Zoro had actually succeeded in becoming a disciple.
This scene made Ace, who was watching from nearby, stare wide-eyed.
After hesitating for a moment and gazing at Orion's gentle profile, he ultimately couldn't suppress the longing in his heart.
Taking a deep breath, he strode over.
Upon reaching Orion, Ace immediately straightened his posture and saluted.
"Fleet Admiral!"
Orion turned to look at him, his face still wearing that spring-like gentle smile.
"Ace. What can I do for you?"
"I want your guidance too!" Ace mustered his courage, his eyes burning with determination as he looked at Orion.
"Especially Conqueror's Haki. Although I've awakened it, I feel like I've hit a wall with no progress at all."
Hearing this, Orion smiled warmly and said, "Conqueror's Haki cannot be improved through 'training'."
"It represents a person's 'capacity' and 'will'—the innate quality of a king. What you need to do now isn't to figure out how to enhance your Conqueror's Haki, but to find ways to make yourself stronger, whether in physical combat, swordsmanship, or mental state."
"When you become strong enough yourself, your Conqueror's Haki will naturally grow along with you."
Ace nodded, though not fully understanding, his eyes growing brighter.
"Then..."
Before Ace could finish, Orion said straightforwardly, "You can join us when I guide Zoro from now on."
"Really?!" Ace was overjoyed, his face instantly breaking into a radiant smile. "That's great! Thank you, Fleet Admiral!"
This opened the floodgates.
Watching both Zoro and Ace receive the Fleet Admiral's permission for "special training," the remaining people on the deck could no longer stay put.
"Um... Fleet Admiral..." Nami and Nojiko exchanged glances before approaching as well.
"And me! I want in too!" Koala raised her hand, afraid of being left out.
"Hey! Why do that seaweed-head and freckle-face get to go, but not me!" Sanji pushed forward indignantly.
"Fleet Admiral, please let me participate too!"
In no time, Orion was surrounded by people, chattering and creating quite a lively scene.
Orion scanned these vibrant young faces and smiled.
"Guiding you all was originally part of this training mission anyway."
At these words, cheers erupted across the deck.
Orion's gaze finally settled on Sabo, who looked somewhat lost in the crowd.
"Sabo."
"Ah? Yes!" Sabo jolted to attention, quickly straightening up.
"Has your memory still not returned?" Orion got straight to the point.
Hearing this, Sabo blinked in confusion, then scratched his head in frustration.
"I don't know what's wrong. Lately, I've been feeling like I've known Ace and Luffy for a very long time—that feeling is so familiar... But I just can't remember."
At these words, Luffy and Ace simultaneously turned to look at Sabo.
"Haven't we been telling you about our past every day?" Luffy pouted, somewhat puzzled. "How come you still haven't remembered?"
Ace also grew anxious. "We've told you about our oath of brotherhood at least ten times!"
"I..." Sabo patted his head, full of apology. "I really don't remember us swearing brotherhood!"
Watching the three brothers like this, Orion smiled.
"Come forward," he beckoned to Sabo.
Sabo didn't understand why but obediently walked up to Orion.
Orion raised his hand and gently placed it on top of Sabo's head.
An invisible ripple quietly spread as Observation Haki, like the gentlest stream, seeped into the depths of Sabo's consciousness, guiding those sealed-away, fragmented memory pieces.
Sabo's body trembled violently, his eyes instantly losing focus.
Scenes flashed through his mind like a movie on fast-forward.
The bandits of Mount Colubo, the giant tiger of Dadan's forest, the secret base the three of them built together, that cup of sake they exchanged as a symbol of their brotherhood...
And that tiny fishing boat they set sail on, the despair of falling into the sea after being fired upon by the Celestial Dragons.
"Ah—!"
Sabo clutched his head and let out a pained groan.
The memories he had been forced to forget burst forth like a collapsing dam, violently shattering the barriers that had confined them for years.
"Sabo!"
"Sabo, what's wrong?"
Ace and Luffy were horrified and rushed to his side immediately.
Orion withdrew his hand, calmly observing the scene before him.
After a few seconds, Sabo gradually calmed down.
He slowly raised his head, his face already streaked with tears.
He looked at Ace's worried face before him, then turned to Luffy beside him.
His lips trembled as he uttered, in a voice choked with emotion, the two names engraved deep within his soul.
"Ace... Luffy..."
"Sabo?" Ace's voice trembled.
"You remember?" Luffy's eyes instantly reddened, large teardrops rolling down his cheeks.
"Yeah." Sabo nodded heavily, his vision blurred by tears.
He opened his arms and pulled his two younger brothers into a tight embrace.
"I'm back, Ace, Luffy!"
"Waaah— Sabo—" Luffy could no longer hold back and burst into loud sobs.
Even Ace, who had always tried to play the role of the mature older brother, found his eyes reddening now.
The joy of recovering what was lost was enough to shatter any facade of strength.
The others on the deck watched the three brothers embracing tightly and smiled understandingly.
"Yohohohoho."
Just then, a distinctive laugh broke the emotional atmosphere.
Brook wiped away his non-existent tears and raised his cane sword high.
"On such a fine occasion, with brothers reunited! How can we not have a feast and music!"
"Feast time!" Luffy's tears vanished instantly upon hearing this, and he raised his hand high.
"Meat! I want meat!"
That single sentence ignited the atmosphere.
Soon, the training ship's deck became a sea of joy.
Sanji was busy in the kitchen, dish after fragrant dish flowing out like a stream.
Franky brought out his treasured cola, while Usopp produced all sorts of strange party props.
"Come on, come on! Let's play 'Adventure King'!" Luffy, who had somehow dug out a straw hat, put it on his head and announced.
"The rules are simple: I'll be the 'Adventure King,' and you all try to snatch my hat. Whoever gets it becomes the first 'Adventure King'!"
The simple and crude rules immediately piqued everyone's interest.
A chaotic chase centered around the straw hat instantly erupted on the deck.
Meanwhile, Zoro and Sanji were at it again.
They were playing a game called "One-Legged Log Balance," where the rules were to stand on one leg on an oil-smeared mast, and whoever lasted the longest would win.
"Curly-brows, can you even do this?" Zoro sat cross-legged on the mast, steady as a rock.
"Shut up, moss-head! I'll kick you off!" Sanji stood on one leg, his body swaying unsteadily, but his words showed no weakness.
Nami and Nojiko pulled Koala into a game of "Marines' Glory" cards, where the loser would get a turtle drawn on their face.
Brook played the violin nearby, the melodious tune of "Binks' Sake" echoing through the night sky, adding a unique charm to the revelry.
Laughter, noise, and music intertwined, dispelling the loneliness of the night.
The banquet lasted until late at night.
Eventually, everyone grew tired and lay scattered across the deck, fast asleep.
Moonlight bathed the young faces in tranquility and peace.
In the shadows of the cabin, Hancock cast a disdainful glance at the sprawled-out trainees on the floor before gracefully making her way directly to Orion's room.
Arriving at the door, she glanced left and right, and after confirming no one was around, a triumphant smile curled at the corner of her lips.
She pulled open the door and slipped inside.
This was a banquet reserved solely for her and Orion!