As the mother-son duo neared Surielle’s house, they noticed her talking to a tall, muscur man with shoulder-length blonde hair, donning a and well-looked-after spear on his back.

  ‘That’s one of the guards from the Baru. Why’s he here?’ Ace wondered.

  Almost as if to answer his question, they mao catch the end of their versation.

  “I lock up for the day and perform Madam Lina’s check-up now. Just give me…”

  Before Surielle could finish her sentehe guard quickly stopped her. “There’s no need for that. Lord Hogg told me to ask you to e after you finish for the day as he knows that many people in town rely on your expertise. It’d be wrong to ask you to lock up early, especially as Madam Lina is still stable.”

  “Lord Hogg is as benevolent as ever. Mr. Lance, Please tell him that this old bag of bones will hurry over as soon as the day is over.” Surielle replied whilst bowing to show her respect.

  It was clear that everyone in towly respected the Baruch family, even if they were no longer as awe-inspiring as they had been in the past.

  “No need for all that; you’re the one doing us a favour. I’ll see you t…”

  Before he could finish his sentence, Lance felt his breath being stolen as he id his eyes on what he could only describe as the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

  “You’re blog the way, old man!”

  Ace said impatiently after spending the st half dozen seds watg his mother and Laaring into each other’s eyes bashfully.

  “Ace, don’t be rude. Say sorry!”

  Ace was entirely against apologising. Even though he was in the body of a toddler, he still retained his pride as the sed division ander of the Whitebeard Pirates; how could someone like that apologise to a trivial guard?

  “NOW!”

  But when he heard his mom shout at him for the first time since his birth, he instantly put away his pride.

  “I’m sorry for my rudeness!”

  Even though he was looking directly at Lance as he apologised, his observation haki was focused on his mother.

  She was trembling, and to everyone else, it looked like she was just angry, but Ace could feel there was more to it.

  ‘That’s not anger; it’s fear. Mom’s terrified!’

  Aew it had nothing to do with La was only a few seds ago that they had been staring into each other’s eyes like it was love at first sight, but he had no idea what could cause his mother, who was usually so geo react like that.

  “It’s okay; I took no offense,” Lance said as he put an arm on the shaking mother to try to reassure her, but as soon as he made tact, Milianna flinched and fell back, tripping over herself in fear and surprise.

  Not expeg her to react sly, Laepped forward, preparing to help her to her feet when he was forced to snap his neck back.

  “DON’T TOUCH HER!”

  Ace’s little fist shot past where the warrior’s face had been before he jumped in front of his mother as if he was willing to give his life to protect her.

  Deep down, he knew Lance was just his support, but seeing the fear in her eyes; Ace acted purely on impulse to protect the only family he had in this fn world.

  Lance looked deeply at Ace, who stood protectively in front of his mother as if to guard her, and then at the boy’s fist. ‘That punch, just what was that?’

  It wasn’t that the punch would’ve caused him any harm, Lance was far too powerful, and Ace was nothing but a toddler, but his instincts honed from all his years otlefield still warned him there was something faintly dangerous about it, which was why he dodged the pun instinct.

  “I’m sorry for sg you; it wasn’t my iion. I hope you five me!” Laated dejectedly as he raised his hands to show he meant no harm before turning to leave, not wanting to cause any further upset.

  It wasn’t till he left that Milianna finally took a breath and pulled Ato her arms.

  She didn’t say anything, but Ace could feel her heart beating through her chest. He said nothing and just hugged her batil she stabilized her emotions enough to lead him bae.

  Surielle didn’t know what to say either; she just watched silently as they left, not eveioning why they came.

  her Ailianna said a word the whole walk back. It wasn’t till they got home that Ace finally broke their extended silence. “Why were you so scared?”

  Ace watched in shock as all life left his mother’s eyes, her body trembling in fear as she registered his question.

  “Mom?”

  “Sorry, son. I just remembered something I didn’t want to.”

  Ace was about to apologise for asking when she tinued.

  “Ace, promise me that no matter how powerful you bee iure, you will never use your power to take advantage of those weaker and undeserving.”

  “I… I promise!”

  Hearing his promise, Milianna forced herself to smile before returning to the bedroom.

  “I feel a little tired; I o take a nap!”

  Ace watched as his mom left for the bedroom, but his mind inning far too much to respond. Having lived through the great age of pirates, he had seehing from massacres, to pilging, to rape. After watg his mom’s rea to a seemingly harmless gesture from a stranger, it was hard for his mind not to think the worst.

  His fists were ched so tight that his nails actually broke the skin on his palm, and his body shook in anger.

  “Mom, I swear on my life; as long as I’m alive, I will never allow ao y so much as a finger on you!”