The Sabaody Archipelago is an archipelago composed of mangrove branches, and it is not a complete piece itself.
However, as the endpoint of the first half of the Grand Line, it can be said to be quite prosperous, attracting visitors from all over the world almost every day with a variety of delicacies, beautiful women, and treasures that can be found here.
At the same time, here you can see high-ranking nobles, wealthy merchants, powerful masters, and various other professionals.
Nicholas still wore a black cloak and a whirlpool mask. This attire didn't attract much attention in the Sabaody Archipelago, a gathering place for people from all over the world, as everyone was accustomed to the diverse appearances.
Upon arriving at Sabaody, Nicholas chose to go to the hot springs first. After all, after a long sea voyage, it was a good idea to relax a bit.
In the hot springs, the perfect temperature relaxed every muscle in Nicholas's body, and with the help of the beautiful women beside him providing massages, he felt a bit drowsy.
Just as Nicholas was about to take a peeled grape handed to him by one of the beautiful women, the door of the hot springs suddenly opened. Then, a figure waved his hand to stop his followers behind him and respectfully approached Nicholas.
"Lord Nicholas!"
The man knelt by the edge of the hot spring and said respectfully.
"Oh, it's Bedeck. Do you want to join me in the hot spring?" Nicholas looked at Bedeck, who was kneeling there respectfully, and spoke.
"It would be my honor, Lord Nicholas."
Upon hearing Nicholas's words, Bedeck's face showed a flattering smile.
Since pledging allegiance to Nicholas, Bedeck's life had been getting better and better. Although his status and position had greatly improved, Bedeck did not become arrogant. He knew that his current status was entirely due to Nicholas's favor. With just a word from Nicholas, he could fall from the clouds back into the mud.
Therefore, in Bedeck's view, as long as he managed Nicholas well, he could deal with others as he pleased.
Seeing Bedeck's appearance, the several beautiful women beside Nicholas in the hot spring couldn't help but be stunned. Their work had some elements of color, and naturally, they were familiar with Bedeck, the newly risen big shot of the underground forces in the Sabaody Archipelago. They didn't expect this big shot to be so respectful to the young man in front of them.
Indeed, Nicholas looked like a 16 year old, not to mention, if the female Celestial Dragons knew about the effect of pure gold, they would probably go crazy. After all, the ability of pure gold to maintain eternal youth was fatally attractive to those elderly female Celestial Dragons.
It could be said that in the Sabaody Archipelago, you could see male Celestial Dragons who looked like old men, but you would definitely not see female Celestial Dragons who looked like old ladies. Aging made them unwilling to show their faces and instead hid in the sacred land of Mariejois, indulging in various pathological and depraved behaviors to satisfy their twisted hearts.
"Oh, Bedeck, how's the matter I asked you to pay attention to last time?" Nicholas leaned against the edge of the hot spring, enjoying the meticulous care, and asked Bedeck, who had just entered the hot spring.
"Lord Nicholas, that matter has some progress. Recently, a batch of good goods did arrive at HUMANSHOP, but we were a step too late. The slave you wanted had already been bought by the Celestial Dragons..."
"Oh?"
Nicholas turned his head to look at Bedeck.
Seeing Nicholas's gaze, Bedeck immediately explained, "But rest assured, Lord Nicholas, I am currently working on a solution. As you know, there is a custom among the Celestial Dragons to exchange slaves. I promise to bring that slave to you soon."
Although Bedeck didn't know why Nicholas singled out that slave, he didn't ask much. After years of wandering in the gray area, he knew very well that sometimes it was safer to know less.
"Well, I hope to see the person when I leave the Sabaody Archipelago."
"Rest assured, Lord Nicholas, I will definitely bring the person to you!"
After soaking in the hot spring, Nicholas parted ways with Bedeck. He still had some things to do, while Bedeck expressed that he would immediately work on bringing the person Nicholas needed to him as soon as possible.
On his way to the Bamboo Grove Bar, Nicholas passed by a square, where he saw a large crowd gathered around and continuously talking about something in the center.
And in the center of the crowd, an old man with white hair, wearing glasses and a scholar's hat, was passionately giving a speech to the people.
Interestingly, although the old man's speech was passionate and fluctuating, the people around him seemed uninterested. Their expressions were more like watching a monkey's performance in a circus.
"Have you carefully studied the history of this world?"
"As long as it has been traversed by predecessors, it is destined to leave traces. And these predecessors, in the process of exploring the world, have left us countless valuable treasures!"
"Culture, knowledge, great geographical discoveries, and even the islands continuously discovered in the sea—all of these are the precious treasures left to us by history. And what I have been pursuing is the history that belongs to us in the river of time, to re-present history to the world is the meaning of my existence."
The old man was very solemn, as if he was showing his belief to the crowd.
Nicholas originally planned to leave, as the old man's speech didn't seem interesting to him, but when he heard the sensitive word "history," he stopped.
"People, I want to tell you that according to my years of research, the current history is incomplete! It lacks a considerable part!"
"Although many people may have heard that we have a hundred years of spare history!"
"But I want to tell you, what we lack is not just that hundred years of history, but includes that hundred years and even thousands or tens of thousands of years of history!"
"According to the current historical documents, even if we add that hundred years of blank period, our history is still less than a thousand years. But is this reasonable? It is clearly unreasonable! Based on the traces I found in historical documents and historical relics, there was once a magnificent civilization on this sea before the World Government, an incomparably magnificent civilization!"
The old man's words caused the crowd to become more noisy. Some people were dumbfounded, some showed interest, and a few others suddenly changed their expressions and quietly retreated from the crowd and then left quietly.
Obviously, among these people, there were some clever ones. As long as they had a certain level of cultural knowledge and studied history a little, they would find the role the World Government played in the hundred years of blank period.
Now this old guy was obviously jumping around on the edge of death, only fools would continue to wait for death here.
Similarly, Nicholas narrowed his eyes and looked at the old man in the center.
This old guy is too bold!
Nicholas stood among the crowd, listening silently. He did not step forward to stop it.
The identity of this old man was not yet determined. Anyone who dared to study the hundred years of blank history of the world so boldly was definitely not simple.
Who knows if this old guy is fishing? After all, the World Government has done this kind of thing more than once or twice.
Although there are clever people in this world, there are obviously more foolish people who like to join in the fun.
Gradually, more and more people gathered around here, and as the old man's speech continued, they showed more interest. After all, gossip was very interesting to them, and joining in the fun was also one of the human habits.
"What exactly happened in that hundred years? Why does the World Government erase that hundred years of history?"
"Could it be because the World Government played some shady role during that hundred years of blank period?"
"Why can the World Noble Celestial Dragons enjoy such privileges above the common people? Is it really just because their ancestors, the twenty kings, made great contributions to the world?"
The old man's voice became louder, and the emotions of the crowd were also stirred up.
"What happened in that hundred years!"
"Tell us!"
"Could it be that something extraordinary happened during that hundred years of blank period?"