"What!"
"Moria is missing?!"
"It's over, it's over..."
"Damn, if he comes back, we—"
"Don't panic,"
Facing the panicked 'Forest Pirates' and 'Victim's Alliance,' Roman waved his hand.
"Moria was severely injured by us before. Even if he escaped, he must be healing somewhere else now. The sea is so vast, do you think you'd be unlucky enough to run into him again?"
After saying that, Roman pointed to the Straw Hat crew, who were attentively listening to Brook play the piano.
"Besides, with us here, does Moria want to be defeated a second time?"
"Yeah~~ with these heroes..."
"No! With these great pirates here, we don't have to fear that Marine dog Moria!"
"Long live Straw Hat boy!!~~~ Hahaha, keep drinking! Keep eating! And enjoy the long-lost sunshine~~"
---
"Being alive... is great!!"
As the song ended, the skeleton Brook looked up at Luffy lying on top of the piano.
"May I join your crew?"
"Sure,"
!
"Why did this guy join so easily!?" x5Doesn't that make our initial hesitation seem 'awkward'?
Facing the shocked Usopp, Nami, Sanji, Chopper, and Franky, Robin just covered her mouth and chuckled. Roman, who walked over, also subconsciously touched his chin, recalling the scene when he first met Luffy...Not blushing or skipping a beat!
Seimei Kikan, it's really useful.
"Then, please allow me to reintroduce myself:"
Clap,Brook knelt on one knee in front of Luffy, placing his top hat and cane sword beside him. — Like a knight taking an oath!
"I am Brook, who died and is now just bones."
"Formerly the captain of the kingdom's guard, later joined the Rumbar Pirates, serving as acting captain, musician, and swordsman."
"From today on, I will follow Captain Straw Hat Luffy!"
Facing Brook's oath, Luffy didn't play any 'please rise' pretentious games because he knew this was Brook's way of doing things.
"I will not hesitate to sacrifice myself!!"
"Welcome, Brook—"
"Yohoho~~~"
"Cheers!"
---Two days later,After burying Brook's companion's remains on this island, the Thriller Bark, which originally came from the West Blue, could be considered 'returning to its homeland'.
"Great, Zoro's injuries have healed! Let's set sail—"
Beside the island, the Straw Hat crew was preparing to set sail again, and Lola, who was saying goodbye to Nami, took out a piece of paper.
!
It's here...The fleeting aura from Roman made Luffy and Sanji glance at him curiously, but they didn't see anything. This was natural, as Roman's face was often covered with a layer of paper!
"This is my mom's Vivre Card. If you have any trouble in the New World, you can find her..."
Big Mom's Vivre Card!
Indeed, it's a good tool, capable of commanding Big Mom's 'Homies'. In Totto Land, it was like an imperial sword, but:Not to mention that because of Lola's 'runaway marriage', Big Mom hated Lola, and even her twin sister Chiffon was almost beaten to death! And speaking of this Vivre Card..."Hey, I have one too."
Sure enough, this conversation caught Luffy's attention. He took out a:
Burnt piece of paper from his straw hat!
---"Luffy, are you sure it's okay?"
"Hmm?"
Sitting on the ship's railing, Luffy pressed his straw hat.
"Oh, Ace's Vivre Card..."
"Don't worry,"
When Luffy looked up again, his face had returned to its cheerful expression.
"Ace is really strong! I've never beaten him even once, and—"
"Even if there's danger, he wouldn't want me to worry. Ace hates being seen in a bad light! Besides, Ace has his own 'adventures'."
Facing Luffy's words, the Straw Hat crew smiled, but the helmsman Roman quietly sighed.
That's true, and Luffy knows it well. But:When he learned that Ace was imprisoned in Impel Down, he was willing to sneak into the prison under the Empress's skirt; when he learned that Ace was being taken to Marine Headquarters for execution, he charged forward against the three Admirals...Who can remain indifferent when it comes to family?
"Luffy, we can take a detour!"
"Yeah, with the Vivre Card as a guide—"
"No, no, it's really okay!"
Compared to the currently very worried Luffy, who was trying to comfort everyone, Ace really seemed more like a 'younger brother'.
"I heard that if the person's stamina is low, the Vivre Card will wither—"
Sanji walked over with two plates of wine,
"So maybe Luffy's brother is just sick?"
After speaking, Sanji glanced thoughtfully at Roman.
"Isn't that right, Roman?"
"...Ah, yes, that's right."
Actually, everyone knew that when it came to 'paper', Roman should be the most knowledgeable, given his fruit ability.
Moreover, thinking back, Roman had come into contact with Luffy's brother Ace's 'life paper' and often used these strange papers. In theory, he should be the most knowledgeable about this!
Instead of just mumbling and passing it off like now...Forget it, Roman. He's good at everything, but his mind is too complicated—those who noticed the anomaly didn't mention it because there were more important matters at hand.
"Zoro has been recovering, so:"
A round of small wooden barrel cups was passed to everyone, and as usual, Roman's was orange juice.
"To celebrate the addition of our new member, Brook—"
"Cheers!!"
———————Meanwhile,In the world's largest prison located in the Calm Belt: Impel Down, Level 6!
"Vice Admiral Garp, this way please!"
The tall old man was led by the attentive prison staff to a cell. The sea stone cell that rendered countless strong individuals helpless had thick sea stone chains binding a man covered in scars.
"Oh, oh, what a pitiful sight."
The tall old man looked at the shirtless man inside, "Still alive, Ace?"
The familiar voice made the man bound by chains lift his head, revealing a stubborn face.
"Grandpa."
"You all may leave—"
The tall Marine old man waved his hand. Even though his 'grandson' was inside, Garp Vice Admiral's decades of unwavering iron will still commanded respect from the prison staff who grew up listening to his legendary stories. They saluted and left.
"Ace,"
The old man sat down, facing his 'grandson' in the cell, his face full of wrinkles.
"I had hoped you and Luffy would become outstanding Marines, but things didn't go as planned..."
"Now, I'm giving you one last chance to 'turn over a new leaf'! Join the Marines, and everything can still be salvaged—"
"That's impossible, Grandpa."
However, the man in the cell flatly refused, "Luffy and I both have the blood of world-class criminals, so we can never be Marines..."
"And—"
Compared to the 'Pirate King' who he had never met and who caused his mother's death...'It would be a shame if you died like this, kid.'The tall man extended his hand to him.
'Carry my name and sail freely on this sea—''Be my son!'
"I have only one father," the scarred Ace lifted his head, "and that's Whitebeard!!"
If he bowed to the Marines, where would 'Father's' dignity be?
..."Do you know what you're saying, Ace,"
"I kno—"
Boom!!
A fist slammed into the cell, and even the supposedly hardest sea stone twisted and deformed under the old man's punch! A huge dent appeared. The entire fortress-like Impel Down shook violently.
"You have no idea!"
"This is the last chance! Do you think it's easy for your grandpa to swallow his pride and beg everywhere?"
"Do you think this is a display of 'courage'? Do you know that when you refused to join the Marines, the operation had already begun!"
??
"What operation—"
"Of course, it's the plan to use you as bait to eliminate Whitebeard."
??!!
"Kill me! Kill me!! Grandpa, I'm begging you—"
Facing the frantically struggling Ace, the tall Marine elder turned away.
"It's too late. Even if I kill you, do you think Whitebeard will let it go?"
With Whitebeard's love for his family, even a 'corpse' would make him fall into the trap!
"Ace, your stubbornness will only hurt those who care about you—"
"Pops, Luffy..."
"And me!"
The tall elder slowly walked away, and on his battle-hardened face, liquid flowed down the wrinkles.
—————
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