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"Quack..." (Little 1, what are you doing?)
The large goose honked insistently at Mr. 1, who had just tried to kick it. Seeing the goose not only dodge his attack but also squawk repeatedly, the stoic Mr. 1 couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity.
At that moment, Mr. 4 waddled over, drooling as usual. "Goose... goose... looks delicious!"
Without hesitation, Miss Merry Christmas smacked Mr. 4 on the head. "Idiot! All you ever think about is food. We're supposed to be meeting the boss!"
Miss Doublefinger strutted past them, her hips swaying as she headed toward their transport. "It's just a few geese. After we finish this mission, we can feast on some of those running ducks Alabasta is famous for," she said with a smirk.
Mr. 1, though still wearing his usual deadpan expression, couldn't shake the odd sense of familiarity this particular goose gave him. However, he knew their priority was meeting Mr. 0 in Rainbase. Shaking off the feeling, he turned his back on the goose and left with the others.
Watching his former partner walk away without recognizing him, Bon Clay's eyes welled up with tears.
"Waaaaahhhhhhh…" he cried. 'We were such close comrades! How could you not recognize me?'
Usopp had warned Bon Clay that, now that he was a goose, his former allies might not recognize him. But Bon Clay had dismissed the idea, declaring, Don't worry! My friends will know it's me no matter what!
Yet here he was, standing alone, his hopes crushed. In truth, if Mr. 1 hadn't been in such a hurry, and if Miss Doublefinger and Miss Merry Christmas hadn't rushed him along, he might have realized who the goose was.
But... there are no ifs.
Seeing Bon Clay so heartbroken, Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp rushed to his side to comfort him.
With his three companions by his side, Bon Clay's spirits quickly lifted.
"I believe in the flower of companionship—it will never wither!" Bon Clay declared, his voice filled with determination. "Let's go... let's catch up!"
With renewed energy, the four geese took off, racing after the Baroque Works agents toward Rainbase.
Elsewhere, led by Karoo, Zoro was... still lost.
It wasn't that they hadn't tried. They had searched diligently, but they hadn't found the four geese. With no other options, Zoro decided they'd head back to Nanohana to regroup with the rest of the crew.
Meanwhile, the four geese continued chasing the Baroque Works agents' vehicle with remarkable speed and stamina. Despite the distance, they showed no signs of falling behind.
As they ran, Luffy suddenly froze, his gaze fixed on a figure in the distance. The man wore a top hat, carried a long pipe strapped to his back, and was speaking into a Den Den Mushi.
There was something about the man—something both familiar and unsettling.
Luffy shivered. Though he couldn't explain why, he felt an unshakable connection to this stranger. Without a second thought, he veered away from the group and dashed toward the figure, leaving the three geese behind in confusion.
Bon Clay: "Huh? Why did the little Straw Hat suddenly turn a corner?"
Usopp: "Is there some kind of delicious food over there?"
Chopper: "Probably not... I don't smell any food nearby."
Bon Clay watched as Luffy veered off the road, running in a completely different direction. He tilted his head in confusion but, as a fellow goose, decided to trust Luffy's instincts.
"Follow the little Straw Hat..." he announced, and with that, Bon Clay took the lead, rushing after Luffy.
Luffy sprinted straight to the man holding the Den Den Mushi. As he got closer, he overheard the man's conversation.
"That's the situation," the man said. "Crocodile's intentions aren't as simple as they seem. I want to stay here and continue investigating!"
The voice from the Den Den Mushi paused for a moment before responding in a low, serious tone.
"Come back, Sabo! I've received intelligence that the Marines have set their sights on Alabasta. It's too dangerous for you to remain there alone."
The voice continued, "If the reports are accurate, a force called the 'Private Marine' has entered Alabasta. This unit is shrouded in mystery, possibly tied to the Marines or the World Government. Without knowing the enemy's capabilities, you shouldn't risk staying in such a perilous situation!"
Hearing this, Sabo frowned, his expression tense. "Private Marine?" he muttered under his breath, unfamiliar with the term.
"But what about Alabasta? What happens here if I leave?"
"Don't worry," the Den Den Mushi reassured him. "We have operatives in the Marines, and they'll handle the situation in Alabasta. Your priority is to return to headquarters. You're needed as the Chief of Staff!"
Sabo sighed heavily but relented. "Understood. I'll return immediately."
While Sabo was engrossed in his conversation, Luffy stood frozen in place. His wide eyes brimmed with emotion.
The name, the voice—it all clicked in his mind. This man was Sabo.
As he took in the scarred face, the blond hair, and the top hat adorned with goggles, Luffy felt tears welling up. There was no doubt. This was his older brother, Sabo.
Memories of their childhood came rushing back: Sabo, Ace, and Luffy, the three sworn brothers who had vowed to chase their dreams of freedom. Though they weren't related by blood, they were closer than any family.
Luffy remembered the pain he'd felt when he thought Sabo had died, his ship destroyed by a Celestial Dragon's cannon fire. Now, seeing Sabo alive in front of him, the dam broke. Tears streamed down his face as he leapt toward his brother.
"SABOOOOOO!!!" Luffy cried, tackling him in a tight embrace around his legs.
Sabo, startled, looked down to find a goose clinging to him with teary eyes.
"What the...?" Sabo muttered. He'd always heard that animals in Alabasta were unusually intelligent, but this was something else entirely.
As the goose clung to his leg, Sabo couldn't help but smile. For some reason, the little goose with the straw hat felt oddly endearing. He reached into his pocket and pulled out some dry food.
"Are you hungry? Here, eat," Sabo offered.
Luffy, caught between his emotions and his hunger, quickly gulped down the food. But as soon as he finished, he went right back to hugging Sabo's leg, crying even harder.
By now, the remaining three geese had caught up.
Usopp tilted his head in confusion. "Why's Luffy crying and hugging some random guy?"
"Luffy, what's wrong?" Chopper asked, concerned.
Luffy turned to them, tears streaming down his face. "He... he's my brother!"
The three geese blinked in shock.
"Your brother?!"
Without hesitation, Bon Clay, Usopp, and Chopper followed Luffy's lead, each clinging to Sabo in a group hug.
Sabo, now burdened with four geese sobbing at his feet, looked utterly baffled. "What's going on?! Why are all these geese hugging me and crying?"
As Luffy recounted his history with Sabo—how they had grown up together, dreamed of freedom, and sworn brotherhood—the other three geese grew more emotional. When Luffy reached the part about Sabo's supposed death, Bon Clay burst into tears.
Chopper and Usopp quickly joined in, their wailing echoing across the desert.
With four geese sobbing at his feet, Sabo scratched his head in utter confusion. "What... what did I do to these geese? Are they going to cry on me forever?"