【One Piece】Dawn in the Darkness

Chapter 373 Worry

"From today on, I will seal this sound shell." Brook opened his skull again and put the sound shell inside. "Seal it!"

"I already know that Lab is still waiting for me. Now that I have regained my shadow, crossed the Devil's Sea, and have my companions again, the songs stored in this sound box are no longer songs that I use to reminisce alone!"

Brook played the extremely familiar song with tears streaming down his face, "Mr. Luffy... Thank you for inviting me... This is the happiest day of my life in the past 50 years. It feels so good to be alive!"

"Ah, can I join?" Brook asked suddenly, because he suddenly remembered that he seemed to have not had time to formally accept Mr. Luffy's invitation.

"Oh, no problem!" Luffy agreed with a grin.

"Welcome! Musician!!" everyone shouted excitedly.

......

After erecting tombstones and burying the remains of Brook's former companions, they set sail again to start the next round of journey.

"Nami-san, this is for you!" Lola tore the life paper in half. "This is my mother's life paper. It's very special. Maybe it can help you in the future. Thank you for saving our Shadow. This is the only thing I can do for you."

"Captain Lola's mother is a very powerful pirate! It will definitely come in handy when you take it!"

"Life paper?" Luffy heard this and immediately went over to check it out. "This is the same paper that Lucci and Ace gave me."

"Yes, this is not ordinary paper. It is not afraid of water or fire! It is a special paper made by taking your own nails or hair to the store and mixing it with various substances. It is paper that represents life!" Lola added.

"Where can I make it?" Qi interrupted.

"It can be made in the New World." Lola replied.

"The second half of the Grand Line?" Qi thought thoughtfully, maybe he could make one for Luffy.

When Qi asked, Luffy took out the two life papers given by Lucci and Ace from his hat, but why was it like this? Luffy looked at the two life papers in his hand that had become very small and shouted in shock, "Why do these two seem to be burnt!?"

"Let me see!" Hearing Luffy's words, Lola immediately came over to check. Looking at the two small pieces of life paper, Lola was a little shocked. "Are they your relatives?"

"Yes, he's my brother!" Luffy said happily.

"Unfortunately, the life flames of these two people are about to be extinguished!" Laura said solemnly, "Life paper can show the owner's vitality."

Luffy frowned at the life sheet in his hand before stuffing his hat back in and looking back at Odd, unsure of what he wanted.

Noticing Luffy's gaze, Qi allowed himself a smile, he wasn't sure if it was any use but Luffy certainly didn't want Luffy to worry.

Looking at the smile on Qi's face, Luffy rubbed his chest uncomfortably. He knew that his brothers were strong, but his chest was uncontrollably filled with worry. He shouldn't be like this. They would be angry because he was worried about them. The paper in the straw hat seemed to have a new meaning. If necessary, he had a way to contact them.

Luffy relaxed and smiled again, they were together, they were more than capable of taking care of themselves, he had to believe that.

……

A numb and painful feeling kept coming from the tense arm muscles. When his wrist moved, the iron chain on the wall instantly pulled him back to his original position. A sharp pain came from his back, and Ace couldn't help but let out a faint groan. His hands were handcuffed tightly to the wall, and the chains on his wrists completely restricted his movements. The injuries caused by Blackbeard and the guards who came later suddenly broke out, making him give up looking for a more comfortable posture and open his eyes painfully.

Ace stared silently at the chains on his feet and the dried blood on his body. The dim color of the floor of Impel Down also clearly told him that they were trapped in an even more desperate place.

Ace ignored the footsteps approaching the cage and lowered his head, his chin almost touching his chest. He didn't want to listen to the patrolling prison guards' ridicule of him anymore, especially when they didn't reveal any information he wanted.

Until they stopped in front of Ace, a figure was pushed in through the door, they forced him to sit, tied him with iron chains, and the prisoner grunted in pain as the guards left the cell and walked away.

As the footsteps faded away, Ace raised his head, which had been lowered, and glanced at the new inmate nonchalantly until he realized who he was "Jinbei!?"

"Hello, Mr. Ace." The fishman said calmly.

"Why are you here!?" Ace asked in disbelief as he checked on his friend. Aside from the obvious wound on his head, he found no other obvious injuries, which meant that he came in for a completely different reason than himself.

Ace felt frustrated at the thought of his friends being trapped here like him and Lucci, and he didn't understand "What the hell are you doing in this place!?"

"They asked me to join the war against the Whitebeard Pirates." Jinbei's face flashed with anger, and his expression was tense. "After everything you have done for Fishman Island, I will not betray you and agree to do such a stupid thing."

"War?" Ace exhaled, fear coursing through him. This was impossible, but he should have considered the situation. The Whitebeard Pirates were known for not letting go of anyone who attacked their comrades, and Ace was no exception. But going against the entire government? Against the world? Just for Ace? Was he really worth it?

"Yes, the news hasn't been announced yet." Jinbei, unaware of Ace's turmoil, continued, "But I have no doubt that the Whitebeard Pirates will come to stop the execution, and I refuse to be one of the ones who obstruct it."

"Lucci is here too." Feeling increasingly fearful, Ace asked anxiously, "Did they say anything related?"

"No, they didn't reveal that." Jinbei said worriedly. "I don't know what else they want to do."

Ace lowered his head, his mind uncontrollably racing with worse and worse situations. Countless terrible scenarios circled in his mind, especially when he thought about how dangerous his crew members would be if they came to rescue him. Fear rose in his throat. If someone died trying to save him, he would never forgive himself. Ace thought as he lowered his head even deeper.

Come on, guys, I don't deserve this!

Jinbei looked at Ace worriedly, sighed, and changed the subject, "Is Lucci here too?"

"That's my fault..." Ace lost himself in his own guilt, thinking about how weak Lucci was when he was taken away, and Ace couldn't do anything.

"Ace, Lucci wouldn't want you to blame yourself," Jinbe said worriedly.

It took them so much effort to recognize each other, and it took them so much effort to find out that Luffy was still alive. Now because of Ace, Luffy would lose his brother for the second time. Ace closed his eyes in pain, tears streaming down his cheeks. "You know what? Jinbe."

"Lucci is my brother, a brother I lost once!"