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Onboard the Going Merry, Jason lazily reclined beneath the orange tree, enjoying the shade as he reached out to pick a ripe orange. As he peeled the fruit, he mused aloud, "Hmm, orange juice is so much better than just the orange itself! But hey, it's all Nami's anyway, so why not have another one? Seriously though, what's taking them so long?"
Meanwhile, Luffy and his crew were making their frantic escape. Luffy, ever the carefree captain, ran backward, keeping his eyes on the battle between Ace and Smoker while exclaiming, "I really didn't expect to bump into Ace here! And Jason too! But just like when we were kids, that guy ran off and vanished!"
As they neared a fork in the road, Nami shouted for Luffy to take the left path, which successfully separated him from the group. Unfazed, Luffy continued his backwards run, a grin plastered on his face as he thought about the unexpected reunion.
Back on the Merry, Jason's ears perked up as he heard the crew's voices approaching the ship.
"Hurry up and get your stuff on board! We're setting sail soon!" Nami commanded, her voice full of urgency.
"Ah! Right!" came the hurried replies from the others as they scrambled to prepare for departure.
However, as the crew gathered on the deck, a sudden realization hit them.
"Wait a minute…" Zoro muttered, his brow furrowing. "Aren't we missing someone?"
The crew froze in place, their eyes darting around as they mentally counted heads.
"Luffy! That idiot!" Zoro finally exclaimed, gritting his teeth in frustration.
"Hahaha! It's so funny!" Jason, who had been quietly observing from under the orange tree, couldn't hold back his laughter any longer. The chaotic nature of the crew, with their carefree captain and equally quirky members, was simply too amusing.
"Who's there?" Zoro reacted instantly, unsheathing his sword as Sanji shifted into a combat stance, ready to defend the ship.
"Are the pursuers already here?" Usopp and Chopper clung to each other in fear, while Vivi looked slightly panicked. Nami, however, remained still, her eyes widening in surprise as she recognized the familiar face.
"Ja…hey! Wait, Zoro!" Nami called out, but it was too late. Zoro, feeling threatened by the unknown man on their ship—especially one carrying a sword—launched himself at Jason without hesitation.
Jason easily blocked Zoro's attack with a single move, not even bothering to get up from his spot under the tree. Just as Zoro was about to press the assault, a loud thud echoed through the air, followed by Zoro's yelp as a large bump appeared on his head.
"I told you to wait! Are you even listening to me?!" Nami scolded, her fist still clenched from delivering the blow.
"Damn it, Nami! What are you doing? He's a wanted criminal with a bounty from the World Government! He steals from other pirates! He has to be an enemy!" Zoro protested, wincing as he rubbed his head. He was familiar with Jason's wanted poster—after all, Zoro used to be a bounty hunter.
"Don't be rude to Miss Nami, you moss-headed idiot!" Sanji shot back, taking advantage of the situation to side with Nami and start another bickering match with Zoro.
Jason chuckled at the sight of the two arguing, while Nami, now wearing a look of both exasperation and joy, ran towards Jason, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"Jason!" Nami cried out as she jumped into Jason's arms, surprising everyone on the ship. Sanji, in particular, looked like he was about to explode with jealousy.
"Ah, Nami, the mischievous little girl has grown up so much—" Jason began to say, only to be interrupted by a sudden punch to his stomach. Though the punch didn't hurt, it effectively silenced him.
Nami looked up from Jason's arms, wiping her tears as her expression turned fierce. "You jerk! It's been ten years since you took Sister Robin away! Ten years! Do you have any idea how I spent those years? I thought you'd be gone for a few months at most! Nojiko and I waited for you to come back, only to have our hopes crushed every day! Go to hell!!!" She punctuated her words with another punch to Jason's stomach.
This time, there was a muffled sound, and Nami froze, retracting her hand as tears welled up again. "Ouch! What the heck? Why is your stomach so hard? It hurts!" she exclaimed, rubbing her hand in pain.
