The next day.
Whispers spread like wildfire throughout the kingdom, carried by the cool morning breeze that still carried a faint trace of smoke. The great fire that had consumed the Grey Terminal became the only topic on everyone's lips, stirring unease and suspicion among those who had witnessed the inferno the night before. The people were not fools. It did not take much effort for them to piece together the truth hidden beneath the ashes. Many of them made the same conclusion that the fire must be linked to those of the higher births.
With the impending arrival of the World Nobles, the upper class had every reason to panic. They could not risk a single flaw in their perfect image, not even a shadow of imperfection in their so-called flawless kingdom. And what was the Grey Terminal if not an ugly blemish, a reminder of filth and failure they refused to acknowledge?
The people understood all of this. Yet even with the truth burning in their hearts, what could they do? Who were they to raise their voices against the powerful who ruled them? The gulf that separated them was immeasurable.
One side held power, the other held nothing
So those who survived the fire swallowed their fury and sorrow, clutching at the few remnants of their lives. Their homes were gone, their families scattered, yet they moved forward because there was no other path to take. They sought new places to live, new corners to survive in. But within them, the truth smoldered quietly, refusing to fade.
And that was precisely why no one would ever speak of it again.
The absence of outrage, the silence of the courts, and the lack of justice.
All of it served as confirmation. The fire would fade into a forgotten tragedy, another story buried beneath fear, silence, and submission.
But not everyone bowed to that fate.
Among the survivors, a few who had been saved by Dragon made their choice. They refused to be silent. They joined the Revolutionary Army, determined to seize the freedom that had been ripped from their hands and to fight back against the system that had branded them disposable.
Meanwhile, the nobles went on as if nothing had happened. They continued their feasts, flaunted their riches, and congratulated themselves on their success. To them, the fire had been a necessary cleansing. The waste of the lower world had been burned away.
But not every noble celebrated.
Inside the grand halls of the Outlook estate, there was no joy, no laughter, no preparation for the World Nobles' visit.
The air inside the mansion was suffocating, thick with tension and dread.
A man and a woman sat side by side on an ornate couch, their eyes fixed on the luxurious carpet beneath them. Their faces were pale, their shoulders trembling, their breathing shallow and uneven.
In the far corner of the room, a young boy hiccupped through quiet sobs, his small body curled in terror. Their adopted son, Stelly, was a trembling mess.
Neither Outlook III nor his wife spared him a glance.
It was Didit who finally broke the silence, her voice fragile and trembling, as though she feared that speaking too loudly might summon something terrible.
"W-What should we do now, darling?"
Her husband swallowed hard. His hands clenched tightly around the folds of his robe, knuckles bone-white. His gaze darted across the room, shifting restlessly, searching the dim corners for an unseen presence.
And then he saw it.
A knife.
It was buried deep in the wall, the blade gleaming faintly in the light.
Directly above Stelly's head.
The pristine wall around it was cracked, a single jagged fracture spreading like a spider's web—a silent message carved into their home.
Outlook III's breath caught in his throat. His entire body went rigid.
Because he understood.
The demon was watching.
And it always would be.
"We do as we are expected to do," he whispered at last, his voice hollow and unsteady.
Because there was no other choice.
.
.
.
At Dadan House, the front yard buzzed with activity and conversation. Someone was stirring a massive pot of porridge over an open flame, a simple yet hearty meal meant to help everyone recover from the chaos of the previous night. The air was filled with the warm, comforting scent of simmering grains, and the Dadan Family went about their usual noisy business, though a few of them could not help but glance at the four children standing off to the side. Their quiet presence felt strangely out of place amid the domestic clamor.
Naru, who had only just returned from wherever she had gone earlier, took her time before speaking. When she finally did, her words were direct, cutting through the noise of the morning with quiet authority.
"I paid a visit to your family," she began, her gaze fixed on Sabo, and her voice calm. "From now on, they will not be bothering you anymore.
The reaction from the three boys was instant, as though an invisible weight had been lifted from their shoulders.
Ace, ever the one to hide his emotions behind that sharp grin of his, let out a rough bark of laughter. His smirk stretched wider until it almost looked smug. "Good. That bastard pissed me off," he said with a sneer, his tone dripping with irritation and relief.
Luffy, brimming with energy as always, grinned from ear to ear and threw his arms behind his head. "Yeah! I didn't like him either! He tried to take you away from us, Sabo!" His voice carried that pure, childlike loyalty that refused to be shaken no matter the circumstances.
Sabo, more reserved than usual, gave a small chuckle. There was, however, a tightness around his mouth, a shadow that hinted at deeper thoughts. His gaze dropped to the ground, his fingers toying with a loose thread on his sleeve, the quiet rhythm of his movements betraying the turmoil in his mind.
