Sabaody Archipelago
The Straw Hats weren't 100% sure about it, but they think their captain just used the Domination technique of Conqueror's Haki against Motobaro.
But they were sure of it now as they looked at Luffy's expression of surprise and excitement. Sanji appeared in front of Duval again.
"Alright, we're wasting too much time with you! Take this!! Parage Shot!!!"
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" SO GOOD!!!!! " Luffy shouted as he stuffed his mouth with Takoyaki Hatchan made. Camie smiled at him.
"I know right?! Hatchin makes the best takoyaki in the world!" Camie said while making some takoyaki with Pappag helping too.
The Straw Hats were currently on the Takoyaki 8 and they were having as much takoyaki as they could eat on board.
The Takoyaki 8 is a relatively small ship. The front of the aft section is designed to resemble a typical takoyaki food stall, and its sides are designed and decorated to look like octopus tentacles.
Complete with the proper cooking equipment, the ship is capable for anyone to produce delicious tasting takoyaki.
Luffy looked at the Den Den Mushi number Duval gave him. He chuckled to himself, remembering the new look the guy had now.
Upon confronting Sanji in order to get revenge, Duval got his entire facial structure rearranged by Sanji's kicks. The result of such a crude and violent operation was a complete successful makeover.
Due to Sanji's kicks, Duval's entire face had been rearranged into a handsome one almost completely different from the one he originally had (his only leftover features are very tiny spirals still visible on the ends of his eyebrows).
He absolutely loves it for the benefits it gives. Though turned handsome, Duval however has a hard time winking and thus his eyes would often not blink in unison.
This might also be because he's never had to wink before, as implied by Sanji. Pleased with his new appearance, Duval's been calling himself 'Handsome'.
He gave them the number for his Den Den Mushi so they can call him for help if needed before riding off to return to his peaceful country life.
The Straw Hats have been eating Hatchan's Takoyaki for a while now. It tired out Hatchan, Camie, and Pappag, as Luffy's and his crew's combined appetite proved difficult to defeat.
The three joined the Straw Hats on the Sunny for a spot of tea. They chatted a lot with each other.
Meanwhile, Luffy approached Kaya who was reading a geography book while Usopp was sleeping soundly on her thighs.
Usopp has been pushing himself a lot lately. Ever since Thriller Bark, he has a new sense of discipline now as he got even more serious than ever. Fighting Kuma changed everyone's mindset about the world.
"What does Sabaody Archipelago look like, Kaya?" Luffy asked her. Kaya hummed as she flipped through some pages of the book she was reading.
She started explaining Sabaody Archipelago to Luffy. Though it is called an archipelago, it is actually a massive mangrove forest growing out from the middle of the ocean with each tree of the forest serving as an 'island' on which people live.
Since it is just a group of trees and not an island like those found in the Grand Line, it has no magnetic pull for which to affect a Log Pose.
Aside from its unique environment and it being a booming business hub, it is notable for the Tenryūbito who visit there and a thriving slave trade supported by them.
The Sabaody Archipelago is made up of 79 separate trees known as Yarukiman Mangrove.
The Yarukiman Mangrove trees are the largest mangroves in the world and are strong enough to grow from the bottom of the ocean to the top.
Each tree is called a grove and serves as an island where people live. People can get from one grove to another via the various bridges built connecting around the many tree roots.
The seventy-nine trees are divided into several different areas, with each one dependent on the number of the area.
1-29 is a lawless area where pirates and bounty hunters run amok. 30-39 is Sabaody Park, an amusement park with bubble-based attractions.
40-49 is a tourist area filled with shops and souvenir stands while 50-59 is a shipping area. 60-69 is a local headquarters for the Marines while 70-79 is a hotel town.
Because this is the only point where one can cross into the New World, the location of the Sabaody Archipelago makes it ideal for anyone who needs to prepare to cross this section of the ocean by either means.
Thus, everyone from the high-ranked nobles to the traversing pirates use the Sabaody Archipelago as a rest and preparation point as they look back on their previous journeys and prepare to enter the New World.
