Chapter 118 - 6

Chapter 208"Are you really okay?"Luffy came and sat down beside Nami, who was sitting alone by the orange grove."This kind of thing is harder to accept than I imagined."Nami's voice was a little ethereal as she leaned her head gently on his sturdy shoulder, feeling the reassuring warmth:"But, it's because you all are here."She looked up, met Luffy's concerned gaze, then glanced around at her laughing companions on the deck, a gentle smile appearing on her face.She remembered that day again.Luffy placed his most important Straw Hat on her head, then, with an unstoppable momentum, completely destroyed Arlong Park, which had imprisoned her for years, along with Arlongs Crew's ambitions."If anything happens, you must tell me," Luffy said seriously.Nami smiled, a hint of slyness flashing in her eyes.She secretly glanced to the side; everyone seemed to be immersed in the delicious takoyaki and the joy of the party, with no one paying attention to them."I actually do have something."She took a deep breath and suddenly leaned closer to Luffy."What is it?"Luffy thought she was going to whisper something and just turned his head when Nami's soft lips pressed against his, silencing his unspoken words.It carried a hint of takoyaki sauce and Nami's unique sweet scent.Luffy was stunned.Immediately after, he felt something small, warm, and elastic being passed into his mouth.Was it a whole takoyaki?He instinctively swallowed, gulping down the takoyaki.There had been many ambiguous moments before, but ambiguity was just ambiguity; it hadn't been expressed. This time, Nami was a bit impulsive, but she had extra courage.Nami pulled back slightly, her cheeks flushed like the evening glow in the sky. She stuck out her small tongue, her eyes moist and a little shy, and whispered softly:"Was the takoyaki delicious?"Luffy looked at her delicate face so close, feeling the lingering warm touch on his lips and the aftertaste still in his mouth. He cleared his throat lightly and answered honestly:"Delicious."It was sweet.Chapter 296 Dark King Rayleigh?After a light rain passed through the gloomy, thundering sky, the sun emerged, its golden rays piercing through the lingering dark clouds, dyeing the sea surface with shattered gold.The sea ahead was dazzlingly bright, and the oppressive atmosphere of the past few days seemed to have been largely dispelled by the sunlight."So beautiful,"Nami stretched as she walked out of the cabin, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She was immediately drawn to the distant sight. "Everyone, look! I think we've arrived!"Camie and her group had been sailing for a while and finally reached their destination.At the edge of their vision, there was no longer an endless horizon, but rather a peculiar landscape composed of countless giant trees, stretching as far as the eye could see.These trees were unimaginably tall, with lush canopies and thick trunks. From a distance, they looked like a forest kingdom floating on the sea.Sabaody Archipelago is not an island in the traditional sense on the Grand Line.As everyone knows, navigation relies on magnetic pointers to travel from one island to the next.However, Sabaody Archipelago has no fixed magnetic bearing, much like a sudden, isolated island that might appear during a voyage.But the shipping lanes to and from Sabaody Archipelago are extremely busy.This is because ships that can sail to this location have usually fully charged their magnetic pointers for Fish-Man Island at the previous island.Sabaody Archipelago is located right next to the Red Line, naturally very close to the entrance of Fish-Man Island.When Navigators cannot find the exact location of Fish-Man Island in the nearby sea, they often instinctively correct their course to the left and then arrive at Sabaody Archipelago.As for why not to the right?Any Navigator with even a little common sense knows that to the right are Marineford, Enies Lobby, and the World Government's core Holy Land Mary Geoise.Once mistakenly entered, the Marines won't care if you're a pirate or a merchant ship; you won't get out of a military restricted area without losing a layer of skin.Moreover, Luffy and his crew currently have their friends Hachi, Camie, and Papyg leading the way.When Hachi learned that Luffy and his crew were looking for someone named Rayleigh, he immediately volunteered to help them.Because Hachi vaguely felt that the Rayleigh on Sabaody Archipelago was very likely the one he knew.He was Rayleigh's lifesaver."Leave it to me! Although Sabaody Archipelagoisn't very friendly to Fishmen, I occasionally disguise myself and go ashore, so I'm quite familiar with this place!" Hachi guaranteed, patting his chest.During the final stretch of the voyage, Hachi took the opportunity to give the Straw Hat crew a basic overview of Sabaody Archipelago."To enter the New World, there are only two paths. One is to obtain permission from the World Government and cross the Holy Land Mary Geoiseat the top of the Red Line, but that's basically impossible for us. The other is the choice of most pirates: passing through Fish-Man Island, located ten thousand meters underwater! And to make a ship capable of withstanding the immense water pressure of ten thousand meters deep, you must coat the hull with a special resin bubble film on Sabaody Archipelago! Rayleigh is one of the best coating craftsmen on the island."Hachi was dedicated to the Straw Hat crew, mainly, of course, because he wanted to atone for his sins."Well, we'll talk about Fish-Man Island later."Luffy smiled, looking towards Sabaody Archipelago, "We should be able to stay there for a while.""Of course, it's a mixed bag of people there anyway," Hachi said.Coating also takes time. Hachi didn't know how long the Straw Hat crew planned to stay, but if they stayed for a long time on Sabaody Archipelago, they absolutely had to pay attention to one crucial thing."You must be careful. Sabaody Archipelago is also a gathering place for all pirates in the first half of the Grand Line, known as the 'Pirate Bottleneck'.It's a chaotic place, full of pirates, as well as a large number of bounty hunters eager to get rich overnight, lawless criminal gangs, and the most detested human traffickers and slave traders! It's extremely disorderly!" Hachi said.Especially with the rampant slave trade, there are many slave auction houses, and Celestial Dragons, the World Nobles, also appear from time to time.When Hachi saved Rayleigh as a child, Shakky also said that Rayleigh occasionally sold himself into slave auction houses to make some money... This couple was so in sync in that regard.At this moment, Bonney, who had been listening silently, finally couldn't help but interrupt."Wait, the Rayleigh you keep mentioning, he's not who I think he is, is he?" Bonney asked."Which one?"Luffy looked at Bonney and said frankly, "Kuma told me to find Rayleigh for help, saying he might have a solution.""That name belongs to that legendary great figure!"Bonney said, somewhat exasperated, "How can you all not know anything?"Hachi scratched his head and said, "Rayleigh and Shakky used to be pirates, famous big figures too."Bonney's face showed an expression of disbelief. "Indeed, that Rayleigh is the one I'm thinking of, isn't he? Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh?"Having been a pirate and a great figure, and someone her father Bartholomew Kuma solemnly recommended, it was almost certain!"That name sounds a bit familiar," Luffy mused."Of course it sounds familiar! That's the legendary right-hand man of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger, the Vice-Captain of the Roger Pirates, Dark King Rayleigh!" Bonney exclaimed excitedly."He's still alive, and he's on this island?"The Straw Hat crew had no idea that Hachi actually knew such a prominent figure."The Pirate King's Vice-Captain? Then we really must meet him," Luffy said.However, he remembered that the first time he heard the name Rayleigh wasn't from Kuma, but from Shanks, who often mentioned the name when drunk.Just as they were talking, the thousand sunny had slowly sailed to the edge of Sabaody Archipelago.Seen up close, the sight was even more astonishing.It was not an ordinary island made of soil and rocks, but a unique land formed by the trunks and tangled roots of the world's largest mangrove trees, known as yarukiman mangrove.The trees were as tall as mountains, their root systems covered with thick moss and ferns, exuding an ancient and damp aura.The entire island was filled with a dreamy green hue."So beautiful."Nami couldn't help but exclaim as she gazed at this wondrous sight.Sunlight filtered through the giant canopies, casting dappled shadows on the moss-covered ground. Bubbles of various sizes, produced by the breathing of the tree roots, floated in the air, refracting colorful light."What's that? Bubbles? Bubbles are constantly rising from the trees!"Usopp pointed at the bubbles drifting in the wind, his mouth wide open in surprise."It's a bit too dreamy." Even Sanji temporarily snapped out of his mermaid fantasies, captivated by the strange scenery.Everyone felt it was incredible.Chapter 297 Luffy's Haoshoku is Getting More TerrifyingCamie swam to the side of the ship and enthusiastically introduced, "This is Sabaody Archipelago! The entire island is actually composed of 79 of these yarukiman mangrove, and each tree has a number! Look at the one in front, it says 44GR, which means Zone 44."She pointed ahead and said, "We are currently approaching 44GR, which is the civilian port. The entire archipelago is divided into different zones according to their numbers, each with different functions. Because the area is so vast, some places are even beyond the World Government's jurisdiction, such as the central areas from 1 to 29GR, which are called the Lawless Zone, where many dangerous individuals, bounty hunters, human traffickers, and underground forces operate.""Bounty hunters?"Luffy heard this and chuckled, elbowing Zorobeside him. "Hey, Zoro, you used to be in the same line of work!""Ah, that sounds a bit interesting," Zoro said with a laugh, crossing his arms.He went to sea to be a bounty hunter, but before long, Luffy pulled him onto the ship to be a pirate."The bounty hunters here aren't all law-abiding guys; many also moonlight as robbers and human traffickers. Pirates are openly priced prey here, so everyone must be careful," Hachi added.The entrance to Sabaody Archipelago, the shore of 44GR, gradually became clearer. They could already see some docked ships and bustling figures on the shore.Hachi took a deep breath and very solemnly turned to Luffy and the others, his expression more serious than ever: "Luffy, Nami, everyone... There's something I must implore you to promise me!"Seeing his solemnity, everyone put away their smiles and looked at him."Once you enter the town, you might encounter Celestial Dragons, the World Nobles! No matter what happens, please, please, do not get into a conflict with them! Even if, even if someone is killed in front of you by them, please pretend you didn't see it!" Hachi said in a deep voice.Luffy's smile vanished.Celestial Dragons?"Why?" he asked calmly."Because they are Celestial Dragons! They are the noblest beings in this world! If you offend them, or even just show the slightest resistance, an Admiralfrom the nearby Marine Headquarters will immediately be dispatched! No one can withstand an Admiral's wrath!" Hachi's voice carried a hint of imperceptible fear.Everyone on Sabaody Archipelago had witnessed the terrifying acts of those Celestial Dragons, but no one dared to strike back at them."The noblest beings?""Yes.""Meaning they are very important to the World Government?"Hachi nodded subconsciously: "Yes, very important! The Celestial Dragons are the descendants of the twenty kings who founded the World Government; they are gods!"Luffy nodded thoughtfully, not pressing further.He didn't care about whether they were gods or not.But the news that they were very important to the World Government was significant to him.Comparing them, it seemed Celestial Dragonswere even more important than Marine Admirals?But from Hachi's words, these guys' power couldn't even compare to a single hair of a Marine Admiral.If that's the case... then they really shouldn't cross my path.After docking, everyone quickly divided their tasks.There were still large amounts of treasure from Moriah and that conspicuous golden giant monument on the ship; someone had to stay behind to guard it.After discussion, the main combat forces Sanji and Zoro, along with Brook, who could handle various situations, stayed behind to guard the ship.Franky and Usopp also temporarily remained on board, responsible for checking and replenishing the thousand sunny's power system and various equipment.Just after Nami carefully instructed the remaining crew members about precautions and left.