Sabo's Promise, Squard's Struggle
In the video footage, seemingly to answer the world's questions, the camera shifts back to the Corrida Colosseum not long ago.
Sabo, now dressed as Luffy, took Den Den Mushi and spoke to the person on the other end.
The scene then shifts to a narrow alleyway, where a woman with a stunning figure, wearing a short dress and high heels, sits atop a small mound formed by several Donquixote Family subordinates piled up. She speaks to Sabo on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, saying, "Robin -neechan, it seems you're in this country too!"
"I haven't seen her in so long! I really want to see her!"
At this point, she changed the subject, "You saw it! That's wonderful!"
"Yeah! I thought he'd punch me as soon as he saw me!" Sabo's voice, slightly choked with tears, came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"What? Are you crying?" Koala asked with a mischievous grin.
At this moment, her character introduction immediately appeared. "Revolutionary Army fighter, acting master of Fish-Man Karate — Koala."
Upon hearing this, Sabo immediately retorted, "Why would I cry!"
However, his tearful tone betrayed him completely.
"Really!" Koala didn't delve into it further, but instead comforted her, "Even if you were there, what could you have changed? Nobody can give an answer to these kinds of questions!"
"Yes! I know."
The camera then shifts back to Sabo, who nods and says, "Inform me immediately after you've investigated what happened underground."
"Yes, sir!" came the reply from the other end of Den Den Mushi Koala Den Mushi.
Immediately afterward, Sabo put away the Den Den Mushi and, accompanied by Bartolomeo, walked out of the lounge, saying, "In short, I must obtain Ace's Flame-Flame Fruit; his will must be inherited by us."
On the screen, a few comments appeared, some expressing emotion and others confusion: {Waaah, the bond between the three Straw Hat Luffy brothers is so enviable!}
If only I had a good brother like that! Indeed, a good brother is truly hard to find!
{I knew it! The Revolutionary Army's second-in-command personally taking action wouldn't be for just a Flame-Flame Fruit; there must be another purpose. But what could it be?!}
{Underground? It seems there's some big secret hidden inside that Trading Port! I'm really getting more and more excited for what happens next!}
{...}
{...}
The Grand Line, somewhere in the sea, the Thousand Sunny.
"Sabo!" Luffy exclaimed excitedly.
"Luffy, do you want me to borrow some more Beli from you in advance?!" Nami said considerately, standing behind him.
"No need!" Luffy turned around and smiled. "I want to meet Sabo directly in Marineford."
Marine Headquarters, Marineford, Plaza.
"What an idiot, Sabo!" Ace laughed, then scolded. "But thank you anyway!"
"All three brothers are idiots," Garp said, standing beside him with a helpless expression.
"Koala? I didn't expect you to join the Revolutionary Army!" Jinbe, standing behind them, exclaimed in surprise.
The Grand Line, a certain sea area, a certain ship.
"Ace, don't worry, this time, I will absolutely not let this tragedy repeat itself." Sabo clenched his fist and swore.
The New World, Moby Dick.
"Will? I see. It seems that what Roger meant by the Will of D, passed down through generations, must be this!" Whitebeard exclaimed, then looked down at the giant vortex spider— Squard —and said, "Squard, I've explained everything about Ace to you! As for your choice afterward, that's entirely up to you!"
"Whether you want to participate in the mission to rescue Ace in Marineford is entirely up to you. Finally, let me add that Ace has always considered you a brother, and that has absolutely nothing to do with whose son he is."
Upon hearing this, Squard, the Great Vortex Spider, did not immediately reply to Whitebeard. Instead, he fell into a brief silence, a look of struggle flashing in his eyes. After a long while, he slowly said, "Pops, I need to think about this calmly, is that alright?!"
"Alright, you have time to think it over carefully before you head to Marineford," the Whitebeard said, nodding.
"I... I understand!" Squard, the giant vortex spider, nodded and said, "Thank you, Pops."
After saying that, he turned and left...
"Pops, do you think Squard will choose to go with us to save Ace?" Marco asked Whitebeard beside him, watching the retreating figure of the giant vortex spider, Squard.
"Gurarara, Marco, how would I know about such things!" Whitebeard chuckled and said, "After all, the feud between him and Roger can't be explained in just a few words! But..."
At this point, he looked up at the screen in the sky, "... If he really considered Ace a brother, he would have gone to save him together, just like that kid is doing now."
In the video footage, Sabo and Rebecca, who also successfully entered the finals, bumped into each other in the tunnel, but she recognized him at a glance as not being Luffy.
Before she could say anything, Bartolomeo, who was standing next to Sabo, stepped forward and reprimanded her for talking to Sabo without permission.
Sabo shoved him aside without a second thought, looked at Rebecca, and said, "You're Rebecca, aren't you? I know most of your story!"
"Huh! My story?" Rebecca paused, somewhat surprised.
"Perhaps this will cause a great uproar later," Sabo said, reaching out and patting her on the shoulder. "But for you, it won't be a bad thing."
As he spoke, he took a few steps forward, his tone tinged with complex emotions, "Beneath the surface tranquility lies filth and depravity!"
"This country is almost exactly the same as the country where we grew up!"
Having said that, he ignored Rebecca and Bartolomeo behind him and walked forward.
Rebecca was left bewildered, while Bartolomeo chased after her like a lovesick fool.