“Goodbye!
Everyone, take care of yourselves!”
Moren stood on the small pier at Grove 13 of Sabaody Archipelago, waving vigorously at the slowly departing Bang-Bang Orange.
On deck, Captain Lyle waved his pipe in return, his face showing the relief of parting mixed with a trace of barely noticeable worry.
The other sailors crowded along the ship’s side, shouting out various blessings and jeers in their rough voices.
The sunset stretched the shadow of the Bang-Bang Orange’s sails long and thin, until it became a blurred black dot on the horizon, finally disappearing into the colorful sunset glow.
The pier bustled with people, the noise still loud, but Moren suddenly felt silence settle around him.
He let out a light sigh and turned to face this long-heard-of, bizarre and dazzling place.
The air carried the faint, sweet scent unique to soap bubbles, mixed with the salty tang of the sea and the aroma of food drifting from afar.
The enormous Yarukiman Mangrove’s roots coiled like natural pillars, supporting the lush canopies above and the various buildings clinging to them.
Countless bubbles secreted from the tree roots rose dreamily, shrouding the entire area in an unreal, magnificent glow.
He unfolded the simple map Lyle had given him before they parted.
It marked the general functions of the different numbered groves.
Sabaody Archipelago consisted of 79 main mangrove trees, divided into different “GROVES.” He was currently near Grove 58, which was mainly docks and ship coating factories.
“I should head over to Groves 40 to 49 first…” Moren tapped the map with his finger.
Those were marked as “Tourist District” and “Souvenir Shops,” not far from “Soap Bubble Park” either.
For a newcomer like him, who loved collecting, this was undoubtedly the perfect starting point.
Even though there was still a lot to handle right after docking, Captain Lyle had first taken him to the Marine base to exchange Scar-Hawk’s corpse for the bounty.
With Scar-Hawk’s memorable bald head as proof, plus Captain Lyle’s testimony and some discreet backroom dealings to smooth things over, they managed to collect the reward at a fairly quick pace.
However, of the 12,000,000 Berry on the wanted poster, only 8,000,000 actually made it into their hands.
“That’s just how it works, Brother Moren,” Lyle had explained quietly on the way back, his voice tinged with helplessness and consolation.
“The base commander needs his cut, and his superiors need theirs…
It trickles down.
Getting 70% is already smooth sailing.
Don’t take it to heart.”
Moren just nodded indifferently.
“I understand, Captain Lyle.”
He had seen these many times before his transmigration.
For a massive organization to function—especially on this sea thick with an atmosphere of lawlessness—a chain of interests was an essential lubricant.
Just like a line from some movie he’d watched said: If the Marine commander doesn’t take his cut, how can his superior take his?
If the superior doesn’t take his, how can the superior’s superior take his?
If the superior’s superior doesn’t take his, how can any of them get ahead?
Lyle was first surprised at how calmly Moren reacted, then grew more thoughtful.
Before parting, Lyle pressed a small, heavy cloth bag into Moren’s hand.
Inside was 2,000,000 Berry.
Combined with the 8,000,000 from the bounty, Moren was now carrying 10,000,000 Berry.
From a penniless shipwreck survivor to a man holding a small fortune in just over a month, fate felt strangely unreal.
“Start with the tourist district.” Moren folded the map and melted into the flow of people.
He passed through the coating district.
Giant soap bubbles were being shaped around ships by skilled workers, glowing under sunlight like an underwater palace.
The sight was both beautiful and overwhelming.
Moren watched for a while before letting out a light sigh.
So this is what a true Grand Line industry looks like.
Further along, he saw many ship sales points.
The sight made him momentarily feel tempted.
But reality quickly cooled his thoughts.
He couldn’t sail alone.
Not with the dangers of the sea, nor his Devil Fruit weakness.
By himself, a small boat would be nothing more than food for Sea Kings.
For now, the safest choice was to travel aboard merchant or passenger ships.
Later, when he found reliable companions—perhaps a skilled navigator like Nami—he could consider building his own crew.
With that thought, he stepped into the tourist district of Groves 40–49.
Here, the dreamlike atmosphere reached its pinnacle.
Bubble sightseeing vehicles floated above, carrying excited tourists along fixed routes.
Street vendors sold bubble cotton candy and bubble balloons.
The entire district shimmered in soft rainbow light, filled with cheerful music and children’s laughter.
For a moment, it almost felt like a world without danger.
Even though this was one of the Grand Line’s most infamous pirate gathering grounds and dens of vice.
Add the novel to your collection so you don’t miss future chapters.