Ace vaguely saw a nobleman who looked somewhat similar to Sabo, only larger and cleaner. The man had an aristocratic air, making Ace, a street urchin, feel uneasy.
Ace noticed the man because Sabo had stopped.
Sabo saw the man more clearly.
It was his father.
Sabo recalled his unhappy past, which was all because he was supposed to marry the king’s daughter and become the new king.
Of course, at that time, Sabo didn’t think much about it.
At least he didn’t think about becoming the king.
Sabo hated that past, so he abandoned his noble status and became an orphan.
Before Sabo could look at the man with disgust, a strong little hand grabbed his waist and lifted him up.
“Run, run!”
Hals yelled, then sprinted forward at an incredible speed.
The man was left wondering if he had really seen Sabo.
Hals’ speed made him doubt.
But he was convinced that was his son.
The one who could make him even happier.
Hals’ speed left only a trail of dust.
Hals left the heights of the Goa Kingdom, left the Terminal of the Slums, and reached the forest.
“Phew, so tired.”
Hals collapsed on the ground.
“You didn’t have to run so fast the whole way.”
Ace jumped off Hals’ back.
Luffy and Sabo were set down by Hals before he collapsed.
“Hals is so fast.”
Luffy simply admired Hals’ skills. Hals was impressive at everything he did.
Hals lay on the ground, not bothering with cooldown laps after running, just a bottle of [Healing Potion], no, not even that was needed. Hals’ physical strength was so great, there was no need for it.
Of course, when Hals got tired, he used a [Healing Potion], discovering it also relieved his fatigue.
How nice.
Sabo was silent, unsure of what to say.
“Who was that man?”
Ace asked Sabo.
It might not be a line from the original story, possibly related to Hals’ presence, but that wasn’t the point.
“He’s my father.”
“Aren’t you an orphan?”
Ace was angry. He was an orphan. Although he didn’t resent those who weren’t, he hated feeling deceived by his best friend.
Sabo leaned against a tree, looking at Ace.
Sabo slowly told his story.
The three fell silent.
Hals understood what Sabo had been through. Sometimes, visuals were more impactful than words, but Sabo’s story was still heart-wrenching.
For some reason, Hals left in just his damp shorts, placed his hand on Sabo’s head and said:
“We may all have tragic pasts, but we met and became true friends. That means we’re fated. There’s no need to dwell on other things. Some things are hard to talk about because they bring back painful memories. If you don’t want to talk about it, don’t. But it’s best to overcome it and become a better, stronger person.”
Hals sounded like someone with a story, but everyone present had their own stories.
Ace hadn’t yet forgiven Sabo, but Hals’ words led him to do so naturally.
As for Luffy, he felt curious and sympathetic rather than angry. After all, he wasn’t Ace, who had endured so much contempt, and he was still the Pirate King’s son. The poor guy is not allowed to live.
Ace was the most pitiful.
In the afternoon.
Hals sat up from a tree stump, yawning. He noticed Ace approaching, while Luffy admired Hals’ ability to sense people even while sleeping. Sabo just thought Hals was impressive and had gotten used to it.
Ace held a bottle of liquor. Hals didn’t know what kind, only that it was Dadan’s.
“Is that Dadan’s liquor?”
Hals asked.
“Yes, why?”
“Nothing, drinking too much isn’t good, bad for the liver.”
Hals’ words might not be easily understood, but he actually agreed with Ace’s actions.
“By drinking this, we’ll become sworn brothers.”
Ace poured the liquor into four red bowls.
“Really?”
Luffy was excited.
“Really.”
“Even though we’re not blood-related.”
Ace glanced at Hals, a bit undermining.
“What, do you think drinking a cup of liquor will change your surname to D?”
Ace said nothing.
“Or do you think a cup of liquor will change your blood type, like Luffy’s F-type?”
Hals pointed at Luffy.
Hals didn’t know if blood type mattered for brothers, but he was just rambling.
Ace let Hals’ sarcasm slide, knowing he meant no harm.
“By the way, in my homeland, sworn brothers would mix their blood with the liquor.”
Apparently, there was such a custom, not very clear.
The three paused.
“Do we have to bleed?”
Although Hals’ healing was strong, they weren’t keen on getting hurt unnecessarily.
“There’s also the custom of cutting a yellow chicken and burning yellow paper, mixing chicken blood with the liquor.”
“Let’s do it Hals’ way.”
Ace agreed.
“But let me tell you a story. Once, seven people cut a yellow chicken, burned yellow paper, and swore brotherhood, not to be born on the same day, but to die on the same day.”
“So cool.”
Luffy thought the phrase was really cool and planned to use it during their ceremony.
“Then they really did die on the same day.”
“Why?”
“Negative emotions from Ace +50”
“Negative emotions from Sabo +50”
“Negative emotions from Luffy +50”
It was a tragic story, Sabo thought.
“Because the chicken was sick, and they all died of the disease.”
The three fell silent.
They no longer felt like drinking.
“Negative emotions from Ace +110”
“Negative emotions from Sabo +110”
“Negative emotions from Luffy +110”
Are you thinking of calling the police?
“Alright, we’re not drinking chicken blood, just regular liquor.”
Hals raised his bowl, “Cheers.”
“Not born on the same day, but wish to die on the same day.” x4
Although this phrase, combined with the earlier story, seemed eerie…
Such brotherhood wasn’t bad either.
Yeah, the liquor didn’t taste good, juice was better.
Become a Patron read up to 40 chapter ahead public release ^_^
Please join Discord Server so we can talk ^_^
