Ace and Luffy returned.
After hearing from Dadan about the situation, their panic eased, and they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Ace and Luffy appeared before Ron once again.
Ace spoke to him seriously, "Even though Sabo has left for now, Luffy and I have decided to continue training with you. Next time Sabo returns, we'll definitely beat him up."
Luffy laughed foolishly alongside him.
From that day on, the number of people training with Ron went from three to two.
Another half month passed.
Sabo still hadn't returned.
One day, Ron came back to the tavern and heard shocking news.
"Sabo... was taken away?!"
Hearing the news from a tearful Makino, Ron was stunned.
"What happened?" he asked.
"I'm not entirely sure. Word is, after Sabo returned home, his parents locked him up. He fought the guards and ran away, but he accidentally offended the Celestial Dragons... and was taken away," Makino said through her sobs.
"Makino, don't cry. He was just taken away, so maybe he can still come back," Kuina consoled her.
But the tavern staff shook his head, his voice somber, "That's the Celestial Dragons we're talking about. Even if someone's from a noble family, offending them might be…"
"Sabo…" Makino covered her face in her hands.
Kuina, unable to bear seeing her so upset, turned to Ron for help.
Ron remained silent, his expression heavy.
Even he hadn't expected the story to take this turn after his involvement. Now, even he didn't know if Sabo was alive or dead.
Ron met Ace and Luffy again at their usual spot. The two boys' eyes were red and swollen, and their spirits were low.
"Are you guys alright?" Ron asked.
As soon as Luffy heard Ron's words, tears started flowing again. He raised his arm to cover his eyes.
"Don't cry, Luffy!" Ace scolded him, then forced a very awkward smile at Ron, "We're fine. Sabo is smart, even if the Celestial Dragons took him, he'll find a way to escape."
"Even though it might be a long time before we see him again, I'm sure we'll meet on the seas someday."
"Definitely, we'll meet again!" Luffy cried, sniffling and wiping his tears and snot, then turned to Ron, "I'm going to get stronger, even stronger than you, Ron, and then I'll knock out anyone who took Sabo!"
"Alright. From today, we double the training!" Ron said, his tone resolute.
Sabo's sudden departure ignited a burning desire in both Ace and Luffy to become stronger. Their training intensified, and their progress became faster and faster.
One day, after training was over.
Ace lay on the grass, staring up at the sky, and suddenly said, "Luffy, Ron, I've made a decision."
Ron, standing nearby, and Luffy, lying beside Ace, turned to look at him.
"I'm going to set sail when I turn seventeen and start my adventure on the wide open sea!" Ace declared, full of determination.
"Why seventeen?" Luffy asked curiously.
"Don't you remember? Sabo wrote in his letter that he's from a noble family, and when he turns eighteen, he'll officially become a noble. So, he planned to set sail at seventeen. That's why I'm going to do the same."
"Then, I'll do it too!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Haha, then you'll be three years behind me. By the time you set sail, I'll already be a notorious pirate!" Ace laughed, his eyes filled with longing, "When that happens, I'll find Sabo, and the three of us will reunite."
"And I'll be the Pirate King who beats up those Celestial Dragons and brings Sabo back!" Luffy added with a grin, his mood lifted.
"Ron, when we meet again out on the seas, I won't be this weak anymore. We'll have a real match!" Ace stood up, looking at Ron with fiery determination.
"Sounds good, but if you lose, you'll owe me a drink— the finest one," Ron replied with a smile.
During his time at the tavern, Ron had fully embraced his love for drinks, especially the fruit beer personally brewed by Makino.
"No problem!" Ace laughed.
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