The Great Voyage Begins with the Celestial Dragons

The slave trade had long been officially abolished because of Luther.

The only people who can be bought and sold are pirates who have been wanted by the Navy.

Some people who are not suited to exchanging bounties or find it too troublesome often sell these pirates to a middleman.

Especially after the Kingdom of Gaya offered even higher prices, the middlemen's business flourished even more.

"What are we here for?" Kerla asked.

She was usually in charge of managing the crew, and she didn't really know much about Saab's destination.

"Ah, the teacher said there is a very capable doctor here, and asked me to try to recruit him for the revolutionary army."

Sabo chuckled, making no attempt to hide anything.

"Recruiting doctors?"

Kerla nodded in understanding and didn't ask any more questions.

Since it's just a recruitment effort, there shouldn't be any problems regardless of whether it succeeds or not.

Uh... I guess so...

As they walked through the bustling market, Kerla became somewhat uncertain when they suddenly saw the distant lighthouse collapse with a crash.

Especially after seeing Sabo's drastic change in expression, Carla asked in surprise and uncertainty:

"That doctor, could he possibly live inside the lighthouse?"

"This is the intelligence we've received. Go check it out!"

Sabo had no time to think further and ran towards the lighthouse as fast as he could.

Seeing this, Kerla quickly followed.

For some reason, she had a bad feeling about it.

This premonition came true as they approached the lighthouse.

What are you doing?!

In front of the lighthouse, there was an extremely bloody scene.

The lighthouse collapsed completely, and an old man with a flower-like hairstyle lay pitifully on the ground, his pink shirt slashed into stripes and his body covered with countless deep, bone-revealing wounds.

Judging from its appearance, it's clear it doesn't have long to live.

Sabo's gaze was fixed on a tall, voluptuous woman with white hair who had just sheathed her sword not far away.

Just by looking at the scene, you can tell that the woman did it.

"Greetings from Yamato, the future 8th Heavenly Blade of the Donquixote Family! Crocus, a remnant of the Roger Pirates!"

Yamato merely glanced at Sabo, left those words for the fallen Crocus, and then turned and left.

"Stop right there!"

Sabo was unwilling to do so, but just as he was about to rush forward, he was grabbed by Kella.

"Let's go see a doctor first, he's dying."

Kera's voice trembled slightly, but in his haste, Sabo didn't notice.

He simply nodded instinctively, his mind clearing considerably after Kella's intervention.

"Yes, yes, the most urgent thing now is to save lives."

Sabo rushed to Crocus's side to check on the situation, leaving Kella standing there somewhat stiffly.

She heard Yamato's introduction clearly.

The Donquixote Family... This is yet another demon after she openly escaped her status as a Celestial Dragon slave.

She never expected that the woman she had just met was actually a member of the Don Quixote family, and that she had just managed to knock down the person they wanted to invite.

Coincidence?

No, she didn't believe it at all.

This is no coincidence at all; everything was arranged.

She even felt that the classic Don Quixote greeting that Yamato left behind at the end wasn't said to the fallen Crocus, but to her and Sabo.

Thinking of this, Kerla's heart was filled with trembling and fear.

"Kella, come quick and help!"

Sabo's words pulled Kera back to reality, allowing her to temporarily suppress these thoughts within her:

"coming!"

Kera composed himself, put on the serious expression appropriate for the situation, and ran towards Sabo's direction.

Chapter 319 The Free Pirate

Amidst the ruins.

Sabo knelt before Crocus, who was covered in wounds and unable to move, and examined his injuries.

Krocas's aged and weary face, seemingly sculpted by the knife of time, coupled with the countless deep, bone-penetrating scars on his body, made him appear so fragile and powerless.

"How is Mr. Crocus?" Kella asked as she walked over.

Upon hearing Kelra's question, Sabo, with a slightly grave expression, gave the following instructions:

"Kera, go and look around for any medical supplies."

Kerla nodded and turned to walk toward the market not far away.

However, before she could take more than a few steps, a weak yet resolute voice echoed around her.

"No...no need..."

Sabo's heart tightened. He turned to look at Crocus, whose once vibrant eyes had been consumed by pain and exhaustion, leaving only endless darkness.

"Sir, you must hold on. I will do everything I can to help you with your treatment."

Sabo managed to squeeze out a sound, his hands trembling on Crocus's body.

"Ha, my body... I know it myself... there's no saving it..."

Krocas slowly shook his head, a bleak smile appearing on his lips.

He's a doctor, and he knows his body better than anyone else.

With the medical equipment available to the bounty hunters in the area, there was no way to save his life.

"Alas... the good days are coming to an end for us old folks..."

Kroka looked up at the sky, his expression filled with endless remembrance and regret.

After uttering his last words, he finally closed his eyes slowly and breathed his last.

"Damn it..."

Sabo slammed his fists into the ground, his heart filled with anger and helplessness.

Since entering the Grand Line, nothing has gone smoothly.

Faced with a tidal wave of bounty hunters, he had no choice but to lower his pirate flag and disguise himself as a bounty hunter to survive.

We just found a doctor recommended by Dorrag, but he collapsed first.

This feeling of powerlessness was something he had never experienced before, and it was also the emotion he hated most.

While Sabo was feeling frustrated, Kella, while nervously observing her surroundings, noticed a man in a black suit taking several photos in their direction.

Seeing this, Kella frowned slightly:

"CP? Or the Don Quixote family?"

However, the thought only flashed through her mind before she dismissed it.

Thinking so much won't solve anything. It's better to follow the advice of those important figures and let things take their natural course.

......

After hunting down Crocus, Yamato returned to its Yamato.

This is a warship similar to the Portgas, except that it does not fly the naval flag, but instead flies the flags of the Kingdom of Jaya and the Don Quixote family.

Furthermore, the density of gunfire on this warship is far higher than that of the USS Portgas, while its entertainment and training equipment is somewhat less.

On the deck, Yamato casually held a Den Den Mushi, a carefree smile on his face.

"Hey, Ace, the first target has been hunted down."

"Krocas...?"

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Ace, located in Shimotsuki Village, paused slightly.

Faced with this major news, which was already destined, Ace was still somewhat excited.

He didn't even pay attention to how Yamato addressed him.

"Yes, that old guy does have some skill, but he still managed to take care of it easily."

Yamato looked relaxed; it was truly a piece of cake for her.

She wouldn't have bothered to lay a hand on Crocus if he hadn't been Roger's ship's doctor.

"Thank you, Yamato!"

Ace thanked him sincerely. For him, who killed his enemy was not particularly important; what he wanted was for everyone involved to pay the price.

"No problem. I did ask the question you wanted to ask. His answer really opened my eyes," Yamato said, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"This seems to be an answer I can't stand."

Ace gave a wry smile. Judging from Yamato's tone, he knew it wasn't a good answer.

"Not exactly. According to him, for a pirate, freedom is more important than anything else, and the Pirate King is the freest man in the world," Yamato recounted Crocus's last words.

"Ha, the Pirate King is the freest man in the world, how can he even say that? A bunch of selfish and self-centered guys."

Upon hearing this answer, Ace's eyes flashed with anger.