Sabo and Koala

"No! We have to take care of our own business first before we go."

Just as Sabo stood up, ready to rush out and help Chen Qiang, the woman sitting beside him reached over and pressed him back into his seat. With a stern expression, she flatly refused.

"But—" Sabo started to say, only to be cut off.

"No buts. I know you want to help Chen Qiang, the benefactor who saved your brother, but now isn't the time. And if the intelligence is accurate, someone of his caliber doesn't need our help!"

"Koala!" Hearing her say that, Sabo knew he had no way to argue back. He could only look at her pleadingly.

"All right, I know what you're going to say. Our mission this time is a rescue mission. Chen Qiang's appearance was certainly outside our plans, but it's also helped us by drawing Toby's forces' attention. That makes our operation more likely to succeed!"

"Fine! We'll rescue them first, then go help Chen Qiang!"

Seeing that she completely ignored his pleading look and remained firm, Sabo knew she wouldn't agree to let him help Chen Qiang first. He also understood that he really had been acting unreasonable just now, so he had no choice but to go along with her plan.

"Then, since Chen Qiang's appearance has thrown Copperfield into chaos ahead of schedule, let's move early too!"

Having regained his composure, Sabo adjusted his expression until he looked suitably serious, then gave orders to everyone else in the room.

"Yes!" As Sabo's subordinates, they already knew his personality and were used to his antics, so they ignored his earlier foolishness. One by one, they stood and answered firmly.

After responding, the others left the room in an orderly fashion to take care of their assigned tasks.

"Koala, let's go too!" Only after everyone else had left did Sabo stand up again and speak to Koala beside him.

"Okay!"

Following the plan they had discussed, they soon left the little house and headed to a courtyard near Copperfield's city gate. By sheer coincidence, it was the same place where Chen Qiang had bought information earlier.

"What do you mean, the Revolutionary Army?"

When the leader of the men in black saw Sabo and Koala, he nearly jumped out of his seat and ran. Fortunately, he managed to stop himself. By the time he'd started to rise, Koala was already standing beside him. He was sure that if he made a move, he'd be the one to suffer.

"Can't you find someone else? There are more than a hundred places in this city that sell information. Why do you always come to me?" The leader of the men in black sat back down helplessly and looked at Sabo.

"Before we came, we looked into it. Although Copperfield has more than a hundred places that sell information, yours is the only one that doesn't deal in slaves. So I figured you still had a conscience."

"I'm just afraid of dying! Some of those slaves are pretty strong. One slipup, and they could turn the tables on me. I don't want to do anything that dangerous."

"Mr. Matthew, you're joking. With your skills, surely it's not that bad."

Sabo merely smiled and shook his head at the leader's words.

"You... I... Fine! What do you want to know?"

When the other man called him by name so easily, Matthew wanted to flip the table and roar, "You investigated me? Do you think I'm a pushover?" Then he wanted to fight them. But considering that even if he went all out, he might not be able to beat either of the two in front of him, he held back.

After a struggle in his mind, he could only sigh and give in.

"We'd like you to tell us where this person was taken."

Seeing that Matthew had agreed, Sabo got straight to the point. He took a photograph from inside his coat and placed it in front of him.

Matthew picked up the photograph from the table. It showed a white-haired old man with ordinary features. If there was anything unusual about him, it was that he looked a little more vigorous than most old men.

"Hardy Norton, the man who used to be Vegapunk's assistant? You're looking for him?"

As an information dealer, Matthew remembered everyone who had ever crossed his path. He recognized the man in the photograph at a glance.

"Yes, Hardy Norton. Ten days ago, we learned that he'd been captured and brought here as a slave five years ago, and that he'd been kept at Toby's Playground ever since. We want to know exactly where he's being held."

"Someone captured and brought here five years ago? If you asked anyone else, they might not know anything about him. But I do know what happened to this fellow. The question is, what are you willing to offer for that information?"

"Since we're asking Mr. Matthew for help, of course we came prepared. If you help us find him, we can tell you where the person you've been looking for is."

"What? You know where she is? Quick! Tell me!"

Matthew had been putting on the calm air of a businessman, but at Sabo's words, he could no longer keep his composure. He sprang up and grabbed Sabo by the collar, speaking with frantic excitement.

"Don't worry, Mr. Matthew. We'll definitely tell you. Even if you don't help us, I'll still tell you. Here, take this. The person you're looking for has been waiting on the other end of the line."

Facing Matthew's agitation, Sabo didn't waste time talking. He took a Den Den Mushi from inside his coat and held it out to him.

"Moshi moshi!"

"Is... is that you, Sera?"

Once the call connected, Matthew's voice began to tremble. He was afraid the person on the other end wouldn't be the one he was looking for.

"It's me! Is that you, big brother?"

The moment Matthew heard her voice, he could no longer hold back. Tears spilled from his eyes, and his body trembled with excitement.

"You two talk. We'll wait outside," Sabo said.

Seeing Matthew like this, Sabo knew it wouldn't be appropriate for him and Koala to stay. He stood up and led Koala out of the room.

Matthew didn't pay the slightest attention to Sabo and Koala leaving. He was focused entirely on talking to the girl on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.

Sabo and the others had waited outside for less than five minutes when the door opened again. Matthew was no longer crying. His face was lit with a smile he couldn't hide, and as soon as he stepped out, he dropped to his knees before Sabo and Koala.

"Thank you for saving my little sister! From now on, my life belongs to you. Just give me your orders!"

After kneeling, Matthew sobered his expression and spoke with solemn gratitude. Then he bowed his head to Sabo and Koala three times, striking the ground with each bow.