...…
Many hawkish Vice Admirals acknowledged Kuzan's strength and character, but when facing the increasingly rampant pirate uprisings…
They more strongly supported "Akainu" Sakazuki, who had demonstrated iron-fisted resolve during the Summit War and advocated for "Absolute Justice."
There were even rumors that the upper echelons of the World Government seemed to prefer the harder-line Sakazuki to take command of the Navy in order to confront the even greater storms on the horizon.
On the other side, news of Luffy returning to Marineford and ringing the bell sixteen times spread like wildfire throughout the New World, as if given wings.
The Supernovas—who were grouped together with him as the "Worst Generation"—had varied reactions upon hearing this news.
But most were puzzled and bewildered by Luffy's near-suicidal provocative act. They couldn't fathom the meaning behind those sixteen tolls.
By this time, most of the Supernovas had managed—through their own abilities—to break into the New World, but this sea was far more cruel and dangerous than the first half of the Grand Line.
What awaited them was the crushing might of the Four Emperors' forces and even bloodier trials of survival.
The scene switched to a remote, isolated island in the Grand Line. The clown Buggy—who had just experienced the Impel Down jailbreak—finally reunited with some of his old subordinates from the Buggy Pirates.
When Alvida brought him a newspaper reporting on Luffy's news, her eyes nearly popped out of her head in shock.
"Wh… what?! That Straw Hat kid went back to Marineford again?!
What the hell is he trying to do?! And… Mr. Rayleigh is actually going along with his nonsense?!"
Buggy's shock stemmed more from the fact that his former vice-captain, Rayleigh, had reappeared in the world—for Luffy's sake.
Buggy pinched his chin and began unleashing his wild (and unreliable) imagination: "No, no… That kid's dad is Revolutionary Army leader Dragon, his grandpa is Navy Hero Garp…
And now Vice-Captain Rayleigh is escorting him… Could it be…"
Buggy suddenly slapped his thigh, arriving at what he thought was a "earth-shattering conclusion": "Mr. Rayleigh… is actually the Straw Hat kid's biological uncle?! Yes! That has to be it! How else do you explain it?!"
Though Buggy's wild speculation had zero basis and was utterly ridiculous, given Luffy's absurd family background—Revolutionary Army boss as his dad + Navy hero as his grandpa…
In Buggy's view, adding a Pirate King vice-captain uncle didn't seem entirely impossible?
While Buggy was immersed in his own "deduction," Mr. 3 approached with a letter in hand, his expression grave and cold sweat beading on his forehead, as if bringing some earth-shattering news.
The scene switched again, this time to Sabaody Archipelago. The Straw Hat crew's Thousand Sunny had remained anchored here the entire time.
During this period, there had been no shortage of pirates eyeing the famous ship and attempting to harass it, but they were secretly protected by friends Luffy had made on the island (such as Hatchan and Camie) as well as Shakky.
However, one day, the former Warlord of the Sea "Tyrant" Bartholomew Kuma suddenly appeared. He effortlessly dispersed those pirates with ill intentions.
Seeing this, Shakky first signaled Hatchan and the others not to act rashly. She lit a cigarette herself and observed with a grave expression.
"This guy… I think he met with Rayleigh before. He should… not be a bad person, right?" Shakky tried to make a judgment.
The moment she finished speaking, a mechanical white light flashed in "Kuma's" eyes. Then, like a robot with pre-programmed instructions, he silently walked up to the Sunny.
And then… he simply sat down, becoming a silent guardian without any further movement.
This eerie scene left Shakky and the others exchanging bewildered glances, their hearts filled with questions.
The news that Luffy was still alive spread to every corner of the world via newspapers, naturally reaching Dawn Island in the East Blue, to Dadan and her family.
"Luffy!! It's Luffy! He's alive!!"
When Dadan and her bandit underlings saw the clear photo of Luffy in the newspaper, the entire mountain hideout first fell into dead silence…
Then erupted into deafening cheers and sobs of overwhelming joy!
For these bandits who had raised Luffy, Ace, and "Sabo" as their own, no news could excite them more than confirmation that Luffy was safe and sound!
Dadan fiercely wiped away the tears pouring from her eyes.
Holding the newspaper, she shouted toward the small, now somewhat weathered treehouse inside the house—the one the three brothers had built with their own hands as children—in a voice thick with sobs yet incredibly loud: "Ace! You damn brat, did you see this?!
Your little brother… the one you risked your life to protect… Luffy is alive! He's still perfectly alive! You bastard… just rest in peace over there!!"
After shouting, Dadan could no longer hold back her emotions. She burst into childlike wails, the long-suppressed grief and worry finally transforming into tears of relief in that moment.
Meanwhile, far away at the Revolutionary Army headquarters on Baltigo, a moderate commotion was also taking place.
The future second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army, Chief of Staff Sabo, happened to see the newspaper reports: the old news of Ace's death and Luffy's severe injuries and escape, along with the new news of Luffy's reappearance at Marineford!
His face instantly turned deathly pale. His entire being seemed to have its soul drained away. His emotions completely collapsed, and he fainted on the spot!
This caused a wave of panic among the surrounding Revolutionary Army fighters.
No one understood why this calm and wise second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army would react so violently—collapsing in grief—upon seeing news about Ace and Luffy.
The future Dragon also appeared in the scene. He picked up that newspaper and looked at the photo of Luffy ringing the bell.
His expression was complex, a flicker of barely noticeable worry passing through his eyes, but more than that, it was a profound sense of relief… relief that his son was still alive.
"Why would this Revolutionary Army second-in-command cry like that—and even faint—upon seeing news about Garp's grandson and Roger's son?"
Outside the light curtain, Stussy watched Sabo being carried away with curiosity: "Could he be their friend? But it doesn't look like it's just a simple friendship…"
Even Luffy's own crewmates, upon learning of Ace's death, had mostly shown shock and worry for Luffy.
It hadn't been the kind of direct emotional breakdown Sabo displayed. If it were just a casual acquaintance, it wouldn't make sense.
"Mam-ma-ma-ma~"
Big Mom Charlotte Linlin watched the scene and patted her hat with her massive palm: "Maybe… this little guy was a childhood friend who grew up together with Luffy and Ace?
Like how I had playmates when I was little!"
Based on her own experiences, Big Mom offered what seemed the most reasonable guess.
Only someone who had once possessed—and then completely lost—a precious bond could understand the devastating impact when that bone-deep pain was suddenly detonated again.
This boy named Sabo must share an unknown, profoundly deep past with Luffy and Ace.
...…