Chapter 432: Brother-in-Law!? (14/35)
In truth, Ian was also speculating whether that bastard Teach might be plotting to take over Crocodile's position.
He remembered very clearly that Teach was indeed scheming for a Warlord seat. Ian had originally thought Teach might try to replace Doflamingo's position, but when he considered it from Teach's perspective, he realized it wasn't that simple.
That's right, Doflamingo's position was now vacant, but since Doflamingo wasn't defeated by Teach, Teach couldn't prove his strength to the Marines and the World Government. There was no way he could just talk his way into replacing Doflamingo as a Warlord.
But if Teach personally defeated a Warlord himself, the situation would be different...
In the original history, Teach successfully rose to power by capturing Ace, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. Now Ace hadn't crossed paths with him yet, and Teach probably hadn't thought of that, so Ian figured the odds of him targeting Crocodile were higher.
However, why had Teach set out so many days ahead of them but still hadn't reached Alabasta?
That was what Ian found most puzzling.
And then there was Crocodile himself. He had clearly returned to Alabasta, but in the few days since Ian and the others had come back, the guy hadn't shown up at all. Ian didn't believe that Baroque Works hadn't reported the intelligence to him, so Ian guessed Crocodile probably didn't want to see him.
Since that was the case, Ian saw no need to notify Crocodile about the news. But he figured that even if he told Crocodile, the guy probably wouldn't take it seriously anyway...
Just as Ian was thinking this, Luffy suddenly sat cross-legged beside him and asked curiously, "Hey, Zoro's big brother, are you and Ace friends?"
Ian smiled slightly and said, "No! More than friends, we're brothers!"
Luffy's eyes went wide. "You and Ace are brothers!? Why have I never heard him say he had a brother!?"
Ian almost burst out laughing. This Luffy guy, how could his imagination run so wild? Who told him Ian and Ace were blood brothers!?
Just as Ian was about to explain, a voice rang out from behind: "You idiot Luffy, Ian and I are sworn brothers!"
Everyone turned to look and saw Ace had somehow jumped onto the ship. He was crouched on the gunwale, grinning at Luffy, and said, "Just like when we were kids, Ian and I drank the sake of sworn brotherhood!"
"Ace!" Luffy exclaimed in surprise, scrambling up to meet him. He threw his arms around Ace and said, "Ace, I missed you so much!"
Ace pushed Luffy off with a look of disgust, but still smiled and said, "Luffy, I've been waiting for you for days. Looks like you got my message at Drum Island."
"What message?" Luffy was confused.
It was then that Chopper suddenly remembered that the villagers had apparently forgotten to tell Luffy about Ace's message.
Ace realized it too, but he didn't mind. As long as he got to see Luffy, that was enough. So he smiled and said, "Luffy, I've got good news. Sabo isn't dead!"
"Sa... Sabo!?" Hearing that name out of nowhere, Luffy was stunned. Then, his voice trembling, he asked, "Are you serious... really?"
Ace nodded firmly and said, "Yeah, I even saw him this time. But meeting Sabo was thanks to Ian's help. He brought Sabo back!"
"Tha... that's great!" As Luffy spoke, his nose tingled and tears started flowing.
Then Ace told Luffy the whole story. At first, Luffy listened seriously, but when he heard that Ian had drunk the sake of sworn brotherhood with the two of them, he got upset and yelled, "Ah! You guys are so sneaky! Why didn't you include me!"
As for Zoro, he was stunned by what he heard. He understood the implications clearly. Ian had drunk the sake of sworn brotherhood with Ace and Sabo, and Ace and Sabo were Luffy's sworn brothers. Didn't that mean Ian was also Luffy's brother?
And what did that make him in relation to Luffy?
Nami and the others were even more shocked. They stared dumbfounded at Ian, then at Ace. They had heard from their conversation that Ace was the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, with a bounty as high as five hundred and fifty million.
Six hundred and fifty million and five hundred and fifty million—together that was exactly one point two billion in bounties. Yet these two big pirates with such high bounties were both Luffy and Zoro's brothers!
Nami felt like she might faint...
It wasn't just Nami. Even Reiju, who was listening nearby, found it quite surprising and couldn't help but take a closer look at this Straw Hat Pirates crew.
So this was where Sanji was. Maybe that was for the best...
Speaking of Sanji, he had just woken up. Matthew's hypnosis had just worn off, and he rolled over and scrambled to his feet from the deck.
But seeing everyone's expressions, he couldn't figure out what was going on. What had happened? Why did everyone look so dumbfounded?
However, he didn't have time to dwell on it because Reiju's gaze was now fixed on him.
Seeing Reiju's face, so reminiscent of their mother, and her gentle eyes, Sanji's soft spot was touched. He didn't make a fuss. He just silently pulled out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, lit it with a lighter, and stood there with his hands in his pockets, smoking.
Although Reiju was his sister, Sanji didn't act excited like someone meeting their sister, because he knew very well that in the Vinsmoke family, affection and emotion weren't things you talked about.
Reiju walked over to Sanji and, once she was beside him, smiled and asked, "Looks like you managed to escape back then..."
"Why are you here?" Sanji's expression softened too as he asked Reiju, "Did Father send you to bring me back?"
"No!" Reiju shook her head. "Father doesn't know you're still alive. I'm just here to see you, that's all..."
Hearing this, Sanji felt a wave of relief for some reason. Although he was excited to see Reiju, he had been worried she had some ulterior motive. So when he learned she wasn't there on Gaji's orders, he truly accepted her presence.
"You... why are you with that guy?" Sanji pointed at Ian and asked Reiju, "Do you know him?"
Reiju really wanted to tell Sanji the truth because she didn't want to lie to him. But she knew that if she told Sanji she had met Ian after losing a battle with the Dragon Hunter Pirates and being captured, she was certain Sanji would charge at Ian and fight him to the death!
The reason Reiju cared so much about Sanji was that he was her gentlest younger brother. If Sanji found out his sister had been bullied, that gentleness would turn into the fiercest rage, making him recklessly seek revenge for her.
But in truth, Reiju had no grudge against Ian. She also knew that the gap in strength between Sanji and Ian was too vast, so she didn't want Sanji to act impulsively.
So Reiju came up with an excuse and said to Sanji, "He's my friend!"
But she probably never imagined that one sentence would send Sanji's thoughts spiraling in the wrong direction!
If there was anyone in the Straw Hat Pirates who understood matters between men and women best, it was the pervy cook Sanji. Unlike blockheads like Luffy and Zoro, Sanji's imagination immediately ran wild.
Friend = Boyfriend = Marriage Material = Brother-in-Law!
That guy was going to become his brother-in-law!?
Boom! Sanji instantly burst into flames again. His gentle and beautiful sister was getting married!? And to the guy who had beaten him to a pulp at the Baratie restaurant!?
Damn it! Unacceptable!
And so, the next second, Sanji howled and charged straight at Ian...