Sabo wanted to leap forward to save Ace—but it was too late. No matter how skilled they were, they were still just children. How could they possibly dodge bullets fired at such close range?
Amano An, who had been repeatedly interrupted just as she was trying to reunite with her brother, was completely fed up. All she wanted was to see Ace—was that really so hard?!
Her hand clenched tightly. A thin layer of Armament Haki wrapped around her palm as she swung it behind her, deflecting a hail of bullets with casual precision.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each bullet struck the ground like an explosion, sending up dust and debris.
For a moment, silence fell across the clearing. No one dared to move. The only sound was An's choked sob as she rushed forward, tears blurring her vision.
Ace raised a hand, pressing it gently against her forehead to stop her. His eyes were dark and conflicted. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"You're… An."
It wasn't a question.
"Yeah," An's voice trembled, her eyes stinging. "I'm sorry… it took me this long to come see you."
Sabo stood there, dumbstruck. What he had just seen—those bullets being slapped aside like flies—was beyond anything he had ever imagined possible.
That one hit… could've shattered his skull.
He didn't understand who this girl was or how Ace knew her, but if Ace wasn't saying anything, Sabo wasn't going to pry.
"Let's go back first," Ace muttered after a moment. He turned and started walking without looking back.
"Hello," An greeted Sabo politely as she followed. "I'm An. Ace's sister. I'm really sorry for earlier—I got a little carried away when I saw him."
So she really wasn't some lunatic!
"N-No, it's fine…" Sabo rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. Then something dawned on him, and he froze. "Wait—sister?!"
If she was Ace's sister, then why had he never heard Ace mention her before?
Sabo turned a questioning look toward Ace, who immediately looked away, pretending to be indifferent. "I've… never actually seen her before," he admitted stiffly.
He had heard rumors that he might have a sister, something Dadan once mentioned offhand. But since he'd never seen her, he'd assumed it was just talk.
There were nights when he couldn't sleep, wondering if she really existed. If she did, why hadn't she come to find him? Maybe… she didn't want him either, just like everyone else.
An could read his expression like an open book. Without a shred of shame, she threw herself at him, clinging tightly and sobbing loudly.
"Waaah! It's all that stupid old man's fault! He took me away and wouldn't let me come back, waaah!"
"Wha—?! Get off!" Ace's face went bright red as he tried to pry her off, but she only hugged him tighter.
"I don't want to! I finally found my cute little brother again!"
She bawled so hard it almost seemed genuine. And in a way—it was.
After all, she was both a devoted fan and a doting sister rolled into one!
This wasn't perversion—it was destiny! And if she didn't take this chance to hug him now, she'd never get another one!
After a long and noisy reunion, Sabo finally took the hint and slipped away. They clearly had a lot to talk about, and besides—he still hadn't counted the day's treasure haul.
When Ace and An returned to Dadan's Bandit Hideout, Ace was visibly irritated and exhausted.
"Back so soon? What'd you bring in today?" Dadan asked from her chair, sipping cheap wine.
When she turned and saw the pink-haired girl standing behind Ace with a sweet, innocent smile, her entire body stiffened.
A wave of dread crawled up her spine.
"You… you… YOU!"
Dadan's trembling voice immediately drew the attention of the other bandits. They looked over, confusion turning to horror.
"You're An!" they shouted in unison.
"Ah, so everyone still remembers me." An's smile grew even sweeter.
"Please, stop smiling like that!" Dadan yelped, rubbing her arms as goosebumps erupted all over. "That expression brings back terrible memories!"
That sweet, angelic smile was terrifying enough on a grown woman—but on a baby? Dadan could still remember it vividly.
As a baby, An had been… strange.
She'd poke anything within reach. Once, she'd somehow gotten hold of a fruit peeler—Dadan still remembered the sight of a giggling, blood-covered baby brandishing a knife. It was pure nightmare fuel.
An winced at the memory and rubbed her hands awkwardly. She couldn't exactly say she'd been training her Haki, could she?
"Why are you back here?" Dadan demanded, narrowing her eyes. "If you're planning to live here again, I swear I'll turn myself in to the Marines!"
An's teasing smile faded slightly as she shrugged. "Of course not. I just came to see my dear brother~."
Dadan: "…"
"You're not planning to take him away again, are you? He's ten years old now! Do you know how hard I've worked to keep that brat alive this long?!"
"I just came to visit. You'll still have the pleasure of taking care of him," An replied sweetly.
"What kind of joke is that?!" Dadan slammed her hands on the table, veins popping on her forehead.
Before their argument could escalate, heavy footsteps echoed outside—then came a booming voice.
"Dadan! Get out here!"
Dadan's headache flared instantly.
Great. The pervert hadn't left yet, and now that old monster was back too.
"Vice Admiral Garp!" she greeted with a pained grin as she flung open the door.
"Everyone looks lively! Is Ace doing well?" Garp laughed heartily, hands on his hips.
"Don't joke around!" Dadan groaned. "Please have mercy! Ace is already ten years old!"
"We can't handle him anymore!" one of the bandits, Douglas, added miserably. "Please take him back!"
As they complained, their attention shifted to the small boy curiously poking around behind Garp—wide-eyed, reckless, and already radiating chaos.
A sense of doom settled over them.
Sure enough…
"You're not—! You're not planning to leave another one here, are you?" Dadan's eyes bulged as she realized who it was. "That's your grandson, isn't it?!"
Her whole body screamed resistance.
"Hahahaha! That's right!" Garp laughed thunderously. "You've got two choices, Dadan—spend the rest of your life in prison, or raise this kid. I'll overlook your little… activities if you pick the second option."
His tone was cheerful, but every word dripped with threat.
Dadan's shoulders slumped. "Ugh… sometimes I think prison might actually be easier. Ace already drives me insane—and now you're dumping your grandson on me? He's bound to be another monster!"
"I think that's a great idea," An added sweetly, her smile glowing like sunlight—and just as deadly. "That way I can visit you both in prison."
"Fine! I'll take care of him! Just stop smiling like that, you little demon!" Dadan groaned.
As they bickered, another ruckus broke out nearby. Ace and the newcomer were already nose-to-nose—Luffy had just spat on him.
Before the fight could explode, Garp's legendary iron fist came crashing down between them, silencing them both instantly.
"That brat's Ace—three years older than you!" Garp barked, cracking his knuckles. "From today on, you'll live together! Get along—or I'll knock both your heads in!"