Three brothers, reunited after a long separation

Knowing he was in the wrong, Smoker ultimately decided not to continue arguing with Crocodile.

He merely snorted coldly, exhaling a thick cloud of Smoke, the glow of his Cigar flickering in the wind.

Suppressing his rage, he turned and slowly left with Ace, Luffy, Nami, and Nojiko.

Before leaving, Nami still gritted her teeth, glaring fiercely at Bentham's bruised and swollen face, her eyebrows furrowed, and she stomped her feet in anger.

"Remember this! If I find out you dare to impersonate me again..."

I'll strike you dead with Thundercloud!

"Aww--!"

Bentham was instantly terrified, his bruised and swollen face contorted in shock, and he clutched his head, nodding frantically, his voice trembling:

"I won't do it again! I won't do it again! I will never become you again!!"

The Baroque Works members, lying haphazardly around him, looked at each other, their eyes filled with fear and confusion.

As Smoker and his group of five gradually disappeared around the street corner, the street fell silent once more.

Crocodile remained standing, Golden Sand swirling and billowing around him, as if responding to the rage in his master's heart.

He squinted, his sinister gaze following the gradually disappearing figures, a cold click of his tongue escaping his throat:

"Tsk..."

However, along with that whisper, the image he least wanted to recall involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

The third time, when that group of "Effort Pirates" inexplicably revived and stormed back into the Rainbase, he clearly saw with his own eyes—

In the instant the sandstorm tore through the air, a blurry red shadow Flash past from the raging Sandstorm, so fast it was like an illusion.

It was only for a moment, yet it sent a slight tremor through his heart.

"... snort."

Crocodile's fingertips tightened slightly, Golden Hook made a piercing low clang.

He naturally suspected that the red figure was the real mastermind behind the "Effort Pirates's " repeated resurrections and escapes from prison.

But so what?

Tell the Navy? Tell that annoying white hound?

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips, a chilling glint in his eyes. "No need... Those idiots will die at sea sooner or later."

As soon as he finished speaking, a strong wind suddenly rose, and sand and dust exploded at his feet.

The next instant, a massive Sandstorm swept up the fallen remnants of the Baroque Works and engulfed them all.

In the blink of an eye, the streets were deserted.

All that remained was desolation and the lingering echo of the howling wind, as if everything that had just happened had never existed.

On the other side of the street corner, Smoker finally slowed down, Smoke swirling around his shoulders.

He suppressed his anger, turned to Ace and Luffy, and said, "I need to go and explain what just happened to King Nefertari Cobra of Alabasta."

"You guys, stay put around here... don't cause any trouble."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure turned into Smoke and instantly disappeared into the air.

Luffy, hands on his head, chuckled nonchalantly, looking completely unconcerned. "Hey? I just arrived in Alabasta, I haven't even had enough Barbecue yet!!"

However, before he could finish speaking—

"Boom--!"

A sudden, violent whooshing sound came from the sky!

Three figures plummeted like Meteors, whipping up sand and causing the ground to tremble violently, sending stone chips flying!

Luffy and Ace reacted almost instinctively, immediately entering battle mode!

"Buzz!"

Luffy's arm rapidly expanded and transformed into Dragonization, instantly covered by Armament Haki. His Iron Fist, accompanied by a whistling wind, slammed fiercely towards one of the figures!

"Clang!!"

The clang of metal against metal rang out as a fist clashed head-on with a Dragon Claw covered in Armament Haki!

Impact shockwave instantly swept across the surroundings, sending sand and gravel flying, as if a crack had been torn open in the air!

At the moment of impact, Luffy's pupils suddenly contracted as a familiar aura rushed towards him, and he abruptly withdrew his power.

As the dust settled, the figure of the Blond Hair youth finally became clear.

He was tall and straight, with a resolute face and a calm demeanor that suggested he had weathered many storms. However, when his gaze fell upon the two people in front of him, that sharpness was dispelled by an irrepressible smile on his lips.

"... Sabo!!"

Luffy's eyes widened suddenly, his pupils gleaming with undisguised surprise.

Ace paused for a moment, then grinned, his eyes burning with brotherly warmth and joy.

Sabo stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the two men, his voice clear and firm. "Long time no see — Luffy, Ace!"

Behind him, Robin and Koala's figures slowly descended as well.

Robin's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze revealing both inquiry and satisfaction;

Koala's eyes shone with excitement as she gazed at the group of people before her.

The air seemed to freeze, and even the scorching sun seemed to stop baking.

The atmosphere exploded in the next instant—

The three brothers are reunited after a long separation!

"Sabo--!"

Luffy pounced like a monkey, wrapping his arms around Sabo's neck, laughing energetically, "Haha! Long time no see!!"

Sabo staggered from the impact, but only smiled helplessly and gently patted his younger brother's back.

"Luffy... you're over two meters tall now, even taller than me, and you still love to hang on people just like when you were a kid!"

"Hehe!" Luffy let go, scratched his head sheepishly, and revealed his familiar big laugh.

Ace then stepped forward, his eyes filled with complex and fervent emotions, yet his expression condensed into a simple greeting.

He raised his fist and clashed it heavily with Sabo's.

"Haven't seen you for a long time."

"Um."

The moment fists collide, the bond that had been severed by time is reignited!

Ace then turned to the two people behind Sabo, grinned, and casually waved, "Yo~! Robin, Koala ~"

Robin responded with a gentle smile and a graceful nod;

Koala, with a smile on her face, waved excitedly at Ace and Luffy.

Nami and Nojiko watched quietly, their hearts churning with emotion.

They had heard Ace and Luffy tell the story of this "third brother" countless times, but when they actually saw him standing side by side with the two of them, they were still overwhelmed with an indescribable shock.

"So... this is Sabo," Nami thought to herself, her eyes softening.

The lively atmosphere gradually settled down amidst joy and warmth.

Sabo's gaze swept over the battle-scarred streets, and he shook his head with a smile, "This isn't the place for reminiscing."

Ace raised an eyebrow and nodded. "You're right, let's find a place in the city and have a good talk."

"Yay!"

Luffy's eyes immediately lit up, and he raised his hands high, making no attempt to hide his excitement. "And we can get Barbecue too!!"

The group exchanged smiles.

Under the scorching Alabasta sun, the three brothers walked side by side, accompanied by their closest companions.

Footsteps fall on the bustling streets, as if time itself is reconnecting the past and the present.