Everything on this island is bubble-based, with the bubbles from the Yarukiman Mangroves used in a variety of fashions.
The bubbles can be manipulated into a cart known as a Bon Chari by simply sitting on it. Many other bubbles are used for the rides and attractions of Sabaody Park, including the ferris wheel, drop tower and roller coaster.
Bubbles can also be transformed into individualized hotel rooms at certain lodging areas on the island. It is also so far the only place shown other than Fish-Man Island where coating can be done.
"Everyone!! We have arrived at Sabaody Archipelago!!!" Nami shouted, gathering Luffy's attention. Luffy cheered and got up.
Kaya looked at Usopp.
"Usopp, time to wake up~. We arrived at Sabaody Archipelago~" Kaya whispered warmly at him. Usopp slowly woke up and looked at his girlfriend in the eyes. Kaya smiled at him.
" Chu~" She kissed him on the lips. Usopp laughed as he sat up. He got up and helped her get up as they arrived beside Luffy who had an awed expression.
"What's up with those soap bubbles?" Luffy asked. Everyone wanted to know about it too. Hatchan and Camie volunteered to give them all an explanation.
The Yarukiman Mangrove are giant striped trees that have extremely long roots that reach all the way to the bottom of the sea, 10,000 meters down.
Seventy nine of these trees make up the entire Sabaody Archipelago; so far, this is the only place they are known to grow.
Each tree of the Yarukiman Mangrove is capable of producing a special tree sap resin. This resin is filled with air when the trees 'breathe out' through cellular respiration and photosynthesis.
This results in the resin forming bubbles that float through the air. The resin bubbles are solid enough that someone can jump on them without popping them.
However they are also completely permeable, allowing a person to ride in or store things inside of them without the bubble popping when they pass through.
The Tenryūbito use such bubbles as air helmets during their visit in the Archipelago, in order to protect themselves from 'breathing the same air as commoners'.
They also took advantage of the bubbles permeable nature, such as by eating ice cream though it, something that couldn't be done through a regular helmet.
The resin is also used for Coating ships, allowing them to submerse to incredible depths and move freely under water. This process is necessary for ships attempting to go to Fish-Man Island.
"Hey guys! I wanna go to the theme park! Nami! Nojiko! Robin! You wanna go on a date with me?! " Luffy asked them after they docked Sunny at Grove 41.
Nami gasped and blushed at his offer, Robin was calm but there was a blush on her face too. Nojiko smirked at Luffy. Sanji growled angrily, jealous that his captain was so lucky with the girls.
" It's about time you ask us that question, Luffy. Hell yes, we wanna go on a date with you. " Nojiko decided for Nami and Robin. Luffy grinned and laughed happily. Kaya and Usopp looked at each other.
"Amusement park date?" Usopp asked her. Kaya nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, amusement park date." Kaya replied with a warm smile on her face. Luffy cracked his knuckles.
"Alright crew! You guys read the newspaper yesterday right? About how 10 other Supernovas are here at Sabaody Archipelago at the same time?" Luffy asked them. They nodded back.
" Including 7 of us in the crew who have bounties over 100 million Belly, that makes it 17 Supernovas here at Sabaody Archipelago." Luffy did the math. He then grinned broadly at them.
" Meet back here after two hours. Sanji, look after Zoro so that he won't get lost." Luffy ordered. Sanji complained loudly but complied with Luffy's orders nonetheless.
"Everyone."
The crew all turned to face Hatchan who looked at them seriously. "Once we go into town, we're bound to see some Tenryūbito around the place." Hatchan narrowed his eyes.
" No matter what might happen while you're all in town, you've gotta promise you won't defy them! Even if people are killed right in front of your eyes! You just have to pretend you didn't see anything! " Hatchan added. Luffy frowned.
"I'm afraid I can't keep that promise, Hatchan. Even though I'm a pirate, I have morals and so do we. When I see something wrong I will correct it, even if it means having an Admiral chase my ass to the end of the world." He then sighed and palmed his face.
"But I'll try to keep my composure, if that's what you want." Luffy grumbled. Hatchan smiled.
"Thank you, Luffy-san. Thank you."
To be continued....