p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center"Wharton's mother, was on the cusp of completely losing her temper. A mere child who hadn't even started puberty was talking down to her, a noble, as if she was the child./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Boy, you used an unnecessary amount of force on someone much younger than you in a mere friendly sparring match. If your mother refuses to discip…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I… Can't… Can't breathe…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Help!" In Ace's vice-like grip, Wharton paled as he looked to his mother for help./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""LET MY SON GO, YOU SON OF A…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""SHUT UP!" Ace shouted as he looked at Lina with a visage so cold it made her shudder. "I don't care what you say about me, but if you say anything about my mother, I'll kill your pathetic excuse for a son right here and now whilst you watch."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Lina could see from the look in his eyes that he was deadly serious. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Please let my son go, and we can discuss how to proceed," Lina asked as politely as she could./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace remained silent for a few seconds as he glared into Lina's worried eyes. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hand me my money!" Ace said indifferently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""What?" Lina asked, not following his meaning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""You owe me 210 gold coins for beating your pathetic lizard-blooded son. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Call your dogs off and hand over my money, then I'll let your son go." Ace replied indifferently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""The prize money was only 100 gold coins. Where did…" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""10 was my own money, so that's not included. 100 for defeating your husband's shitty disciple, and 100 for defeating this Lizard." Ace explained coldly, not caring about giving the Baruch Family any face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I'm not pay…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Mom…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Wharton's cries for help between gasps for breath was enough to shut Lina up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""This isn't up for discussion." Ace said as his icy gaze remained on Lina as if he were daring her to make a move./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Seconds went by in complete silence as the crowd watched in shock, not daring to believe what they were witnessing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""5, 4, 3…" The crowd could see the colour on Wharton's face fade with each passing second as Ace's grip continued to tighten. "2…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""OKAY, ENOUGH…" Lina shouted as she threw him a small pouch full of gold coins, worried Ace was really crazy enough to go through with it. "Guards, stand down!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Now, was that so hard?" Ace asked with a confident smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hmph! Now hold up your end of the deal; let my son go." Lina said as she tried her best to hold back her rage./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Kil, you hurry back to the hotel and get Lance." Ace said, completely ignoring Lina./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""But, what about…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Don't worry about me. Whilst I have this little Lizard in my hands, I'll be fine, but I'll probably need Lance's help soon." Ace calmly explained as if the situation had nothing to do with him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I get it. I'll be back soon; just hold on!" Killian hurriedly said as he jumped off the stage, running back to the inn, not caring about the chance of reopening his wounds./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace watched Killian's disappearing back with a smile. What he was thinking at that moment, only he knew./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""My son. LET GO OF MY SON, YOU BASTARD!" Lina screamed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Bastard? That's not a very nice way to talk about someone you once tried to recruit…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"But okay, catch!" Ace said as he launched the brown-haired boy in his hands at Lina./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Before walking off the stage calmly. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""KILL HIM! CATCH THAT LITTLE BASTARD AND KILL HIM!" Lina screamed hysterically at her guards./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace acted as if he hadn't seen the guards chasing him as he carried on walking as if taking a stroll through the park. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Just as the fist of the guard closest was about to reach his right shoulder, he coated it in his armament haki and launched himself forward./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""AAAAAHHHHHH! MY ARM, MY ARM, MY POOR ARM! HELP ME; THE BARUCH FAMILY IS TRYING TO KILL ME!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""GOOD, NOW BRING ME HIS HEAD!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Just as they were preparing to rush after him again, the Fenlai City Guards stormed over and surrounded them. Each of them in dazzling white armour and swords sheathed by their sides, intimidating everyone present into behaving themselves./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""What happened here?" The guard riding on horseback who appeared to be in charge asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Help, please, you have to help me. The crazy Baruch family guards are trying to kill me." Ace said as he stumbled to his feet from the apparent pain he was in./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""What happened? Why are they trying to kill you?" The head guard asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It all started when…" Ace then went on to frantically explain what happened from the beginning, making sure to leave out anything that would make him seem like the bad guy./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""So you're saying that because you managed to beat 2 of the children chosen to represent their family in this challenge, they decided to ignore the city rules to kill you." The guard asked, not sure what to believe./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Yes, sir. Everything I told you was 100% true; you can ask anyone!" Ace said with the most honest expression he could put on./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""You there." The guard said, turning his head to a random member of the audience. "Is this kid telling the truth?