Chapter 183 - 183

The Sabaody Archipelago.

Located near Marine Headquarters, it was formed around the world's largest mangrove tree, the Yarukiman Mangrove. Because its roots were always exposed above the sea, each massive root became an island of its own.

The entire archipelago was made up of seventy-nine numbered groves. Towns, shops, and facilities were built upon each one, and together, those seventy-nine groves formed the Sabaody Archipelago.

The divisions were clear.

Groves 1 to 29 were lawless areas, filled with human auction houses and other illegal businesses.

Groves 30 to 39 were amusement park zones.

Groves 40 to 49 were sightseeing areas lined with souvenir shops.

Groves 50 to 59 were shipyards where coating craftsmen gathered.

Groves 60 to 69 were the entrance and exit points for the Marines and the World Government.

Groves 70 to 79 were hotel streets and similar districts.

The greatest feature of Sabaody was the special natural resin secreted by the Yarukiman Mangrove's roots. When that resin mixed with air, it expanded into bubbles and floated into the sky.

Because those bubbles could only exist within Sabaody's unique climate, once they left the archipelago's climate zone, the resin lost its effect.

Bubble cars, bubble Ferris wheels, houses built on bubbles...

Bubble culture filled every corner of Sabaody.

And because this was the final stop before entering the New World, pirates, merchants, bounty hunters, and all kinds of dangerous people gathered here.

In the past two days, the island had become especially lively.

Eleven Supernovas had appeared on Sabaody at the same time.

It was a rare spectacle.

But even they had to keep their heads down here.

After all, Marine Headquarters was far too close.

Worse still, World Nobles—the Celestial Dragons—were also present on the island.

Namikaze Kirito arrived at Sabaody after a short voyage on the ship he had "borrowed" from a group of pirates.

Along the way, he had also "disposed of" the treasure they carried.

He had to admit it.

Pirates were a profitable profession.

Even an unknown little pirate crew had enough wealth to let an ordinary person live comfortably for a lifetime.

Of course, since they had been the ones to provoke him first, Kirito felt no guilt over taking it.

Since he had decided to enjoy this world, how could he possibly travel without money?

Standing on the ground of the Sabaody Archipelago, Kirito breathed in the sea-scented air and looked at the bustling groves around him.

In terms of scenery, this place was far more colorful than the shinobi world.

Since he had come here, there was naturally one place he had to visit first.

Shakky's Rip-off Bar.

Whether he wanted to gather information or make contact with the protagonist's group, that place was the best starting point.

Shakky's bar was located in Grove 13.

With his knowledge of the original plot, Kirito found it without much effort.

The moment he arrived, his Observation Haki spread out silently.

"Looks like they're really here…"

An unreadable smile appeared on Kirito's face as he pushed open the door.

Inside Shakky's bar, the man known as the Strawhat, Monkey D. Luffy, was feasting without a care in the world.

Beside him were Brook and Chopper, along with the talking starfish, the mermaid Camie, and the octopus fish-man Hatchan.

The group was chatting and laughing.

When the door opened, Shakky turned with her usual smile.

"Sorry, customer. We're closed for today—"

Her words stopped halfway.

The moment her eyes landed on Namikaze Kirito, a faint seriousness flashed through them.

Shakky had once been the empress of Amazon Lily and a well-known pirate herself. Even after retirement, her instincts and perception had not dulled.

Otherwise, she would never have been able to work as an information broker.

The moment she saw Kirito clearly, she understood.

This young man was dangerous.

That feeling...

She had only sensed it from people like Rayleigh, and from the Marine hero Garp, who had chased her in the past.

"Rip-off Bar, right?" Kirito said calmly. "Then give me a glass worth one hundred thousand berries."

As he spoke, he walked straight to the counter and sat down.

Luffy, who was sitting nearby, glanced at him once.

Then he immediately went back to stuffing food into his mouth.

Kirito looked at him and smiled faintly.

"Monkey D. Luffy?"

Luffy, still chewing a mouthful of meat, turned his head again when he heard his name.

"Hmm?"

