"Give the order to the crew to avoid trouble as much as possible, but if something happens, don't back down. Stay on high alert," Rosen said, addressing Daz Bones. "I've been feeling like there are a lot of eyes watching from the shadows. I hope it's just my imagination, but remember to return to the Dawn before evening."
Although Rosen could sense it vaguely, without the use of Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), he couldn't pinpoint where these hidden observers were. However, even if he could find them, there was no need to engage. After all, it was common for the Seven Warlords of the Sea to be in the spotlight wherever they went, and Rosen would likely need to get used to it in the future.
Daz Bones nodded and halted, passing Rosen's message on to the rest of the crew. The other group, led by Nico Robin, was in charge of procurement, but they would also take some time to explore the island's sights. Rosen didn't feel the need to address the personal lives of some of the male crew members—after all, everyone was an adult, and there were some things that didn't need to be spelled out.
The little sea cow was taken away by Robin, who exchanged a parting look with Rosen. Its resentful little eyes made Rosen chuckle, but the creature's combat ability was still solid, so it would be well taken care of by Robin.
Upon reaching land, they naturally sought out a good meal to sample the local specialties. Rosen casually picked up a local guide map and quickly understood the layout of the island. The island's horizontal diameter was around 25 kilometers, and its vertical length about 12 kilometers—not particularly large but certainly not small either. The main areas of the island were: the Manor District, the Uninhabitable District, the Civilian District, and the Harbor District.
Currently, Rosen and the others were in the Harbor District. The Manor District was the most prosperous area, centered around three famous wineries. Situated between the mountains and the sea, the area featured towering skyscrapers at the base or on the slopes of the mountains, as well as renowned hot spring inns and business districts dedicated to ensuring the safety of merchants.
This area catered to merchants from all over the world, and the wines of the island were divided into three quality levels: Good, Superior, and Top-notch. There were no categories like "average" or "acceptable" here, which is what made the wines famous worldwide.
The Uninhabitable District, on the other hand, was a hideout for thieves, pirates, and other wanted criminals. Once a forsaken ruin, this place was avoided by most people, and the Marines also chose to ignore it. In this world, criminals were rampant, and it was impossible to fully eradicate them. Besides, the ruins were vast and labyrinthine, making a complete sweep ineffective. As long as the criminals didn't cause a ruckus, the Marines generally wouldn't intervene.
The Civilian District surrounded the Manor District and was where the native islanders lived. But it was the Harbor District that was the most chaotic. During the day, the thugs and pirates from the Uninhabitable District would come here to cause trouble. While the Uninhabitable District was merely a hideout, the Harbor District was where the line between good and evil blurred, a complete zone of disorder.
The Harbor District wasn't just a small port area, but rather the entire coastal zone that wrapped around the island—an entire commercial circle. The island's structure could be represented as concentric circles: the Manor District in the center, surrounded by the Civilian District, and then the Harbor District on the outermost ring. The Uninhabitable District was smaller, like a village nestled between the Civilian District and the Harbor District.
The bustling port area was densely packed with businesses. Wooden shops were everywhere, and stone-built two or three-story wooden houses also stood. The air was thick with mixed smells, causing an unpleasant sensation in the stomach. Seafood vendors, blacksmiths forging weapons, sellers of liquor, dried goods, and even black-market fight arenas filled the area.
As they walked through narrow alleys, Rosen could hear the sounds of happy exchanges coming from small rooms, where a few good-looking women were entertaining customers. In another corner, some children, no older than beggars, were relieving themselves in the streets.
The variety of sounds and smells mingled together, creating an overwhelming atmosphere that Rosen found hard to tolerate. He saw thieves with knives and guns bullying people, as well as Marines in plain clothes, still carrying an air of authority, visiting small brothels. The shouting and occasional brawls from the gambling halls stirred up excitement among the onlookers.
Chaos was the best word to describe this era. Rosen had never witnessed such an unclear distinction between right and wrong. Back in Alabasta, he never felt this kind of confusion because the areas around him were well-governed. But now, in this disorderly world, the feeling was completely different.
Rosen frowned, feeling overwhelmed by the overwhelming odors, while Daz Bones and the others seemed to adapt quickly. For them, perhaps, this was just another day in their life.
Eventually, the three of them found a tavern that seemed decent enough and decided to sit down for a meal. If you came to a place like the "Wine Capital," you had to try the local delicacies—after all, the food on the ship was rather repetitive and only designed for convenience and high energy.
The tavern owner noticed them as soon as they entered, and his face turned pale. He had a lot of nerve—after all, he owned a tavern that allowed any type of person to walk in. But to serve the Seven Warlords of the Sea? This was a first for him. He had often handed out bounty notices to bounty hunters and sold information to pirates, but facing a Warlord, he knew better than to make a mistake.
"The specialty dishes here include sea beast meat, pan-fried frozen swordfish, and pearl rice. What would you like to try?" the tavern owner asked nervously.
Daz Bones, skilled in dealing with people like this, calmly responded, "Bring us some specialty dishes and good wine, and also some pirate information about this island." His past as a killer and bounty hunter in the West Blue had made him all too familiar with the hidden rules of such places.
The owner hesitated for a moment. "We don't have any top-tier wine right now... Would you mind settling for our superior-quality wine instead?"
Daz Bones gave him an unfazed look, which made the tavern owner break into a cold sweat. He feared the wrath of one of the Seven Warlords. Many pirates had made a scene recently when they couldn't get the top-quality wine, but he had always managed to handle those situations. However, dealing with one of the Seven Warlords was another matter entirely.
Mr. 5 slammed his hand on the table. He had been looking forward to the top-tier wine, but hearing it was out of stock immediately soured his mood. "You're telling me that we can't get the best wine? Do you have a problem with us?" he growled, anger flashing in his eyes.
(End of Chapter)