[2300 Words]
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While Elsama soared through the sky like a rocket, her sails billowing as if challenging the heavens themselves, she glided smoothly through the thick clouds, slicing through them like a dagger through the air. The sunlight glinted off her gleaming surface, bestowing an aura of strength and majesty.
The ship navigated between the clouds, where Ren, still on deck, felt as if he were surpassing the boundaries of the underworld. As the ship ascended higher, the view expanded, revealing a vast sea whose deep blue appeared as an endless mirage. Waves crashed below as if welcoming the flying vessel, while Elsama continued her tireless journey.
As she approached the Sabaody Archipelago, the outlines of the islands began to emerge from the clouds, like glowing lights in the darkness. The islands scattered like pearls in the ocean, with buildings and structures rising among them. Under Nami's guidance, Elsama made a wide turn, avoiding drawing attention, remaining at a safe altitude.
As the girls began to emerge from the portal one by one, Ren had planned to visit the Sabaody Archipelago before diving into Fish-Man Island, so he chose five girls to accompany him: Nami, Nojiko, Robin, Mikita, and Kalifa.
'This is still a group that will attract attention, but we can just disguise our appearance...' Ren thought as he watched the girls emerge, greeting him with smiles on their faces.
"Before we land, you need to wear this to conceal your identities." He produced six pieces of black clothing, distributing five to the girls while keeping one for himself. The garments were simple black cloaks with hoods, effective yet unassuming.
"Okay, Captain~!" Nojiko smiled as she donned her cloak, followed by the other girls doing the same.
Ren did likewise, then looked at the islands beneath him and activated his Observation Haki. In an instant, he felt the emotions of countless people—joy, sorrow, anger, hatred, despair, hope, and desire—every sensation a human, or rather, a living being could experience.
Through his eyes, he saw groups of pirates cautiously gathering in the ports, engaging in conversation while the lights of restaurants and cafés illuminated the evening. He also noticed a mix of the wealthy and the poor, navigating between towering trees, children playing as vendors called out their wares. The atmosphere was vibrant, piquing his curiosity.
"Let's go, Captain~! I can't wait to see this place." Mikita smiled and stood beside him, while the other girls nodded in agreement.
"Alright, but before we go, I need to share some information about the Sabaody Archipelago."
The Sabaody Archipelago is the last area in paradise, close to the Red Line. Although it's called an archipelago, it actually consists of a vast mangrove forest stretching across the middle of the ocean, with each tree in this forest acting as a small "island" inhabited by people. Due to its formation as a cluster of trees rather than a traditional island like those in the Grand Line, the Sabaody Archipelago lacks the magnetic pulling power that affects the positioning of ships.
Thanks to its proximity to the segment of the Red Line that delineates the first half of the Grand Line and the New World, Sabaody serves as a popular resting point for travelers of various kinds as they prepare to enter the New World. In addition to its unique environment and being a thriving commercial hub, the archipelago is also famous for the world nobles who visit it, as well as the thriving slave trade they support. Among the prominent slave hunting groups, the Rosy Life Riders stand out, headquartered several kilometers east of the area.
The Sabaody Archipelago consists of 79 groove, each with unique features. The upper grooves, such as those from 30 and above, are popular tourist spots filled with restaurants and recreational activities. In contrast, the lower grooves are notorious for their slave trade and pirate activities. The archipelago also features a human auction house on the first isles, where humans are sold for various purposes, making it a meeting point for nobles and traders. The Sabaody Archipelago is a vital starting point toward the New World.
"And we are going to the lower grooves, right, Captain?" After absorbing all the information, Robin asked calmly.
"That's correct, especially to groove 13. There's someone interesting there!"
Just after Ren spoke, he donned his hooded cloak and jumped from Elsama, leaving behind a few words: "If you want to explore the Sabaody Archipelago, feel free to go. Anyone who wants to follow me, come along, but don't forget, we'll all meet at groove 13 in an hour!"
*Whoosh!*
Ren vanished as he plummeted from the sky, and in the next moment, another figure shot out behind him.
