarrassing incident from last year.

Chapter 59 Ace treats us to dinner

Hearing laughter outside, Rouge poked her head in and asked, "What's making you so happy?"

Ace answered loudly, "Mom, today I'm treating everyone to dinner at the tavern in Makino's town... no, I mean, to a meal!"

Rouge, seeing the excited Ace, increasingly saw the shadow of another person in him. She then took a stack of Berries from her apron pocket: "Take these, don't be stingy."

She carefully slipped the money into Ace's hand, then added, "Remember to take good care of everyone, and don't cause Makino any trouble."

Ace took the money, grinned, and said, "Don't worry, Mom!"

He turned and waved to his companions: "Let's go! Eat whatever we want today, we won't leave until we're drunk!"

The five of them then walked down the mountain laughing and joking, with Ace walking in front, sunlight dancing through his black hair.

Lu Jiu stood at the doorway, watching them leave, a hint of worry gradually creeping into her eyes. She murmured to herself, "This child... her smile is becoming more and more like his."

"Does he look like a captain?"

Liu Jiu appeared behind her at some point, his gaze also fixed on the direction the boys and girls had gone.

Rouge nodded gently: "Especially those eyes..."

"After all, he's his child," Liu Jiu said calmly. "It's not surprising at all."

A mountain breeze blew by, carrying with it the laughter of several children as they walked away into the distance.

Lu Jiu unconsciously gripped the edge of her apron, and those memories she had buried deep in her heart quietly surfaced again.

"Roger, did you see that? Your child has awakened Conqueror's Haki!"

The five men pushed open the tavern's wooden door with practiced ease, and the bell rang crisply.

"Sister Makino!" Luffy was the first to rush in, "We want to eat!"

Makino, who was wiping cups, turned around and gave a gentle smile: "Luffy, it's you guys. What brings you here today?"

Ace patted his chest: "It's on me today!"

Makino raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Did the sun rise in the west?"

Sabo explained with a laugh, "Ace awakened Conqueror's Haki and said he wanted to celebrate."

"Really?" Makino paused in wiping the glass, glanced thoughtfully at Ace, then smiled again. "Then we should definitely celebrate. What would you like to eat?"

"I want juice!"

"Another dessert, please!"

"Donut!"

The five of them ordered in a flurry of chatter, and Makino expertly wrote it down: "Okay, okay, coming right away."

Luffy leaned over the counter, watching Makino prepare the food with longing. When the first plate of grilled meat was served, he eagerly reached out to grab it—

Makino gently swatted his hand away and handed him a pair of chopsticks: "Luffy, use these."

Luffy pouted, looking aggrieved, but still obediently took the chopsticks.

Kuina couldn't help but laugh at the sight. Robin, on the other hand, quietly opened the book he carried with him and continued reading while waiting for his food.

As Marcino prepared the food, she gently reminded everyone, "Eat slowly, don't choke. Would you like something to drink?"

Ace waved his hand generously: "Five beers, please!"

Makino smiled and shook her head: "No, you're too young. I've prepared special juice for you."

Seeing the five people's slightly disappointed expressions, she added, "But you can add a slice of lemon to the juice to make it look like wine."

The proposal was immediately approved.

The tavern was soon filled with the cheerful laughter of several people. Makino looked at them with a tender gaze, as if she were looking at her own younger brother and sister.

Other customers gradually entered the tavern. Several men dressed as merchants sat down at a neighboring table, ordered their food, and began to chat.

"Have you heard? The bandits in the nearby mountains have all disappeared recently."

"That's right. I heard they've been recruited by someone and are currently gathering manpower."

"Could they be plotting to take over the Goa Kingdom?"

"Speaking of which, we haven't seen Dadan and his band of mountain bandits for ages!"

Chapter 60 Mountain Bandit King Ace [Two-in-One]

Ace's cup suddenly stopped in mid-air. He remembered that Dadan and her gang hadn't returned to the bandit's den for almost two years.

"What's wrong?" Sabo noticed his unusual behavior.

Ace lowered his voice: "Dadan and the others..."

Kuina immediately understood: "You mean Dadan and the others were involved too?"

With his mouth full of food, Luffy mumbled, "Who is Dadan?"

"The bandits who once took care of me," Ace explained briefly, then stood up. "I need to go check on things."

Sabo pressed down on his shoulder: "Don't rush, find out the details first."

Robin had closed his book at some point and said softly, "Those guests at that table seem to know more; perhaps we can continue to inquire."

Makino, carrying a glass of juice, overheard their conversation and softly reminded them, "Things have been rather unsettled in the mountains lately; you'd better not get involved."

But Ace had already made up his mind. He quickly finished the food on his plate and said to his companions, "I have to go back to Mount Colbo to check. What if it really is Dadan and the others..."

Sabo stood up without hesitation: "I'll go with you."

"I'll go too!" Luffy hurriedly swallowed the meat in his mouth.

Kuina and Robin exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.

Makino looked at the five eager young people and sighed helplessly: "Remember to protect yourselves and be careful on the road."

Meanwhile, in the dense forest on the border of the Kingdom of Goa, a secret gathering is taking place.

A burly man wearing an eye patch stood on a makeshift wooden platform, brandishing a large knife:

"Brothers, from this day forward, all the bandits of Mount Colbo must unite! We'll teach those arrogant nobles a lesson they won't forget!"

"That's right, defeat the nobles and take over the palace!"

Hundreds of bandits gathered below the stage, shouting wildly.

In a corner of the crowd, Dadan and her men hunched over, trying to minimize their presence.

"Boss, this is bad..." one of the henchmen whispered, "They're clearly sending us to our deaths."

Dadan gritted her teeth: "Find a chance to slip away."

However, the one-eyed giant's henchmen guarded all around, making it impossible to find a chance to escape.