A gentle breeze rippled across the vast ocean.
Hachinosu grew smaller and smaller in the distance until it finally disappeared beyond the horizon.
Before transmigrating, Dæmon had rarely traveled by boat.
This was his first time aboard a sailing ship, so the experience felt rather novel.
“So, where exactly are we going to capture a Celestial Dragon?” Whitebeard asked, resting his naginata against his shoulder.
Standing on the ship’s figurehead with one foot raised, Rocks boldly declared, “Mary Geoise, of course!” So we’re still attacking the Holy Land?
Dæmon shook his head.
“Do the Celestial Dragons never leave Mary Geoise?” “Do you have another idea?” Stussy asked.
She casually opened a makeup compact and began touching up her appearance, looking completely relaxed.
Judging by the crew’s behavior, one might assume they were taking a leisurely cruise rather than planning to kidnap the World Nobles.
Dæmon considered the question.
“The Celestial Dragons occasionally visit nations affiliated with the World Government.” “Without information about their movements, we could sail around the world for months without encountering one,” Shiki pointed out with a shrug.
Dæmon thought for a moment and realized he was right.
Then another place came to mind.
“There is one location often treated as the Celestial Dragons’ private playground.
They appear there more frequently than anywhere else.” Everyone exchanged glances before answering almost simultaneously.
“The Sabaody Archipelago?” “That’s right.” Dæmon nodded.
“Sabaody is extremely close to Mary Geoise.
The Celestial Dragons who normally remain in the Holy Land occasionally ‘descend’ into the mortal world to shop or amuse themselves.
If we wait there long enough, we’re bound to encounter one.” Gloriosa considered the plan.
“That’s true, but Sabaody is also dangerously close to Marine Headquarters.
If the Rocks Pirates openly appear there, the Marines will arrive within half an hour.” Dæmon pointed at himself.
“I can go ashore alone.
Once I locate a Celestial Dragon, I’ll contact all of you.
Then you can descend from the sky, seize the target, and escape before the Marines can respond.” “We’ll follow that plan,” Rocks decided immediately.
He sat atop the figurehead with his back to the crew.
“Shiki, we’re counting on you.” “Fine, but I want a larger share of the ransom!” Shiki grinned and placed his palm against the deck.
“Rise!” Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Rocks’ Fury trembled violently.
A moment later, the enormous vessel lifted free of the ocean.
Water cascaded from its hull as it floated into the air before rapidly ascending into the sky.
Dæmon watched in envy.
The Paramecia-type Float-Float Fruit was extraordinarily useful.
Among the countless Devil Fruits that existed in this world, it had always been one of his favorites.
Of course, liking an ability and choosing to eat it were two different matters.
If Dæmon were genuinely given the opportunity to select any Devil Fruit, he might not necessarily choose the Float-Float Fruit.
“I’m feeling a little seasick,” Dæmon announced.
“I’ll rest inside the cabin.” It was merely an excuse to leave the deck and enjoy some peace.
Inside the deckhouse was a spacious lounge filled with comfortable furniture.
Dæmon poured himself a glass of water and settled onto a sofa.
A thick stack of wanted posters lay on the table before him.
Each depicted a notorious pirate, accompanied by their name, bounty, and known background.
Dæmon picked up the stack and flipped through it.
He recognized some of the pirates, but many of the names were completely unfamiliar.
“You actually get seasick, Dæmon?” Charlotte Linlin entered the lounge and dropped onto the sofa beside him.
Noticing the wanted posters in his hands, she explained, “Those are all Rocks’s targets.
He enjoys stealing talented crew members—and sometimes even entire captains—from other pirate crews through Davy Back Fights.” The Davy Back Fight was a traditional pirate competition in which rival crews gambled their flags, pride, and even crewmates.
According to legend, the game had been created by the infamous pirate Davy Jones, whom Rocks greatly admired.
Those claimed through the competition were expected to swear loyalty to the victorious crew.
That was how Rocks had recruited many of his strongest subordinates, including Whitebeard.
Dæmon placed the wanted posters back on the table and glanced at Linlin.
“I only came inside to rest.
I’m not actually seasick.” The moment he finished speaking, Linlin wrapped one enormous arm around his shoulders as though they were old friends.
“You’re far too thin.
A man shouldn’t be so frail.” Dæmon fell silent.
“…” He was 1.86 meters tall, yet someone had still called him small and frail.
Admittedly, when sitting beside Charlotte Linlin, he did look unusually slender.
“I’m an ordinary human,” Dæmon replied.
“Unlike you, I don’t possess such an unusual physique.
