"It's a damn sha that the most hyped rookie's joined the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Otherwise, teaming up with him wouldn't make us fear Kizaru one bit," Jig muttered, swirling the liquor in his bottle, visibly regretful.
Gutte blinked at first, then narrowed his eyes as he realized who Jig was referring to. His voice dropped into a cold rasp.
"You an the man who took down Ghost Hamr Syrons and Gecko Moria? Yeah... he's not to be underestimated. But that guy's turned into a lapdog of the World Governnt. If he sees us, he'd probably tip off the Navy to co hunt us down."
"I know. Just thinking out loud. Among all the pirate crews retreating from the New World back to Paradise, most are either too weak to matter or got crushed until there's barely two or three stragglers left. Sure, they've made the Navy chase them in circles, but at most, they've just barely stirred up so logistical chaos," Jig said, frustration creeping into his tone. "Only we, the Demon Mask Pirates, still have so real firepower. And yet, the few others with strength left are too damn prideful. Still dreaming of making a coback with a couple of half-dead strays. Pathetic."
"What's the point of griping about it?" Gutte scoffed, voice rough and cold. "We've rebuilt a good chunk of our strength. With three new affiliated crews under our banner, our numbers are close to four thousand. As long as we can shake off the World Governnt's spies and Kizaru's fleet, returning to the New World and carving out new territory won't be a problem."
Just then, the doors opened. A stern, young man stepped in, arms hanging low past the knees, a jet-black longbow slung across his back, along with a quiver of arrows. His short, dark green hair frad sharp features, and his black combat suit clung to a body coiled with tension. Cold, ruthless eyes radiated a deadly chill that made weaker n flinch.
He crossed the castle hall and walked directly up to Gutte.
Recognizing the man, Gutte set down his sake jug and raised a brow.
"Obes? Weren't you stationed at the harbor? Sothing happen?"
"Captain, Puda's returned," the cold youth reported flatly.
Kataror Obes, sniper of the Demon Mask Pirates, third squad captain, and one of the only two remaining top five officers.
Codena: Black Bow.
Latest bounty: 250 million Berries.
"He's back already?" Gutte's single visible brow arched in surprise. "I figured at least tomorrow before we saw him."
As the two spoke, another figure entered, a tall, gaunt man with a sharply pointed face, dressed in a silver-gray suit and black leather shoes. His skin was slightly dark, his movents efficient and silent.
It was Puda.
Second squad captain of the Demon Mask Pirates, one of the two remaining top officers.
Codena: The Pillager.
Latest bounty: 280 million Berries.
Devil Fruit: Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Black Wolf.
Seeing him, Gutte stood up with his sake jug in hand and walked over.
"Puda, good work. Did you bring them?" he asked, slapping the man's shoulder with a rare, faint smile.
"I got them. Unfortunately, the scientists I had stashed with the Longhair Pirates were already taken out by World Governnt agents. Two were captured before I could extract them," Puda replied, his tone tinged with frustration.
Back when they'd raided the World Governnt's vessel, three other pirate crews had joined the Demon Mask Pirates in the attack. Their mbers had blended in with Gutte's own crew during the retreat and scattered afterward to avoid being wiped out together.
They had originally secured six scientists, hiding four among the allied crews while taking two back themselves. But in less than a month, only one of the four hidden scientists remained alive. Had they stayed in Paradise any longer, even the Demon Mask Pirates might not have survived.
"It's fine. We've achieved our initial goal," Gutte said with a dismissive wave. "Since you're back today, we set sail tomorrow. Ti to return to the New World."
"I understand," Puda nodded. He knew how terrifying the World Governnt's intelligence network was and fully supported their captain's urgency to leave.
...
Three days later — aboard the Chris.
A group of crewmates stood on the deck, letting the sea breeze brush over them.
Suddenly, Dimitri pointed excitedly ahead.
"Hey, look over there!"
Everyone turned in the direction he was pointing.
"Oh~," Aeridar murmured in awe.
"Huh~?" Arlan lowered his sunglasses, brows raised.
"It's beautiful! Like a dream..." Millie and Mina gazed ahead, their faces slack with wonder.
"What are those? Bubbles?" Oliver asked, rubbing his chin.
"Sothing's flying in the air," Gorbo squinted into the distance.
"In...cre...di...ble!" Backan's jaw dropped in awe.
Out over the sea, under the sparkling sunlight, they beheld a surreal scene: shimring bubbles drifting upward, colossal ancient trees reaching toward the sky, and three dreamy, paradise-like islands clustered together.
Even though Aeridar had seen it before in ani, standing before the real thing was a shock to the senses. The difference between animation and reality was like day and night.
They were looking at Sabaody Archipelago.
Located just beneath the Red Line in Paradise, near Marine Headquarters, the archipelago was ho to the largest mangrove in the world, the Yarukiman Mangrove. The archipelago was ford from 79 of its massive trees, their roots erging from the sea and giving rise to a bizarre yet breathtaking ecosystem.
Thanks to the Yarukiman Mangrove's respiration, it secreted a natural resin from its roots. This resin expanded upon contact with air, forming floating bubbles that drifted into the sky.
However, these bubbles could only survive within Sabaody's unique climate. Once outside its atmospheric zone, the resin would destabilize and pop.
Bubble cars, bubble Ferris wheels, even houses built atop the floating bubbles, the "bubble culture" perated every corner of the archipelago.
"Hey, Dimitri, where are we dropping anchor?" Aeridar asked, snapping out of his trance.
"Huh? Oh, right, Captain!" Dimitri pulled out the map they'd seized from the Crimson Man-Eating Flower's ship, a detailed chart of Sabaody Archipelago.
"Let's head for the lawless zone—Grove 1 through 29."
According to the map, the archipelago was divided into numbered zones, each corresponding to a specific tree:
1–29: Lawless zones, ho to slave markets and underground auctions.
30–39: Entertainnt districts, including the famous Bubble Park.
40–49: Tourist attractions and specialty shops.
50–59: Shipyards and coating artisans.
60–69: Navy facilities and World Governnt checkpoints.
70–79: Primarily hotel districts.
Aeridar's crew had looted all kinds of useful intel from the Crimson Man-Eating Flower, a notorious slaver outfit. Their ship was a treasure trove of maps, Log Poses, and location data, especially for major, high-profile islands like this one.
"The Lawless Zone, huh... If I recall correctly, the Pirate King's right-hand man was said to have once lived in seclusion on one of the islands there."
Aeridar muttered to himself, deep in thought.
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