Chapter 112: Even the Tricks They Use Are Exactly the Same [Tips Appreciated]

Just as Tang Shen was settling the bill and preparing to leave—

Slap!

A hand suddenly grabbed him. Tang Shen calmly turned his head to look at the face, and the corner of his mouth twitched sharply.

“Vice-Captain, why are you leaving? Wait for me!” Ace chuckled.

Tang Shen felt utterly exhausted.

How could this guy’s skin be so thick? He even felt as if Ace’s was thicker than his own.

No, that wasn’t right—his own skin wasn’t thick to begin with.

“I never said I’d be your vice-captain. Besides...” Tang Shen said seriously, “You still can’t beat me.”

Indeed, from Tang Shen’s perception, although he wasn’t sure how strong Ace was exactly, there was no doubt that he was stronger.

According to the timeline, Ace hadn’t yet gained the powers of the Flame-Flame Fruit from the Logia-type Devil Fruits, so in a contest of physical combat versus swordsmanship, Ace couldn’t win.

Though Ace grew up surviving in the mountains, fighting wild beasts from a young age, he was still too weak.

This was largely due to the way Monkey D. Garp had raised them. As a Navy hero, Garp had little time to nurture Ace and Luffy extensively, focusing mainly on cultivating their fighting instinct and survival skills, with very little emphasis on physical techniques.

That was why, after setting sail, Ace and Luffy developed their own distinct fighting styles, neither of them mastering the Navy’s classic superhuman martial art, the Six Powers.

Garp was one of the Navy’s top masters of physical combat.

Not to mention Ace, even Luffy’s Devil Fruit abilities were clearly suited for it, yet Garp never taught him; Luffy had to figure it out on his own, relying on sudden bursts of potential in crises and the unconscious development of skills inspired by Garp’s influence since childhood.

Thus, Ace and Luffy inherited some of Garp’s flaws as well.

Hearing Tang Shen’s words, the smile on Ace’s face gradually faded. He looked at Tang Shen seriously, his gaze sharpening.

Tang Shen immediately shed his disguise, his entire being radiating the sharpness of a sword. His bright eyes shone like lanterns, intimidating anyone who dared to meet his gaze. An invisible pressure pressed down.

Ace suddenly felt that the once polite, sunny-faced Tang Shen before him had transformed into a voracious beast. Especially those eyes—he dared not look directly at them, instinctively wanting to avert his gaze.

That was the natural reaction when facing someone stronger.

It felt as if those eyes could see right through him.

But just as the thought crossed his mind, he forced himself to resist, stubbornly stopping his reflex.

Since childhood, Ace’s pride had been stronger than anyone’s because he knew his identity and was ashamed of it. He hated that person.

So he never allowed himself to be weaker than anyone. Just as in the original story, Ace’s reckless behavior after setting sail, and even when entering the New World, he continuously sought out Whitebeard—the strongest of the Four Emperors—to challenge him.

In the end, he was won over by Whitebeard’s presence, accepted as a son, and quietly nurtured as a future Pirate King.

In truth, Ace yearned for family, which was why he accepted Garp and eventually Whitebeard.

Garp simply didn’t know how to express it, while Whitebeard was a master at raising sons.

His strong pride wouldn’t allow him to look away now.

To do so would mean fear.

This was his ‘vice-captain.’ How could he allow himself to fear his own ‘vice-captain’?

So he forced himself to maintain eye contact, glaring fiercely at Tang Shen, his body stiff and awkward.

In this tense atmosphere—

“Wow! Your eyes are so beautiful,” a curious voice suddenly pierced the moment, shattering the balance. “How do you do that?”

Tang Shen smiled faintly, slowly withdrawing his imposing aura, returning to his sunny, slightly elegant demeanor—approachable and handsome.

Ace also looked away, but he felt sweat soaking his back, his heart shaken.

Just a single glance—Windmill Town was still too small a world. Even though they had grown up causing trouble in the wealthy district, strong individuals were too few, far too few. Even with Garp, they never had a direct comparison because it simply wasn’t comparable.

That voice belonged to none other than the carefree Monkey D. Luffy.

Only someone like him would recklessly rush in under those circumstances and say such nonsensical things.

Still, Tang Shen agreed with the comment—eyes grow brighter and more expressive through training, making them far more beautiful than ordinary eyes, like two gemstones.

Without waiting for an answer, Monkey D. Luffy grinned broadly, “I’m Monkey D. Luffy, future Pirate King. I think your eyes are really pretty. How about coming aboard my ship as my vice-captain?”

Tang Shen: “...”

Ace: “...”

This line felt all too familiar, almost identical. Only the reason was different—“pretty eyes”?

Carefree, brainless; it left one speechless.

Yet Tang Shen was curious about one thing: How could such personalities rarely make mistakes in major matters?

These guys weren’t truly brainless; sometimes they simply chose not to think. Like now, the two brothers had successively invited him.

Was it really just coincidence?

Those ridiculous reasons?

Tang Shen didn’t believe it.

He shook his head, smiling. “You’re still much weaker than him, but I have faith in you. Maybe one day you’ll become Pirate King.”

Ace’s expression darkened. “You said I’d become Pirate King before. Now you say it’s Luffy. That’s so unprincipled! How can you be so shameless? Shouldn’t you only support one person?”

He and Luffy could never agree on who would become Pirate King.

“Ah?!” Monkey D. Luffy was momentarily stunned. Actually, every time he spoke of that dream, few believed him; everyone treated it as a joke. This was the first time someone said that seriously, so he was a little unprepared. Then, grinning, he said, “Even if you say I’m weak, I like you a lot. It’s settled—when I set sail, you’ll be my vice-captain.”

Ace: “...”

Tang Shen ignored Luffy and turned his gaze back to Ace, smiling warmly. “You two must be brothers. Neither of you listens to the other. You just used this exact line.”

Ace: “...”

He had no rebuttal. They were indeed brothers, albeit sworn ones, but brothers nonetheless. And yes, he had indeed used that line just now.

He hadn’t noticed before, but now he saw how much he resembled Luffy—even their way of recruiting crew members was exactly the same!

He felt as if an arrow struck his knee. He had always thought Luffy was too silly, too carefree, too shameless. Though brothers, he had always deeply acknowledged this.

Now he realized he wasn’t much better himself.

So he couldn’t help but reexamine himself.

The more he thought, the more it stung. A thousand curses rose in his heart.