One Piece: The sky is azure, I just time-traveled today.

Page 131

They are known as the "Four Emperors"!

The sea breeze blows across the deck.

A newsbird flapped its wings in mid-air and tossed a newspaper into Sabo's arms.

Sabo caught it and casually tossed a coin, which hit its coin box perfectly.

As usual, he casually glanced at the front page, and then his whole body suddenly became excited.

A brand new wanted poster was tucked inside the newspaper.

The young man in the photo is wearing an orange cowboy hat, with a few strands of black hair peeking out from under the brim. He is laughing freely and unrestrainedly, with a few freckles on his face and a fearless, burning flame in his eyes.

Portcas D. Ace.

Bounty: 550 million Berries.

The bounty for "Fire Fist" Ace has been raised once again.

Sabo's fingers unconsciously tightened, creating a deep crease at the edge of the newspaper. He stood there, motionless, as if the noise on the deck and the sound of the waves had faded away in that moment.

The floodgates of memory were burst open, and those long-forgotten images of the Goa Kingdom's waste disposal terminal became as clear as if they were from yesterday—

The three kids' sworn brotherhood wine cup, the wine mixed with blood, was either Kuina and Robin weren't there at the time, or they were sworn brothers.

Their toasts echoed through the Colpo Mountains, as they shouted their shared vows:

"From today onwards, we are brothers!"

Luffy's infectious silly grin, Ace's awkward yet determined gaze... and himself.

Several years have passed.

When Ace first appeared in the newspaper, he saw the name "Fire Fist Ace" in a corner.

Sabo didn't mention how happy he was.

Especially when he saw that face that had matured considerably, but whose freckles and smile remained familiar, a tremendous, almost suffocating joy and sorrow remained buried deep within him.

Ace finally set sail and formed the Spade Pirates, and was first put on a bounty in the first half of the Grand Line.

He silently collected every piece of information about Ace. From his first bounty of 55 million Berries to the repeated increases in his bounty, his growing fame, and his arrival in the New World.

Yet, the two of them never actually met.

However, everyone has their own adventures to pursue, so I won't interfere too much.

This was something we agreed upon when we swore brotherhood.

Sabo raised his head and looked out at the vast, boundless sea, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

The new world is vast, yet also small.

The circle of top experts consists of only a few people, and their paths will inevitably intersect to some extent.

Logically speaking, given the current activity level of Ace's pirate crew and the fact that their ship, bearing the banner of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, is roaming the New World without any apparent pattern, the chances of them bumping into each other are not low.

But, ironically, not even once.

I haven't even heard of rumors of passing each other by.

It's so weird.

It was as if an invisible force, or some kind of "coincidence," was deliberately preventing them from meeting.

Was Ace avoiding him? Impossible, Ace and he were brothers.

Is it the Navy or the World Government interfering? It doesn't seem necessary to go to such lengths.

What exactly is that?

"Sabo? Are you just standing here like a statue?"

Bonnie walked over with a piece of jerky in her mouth, glancing curiously at the crumpled newspaper in his hand. "Oh, 'Fire Fist' Ace, huh? He's been making headlines lately. Are you interested in him?"

Sabo quickly composed himself, his calm smile returning to his face as he folded the newspaper and tucked it into his pocket.

"I suppose so," he replied casually. "A very interesting and powerful pirate."

He paused, as if talking to himself, or perhaps explaining to Bonnie, his voice gentle yet carrying a subtle undercurrent of emotion.

"I just find it a little strange."

"Hmm?" Bonnie tilted her head.

“The New World isn’t that big, but it’s not that small either.” Sabo’s gaze returned to the distant horizon, where low-hanging clouds seemed to be brewing a new storm. “We’ve been sailing here for so long, and we haven’t encountered his pirate ship even once.”

"What's so strange about that?" Bonnie shrugged dismissively. "The ocean is so vast, isn't it normal to miss something?"

"Perhaps," Sabo smiled, offering no argument.

But the seed of doubt had already been quietly planted in my heart.

Ace is also in the New World.

They share common memories and are bound by brotherhood.

Like two parallel lines, they mysteriously maintain a distance in this most chaotic and exciting sea area.

This doesn't make sense.

Sabo had a strong premonition.

In the future, will Ace, Ace's best friend, get into trouble?!

He still remembered... the first island he landed on on the third route of the Grand Line, the "Island of Deception," and the image that crowned it gave him.

Ace is dead! He died at the hands of Marine Admiral Akainu while protecting Luffy!

Sabo's heart aches whenever he thinks of this scene!

Chapter 157 Ace Meets Shanks

The thought flashed through Sabo's mind instantly. In the vast and dangerous waters of the New World, the Vivre Card was the most reliable item to guide his loved ones and companions.

However, he did not have the special materials needed to make a life card.

