A few days later — Sabaody Archipelago.
The tropical scent of the sea mixed with the strange aroma of the gigantic mangrove roots that made up the archipelago's ground. Bright bubbles floated lazily through the air, reflecting the sun as they drifted over the island's many groves.
A ship slowly docked at *Grove 41* — none other than the *Thousand Sunny*, now sailing under the banner of the *Straw Clown Pirates*. Luffy stood at the figurehead, arms raised high.
"We made it!" he grinned, stretching.
The rest of the crew gathered on deck. After a series of chaotic events, meeting Camie, and rescuing Hatchan from the Flying Fish Riders, they had finally arrived at Sabaody.
They had learned from Camie, Pappag, and Hatchan that to reach Fish-Man Island, they would need a special coating for their ship — a process that could only be done by a skilled craftsman. Hatchan suggested to find Rayleigh, a skilled coater.
"So, where do we go to find this Ray guy?" Luffy asked eagerly, bouncing on his feet.
Before anyone could answer, Mohji cut in, his expression serious. "Wait. Aren't we going to rescue Captain Buggy first?"
"Tch, that's plain impossible," Cabaji muttered from the rail, shaking his head. "No one has ever come back from Impel Down. If Buggy's really been taken there… he's done for."
Luffy frowned, but then smiled lightly. "We'll think about that later. First, let's focus on coating the Sunny."
Hatchan nodded. "I know a place we can go."
"Where?" asked Tensuro, raising an eyebrow.
"Shakky's Rip-off Bar," Hatchan replied. "Rayleigh usually stay there. And if he's not around, Shakky can probably tell us where to find him."
"Shakky? Who's that?" Luffy tilted his head.
"She's the bar owner," said Pappag, puffing his chest proudly. "Sharp tongue, but kind. You'll like her."
"Great! Let's go!" Luffy said, already hopping down to the docks.
"Hold up," Tensuro interjected, holding out a hand. "We shouldn't all head out together. A full crew showing up will draw too much attention — especially with Marines lurking around here. We also need to restock on supplies."
He glanced around, already calculating in his head. "Let's split up into teams. One to find Ray-san, another to handle supplies, and the rest stay here to guard the Sunny."
Luffy blinked. "Hmm… let's do just that."
"Alright then," said Tensuro, pointing as he assigned members.
Group One – Rayleigh Search Team
Members: Luffy, Chopper, Brook, Camie, Pappag, Hatchan, Mozu, and Kiwi.
Mission: Head to Shakky's bar and locate the ship-coater.
Group Two – Supply Team
Members: Tensuro, Mohji, Sauri, Helia, and Zambai.
Mission: Purchase food, water, and essential ship goods.
Group Three – Ship Watch
Members: Franky, Cabaji, and Richie.
Mission: Guard the Thousand Sunny and ensure no one suspicious comes near.
"Alright!" Luffy grinned, already running down the gangplank. "Let's go, team!"
"Luffy! Slow down!" Chopper called, sprinting after him.
Brook, Camie, Hatchan, Mozu, and Kiwi followed shortly, with Pappag clinging to Camie's shoulder and shouting style advice.
Meanwhile, the supply team made their way in the opposite direction, Zambai checking a list and Helia scanning the area cautiously.
Back on the Sunny, Franky stretched out, cracking his knuckles. "Alright, let's hold the fort. Super style."
Cabaji stood with arms crossed, while Richie curled up in the shade.
...
Some time later, at Grove 13.
Luffy and his group finally arrived at Shakky's Rip-off Bar, after dealing with a few ambushes along the way. The grove was quiet, but the bar stood out with its odd name and slightly run-down appearance.
They all stood outside, looking at the signboard.
"Rip-off Bar? That's plainly saying some bad intentions," Brook commented, tilting his skull head.
"Are you sure it's okay for us to be here?" Chopper asked nervously, sweat beading on his forehead as he looked up at the sign.
"Don't worry," Hatchan assured them, stepping forward. "They're good people. I've known them a long time."
With that, he opened the door and called out. "Rayleigh? Shakky? Are you here?"
A smooth, relaxed voice greeted them. "Welcome."
A woman appeared behind the counter. Her eyes widened in surprise and delight when she saw him.
"Hacchan? You're here!"
"Nyu… it's been a long time, Shakky," Hatchan replied, slightly bashful. It had been ten years since they'd last seen each other.