He blinked at Kirito with confusion.

"Who're you?"

"I'm just a traveler," Kirito replied. "I've heard a few stories about you. You seem like an interesting person."

Luffy stared at him for a second.

Then he tilted his head.

"Don't really get it."

A moment later, he grinned and went right back to eating.

"Well, whatever! I'm still hungry!"

Brook quietly watched Kirito from the side.

Yohohoho...

Unlike Luffy, he could feel it.

This handsome young man was no ordinary traveler.

Whether his interest in their captain was good or bad, Brook could not yet tell.

Shakky placed a glass of wine in front of Kirito, her beautiful eyes still observing him closely.

"A traveler, huh?" she said with a smile. "No wonder I don't have any information on you. But someone with your presence shouldn't be unknown on this sea. Looks like even my information network has its blind spots."

Kirito took the glass and replied casually, "I only arrived on this sea recently. For now, I just want to enjoy the scenery."

He drank the wine in one smooth motion, then let out a small sigh.

"Not bad."

"One hundred thousand berries a glass," Shakky said, her smile returning. "Thank you for your business."

After confirming that Kirito had no immediate hostility, Shakky refilled his empty glass and wore her familiar businesslike smile.

Kirito raised his hand.

A small, dark opening appeared beside him.

Although his Space-Time Ninjutsu, Yomotsu Hirasaka, was being suppressed in this world, opening a simple gap for storage was still possible.

He reached into it, pulled out a large bundle, and placed it on the counter.

"Take the payment from here."

Shakky's eyes widened slightly.

A Devil Fruit ability?

No...

She could not identify it.

Still, prying into another person's secrets was a good way to die young on this sea.

Shakky said nothing and opened the bundle.

Inside were stacks of berries and dazzling jewels.

Everyone nearby stared for a moment.

Even Luffy paused mid-bite.

"Whoa! That's a lot!"

Then he immediately continued eating.

Kirito looked at Shakky.

"Exchange the extra jewels into berries for me. Use whatever rate you think is fair."

Shakky's eyes lit up.

Now that was good business.

"Gladly."

After working for a while, Shakky looked up again.

"Traveling seems like a profitable profession. Mind telling me your name?"

"Namikaze Kirito."

"Namikaze…" Shakky repeated thoughtfully. "That name has a Wano-like sound to it."

"I don't know," Kirito said. "I haven't been to Wano yet. But I suppose it can be one of my future destinations."

"The owner of that country isn't exactly welcoming," Shakky said lightly. "If you go, be careful."

Kirito smiled.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Luffy continued eating meat.

Chopper happily gnawed on cotton candy.

Only Brook kept watching Kirito.

From the conversation just now, he could roughly understand one thing.

This young man was strong.

Very strong.

And someone like that had appeared in front of their captain at this timing.

That was never meaningless.

After finishing the wine in his glass again, Kirito stored the exchanged berries back into his space.

Then he stood.

"Thanks for the wine."

"You're welcome," Shakky said with a smile. "Come again. As long as you can afford it."

Kirito chuckled softly and left the bar.

Only after he had completely disappeared did Shakky's smile fade.

She turned toward Luffy and the others, her expression unusually serious.

"Listen carefully. If you run into that man again, don't pick a fight with him."

Luffy raised his head with a mouth full of meat.

"Huh? Why?"

Shakky exhaled a thin stream of smoke and narrowed her eyes toward the door.

"Because he's not the kind of person you can handle just by being reckless."

Brook's empty eye sockets remained fixed on the door.

"Yohohoho... how frightening."

For once, his laughter sounded dry.

Luffy, however, only swallowed his food and grinned.

"Really? He didn't seem like a bad guy."

Shakky looked at him helplessly.

"That's exactly the problem, Straw Hat-chan."

Outside the bar, bubbles drifted lazily into the sky.

And Namikaze Kirito, who had just stepped into the center of the Great Pirate Era, walked into the noisy streets of Sabaody with a relaxed smile.

The sea breeze brushed past him.

The New World was still ahead.

But this island alone was already interesting enough.

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