Jason grinned, having deliberately used his strength to withstand the punch. "Hey, hey, is this how you greet someone after all these years? Just throwing punches?"
"Damn it! You're still a stinky old man, no matter how long it's been!" Nami retorted, swiftly moving behind Jason and locking him in a playful chokehold. "Now spill it! What have you been doing all these years? Why didn't you come back?"
"Oh, I've been busy growing up, taking Robin out to sea to look for historical documents," Jason replied casually, not bothered in the least by Nami's chokehold.
"And where's Sister Robin now?" Nami demanded, her grip tightening slightly.
"In the royal capital," Jason answered, still unfazed.
As the two conversed, the rest of the crew relaxed, realizing that Jason wasn't an enemy. Zoro sheathed his sword, though his fighting spirit remained ignited, sensing Jason's strength. Sanji, on the other hand, was consumed with envy, his face contorting with frustration. "Damn it! Why isn't that me? I'd give anything to be in Jason's place right now!"
Chopper and Usopp let out a collective sigh of relief, glad that the situation hadn't escalated further. Once the conversation between Jason and Nami ended, she finally released her grip and turned to the others.
"Everyone, this is Jason. I hate to admit it, but he's the big brother from next door when I was a kid," Nami introduced, still slightly annoyed but clearly happy to see him.
"Ah? He's the owner of that small villa near your home?" Usopp asked, recalling the building near Nami's house.
"Yeah, that's the one," Nami confirmed with a nod.
"So, the Devils guardian with a bounty of 50 million berries is actually your big brother?" Zoro remarked, surprising the crew.
"50 million? That's more than Luffy's 30 million! Doesn't that mean he's stronger than Luffy?" Usopp exclaimed, looking at Nami in disbelief.
"Zoro's right. Jason has a bounty of 50 million, and Sister Robin has a bounty of 79 million. I've known this for a while," Nami explained.
"That's amazing!" Chopper said, his eyes wide with admiration.
"Alright, enough about this. We need to set sail before the Marines surround us!" Nami instructed, refocusing everyone on their escape.
"Wait a minute! It's great that Nami's reunited with her childhood brother, but don't forget—Luffy isn't back yet!" Usopp pointed out, causing the others to blush and grit their teeth in frustration.
In the end, Nami decided they should leave the coast and find a secluded bay to stop the ship before looking for Luffy. Jason remained quiet, content to watch Nami skillfully command the crew. He couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia, remembering the little girl he had once known.
As they slowly sailed along the coast, the shore suddenly became lively. Nami, using a telescope, spotted Luffy in the distance. With a stretch of his arm, Luffy grabbed the side of the ship and quickly retracted himself, landing on the deck with a loud thud. Sanji and Chopper were turned into unwilling cushions, while Zoro facepalmed, embarrassed by his captain's antics.
"You idiot! Be careful, or I'll kill you!" Sanji yelled, grabbing Luffy by the collar and shaking him violently. From a distance, one could tell he was furious. Luffy, unbothered, turned to apologize without much sincerity, only to suddenly remember Ace.
Everyone asked about Ace's condition, and Luffy assured them that Ace was incredibly strong and had always beaten him, so there was no need to worry. He then began to boast about his brother's strength.
"Hey! Luffy, haven't you noticed me sitting here this whole time?" Jason called out, amused by the whole situation.
"Hmm?" Luffy turned, finally noticing Jason sitting on the stairs. His face lit up with surprise. "Jason! You're here too! That's awesome! Hahaha! It's been ten years! You were—"
Before Luffy could finish, Ace, who had been chasing after him, shoved him aside, causing him to fall. Ace glared at his younger brother, scolding him. "What nonsense were you talking about just now? Are you trying to say you could beat me?"
Luffy held up his hat defensively and grinned at Ace. "Look, Ace! These are the friends I was telling you about!"