Perhaps one of your ancestors had giant blood.” “I wouldn’t know.
My parents were ordinary humans.” Linlin spoke without any visible sadness.
“They abandoned me when I was very young.” She then leaned closer, her voice becoming soft and seductive.
“You said one bottle of the Elixir of Immortality contains four servings.
Kaido drank one, which means three are still left.” Dæmon glanced at her suspiciously.
“What are you trying to say?” “I’ll spend the night with you, and you give me one glass.” Linlin’s lips curved into an inviting smile.
“That sounds like a fair exchange, doesn’t it?” Dæmon placed one hand against her face and pushed her away.
He did not mind tall or strong women, but Linlin was in an entirely different category.
“Not interested.” “Why not?!” Linlin stared at him in disbelief.
“Am I not beautiful enough to be worth a single glass of wine?” “If our plan succeeds, you’ll have an opportunity to obtain one anyway.” Dæmon paused as another idea entered his mind.
“How about a different agreement?
Teach me how to use Haki, and I’ll give you a glass as payment.” “Dea—” Before Linlin could finish agreeing, a figure abruptly sprang up from behind the sofa.
“I can teach you too!” Gloriosa looked at Dæmon with a perfectly serious expression.
“I was once the captain of the Kuja Pirates.
The Kuja tribe possesses a well-developed and systematic method of training Haki.” Linlin slowly turned toward the intruder, her expression darkening.
“Gloriosa…!” “You shameless woman.
I knew you followed Dæmon in here to seduce him.” Gloriosa snorted and looked at Linlin with open disdain.
“Don’t fall for her tricks, Dæmon.
This woman pops out children one after another.” “That’s none of your business!” “I simply can’t tolerate your dishonesty.” “Fine!
It looks like we’ll have to settle this with our fists!” “Do you think I’m afraid of you?” The argument rapidly escalated.
Within moments, the two women appeared ready to turn their verbal quarrel into a physical battle.
Dæmon silently rose from the sofa and left the room.
Upon returning to the deck, he found Kaido leaning against the railing.
“Kaido, teach me how to use Haki, and I’ll forgive the Devil Fruit you owe me.
What do you say?” “Worororo!
We’re both newcomers to the crew, Dæmon.
Of course we should help each other!” “Just answer the question.
Will you teach me or not?” “Deal!” …
Ten days later, at the Sabaody Archipelago.
Dæmon strolled through the streets, seemingly wandering without purpose.
Rocks’ Fury had arrived above Sabaody three days earlier.
While the rest of the crew remained hidden aboard the floating ship, Dæmon had gone ashore alone.
For three days, he had waited for a Celestial Dragon to appear.
So far, he had found nothing.
The Sabaody Archipelago was not composed of ordinary islands.
Instead, it was formed from the enormous roots of seventy-nine Yarukiman Mangrove trees.
Each massive tree represented a numbered grove, which was why the location was known as an archipelago despite being one connected landmass.
Translucent bubbles constantly emerged from the resin-coated roots.
They drifted through the air before bursting once they rose too high.
The entire region had developed a unique bubble-based culture.
There were bubble-powered vehicles, floating amusement parks, and even houses constructed within giant bubbles.
At that moment, Dæmon was walking through Grove 24.
He soon noticed an unusual disturbance farther down the street.
Pedestrians hurried toward both sides of the road.
One after another, they dropped to their knees and lowered their heads, leaving the center of the street completely empty.
A large procession slowly approached from the opposite direction.
At its head were several figures dressed in white garments resembling spacesuits.
Transparent bubbles enclosed their heads, preventing them from breathing the same air as the so-called commoners.
Celestial Dragons!
And there’s more than one!
Dæmon’s eyes lit up.
Then he noticed the broad-shouldered Marine walking near the procession.
The man wore a white Marine coat and carried himself with casual confidence, but the aura surrounding him was impossible to ignore.
Dæmon instantly recognized him.
Monkey D.
Garp.
Dæmon calmly slipped into a nearby alley and took out a Den Den Mushi—a living transponder snail used for long-distance communication.
He dialed the number Rocks had given him.
Purururu!
Purururu!
Click.
“Hello?
Dæmon?” Rocks’s voice emerged from the snail.
“This is Rocks.” “Rocks, I have good news.
Several Celestial Dragons have just ‘spawned’ in Grove 24.” Dæmon paused before chuckling.
“And now for the bad news—Vice Admiral Garp is protecting them.” There was a brief silence on the other end.
“Stay where you are,” Rocks replied.
“We’ll be there immediately!”