Parting Words

Baltigo Training Ground

"Boom--!"

A thunderous explosion!

The moment the flames collided with the Dragon Claws, the entire Training Ground was instantly torn apart with thick cracks, and scorching waves of air shot into the sky, sweeping up dust from all around!

Amidst the smoke and dust, Ace knelt on one knee, supporting himself with one hand on the ground, his body still wreathed in blazing white embers, while Sabo was thrown several meters away, landing heavily and leaving a long skid mark!

"Cough... cough..." Sabo pushed himself up, a look of surprise and amusement on his face. "Your Fire Fist... is much more ferocious than before!"

Ace grinned, casually brushing his hair aside, his eyes shining like burning amber in the sunlight.

"I have been practicing!"

He walked slowly to Sabo's side, reached out and pulled Sabo up, his tone light and confident. "I even took down that Shichibukai Crocodile in Alabasta a couple of days ago~"

Sabo: "... Huh?"

Koala, who was running over with a water bottle, stopped in her tracks upon hearing this. "What did you say???"

"Shichibukai?!"

Sabo and Koala, who were standing next to him, both widened their eyes in surprise. "Crocodile?!"

Ace shrugged. "Yeah, that guy was tough, but I still managed to burn him to a crisp."

Sabo: "..."

Koala: "..."

Before they could continue complaining, the air in the Training Ground trembled slightly.

"Whoosh!"

A soft sound echoed through the air, and a ripple broke through the field of vision, revealing Roy, along with Dragon, Ivankov, and Robin, appearing on the sidelines.

"Tsk tsk tsk, you guys have practically torn the ground apart." Roy stepped forward, his tone helpless.

Ace scratched the back of his head. "Hehe, I'm so excited."

Sabo immediately ran forward, as excited as he was when he was a child. "Boss! Boss! Ace— "

Long waved his hand to stop him. "I heard you."

He glanced at the dilapidated Training Ground, his gaze deep. "You two are both quite good."

Ivankov twisted his massive body and laughed loudly, "Haha! As expected of the brat Roy brought out!"

Robin, standing to the side, smiled gently, feeling a warmth she had never experienced before in this "quite dynamic" organization.

At that moment, Roy suddenly noticed a complex sense of melancholy flashing in Sabo's eyes as he looked at Ace.

He immediately grinned mischievously and leaned closer, hooking his arm around Sabo's neck. His tone was light but meaningful. "Sabo, do you want to eat a Devil Fruit?"

"Just tell me, and I'll get it for you!"

Sabo was stunned. "Roy, are you serious?"

Ace chimed in, "Hey? Sabo wants to eat a Devil Fruit too? Which one do you want? Logia? Zoan? Or Paramecia?"

Koala: "Wait, wait a minute... Don't suddenly start discussing world-class powerhouses, okay?!"

Amidst the yellow sand and ruins, the laughter of young people echoed, carried by the wind to the horizon.

After the laughter subsided, a gentle sand breeze blew, the sun set, and Baltigo Island was bathed in dappled golden and red light.

A small, unassuming boat lay moored on the wasteland, a handwritten wooden sign hanging at its bow—"The Sea Slacker."

Roy and Ace stood by the ship, bidding farewell to everyone and preparing to return home.

Alongside the ship, the Revolutionary Army members gathered to see them off—Dragon, Ivankov, Sabo, Koala, and Robin, who had just officially decided to stay.

A quietude of impending parting filled the air.

Just as Roy took a step to board the ship, Dragon suddenly stepped forward and asked in a deep but powerful voice:

"Roy... what do you think of the Revolutionary Army's path?"

His tone was calm and even, yet it was like an invisible breeze that instantly silenced the Harbor.

Sabo stopped laughing, Koala's gaze sharpened, and Ivankov's smile also faded slightly.

Even Robin, who was standing at the back, couldn't help but look up at Roy.

Roy paused, not turning around, but gazing at the gradually deepening blue horizon in the distance, his eyes so calm they seemed to see through the clouds to the world beneath.

He spoke calmly, his tone clear and unhurried. "A revolution is not a dinner party, not writing an essay, not painting or embroidering."

"It cannot be so elegant, composed, lukewarm, and refined."

"What you want to overthrow is not a particular king or a particular system."

"It is the root cause of the world being distorted, concealed, and exploited."

He squinted slightly, the setting sun reflected in his pupils like a blazing flame.

But remember--

"A true revolution is not about making the people sacrifice themselves for an ideal, but about making an ideal serve the people."

These words were like a thunderbolt striking from the sky, yet also like sweet dew falling on the earth.

