One Piece: It's always been you

Chapter 132 Why Don't You Go?

Their destination was Wano Country, but unexpected things always happen during sea voyages, and it was four months later when they arrived at the waters where Wano Country was located.

Ace never expected to encounter the Big Mom Pirates' ship on this small island in the sea.

As luck would have it, the ship stopped right next to the Spade Pirates' vessel.

The logo on the bow of the ship looked somewhat familiar; the cartoonish figure with a scarf and amaranth-colored head seemed familiar, as if I had seen it when I was a child.

"Boss, the flag on that pirate ship is the Big Mom Pirates! We actually ran into them!" Skal was excited and ready to go all out.

Mikhail stayed on the ship until his boss returned, then explained, "They suddenly stopped on the side, but didn't do anything. I guess it was just for show."

As if in response to Mikhail's words, a wolf emerged from the bow of the ship. It was twice the size of an ordinary wolf, and its imposing appearance alone was enough to instill a sense of threat.

"Awooo!" The wolf with black, gray, and blue eyes let out a warning howl at Mihar, as if to tell him how strong it was.

Skar laughed twice, amused, and said, "Mikhal, that wolf doesn't seem to agree with you."

"Tch, I'll teach it a lesson in a minute." Mihar turned his head away, completely ignoring Skal's joke.

The group was eager to get started, waiting for their captain's command.

However, Ace stared at the bow of the ship without moving, as if he had some other plans.

“Come back, Sweet.”

At a command, the wolf called Sweet retreated a little, but still stared at them menacingly.

Someone came out from the bow of the ship.

When Ace saw the man who had appeared in Windmill Village with Yu when they were children, he was about to blurt out his name without thinking.

"You didn't call him by those two characters."

Ah! Hmm?

"Then, Katakuri?" Ace originally wanted to call him Katakuri, but since he had already said that, he changed his name.

Upon hearing the name, Skal explained, "That's Charlotte Katakuri, the leader of the Bigmon Pirates' Three Sweet Commanders! His bounty is one billion!"

Katakuri didn't speak, his face grim as he looked down at the group of boys on the ship, especially their captain, Ace.

"Are you going to Wano Country?" If you sail further from this island, you'll reach Wano Country.

Ace asked, "Are you going too?"

"I'm not going now, you can go." Katakuri came here because the crystal indicated that Yu's condition wasn't good, especially these past few days.

Kaido had previously contacted his mother via Den Den Mushi to tell her that Yu was now in his hands.

Everyone in the world, except for themselves, including Perospero, Cracker, and Smoothie, knew about it.

Mom told them on purpose.

Perhaps she harbored resentment after Yu escaped. Now that Yu has been captured by Kaido, she feels that she has finally gotten her revenge and made those guys suffer.

The crystal's light began to dim during those days. But Kaido was in Wano Country, so Katakuri couldn't go alone.

A month ago, Kaido led his crew on an expedition.

Katakuri also used his sea voyage as an excuse to come and take Yu away. However, he didn't expect to run into Yu's younger brother, Ace.

"Huh?" Ace didn't understand. The two of them were going to Wano Country to cause trouble?

Katakuri saw the same crystal around Ace's neck as he did and assumed that Ace was also going to Wano Country to find Yuuya. "Yuuya's situation on the island is not good."

Ace became restless upon hearing Yu's name. "What happened to Yu? Why did she go to Wano Country? Why wasn't she with you?" Yu returned to Windmill Village alone last time.

Ace noticed this carefully, but Yu didn't mention it, nor did he ask. Luffy, being oblivious, wouldn't have guessed anything was amiss.

It seems Ace is unaware of Yu's situation. Doesn't he know the purpose of the crystal?

“He was taken to the island by Kaido. Kaido isn’t on the island right now, so you can bring Yu out.” Katakuri avoided answering Ace’s question. “The crystal around your neck can guide you.”

Can crystals guide the way?

When Yu handed the crystal to him, she only instructed him to wear it with him at all times and never take it off, especially in dangerous situations.

But they never explained what the crystal's purpose was.

Ace wanted to ask for clarification, but before he could speak, Katakuri explained, "I have the same one. The crystal is closely related to Yu, and the intensity of its light represents Yu's life force."

"You'd better get out to sea quickly, or you'll be in trouble soon."

Katakuri looked towards the other side of the sea; the navy would be chasing after them soon.

Deus followed Katakuri's gaze and looked closely before realizing there were ships at sea, naval warships.

"Boss, could it be Iska?"

Iska was a Marine that Deus and Ace encountered when they first met, and he was also one of the Marines who relentlessly pursued the Spade Pirates.

They were both enemies and friends, but Iska was truly obsessed with Ace. She vowed to bring him back to the Navy.

Ace wasn't in the mood to pay attention to anything else at the moment. "Why aren't you going?" Yu and Katakuri seemed to have a good relationship back then, something must have happened in between.

"This is not something you should know. I'll take care of the Navy for you. You hurry up and take Yu away from Wano Country."

Katakuri coldly rejected Ace's request, then turned and ordered the chess soldiers to steer the ship away from the coast to block the pursuing navy.

"Awooo!" Sweet growled at Ace, then turned to Katakuri.

Ace couldn't understand, but he sensed that the wolf named Sweet was treating him rather poorly, or even badly.

“He’s Yu’s younger brother.” Katakuri stroked Sweet’s fluffy hair. “You go with him to rescue Yu, and I’ll come find you later.”

"Awoo~" Sweetie nodded in agreement, then jumped onto Ace's ship and whimpered at Ace.

Ace could clearly sense that the wolf's tone and attitude had changed.

Is this what they call "leisurely nurturing"?

Noticing Ace's gaze, Katakuri turned to Ace and explained, "Yu likes wolves, but she hasn't met Sweet yet."

Sweet was a name Katakuri later gave him. He originally wanted Yu to choose the name himself, but an accident happened. Since calling him "little wolf cub" wasn't a good idea, Katakuri chose the name himself.

Although Katakuri has never met Yu in person, he has always told Sweet that a girl named Yu will appear and that she will like Sweet very much.

Fearing that Yu would be a stranger to him later, Katakuri showed Sweet a picture of Yu and even took him to Yu's room.

Sweet was very clever; he remembered Yu's name, Yu's appearance, and Yu's scent.

Moreover, thanks to Katakuri, Sweet is very strong and can easily face enemies alone in battle.

Katakuri sometimes felt inferior to it; Sweet's ability to foresee danger, beyond animalistic alertness, was no less than Katakuri's.

It can be said that he is a very capable partner.

However, it can't speak. Katakuri has always wanted to find it a Human-Human Fruit, so that its strength would be greatly enhanced.

Ace didn't say anything; the navy was getting closer. He nodded his thanks and prepared to set sail with his crew.

Although Katakuri helped him this time, my intuition tells me that something must have happened between him and Yu.

Until they figured out the truth, they were all pirates and enemies.