Ace greeted Nami and the others politely, taking a moment to mention some of Luffy's less admirable traits and asking them to forgive his brother. As they chatted, several pirate ships surrounded the Merry, cutting off any chance of escape.
"Fire Fist Ace, Straw Hat Luffy!
"Fire Fist Ace, Straw Hat Luffy! Don't think you can escape us so easily!" shouted one of the pirates from the surrounding ships.
The crew quickly recognized them as part of the Baroque Works,
"It's the million-dollar elder from Baroque Works!" Usopp exclaimed, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Why is it them again?!" Luffy yelled, his face scrunching up in annoyance.
"I'll take care of this," Ace said calmly, stepping forward with an air of confidence. Jason, now fully standing, stretched his arms and smiled.
"Let's see what the captain of Whitebeard's Second Division is really made of," Zoro muttered, his eyes narrowing as he prepared to witness Ace's power firsthand.
With a swift motion, Ace leaped off the Merry, landing on a small boat that he had commandeered earlier. He propelled it forward, speeding toward the enemy ships. Just as he was about to reach them, he jumped high into the air. The boat he had been on sunk beneath the waves, and Ace soared over the heads of the five ships. He landed gracefully on another small vessel that floated on the water's surface.
From his position, Ace smirked as he clenched his fist, igniting it with his signature ability.
"Fire Fist!" he roared.
A ball of fire rushed toward several ships, creating a blazing spectacle. In an instant, five ships exploded one after another, sinking to the bottom of the sea in a chaotic cascade of destruction. As the flames subsided, Ace stood tall, casually adjusting his hat, exuding an aura of confidence and power.
Everyone aboard the Going Merry, except for Jason, stared in stunned silence, their eyes wide with awe.
"So strong!"
"It's amazing! He destroyed five ships with just one punch!"
Jason, calm and composed, offered his own evaluation after witnessing the display:
"He's not quite at the level of an Admiral, but he's definitely stronger than most Vice-admirals. Impressive, young man!"
After obliterating the enemy fleet, Ace navigated his small boat back to the Merry, where the crew quickly rallied to celebrate. A lively party ensued, and amidst the revelry, Luffy finally had the chance to corner Jason for some long-overdue answers.
"Hey, Jason! Where have you been all these years?"
"Me? I took Robin to search for historical texts in the first half of the Grand Line. Running into you was just a coincidence!"
"Oh! That makes sense! So, do you want to join our crew?"
"Hmm, I'll think about it!"
"Damn it! You promised me before!"
"Really? I don't remember that!"
"Asshole! You wanna fight?!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Jason let the banter slide and turned to Ace, raising a glass to toast with him.
"What! Drinking juice?"
"Hahaha, don't worry about it!"
"Alright then! It's okay! I've heard Luffy mention you a lot!"
"Hmm? What's he been saying about me? He hasn't been badmouthing me behind my back, has he?"
"Of course not, but you can ask him yourself for the details, hahahaha!"
"Forget it, I'm too lazy to ask. I'll just beat you up if I find out! But Ace, you really should work on your Haki. Devil Fruit powers are great, but they have their limits!"
Ace froze, momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected someone in the first half of the Grand Line to be knowledgeable about Haki, let alone advising him to train it.
"We'll talk about that later. For now, cheers!"
Seeing that Ace wasn't keen on discussing Haki further, Jason didn't press the issue and clinked glasses with him again. Suddenly, Luffy's head popped up between them, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"What are you guys talking about? What's this 'Haki' thing?"
Luffy's sudden appearance caught both of them off guard, but they exchanged a knowing look, and Ace's lips curled into a small grin.
"Well, it's something you'll have to learn about eventually."
"Alright then!"
"Luffy, remember that guy Smoker?"
"Yeah! That guy's a pain! I can never land a hit on him!"
Luffy's frustration was palpable as he recalled his encounters with Smoker. Jason chuckled, noticing the troubled look on Luffy's face.
