Chapter 337: The Three Brothers, A Long-Awaited Reunion
Knowing he was in the wrong, Smoker ultimately didn't continue to entangle himself with Crocodile.
He merely let out a cold snort, exhaling a thick cloud of white smoke. The cherry of his cigar flickered in the wind.
Suppressing his belly full of anger, he turned and slowly walked away, taking Ace, Luffy, Nami, and Nojiko with him.
Before leaving, however, Nami was still gnashing her teeth. Glaring viciously at the bruised and swollen Bentham, her arched brows stood on end as she stomped her foot in anger:
"Remember this! If I ever catch you daring to transform into my appearance out there again... I'll strike you to death with thunderclouds!!!"
"AOOO—!!!"
Bentham shuddered in terror on the spot. His bruised and swollen face instantly twisted as he covered his head with both hands, nodding like a pounding garlic pestle, his voice trembling:
"I won't dare! I won't dare! I will absolutely never transform into you again!!!"
The members of Baroque Works lying haphazardly all around exchanged glances, their eyes full of fear and bewilderment.
As the figures of Smoker's group of five gradually disappeared around the street corner, the street once again fell into a dead silence.
Crocodile remained standing in place. Golden sand and dust swirled and churned around him, as if responding to the anger in its master's heart.
He half-squinted his eyes, his sinister gaze closely following those gradually dissipating silhouettes as an icy click of the tongue escaped his throat:
"Tsk..."
However, accompanied by this low murmur, the scene he was most unwilling to recall involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
The third time, when the "Effort Pirates" inexplicably revived at full health and broke into Rainbase again, he had clearly seen it with his own eyes—
In the instant the wind and sand tore open, a blurry red silhouette had flashed past from within the berserk sandstorm, so fast it seemed like an illusion.
It was only for a breath's time, yet it made his heart tremble slightly.
"...Hmph."
Crocodile's fingertips tightened slightly. With a clink, his golden hook emitted an ear-piercing, low hum.
Of course, he suspected that the red silhouette was the true mastermind behind the "Effort Pirates" being able to revive continuously and escape prison.
But—so what?
Tell the Marines? Tell that annoying White Hunter?
A cold smile hooked the corners of his lips, a chilling glint flashing in his eyes: "There's no need... Those idiots will die on the sea sooner or later anyway."
As his voice fell, a fierce wind suddenly kicked up, and the sand and dust exploded with a boom beneath his feet.
The next instant, an overwhelming sandstorm swept up the fallen remnants of Baroque Works, swallowing them all.
In the blink of an eye, the street was completely empty.
Leaving behind only a sight full of ruin and the lingering echoes of the howling wind, as if everything that had just occurred never existed.
...
On the other side of the street corner, Smoker's footsteps finally slowed down, white smoke swirling around his shoulders.
He suppressed his anger, turned back, and instructed Ace and Luffy: "I have to go and clearly explain the situation just now to the King of Alabasta—Nefertari Cobra."
"You guys, just stay active around this area... Don't cause any trouble for me, alright."
As his voice fell, his figure transformed into white smoke and instantly dissipated into the air.
Luffy clasped his hands behind his head, casually letting out a yawn with a face full of indifference: "Eh? We just got to Alabasta, and I haven't eaten enough roast meat yet!!!"
However, before his voice even faded—
"BOOM—!!!"
A violent sound of breaking through the air suddenly came from the sky!
Three figures plummeted like falling meteors. Fierce winds whipped up the sand, the ground shaking violently along with it as stone debris splashed!
Luffy and Ace reacted almost instinctively, immediately entering their combat stances!
"VROOM!"
Luffy's arm rapidly expanded and transformed into a dragon's. Armament Haki covered it instantly as his iron fist, carrying a howling fierce wind, smashed fiercely toward one of the figures!
"CLANG!!!"
The booming sound of iron striking iron exploded. His fist clashed head-on with a dragon claw fully covered in Armament Haki!
An impact airwave instantly swept the surroundings. Sand and stone flew, and a rift seemed to be torn open in the air!
The moment they collided, Luffy's pupils shrank sharply. A familiar aura washed over his face, and he abruptly retracted his power.
The dust and fog gradually dispersed, and the figure of the blonde young man finally became clear.
His posture was tall and straight, his face resolute. Between his brows was the steady composure of someone who had experienced the wind and rain. But when his line of sight fell upon the two people before him, that sharpness was washed away by the unstoppable smile at the corners of his lips.
"...Sabo!!!"
Luffy's eyes suddenly widened, his pupils flashing with unconcealable pleasant surprise.
Ace froze for a moment before breaking into a wide grin. His gaze was blazing hot, brotherly warmth and joy overflowing.
Sabo stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the two of them, his voice clear and firm: "Long time no see—Luffy, Ace!"
Behind him, the figures of Robin and Koala also slowly landed.
Robin narrowed her beautiful eyes, her gaze revealing a mix of inquiry and gratification;
Koala's eyes shone brightly, looking at the several people before her with boundless excitement.
The air solidified, the blazing sun seemingly ceasing its baking heat.
The next instant, the atmosphere exploded with a boom—
The three brothers, reunited after a long separation!
"SABO—!!!"
Luffy pounced over fiercely like a monkey, throwing his arms around Sabo's neck, laughing with all his might: "Hahaha! It's been so long!!!"
Sabo's body swayed from the impact, but he merely smiled helplessly, reaching out to gently pat his younger brother's back:
"Luffy... you're a big guy over two meters tall now, even taller than me, and you still love hanging off people just like when we were kids!"
"Shishishi!" Luffy let go, scratching his head goofily and revealing his familiar hearty laugh.
Ace then stepped forward. His gaze was complex and fervent, yet it condensed into a single, straightforward greeting.
He raised his fist, bumping it heavily against Sabo's.
"Long time no see."
"Yeah."
The moment their fists clashed, that bond once severed by the years burned brightly once again!
Ace then turned to the two behind Sabo, grinning widely and raising a hand in a casual greeting: "Yo~! Robin, Koala~"
Robin returned a gentle smile, nodding elegantly;
Koala's eyes curved into crescents as she excitedly waved at Ace and Luffy.
Nami and Nojiko watched quietly, their hearts secretly stirring.
They had already heard Ace and Luffy talk about the story of this "third brother" countless times, but when they truly saw him standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the two of them, an indescribable sense of awe still welled up in their hearts.
"So... this is Sabo," Nami thought secretly in her heart, her gaze softening.
The enthusiastic atmosphere gradually settled in joy and warmth.
Sabo's gaze swept over the street full of battle marks, smiling and shaking his head: "This isn't the place to catch up."
Ace raised an eyebrow and nodded: "You're right. Let's find a place in the city and have a good chat."
"Oh yeah!"
Luffy's eyes immediately lit up. Raising both hands high, he didn't conceal his excitement in the slightest: "And we can eat roast meat while we're at it!!!"
Everyone looked at each other and smiled.
Under the blazing sun of Alabasta, the three brothers walked shoulder-to-shoulder, accompanied by their closest companions.
Their footsteps landed on the bustling streets, as if time had reconnected the past and the present.
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