On Sabo's side, after returning home, he went straight to the library, wanting to see if any of the books in the family collection contained records of the scenes related to Ye Shi's situation.
On his way to the library, his father, Porchemy III, intercepted him after hearing from the butler that Sabo had returned. Seeing Sabo, Porchemy III roared in anger, 'Look at the state of you! You have none of the etiquette a noble should have. You've been corrupted by those wild brats in the slums!'
Seeing Sabo stop, he continued, 'But it's just as well that you're back. I was originally planning to find a Pirate Crew to drag you back. Since you're here, come with me to the Inspection Office. As long as you pin all the blame on those two kids you were with, you'll still be my son.'
Sabo replied, 'No, I don't have time right now. I need to go to the library to look something up. My companions are still waiting for me.'
Porchemy III replied coldly, 'I don't care if you have time or not. You're going nowhere. You're coming with me to the Inspection Office first thing tomorrow morning. Tonight, stay home and reflect on your actions. As for those companions of yours, they'll be finished before tomorrow comes.'
Hearing news about his companions, Sabo quickly asked back, 'Why? What are you talking about?'
'You only just returned today, so you might not know, but it's almost Flammable Trash Day. At that time, the entire slums will be turned into a sea of fire. The Celestial Dragons are about to arrive in our country, and those low-lifes would only pollute their eyes.'
Sabo looked on in disbelief. 'What? How can this be? Is no one in High Town protesting?'
'What good would protesting do? Besides, when the time comes, the burning will be carried out by heinous pirates. What does it have to do with us? We'll be the ones who drove back the vicious pirates!'
Hearing this, Sabo could no longer bother with investigating the anomalies about Ye Shi; he only wanted to return to the slums as quickly as possible to tell the people there the news.
Seeing that Sabo wanted to go back again, Porchemy III said, 'Don't even think about going back to warn them. The gates leading to Trash Mountain have already been closed. No one can leave through the gates now. Just stay home obediently and wait for the arrival of the Celestial Dragons.'
With that, he had the butler and others nearby take Sabo away.
On the other side, after Ye Shi woke up, she said to Luffy and Ace, 'Sabo might be in danger. His father is a typical noble dog. Sabo has been sneaking out to be with us for so long; going home now is undoubtedly walking into a trap. We have to go help Sabo.'
Ace became a bit panicked upon hearing Ye Shi's words. He hurriedly said, 'If Sabo might be in danger, then we can't just stand here like idiots. We have to go to his house and rescue him!'
Luffy, however, wasn't as worried. He said, 'That guy Sabo will be fine. He's the oldest of us and the most free. A noble's castle definitely can't trap him.'
Thinking of Sabo, the three of them immediately bid farewell to Dadan and her Bandits. They headed toward the gate leading to the Upper Town, but when they arrived, they found that the gate had already been closed.
Luffy shouted when he saw they couldn't get through the gate, 'Oh no! How are we going to find Sabo now? Is there another way?'
Ye Shi replied, 'Don't worry. There must be a reason the gate is closed. At a time like this, we need to think about what Sabo would do.'
Hearing this, Ace suddenly remembered that Sabo had mentioned wanting to set out to sea when he was 17 and had been preparing a small boat. He hurriedly said, 'We can go check the harbor outlet. Sabo might sail his boat from there!'
The three of them quickly ran from the gate toward the Sea Outlet.
After hearing that the nobles had hired pirates to burn down Trash Mountain, Sabo wanted to pass this news to Ye Shi and the people of Trash Mountain. After being escorted to his room by the butler, he began to think of a plan.
'There are too many guards at the gate now; I can't get out that way. Where would the defenses be thinner?'
Sabo suddenly had a flash of inspiration.'Since they're letting pirates into Trash Mountain, there surely won't be anyone guarding the sea. I can take my small boat across!'
'Besides, I told Ace and the others about my plan to go to sea. If Ye Shi is awake, they'll definitely come looking for me. Seeing the gate closed, Ace will surely wait for me at the Sea Outlet.'
Thinking of this, Sabo hesitated no longer. Taking advantage of the fact that his family had lowered their guard because he returned home voluntarily, he took his small boat toward the Sea Outlet.
Ye Shi's group of three was also sprinting toward the Sea Outlet. By now, evening had arrived. As the three of them reached the outlet, they happened to see Sabo's small boat swaying as it sailed toward them. But behind the small boat, a large ship was chasing Sabo. A pirate flag hung from that large ship—the Brujam Pirate Crew had arrived.
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