"You can defeat him if you master Haki."
Upon hearing this, not only Luffy but also the rest of the crew gathered around with eager expressions, especially Zoro, whose intense gaze spoke volumes.
"Really? How do you use Haki?"
"There are three types of Haki: Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, and Observation Haki. Both Armament and Observation Haki can be trained, while Conqueror's Haki is something you're born with. With Haki, you can strike the real body of a Logia user and also make yourself stronger!"
"That's awesome! I wonder if I have Conqueror's Haki…"
Luffy's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he asked,
"Can you use Haki, Jason?"
"Of course."
"That's great! Teach me! I want to learn!"
Luffy instantly began pestering Jason to train him, while Sanji, exhaling a puff of smoke, couldn't help but shake his head in exasperation.
"What an idiot! Haki takes time to master! We're still sailing, so how do you plan to find time for training? And shouldn't you at least see it in action before deciding?"
"Yeah, that makes sense."
"Hahaha, even if you want to learn, you'll have to wait until we have some free time. But if you want to see a demonstration first, that's doable!"
Luffy and the others lit up at the idea, immediately clamoring for Jason to show off his Haki. However, Jason insisted that performing on the ship wasn't ideal and suggested they wait until they docked. Sensing a prime opportunity to show off, he was eager to put on a display.
Everyone agreed and quickly picked up the pace, steering the Merry toward the nearest island. Soon enough, they docked at the lush Green City of Elmaru.
Luffy, full of energy, dragged Jason to a nearby open area. The rest of the crew, along with Ace, followed, eager to witness the spectacle.
Jason tied a towel around his eyes and turned to Luffy, issuing a challenge.
"Attack me with everything you've got, as fast as you can!"
"Alright! Gum-Gum Pistol!"
But Jason effortlessly twisted his body, evading the strike without even flinching.
"How is that possible? He didn't even see it coming!"
"Exactly, my eyes are covered!"
Usopp exclaimed, while Nami and the others were left in stunned silence. Only Ace observed with a knowing smile. Luffy, momentarily baffled, quickly regrouped and launched another series of attacks at Jason, each one deftly dodged.
Jason thought smugly to himself, This will definitely impress them!
"Gum-Gum Gatling Gun!"
Determined not to lose, Luffy unleashed his signature move, but once again, he failed to land a single hit.
"You're kidding, right? Not even that worked?!"
Usopp's voice was shaky, and his mouth felt dry. Zoro, on the other hand, watched the two intently, his gaze sharp and focused. The others were equally mesmerized, and Sanji only snapped out of it when his cigarette burned down to his fingers.
By this time, Luffy had stopped, his frustration evident as he slumped in defeat. Jason removed the towel from his eyes, smiling calmly.
"So, what do you think? That was Observation Haki just now. Pretty strong, huh?"
"It's not just strong; it's insanely powerful! I couldn't even touch you with your eyes covered! I'm really too weak!"
Luffy pulled a face, clearly disappointed in himself.
"Don't be discouraged. I trained for a long time before I could master Armament Haki. Do you want to see that next?"
Jason grinned mischievously, his gaze landing on Zoro. After all, Zoro had been itching to challenge him from the moment they met, ever since his defeat at the hands of Mihawk. Now it was time for Zoro to face another formidable opponent.
"Are you saying I get to go next? It's an honor to witness the abilities of someone strong like you."
Zoro unsheathed his sword and stepped toward Jason, his demeanor serious as he tied his bandana around his head.
"Don't be so tense, I'm just showing you a demonstration."
"I'm not taking any chances!"
With that, Zoro charged at Jason, his swords slicing through the air.
CLANG!
"How can this be?!"
If the crew had been surprised before, now they were utterly shocked. Jason had blocked Zoro's sword with just one finger!
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If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 80+ chapters at patreon.com/Phoenizbeelze
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