Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Franky stayed behind on the ship.
This place was unpredictable, and without strong fighters to guard the Thousand Sunny, it would be far too easy for criminals to raid the vessel.
Meanwhile, the others, led by Hachi, headed into the island to find a trustworthy expert to coat the ship properly.
…
"Wahahaha, this is so much fun!"
Luffy enthusiastically pedaled his bubble car, soaring higher into the sky.
"Hehehe, it floats so high!"
"Hey, customer, please don't go too high!"
The merchant below called up nervously, worried about liability:
"If you go above the safe elevation, the bubble will burst!"
"I want to buy one!"
"You can rent it, but these bubble cars aren't meant for areas outside the Sabaody Archipelago…"
…
A group of them rode in the bubble car, with Nami expertly at the controls.
Hachi, wrapped up with tape covering his pirate mark and his three arms snug in a thick coat, spoke quietly:
"Besides being careful of the Celestial Dragons on this island, we also need to watch out for other pirates."
He glanced around, voice low:
"Here it's best not to draw attention. Even though you are strong, Shirogai has a bounty of 5 billion Berries, and Luffy has a bounty of 100 million Berries."
"But this island is a gateway to the New World, and many notorious pirates are active here. Marines patrol constantly to capture pirates, bounty hunters come for bounties, and the underground world is active too…"
Hachi paused, voice heavier.
"…insidious human traffickers."
Hachi and Kemi had missed the most recent newspapers and updates, so he didn't realize Shirogai's bounty had skyrocketed from 200 million Berries to 5 billion Berries.
"There are human traffickers here?"
Nami asked, curious.
"Are they like Duval? Aren't the Marines supposed to arrest them?"
"Yes, they are the same sort of traffickers,"
Hachi replied.
"For some reason, the Marines don't dare act against human traffickers on this island."
His tone softened as he continued:
"Compared to those who kidnap with filthy methods, Duval is almost tame. At least he didn't target specific groups; he kidnapped indiscriminately."
"That's not something good!"
Nami snapped.
There was nothing redeemable about human traffickers.
Shirogai had nearly wiped out the entire Colored Life Riders in one strike — only Hachi's plea kept him from finishing them.
Nami, once a thief herself, knew the horror of human trafficking firsthand. She had seen how lives were destroyed in the dark underground, and she had come close to being sold into that world more than once.
"Yes, everyone hates human traffickers,"
Hachi said quietly.
"But they are protected by the World Government. Every year many slaves are bought by Celestial Dragons, and they truly welcome the existence of slave traders."
"That's absurd,"
Shirogai said flatly, sitting in the bubble car with Shalria clinging to his arm.
He looked at the passing civilians with a sardonic smile.
"Marines are supposed to protect people, yet they ignore the harm human traffickers inflict on ordinary folks. Instead, they selectively chase pirates because offending Celestial Dragons would displease them. That kind of selective justice, protecting the powerful, is nothing but farce."
"Hehehe, being with Darling like this makes me so happy!"
Shalria said, lost in her own one-sided affection.
She hugged Shirogai's arm eagerly, her face full of blissful smiles.
If he hadn't stopped her, she would have thrown herself into his arms without hesitation.
"Shh! Shh! Be careful, the Marines might hear!"
Hachi warned, looking around anxiously.
He glanced at Shalria and his tone grew more cautious.
"Celestial Dragons are a forbidden topic on this island. If someone overhears us and reports it to the Marines, we won't leave the Sabaody Archipelago alive."
"Will we… be killed?"
Chopper stood up in the bubble car, eyes wide with fear, worried that their conversation had been overheard.
Nami, however, barely cared.
"Even if we really provoke the Celestial Dragons, and an Admiral shows up, leave it to Shirogai,"
she said dismissively, pouting just a little with confidence.
It wasn't the first time Shirogai had dealt with an Admiral quietly and efficiently.
She kept that part in her head, not wanting to alarm Hachi and Kemi.
"Hachi, this isn't a joke,"
Hachi waved his arms desperately, nearly revealing all six arms in panic.
He couldn't understand the crew's casual attitude toward the World Nobles.
Why did they act with such reckless fearlessness toward the Celestial Dragons?
Did they not even realize how noble and untouchable their status truly was?
"This street is so lively," someone remarked.
"Wow! So many beautiful goods!"
The commercial street was bustling, filled with exotic wares and sights no one had ever seen before.
…
"Hmph, this group is unbearable,"
Shalria muttered in displeasure, glaring at the noisy pirates.
If not for them, she and Darling could be alone together.
"I need to find a way to separate them from Darling and me,"
she thought, her charming eyes narrowing as an idea formed.
"Oh dear, my stomach hurts so much!"
Shalria clutched her stomach dramatically, bending over as if in great pain.
Shirogai watched her act with mild amusement, his expression cool and uninterested.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
Kemi asked kindly, seeing Shalria clutching her stomach.
"Don't touch me, you filthy…"
Shalria shrieked, shaking off Kemi's helping hand.
Then she quickly remembered her cover story and put on a pitiful expression.
"I think I ate something bad… I'm worried I might infect you,"
she whimpered.
"Oh, really?"
Kemi didn't suspect anything, concern in her eyes.
"Is there a hospital nearby?"
she asked anxiously.
"Doctor! We need a doctor!"
Chopper scurried about.
Nami gave him a gentle thump on the head.
"Idiot, you are the doctor, Chopper."
"Oh! Right!"
Chopper suddenly remembered, pulling a stethoscope from his pouch.
"Shalria, let me examine you!"
"No need!"
Shalria backed away frantically.
Only then did she realize the cute raccoon-like pet was actually a doctor.
"Darling, just take me to a nearby hospital!"
Shalria clutched Shirogai's arm, looking at him with hopeful eyes.
"Alright,"
Shirogai nodded with a faint smile.
Coincidentally, he had something he wanted to take care of too — a promise he had made on Thriller Bark.
He spoke to the group.
"Everyone, let's meet at Grove 41."
Nami and Robin, who also wanted to explore the larger commercial islands nearby, agreed, and the group split into three.
…
"You left Shirogai alone with that woman of unknown origin, won't he be in danger?"
Hachi asked, watching Shirogai and Tia Li walk ahead.
"That woman's background might not be as simple as she claims."
Hachi always suspected she might be a Celestial Dragon in disguise.
But logically, it was absurd.
How could an unguarded Celestial Dragon appear alone at sea, without servants, guards, or slaves?
"They're World Nobles,"
he murmured.
Luffy grinned widely.
"Shirogai is a great pirate with a bounty of 5 billion Berries, he won't be in danger!"
"Phew, that's good…"
Hachi breathed a sigh of relief.
Then suddenly—
"What??? 5 billion Berries??!!!"
Hachi, Kemi, and Pappagu stared in disbelief at Shirogai's retreating back.
"Wasn't his bounty 200 million Berries? How did it suddenly become so much, 5 billion Berries!"
Hachi looked at Luffy in horror.
"This is a bounty only the Four Emperors can achieve!"
"Ah! Hahaha, maybe it's because he defeated an Admiral?"
Luffy scratched his head, laughing naively.
"I don't know, but the latest wanted poster does show Shirogai's bounty as 5 billion Berries!"
"Five billion Berries!"
Kemi repeated, tongue out, dazed.
"Is Brother Shirogai really that amazing?"
_____
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