9. Sabaody Archipelago
After finishing their meal, Luffy brought up the topic of how to reach Fishman Island.
Once they saved Hatchan from Duval's Flying Fish Riders, Hatchan offered to guide them to Fish-Man Island.
"In regular situations, there are only two ways to reach the New World," Camie explained from the deck of the Sunny.
"One way is through the big city atop the Red Line, where Mariejois is, and then into the New World."
"Walking through a city above the Red Line? What about the ship?" Nami asked, surprised.
"Usually, you'd leave your ship behind temporarily or ditch it, then buy a new one on the other side of the New World," Camie clarified.
"No way! Walking isn't an option. The Sunny is my pride and joy. I'm not abandoning her," Franky declared firmly.
He wasn't willing to give up sailing the Sunny to the New World; it meant everything to him.
"Yeah, Sunny's like one of us," Luffy added, treating the ship like a comrade.
"Actually, Luffy, you don't need to worry. This route isn't feasible for pirates because Mariejois is where the world nobles reside. To pass through Mariejois, you need approval from the government."
"The second way is to head to Fish-Man Island," Camie continued.
"Deep beneath the Red Line, about 10,000 meters down, there's a massive hole. Most pirates use this deep-sea passage to reach the New World."
"So for pirates, Fish-Man Island is also the ultimate gateway to the New World," Camie explained, holding up her index finger with a smile.
"But what does this have to do with the Sabaody Archipelago we're heading to?" Nami inquired.
"Directly 10,000 meters below the Sabaody Archipelago lies Fish-Man Island. We can restock at Sabaody and then head to Fish-Man Island, New World" Hatchan explained, avoiding Nami's gaze with a hint of guilt.
It's not so much guilt as it is a lingering sense of remorse for Hatchan. He still carries the weight of the bad deeds he committed under Arlong's influence in Nami's hometown of Cocoyasi Village.
Hachi isn't inherently evil; after his defeat, he's been striving to make amends for his past actions towards Nami.
That's why, knowing that the Sabaody Archipelago poses a danger to the merfolk, Hatchan wants to take Luffy and the others there.
"10,000 meters deep? The Sunny can't dive. Besides, even a submarine wouldn't withstand the water pressure at that depth," Franky remarked, visibly surprised.
Previously, near the Red Line, Luffy, Robin, and Brook attempted to reach Fish-Man Island by diving with the Shark Submerge III.
However, their efforts were futile; at around 5,000 meters deep, the Shark Submerge III was on the verge of being crushed by the immense water pressure.
A depth of 10,000 meters in the ocean is a zone completely inhospitable to human life.
"Don't worry about that. After we reach Sabaody, we can get the ship coated. With a coating, any ship can dive. Then we'll head to Fish-Man Island," Hatchan assured them hastily. "I know a top-notch ship coater, so that you can count on that."
"In that case, we'll rely on you, Hatchan," Luffy said with a smile.
His Observation of Haki allowed him to sense emotions, and he could feel the guilt in Hatchan's heart, along with a myriad of other complex feelings.
However, he didn't say much.
In this situation, Hatchan's usefulness might only come into play if Nami chooses to forgive him.
Luffy isn't foolish; he simply operates on instinct and intuition rather than overthinking things.
In fact, his emotional intelligence is quite high in its own way.
I'm not sure what Nami and Hachi discussed next. I only saw Hatchan's face, and the embarrassment he felt towards Nami seemed to fade away, replaced by excitement and a happy smile.
"This seems like the best plan," Luffy thought to himself as he sat on the bow, smiling.
Since gaining Observation Haki, his ability to perceive emotions had sharpened, and he could sense that each of his crewmates carried some burden from their pasts. Some had managed to find relief, while others still carried their burdens deep within.
Nami fell somewhere in between. Despite being rescued during her most desperate times, the pain lingered.
Hatchan's presence and Nami's forgiveness seemed to heal those wounds further.
"Hey, everyone, look! That's Sabaody up ahead!" Camie suddenly exclaimed with excitement, pointing ahead.
Everyone gazed ahead, their faces adorned with involuntary smiles.
"Wow, amazing! This is Sabaody, huh?" Luffy exclaimed, his laughter ringing out.
Before them lay a dreamlike island enveloped in a massive bubble. The warm sunlight bathed the colourful bubbles, casting the entire island in a radiant, dreamy brilliance.
Even Luffy, who had encountered numerous fantastical islands before, couldn't help but be awestruck by Sabaody at this moment.
"It's so beautiful," Nami gasped in astonishment, her hand covering her mouth.
Girls always seemed to have a soft spot for such stunning sights.
"Sabaody, just as it's written in the books, truly is an island of dreams," Robin remarked, closing the book in her hand with a gentle smile as she gazed at the Sabaody Archipelago in the distance.
"I wonder if we'll find any special ingredients on this dreamy island," Sanji pondered aloud, lighting a cigarette and letting out a light puff of smoke.
"Ugh, I'm so tired. I could really use a good nap... and maybe some fine wine," Zoro grumbled, letting out a big yawn.
A little while later, under Hatchan's guidance, the boat slowly entered a current port in the Sabaody Archipelago.
Sabaody Archipelago consists of seventy-nine mangrove trees linked by bridges, creating rivers for boats to navigate throughout the entire area.
"The whole area of Sabaody, from No. 1 to No. 30, is considered off-limits. The ship coater we're looking for is located in the Unlawful area at No. 13. And absolutely avoid No. 60 to No. 69, as that's where the Marines are stationed," Hachi explained as the Sunny sailed along the river, navigating through the numbered mangroves.
"Due to its proximity to Marine Headquarters at Marineford, the Marine presence on Sabaody is quite strong."
As they sailed past mangroves numbered between 40 and 49, Hachi pointed out, "This stretch is known as the famous Sightseeing Street in Sabaody. And adjacent to it, from No. 30 to No. 39, is Sabaody's playground."
"Sightseeing street?" Nami's eyes gleamed with the desire to shop.
"Playground?" Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement, eager to explore and have fun.
The desire to play is also reflected in the eyes of others, like Usopp, Chopper, and even Camie.
"The playground of Sabaody Archipelago has been a dream of mine since childhood," Camie said, her face reflecting a mix of emotions as she gazed at the distant red trees.
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