"Everyone, we're here!" Pappag jumped onto the bow and pointed ahead. "This is the Sabaody Archipelago!"
"So beautiful!"
"Look, there are bubbles floating in the sky!"
"It feels so dreamy!"
Everyone immediately rushed forward, carefully observing the scenery in the distance, their faces lighting up with excitement.
"How is it? Worth the trip, right~" Pappag said with a grin.
"It really is."
"Just enter through that opening ahead," Hatchan said, pointing toward a gap in the distance.
Hearing him, Merry glanced to the side and guided the ship toward it.
Soon, the Thousand Sunny entered the Sabaody Archipelago, sailing along the branching waterways.
"There are so many bubbles in the sky."
"Camie, what's going on?" Merry asked curiously. "Is someone blowing them?"
"Nope~"
Camie raised a finger. "They're formed because of the island's unique structure."
"That's right," Pappag continued. "These trees secrete a special resin that forms bubbles under certain conditions."
"Bubbles…" Jin stroked his chin. "The coating you mentioned before—it wouldn't happen to rely on this stuff, would it?"
"More or less," Hatchan nodded. "But we need to collect highly concentrated resin from the roots of the mangrove trees. Only then can we create bubbles strong enough. Otherwise, it wouldn't be safe."
"Sailing under the sea is no small matter—we can't be careless."
By the end, his expression had turned extremely serious.
If the coating failed, everyone aboard would die in the deep sea.
At a depth of 10,000 meters, the pressure alone was enough to crush a human.
"I see… so we'll need to find a really skilled coater."
"Don't worry, I know someone amazing!" Hatchan said with a smile. "We'll have him coat your ship."
Luffy nodded. "Then we're counting on you."
This concerned the life and death of their entire crew—there was no room for carelessness.
"Resin…"
Jin narrowed his eyes, studying the massive trees around them, wondering if this could be combined with Water Release techniques.
"Oh right, the Log Pose hasn't changed, has it?" Robin suddenly asked.
"Let me check."
Nami looked down at the Log Pose in her hand and shook her head.
"No change at all…"
Sanji frowned slightly. "Why is that?"
"That's because this isn't actually an island," Hatchan explained. "The Sabaody Archipelago is made up of 79 giant mangrove trees. There's no magnetic field."
"No magnetic field?"
"What a strange place," Sanji said in amazement.
"Look! There are bridges between the trees!" Chopper exclaimed excitedly.
Hatchan chuckled. "Each tree is independent—like its own small island. So of course they need bridges to connect them."
"Where are we docking?"
"We're currently at Grove 44. This is a civilian area—you're pirates, so it's not suitable to stop here." Hatchan pointed ahead. "Let's head further inside."
Stopping here might attract the Marines' attention.
"By the way… why are your bounties so high?" Hatchan asked, looking at Luffy.
"Oh, that?" Luffy grinned widely. "Because we're strong!!"
Hatchan: …
Of course they were strong—but there had to be a reason, right?
"Maybe… because we broke into the World Government's Enies Lobby," Usopp said.
Aside from Luffy and Zoro, their bounties had all increased after that incident.
"You… broke into Enies Lobby?!"
Hatchan stared at him in disbelief.
If he remembered correctly, that was one of the most important strongholds of the World Government.
Even he had only heard of it.
And yet the Straw Hat Pirates had stormed it?
"You guys are incredible…"
"Hahaha! I think so too!" Usopp laughed proudly.
"Bounty…" Chopper squatted down gloomily, drawing circles on the ground.
"Don't be sad, Chopper," Merry comforted him. "It'll go up next time. Look—I don't even have a bounty."
"Merry…"
Chopper looked at her with teary eyes.
She really knew how to comfort people!
Watching the two comforting each other, Nami sighed softly.
"A bounty… what's so good about it…"
If possible, she'd rather Chopper's bounty be hers.
That way, if bounty hunters came after them, she could just buy her own life.
At most, she'd pay double.
After all… it was just the price of a newspaper.
"So what are your bounties?" Camie asked curiously.
"Oh, around a billion or so."
"Eh?!!"
Camie's eyes bulged in shock as she stared at Jin.
"A… a billion?!"
That number completely stunned her—she had never seen that much money in her life.
"That high?"
Pappag was equally shocked.
No wonder he was so confident—someone with such a bounty must be terrifyingly strong.
"Yeah, don't you read the newspapers?"
"Not really…"
"I see," Jin nodded in understanding.
Thinking about it, their bounties had only been updated recently—not even half a month ago.
It made sense they hadn't heard.
After all, they weren't bounty hunters.
Watching the Straw Hat crew, their faces filled with confidence, Hatchan felt a wave of emotion.
Back when he had fought them, they didn't even have bounties.
And now… they had become this formidable.
They were truly no ordinary people.
Soon, under Merry's control, the Thousand Sunny arrived at the docking point of Grove 41.
After dropping anchor, everyone stepped onto the massive Sabaody Archipelago.
"Make sure you remember the grove number," Hatchan said. "As you saw, the trees are connected by bridges. As long as you remember the number, you won't get lost."
"Get lost…"
The group exchanged glances before turning in perfect sync to look at Zoro.
"…Even then, someone will probably still get lost."
"Definitely."
"Huh?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Seeing Zoro's clueless expression, Chopper and Usopp sighed.
"…Sigh."
"Hey! What was that for?!"
Why did they sigh just by looking at him?!
