"I'm heading to the Conomi Islands next. Maybe there will be a ship there bound for the Kingdom of Goa. But if I can't find one, you'll have to come with me into the Grand Line. Once I find my target, I'll make arrangements to take you back. Of course, you can also get off earlier if you want."
"The Grand Line?"
Ace froze for a moment, then frowned again. "But I don't want to go to the Grand Line yet. I promised Sabo and Luffy that we would all go to sea when we turn seventeen."
"You're not actually setting out to sea."
Ian said with a small smile. "You just accidentally boarded my ship and took an unplanned trip to the Grand Line. When you return to the Kingdom of Goa, it won't count as going to sea, just a little sightseeing, that's all."
"Really?"
Ace blinked, then laughed. "If that's the case, then it's fine! I'll just go back to the Kingdom of Goa first, and then set sail later."
"Then it's settled. Now, eat up."
Ian nodded in satisfaction.
Then, as if remembering something, he asked: "By the way, do you have your grandpa's Den Den Mushi number?"
"Gramps' number? I think Gramp told me once, but I forgot. Why?"
"Never mind then."
Ian sighed in disappointment and shook his head. Since Ace didn't have Garp's number, he had to delay his plan to call and scold that old man.
Watching Ace still shoveling food into his mouth, Ian decided to just eat as well; otherwise, this kid might finish everything himself.
As for that angry call, he could ask Zephyr for Garp's number later.
Soon, they finished dinner.
Ace seemed to love Ian's cooking; most of the food ended up in his stomach, leaving his belly round and full.
After handing Ace the dishes to clean up, Ian pulled out his Den Den Mushi and dialed Zephyr's number.
"Hahaha!"
Before he could even speak... came the voice from the other end.
"Ian, why are you suddenly calling me?"
"You sound like you're in a good mood."
"I am in a great mood."
Zephyr chuckled. "So, what do you need from me?"
"Nothing much."
Ian said directly. "I just wanted to ask for Garp's Den Den Mushi number."
"Garp?"
Zephyr sounded puzzled. "Didn't you just leave? I talked to him this morning, and he was complaining that you didn't stay longer so he could treat you properly! Why do you suddenly need his number? Did something happen? Need my help?"
"No need. I just wanted to ask if he still wants his grandson back."
Zephyr: "...?"
"Grandson? Garp's grandson? His grandson is with you?"
"That's right."
"Wait, what? How did his grandson end up with you?"
"That's what I want to ask that old man."
Ian said helplessly. "He actually stuffed his own grandson into a wine barrel and hid him on my ship. Isn't he afraid I would turn the kid over to the Marines?"
"Hahaha, stuffing his own grandson into a wine barrel? That's exactly the kind of thing that bastard would do."
Hearing what Ian said, Zephyr couldn't help but burst out laughing, then continued cheerfully: "But even if you really handed his grandson over to the Marines, it's useless. I heard from Garp that his grandson wants to be a pirate, but I doubt he's actually one yet. There's no bounty on his head!"
"Although he's not a pirate."
Ian shrugged casually: "That guy's grandson is the son of the King of the Pirates."
As soon as those words fell, Zephyr: "...?"
He froze in place for a moment, then his voice suddenly rose: "What did you say? That old guy's grandson..."
He then lowered his tone and spoke seriously: "You mean he's the son of the King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger?"
"Yes."
Zephyr: "..."
"What's wrong?"
Noticing Zephyr's odd reaction, Ian asked curiously: "The King of the Pirates's son is just the King of the Pirates's son. Isn't he just a child of the devil? My wife's also called the Devil Child by the World Government."
"It's not that. I mean that bastard actually... Eh."
Zephyr, who was about to curse, suddenly changed his tone and chuckled. "Never mind. What I mean is, raising the King of the Pirates's son as his own grandson, yeah, that's definitely something that old bastard would do. I've got other things to handle, let's leave it at that."
"Wait, Garp's number!"
"Oh, I almost forgot, hahaha!"
Beep! Beep! Beep!
After the line was hung up, Ian immediately dialed the number he received without hesitation.
Before he could even speak, Garp's loud and carefree voice came through: "Hey, who's calling me?"
"Me!"
Ian replied without a second thought. "Your grandson—"
But before he could finish, Garp interrupted: "What grandson? My grandson's right here with me! You must have the wrong number. I'm busy right now, talk to you later!"
Before Ian could respond, Garp cheerfully said that and quickly hung up.
Ian: "…"
That old man!
Staring speechlessly at the disconnected Den Den Mushi, Ian sighed helplessly, then a voice came from beside him.
"Ahaha, did Gramps plan to abandon me?"
There was a faint hint of loss behind Ace's playful tone.
Ian looked at Ace, who was scratching his head and smiling, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
Ian could guess what he was thinking, but before he could say anything, Ace spoke again with a bitter smile.
"Yeah, I guess to Gramps, I'm just a huge burden."
Ian: "..."
"So why do I even have to live in this world?"
Ian silently watched Ace talking to himself.
Deep down, he understood that because of Garp's antics and that call just now, the boy had started to question himself again.
Ever since the moment he learned who he truly was, the son of the King of the Pirates, the accursed blood condemned by the World Government, Ace had always been lost about his own existence.
He believed that just being born had caused trouble for others. He even thought he shouldn't exist at all.
If Robin, called the Devil Child, spent her life searching for belonging and the truth behind Ohara's destruction, then Ace, hidden away by Garp since birth, had always been searching for the reason why he was alive.
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