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When Luffy realized he had returned to his normal form, he froze for a moment. Then, without a word, he rushed toward Sabo, throwing his arms around his head and bursting into tears.
"Sabo… it's so great that you're alive!" he sobbed.
Sabo didn't resist as Luffy clung to him. Instead, a soft smile spread across his face. He wasn't sure why, but the warmth from Luffy and Ace made it impossible to refuse them. It was as if some deep part of him recognized these two.
Ace, watching the heartfelt reunion, couldn't help but smile. Memories of their childhood adventures together flooded his mind, filling him with nostalgia.
Zoro, on the other hand, was utterly baffled by the sight of Luffy crying on this unfamiliar man. Catching his confused expression, Usopp stepped up to explain the situation, filling Zoro in on Sabo and Ace being Luffy's brothers.
Zoro's eyebrows furrowed further as he processed the information. The captain of the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates and a rising star of the Revolutionary Army? And they were Luffy's brothers?
Though he didn't know much about the Revolutionary Army, Smoker's serious demeanor earlier had made it clear they were no small force. On top of that, Zoro already knew about Luffy's lineage—his grandfather was none other than Garp, the Marine hero.
Then a memory struck him. He recalled something Ikki had once said:
"What kind of pirate is Luffy? He's just a super Second Generation adventuring on the seas! He might as well call himself a private Marine while he's at it!"
Looking at the scene before him now, Zoro couldn't help but nod to himself. He finally understood why Ikki had called Luffy a "super Second Generation."
Little did Zoro realize, this was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to Luffy's background.
After all, Luffy's connections were almost absurd. His guide into piracy was none other than the Four Emperors' red-haired Shanks. His father, Dragon, was declared by the World Government to be the world's most dangerous man. And Luffy himself was the inheritor of the Will of D, the bearer of the legendary yet-to-be-awakened Human-Human Fruit Model: Nika.
Each of these connections alone was enough to propel an ordinary person to greatness.
Had Luffy chosen to join the Marines, under the care of Garp and Sengoku, his path to becoming an admiral would have been guaranteed. If he'd joined the Revolutionary Army, Dragon would've ensured Luffy's rise to a position just below his own, with the entire army nurturing his potential.
But as a pirate? Luffy somehow still managed to attract allies and carve his own path. Without Garp and Sengoku subtly watching over him, Luffy might have been captured a dozen times over by now. Even during the Summit War, most Marines had shown restraint in their pursuit of him—Sengoku himself had personally led the way in showing mercy. The only exception was Akainu, whose unyielding resolve had nearly changed Luffy's fate forever.
While Zoro was lost in thought, he was pulled back to reality by the sound of crying. Turning, he saw Bon Clay holding a pink handkerchief and dabbing at his eyes.
"The brother he thought was dead… suddenly alive again… this reunion is so moving!"
Bon Clay's sentiment seemed contagious. Usopp and Chopper were soon sobbing along with him, their tears streaming as they were swept up in the emotional moment.
Smoker stood not far away, feeling a strange sense of awkwardness. On one hand, Luffy and his crew were his own group. On the other, Luffy was openly fraternizing with two wanted criminals. The situation left him conflicted.
If this had been the old Smoker, he wouldn't have hesitated. He'd have charged in, fists swinging, whether the situation was clear or not. But things were different now.
After his encounters with the Straw Hats, Smoker's perspective had started to shift. Though he wouldn't admit it outright, their actions, their loyalty to one another, and their pursuit of freedom had made an impression on him.
He even went as far as signing a "private Marine" appointment letter—just in case. If the Marine organization ever crossed a line he couldn't tolerate, he'd have a way to leave while continuing to uphold justice on his terms.
Smoker knew all too well about the corruption and darkness lurking within both the Marines and the World Government. He hated it, but he couldn't walk away. If people like him—those with genuine convictions about justice—abandoned the Marines, what hope would be left for the world?
After a moment's thought, Smoker sighed, slid his jitte onto his back, and walked over to sit beside Zoro.
Zoro, noticing Smoker's arrival, took a swig from his gourd and casually passed it over.
Smoker accepted it without hesitation, taking a hearty gulp before handing it back.
"What's your plan now?" Smoker asked, his tone gruff as usual.
"You'd have to ask the captain," Zoro replied, his gaze drifting toward Luffy, who was just pulling himself together after clinging to Sabo.
Smoker chuckled dryly. "Then I'd suggest finding a way to contact your Vice Captain."
Zoro nodded in agreement. It was true—when it came to strategizing, Luffy could be a bit… impulsive. Relying on him for careful planning wasn't always the best idea.
"We can't contact him right now," Zoro admitted. Then, narrowing his eyes slightly, he asked, "Aren't you going to arrest those two?" He nodded toward Ace and Sabo.
Smoker shook his head. "Crocodile's the priority. Provoking Ace and Sabo right now would just make things worse."
At that moment, Usopp, his tears finally wiped away, joined the conversation. "Luffy's brothers seem really strong. Why don't we just team up with them?" he suggested.
Smoker paused, considering the idea. Cooperation with criminals wasn't exactly his style, but the situation in Alabasta was dire, and desperate times called for desperate measures. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "It's not impossible… but their identities can't be exposed. If they are, everything will fall apart."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a cheerful voice rang out.
"We agree to cooperate and keep our identities hidden!"
Everyone turned to see Luffy walking toward them, flanked by Ace and Sabo. The three brothers had clearly come to an agreement after their conversation, and Sabo, despite his lack of memories, had fully embraced Luffy and Ace as his brothers.
Luffy was grinning ear to ear as he began introducing his crew. "Ace, Sabo, these are my friends!"
He pointed to the swordsman first. "That's Zoro, the swordsman on our ship."
Next was Usopp. "And this is Usopp, our sniper."
Pointing at the small reindeer, he said, "This reindeer-looking guy is Chopper, our doctor."
Finally, he gestured to Bon Clay "And this guy is my good friend, Bon Clay."
Ace and Sabo greeted everyone warmly, smiling as they observed Luffy's eccentric crew. "You've got some interesting friends," Ace remarked, chuckling.
The conversation quickly turned to planning their next move. As it turned out, the Straw Hats already had a rough idea: they would infiltrate Rainbase with Smoker pretending to chase them. The chaos caused by the pursuit would allow them to slip inside, creating an opportunity to gather evidence against Crocodile.
Smoker outlined the plan. "The key is to find proof of Crocodile's involvement in Alabasta's crisis. Robbery and murder won't cut it—those are legal under his status as a Shichibukai. We need evidence that ties him to the turmoil here."
He added, "It doesn't have to be overwhelming proof. A small lead is enough for Fleet Admiral Sengoku. He can build on it, pile on additional charges, and bring Crocodile down. The Marines have been waiting for a chance to deal with him."