"This tree's range is really huge…" Usopp looked around. "We've been walking for so long and still haven't left its area."
"Otherwise, why would it be called a small island?" Hatchan laughed.
"How many years have these trees been alive?"
"No idea." Hatchan shook his head. "But definitely a very long time."
For an archipelago that had existed for so long, who knew how far back it went? As far as he could remember, it had always been here.
"For mangrove trees to grow this big… it must've taken at least a few hundred years," Jin said.
"Who knows."
"Hahaha, who cares about that?" Luffy laughed. "Hatchan, is there anything good to eat inside?"
"Ah, that?" Hatchan smiled. "We'll pass through the commercial district—of course there's food."
"A commercial district?"
Robin and Nami exchanged glances, then smiled in perfect sync.
Shopping was in a woman's nature—of course they wouldn't miss a place like that.
"Oh right—you must treat me and Camie as ordinary human beings," Hatchan said seriously. "Please remember this. We're not fish-men or mermaids."
"Why?" Luffy asked, confused.
"Luffy, did you forget about those guys trying to capture Camie earlier?" Jin said. "If their identities are exposed, they'll be targeted."
As he spoke, Jin glanced at Camie.
That was probably why she couldn't go to the amusement park.
In a place like that, full of all kinds of people, she could easily be taken by human traffickers.
Hearing this, Luffy paused, then nodded.
"…Got it."
"Good."
Hatchan let out a sigh of relief.
If their identities were exposed, countless people would set their sights on them.
Not only would it put them in danger, it would also drag the Straw Hats into trouble—something Hatchan didn't want.
Soon, they arrived at the commercial district.
"Wow, this place is so lively!"
Looking at the bustling streets filled with shops, Chopper was stunned.
"It really is a great place~"
"Hey, what's that?"
Luffy pointed at a nearby shop selling bubble vehicles.
"What's a bubble bike?"
"That's a special form of transportation unique to Sabaody," Hatchan explained with a smile. "Want to try it?"
"Yes! Yes!"
Luffy immediately dashed over.
Coming to a new place without trying its specialties would be a waste!
"Boss! One bubble bike, please!"
"Alright!"
"Excellent choice, customer!" the shop owner said with a sly smile. "My bubble bikes are top quality!"
"How do you use it?"
"First, get inside the bubble. Then place the bike inside, and you're good to go."
Following the instructions, Luffy tried squeezing himself into the bubble.
"That's right, just like that~" the owner said, grinning. "Keep going, customer."
Once Luffy got inside, the owner placed a bubble bike into it.
"Just pedal, and you'll move forward."
Luffy tried it—and it worked.
"Hahaha! This is so fun!"
"Hahaha, glad you like it."
As he spoke, the owner glanced at the rest of the group approaching, a glint flashing in his eyes.
Like he'd just spotted fat prey.
"This guy's treating us like easy targets," Jin said.
"Easy targets?"
Nami's eyes widened.
"No one takes advantage of me!"
She stormed forward, making the owner's eyelids twitch.
…These don't look like easy customers.
"How much is this?" Nami asked.
"Ah… buying one costs 10,000 Beli."
"10,000?!"
"Why don't you just rob us?!"
A wooden bike and a free bubble… worth 10,000?
That was basically daylight robbery!
…Robbery isn't even this fast, the owner thought.
If every customer bought one, he'd make money faster than robbing people.
He cleared his throat.
"If you don't want to buy, you can rent one—500 Beli per day."
"That's more like it," Nami snorted.
She clearly remembered Hatchan saying that once the bubbles left Sabaody, they would burst.
That meant these bubble bikes couldn't be used elsewhere.
Buying one for 10,000 Beli would be stupid.
"Renting is enough," Hatchan nodded. "Boss, four of them."
"Got it."
The owner immediately stopped pushing sales—he could tell Hatchan was a local.
Better not cause trouble.
"Why rent?" Luffy complained, riding back. "I want to buy one and take it with me!"
Hatchan: ???
Did he just explain all that for nothing?
"Didn't you listen?" Nami said. "Once you leave the island, the bubble bursts—just like what you saw earlier."
"Eh?!"
Luffy stared at her in shock.
"That's how it works?!"
"Then I won't buy it."
Soon, four bubble bikes were ready. Hatchan paid 2,500 Beli and led everyone away.
Looking back at the shop, Usopp said, "Even if it's 500 Beli to rent… what if people don't return them?"
Wouldn't that mean they get a free bike?
"Eh?"
Hatchan froze.
He had never even considered that.
Who rents something and doesn't return it?
"Never thought about it…" Usopp muttered.
"Maybe because the cost is low," Jin guessed.
"Wait—so even 500 Beli is profit?!" Chopper stared in shock.
"Yeah," Franky said, stroking his chin. "This thing isn't hard to make. If the materials are cheap, he's definitely making money."
Selling for 10,000 was huge profit.
Even renting for 500 wasn't a loss.
And if customers returned the bikes—he earned even more.
A guaranteed profit business.
Chopper: …
Was he just too naive?
"Not sure if that's true, but locals always return them," Hatchan said.
At least, he always did.
Though… he didn't use them often.
Most of the time, he just walked.
"With these, shopping will be much easier…" Sanji said, cigarette in his mouth.
He turned to Luffy.
"Luffy, you guys go find the coater with Hatchan. I need to buy supplies."
"We're running low."
Though they had a sea beast Jin defeated earlier, after the Thriller Bark incident, their supplies were running thin.
"Yeah, go ahead."
"I'll go too," Franky said. "I need cola."
He nodded to Luffy and drove off toward a street marked "Supply District."
"Camie, where's the clothing area?" Nami asked.
"Over there," Camie pointed toward Grove 30. "That's where they sell clothes."
