Sabo's Hometown

Outskirts of the Goa Kingdom, East Blue

As the setting sun casts its last rays across the sky, the wind ripples through the wheat fields, and wisps of smoke rise from chimneys, a kingdom with high walls remains solemn and majestic.

On the hillside, 15-year-old Sabo stood quietly.

The wind blew up his overly long Blond Hair on the left side, concealing the ugly yet deep scar—a mark left by the Celestial Dragons' artillery fire, and also the sign of his "death."

He wore a top hat, goggles, a jacket, and a ruffled tie, with his Right Hand casually resting on the metallic water pipe at his side.

His gaze was calm and composed, but a dark sense of disgust flickered across his face the moment he looked at the towering walls of the Goa Kingdom.

"Still the same old thing..." Sabo murmured, "A glittering shell, concealing rotten hypocrisy."

He subconsciously touched the scar on his left eye, but a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

Koala stood behind him, the 16-year-old girl now graceful and elegant, with gentle eyes and a smile playing on her lips, "What? After so long apart, you're even more disgusted now?"

"No," Sabo shrugged. "It's just ironic... Everything here is the same, but I'm no longer the child who looked up at the city gates."

Seeing the Flash sorrow in his eyes, Koala said slowly, "This is just an intelligence exchange; we don't need to stay here any longer. Leave if you wish."

Sabo nodded slightly, about to turn and leave, when suddenly—

"Roll--roll--"

Not far away, dust billowed as a wooden horse-drawn cart loaded with chunks of meat slowly made its way along the dirt road back to the village. The elderly couple on the cart looked relaxed, their laughter carried on the wind.

Inside the carriage, Rock chuckled as he drove, saying to Airin beside him, "Old woman, did you buy enough meat this time? Those two brats are sure to have a feast!"

"That's definitely enough!"

Airin patted the bag with a loving expression. "Ace has loved eating meat since he was little, Luffy has a terrifying appetite too... And Roy, he said he'd be back for a few days, but the three of them have been training every day, looking like they're starving."

"Haha, just hope they don't eat us out of house and home!"

Rock smiled so broadly his eyes narrowed. "But seeing their enthusiasm, I'm truly relieved. Roy has made Ace and Luffy so much stronger than before."

As the carriage traveled along the village road, passersby turned to look, marveling at the cart piled high with meat, and began to discuss it amongst themselves.

However, before they had gone two miles, a gunshot suddenly rang out on the path ahead!

"Bang--!"

Dirt flew everywhere, and a deep crater was punched into the ground in front of the carriage!

"Whoa--!"

Rock pulled hard on the reins, the horse neighed and stopped, and the carriage nearly overturned.

A shadow emerged from the forest, and more than ten Pirates wearing pirate scarves and carrying weapons surrounded the entire road.

The leader, wearing a blue cloak, grinned, his face full of menacing features. "Old man, old woman, if you know what's good for you, hand over the meat and money in the cart!"

"Otherwise—hehehe, we're not the kind of people who talk about reason!"

Rock narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Pirates? A bunch of low-class trash dares to block my way?"

Airin, on the other hand, was much calmer. She gently tugged at his sleeve and said, "Old man, don't be a hero. You don't have that old hunting rifle with you."

On the hillside, Sabo shuddered.

He stared intently at the carriage—and when he saw the Pirate crew's sinister smiles, his heart clenched, and memories from many years ago flooded his mind!

A land of burning ashes...

The lower classes abandoned in the inferno...

Just then, the Sapphire Pirates Pirate them with sinister smiles!

Koala noticed his unusual behavior and frowned slightly. "Sabo, what's wrong?"

Sabo took a deep breath, abruptly pulled out the hose, and said in an icy voice, "You stay here for now."

In the next instant, his figure flashed out, turning into a blur as he flew down the mountain!

Before the Sapphire Pirates could react, they heard—

"Bang!"

The earth seemed to tremble the moment the water pipe crashed down!

Before the leader, Bluejam, could even see the newcomer's face clearly, he was violently slammed into the ground like a broken sack, his head buried in the mud, his body twitching a few times before falling still.

"Enemy attack--! It's the navy?!"

"No, wait! This person isn't wearing a military uniform!"