Mikita leaped from the ship, sprouting paper wings from her back that magically pierced through her cloak, then soared toward Ren: "Wait for me, Captain~!"
The remaining girls were left speechless, but Robin soon spoke up, "I'm curious about the giant trees below. Who wants to join me in exploring them?"
"I'll be with Captain Ren; it's my duty as his secretary," Kalifa replied calmly. In the next moment, she activated her Moonwalk technique, swiftly following Ren, leaving the group behind.
"And what about you all?" Robin looked at the sisters, Nami and Nojiko, hoping they wouldn't refuse her invitation.
When she noticed Robin's gloomy expression, they felt it would be wrong to decline her. Reluctantly, they stood up. Robin smiled brightly, easing the tension in the atmosphere.
...
Far from the Sabaody Archipelago, in the endless blue sea, a certain naval ship sailed quietly, anchored in hope of facing the unknown.
"Hina-san, may I ask you something?"
A soft voice echoed in the captain's quarters of the ship heading into the unknown. In the captain's office, Tashigi looked at Hina seriously.
"Tashigi? Ask Hina anything," Hina replied, exhaling a puff of cigarette smoke while looking at Tashigi with kindness, ready to answer her questions.
Tashigi took a deep breath, trying to act as if she were nervous, then spoke with determination, "Your previous meeting with Vice Admiral Garp... was it about the Warlord Black Death?"
Hina sighed, knowing Tashigi was still preoccupied with her "revenge." "That's right. I discussed with Garp-san how to strip Black Death of his status as a Warlord."
Tashigi's expression lit up with joy, but inside, she was shocked. She didn't know how to process the news. However, she knew she couldn't show any signs of her confusion. She smiled and replied, "That's great! If he loses his Warlord status, we can avenge Smoker-san! So... were there any good outcomes? Any useful ideas?"
*Huff...*
Hina exhaled a large cloud of cigarette smoke, gazing out at the blue sea from the window as she contemplated what to say. "Garp-san told Hina that it's not that simple…"
Before Tashigi could respond, Hina continued, "If he were just a low-level Warlord without significant influence or power, like Moria who fell, things wouldn't be so complicated… But Black Death, his sheer power is a problem, not to mention the abilities of his crew members, and no one knows how many there are or if there are any hidden forces."
Hina flicked away her finished cigarette and grabbed another, lighting it under Tashigi's attentive gaze.
*Huff...*
"Hina believes that to convince the World Government to withdraw a deterrent force against pirates like the Sin Crew, Hina must provoke a significant event… an event so condemned that the World Government will have no choice but to strip him of his status and send a powerful individual to subdue him!"
"And the person who will be sent is...?" Tashigi asked, her eyes hiding strange thoughts.
"That's right, it will be Garp-san, but… we must first strip him of his status… Ah, this is tough! Hina just wants to rest!" Hina complained, taking a deep drag from her cigarette.
"If I may ask, Hina-san? Did Vice Admiral Garp tell you where he is going?" Tashigi inquired cautiously, hoping her words wouldn't sound suspicious.
Hina didn't think long before replying, removing the cigarette from her mouth, "He has gone to the East Blue for a long vacation."
"I understand, Hina-san! If there's anything I can do, just let me know!" Tashigi nodded seriously and excused herself, claiming she would return to training.
'This is dangerous! I must inform the captain about this!'
...
At the same time, in the vast sea as usual, a naval ship sailed swiftly toward its destination without stopping.
What distinguished this ship was the dog head emblem painted on its sails, making any informed pirate tremble and change course to avoid encountering the captain of this ship.
Currently, inside one of the ship's rooms, specifically in the captain's cabin, an interesting scene was unfolding.
"Y-You say Ace is...dead?" A trembling voice filled with panic came from the young man with black hair and a straw hat, Luffy.
"That's right... I couldn't prevent it... I couldn't stop it..." Garp muttered with a bitter expression as he looked at his grandson, Luffy, who was still grappling with the shock of losing his crew members. Then, more sorrowful news struck him: the death of his brother Ace.
"T-This can't be true... It can't happen!!" Luffy shouted, rising from his seat, attempting to leave the room, but Garp restrained him, looking at him sternly.
