Setting Sail Again, Within the Prison

"What!"

"Moria is gone?!"

"It's over, it's over..."

"Oh no, if he comes back, we—"

"Don't panic,"

Roman waved his hand at the panicked members of the 'Forest Pirates' and 'Victim Alliance'.

"Moria was severely injured by us before. Even if he escaped with his life, he must be recuperating somewhere else now. The ocean is so vast, do you really think you'd be so unlucky as to run into him again?"

After speaking, Roman pointed to the Straw Hat crew were listening attentively to Brook playing the piano.

"Besides, with us here, does Moria really want to be defeated a second time?"

"Yes, that's right... there are these heroes..."

"No! It's because the Great Pirates are here that we don't need to be afraid of that Marine dog Moria at all!"

"Long live Straw Hat Kid!! Hahaha, keep drinking! Keep eating! And then enjoy the long-awaited sunshine~~"

"It's so good to be alive!!"

As the music ended, Brook, now only a skeleton, looked up at Luffy lying on top of the piano.

"May I join?"

"OK,"

!

"Why did this guy join so readily?!" X5

Didn't our behavior back then seem rather 'awkward'?

Faced with the shocked expressions of Usopp, Nami, Sanji, Chopper, and Franky, Robin merely covered her mouth and chuckled. Even Roman, who had just walked over, subconsciously stroked his chin, recalling the scene when he first met Luffy ...

Without even blushing or skipping a beat!

Life Return, and that's really useful.

"Then, please allow me to reintroduce myself:"

Snap,

Brook, kneeling on one knee, faces Luffy, placing his top hat and sword beside him—like a knight taking an oath!

"I am Brook, who is dead and nothing but bones."

"He once served as the captain of the Royal Guard, and later Rumbar Pirates, where he served as acting captain, musician, and swordsman."

"From this day forward, I will obey Straw Hat Luffy!"

When faced with Brook's vow, Luffy didn't resort to any sentimental tricks like "please get up quickly," because he knew that this was Brook's way of doing things.

"I'd rather be shattered to pieces!!"

"Welcome, Brook— "

"Yohoho~~~"

"Cheers!"

Two days later,

Burying the remains of Brook's companions on this island is a fitting way of 'returning home' for the Thriller Bark, which was originally an island-type ship from the West Blue.

"Great, Zoro's injuries have healed too! Let's go—"

Beside the island, the Straw Hat crew prepared to set sail again, while Lola, who was saying goodbye to Nami, pulled out a piece of paper.

!

They still came...

A fleeting aura emanated from Roman Luffy and Sanji glance at him curiously—but they couldn't discern anything. This was understandable, given that Roman often kept his face hidden behind a layer of paper!

"This is my mother's Vivre Card. If you encounter any trouble in the New World, you can go to her..."

The Big Mom's Vivre Card!

It's indeed a useful tool, capable of commanding Big Mom's 'Homies'. In Whole Cake Island, it's like a powerful, albeit unapproachable, authority, but:

Not to mention that because Lola 'ran away from her wedding,' the Big Mom hated Lola to the core, and even her twin sister Chiffon was almost beaten to death! Moreover, when it comes to this Vivre Card...

"Hey, I have one too."

Sure enough, the conversation caught Luffy's attention. He then pulled a card from his Straw Hat:

Burnt paper!

"Luffy, are you really okay?"

"Um?"

Luffy, sitting on the gunwale, adjusted his Straw Hat.

"Oh, Ace's Vivre Card..."

"Don't worry,"

When Luffy looked up again, his face was all smiles again.

"Ace is incredibly strong! I've never beaten him, and—"

"Even if there is danger, he doesn't want me to worry. Ace hates it when others see him make a fool of himself! Besides, Ace has his own 'adventures'."

The Straw Hat crew responded to Luffy's words with smiles, except for Roman was at the helm, who quietly sighed.

That's the logic, and Luffy actually understands it very well. However:

When he learned that Ace was imprisoned in Impel Down, he was willing to crawl under the Empress's skirt to sneak into the prison; when he learned that Ace was being taken to Marine Headquarters for execution, he charged at the Three Admirals without hesitation...

Who can remain unmoved when faced with family members?

"Luffy, we can go around!"