"Who the hell are you?!" The Pirates panicked and charged forward, drawing their swords!

But what responded to them was a fierce offensive, like a tiger descending a mountain.

A clear "clang!" was heard.

Porchemy roared and swung his sword down, the blade flashing through the air, but just as it reached Sabo, it was shattered by Sabo's "Dragon Claw Fist"!

"Snap!!"

The blade snapped in two, and the next second, Sabo's fist slammed into his chest!

"Puff!!"

Blood mingled with his labored breathing; Porchemy flew backward several meters like a kite in the wind, knocking over several of his companions before finally coming to a stop, unconscious!

"Run! This guy's no ordinary person!!"

"Help--!"

The remaining Pirates abandoned their armor and fled in panic!

But they didn't even get a chance to escape.

Sabo's figure moved like a phantom, his movements swirling through the pipes. Each strike was accompanied by the cracking of bones and flesh. In the blink of an eye, the menacing Pirates lay sprawled on the ground, howling in agony.

In just a few dozen seconds, the entire Sapphire Pirates were wiped out!

The thick dust settled, and the sun set in the west.

Sabo put away the hose, slightly out of breath, and looked back at the elderly couple in the carriage.

The afterglow of the setting sun fell on their faces; Rock's wrinkled eyes revealed scrutiny and a hint of approval, while Airin's face was full of kindness.

"Hey--! Are you alright?!" A frantic shout came from the hillside.

Koala leaped down the slope with a nimble motion, landing silently. His eyes quickly swept over the scattered Pirates, then, after confirming Sabo's condition, he let out a long sigh, "Why did you suddenly rush down like that? You scared me!"

"I'm fine." Sabo chuckled softly, his voice a few decibels lower than before, "It was just... a moment of impulse."

Koala frowned, but didn't ask any further questions. She simply stood quietly beside him.

Rock narrowed his eyes, sizing up the Blond Hair, curly-haired, sharp-eyed boy before him, a rare hint of satisfaction appearing on his face. "Kid, not bad... a soldier?"

Sabo smiled slightly and did not deny it.

"Not only did you save our truckload of meat, but you also beat these scumbag Pirates to a pulp," he stroked his beard and grinned, "This favor can't be repaid with just a few thanks."

Airin smiled, bent down, and took a piece of braised pork jerky wrapped in oil paper from her cloth bag, handing it to him. "Young man, thank you. These are for our grandson, but you should have a piece too, don't be shy."

"Uh... I..."

Sabo paused, intending to politely decline, but seeing the gentleness and trust in her smile, his throat felt blocked, and he couldn't utter a word of refusal for a moment.

"If you don't have anything urgent," Rock chuckled, patting the side of the carriage, "Come back to Dawn Village with us for dinner. Tonight we're having stewed beef and a spicy hot pot. Lots of meat, you'll be stuffed!"

"Yes," Airin smiled lovingly, "Your eyes... are exactly like our little grandson's."

These words were like a fine needle, gently pricking Sabo's heart.

He stood quietly, looking at the kind smiles of the elderly couple and the heavy loads of meat on the trucks. Suddenly, even the air felt warmer.

Despite still having a mission to complete, and having originally planned to leave this place, they were still carrying out their mission.

But for some reason, I just couldn't bring myself to refuse.

Koala seemed to sense Sabo's struggle, blinked, and smiled, "Is that alright? Then I won't be polite~"

Sabo paused for a moment, then smiled faintly, "... Then I'll take my leave."

The two boarded the carriage and slowly traveled along the twilight path back to the village.

Sabo sat on the edge of the tailgate, gazing at the Goa Kingdom's high walls receding into the sunset, his fingertips gently stroking the water pipe, his gaze distant.

But the next second, his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Um?"

He noticed a strange look in his eyes.

His gaze came from a grove of trees by the roadside; the faint murderous intent quickly subsided, but Sabo keenly sensed it.

He narrowed his eyes, a ripple of emotion stirring within him. "These two old people... are not simple."

Under the sunlight, the horse-drawn carriage swayed and wobbled as it headed toward a village not far away.

The aroma of meat and the flickering flames wafted through the air, as if a long-forgotten taste of home was emanating from a warm dinner to come.