This material usually requires a medium containing personal life essence, such as fingernails or hair, mixed with special paper... When he left, he had no idea, or even imagined, that there would be a day when he would need to make a Vivre Card for Ace.

Sabo's gaze involuntarily fell on the figure sitting quietly at the bow of the ship—Liu Jiu.

My uncle is always so unfathomable, as if he has everything under control. Could he possibly possess these qualities?

With a glimmer of hope and uncertainty, Sabo walked up to Liu Jiu.

“Uncle,” he began, his voice unusually serious, “I need the materials to make Ace’s Vivre Card… Do you have any prepared?”

Liu Jiu slowly turned his head, his calm gaze falling on Sabo's face. He didn't ask why, but silently reached out and took out a small, specially made cloth bag from somewhere, and handed it to Sabo.

Sabo took the bag; it felt slightly heavy. He opened it and saw several small tufts of black hair neatly arranged inside (most likely Ace's), a stack of blank cards with a strange luster, and a small amount of secret medicine for fusion.

Everything needed, down to the last detail.

Sabo was startled and looked up at Liu Jiu, his eyes filled with gratitude and even deeper curiosity. His uncle... really knew everything.

"Thank you, Uncle!" Sabo thanked him solemnly, said no more, and immediately took the materials to a relatively quiet corner of the deck.

He sat cross-legged and carefully mixed Ace's hair with the special medicine, then dipped his finger in it and spread it evenly on a blank card. He concentrated, pouring his will, worry, and concern for his brother into the mixture.

This is a process that requires patience and focus.

Kuina, Robin, and Bonnie all noticed Sabo's unusual behavior, but they tacitly refrained from disturbing him, simply watching from a distance.

Time passed little by little.

Finally, when Sabo infused the last bit of his life force, the mixture on the originally blank card began to glow faintly, and automatically contracted and condensed, eventually forming a white piece of paper with fine serrations on the edges and a special material.

Life Card, complete!

Sabo held his breath, staring intently at the Life Card in his hand.

Then, the card moved, slowly moving in a specific direction.

There was no burning, and it was under guidance.

The New World, a winter island sea covered in snow.

The Spade Pirates' ship broke through the ice floes and slowly approached the shore.

The biting wind, carrying snowflakes, stung people's cheeks.

Deep within the island, faint sounds of commotion and music could be heard; that was the temporary base of Shanks, one of the Four Emperors, and his fleet.

"Captain, are we really going?" A crew member asked, looking into the depths of the island, his voice filled with worry.

That's the territory of the Four Emperors. To barge in is like a lamb entering a tiger's den.

Ace pulled his orange cowboy hat down, his eyes beneath the brim showing no fear, but rather burning with a fiery eagerness. He grinned, revealing his signature hearty laugh: "What's there to be afraid of? It's just going to say hello! Let's go!"

He was the first to jump off the ship, trudging through the thick snow towards the direction from which the sound came. The crew looked at each other, then gritted their teeth and followed their audacious captain.

Their appearance immediately attracted the attention of the outer members of the Red-Haired Pirates. Gazing eyes, some curious, some scrutinizing, and some even menacing, were cast from all directions of the camp, locking onto the uninvited guests.

When Ace led his men straight to the center of the camp, to the largest campfire, the atmosphere instantly became subtle and tense.

Red-Haired Shanks sat atop an overturned barrel of liquor, a glass in his hand, his face bearing his usual seemingly easygoing yet subtly authoritative smile. Even in the firelight, his one-armed figure exuded an aura of unwavering strength and power, like a mountain.

He raised his eyes, his red hair fluttering slightly in the wind and snow, his gaze falling on Ace with a hint of amusement and inquiry.

"Oh?" Shanks spoke, his voice booming with a hint of amusement, yet it sent a chill down the spines of the Spade Pirates. "The super rookie who's been particularly active in the New World lately, 'Fire Fist' Ace. Bringing so many people to my territory... Are you here to offer greetings, or to declare war?"

The words were spoken lightly, but the weight they carried was enough to terrify ordinary pirates.

Ace, however, seemed oblivious to the invisible pressure. He waved his hand, his smile still bright: "Don't misunderstand, I'm not here to fight."

He paused, his tone becoming somewhat embarrassed yet proud: "It's my younger brother, Luffy. That kid talks about you all the time, saying that you entrusted him with your most important straw hat and even lost an arm for him... He's always remembered your kindness and keeps saying he wants to become the Pirate King. As his older brother, I thought that since I was nearby, I should at least come over and say hello to you and thank you on his behalf."

"Luffy?!"

The name seemed to possess a magical power, instantly breaking the slightly tense atmosphere!

Around the campfire, the Red-Haired Pirates' officers, who had been sitting or standing and exuding a fierce aura, all lit up with their eyes!

"It's that little Luffy?!"

"Luffy who only drinks beverages?!"