One Piece: Surrounded at Marineford? Just kidding!

Chapter 55 The Forgotten Bad News, A Well-Intentioned Lie!

Just a second ago, it was a life-or-death duel.

The next second, the style of the scene changed drastically.

Deep in the jungles of Amazon Lily, a lavish open-air banquet is being set up at an absurdly rapid pace.

At the command of the Pirate Empress, the entire Amazon Lily was mobilized.

Countless valiant female warriors transformed into the most professional cooks and maids, bringing out mountains of roasted meat, succulent sea monsters, exotic fruits exuding a unique aroma, and barrels of clear, refreshing wine in a continuous stream.

The center of the banquet was naturally the Straw Hat Boy who had just declared his intention to become stronger.

Luffy was sitting cross-legged in the middle of a huge pile of food, eating with both hands, his mouth stuffed up like a hamster's, his mouth dripping with oil.

The look of a starving ghost reincarnated was completely devoid of the tragic and resolute spirit he had displayed when he first awakened.

Beside him, the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock was gazing at him tenderly with an almost obsessive look.

She would hand Luffy grilled meat by hand one moment, and then carefully wipe the grease from the corner of his mouth the next. Her girlish manner made the Kuja warriors around her almost pop their eyes out.

Is this still the same aloof empress who looked down on all men as ants?!

Marco, holding a glass of wine, stood not far away, watching this absurd scene, his eyes twitching involuntarily.

He felt his brain wasn't working properly.

From traveling through time to meet the peak-powered father, to challenging Rayleigh, the Dark Lord, and then crushing the Straw Hat Pirates...

The things he's experienced these past few days are more bizarre than anything he's done in the last few decades combined.

However, seeing Luffy wolfing down his food, Marco breathed a sigh of relief.

This kid seems to be in good spirits.

Although he was badly beaten by Chen Ye, his indomitable will was exactly the same as Ace's.

As expected of the Ace brothers.

and many more……

Ace?

Marco's smile suddenly froze.

He suddenly turned his head and stared intently at Luffy.

Something is wrong!

Something's really wrong!

Ace was his only brother!

Ace has now been captured by the Navy and is about to be publicly executed. This is devastating news that could make the sky fall!

But why...?

Why is it that, apart from the thought of "delicious food," there isn't a trace of sadness, anger, or worry on this kid's face?

He acted as if... he knew absolutely nothing about it!

A bad thought suddenly popped into Marco's mind.

He walked quickly to Hancock's side.

"Your Majesty the Empress."

Marco lowered his voice, his expression more serious than ever before.

Hancock was about to hand Luffy a huge piece of meat with bones when she heard the sound. She turned around and glanced at him with some displeasure, her eyes seeming to say, "Don't bother me."

"What is it?" Her voice regained a hint of the empress's coldness.

Marco leaned closer and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"You...didn't you tell Straw Hat Luffy about Ace?"

The words fell.

Hancock's body stiffened abruptly.

Her handing over the meat stopped in mid-air.

A fleeting look of bewilderment crossed that stunningly beautiful face, followed by a captivating blush that spread visibly from her snow-white neck to her ears.

"Ace...?"

She stammered, her eyes began to dart around, and she didn't dare to look at Marco at all.

"That... is... Luffy's brother..."

Marco's ominous premonition was instantly confirmed as he watched her reaction.

His eyelids began to twitch uncontrollably.

No way...

"I..."

Hancock's voice was barely audible, and her cheeks were so hot they could practically fry an egg.

"The moment I saw Luffy... I just... I just..."

She was too ashamed to say what came next.

I just forgot about it!!!

Marco's head buzzed, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

Forgot?!

Just because you saw your sweetheart, you completely forgot about something so important?!

This love-struck behavior is just too outrageous!

This is a matter of life and death for Ace!

Marco felt like he was going crazy.

He now finally understands how terrifying it is to be blinded by love.

It can turn a pirate empress into someone like a fool!

And just then...

"Um?"

Luffy, who was engrossed in eating, suddenly twitched his ears.

His mouth, stuffed with food, stopped chewing. He looked up, staring blankly in this direction.

"Ace?"

Luffy asked vaguely, with half a piece of meat still in his mouth.

"Did you guys just mention Ace?"

"What happened to Ace?"

Finished!

Marco's heart skipped a beat.

Hancock trembled, panicked, and stood there helplessly.

Now that things have come to this, there's no way to hide it anymore.

Marco sighed, a look of sorrow on his face, and was about to speak to tell the boy the cruel truth.

"Luffy, listen to me, Ace..."

however.

He hadn't finished speaking.

"boom--!!!"

An invisible shockwave suddenly exploded from the side!

Conqueror's Haki!

Chen Ye had stood up at some point.

He didn't direct his domineering aura at anyone, but simply let it spread. The terrifying pressure instantly silenced the entire banquet.

Everyone's movements froze at that moment.

Followed by.

A loud, bell-like voice drowned out all the noise in the arena and interrupted Marco's words!

"fine!"

Chen Ye looked at Luffy with a bright smile on his face, his voice filled with undeniable power.

"Ace is perfectly fine!"

"We just happened to be passing by and stopped by to drop by! We heard you were cultivating here!"

"Eat your meat! It won't taste good when it gets cold!"

That's all.

He also blinked hard at Luffy, who looked completely bewildered, giving him a reassuring look.

"..."

What does Chen Ye mean by this?

Does he even know what he's saying?

Is Ace doing well?

What kind of outrageous lie is this?!

Hancock was also stunned. She looked at Chenye, then at Luffy, her beautiful mind a complete mess.

As for Luffy, this simple-minded, single-celled organism, after hearing Chenye's resolute words and seeing his "kind" eyes...

The confusion on his face slowly disappeared.

"oh!"

He nodded heavily, and then!

Believe it.

"Oh, I see! That's good!"

After saying that, he ignored them and lowered his head to continue his struggle with the mountain of food in front of him.

It's as if the name "Ace" was just a minor episode.

The crisis was thus averted by an outrageous lie.

Throughout the entire stadium, only Marco remained standing there with that utterly bewildered expression, staring blankly.

His gaze was fixed intently on Chen Ye.

His eyes were filled with extreme shock, confusion, and bewilderment.

Why?

Why lie to Luffy?

What's the point of hiding something like this?!

That kid Chen Ye...

What is he thinking?