"Got it." Nami smiled. "Luffy, we'll leave the coating to you~"
"Yeah."
Luffy immediately rushed toward the food stalls, eyes shining.
"Food!"
"Wow!"
Chopper and Merry followed, equally excited.
Nami sighed helplessly—Merry clearly wasn't interested in shopping.
"See you back on the ship."
"Be careful," Jin said.
"Don't worry—we know this island."
Nami waved without turning back, riding off with Robin.
"I'll go too—"
"Stop! What are you doing?!"
Usopp grabbed Zoro's leg before he could jump off.
"Idiot, what are you trying to do?!"
"You nearly made me faceplant!"
"You were about to go off alone, weren't you?!" Usopp said seriously.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Everything!" Usopp snapped. "If you get lost here, how are we supposed to find you?!"
Jin nodded in agreement.
"Zoro… think this through."
Zoro's sense of direction was disastrous.
He could probably get lost and end up at Fish-Man Island by himself.
"Idiot! There's no way I'd get lost!"
"Are you sure about that?"
"…Stare~"
Zoro: …
Seeing them both stare at him, Zoro twitched.
"You guys…"
Taking a deep breath, he pointed at a tree.
"I saw the number before we left. It was 1!"
With that crucial information—
How could he possibly get lost?
"Oh~"
"So smart," Usopp said.
"Hey!"
"Hahaha, then go ahead," Usopp waved. "If you can't find your way back, ask someone!"
"Tch, as if I'd get lost."
Zoro jumped off, checked his pocket money, and walked off.
"Let's hope he asks for directions…" Usopp sighed.
As for human traffickers?
Not his concern.
Who would dare mess with Zoro?
"They'll get cut down."
"Relax, he said he remembers the number," Jin said. "As long as he's not stupid, he'll find his way back."
"Let's go eat."
"Yeah!"
…
Meanwhile, not far away—
A Celestial Dragon, Charloss Saint, was in a rage.
"What are you idiots doing?!" she snapped at her guards. "You let him escape?!"
"My apologies, Lady Charloss—"
"Enough. I don't care."
She raised her gun.
"If you can't even guard a slave, what use are you?"
Bang!
She shot the guard without hesitation.
Blood sprayed as the man collapsed, barely breathing.
"Useless trash."
She had finally obtained that pirate captain slave from her father—
And now he escaped because of this idiot?
How could she not be furious?
She even kicked the dying guard.
The other guards watched silently.
This was normal.
Fail a Celestial Dragon—and you die.
"Let's go," Rosward Saint said. "We might still catch him."
"If he's still alive."
"He better be," Charloss sneered. "So I can kill him myself."
Meanwhile, the escaped slave—
A pirate captain—
ran desperately through the streets.
Only after turning another corner did he dare stop.
"Ha… ha…"
Seeing no pursuers, he sighed in relief.
"This damn collar…"
He tugged at it in desperation—but it wouldn't come off.
"I have to remove it… or I'll die…"
Turning to the crowd, he shouted:
"Someone help me! Take this collar off!!"
"Run! He's a slave—don't get involved!"
"I'm not trying to hurt you! Just remove it!"
"Even a hammer or pliers will do!"
"I have a family waiting for me—I can't die here!"
But no one helped.
Instead, they backed away in fear.
"What's going on?" Luffy asked, holding food.
"He's a slave…"
"A slave?"
Jin frowned.
"That collar… makes him one?"
"Yes," Hatchan said grimly. "If they try to escape—it explodes."
"Explodes?!"
Chopper and Merry trembled.
"Yes."
At that moment—
The collar began to emit a strange sound.
"That sound…"
"He's finished."
BOOM!
The collar exploded, covering the man in blood as he collapsed.
"I… gave up going to the New World…"
"Why… why me…"
He reached out weakly—
"I want to go home…"
Then—
He went still.
"…He's gone?"
"Yes," Hatchan said darkly. "On Sabaody… slaves aren't even considered human."
"…That's disgusting," Jin muttered.
"There's nothing we can do," Hatchan sighed.
At that moment—
"Hey… why are people kneeling?" Usopp asked.
Hatchan's face changed instantly.
"…What?!"
"Are Celestial Dragons here?!"
"Celestial Dragons?"
"The World Nobles," Pappag said. "That slave was probably theirs."
"…So he escaped from them?" Jin asked.
"Yes!" Hatchan panicked. "Quick—get off the bikes and kneel! Or they'll attack us!"
Even looking at them was considered disrespect.
"Bow to them?" Jin frowned in disgust.
"No."
"Please—I'm begging you!"
"Jin, just listen to him!"
"I said no."
Jin raised his hand.
"I'll hide us."
"Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique!"
The space around them twisted—
And they vanished.
To outsiders, nothing was there.
"Eh?"
"Wasn't someone just here?"
"Shut up! The Celestial Dragons are coming!"
"…Right!"
The man immediately lowered his head.
"…We actually disappeared?" Hatchan whispered.
"How?!"
"I used genjutsu," Jin said. "This technique creates a false environment, hiding us completely."
"To them, we don't exist."
"I see…!"
Hatchan stared in shock.
So this was the power of ninjas…
"They're here," Brook said.
Everyone fell silent.
"Hmph… what a fool," Charloss sneered at the dying slave.
"You could've lived obediently as my slave… yet you chose death."
She raised her gun again.
"Disgusting trash."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
She fired repeatedly—
Finishing him off.
Then smiled.
"…What a vile person," Jin muttered.
"Hey!" Luffy's eyes widened. "He was already dying!"
He tried to rush out—
But Hatchan grabbed him.
"I told you—don't interfere!"
"You want to summon an Admiral?!"
"…Admiral…"
Luffy stopped struggling.
"Just don't provoke them."
"Once they leave—we'll go."
Luffy fell silent.
"…Alright."
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