Mount Corvo, at a place called Dadan’s hideout.
The sky was overcast, and a drizzle was falling. Inside the central wooden house, the lights were on, and the bandits, led by Dadan, sat against the walls with defeated expressions. In the center of the floor lay Ace’s lifeless body. In a room inside, Luffy was sleeping, not in any immediate danger.
Some of the bandits were wailing loudly. To them, Ace was like their own child, but the once lively and often troublesome Ace was now dead. Dadan looked soulless, with tear stains on her face and a dazed expression in her eyes.
“Bang!”
The door was kicked open, and Garp walked in with giant strides. When he saw Ace’s lifeless body on the ground, his previously skeptical and angry expression turned pale and trembling. He squatted down without saying a word, and when he confirmed Ace was indeed dead, tears began to flow from his eyes.
“Ace…”
Garp, who had chased Gol D. Roger around the world and fought powerful pirates like Rocks, Whitebeard, Shiki, and the Red Count without fear, was now truly afraid.
“We didn’t take good care of him.”
Dadan knelt on the ground. Her grief was no less than Garp’s.
“Who did this?”
Garp’s eyes were bloodshot, and his face gradually twisted with rage.
“The Bluejam Pirates. But they were killed by someone already. Specifically, the order came from the Goa Kingdom noble Otoluk III, and the pirate named Tang An executed it. He has already fled the Goa Kingdom.”
Dragon walked out of the inner room and stood before Garp with a complicated expression.
“What are you doing here?”
Garp’s face darkened.
“If it weren’t for me, Luffy would be dead too. Maybe I should take Luffy with me.”
Dragon was contemplating whether to take Luffy away. He had initially left Luffy with Garp because he had other matters to attend to, such as the Revolutionary Army. But now he was hesitant.
Garp said nothing, his face still sad because he didn’t know what to say.
“I was surprised to learn this little guy was Gol D. Roger’s child. I don’t understand what you were thinking.”
Dragon sat cross-legged in front of Garp, indicating he knew about Ace’s identity.
Garp still didn’t respond. He stood up, ready to leave.
“The noble who gave the order is Sabo’s father, and Sabo was Luffy and Ace’s brother. But that pirate, Tang An, is still alive.”
Dragon had already investigated everything. He knew Garp was now in a state of rage and might wipe out Otoluk III. If the Goa Kingdom tried to stop him, they might be destroyed as well. No one could stop the old man if he decided to act.
“Ace… Luffy…”
Heavy breathing came from the doorway. Outside, a flash of lightning illuminated Sabo’s bruised and filthy figure. When he saw Ace on the ground, tears streamed down his face.
“Ace…”
“It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have died.”
Sabo knelt beside Ace; his eyes were empty and full of guilt. He blamed himself for Ace and Luffy’s deaths.
“Ace… Luffy… wait for me, I’ll join you soon.”
Wiping the tears from his face, Sabo pulled out a dagger from his pocket and, without hesitation, aimed it at his heart.
A large hand moved swiftly, grabbing Sabo’s wrist and stopping him.
“Luffy is still alive.”
Dragon could see the boy before he was filled with despair and had lost all hope.
Sabo’s face froze. The previously lifeless eyes suddenly brightened. Like a spark in the darkness, it slowly illuminated Sabo’s guilt-ridden and pained heart.
“Luffy is still alive.”
“Really?”
Dragon pointed to the inner room. Sabo rushed inside.
“Luffy.”
Seeing that Luffy was indeed breathing, Sabo cried with joy. His guilt was halved.
Hearing the wails from the inner room, Garp’s expression was complicated.
“They are brothers,” Dragon said to Garp, hinting at something.
About ten minutes later, Sabo came out of the inner room.
“Luffy…”
“He’ll be fine after a couple of days’ rest.”
Dragon had just finished speaking when Sabo knelt before Garp, his forehead hitting the ground as he choked out, “It’s all my fault. Please kill me.”
Garp looked down at Sabo, who was trembling on the ground, his emotions finally calmed down.
“It’s not your fault.”
Garp seemed to age several years, sitting down on the ground, staring at Ace’s body.
“I’m sorry.”
Sabo remained in his kneeling position, unmoving.
“Your pain is no less than anyone else’s. Ace was your brother. At least Luffy is still alive.”
Dragon pulled Sabo up, his face serious.
Outside, the rain continued to fall, growing heavier.
Meanwhile, in Syrup Village, a small, isolated island in the East Blue, life was calm and peaceful, much like in Windmill Village. But this seemingly unremarkable village produced two significant figures: Yasopp, a future sniper for the Red-Haired Pirates, and his son, a potential future sniper for the Pirate King’s crew. However, now the son was just a seven-year-old boy who loved to lie.
On the west coast, a large ship slowly approached from the horizon and finally docked.
“There’s finally an island.”
Standing on the beach, Tang An looked at the small hill ahead, feeling a bit excited. He had been drifting at sea for two days, and this was the first island he had seen since leaving the Goa Kingdom.
“Hopefully, this isn’t a deserted island.”
“Let’s go!”
Signaling to Rafael, Tang An led the way up the hill, holding the Type 92 pistol. Rafael quietly followed.
Over the past two days, Tang An had frequently used him for training, leaving Rafael bruised and battered.
They climbed the hill and entered the forest, seeing no signs of human activity. Tang An felt a bit disappointed. He hoped this island would be a target location. Even if it wasn’t where Nami and the others were, there should at least be inhabitants. Otherwise, it would be a wasted trip.
After about ten minutes of walking, they found a small path. Tang An felt a glimmer of hope.
Following the path for a few more minutes, they came upon a large field with people working in it, and houses were visible not far away.
It was a village.
“Auntie, what is this village called?”
Tang An asked a middle-aged woman dressed in simple clothes as she worked in a vegetable garden. The woman, wearing a headscarf, eyed Tang An and Rafael warily.
They didn’t seem dangerous, but she remained cautious, having never seen them before. They were obviously outsiders, possibly pirates.
“Who are you?”
“We’re small traders passing through this island to restock some supplies.”
Tang An’s pale face looked harmless and non-threatening.
“Just the two of you?”
The woman glanced behind Tang An.
“There are two more crew members on the merchant ship. We’ll leave after buying some supplies.”
“Oh, this is Syrup Village. Follow this path to the village, and you can buy what you need there.”
“Thank you, auntie.”
Tang An tried to recall Syrup Village, but nothing came to mind. It must have been too long since he read One Piece.
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