"Thanks, Naru," he said softly, his voice carrying both gratitude and something unspoken beneath the surface. He hesitated, then continued after a brief pause, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. "What about the people from Gray Terminal?" he asked, his tone trembling slightly. "I stayed there for a while, and... I met some good people."
Naru's expression softened. She stepped forward and reached out to ruffle his hair affectionately, earning a huff of protest from him. "Most of them managed to escape, thanks to the warning we gave," she said gently. Her tone darkened slightly as she continued, "Some people refused to listen, and naturally, they paid the price. But so far, there haven't been any confirmed deaths."
Sabo exhaled a long, shaky breath. His shoulders eased, though the heaviness in his eyes remained, a silent echo of everything he had endured.
Ace, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. "I saw people in black cloaks helping out yesterday," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "They didn't seem like regular folks to me."
"They're from the Revolutionary Army," Naru replied evenly, her tone steady and unsurprised.
Ace's brows shot up. "The Revolutionary Army? Isn't that…" His words trailed off, the implication clear to everyone.
"You're right," Naru confirmed with a small nod. She turned toward Luffy, who looked puzzled, his head tilted slightly as he tried to keep up. "Our father is here. I saw him yesterday."
Luffy blinked. "Dad?"
"If you want to meet him, I'll take you to see him before he leaves the island," Naru offered, her tone unusually gentle.
Sabo's voice broke through before Luffy could reply. "The Revolutionary Army is leaving soon?" His words carried an unreadable emotion.
Naru nodded. "Yes. Apparently, he just completed a mission, and it was pure coincidence that he arrived in time to see the fire disaster last night. Thanks to him and his group, many people survived. I heard that some of them even decided to join him afterward." Her eyes grew serious. "Since the World Government will be sending people here soon, it's only natural for them to leave before drawing too much attention."
Sabo looked down, his face hidden behind the curtain of his hair, his thoughts unreadable.
Turning back to Luffy, Naru continued, "They might leave today or tomorrow. So, if you want to meet our father, we need to go before the ship departs."
Before Luffy could answer, Sabo spoke again, his tone sharp and filled with conviction. "I want to go with them."
The words struck like a cannon blast, silencing everyone instantly.
Three sets of eyes turned toward him, each filled with surprise.
Luffy frowned in confusion. "Sabo, you want to join Dad?"
Ace's brows knitted together. "They're not pirates. You know that, right?"
"I know," Sabo replied with a small laugh that lacked its usual brightness. His tone carried weight instead of mirth.
"I thought you wanted to be a pirate like Shanks," Ace pressed, recalling how Sabo had once spoken passionately about the sea and freedom.
Sabo inhaled deeply, his fingers gripping his knees as though anchoring himself. "I have a dream, just like Naru wants to explore the world, and like you and Luffy want to be great pirates." His voice grew heavier. "Mine is freedom. I used to think being a pirate would give me that. After meeting Shanks, I thought the sea was where I belonged." He paused, memories flashing through his eyes. "But then last night happened."
His hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning pale as he trembled with emotion. "I was born a noble. No matter how much I ran, my father still found me. He dragged me back when I was weakest. I hated it. I hated him. I hated them all." His voice broke, filled with frustration and pain. "The nobles, the way they think they own everything, the way they treat others like trash. Even if I keep running, people like them will always exist."
Naru and her brothers said nothing. Even Dadan and her crew had stopped moving, watching the boy pour out his heart.
Sabo raised his head, his eyes burning with determination. "I don't just want to be free. I want to fight for it. I want to help others like me, like those people from Gray Terminal, people born into chains who never even got the chance to break them. The Revolutionary Army fights for that. They fight for people like me."
Silence followed his words, heavy and still, as if the air itself waited for the next sound.
Ace clicked his tongue, his tone oddly calm. "So, that's it?"
Sabo nodded firmly. "Yes. That's my path."
Luffy's lips trembled. "But Sabo…"
Sabo smiled, his voice steady even though his eyes glistened. "Luffy, this is what I want to do."
Naru finally spoke, her voice firm but kind. "If this is your choice, then go. You don't need anyone's permission, Sabo. Just make sure you live without regret."
He nodded, his resolve clear.
Ace sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Damn it. If this is what you want, fine. Can't believe you're leaving before Naru does."
Luffy's face lit up suddenly. "Nee-chan, then I—"
"No," Naru interrupted firmly before he could finish. Luffy pouted, shoulders slumping in defeat. She turned to Sabo instead. "Since you've decided to go with the Revolutionary Army, I'll tell our father. I'll ask him to give you time to prepare."
Sabo's face brightened with gratitude. "Thank you, Naru."
"Silly boy," she murmured with a small smile.
For a long moment, none of them spoke. The air was thick with emotion and unspoken thoughts.
They had always been together, whether running through forests, fighting side by side, dreaming about the future. But now, they stood at a crossroads.
And for the first time, they truly understood that their journeys would take them in different directions.
This might be the last time they would all stand together like this.