"Sabo?"
When Luffy saw the photo in the newspaper, his pupils trembled violently. The figure, who looked about the same age as him, was his second brother: Sabo, whom they had all believed was dead.
After learning that his father was the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Luffy had become a little curious, so Nami took out the recent newspapers she had with her.
As one of the Revolutionary Army's young powerhouses, Sabo was practically unmatched in fame. Newspapers published stories about him from time to time.
Seeing Luffy's reaction, Koji grew a little curious.
Did Ace and Luffy really never read the newspaper at all?
If they had learned a thing or two from the Newspaper-Reading King Doflamingo, maybe they would have discovered long ago that their sworn brother Sabo was still alive.
"What's wrong, Luffy? Do you know this Sabo?" Nami tilted her head and glanced at the newspaper.
This was the first time she had seen Luffy show such intense emotional turmoil.
"He's my second brother. He's still alive. He's still alive…"
Tears welled up in Luffy's eyes. He stared fixedly at the figure in the newspaper, and droplets fell onto the paper, leaving tear-soaked marks one after another.
"Your second brother? Still alive?" Nami and the others looked at one another.
They knew how strong Luffy was as a person, yet here he was, crying tears of joy.
And seriously, Sabo was actually Luffy's second brother? Luffy's connections were terrifying.
"Yeah. When we were kids, the three of us promised we'd go out to sea. Sabo met with an accident, and Ace and I both thought he had died." Luffy wiped his tears.
Seeing that Sabo was still alive made him even happier than becoming Pirate King.
"Your father passed by Windmill Village back then and saved Sabo. Although Sabo survived, he suffered a head injury and forgot all his memories related to you," Koji said.
"So that's what happened…"
Luffy nodded. No wonder Sabo was alive but had never come back to find them.
He had never expected that father of his to be the one who saved Sabo. He wondered when they would be able to meet.
"This is great. If Ace knew too, he'd definitely be really happy."
"Do you guys not read newspapers?" Sanji asked strangely.
He remembered that this Sabo had already appeared in the papers several years ago.
"Sanji, do you think Luffy and the others look like people who read newspapers?" Nami asked.
Sanji thought about it. They really did not.
So Luffy not knowing that his second brother was still alive was entirely his own fault.
"Reading newspapers and stuff feels so boring," Luffy said.
"Everyone connected to you feels ridiculously extraordinary."
Without exaggeration, Luffy's background was enough to shock even the Four Emperors.
Koji was a little curious. If the one publicly executed had not been Ace but Luffy instead, what kind of reaction would there have been?
Leaving Garp aside, Dragon and Shanks would most likely come. Ace would come too. And Whitebeard would never sit by and let his son risk his life alone; there was a ninety percent chance he would also make a move.
Compared with Luffy, Ace's background was still a little lacking. The Pirate King was indeed famous, but he had been executed long ago. Whitebeard was old, burdened with countless hidden injuries, and in a state that was basically low on health.
…
Koji and the others prepared to leave. Since they were playing pirates, it was impossible for them to stay in one place for too long.
Being personally seen off by the king and princess was not a treatment just anyone could enjoy.
"Are you really pirates?" Princess Vivi looked at the Alcor. It did not have a pirate flag hanging from it.
These people did not look like pirates either. For example, Ningguang's bearing was something only a ruler who led a nation could possess.
Kaeya, with his slightly darker skin, did look a bit like a pirate though.
"I feel like Your Highness is thinking something rather rude," Kaeya said, raising an eyebrow as he sensed a bit of malice.
Kaeya: "…"
Seriously? His skin was just a little darker, and he wore an eyepatch. How did that make him look like a pirate?
Was there no justice left in this world?
Eula laughed inwardly. See? Kaeya really was born with the sacred constitution of a pirate. Even if he had never been a pirate, his aura still stood out from the crowd.
Vivi nodded, while also feeling a little surprised. He was actually a knight.
"This bag of seeds is a farewell gift. My girlfriend developed them. They can grow in the desert and gradually change the soil quality," Koji said, tossing down a bag of seeds.
That girlfriend was naturally Buer. Sumeru's desert was still far too vast, and her main focus was solving the soil problems of desert regions. As the god of plants and trees, no one was more suited than her to cultivate plants, and she also had the cooperation of her avatars, Nabu and Nahida.
This bag of seeds was the latest result. Although it was still impossible to turn a desert into an oasis all at once, they could greatly improve the soil conditions in the desert.
"Thank you."
Vivi tightened her grip around the seeds. For Alabasta, these seeds were an extremely precious treasure.
"No need to thank me. Meeting each other is fate."
The Alcor set sail. Cobra and Vivi watched them depart.
"Vivi, this journey must have been hard on you," Cobra said with a smile.
Vivi knew what her father meant. She shook her head and said, "I'm the princess of Alabasta. Of course I have to do something for Alabasta."
As the heir to the throne, she was not just an ordinary young girl. There were many things she had to consider.
"Father, do you have some hidden strength?" Vivi asked curiously.
"Why do you ask that?"
Cobra had not expected Vivi to ask this question, and he could not help feeling a little awkward.
"I'm just curious. If Father were a powerful fighter, then Crocodile might not have been a threat. Are you hiding something?" Vivi asked with a smile.
"…"
"It is about time you knew. Come with me."
After thinking it over, Cobra brought Vivi back to the palace.
As Alabasta's sole designated heir, Vivi certainly had the right to know the secrets passed down through the kingdom.
The reason he had not told her before was that Cobra had not wanted Vivi to bear that kind of responsibility.
Vivi's gaze flickered slightly. She knew the royal family had many secrets. Now, she could finally learn them.
The Alcor sailed across the sea. The sea breeze brushed against them, no longer the dry wind devoid of moisture.
"Koji, have you decided where to go next?"
"Sabaody Archipelago. Then we'll go to Fish-Man Island and take a look at the mermaids."
Koji answered without thinking. He still had never seen what mermaids looked like, so of course he had to go take a look—especially Shirahoshi, the Sea King, that giant mermaid.
Ningguang and the others all became interested. Mermaids from stories were something they had never seen alive either, so they were all somewhat looking forward to seeing real mermaids.
"Mom, can mermaids be bombed?"
"Uh… Klee, be a good girl. Let's leave the mermaids alone."
(End of Chapter)
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