At the very center of the Arabasta Kingdom stood a high-tech city brimming with post-modern style.
Pedestrians moved along the streets from time to time.
Most people still wore Arabasta's traditional scarves and gauze wrappings, shielding themselves from the blazing sun overhead.
Yet quite a few others—dressed in wildly different, exotic styles—roamed freely through the city.
Hero City!
A magnificent metropolis built in just a single month.
All around it ran networks of conduits like living blood vessels, making the entire city appear as if it were alive.
To the east lay Alubarna, the capital of Arabasta.
To the west lay Ermita, the former home of the rebel army.
Both sides were massive oasis regions capable of sustaining millions of people.
Beneath Hero City flowed Arabasta's mother river.
Using Crocodile's power, the architects of the Goa Kingdom had forced the terrain at the river's center to sink deeply downward.
At the very heart of Arabasta, they formed an inclined seawater convection—like the ascending current that gathers toward Reverse Mountain.
The violently colliding currents surged upward through the city's special diversion systems, piercing the solid foundation of Hero City and forming a beautiful, majestic natural fountain at its very center.
Around the fountain, scattered droplets of water created an enormous watery curtain, shimmering with seven-colored light.
Countless visitors—regardless of their purpose—would stop beneath this breathtaking sight, resting for a moment to admire the unbelievable spectacle.
…
Noon.
Beneath the rainbow-colored veil, a group of more than a dozen people stood gazing up at the wondrous scene above.
Without realizing it, even Arabasta's harsh sunlight seemed to soften.
Even the fatigue from nearly a month of relentless travel quietly began to fade.
Upon hearing news of Luffy, the Night Hound Pirates had sailed day and night from the New World, finally reaching Arabasta's territory and arriving at the city named by Luffy himself.
"Brother Godia, should we go find Luffy-sama now?"
A burly blond youth carrying a cold, ink-black greatsword on his back suddenly asked the man in front of him.
From the opposite side, another equally burly black-haired youth replied:
"Do you even need to ask, Arthur!?
Don't you know how badly our Brother Godia wants Luffy-sama to see how much he's grown! Hahahahahaha—"
The black-haired youth burst into laughter, causing the ornate greatsword on his back—like a national treasure—to tremble violently along with his voice.
As soon as he finished speaking, Godia's face flushed bright red. He shot an embarrassed glare at Garen and shouted:
"W-What nonsense are you spouting, Garen!!!"
"Hahahahaha!!!"
"Alright, alright, I'll stop!!!"
Under Godia's glare, Garen waved his hands repeatedly and stepped back.
Godia turned around, his jet-black cloak whipping backward in one smooth motion as he said excitedly:
"Let's go! Time to see our benefactor!"
"Gentlemen, please wait a moment!"
Just as Godia's group was about to head toward the Hero Academy, a steady voice suddenly rang out.
Godia's body trembled faintly!
He slowly turned around and fixed his gaze on the one who had called out—
A blind man dressed in gray-white linen, wearing a long purple scarf and leaning on a cane, who was walking toward them at an unhurried pace.
Garen and Arthur, who knew Godia better than anyone, instantly turned as well.
Though they lacked Godia's sharp intuition, they could still tell from the change in his expression that this blind man was no ordinary person!
"Godia…"
Garen slowly placed a hand on the ornate sword on his back, his eyes heavy and sharp as a drawn blade, locked onto the newcomer.
Arthur, too, fixed his icy gaze on the blind man approaching them.
In that instant, the atmosphere froze solid.
Even the dreamy water curtain in the sky seemed to stop changing.
Just as the two looked ready to clash at any moment, Godia suddenly waved a large hand and let out a soft sigh:
"It's fine."
As he spoke, he made another gesture, signaling Garen and Arthur to put their weapons away.
By then, the blind man had already reached Godia's side.
A gentle breeze swept past, stirring the tails of Godia's coat and the blind man's long purple scarf.
"Greetings, young sirs. May I ask for directions?"
The blind man spoke calmly, as if nothing unusual had just occurred, addressing Godia lightly.
The corner of Godia's mouth lifted into a smile as he replied:
"Of course!"
Although he sensed an oppressive aura emanating from the blind man,
he could also clearly feel that the man bore no malice.
As expected of Luffy-sama's territory… even someone this terrifying can appear so casually.
The blind man tilted his head upward, his tightly shut eyes looking nothing like those of someone without sight.
As if he could see Godia's fearless gaze, the blind man suddenly smiled and spoke again in a measured tone:
"May I trouble you gentlemen to guide me to the legendary Hero Academy of this city?"
"Hero Academy?"
Godia murmured softly, then answered with certainty:
"Of course. We were heading there ourselves to meet an old acquaintance.
If you don't mind, you can come with us."
"In that case, I shall trouble you, young sirs."
"Hahaha! Not a problem…"
As he spoke, Godia extended his hand and said:
"Captain of the Night Hound Pirates—Godia."
Though the blind man could see nothing, he precisely sensed the outstretched right hand.
A broad, powerful palm clasped Godia's hand firmly!
"Fujitora Issho—just a blind man who enjoys gambling."
…
…
The northern edge of Hero City.
Beyond the city walls flowed a river rushing inward, while on both banks stretched endless yellow desert.
Even an unceasing supply of water could not save this desert, as though it were cursed by fate itself.
Fortunately, after adjustments made by Goa Kingdom equipment, towns not far from Hero City had begun to see high-strength alloy pipelines laid across the sands.
Endless streams of water were transported through these conduits to where they were needed most.
In the city's northern district, the area had been completely sealed off.
Because behind the barriers stood the Hero Academy—recently stirring massive waves across the seas.
Fujitora Issho and Godia came to a halt before the academy gates.