"Come in, come in," Shakky said warmly, stepping aside. "It's good to see you again."
The group entered, while Shakky returned to the counter. It was quiet and cozy, filled with a slight scent of cigarettes and old wood.
"So," she asked, "what would you all like to drink?"
But before anyone could respond—
Luffy and Brook were already helping themselves, heads buried in the refrigerator, pulling out snacks and leftovers.
"LUFFY! BROOK!" Chopper screamed. "What the heck are you two doing?! I look away for one second and you're stealing food already?!"
"Don't worry about it," Shakky said with a soft chuckle. "Make yourselves at home. You're Hacchan's friends, and his friends are welcomed here."
She reached under the counter and pulled out something wrapped in a napkin. She handed it to Chopper.
"Here — cotton candy."
Chopper gasped. "Cotton candy?! Ooh! You're amazing!"
Luffy blinked. "Hey, how do you know Chopper's favorite food?"
"I know all about your crew, Monkey-chan," Shakky said with a sly smile. "According to the latest news, you defeated one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea — Gecko Moria. Because of that, your bounty has been raised to 300 million Berries."
"Eh?! Really?!" Luffy's eyes lit up. "We got a bounty raise already?!"
Shakky nodded. "That's right. News travels fast around here."
"It's only been a few days…" Chopper muttered. "That's crazy…"
"Information is a weapon," Shakky said, puffing some smokes. "And speaking of information — you all should be careful."
The group looked at her curiously.
"What do you mean?" Hatchan asked.
Shakky's eyes narrowed slightly, her tone serious. "With you guys here, there are now eleven pirate captains on the Sabaody Archipelago with bounties over 100 million Berries — including you, Monkey-chan."
"That many?!" Chopper's mouth dropped.
"Yeah," Shakky said, placing a cigarette to her lips. "By the way, Monkey-chan… among all these rookie captains here on the archipelago, you're only number three."
"Huh?!" Chopper blinked in disbelief. "There are people higher up than Luffy on these islands?!"
Luffy tilted his head, now genuinely interested, chewing on some meat as he listened quietly.
Shakky leaned on the counter and continued, "The pirate captain with the second-highest bounty goes to Eustass 'Captain' Kidd.* His bounty is 315 million Berries—just a bit higher than yours."
Chopper's eyes widened even more. "That guy has a higher bounty than Luffy?!"
"He does," Shakky nodded. "But it's not just because he's stronger. It's because his crew caused major damage to civilians during their journey. Real chaos… not cute at all, right?"
"..." Luffy didn't say a word. He simply kept eating, but his eyes were locked on Shakky now.
Shakky smiled at him. "That's why, between the two of you, I'm still rooting for you, Monkey-chan… and for the guy who holds the top spot."
Brook perked up. "So, who is this number one guy?"
Shakky's eyes glimmered slightly. "He shares the same surname as Monkey-chan."
There was a small beat of silence.
"He is… Monkey D. Zino."
"Zino?!" Luffy suddenly stopped chewing.
"It was actually him?!" Chopper was equally shocked.
"Wait, you guys know him?" asked Shakky.
"Yeah," Luffy nodded. "He's my cousin."
Shakky blinked, then smiled. "Ah… I see. That makes sense. So, do you know his bounty?"
Luffy shrugged. "Nope. He never told me."
Brook leaned in curiously. "So, how much is it?"
Shakky tapped the counter once. "One billion Berries."
There was a deafening pause.
Then—
"WHAATTT?!" everyone yelled in unison, their jaws metaphorically hitting the floor.
"O-o-one billion?!" Chopper was practically shaking. "T-that's… insane!! That's not a rookie-level bounty at all!"
"It's unbelievable, but it's true," Shakky chuckled, exhaling smoke. "That cousin of yours made quite the impact. He challenged the World Government, launched an assault on Enies Lobby just to save his crew, and even fought Admiral Aokiji—and lived to tell the tale."
"He… actually did all that?" Luffy blinked, amazed.
"Just to save his crew?" Chopper repeated, stars in his eyes.
Shakky nodded. "That's not all. On his ship, there are ten people with bounties over 100 million."
Everyone froze again.
"Ten?!" Kiwi and Mozu both gasped.
Shakky raised her brows and added, "And two of them have higher bounties than Luffy."
