Chapter 360: Brothers Reunited! The Tsundere Crocodile (6/22)
Ace opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was naturally Ian, who was treating him by the bedside. He was stunned for a moment, then said, "Ian!?"
Then this guy immediately broke into a happy smile and said, "Haha, long time no see! You're finally back!"
"Are you alright? Try moving around!" Ian nodded and said to him.
Ace was taken aback, then tried moving his arms and legs. As he moved, he asked Ian, "By the way, I was poisoned earlier. Did you cure me?"
Ace naturally knew about Ian's healing abilities, so he wasn't too surprised. After confirming that he was indeed fine, he immediately tried to get up from the hospital bed with joy.
However, at that moment, a figure suddenly lunged from behind Ian, grabbing Ace and nearly pushing him back onto the bed.
This figure was, of course, Sabo. He had wanted to rush over when he saw Ace wake up, but he held back when Ace started moving. Only after confirming Ace was fine did he finally lose control and pounce.
"Hey! Who are you!?" Ace was confused by the sudden embrace. He couldn't even see who it was and asked irritably.
Sabo held Ace by the shoulders, pulled back, and said excitedly, "Ace, it's me! It's me!"
Ace looked at Sabo's face in confusion, trying to recognize him. Ian stood by with his arms crossed, watching with interest, waiting to see the expression change on Ace's face.
It was amusing. Ace first looked blankly at Sabo's face, then gradually shifted to confusion. The confusion deepened, and finally, his entire face was filled with shock.
"You... you...!" Ace pointed at Sabo with a trembling voice, "You are... you are..."
Ace couldn't believe it and dared not say those two words. Finally, Ian couldn't stand it anymore and said, "Idiot! Haven't you been looking for him all along? He's Sabo!"
That name flashed through Ace's mind like a thunderbolt. He suddenly grabbed Sabo tightly, crying and sobbing, "Sabo! You're Sabo! It's really Sabo!"
The two brothers finally met here, holding each other and crying like children. Ace sobbed while patting Sabo's back, "Sabo, I always thought you were dead. You bastard, you dared to trick me. Luffy and I were heartbroken for so long..."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Ace!" Sabo also cried as he apologized, "I forgot. I actually forgot about you and Luffy. I'm such a fool..."
At that moment, no one in the hall dared to disturb them. They let the two brothers cry in each other's arms. Although everyone didn't know what they had been through, they could hear the genuine brotherly bond in their cries and couldn't help but feel moved.
"I've been looking for you, you know!" Ace said, tears and snot streaming down his face as he hugged Sabo tightly. "If Ian hadn't told me you were alive, I would never have believed this day would come..."
Hearing Ace mention this, Sabo finally snapped back to reality. He and Ace separated, turned to look at Ian, then exchanged glances and suddenly lunged at Ian, hugging him from both sides!
"Thank you, Ian!" Ace and Sabo pressed their heads against Ian's and said, "Our reunion is all thanks to you!"
As they spoke, they wiped their tears and snot all over Ian, leaving him dumbfounded!
Damn! That's disgusting! Can't you two talk properly!?
Ian tried to push them away in disgust, but by then, they had moved past their grief and were filled with the joy of reunion. They exchanged smiles, grabbed Ian tightly to prevent his escape, and cheered as they piled on top of him, messing around together.
"Help!" Ian was completely crushed beneath them and cursed, "You two perverts, leave me out of this!"
Watching this scene, Jinbe suddenly laughed heartily and said, "Ace, my boy, you'd better let Ian go. He still has to treat the others!"
Seeing Jinbe, Ace was also pleasantly surprised and couldn't help but get up and ask, "Jinbe!? What are you doing here!?"
From the moment he woke up, first seeing Ian, then reuniting with Sabo, Ace had only now noticed the others.
With Ace getting up from on top, Ian finally broke free. After getting up from the ground, he couldn't help but kick each of them in the rear. Ace and Sabo, who were kicked, weren't angry and just laughed at Ian.
However, at that moment, something unexpected happened. Ace suddenly slapped his fist into his palm and said, "By the way, Sabo, Ian said you're a Revolutionary. Is that true?"
As soon as he said this, the entire hall fell silent. Crocodile, Jinbe, Boa Hancock, and Nico Robin were all stunned!
"Uh, what's wrong?" Ace didn't understand what was happening.
Ace was so excited to see Sabo that he spoke without thinking. He saw Sabo arriving with Ian and Jinbe and assumed they knew Sabo's identity. Since Ace himself didn't have a strong concept of the Revolutionary Army, he thought it was no big deal to ask and blurted it out.
But to Crocodile and Jinbe, these words meant something entirely different. Even Fujitora was stunned.
Revolutionary Army!? This guy named Sabo is actually a member of the Revolutionary Army!?
Crocodile's cigar fell to the ground again. He had dropped his cigar countless times since following Ian, but his shock was beyond words. He never imagined that this quiet, scar-faced guy who had been silent the whole time was no ordinary person!
Damn it, Ian, this guy actually knows someone from the Revolutionary Army, and they seem to have a good relationship!?
How many trump cards does he have!?
Crocodile couldn't help but glare at Ian... Damn, it seems like it's even harder to get my soul back now...
"Did I say something wrong?" Ace realized something was off and scratched his head.
But at that moment, Sabo smiled and said, "It's fine!"
He turned to face everyone present, performed a noble's bow, and said, "Let me formally introduce myself. I am Sabo, Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army. It's a pleasure to meet you all!"
Hack and Koala heard this and slapped their foreheads, pretending to faint. Great, Sabo had completely exposed himself.
Pfft! Crocodile and Jinbe both spat out. Damn! He's the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff!? The second-in-command of the entire Revolutionary Army!?
That background is incredibly impressive!
Fujitora and the members of the Dragon Hunter Pirates stared at Sabo in shock. They thought Ian had gathered three Warlords, which was already exaggerated, but now even the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff had appeared!
The only one who remained relatively calm about this identity was probably Boa Hancock. Although she knew about the Revolutionary Army, she mostly stayed on Amazon Lily and rarely interacted with the outside world, so Sabo's shocking identity didn't affect her much.
"Hey, Sabo, is it really okay to say that?" Ian quietly nudged Sabo and asked.
"It's fine. Even if the people here know my identity, it doesn't matter," Sabo said with a smile.
Ian thought about it and agreed. Among those present, most were friends who wouldn't leak this information. The only exception was Crocodile. Even if he knew, so what? Would he go and report it to the World Government?
Not only was he not aligned with the World Government, but now he was essentially on the same boat as everyone else. Since he was acting with the group, they were all in the same boat. If he reported them, the World Government might arrest him for questioning first...
With that thought, Ian stopped worrying and just gave Crocodile a warning glance.
Not just Ian, but everyone else also thought of Crocodile and turned to look at him in unison.
Crocodile felt extremely frustrated at that moment. Damn it, why is everyone looking at me!?
There were three Warlords here, plus Fire Fist Ace and Fujitora Issho, who was comparable to a Marine Admiral. Only if he had lost his mind would he spill this information!
He still wanted to live a few more years...
Despite his frustration, Crocodile remained tsundere and snorted disdainfully, "Don't worry, I have no interest in meddling in your affairs. Once this is over, I'm going back to my Alabasta!"