"Ace is gone! You must accept this! This was the path he chose, Luffy! You would have become like him if I hadn't locked you up here…" Garp shouted with a fierce tone, anger resonating in his voice.
Luffy was about to scream and resist, but his tear-stained face froze when he saw the tears streaming down his grandfather's face.
Throughout his 17-year life, Luffy had never seen his grandfather cry. This was the first time he discovered the sad side of his usually cheerful and irritating grandfather, deepening the pain in his heart in an indescribable way.
Garp was crying silently, his face expressing deep sorrow as he looked at his grandson, continuing to speak: "You and Ace, both of you are foolish and reckless... but you don't deserve to die!"
"Ah... Grandpa... Ace... he's really gone, isn't he?" Luffy's tone, once filled with anger, shifted to profound despair as he looked at his sad grandfather. He realized that what he had previously thought was not just nonsense. Perhaps he knew that his grandfather was genuinely serious, but his mind forced him to reject this reality. And seeing his grandfather surrender to his grief, he thought, maybe... maybe it's okay to mourn and break down here, isn't it?
"Yes... Ace is gone! And I don't want you to leave too... I have no family left since your foolish father ran off to become a revolutionary! You damn idiot!" Garp's words were laced with curses, yet they were filled with affection for his only grandson.
Luffy looked at Garp with tear-filled eyes, not focusing on his words about his father; even if he heard them, he wouldn't care in such a situation.
*Weeping*
*Weeping*
"Ace..."
"Ace!!!" Luffy screamed, beginning to show signs of instability, prompting Garp to bring him back to reality with a painful slap.
"Stop being pathetic! You idiot!" Garp roared, looking at his grandson with a weary expression. "Ace is dead, yes, but that doesn't mean it's the end of the world! Instead of drowning in your sorrow, get up, start training, and become stronger! Strong enough to make those who killed your friends and caused your brother's death pay the price!"
"Stop crying like a child and get up, Luffy! Stop being pathetic!"
Garp's shouts echoed throughout the ship, causing the crew to feel terrified of approaching Garp's furious room.
But the truth was that Garp was not just angry; he was angry and sad, furious at himself for his weakness and helplessness. The Marine hero? That was nonsense; he was just an old man who couldn't do anything while his grandson was executed, the child he watched grow up to become a man.
"I... I..." Luffy cried, his tears streaming onto the floor, remembering what had happened before his nightmare began, that battle against the man with blue hair.
Slowly but surely, Luffy realized what had happened to him and who was the cause of his nightmare.
....
Back at Sabaody Archipelago.
In the quiet streets of Grove 13, three figures in black cloaks walked by, ignoring the greedy and harsh stares of the pirates that seemed to gaze at them with great interest.
"Shall I clean them up?" A feminine voice came from the shortest figure, seemingly waiting for a response from the taller one, obscured by the black cloak.
"Do it quickly."
When she was given the green light, Mikita did not hesitate. White sheets erupted from her concealed body beneath the cloak, hundreds of white sheets fluttering in the air, forming numerous white blades that flew in different directions.
"Ah! What is this?!"
"Ugh! Damn, my hand!!"
"What the hell is happening?! This--"
"Our captain is dead! Run for your liv--"
"Damn it, I knew something was wrong with these peop--"
"Ahhh!!"
As the paper blades shot towards their designated locations, cries and wails echoed from the dark alleyways.
Dozens of pirates were cut to pieces in mere seconds, their severed hands, legs, and necks bearing witness to the previous massacre, while the ground turned red from the tainted blood spilled from the slain corpses. It seemed as if Mother Nature mourned for having to drink the filthy blood of the pirates.
*Thud Thud*
*Thud Thud*
*Splat Splat!*
Light raindrops began to fall from the sky, quickly intensifying, washing the fresh blood away to an unknown place.
Fortunately, Kalifa, Mikita, and Ren had left the area a while ago, so their cloaks wouldn't get wet.
"This is our destination..."
Ren stared at the tavern a few dozen meters away, then saw the sign boldly written:
Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
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To be continued...
AN/:As always, no chapter in Sunday.