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Unburdening himself to Jessica had lifted a weight from Arthur's shoulders. The sky seemed brighter, the air lighter.
Jessica listened quietly, offering a supportive smile even though she couldn't interject.
"Here, hold onto these for me." Arthur pulled two Devil Fruits from his pocket and handed them to her.
"Devil Fruits?" Jessica looked at him, confused.
"Yeah. One's the Castle-Castle Fruit—eat it, and you can create a castle inside your own body. The other is the Door-Door Fruit—lets you create doors on anything. Both are pretty rare space-type abilities." Arthur explained, pressing the fruits into her hands.
Jessica's face paled. "Why? Aren't these your most prized possessions? Why aren't you keeping them with you?"
She knew how much Arthur treasured these fruits. He wouldn't let them out of his sight, even when bathing.
"There's going to be a big fight soon. I don't want them to get damaged. Just hold onto them for me. Don't overthink it." Arthur reassured her.
Jessica was the ship's cook and didn't want to eat a Devil Fruit. Otherwise, he would have given her the Door-Door Fruit, which would've made her practically unkillable. The Door-Door fruit was an excellent escape fruit.
Unless she was instantly knocked unconscious by Conqueror's Haki, even Whitebeard wouldn't be able to touch her—the Tremor-Tremor Fruit shattered the air, not space itself.
His tone turned serious. "If anyone tries to take them from you while I'm fighting, or if you can't protect them, destroy them, rather than let them fall into enemy hands, understood?"
The Castle-Castle Fruit was valuable, a mobile storage unit. But the Door-Door Fruit—that was a different story.
Jessica nodded, her lips pressed together, a flicker of worry in her eyes.
"Don't worry, I promise you'll be safe. Your father's a head chef at Marine Headquarters. He has connections. They won't harm you." Arthur wasn't sure how to comfort her. She looked like she was about to cry.
"I'm hungry. Make me something to eat, okay? And I promise I'll eat my vegetables this time…Happy? I never compromise. You're getting a special deal here."
His playful banter finally brought a smile to her face. She turned and headed into the galley.
—
Five days later, the ship steadily approached Sabaody Archipelago.
On the distant horizon, the massive Yarukiman Mangrove trees came into view, their branches reaching for the sky, shimmering rainbow-colored bubbles rising from their roots, creating a surreal and breathtakingly beautiful landscape.
Sabaody Archipelago, the gateway to the New World, was where pirates coated their ships before venturing into the second half of the Grand Line.
Located near the Red Line, just a short distance from Mary Geoise and Marineford, the archipelago was formed by the massive roots of the Yarukiman Mangroves, rising from the seafloor.
Even Arthur, prepared for the sight, was awestruck by this natural wonder. He couldn't imagine how long it had taken for these trees to grow to such a colossal size.
Seventy-nine numbered trees formed seventy-nine districts, or "Groves," each with a designated purpose.
Groves 1 through 29 were notorious for human trafficking, slave auctions, and other illicit activities.
Groves 30 through 39 housed the amusement park, Saboland.
Groves 40 through 49 were tourist areas and souvenir shops.
Groves 50 through 59 were dedicated to shipbuilding and coating.
Groves 60 through 69 housed the Marine base and government offices.
And Groves 70 through 79 were hotel districts and other leisure areas.
Sabaody Archipelago's most unique feature was the resin produced by the Yarukiman Mangroves.
The resin, reacting with the air, formed buoyant bubbles, creating a unique "Bubble Culture" that permeated every aspect of life on the archipelago: Bubble Cars, Bubble Ferris wheels, even houses built on bubbles.
Arthur's ship docked in Grove 1, the lawless district. They disembarked.
—
Meanwhile, in Grove 50, the shipbuilding and coating district, the Oro Jackson, having vanished from Marine view for quite some time, appeared silently.
"Wahahaha! The great Captain Buggy has arrived! Tremble, Sabaody Archipelago!" Buggy, his red nose practically glowing, struck a pose at the bow, his excitement uncontainable.
"Buggy, quiet down. You're on luggage duty. Save your energy. Don't slack off later," Shanks said, their usual banter resuming.
"Shanks, you want a fight? I'll show you what the great Captain Buggy can do…"
"Bring it on! I'm not afraid of you!"
"Wahahaha! You two are energetic," Roger chuckled, watching their antics with amusement.
The crew was used to their constant bickering. Even tied up, those two would find a way to argue.
"Rayleigh, go get the coating materials. The rest of you, follow the plan. Gather supplies. Report back to the ship at least once a day. Dismissed!" Roger waved his hand, a cough escaping his lips.
He discreetly wiped his hand across his mouth, a smear of blood vanishing on his sleeve.
"Woohoo! Shore leave! I'm buying myself a couple of treasure maps!" Buggy leaped off the Oro Jackson. Shanks, with nothing better to do, followed.
"Captain, perhaps you should take your medicine?" Crocus, his medical bag slung over his shoulder, offered a vial. Rayleigh said nothing, but the worry in his eyes was evident.
The entire crew knew Roger was seriously ill, his body weakened. Only a few knew he had less than three years to live.
"It's nothing…cough!" Roger stroked his beard, a smile on his face. He knew his time was short. He had to complete his final plan, one last grand adventure to ignite the era.
And that plan hinged on claiming the title of Pirate King.
Suddenly, he turned his head, his gaze fixed on Grove 1-29, his advanced Observation Haki sensing something amiss in that direction.
"Roger, what is it?" Rayleigh, setting down his sake bottle, followed his gaze, but saw nothing unusual.
"Nothing. Just a few old friends. There might be a big fight brewing…But it's not our concern. Ignore it."
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