Knock Bar?
Issho and Mihawk exchanged puzzled glances as they watched Don and Enel walk away.
According to Don's earlier words, this was supposedly his first time setting foot on the Sabaody Archipelago—his first time entering the Grand Line, even.
So why did he seem so familiar with everything about it?
"The old man's heading to the casino. What about you, Mihawk?"
Issho turned and asked casually.
"I've nothing else to do. I'll come along."
Mihawk thought for a moment, then glanced sideways at Enel.
"Fine by me," he said.
Issho nodded lightly. "Just a heads-up—your name carries weight. People have already recognized you."
Through his Observation Haki, Issho had sensed the subtle stirrings around them.
Most of the people nearby were busy carrying cargo or handling other work,
but quite a few, upon seeing Mihawk, had emotions ripple across their hearts.
Though blind, Issho's Observation Haki had developed a unique use: he could feel emotions.
"It's normal," Mihawk replied calmly. "I doubt Don will mind either."
He didn't care about being noticed—and he figured Don wouldn't, either.
In fact, Don had probably anticipated this sort of thing.
"Still, that Knock Bar Don mentioned on Grove 13 must be something special," Issho murmured.
Though they hadn't known each other long, Don's behavior—however easygoing it appeared—always carried intent.
Especially when he dropped details like that.
If Don specifically mentioned a place, it was never random.
"Then we'll check it out later," Mihawk said, shaking his head slightly.
Enel listened silently from the side, without saying much.
Still, his resistance toward the Blue Sea had lessened quite a bit lately.
This wasn't the Endless Vearth he once dreamed of, but the world below had sparked his curiosity all the same.
Meanwhile
The news that "Warlord Dracule Mihawk" had arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago quickly reached Marine Headquarters.
Marineford and Mariejois weren't far from Sabaody to begin with.
So naturally, reports of a Warlord's arrival went straight to Fleet Admiral Sengoku's desk.
"Don has reached the Sabaody Archipelago?"
Hearing the report through the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku immediately made the connection.
After all, Mihawk had been traveling with Don before. If Mihawk was there—and accompanied by others—Sengoku could easily infer who.
"But they've split up," came the report.
Sengoku frowned in thought, then ordered the agents to keep track of both Mihawk and Don's movements.
As for Don—he was preparing to travel with Robin, using the sea train to reach Water 7.
"So you really didn't know this before?"
Robin's face was unreadable as she stared straight at Don.
Don scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"I thought the sea train was already finished."
Only after asking around did he learn that the sea train's tracks were still limited to the islands near Water 7.
The technology existed, yes—but the lines hadn't yet been expanded to other islands.
Luckily, Sabaody wasn't too far from Water 7.
And given Water 7's unique status, ships regularly traveled between the two.
After buying their tickets, Don and Robin quietly boarded a passenger ship bound for Water 7.
Those watching them from the shadows immediately relayed the news up the chain.
"Mihawk and the others went to the casino. Don and Nico Robin are heading to Water 7?"
Sengoku frowned slightly.
He no longer cared much about Mihawk's movements.
What mattered now was Don—and more importantly, Robin.
Her identity had long since reached his desk.
After all, she'd been traveling with Don for quite some time—it was impossible to hide.
Although her bounty and history made her a special case, Sengoku had deliberately turned a blind eye as long as she stayed under Don's protection.
But this time was different.
According to his intel, the World Government had operations underway in Water 7.
Robin's bounty came from them, not the Marines.
The Marines could ignore her presence—but if she crossed paths with the Government's agents, conflict was inevitable.
Sengoku rubbed his temples, thinking of how to prevent such a mess.
He picked up a Den Den Mushi, made a few quick inquiries, then hung up.
"The operation's still ongoing… Spandam is there!"
His brows knit tightly.
This was troublesome.
The Spandam family had deep ties to Robin's past.
The Buster Call at Ohara, the ongoing pursuit—all of it traced back to them.
If Don's purpose in going to Water 7 was shipbuilding—as Sengoku suspected—then he likely had no idea the World Government was currently active there.
Stop him?
Sengoku shook his head. Impossible.
Both he and Tsuru had analyzed Don's personality back during the West Sea incident.
This was not a man who listened to authority.
A headache, through and through.
It seemed there was no hiding Don's movements this time.
Sengoku sighed heavily.
He'd been suppressing information about Don for some time now, especially from the World Government.
But if a clash broke out between them now...
He thought of Don's current power—and the people by his side.
"Then again… given his strength, even the World Government will have to tread carefully."
Aboard the merchant ship bound for Water 7, Don and Robin now faced a nervous-looking man and woman.
"The World Economic News wants to… interview me?"
Don raised an eyebrow, sounding more amused than anything.
In this world, such a thing seemed strange—yet oddly fitting.
He recalled how the paper once sent a photographer to take Nami's bounty photo—only for it to turn into a full-blown gravure shoot, earning her quite a few admirers in the process.
"Y-Yes, that's right!"
The two reporters stammered nervously.
They'd been on vacation when, moments after the ship set sail, their president contacted them directly—ordering them to interview Don.
And who was Don?
Perhaps the general public had already forgotten.
After all, his last big headlines were some time ago, and with so many major events since, his name had faded from common talk.
But for journalists like them, forgetting such a man was unthinkable.
Knowing what Don was capable of, they were understandably terrified.
"Contact your president," Don said calmly.
The two froze for a beat, exchanged a glance, then the man quickly fumbled out his Den Den Mushi.
"President Morgans, sir—Don wants to speak with you."
As the line connected, the man's voice trembled slightly.
END OF CHAPTER
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