From a distance, the outline of the Sabaody Archipelago gradually came into view.
The "ground" of Sabaody was not land in the usual sense. It was formed from the massive roots of the Yarukiman Mangrove trees, their enormous systems floating atop the sea.
These mangroves secreted a special natural resin through respiration. Once exposed to the air, the resin expanded into bubbles that drifted skyward. However, the bubbles were only stable within the specific climate range of the mangroves. Once they left Sabaody's atmospheric zone, the resin lost its properties and the bubbles burst.
Bubble culture permeated every corner of the archipelago.
It was beautiful.
If you did not know what hid beneath the surface.
For many members of the Nightfall Pirates, this was their first time seeing Sabaody. Most of them came from the Four Seas. The sight of floating groves and drifting bubbles felt almost dreamlike.
Their arrival spread quickly.
Even before the three ships reached shore, word had already circulated through the lawless zones.
Pirates typically docked in Groves 1 through 29.
The Nightfall Pirates' movements were impossible to conceal. Whenever they landed somewhere, someone would record and broadcast it with an eye-catching title. Even those who refused to pay for the full footage could guess everything just from the headline.
Three imposing pirate ships approached.
Under countless watchful eyes, the Nightfall Pirates entered Grove 18, one of the lawless areas.
Teach stepped onto the root-formed shore first. The crew followed, indifferent to the stares around them. There was no need to care.
"Wallace," Teach said calmly, glancing back, "take some men and find coating craftsmen. Have the ships coated."
"Understood," Wallace replied with a nod.
There were only two ways into the New World.
One was controlled by the World Government. It required passing directly over the Red Line. Teach himself had once left the New World that way.
The other path was through Fish-Man Island, ten thousand meters beneath the sea, passing under the Red Line through the deep ocean.
Fish-Man Island lay directly below the Red Line.
Naturally, the Nightfall Pirates chose the second route.
"Find more than one craftsman," Teach added. "Try to finish within three days."
Relying on a single coating specialist would take too long.
"The rest of you can explore," Teach said.
No one foolish enough to provoke them was likely to appear. Their strength alone served as a deterrent.
If someone did step forward to test them, Teach would not mind cleaning up the archipelago a little.
"You twenty, come with me. We're visiting an elder."
Curiosity flickered through the crew.
An elder?
Who could possibly deserve that title from Teach?
Gar and Pito exchanged glances. They knew.
Not everyone could follow. Only around twenty members accompanied Teach. The rest scattered across the groves to enjoy themselves. Shopping. Eating. Watching bubble shows.
Sabaody had everything.
Its proximity to Marine Headquarters made it relatively safe. Combined with its status as the final stop before the New World and its unique bubble-based infrastructure, large-scale pirate trouble was rare.
Occasionally, World Nobles would visit to purchase slaves.
The stability of Sabaody existed only because of its closeness to Marine Headquarters. In the future, once Headquarters relocated to the New World's G-1 Branch, the Marines would no longer tightly control Sabaody.
When that happened, the archipelago would truly become lawless.
At the Marine base on Sabaody:
"The Nightfall Pirates have arrived, Rear Admiral. Should we take action?"
A colonel stood before the commanding officer.
The Rear Admiral shook his head.
"Take action? With what? Was Mostima not enough of a lesson? Do you want the Nightfall Pirates added to our casualty list?"
His tone was blunt.
He understood clearly. A Rear Admiral did not possess the qualifications to confront them. Too many capable Marines had already died at their hands.
"Inform Marine Headquarters," he ordered. "If something happens, they'll decide. The New World war is ongoing. We don't provoke additional trouble."
"Yes, Rear Admiral."
Grove 13.
Inside a tavern, Shakky leaned against the counter and smiled.
"He's almost here," she said lightly. "Are you ready?"
Seated at the bar was Silvers Rayleigh.
He lifted his glass and took a small sip.
"It's been a while since I've held a sword. I wonder if I've gotten rusty."
Shakky chuckled. She remembered well that Teach and Rayleigh had once fought. Now Teach had returned. Stronger. Vastly stronger.
"You should be careful," she added. "He's not the same as he was three years ago."
Rayleigh's smile remained calm.
"And you're looking forward to collecting a debt, aren't you?"
Shakky did not deny it.
Teach owed her one billion Berries for information regarding the Dark-Dark Fruit. The agreement had been simple. Once confirmed, he would pay.
Since Teach consumed the fruit, she had been waiting.
"I have people to support," she said with a teasing smile.
Rayleigh did not fully believe her tone.
Maintaining an intelligence network required immense funding. Spies. Training. Bribes. Equipment. Information did not decay, but credibility did. One leak or false report could ruin an organization permanently.
Shakky's intelligence network had once flourished under the Rocks Pirates. After the fall of Rocks, it struggled. Without steady backing, expansion became unsustainable.
Now it was self-sufficient, focused mostly on the Four Seas and the Grand Line. Safe territory.
Expansion required capital.
A bottomless pit.
Even the Navy spent massive portions of its annual budget on intelligence.
"They're here," Rayleigh said suddenly.
He sensed them.
Shakky smiled toward the closed tavern door.
She had deliberately kept it closed to outside customers today. No "Closed" sign hung outside, but she was not welcoming strangers.
The door opened.
Teach stepped inside.
Behind him followed twenty members of the Nightfall Pirates.
The tavern was quiet. Only two people inside.
Many of the crew recognized Rayleigh instantly.
Though he had disappeared from the seas for years, the name of the Dark King still echoed loudly.
Seeing him in person was different from hearing rumors.
But judging by Teach's demeanor, this was not a meeting of strangers.
"Long time no see," Teach said, nodding before taking a seat at the bar.
"You're full of spirit," Rayleigh replied with a soft laugh.
His gaze swept over the crew.
They were young.
Powerful.
Still growing.
His eyes lingered briefly on Redyat, Teach's first mate and the son of Redfield. A young man already possessing Conqueror's Haki and a top-tier Devil Fruit.
And there was also Ares in the New World.
The Nightfall Pirates were beginning to resemble the Rocks Pirates in raw potential.
But they were different.
The Rocks Pirates were bound by profit and suppressed by strength alone. There had been no real camaraderie. That was why Rocks ultimately failed.
Teach's crew felt different.
Without further delay, Teach turned toward Shakky.
"Here's your billion Berries."
He glanced at Nelson.
Nelson activated his ability.
In an instant, thick stacks of cash appeared, piling into a corner of the tavern. One billion Berries filled the room with the scent of fresh paper.
Rayleigh and Shakky were visibly surprised.
"Young man," Shakky said lightly to Nelson, "could you move that upstairs for me?"
Nelson looked at Teach.
Teach gave a small nod.
The mountain of money vanished and reappeared on the tavern's second floor.
Shakky's smile widened.
Teach never broke his word.
And now, he was not short of money.
As far as Teach was concerned, a billion Berries was a small price for valuable intelligence.
And Shakky's information was worth every coin.