Chapter 25: Both Familiar and Unfamiliar

The flames burned all night until the garbage on the garbage mountain, including the homeless people who couldn't escape, turned to ashes. Only when there was nothing left to burn did the fire gradually extinguish. Time takes everything away.

After the chaos of the fire and the uprising of the revolutionary army, Kaito Sakamoto and his friends, Luffy and Ace, returned to a sense of normalcy.

The next day at noon marked the arrival of the Celestial Dragons in the Goa Kingdom. To welcome the ship's docking, a grand ceremony had been prepared at the main dock of the kingdom. Kaito went to buy burn ointment for everyone but stayed behind to watch the spectacle. He wanted to see these Celestial Dragons, who indirectly caused countless deaths in the fire—one of the strongest enemies he would face in the future.

"The government's ship has arrived!" someone shouted from the crowd.

Kaito turned his gaze and saw a ship so large it looked like a castle on the sea. At the bow of the ship was a shield with a lion's head emblem. The sails bore the emblem of the World Government, with five black circles forming a cross, one at the center and one on each side.

As the people at the dock caught sight of the ship, they erupted in cheers, feeling it was worth dying to see the true grandeur of the world nobles.

Kaito smiled and stepped away from the crowd, moving towards the entrance to Korbo Mountain, watching discreetly. Who knew if these Celestial Dragons would suddenly go crazy and bite someone?

When the ship docked, a gangplank connected to the shore. First, two men in suits came down, laying out a red carpet on the gangplank. The King of the Goa Kingdom approached with a fawning expression and respectfully said to the Celestial Dragon on the ship, "With the utmost respect, we welcome the world noble, Saint Jermack, to the Goa Kingdom for inspection."

This was followed by more cheers. Amidst the applause, Saint Jermack descended from the ship, sitting atop a tall slave, flanked by two other slaves. If he fell, none of them would survive.

Seeing this, Kaito glanced at the people below and was curious about their reactions to seeing a world noble riding on a slave.

"Sitting on a slave to come down?"

"What style! Is this what being a world noble is like?"

"Truly something to learn from!"

Kaito felt a surge of disgust; he was sure this kingdom was beyond saving.

As he wrestled with his nausea, a piercing gaze shot towards him from behind Saint Jermack—a CP0 member wearing a mask.

The gaze was intimidating. Kaito didn't meet their eyes, immediately feeling on edge, but he quickly adjusted himself. He looked at Saint Jermack, forcing a smile and clapping to mask his disgust.

Gradually, the gaze shifted away. In the next moment, Kaito turned and bolted away.

That gaze alone held considerable intimidation.

"I wonder if I took out the trump cards of Shanks and the others, who would win?" Kaito pondered. If the owner of that gaze came after him directly, he wondered if he could win. Regardless of the outcome, it would be a huge headache.

...

When Kaito returned to the Dadan family, he found Luffy bouncing around outside, playing with a rhinoceros beetle.

Seeing this made Kaito envious of their vitality.

"Kaito! You're back!"

"You were so cool last night! How did you do that? You blew out wind blasts from your palms, and Blue Sauce was taken out in one hit!!"

Upon Kaito's return, Luffy bombarded him with questions, his eyes sparkling. Ace also emerged from the house, but he seemed slightly displeased as he looked at Kaito.

Kaito knew Ace was annoyed he had hidden his strength during their previous sparring session, especially since he had lost to him.

To be honest, Kaito felt he couldn't match them at that time. If it hadn't been for last night's situation, he wouldn't have wanted to use Uncle Dragon's abilities as a trump card.

"Ace, Luffy, go inside and change your bandages."

"I need to talk to you about Sabo and my situation."

Ace's eyes widened slightly as he nodded.

"Sabo? What happened to Sabo?"

Luffy wondered why Kaito wanted to talk about Sabo.

"You'll find out soon." Kaito replied dismissively.

...

The sea breeze caressed their faces.

After changing their bandages, the three of them stood at the cliff where they had shared their oath of brotherhood, gazing at the shimmering sea.

Though one was missing, it was reassuring to know that Sabo was alive and striving towards his own future, fighting for his freedom and the freedom of others.

In the embrace of the sea breeze, Kaito shared the news of Sabo's situation and his own fruit abilities, as well as the stories of his nonexistent older brother with Ace and Luffy.

"So, Sabo has left with that uncle who saved the homeless people?" Luffy asked.

Kaito nodded. Yes, that uncle could be someone Luffy was both familiar and unfamiliar with.

"That's good. Sabo has gone out to sea and gained his freedom."

"I just didn't expect that you, Kaito, are already someone who has been out to sea."

Ace sat at the edge of the cliff, extending his arm out to the water, looking contemplative as he gazed into it, likely recalling his past experiences with Sabo.

Before Kaito and Luffy arrived, Sabo was Ace's only true friend.

"I was just doing odd jobs, nothing special, but the days at sea were certainly interesting. Especially the day we got paid; everyone was so happy." Kaito recounted, having rehearsed his backstory many times before.

Ace stood up and patted his shoulder.

"When we go out to sea, when we become stronger, we will definitely have a chance to take revenge."

"The other three of us will always be your helpers."

"Yeah! Kaito, if we encounter your enemies at sea, I'll help you knock them away!!"

"Just like I'll make sure to take down the Sea King on my sailing day!!"

Kaito threw his arms around both of them.

"Hahaha, then it's up to you guys."

"As you said, Ace, we are all here for each other. No matter what the future holds, remember what you said yourself."

"Sabo has walked towards his future."

"I've promised him we'll meet at the peak!"

"We can't let him down!!"

Ace and Luffy smiled, flashing a row of white teeth as they shouted towards the sea.

"Of course not!!"