Brother… Sabo's heart was gripped tightly.
Pain.
A pain so intense he could barely breathe.
I'm sorry.
Luffy.
We are brothers.
Precisely because we are brothers… I must leave.
I must… personally sever everything between us.
He walked behind Otriluk III, lowering his head slightly.
His posture was as subservient as that of a true noble young master who had never rebelled.
Otriluk III looked at his masterpiece with satisfaction, then, without a backward glance, led his group of cold, unfeeling guards deeper into the forest.
That small, golden-haired figure.
Just like that, he disappeared from Ace and Luffy's sight.
He never looked back.
Not once.
"I'm sorry…"
An unheard apology, scattered in the wind.
"I'm sorry…"
"Ace…"
"Luffy…"
White Night folded his arms, watching the unfolding drama with interest.
He shifted his gaze from the hypocritical face of the noble father to Ace.
The small figure, far from being the future Whitebeard's Second Division Commander, was now trembling violently from extreme rage.
His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.
In those eyes, inherited from the Pirate King, a storm capable of incinerating everything was brewing.
White Night's lips curved into a grin, typical of someone who enjoys a good show.
Interesting.
You, bearing the Pirate King's bloodline, what decision will you make when your brother is taken away?
"Roar—!"
A non-human, beast-like roar erupted from Ace's throat!
He moved!
Without the slightest hesitation!
Like a cannonball, he ignored the fierce royal guards with their long spears and charged straight towards that golden figure, which was already on the verge of disappearing into the depths of the forest!
"Sabo—!"
When Luffy saw Ace charge out, he instantly stopped crying, wiped away his snot and tears, and, using all his strength, chased after him on his short legs!
"Wait for us! Sabo!"
Two small figures, one after the other, pushed through the obstructing bushes, frantically rushing towards the departing group of nobles.
Otriluk III heard the commotion behind him and frowned in disgust.
He didn't even bother to turn around, merely giving a casual order to the Guard Captain beside him.
"Deal with those two flies."
However.
Before the guards could even react.
Ace and Luffy, like two mad wolf cubs, had already positioned themselves on either side, firmly blocking Sabo's path!
"I don't believe it!"
Ace spread his arms, his bloodshot eyes glaring fiercely at Sabo, every word squeezed out through gritted teeth!
"I don't believe a single word you said!"
"Right!" Luffy also imitated Ace, blocking the other side, tears still welling in his eyes, but his voice was incredibly loud! "We're brothers! We remember everything you said!"
Sabo's body froze.
He looked at the two idiots blocking his way.
He saw their stubborn refusal to retreat, as if they would rather die.
The heart he had just personally buried began to ache violently again.
"Get lost…"
Sabo's voice was terribly hoarse; he tried to maintain his indifferent expression, but his trembling lips betrayed him.
"I said, the game is already…"
"Game?!"
Ace grabbed Sabo's collar, pulling him with all his might until they were face to face, their noses almost touching!
"You call this a game?!"
His eyes red, he roared madly.
"We searched for food together in the Gray Terminal! We beat up those mountain bandits together! We saved money together! We drank that brotherhood sake together!"
"We promised to sail out together! To achieve a freedom unmatched by anyone!"
"Sabo!"
"You damn well call this a game?!"
Boom!
Each of Ace's accusations made Sabo's body tremble violently.
The dam he had painstakingly built, made of indifference and lies.
Under Ace's unreasonable roar, filled with anger and trust.
Cracked inch by inch!
He looked at Ace's eyes, red from anger and pain.
Then he saw Luffy's silly face beside him, covered in tears and snot, yet still full of "I believe you."
He couldn't hold back anymore.
The tears that had long accumulated in his clear eyes finally burst forth.
Two streams of hot liquid silently rolled down his dust-streaked cheeks.
Sabo opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
But he could only let out a few extremely suppressed, heartbreaking sobs.
He lost.
Lost to these two incorrigible idiots.
Lost to their damned, unbreakable bond!
"How unsightly."
Otriluk III's fake smile vanished, replaced by undisguised, extreme disgust.
He looked at his sobbing son, and at the two commoners who didn't know their place.
This scene of deep brotherly affection, in his eyes, was more disgusting than the rotten things in the deepest part of the Gray Terminal.
He didn't even bother to say another word.
He simply raised his chin slightly towards the Guard Captain beside him.
"I don't want to see them anymore."
His tone was flat, without a ripple.
But beneath that flatness was a chilling ruthlessness, giving him the power of life and death.
"Deal with those two flies."
The Guard Captain nodded indifferently, without the slightest hesitation.
"Yes."
The next second.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
All the royal guards surrounding the area simultaneously drew the long swords from their waists!
The dozens of sharp blades reflected the cold light of death in the sunlight filtering through the trees!
They moved.
With uniform, oppressive steps, they advanced towards Ace and Luffy, closing in step by step!
The cold killing intent made the surrounding air feel thick!
Ace's pupils suddenly constricted!
He didn't retreat.
Instead, he took a step forward, shielding the still-crying Sabo and the bewildered Luffy behind him!
"No… don't!"
Sabo's crying stopped abruptly, replaced by a desperate, heartbreaking scream!
The safety he had just exchanged for his freedom!
In the blink of an eye, it was shattered by these idiots, by their own hands!
He frantically roared at his father: "Stop! I said I'll go back with you! Stop it!"
However.
Otriluk III merely glanced at him indifferently, his eyes saying:
Now, it's too late.
At the edge of the forest.
"Crunch."
A crisp sound, a packaging bag being torn open, suddenly rang out.
In this tense, life-and-death atmosphere, it sounded out of place and incredibly jarring.
Everyone's movements instinctively paused.
Even the Guard Captain, who was about to swing his sword, frowned and glanced towards the source of the sound.
He saw the White-haired Youth, who had been watching the whole spectacle, pull out a bag of potato chips from somewhere.
He tore open the packaging, picked up a chip, and slowly put it into his mouth.
"Crunch, crunch."
The sound of the potato chips breaking was crisp and pleasant to the ear.
White Night leaned against a tree, crossing his legs, eating potato chips, and watching the scene before him with relish.
His expression, his posture.
He was completely like a spectator who had snagged a VIP seat in the front row of a movie theater.
Well, well.
A yearly family ethics melodrama!
Feuds between powerful families, brothers turning against each other, threats of death, separation and parting.
This plot was much more exciting than those cheesy prime-time TV dramas from his previous life!
White Night picked up another potato chip, put it in his mouth, and crunched on it loudly.
He observed everyone in the scene with great interest.
The noble father's coldness and hypocrisy.
Sabo's pain and despair.
Ace's anger and indignation.
And Luffy's… innocence and foolishness.
Tsk.
White Night clicked his tongue in his mind.
Truly spectacular.
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