Aboard the Moby Dick, Ace stared at the young man before him, eyes welling with tears.
That feeling—when soone you believed dead is suddenly standing alive right in front of you—was beyond words. His body trembled slightly.
"S-Sabo!"
After a long pause, Ace finally cried out his na, overwheld with emotion.
"Yo. Long ti no see."
Sabo tilted the brim of his hat down slightly, a warm smile lighting up his face as he raised a hand in greeting.
"You bastard!"
Unable to hold back any longer, Ace, tears brimming in the corners of his eyes, lunged forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Sabo's neck.
The long-awaited reunion of brothers, after more than a decade apart, instantly moved the entire Whitebeard Pirates crew.
"Haha, surprised?"
"I was just as shocked when I saw you in the papers!"
Sabo laughed as he felt Ace trembling beside him.
"You idiot… If you were alive, why didn't you tell ? Or Luffy?" Ace asked, slightly upset.
"I'm sorry."
"I didn't know either. That day…"
Sabo bowed deeply to Ace, then explained the circumstances of his mory loss. At the end, he added:
"What shocked most… was finding out that Mr. Dragon is Luffy's father!"
"Ah! That, I knew." Ace nodded.
"There's so much I want to say to you…"
"But I'm afraid duty calls."
Turning toward Whitebeard, Sabo bowed respectfully.
"Captain Whitebeard, on behalf of the Revolutionary Army, I've co to invite you to beco our ally."
"Gurararara…"
"Kid, do you even know what you're saying?" Whitebeard chuckled, cracking open one eye as a fearso aura erupted from his body.
"I know exactly what I'm saying. This isn't just the will of the Revolutionary Army—it's also the intention of my teacher, Ghidorah."
Under the crushing pressure of Whitebeard's Haki, Sabo held his ground, eting his gaze with steady eyes.
"Ghidorah, huh…"
Whitebeard looked at him with a flash of admiration in his eyes—then froze for a beat when he heard that na.
By now, everyone in the world knew what that na ant.
A being that openly opposed the World Governnt, who had taken over the forr Holy Land of Mary Geoise and renad it the "Kingdom of Joy."
Such an act had never occurred in the history of the World Governnt.
"Politics have nothing to do with pirates like us."
Whitebeard didn't refuse—but he didn't accept either. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and asked calmly.
"Politics may not matter to pirates—but what's coming will affect the entire world."
"And I believe you can see that."
"From this mont until the chaos ends—no one will be able to stay out of it."
Whitebeard's eyes flashed with cold light. Without a word, he suddenly grabbed the massive bisento beside him and swung it toward Sabo.
"Pops!!"
Startled, Ace rushed forward to intercept—but a hand fell on his shoulder.
"Relax. Pops is just testing him."
It was Marco, who appeared calmly beside him.
Hearing this, Ace hesitated—then stepped back, though his face remained tense.
The blade sliced through the air like a tidal wave.
In that overwhelming pressure, Sabo stood like a lone boat in a raging sea.
His instincts scread at him to dodge—but in that mont, he realized Whitebeard's intent.
So he stood firm, feet rooted to the deck like an immovable tree, and did not flinch as the bisento ca crashing down.
"Sabo, move!!" Ace scread.
The Whitebeard crew, shocked, watched in horror.
This was their first ti eting Sabo, but being Ace's brother earned him their trust. And yet… this fool looked like he was frozen in fear!
Even Whitebeard was about to pull back at the last second—until he caught a glimr of absolute confidence in Sabo's eyes.
But it was too late—the attack had already landed.
BOOM!
CRACK! CRACK!!
A shockwave burst across the deck—splinters and dust flying everywhere.
"Nani?!"
"No way!!"
"That was Pops' full force!!"
As the smoke cleared, everyone stared wide-eyed at the young man now revealed beneath the bisento.
There he stood—skinny, scholarly in appearance—his jet-black arm holding back Whitebeard's mighty weapon.
"Oi, old man… maybe don't open with a sneak attack?"
"Kuwainé~!"
Despite the power behind the attack, Sabo responded with a calm and cheeky smile.
"Gurararara…"
"As expected of that monster's student."
"With the strength you have now, you've already surpassed the of old."
Whitebeard withdrew his weapon and slamd it into the deck beside him with a resounding thud.
His eyes scanned across the crew.
Since returning from the Paramount War, his health had been deteriorating.
The seas, once calm, were now in turmoil—and in his condition, he might not live to see what was coming.
Though he smiled for his sons every day, deep down… he feared for them.
Could they truly stay uninvolved?
No. No one could stay uninvolved in this world anymore.
"My boys may not be the sharpest blades—but with them by my side, I'm content."
"Ace. Marco."
Hearing Whitebeard call their nas, both n stepped forward without hesitation.
He looked at them with pride, then turned back to the crew and declared:
"From today onward, the Whitebeard Pirates will be led by Ace and Marco."
"Gurararara… I'm just an old relic of a bygone era. I won't ddle in your decisions—but…"
"Whatever path you take, your old man will back you to the very end!"
Silence fell across the ship.
Not because of the leadership change—everyone had expected Ace and Marco to succeed Whitebeard years ago.
But because of Whitebeard himself.
Even if they didn't want to admit it, everyone now sensed it:
The end was near.
"Pops…"
Ace and Marco spoke at the sa ti.
"Gurarara… I'm not dead yet!"
"Don't go looking so gloomy. Do whatever you feel is right!"
Whitebeard barked, forcing a grin.
"Hahaha… hey, old man, it's just an invitation—why make it sound like a final farewell?"
Sabo's voice broke the heavy mood, drawing everyone's glare.
Unfazed, he continued:
"My teacher said—if you agree to cooperate, you should co to the Kingdom of Joy yourself."
"Because with your condition…"
"You might not even live to see the war begin."
"Nani?!"
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