"H-h-h-how?!" Mozu stammered. "How can one ship carry that many top threats?!"
"Yeah!" Kiwi added. "That's like… a fleet in one ship!"
"It all goes back to what happened at Enies Lobby," Shakky said calmly. "They didn't just sneak in. They showed their powers. The World Government had no choice but to recognize them."
Chopper and the others looked in awe. Such a feat; they could only keep being stunned.
"That's amazing!"
...
Grove 46.
The Silent Orca was quietly docked among the other ships nestled in the shaded cove of mangroves. The towering roots of the massive trees swayed slightly as bubbles drifted lazily upward, catching the light of the sun. A soft breeze rustled the leaves above, but the ship itself was peaceful.
Most of the Orca crew had already dispersed across the Archipelago. Some were sightseeing, others restocking supplies, and a few had gone out to gather intel about the notorious island. Only a handful remained aboard, taking turns to keep watch and maintain the ship.
Zino, however, wasn't among them. He had left Grove 46 earlier and was now heading toward Grove 13, where Shakky's Rip-off Bar was located.
He walked along the elevated bridges connecting the groves, moving past open-air shops and bubble-coated buildings, while coated ships floated in the canals below. Tourists, pirates, merchants, and bounty hunters all blended together in the vibrant chaos of Sabaody.
Suddenly, a loud whoosh cut through the air.
From behind, a bubble bike came screaming past them, nearly losing control as it swerved around the corner. Onboard was a pirate couple, clearly in a panic.
"We're gonna miss the next escape point!" the woman shouted, clinging to her partner.
"Shut up and hold on!" the man barked, his foot slamming the pedal.
Behind them, a Marine patrol on standard-issue bubble bikes gave chase, shouting orders and blowing whistles.
Zino calmly stepped aside as the wild pursuit rushed by, narrowly dodging a bag of luggage that flew off the pirate's bike and bounced across the bridge.
"Idiots," he muttered.
The Marine officers whizzed past, completely unaware of who they had just ridden beside. None of them noticed that the man they brushed past carried a bounty of one billion berries.
Zino didn't even glance back. "Let's keep going," he muttered to himself.
He continued his journey. Laughter and distant music echoed from entertainment groves. Street vendors yelled about skewered meats, soap bubble candies, and souvenir snail-phones. Despite the earlier commotion, the grove still buzzed with life.
But then—everything shifted.
From the distance, a low mechanical rumble echoed.
The mood of the crowd changed instantly. People around them grew quiet. Some began kneeling. Others scrambled to hide behind structures. The entire path ahead was being cleared out.
Zino's eyes narrowed. A moment later, a massive motorcade came into view, flanked by CP agents in black armor. At the center was a floating platform, atop which a Celestial Dragon, encased in a bubble suit, reclined as if the world owed them everything.
Carried by trembling slaves, the Dragon held a golden leash connected to a woman barely clothed and limping behind. Their entourage marched forward, armed and arrogant.
Zino sighed and just stepped aside. He did that not because of fear—only practicality. Trouble with Celestial Dragons was rarely small or simple. So, he wanted to avoid getting entangled by their troubles
"Ice Mirage," he whispered.
A thin layer of frost shimmered into being, cloaking him in a translucent sheet of refracted light. From the outside, he blended seamlessly into the background, as if he wasn't there at all.
The Celestial Dragon passed by in pompous silence, unaware of the figure standing just meters away. The CP agents scanned the area, but saw nothing. When they were gone, Zino waved his hand lightly, and the illusion melted.
"Look like they are as disgusting as talked in the anime and manga," Zino muttered.
He resumed walking. As he passed Grove 30 and beyond, the scenery changed. The polished structures gave way to rusted platforms, dim lighting, and shady taverns. The Marine patrols thinned out, replaced by dangerous-looking men leaning against walls or haggling in whispers.
As he passed one run-down tavern, a grizzled bounty hunter stepped outside, scratching his beard. His eyes landed on Zino, who was walking alone.
He paused.
The man squinted. Something about that guy in the front looked... familiar.
Frowning, he reached into his coat and pulled out a stack of wanted posters. Flipping through them quickly, he stopped when he saw it.
The same cloak. The same hair. The same calm expression.
His hands trembled as he looked up again.
"Th-the one billion bounty… he's here…!"