"Yes, there's Vivre Card as a clue—"

"No, no, hehehe~~ It's really okay!"

Compared to Luffy, who is actually very worried inside but has to comfort everyone, Ace really seems like a 'younger brother'.

"I've heard that if a person's physical strength is insufficient, their Vivre Card will wither—"

Sanji walked over carrying two plates of sake.

"So maybe Luffy's brother is just sick?"

After saying that Sanji glanced at Roman thoughtfully.

"You're right, aren't you, Roman?"

"Ah, yes, that's right."

Actually, everyone knows that when it comes to 'paper' Roman, he should be the one who understands it the most, after all, his Devil Fruit ability is there for all to see.

Furthermore, recalling that Roman had come into contact with Luffy's brother Ace's 'Voice Paper' before, and had used these strange papers quite often, he should theoretically be the one with the most authority to speak on this matter!

Instead of just mumbling and groaning like this...

Forget it, Roman. He's fine in every way, except his mind is too complicated—the few who noticed the anomaly didn't say anything, because there were more important things to do right now.

"Zoro had been recuperating, so:"

A ring of small wooden barrel-shaped wine glasses was passed around to everyone, but Roman's usual custom was still orange juice.

"To celebrate the arrival of our new member Brook— "

"Cheers!!"

At the same time,

The World's Greatest's Impel Down, located in the Calm Belt: Impel Down, Level 6 underground!

"Vice Admiral Garp, this way please!"

Led by attentive prison staff, the tall old man arrived at a cell. Forged from Seastone, it was impenetrable to countless powerful individuals. Inside, a man covered in wounds was bound by Seastone chains as thick as an arm.

"Oh, oh, it's a truly horrible sight."

The tall old man looked at the shirtless man inside and said, "You're not dead yet, are you, Ace?"

The familiar voice made the chained man raise his head, revealing a stubborn face.

"Grandfather."

"You may all leave—"

The tall, elderly naval officer waved his hand. Even though the person inside was his 'grandson,' Vice Admiral Garp's unwavering integrity and resilience over the decades still impressed the prison staff, who had grown up listening to his legendary stories, who saluted him before turning and leaving.

"Ace,"

The old man sat down, facing his 'grandson' in prison, his face lined with wrinkles.

"I had hoped that you and Luffy would become excellent Marines, but things didn't go as planned..."

"Now, I'm giving you one last chance to 'turn over a new leaf'! Join the Navy, and everything can still be salvaged—"

"That's impossible, Grandpa."

However, the man in the prison flatly refused, "Luffy and I both have the blood of world-class criminals flowing in our veins, so it's impossible for us to become Marines..."

"And--"

Compared to that 'King of the Pirates' whom he'd never met since childhood and who even caused his mother's death...

'It would be such a waste if you died like this, kid.'

The tall man extended his hand to him.

Bearing my name on my shoulders, I roam freely across this vast ocean—

'Be my son!'

"I only have one father," the battered Ace raised his head, "And that is Whitebeard!!"

If we bow down to the navy, what will become of 'Father's' dignity?

·······

"Do you know what you're saying, Ace?"

"I know—"

Bang!

A fist slammed into the cage, and even the supposedly hardest Seastone was instantly twisted and deformed by the old man's fist, creating a huge dent. The entire massive, fortress-like Impel Down shook violently.

"You have no idea!"

"This is the last chance! Do you think it's easy for your grandfather to swallow his pride and beg around for help?"

"You think this is a display of 'courage'? Do you know that the moment you refused to join the Navy, the operation had already begun!"

??

"What operation—"

"Of course, it's an operation to use you as bait to eliminate Whitebeard."

??!!

"Kill me! Kill me!! Grandpa, please—"

Faced with Ace, who had regained his senses and was struggling frantically, the tall, elderly naval officer turned away.

"It's too late. Even if I kill you, do you think Whitebeard will let it go?"

Given Whitebeard's love for his family, he would definitely fall into the trap even if it were a 'corpse'!

"Ace, your stubbornness will only hurt those who care about you—"

"Whitebeard, Luffy..."

"Me too!"

The tall old man slowly walked away, and tears spread along the wrinkles on his iron-blooded face, a testament to his life of military service.

P. S.: My colleague is getting married... I was thinking of using a leave slip, but I thought better of it...