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Er… Yes… Yes, sir!" The man in question responded honestly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"That was all the head guard needed to know before he signalled his men to surround the members of the Baruch family./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Your Baruch family sure does have some nerve. For a lesser noble to try and abuse the rules…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"What kind of backwater town do you think Fenlai City is?!" The guard asked as he looked down at Lina coldly from atop his horse./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""No, sir, I can assure you everything that little rat said was out of…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Enough!" The guard interrupted, not caring for her excuses. "Men, take them away!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Do you need help getting home?" The head guard asked as he looked at Ace's pained visage./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""No, I'll be alright. Thank you, sir." Ace replied weakly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The more he looked at the boy before him, the more the stoic guard could feel something was off, but he didn't feel like interrogating an injured child. With a slight nod, he turned around to follow his men, ignoring the looks of awe he got from the crowd./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'Even with my haki, that third-rank guard from the Baruch Family still managed to give me a dead arm.'/span/emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" Ace thought as he rolled his shoulder to get rid of the numbness whilst staring at the backs of the city guards./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He then went on his way with his winnings, not paying any attention to the spectators staring at him as if he were a monster./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"If anyone had looked up, they would've seen a young man with strong ape-like features donning a loose-fit white robe laying down on the back of a giant winged serpent, casually watching everything that happened with an amused smile. "What an interesting brat!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace, who had no idea he was being watched from above, was lost in thoughts as he pondered over everything that had happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""ACE!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Looking up, he saw Killian leading a worried Lance through the streets./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ace… Good… You're okay!" Killian said between breaths./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"It was clear he'd been sprinting as quickly as possible, worried about what might happen./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I'm fine. No need to worry." Ace said, flashing Killian a reassuring smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I'm glad you're okay, but we should get home. Your mother's probably going crazy with worry." Lance said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Boy, you used an unnecessary amount of force on someone much younger than you in a mere friendly sparring match. If your mother refuses to discip…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I… Can't… Can't breathe…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Help!" In Ace's vice-like grip, Wharton paled as he looked to his mother for help./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""LET MY SON GO, YOU SON OF A…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""SHUT UP!" Ace shouted as he looked at Lina with a visage so cold it made her shudder. "I don't care what you say about me, but if you say anything about my mother, I'll kill your pathetic excuse for a son right here and now whilst you watch."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Lina could see from the look in his eyes that he was deadly serious. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Please let my son go, and we can discuss how to proceed," Lina asked as politely as she could./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace remained silent for a few seconds as he glared into Lina's worried eyes. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hand me my money!" Ace said indifferently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""What?" Lina asked, not following his meaning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""You owe me 210 gold coins for beating your pathetic lizard-blooded son. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Call your dogs off and hand over my money, then I'll let your son go." Ace replied indifferently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""The prize money was only 100 gold coins. Where did…" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""10 was my own money, so that's not included. 100 for defeating your husband's shitty disciple, and 100 for defeating this Lizard." Ace explained coldly, not caring about giving the Baruch Family any face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I'm not pay…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Mom…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Wharton's cries for help between gasps for breath was enough to shut Lina up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""This isn't up for discussion." Ace said as his icy gaze remained on Lina as if he were daring her to make a move./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Seconds went by in complete silence as the crowd watched in shock, not daring to believe what they were witnessing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""5, 4, 3…" The crowd could see the colour on Wharton's face fade with each passing second as Ace's grip continued to tighten. "2…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""OKAY, ENOUGH…" Lina shouted as she threw him a small pouch full of gold coins, worried Ace was really crazy enough to go through with it. "Guards, stand down!