Fortunately, the scroll Sabo took, while containing many people, was full of useless individuals.
You see, in the original storyline, all the companions Blackbeard recruited in Impel Down were in another scroll.
It was a good thing he had the foresight to cherish that one, intending to seal them separately. He had to hide that scroll well; it absolutely couldn't be discovered.
If he couldn't research it now, then he would go find Doflamingo! Hmph!
Orochimaru still looked distraught thinking about this, slumping into a beach chair. However, seeing Ace getting beaten, he quickly recovered.
This led to the scene where Orochimaru was reading the newspaper and witnessed Ace being beaten.
After Whitebeard finished training, Orochimaru squatted beside Ace with a look of great interest, occasionally poking Ace with his hand, muttering, "That's what you get for threatening me, for not listening to me."
After tormenting Ace, Orochimaru was satisfied as Sabo carried him away to eat Thatch's special cheese cake.
Ace looked at Orochimaru being carried away with a headache, and the terrifying scenes of being "tormented" by Orochimaru during those years involuntarily surfaced in his mind, causing a shiver of disgust.
"Help! When will this hateful snake finally leave?"
Ace grumbled frantically, tugging at his clothes, yet careful not to damage them.
"And I'm practically dying of heat (psychologically speaking)! I'm a Mera Mera no Mi user, why am I forced to wear so many clothes?!"
As he grumbled, Ace's sharp gaze suddenly caught Marco passing by. He quickly reached out and grabbed Marco tightly, pulling him into a corner without a word.
"Hey, when will your experiment with Orochimaru finally end?" Ace asked eagerly, his eyes full of a desire for answers.
Marco's lips curled slightly into a knowing, teasing smile as he looked at Ace's perfectly normal attire, his gaze playful.
"Oh, Ace, I never would have guessed you had such a docile and cute side.
What, are you so impatient for Orochimaru to leave? Old Man treasures him quite a bit."
A hint of exasperation flashed across Ace's face as he shouted, "Marco!"
But then, his tone softened, carrying a touch of pleading.
"Marco... just tell me, I'm really fed up..."
Marco looked at Ace like this and struggled hard to suppress his laughter, sighing inwardly, 'Truly, every dog has its day.' "Soon, just over a month or so."
"What! Still a month!!!" Ace felt like he was about to collapse, as if the world had become bleak and lightless.
Marco looked at the nearly collapsing Ace and finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Ace... hahaha... look at that expression on your face.
Orochimaru is your little brother, after all. Besides, haven't you two lived together for so many years? Why are you suddenly like this now?"
Ace pressed his hat down in despair.
"That's because when Luffy is around, Orochimaru won't just target me alone!
You don't know how inhuman he was at first!
He's only this well-behaved now because Grandpa beat him into it.
And for some reason, Orochimaru is a bit afraid of Luffy (though it's actually just a fear of hardness).
Luffy can keep him in line when he's angry.
But now, neither of them are here... only a useless Sabo who just spoils him.
Help... heaven knows what this creature will turn into after two years of being free... How did Luffy agree to let him out?
Maybe I should just call the Old Man on a transponder snail."
(Of course, at his core, Ace is the one who dotes on Orochimaru the most, otherwise he wouldn't be so obedient. But it seems Orochimaru really shouldn't be left alone with Ace for too long, or Ace will be driven crazy.)
Marco looked at Ace's appearance, laughing so hard that tears came to his eyes. He finally understood why Ace rarely mentioned Orochimaru; what a huge psychological trauma this must be!
Marco wiped away the tears from his eyes as he laughed, and with a touch of sympathy, patted Ace: "I'll give you a suggestion: turn your head first before you continue complaining."
Ace's smile instantly froze, as if he had been struck by a paralysis spell. He stiffly turned his head.
He saw Sabo steadily holding a delicate cake in his hand, Ace's favorite flavor. Sabo was now smiling brightly with narrowed eyes, looking at him with a "kind" expression.
This sight, however, sent an inexplicable chill down Ace's spine.
(* ^ ⌣ ^ *) "Useless Sabo?"
Ace's face immediately contorted into an expression uglier than crying.
"Sabo... let me explain..."
Sabo, in turn, nodded politely to Marco:
"Excuse me, Ace and I have a private matter to discuss."
With that, he grabbed Ace by the collar and dragged him away.
Watching Ace being dragged away, Marco couldn't help but sigh, thinking that even though Ace was the eldest brother, he was at the bottom of the food chain among them.
Huh... he thought he heard Ace's screams, but why were they so pathetic... a delusion, a delusion.
As for why Ace screamed so miserably... it was because Sabo made Ace experience Garp's exclusive "Slap of Love," though he only hit him twice.
You should know that Sabo's Armament Haki was the best used among the four brothers.
Even Orochimaru wasn't as good as Sabo, as their main focus was different.
So for Ace, who barely knew how to use Haki, running away was a pipe dream, and he hadn't expected Sabo to actually hit him.
And in that manner, causing Ace to be completely stunned and instinctively cry out. Sabo had even used Haki... No one knew that Sabo had also wanted to hit Ace for a long time. Sabo was the first to know Ace; how could he not know the fundamental reason for the Marineford War... that Ace didn't want to live?
No one knew how terrified Sabo was when he received Orochimaru's letter. He even felt that he had almost lost Ace.
Not only was Orochimaru angry, but Sabo was equally furious.
So when Ace cheekily told him that Orochimaru had his butt beaten by Garp, Sabo instantly had the same thought: disobedient children indeed deserved a spanking.
And just like that, before he even had to find an excuse, someone delivered themselves to him.
Therefore, when gentle people get angry, it can be quite terrifying.
Sabo, feeling much better, shoved the cake into Ace's hands.
"Here... Thatch made this cake especially for you."
Looking at the dazed Ace, Sabo turned and left, leaving him alone in the room.
Ace sat there quietly, holding the cake, and took a small bite.
The taste of the cake melted on his tongue, that familiar flavor like a key, unlocking the door in his heart that had been tightly shut by fear and unease.
Ace ate the cake, tears constantly falling. He finally felt a sense of reality; Thatch was truly alive, and he, too, was truly alive... it wasn't a dream.
Ever since the Marineford War, Ace had felt a sense of unreality. He couldn't believe he was truly alive, couldn't believe Whitebeard was still alive. He was so afraid that this was just a dream he was having before he died... But... Sabo in his dreams wouldn't use... the Slap of Love.
Ace cried and then laughed, his voice filled with relief. It was so good; he was still alive, everyone was alive.
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