Koala's body stiffened instantly.
She sensed—far too late—that someone had appeared behind her.
Cold sweat soaked her back.
Her strength was no joke. As the acting instructor of Fish-Man Karate for the Revolutionary Army, she had personally trained thousands of soldiers.
Even Sabo himself could not approach her silently like this without her noticing.
Her figure flashed as she repositioned, widening the distance while instinctively forming a pincer formation with Sabo, surrounding the extremely dangerous white-haired swordsman.
Sabo, however, stood perfectly still—like a statue.
He stared at the man before him.
Ten years had passed.
But some things never changed.
The familiar presence in his eyes…
That unmistakable silver hair…
How could he not recognize him?
Sabo suddenly threw the metal pipe from his hand.
His nose stung. He took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of emotions in his chest.
"…Logan? Big brother?"
"You really haven't changed," Logan muttered, shaking his head.
"Still crying this easily. I still can't believe the Revolutionary Army's second-in-command turned out to be you."
Despite his teasing tone, the warmth in his eyes was impossible to hide.
The two stepped forward and lightly bumped fists—no force, no technique—just a simple collision.
At that moment, Koala finally relaxed.
She lowered her guard and stared at the white-haired young man in disbelief.
This is Logan?
The 'Big Brother Logan' Sabo always talks about?
Didn't Sabo say he was just a regular Marine soldier?
Regular soldiers don't feel like this.
She took a step closer and examined him carefully.
Logan noticed and smiled at her—bright and effortless, like sunlight.
Her heart skipped.
Then it started racing.
Heat rushed to her cheeks, and her breathing grew unsteady.
She covered her face with both hands, suddenly unable to meet his gaze.
How is this even fair…
How can a man be this handsome?
That face.
That presence.
That completely different vibe.
Is he even real?
Only two words echoed in her mind:
Graceful. Radiant.
"Y-you're Logan… right? Big Brother Logan?"
The moment she said it, she realized how unnecessary the question was.
"I—I'm Koala."
Logan smiled gently.
"Thanks for taking care of my little brother all these years. He must've caused you a lot of trouble."
"N-no, not really," Koala said quickly, face still red.
"If anything, Sabo's taken care of me more."
Sabo frowned.
"Hey, Logan. I'm the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff now. Stop treating me like a kid."
Logan nodded with a grin.
Ten years apart—and Sabo was still using a metal pipe as his weapon.
That was… painfully frugal.
Logan briefly thought of the 108-jin Seastone greatsword resting inside his space ring.
Now that's what you call style.
"I'm no longer a Marine," Logan said, patting Sabo on the shoulder.
"So relax—I'm not here to arrest you."
Sabo closed his eyes and felt Logan's presence.
Steady like a mountain.
Vast like the sea.
He opened his eyes, serious.
"Big brother… you're strong. Maybe even stronger than me."
"Remove the 'maybe,'" Logan said casually.
Sabo's gaze sharpened.
With a grasping motion, the metal pipe flew into his hand.
He stepped forward.
In an instant, the silver pipe turned pitch black.
"Armament Haki?" Logan glanced at it.
"Not bad."
Then he walked past Sabo.
"Take me to the base. We just reunited—why fight?"
"And besides," he added lightly,
"you can't beat me right now. I'd hate to injure you and get tied up by your officers."
Sabo didn't dispel his Haki.
"I'm serious, Logan. I know you're strong—but I'm not without a chance."
Koala seized the moment, hands on her hips, indignant on Sabo's behalf.
"You don't understand how strong Sabo is!"
Logan sighed.
"Are you sure?"
One look at Sabo's stubborn eyes told Logan everything.
Sabo.
Ace.
Luffy.
None of them were the type to back down.
Once they made a decision, they'd charge straight into a wall—
and if the wall collapsed, they'd stand up and smash the next one.
That was why Logan had always known:
Stopping Ace from chasing Blackbeard was impossible.
Avoiding the war at Marineford?
Who knows.
Fate had a twisted sense of humor—
no wonder these four idiots became sworn brothers.
"How about this," Logan said.
"We don't fight. We compete."
"Compete at what?" Sabo asked.
"Running."
Logan glanced toward the distant base.
About three kilometers.
"That's your headquarters, right? Let's race. First one there wins."
Sabo hesitated, then finally dispelled his Armament Haki and nodded.
"I'll be the referee!" Koala said excitedly.
She was strangely invested.
Watching a man that handsome run…
That alone is worth it.
She hopped over, picked up a snow-white stone the size of a watermelon, and tossed it skyward.
It shot upward—over a hundred meters—then began to fall.
Logan and Sabo both held their breath, listening.
Thud.
The instant the stone hit the ground—
Both men vanished.
Koala stared at the spot they'd been standing.
Two massive craters now scarred the earth.
She looked up.
Ahead, two trails of white smoke tore across the landscape like twin dragons.
"…Two absolute monsters."
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