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Now, was that so hard?" Ace asked with a confident smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Hmph! Now hold up your end of the deal; let my son go." Lina said as she tried her best to hold back her rage./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Kil, you hurry back to the hotel and get Lance." Ace said, completely ignoring Lina./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""But, what about…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Don't worry about me. Whilst I have this little Lizard in my hands, I'll be fine, but I'll probably need Lance's help soon." Ace calmly explained as if the situation had nothing to do with him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I get it. I'll be back soon; just hold on!" Killian hurriedly said as he jumped off the stage, running back to the inn, not caring about the chance of reopening his wounds./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace watched Killian's disappearing back with a smile. What he was thinking at that moment, only he knew./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""My son. LET GO OF MY SON, YOU BASTARD!" Lina screamed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Bastard? That's not a very nice way to talk about someone you once tried to recruit…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"But okay, catch!" Ace said as he launched the brown-haired boy in his hands at Lina./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Before walking off the stage calmly. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""KILL HIM! CATCH THAT LITTLE BASTARD AND KILL HIM!" Lina screamed hysterically at her guards./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace acted as if he hadn't seen the guards chasing him as he carried on walking as if taking a stroll through the park. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Just as the fist of the guard closest was about to reach his right shoulder, he coated it in his armament haki and launched himself forward./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""AAAAAHHHHHH! MY ARM, MY ARM, MY POOR ARM! HELP ME; THE BARUCH FAMILY IS TRYING TO KILL ME!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""GOOD, NOW BRING ME HIS HEAD!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Just as they were preparing to rush after him again, the Fenlai City Guards stormed over and surrounded them. Each of them in dazzling white armour and swords sheathed by their sides, intimidating everyone present into behaving themselves./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""What happened here?" The guard riding on horseback who appeared to be in charge asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Help, please, you have to help me. The crazy Baruch family guards are trying to kill me." Ace said as he stumbled to his feet from the apparent pain he was in./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""What happened? Why are they trying to kill you?" The head guard asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It all started when…" Ace then went on to frantically explain what happened from the beginning, making sure to leave out anything that would make him seem like the bad guy./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""So you're saying that because you managed to beat 2 of the children chosen to represent their family in this challenge, they decided to ignore the city rules to kill you." The guard asked, not sure what to believe./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Yes, sir. Everything I told you was 100% true; you can ask anyone!" Ace said with the most honest expression he could put on./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""You there." The guard said, turning his head to a random member of the audience. "Is this kid telling the truth?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Er… Yes… Yes, sir!" The man in question responded honestly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"That was all the head guard needed to know before he signalled his men to surround the members of the Baruch family./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Your Baruch family sure does have some nerve. For a lesser noble to try and abuse the rules…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"What kind of backwater town do you think Fenlai City is?!" The guard asked as he looked down at Lina coldly from atop his horse./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""No, sir, I can assure you everything that little rat said was out of…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Enough!" The guard interrupted, not caring for her excuses. "Men, take them away!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Do you need help getting home?" The head guard asked as he looked at Ace's pained visage./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""No, I'll be alright. Thank you, sir." Ace replied weakly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The more he looked at the boy before him, the more the stoic guard could feel something was off, but he didn't feel like interrogating an injured child. With a slight nod, he turned around to follow his men, ignoring the looks of awe he got from the crowd./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'Even with my haki, that third-rank guard from the Baruch Family still managed to give me a dead arm.'/span/emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" Ace thought as he rolled his shoulder to get rid of the numbness whilst staring at the backs of the city guards./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"He then went on his way with his winnings, not paying any attention to the spectators staring at him as if he were a monster./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"If anyone had looked up, they would've seen a young man with strong ape-like features donning a loose-fit white robe laying down on the back of a giant winged serpent, casually watching everything that happened with an amused smile. "What an interesting brat!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace, who had no idea he was being watched from above, was lost in thoughts as he pondered over everything that had happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""ACE!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Looking up, he saw Killian leading a worried Lance through the streets./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ace… Good… You're okay!" Killian said between breaths./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"It was clear he'd been sprinting as quickly as possible, worried about what might happen./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I'm fine. No need to worry." Ace said, flashing Killian a reassuring smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I'm glad you're okay, but we should get home. Your mother's probably going crazy with worry." Lance said./span/p