Through his conversation with Dragon, Nicholas received unexpected news.
The notorious pirate who escaped from Impel Down, the World Destroyer Byrndi Waldo, was killed on an unknown island in the East Blue.
Analyzing the battlefield, it was clear that the person who struck was a very powerful swordsman, as the remaining battle marks left many marines who investigated the scene apprehensive.
Nicholas easily guessed who did it. After all, if someone's wife was nearly lost, any man would be driven to rage.
However, Waldo was truly fierce. Although Windmill Village was just a small, insignificant place on the sea, it had powerful figures backing it: Roger, Garp, Dragon, and a certain one-armed man from the New World.
...
The Sabaody Archipelago is the necessary route for countless pirates heading to the New World.
Over time, the Sabaody Archipelago has developed its unique commercial system.
Usually, pirates who cause destruction on islands refrain from harming the Sabaody Archipelago. Instead, they bring vast wealth from the four seas and the first half of the Grand Line, contributing to the prosperity of the archipelago.
This phenomenon occurs because the Sabaody Archipelago not only has regular commercial areas but also an outlaw zone specifically for pirates and criminals to trade.
It is worth mentioning that after Doflamingo announced the Donquixote family's withdrawal from the slave trade on the Sabaody Archipelago, the slave trade business did not decline. Instead, it seemed to flourish even more.
After all, the slave trade is highly profitable. So, when the Donquixote family stepped back, other groups quickly filled the void.
The booming slave trade is mainly driven by the Celestial Dragons, who spend lavishly on their desired slaves. A high-quality slave chosen by a Celestial Dragon could bring enormous profits to the slave traders.
Consequently, many pirates arriving at the Sabaody Archipelago, if not wealthy enough, bring 'goods'—captives taken during their voyages.
In the lawless area of Sabaody, slaves are almost like walking currency, used to trade for various supplies.
In the bustling streets.
A woman wearing a hooded cloak was walking quickly.
The wide hood covered her cheeks, revealing only her alluring lips. She held a large piece of meat in her hand.
"This world is getting more disgusting."
The woman took a fierce bite of the meat, glancing at a group of pirates in the distance.
The pirates held chains attached to five well-dressed women with beautiful faces.
Their destination was a slave shop in the lawless area.
The pirates knew that the slaves' appearance would greatly affect their selling price.
The woman knew that in just a few minutes, these women would become the pirates' Beli.
She looked away indifferently. She could barely protect herself, let alone help others.
Not wanting to hear the pirates' disgusting voices, she quickly finished the meat and sped up her pace, heading in a different direction.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, after walking a distance, the woman turned around abruptly.
There, several figures stood.
The leading figure sighed as he restrained the women bound by chains.
"Sabaody has become more filthy."
A female swordsman with two swords at her waist moved quickly. Without any fancy techniques, she simply drew her sword. When she reappeared behind the pirates and sheathed her sword, the pirates, along with their weapons, were sliced in half.
"What a terrifying swordsman!"
"These guys aren't ordinary!"
"Let's get out of here."
The experienced onlookers quickly realized how formidable the newcomers were and fled.
The cloaked woman watched with a serious expression.
From that simple move, she knew these people were no ordinary foes.
"Who are these people?"
The woman under the cloak was astonished.
But she shook her head, deciding not to delve deeper.
Regardless of who they were, it had nothing to do with her.
"I must hurry to the New World..."
She shook her head and turned to leave.
Shoo—
At that moment, a blowdart shot towards her from the shadows.
The woman, highly alert, reacted instinctively to dodge.
But clearly, her physical skills were lacking.
In other words, her brain reacted, but her body couldn't keep up.
Thud!
The tiny dart accurately struck her neck.
"Did they catch up so quickly? What a bunch of jackals."
She pulled the dart from her neck, looking cautiously in the direction it came from.
From a chaotic slum emerged a group of people in white robes and masks.
Clearly, the original residents of those houses had met a grim fate.
Among the masked men, one held a blowgun, clearly the one who attacked.
"Ara, it's not easy to corner you, but... with my special three-day-three-night paralysis poison, you shouldn't be able to escape."
The man with the blowgun spoke in a slightly old male voice from behind his mask.
At the front of the group, a tall masked figure coldly looked at the woman below.
"Jewelry Bonney, your 'ability' is very important to the World Government. We can't let you roam freely."
"..."
The cloaked woman raised her head to the World Government's CP0 agents.
Realizing her identity was exposed, she stopped hiding and pulled off her hood.
She coldly looked at the CP0 agents, saying nothing.
She hadn't expected to be targeted by the World Government so soon after setting out to sea, all because of her ability.
Her Devil Fruit couldn't change someone's lifespan but could alter their physical state, such as restoring an old person to their prime. Though their lifespan remained unchanged, their physical condition was entirely different.
For the aging Celestial Dragons, her ability was extremely enticing.
They had immense power and wealth but old bodies that couldn't keep up with their desires. They wouldn't accept this fate.
To them, Bonney's Devil Fruit ability was a divine gift, greatly valued.