Kong's order spread through Headquarters like wildfire, and with it the photo of a calm, almost boyish face: Gilgamesh.
"Hey, did you see the Fleet Admiral's bulletin?"
"Of course I did. The whole of Marineford's buzzing."
"Who is this Gilgamesh? For the Fleet Admiral to care this much…"
"No idea. A Celestial Dragon?"
"Doesn't fit. Celestial Dragons use 'Saint' in their names. He doesn't."
"Then what is he?"
"Word is, his identity's so mysterious even the Fleet Admiral is wary…"
"Shh…"
Rumors multiplied by the hour. Before long, some joker claimed Gil was Kong's illegitimate son. When that one reached Kong's ears, he nearly coughed up blood.
Meanwhile, the man at the center of the storm lounged in Zephyr's mess hall, devouring lunch without a care.
"Gil," Zephyr called.
Gil turned, still chewing. "What's up, Uncle Zephyr?"
In a few days together, he'd found Zephyr easygoing; "Uncle" came naturally. He didn't even pause his eating as he listened.
"We've arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago. The ship needs resupply, and we'll hand the prisoners over to the local branch. You're not planning to stay aboard the whole time, are you?"
"Sabaody, huh?" Gil's eyes narrowed with interest. Anything beat that gods-forsaken Calm Belt—besides, with luck he might even glimpse a mermaid or two.
"We'll be in port for a bit," Zephyr said with a friendly smile. "If you want to look around, take some Beli. It's not much, but enough for a day's tour."
He handed Gil 8,000 Beli—small, but a gesture.
As they spoke, the warship eased into a Marine base harbor.
Sabaody Archipelago, also called the Soap Bubble Archipelago, sits before the Red Line in the middle of the Grand Line: a crossroads where the seven routes converge and one of two entrances to the New World. A vital maritime hub, it hosts a Marine base for good reason. Pirates, merchants, and bounty hunters throng its groves.
Gil knew the island's reputation: volatile, dangerous, and pivotal.
He pocketed the cash and strolled out of the base. Along the way, countless Marines stared—some in awe, some in fear. It puzzled him, but he didn't ask. He stepped beneath the shimmering bubbles of Sabaody and vanished into the crowd.
Chapter 11 – "Illegitimate Son?"
Sabaody is made of 79 numbered mangrove "islands," each a district with its own purpose:
1–29: Human shops and auctions; lawless quarters.
30–39: Soap Bubble Park and amusements.
40–49: Tourist zones and specialty markets.
50–59: Shipyards and coating craftsmen.
60–69: Marine presence and Government access points.
70–79: Hotel and lodging districts.
Gil had exited from No. 69.
To make his visit smoother, Zephyr even assigned Bastille as a guide—helpful, if not strictly necessary for someone who already knew the lay of the land.
As Bastille ran through the basics, Gil listened politely… but he'd memorized most of it long ago.