【One Piece】Dawn in the Darkness

Chapter 408 Freedom

Even though he had already heard Qi's story, Sabo's breathing almost stopped when he heard Ace's story again. He tried to breathe, tears streaming down his cheeks. He knew Ace was waiting for him to explain. Finally, Sabo took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and regain control of himself. "I... I can explain... I didn't mean to leave you... I lost my memory, I know this can't be my excuse, but..."

"You idiot, it's great that you're still alive!" After listening to Sabo's explanation, although Ace still had many questions, but now... Ace grinned, even though tears rolled down his cheeks, his brothers were still alive, and this was the most important thing.

Ace's world was shattered ten years ago when he was told his two brothers were dead. His world has been missing a piece ever since, but now that Lucci and Sabo are both alive, his world is completely complete. "Sabo, I'm so glad that you and Lucci are still alive. You must be the biggest idiots. Seriously, we have to exchange our stories!"

"You're the biggest idiot." Sabo grinned. "Once we're out of here, we'll have time to do all this."

"I know you are happy, but we should leave, Sabo." Ivankov sighed and reminded them. Although the scene was warm, he had to remind them that they were still in prison.

"We don't want to ruin this moment, but we really should leave." Qi looked at Kerla and Jinbei who were also reuniting and agreed. "Let's continue the reunion after everyone gets out!"

"You are so heartless!" Ace and Sabo, who were interrupted, said to Qi dissatisfiedly.

Qi twitched his lips and complained, "Ace, are you sure you want to say that? I brought Sabo here."

"Then I should thank you." Ace smiled happily, feeling more satisfied than ever before. However, the smile on his face was also full of threats. "You actually brought him to such a dangerous place!"

"It's all because of you two guys. You're so worrying."

"Let's just break out now. Dad is waiting for us at the prison gate!" Marco grinned.

"That's right, Ace and Lucci have been found, it's time for us to escape!" Whitebeard cheered.

"Let's get out of here!" Ace and Sabo said with a smile, and then walked towards the stairs leading to Level 2 with everyone else.

……

Ace grinned as he ran up the stairs to Level 2. He was back with his family, his brothers with him. He had never felt so alive and free. Although they were still in the center of the prison, the guards were all knocked unconscious, with only a few trying to stop them. Magellan had also received his due. Ace grinned maliciously as he thought of the man who had been defeated by Lucci and died in agony.

The passage through Level 2 was largely uneventful, with the beasts either being taken down by the crossfire between the guards and his crew, or being easily taken out by them as they made their way through Level 2.

To Ace's surprise, as they approached the stairs leading to Level 1, he was shocked to find that the cells of the Level 1 prison were open. Looking at Marco's confused expression, it was obvious that he was just as confused as himself. However, it didn't matter. Most of the prisoners on Level 2 and Level 1 were not the worst criminals. Some of them were probably arrested for simple pirate acts or offending naval officers.

Finally, they reached Level 1 and reunited with their companions who had occupied the control room. As soon as they met, Harta rushed over to Ace and Lucci on Ace's back. He hugged their heads and cried with tears in his eyes, "I was so worried!"

Ace glanced desperately at Marco and the others, hoping they could help and ask Harta to let them go, but they just grinned at him, especially Sabo, who just looked at him with a silly smile. Ace could only apologize to Harta and try to calm the howling Harta. He hoped that Lucci was not suffocated by Harta's embrace in his sleep and fell into a deeper sleep.

"I'm glad you two are okay." Harta calmed down, let go of Ace with tears in her eyes, and then gently hit Ace's shoulder. "But what happened to Lucci? He won't wake up even though he's like this."

"Don't worry, I put this guy to sleep for now," Ace grinned, not wanting Harta to hug him and cry again.

"You did it?" Harta wiped her tears and looked at Ace in shock. "Then you're done."

"Hey, what do you mean?" Ace was dissatisfied. "I'm helping him."

"Do you think Lucci will want to kill you when he wakes up?" Thatch said with his arm around Harta's shoulders and laughed. He still remembered that one time Ace played a prank on Lucci, and then he could hear Ace's sudden screams from time to time that week.

"Hahaha, I'm his brother, he wouldn't do anything." Ace obviously thought of that experience as well, then turned to look at Sabo, "Right, Sabo."

"Although I approve of your actions." Sabo raised his hands and grinned, "But if I were Lucci and was knocked unconscious by an idiot at a moment like this, I would take revenge."

"Knock him out!?" Harta and Thatch gasped and looked at Ace in shock. "You're so brave, Ace."

Ace's face turned pale instantly. No, no, as long as he could distract Lucci before he remembered this, it would be fine. Ace grinned. They still had a lot of things to deal with.

……

They turned a corner and saw the exit door in front of them, but everyone stopped and looked in shock at the prisoners gathered near the exit.

"Now we know where those prisoners went." Ace complained as he looked at the prisoners blocking the prison gate.

"What are they doing?" Kerla asked puzzledly.

"They are talking, and it seems that they hope Mr. Whitebeard will let them board the ship, but they are afraid of Mr. Whitebeard and dare not ask." Sabo said with a smile.

"That red nose looks familiar..." Marco said, looking at the guy with blue hair and a huge red nose.

"Bucky, you fucking bastard!!" Mr. 3 rushed forward and kicked Bucky angrily. "You actually abandoned me and ran away."

"Oh, I remember, he was the one who secretly released prisoners with Gardino on Level 2." Thatch reacted.

Once Ace walked out of the prison and saw the sunlight he hadn't seen in weeks, he knew that he and his brothers were truly free from this place.

The situation outside the prison was completely different from when he came, because this time his buddies were here, fighting for them, fighting for his freedom, and they were fighting a war with the navy.