Since each tree was an island, the Sabaody Archipelago's layout was clearly divided by the numbers on the trees:
01 to 29: Mainly human trafficking shops, slave auctions, and lawless zones;
30 to 39: Mainly Bubble Parks and similar attractions;
40 to 49: Tourism areas, specialty shops, and the like;
50 to 59: Shipyards, craftsmen, and related industries;
60 to 69: Navy bases and government entrances—Navy's Sabaody Branch was stationed on Island 66;
70 to 79: Mainly inns and lodging streets.
There were only two routes to enter the New World from the first half of the Grand Line:
One was to request passage from the World Government and cross directly through the "Holy Land" Mary Geoise atop the Red Line continent. Obviously, that route was impossible for pirates.
The other was to cover the ship with Archaeomangrove resin and dive ten thousand meters underwater, passing through the "Underwater Route" and Fish-Man Island to reach the New World.
This made the Sabaody Archipelago the unavoidable gateway for pirates entering the New World!
For the Navy, controlling Sabaody meant reducing the number of pirate rookies entering the New World, indirectly weakening the pirate forces there.
That made Sabaody extremely important to the Navy. But pirates capable of sailing this far down the Grand Line were no ordinary foes. Ordinary Navy Vice Admirals struggled to deal with them, and dispatching a full Admiral to guard Sabaody was impractical.
Kai's arrival—possessing power comparable to an Admiral—naturally solved the Navy's urgent dilemma. That was why Sengoku had rushed to send him to the Sabaody Archipelago.
At the port of Island 66, Kai's warship docked by the shore.
Looking at the cold, empty pier, Kai frowned and asked Johnson beside him, "Didn't the Sabaody Navy Branch know I was coming today?"
Though Kai didn't care much about pomp, this was his first time here. At least someone from the Navy branch should have come to greet him.
Hearing this, Johnson hurried to answer, "Sir, I already informed Vice Admiral Stobe of the Sabaody Branch while at Navy Headquarters, but for some reason, no one has arrived yet. Could Vice Admiral Stobe have the wrong time? Should I notify him again?"
"No need. We'll go ourselves," Kai stopped Johnson from pulling out his Den Den Mushi.
Wrong time? There was no way Kai was naive enough to believe that. Narrowing his eyes, a sharp gleam flashed in his gaze as he muttered, "Looks like I'll have to teach them a lesson. Interesting."
At the Sabaody Navy Branch.
"Vice Admiral Stobe, the order from Navy Headquarters has arrived. The new Rear Admiral Kai Mitarashi will arrive today. Let's prepare to welcome him," a middle-aged officer told a towering man draped in a cape of justice.
"A Rear Admiral only? Do I really have to greet him personally? Just handle it when he arrives," Stobe waved dismissively, his face sour.
As the highest-ranking officer at the Sabaody Navy Branch, Stobe was basically the top authority here—the second-in-command to the Celestial Dragons. Now, with an order from Headquarters to send a Rear Admiral, it was clearly a challenge to his power. How could Stobe be pleased?
"But... sir, he is a Rear Admiral from Headquarters!" the officer hesitated but still spoke up.
Those words instantly ignited Stobe's fury. He bellowed, "So what if he's a Rear Admiral from Headquarters? Even if Headquarters officers outrank branch officers by one level, don't forget I hold the rank of Vice Admiral! Mitarashi Kai will address me properly as 'Vice Admiral' in front of me!"
"Oh? Is that so, Vice Admiral Stobe?"
Before Stobe's words even finished, a calm voice cut through—and Kai walked straight in.
"Rear Admiral Kai Mitarashi?" Stobe blinked, looking at him with disdain. To Stobe, someone Kai's age couldn't possibly be strong—at best, he was good enough to deal with pirates with a bounty of around 100 million.
"Mm," Kai nodded calmly.
Ignoring the mocking look in Kai's eyes, Stobe arrogantly nodded back and said, "Rear Admiral Mitarashi, you'll be responsible for internal logistics at the branch. Other matters are not your concern."
Logistics? Assigning a Rear Admiral to logistics—even at Navy Headquarters, that was unheard of. Clearly, Stobe intended to strip Kai of any real authority.
"Sorry, Vice Admiral Stobe, but Fleet Admiral Sengoku ordered me to serve as the supreme commander of the Sabaody Navy Branch, so..."
Before Kai could finish, Stobe cut him off roughly.
"So what? Don't forget I'm a Vice Admiral! You're just a Rear Admiral. Even if this is an order from Fleet Admiral Sengoku, you don't understand the situation at Sabaody. Start by familiarizing yourself with logistics."
A cold glint appeared in Kai's eyes!
After all these years, someone still dared talk to him like this? His gaze grew icy as he looked at Stobe. "Oh? So you intend to defy Fleet Admiral Sengoku's orders?"
"So what if I do!?" Stobe snapped without hesitation.
Kai ignored Stobe and turned to Johnson. "Johnson, what's the first rule of the Navy Code?"
Johnson was momentarily stunned but quickly stood at attention. "Obedience to orders comes first!"
"What if you disobey?" Kai pressed.
"According to Navy regulations, violating the Navy Code is considered desertion!" Johnson replied.
Kai looked back at Stobe calmly. "Vice Admiral Stobe, in that case, don't blame me—a mere Rear Admiral."
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