"It seems he doesn't realize the seriousness of the situation."
"Exactly."
"Hahahaha!"
Zoro looked completely baffled.
Shaking his head, he turned to Hatchan.
"Where is this person you mentioned?"
"If it's far, I'll stay behind to watch the ship."
"Don't worry, it's safe here," Hatchan said. "At least for now."
"We'll come back once we find him."
Although there were dangerous areas in Sabaody, Grove 41 was a civilian zone—trouble was unlikely.
Their ship would be safe.
"With Merry here, even if someone steals the ship, it's fine," Jin said.
"True. Speaking of which, Merry can even summon the ship from afar," Usopp said thoughtfully. "We just haven't had the chance to use it."
"Hm?"
Zoro glanced at him in confusion.
Since when could she do that?
But if it was true, then there was nothing to worry about.
"A ship spirit can do that too…?" Hatchan stared at Merry in shock.
This legendary existence was beyond anything he had imagined.
"I'm very amazing, you know!"
Merry puffed up proudly.
"That's right, our Merry is incredible~"
"Hahaha!"
Hearing her companions praise her, Merry grinned happily.
"Hey, look! There's a huge amusement park over there!!" Luffy pointed into the distance. "Let's ride the Ferris wheel!"
"Huh?"
Following his voice, Usopp looked up—
Only to see Luffy already standing high above them.
"Hey! When did you get up there?!"
"He jumped up using the bubbles," Jin said.
"So those bubbles are sturdier than I thought…"
"Hey everyone, let's go to the amusement park!" Chopper said excitedly. "Can we?!"
"What's an amusement park?" Merry asked.
"I heard it's a really fun place with lots of things to do!"
"Really? Then I want to go too!"
Merry's eyes sparkled—she had never been to such a place before.
"That's Sabaody Park," Camie explained. "It's a very famous amusement park here."
"Really? Does it have a Ferris wheel?"
"It does," Camie nodded, her expression turning slightly complicated. "I've always dreamed of riding it…"
"A… dream?"
Chopper looked at her in confusion.
Why was going to an amusement park a dream?
Wasn't it something you could just do?
"Idiot, don't say things like that, Camie," Pappag quickly said. "Don't forget what we are."
"…I know…"
Camie's mood dimmed, and she quietly walked ahead.
"What's wrong…"
"Can't we go?"
Chopper and Merry looked at her back, confused.
But seeing how down she was, they didn't dare ask.
At that moment—
The bubble beneath Luffy suddenly burst.
"Ah!!"
Boom!
He crashed straight down, leaving a crater in the ground.
"Eh?!"
"Are you okay, Luffy?!"
"Don't worry," Nami said calmly. "He's rubber—he won't die from a fall."
As if proving her right, Luffy climbed out of the crater, laughing.
"Hahaha! That was fun!"
"He's actually fine…"
Camie stared in shock.
From that height… and not even injured?
A rubber man—so he's a Devil Fruit user.
"Why did you fall?"
"The bubble popped."
Adjusting his hat, Luffy looked up.
"I wonder why it burst."
"You left the range of the Sabaody Archipelago," Hatchan explained. "These bubbles depend on the island's environment. Once you leave it, they pop."
"They pop? I think I went too high."
"If that's the case… what about the coating?" Franky asked.
"It's fine," Hatchan reassured him. "As long as the coater is skilled, the coating won't pop underwater—even outside this range."
"I see," Franky nodded.
"Everyone, we're about to enter the town," Hatchan said, glancing ahead. "Before that, there's something I need you to promise me."
"What is it?"
"Once we go inside, you might see World Nobles. No matter what—do not provoke them."
"World Nobles?"
Luffy tilted his head in confusion.
What kind of thing was that?
"They're the residents of the Holy Land, Mary Geoise," Robin explained.
Her expression turned unusually serious.
That alone made the others frown.
Anyone who could make Robin react like that… was no ordinary person.
"World Nobles…"
Jin frowned, immediately recalling what Pappag had said earlier—
That slave trading was legal.
Was it related to them?
"That's right," Hatchan said gravely. "You must promise me—no matter what you see, do not get into conflict with them."
"No matter what…?"
"Yes!"
"I'll say it again—no matter what happens, do not provoke them!"
"Even if someone is killed right in front of you… you must pretend you didn't see it!"
Hearing this, Merry and Chopper were visibly shaken.
"Is it really that serious…"
"It is!"
"So please—promise me."
Seeing his seriousness, Jin asked, "What happens if someone provokes them?"
"If you strike a World Noble, a Marine Admiral will be dispatched."
"A Marine Admiral?"
Jin was surprised.
People of that level… acting as bodyguards?
"Exactly," Hatchan said. "So please, remember what I said."
"…Admiral…"
Luffy's expression darkened.
If they attracted someone like that, his crew would be in danger.
"Is it Aokiji?"
"Not necessarily," Hatchan replied. "It could be Kizaru. It could be Akainu. It could be Aokiji."
"But no matter who it is… they're not someone you can afford to fight."
After all—
They were Marine Admirals.
Luffy fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"…Alright. I understand."
"As long as they don't mess with us, we won't do anything."
But if those so-called World Nobles dared to target the Straw Hat Pirates—
Even if an Admiral showed up, they wouldn't just sit and wait to be captured.
Hatchan nodded, his smile returning.
"Good… then let's go."
"I'll take you to our destination!"
"Yeah!"
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