Following.

Deep in the Corpo Mountains.

After temporarily separating from Robin, Luffy and Ace, who had spent the night at Dadan's house, once again set foot on this forest path that they had walked countless times.

Since Luffy left, Ace has also been staying in the deep mountains and old forests to cultivate, and rarely has the opportunity to return to Dadan's house.

Last night, in order to celebrate the reunion of Ace and Luffy, the Dardans family partyed all night long, resulting in Luffy and Ace not sleeping much at all.

However, with Luffy's current physical fitness, whether to sleep or not is actually meaningless.

Sleeping is nothing more than an inertial behavior left over from previous life.

"Haven't you arrived yet? Ace ......"

Looking at the unchanged scenery around him, Luffy, who was hanging behind Ace, couldn't help but shout impatiently again.

Speaking of which, Luffy used to be a frequent visitor to this area, but he still didn't see where Ace was taking him.

It's been almost an hour since the two of them entered this forest that Luffy was familiar with.

"It's coming, it's coming...... It's just ahead......"

Ace didn't look back, and replied directly perfunctorily.

"This is the eighth time you've said this!"

"This is the ninth time you've asked!!"

Ace stirred the little freckles on his face and said helplessly.

Luffy didn't care, anyway, he was a younger brother, and younger brothers were all privileged.

Time passed in the two of them constantly whining and being whined.

Ace stretched out his hand and tore off a piece of vine that stood in front of the two of them.

A dazzling ray of sunlight instantly shone into the lush forest, like the light of life, dispelling the haze of the forest and injecting a number of vitality into the forest.

The two of them took a step forward, and their vision instantly widened.

The golden sand, the crashing waves of the shore, a small wooden house, a small ship that looks brand new......

and, a skinny old man with a long cigarette stick in his mouth, a tattered wizard's hat, and messy white hair.

"Master!"

The moment he saw the old man, Ace immediately began to wave his hand and greeted excitedly.

"Master! My brother he's back! ”

Luffy, who walked out from behind Ace, was suddenly stunned the moment he saw the old man, and suddenly the figure of the old man coincided with the figure in his memory.

He remembered the identity of the old man.

Nagli, the sea thief on the once great voyage, was the second group of powerhouses at the same time as Roger Whitebeard and others.

After working with One Piece Gore · D. Roger's pirates were defeated in a firefight, completely lost contact with their partners, and kept drifting.

In old age, he was exiled to the East China Sea, where he settled in the Kingdom of Goa.

"Yo, it's little Ace back......"

Nagri took a puff of tobacco, and as he spoke, pale white gas erupted and dispersed into the air.

"Please, master! I'm an adult! ”

It seemed that he was called a nickname in front of Luffy, which made Ace a little embarrassed, and his face was slightly red at both ends, and he said a little shyly.

"Hahahaha......"

Nagri laughed, then turned his gaze to Luffy.

"You're Ace's younger brother - Luffy, Ace often mentions you."

"Really? He probably didn't speak ill of me! ”

Luffy grinned.

Nagri then replied:

"No......"

"He adores you!"

"When the news of your appointment to the Seven Martial Seas came, he was excited for several days!"

"Master!"

Careful thinking was spoken, Ace immediately shouted, he now regretted calling Luffy to see the master.

If this continues, his brother's dignity will be lost!

"I'm so grateful to my seniors for taking care of and guiding me as a stupid brother for so many years!"

"Hahahaha...... It doesn't have to be. ”

Nagri tapped the ash of his cigarette and said:

"It is also a great blessing in life to receive such a talented apprentice at this age......

A small cloud of smoke rose again, obscuring Nagli's eyes and blocking his gaze to the sea.

When you get older, it's easy to see the distance clearly......

Guarding this square inch of land, there is an apprentice who accompanies him, and time passes like this, which is also unusually stable and calm......

"That's right, master! Luffy got everything you asked me to prepare! I'm going to be ready to go to sea in a few days!! ”

Ace ran to the search boat by the sea with an excited face, and said eagerly.

This ship was built by Ace himself under the guidance of Nagli.

It can be said that it is a dream ship that carries Ace.

Hearing this, Nagre's eyes suddenly became a little dazed, and he looked at Ace dancing by the side of the boat, and unconsciously fell into deep thought.

Ace, are you leaving......

Yourself, you're going to be a person again?

I......

In a few years, he has already become accustomed to the existence of Ace, and he is used to having a kid who stays by his side, calling "master, master".

Nagri had deliberately asked Ace to prepare everything before setting off, because he knew that it would be very difficult to get enough of those things in such a small place as the Kingdom of Goa......

He just wanted to let Ace stay here for a while......

For some reason, a voice suddenly appeared in Nagli's heart.

"Leave him!"

"Do you really want to be alone?"

"You don't have much time left, do you have to spend this last time alone!"

"No!!"

Nagri suddenly roared excitedly.

Ace and Luffy looked at him in unison, looking at him with some surprise.

Under the gaze of the two young men, Nagre's body gradually stiffened a little, and he said slowly, "Now...... Not yet...... Ace...... On the sea, it's dangerous......

You...... If you don't have a lot of strength......

No!

Only you can beat me! to go to sea! ”

"Why? Master ......"

Ace was momentarily puzzled.

Obviously, you can go to sea right away and pursue your freedom.

And Nagli's reason really made Ace very incomprehensible.

Even Luffy looked at Nagri in confusion.

Young people, with only higher and farther in their eyes, can't understand the loneliness of an elderly person at all.

As if aware of his gaffe, Nagri silently put the cigarette stick in his mouth.

"This is the final test!"

"Ace, if you can do it......"

"I won't restrict you anymore!"

"Master......"

Nagli's lonely tone affected Ace a little, and even his mood became a little low.

"I see! Master! ”

A layer of black armed color domineering was attached to Ace's fist, revealing a trace of coldness between his eyebrows, and the rubbery skin revealed unusual perseverance.

Sea!

It's his agreement with Luffy Sabo!

It's also his dream!

Nagri lowered his cigarette stick and instantly attached the armed color to it.

"Ace ......"

Nagri muttered with a complicated expression.

He knew he was wrong, but he still wanted to be willful for once.

Once in a lifetime!

Come on......

The golden sand beach instantly swelled with two majestic momentums.

The air kept bursting with explosion-like sounds, like invisible lightning bursting through the void.

Gather its huge strength to encourage the air flow in the air.

The coercion of the burst formed an irresistible weapon, violently turning into ravines on the ground.

Luffy stood aside and waited for the result.