The dragon gazed at him for a long time, then slowly nodded. "You're still the same as before..."

Sabo's eyes lit up. "It really is that Roy..."

Koala smiled, "Someone who never beats around the bush."

Ivankov chuckled, "A handsome young man who hits the nail on the head!"

Robin, on the other hand, looked at the young man before her with an unprecedented determination in her eyes.

Roy suddenly turned around and waved his hand. "Alright, alright, don't make it sound like a final farewell."

He winked at Robin: "Robin, just stay here and study. Nobody will force you."

Then he turned to look at Long, a smirk playing on his lips. "Of course, if Brother Long ever dares to bully you..."

He tapped the gunwale with his index finger, "I'll go and beat his son myself."

Dragon. "..."

(A standard black line appears on his face. jpg)

Ivankov burst into laughter, doubled over. "Hahaha! Dragon! You've actually met your match!!"

Sabo, upon hearing this, panicked and cried out, "No! Don't hit Luffy anymore!! Being assigned to G3 is bad enough!!"

Koala grabbed Sabo's cheeks without hesitation and pulled them apart. "Sabo, you idiot! Can't you tell this is a joke?!"

Robin smiled gently, watching the two figures board the ship, his eyes filled with an unprecedented tenderness.

"These two people... are truly unbelievable."

She whispered, "Thank you..."

"Whoosh--!"

With a spatial distortion, the entire small boat vanished instantly, leaving only a gently rippling circle of water reflecting the last rays of sunset on the horizon.

Grand Line - Somewhere

The vast expanse of blue water is churning with waves.

A small boat floats leisurely on the sea, swaying gently with the sea breeze.

Ace leaned against the deck, basking in the sun with a blade of grass between his teeth, humming a little tune;

Roy, meanwhile, lay lazily on a specially made deck chair at the stern of the boat, just pulling out a fishing rod, intending to leisurely go fishing.

However--

"Pururururu...!!!"

A crisp Den Den Mushi ring broke the tranquility of the sea.

Roy rolled over and pulled out Den Den Mushi from his pocket.

The Den Den Mushi had a head of frizzy curly hair, a green eye patch on its forehead, droopy eyelids, and its face screamed "lazy."

Roy glanced at him, his lips twitching. "Oh dear... I think I forgot to say hello."

Ace leaned closer, and upon seeing the Den Den Mushi design, he instantly realized. "Hahaha! You're doomed, Roy!"

"Click." He answered the Den Den Mushi.

The next second, the Den Den Mushi slightly raised its eyes, its tone languid with a hint of "you're doomed" in its voice. "Ara ara~ Roy..."

"Did you recently go to... a place that's not really suitable for someone of your status?"

Roy pretended not to understand, gazing at a cloud on the horizon. "Huh? You mean 'not suitable'... do you mean bad weather? I have gotten a bit tanned recently."

Ace burst out laughing, rolling around on the deck. "Hahaha! Even Admiral Kuzan has been alerted!"

"..."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, followed by Aokiji's drawn-out voice. "Did you... take someone there?"

"For example... an archaeologist who is of global interest."

Roy replied while shaking his fishing rod, "Hey, senior brother, aren't you being a bit too blunt?"

"Just ask if you want to—'Where did Nico Robin go?' right?"

The Den Den Mushi clicked its tongue, its tone languid. "I didn't say that, you were the one who said it..."

Roy smiled and said leisurely, "I... just moved her from a sinking, dilapidated ship to a Harbor that could withstand the storms."

"It's better than continuing to work for some lose-minded guy in Alabasta who's just playing in the sand, right?"

Aokiji was silent for a few seconds, then sighed softly, "You're still as talkative as ever..."

"However..." he paused, "She would certainly be safer there."

Roy raised an eyebrow and smiled, "So, you're assuming I did a pretty good job?"

The Den Den Mushi's mouth moved, but it only managed to utter, "Hmm... you little rascal."

Roy picked up a blade of grass, smiled, and lay back in his chair. "Don't worry, she'll live well over there and live a life of her own."

"This world needs people to remember the past, and also people to try to overturn the future."

The Den Den Mushi was silent for a moment, then lazily said, "Just don't make me clean up the mess..."

"Bye." He hung up abruptly after saying that.

"Tsk, still the same as always, lazy and lost."

Roy shook his head as he looked at the silent Den Den Mushi.

Ace, panting and laughing, lay on the deck. "The way you two are chatting is so weird, haha--"

Roy closed his eyes, put his hands behind his head, crossed his legs, and watched the sea breeze and sunlight spill onto the sails.

The small boat glides leisurely across the sea, heading towards the distant unknown.