Sabaody Archipelago lay before the Red Line, positioned in the middle of the Grand Line.
The islands were formed from enormous mangrove trees, their exposed roots serving as roads and foundations. From these roots, translucent bubbles constantly emerged, drifting upward before bursting softly in the air.
As the final gateway to the New World, Sabaody attracted pirates, merchants, bounty hunters, and all manner of opportunists. On the surface, it was beautiful, prosperous, and unlike any other place in the world.
Yet beneath that glamorous exterior lurked unspeakable darkness.
Human trafficking dens, slave auctions, and lawless zones flourished openly. Crime thrived in the shadows, making the archipelago a place where filth and splendor coexisted in uneasy balance.
In one such shadowed alley, a figure suddenly appeared.
"Finally in a New World."
Lucien Graves materialized without warning and instantly shifted into a guarded stance, his body responding on instinct alone. After confirming there was no immediate danger, he frowned and surveyed his surroundings with sharp, amethyst-colored eyes.
When he stepped out of the alley, warm sunlight spilled over him, and the sight before him gave him pause.
The street was bustling and vibrant. Colorful bubbles rose endlessly from the ground, floating upward before popping at a certain height. Bubble cars glided smoothly along the road, and even the surrounding buildings and public facilities rested atop massive bubbles.
At a glance, Lucien knew exactly where he was.
"The One Piece world, Sabaody Archipelago."
There was no doubt.
He had returned to the One Piece world once again.
Excitement, restraint, and a faint thrill intertwined within him. This world held special meaning for Lucien, far more than most others he had passed through.
More importantly, it was a world overflowing with major figures, hidden powerhouses, and dangerous antagonists. The potential gains here likely surpassed those of Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, Fate, and even Re:Zero combined.
First, he needed information.
He had to determine the current point in time. Was this still Luffy's childhood era, or the same timeline he had first arrived in? Was this the original world, or a diverging one entirely? The state of the world mattered, and so did setting his priorities.
"Hey, kid!"
Lucien's thoughts were interrupted as three burly pirates approached him. Firearms were tucked into their waistbands, while daggers and long swords gleamed in their hands. Without hesitation, they attempted to shove him back into the alley.
In the One Piece world, robbery and murder were everyday occurrences.
Lucien's expression cooled.
"Stop breathing."
He left behind only those two words as he brushed past them, walking calmly down the street. He needed to buy a few packs of cigarettes. He had run out back in the Re:Zero world and had not tasted one in quite some time.
Nicotine addiction meant nothing to him. With complete control over his own cells, suppressing such urges was effortless. To Lucien, smoking was less about dependence and more about filling an emptiness.
At least, that was how he understood it.
Behind him, the three pirates clutched their throats in terror. Their eyes bulged as they gasped silently, unable to draw in air.
Moments later, after a few violent convulsions, they collapsed lifelessly onto the alley floor.
Half an hour later, in Red Tree Area 24, Lucien sat beneath a sun umbrella on the open-air terrace of a third-floor café. A thick stack of newspapers rested in his hands.
His innate ability allowed him to automatically understand the languages and writing systems of any world he entered, making the newspapers easy to read.
At the moment, however, his expression was unsettled.
The paper he held was the most recent issue, and the bold headlines were impossible to ignore.
"Straw Hat Pirates openly defy the World Government, breach Enies Lobby."
"Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy, bounty: 300 million Berries."
"Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro, bounty…"
"Cat Burglar Nami…"
"Pet Chopper…"
"Demon Child Nico Robin…"
"Cyborg Franky…"
Lucien was not surprised to see these names. This was the same One Piece world he had first arrived in. Sanji and Usopp were still absent from the Straw Hat Pirates, confirming that much.
But then his gaze paused.
Who exactly were The Furious One Gang and Rose Queen?
"Straw Hat Pirates' The Furious One Gang, bounty: 2.9 billion Berries."
"Rose Queen, bounty: 1.1 billion Berries."
Lucien studied the bounty photos carefully.
The Furious One Gang was a towering, muscular man with a black buzz cut and a bare upper body. A centipede-like scar ran diagonally from his left shoulder to his abdomen. He wore only black elastic shorts and exuded raw, overwhelming power.
Most notably, he possessed the ability to transform into a massive green brute reminiscent of a certain legendary monster, wielding a wolf-toothed club with terrifying ferocity.
Rose Queen, on the other hand, wore a strapless crimson gown adorned with rose patterns. Her long, wavy purplish-red hair cascaded down her back, and she stood in blood-red crystal high heels. Her figure was seductive, her presence regal, like a queen born to dominate.
According to Marine intelligence, her abilities were unclear, though she was suspected of possessing some form of control over others.
Lucien was certain.
These two were either reincarnators or transmigrators.
They had effectively replaced Sanji and Usopp.
The timeline discrepancy was also glaring. His first arrival had been during Luffy's childhood, yet now the events had progressed all the way to the Enies Lobby arc.
Despite everything, Luffy had still chosen the path of piracy.
Even more alarming, the current Luffy was far stronger than he should have been.
From the bounty reports alone, it was clear that Luffy had already awakened Haoshoku Haki, mastered both Armament and Observation Haki, and even unlocked Gear Fourth.
At Enies Lobby.
This was no longer the One Piece Lucien remembered.
The deviations were massive.
The story was completely distorted.
Two unknown variables stood beside Luffy, and his growth had accelerated beyond reason.
"Guest, these are the older newspapers you asked for."
A waiter placed another thick stack of papers onto the table. He had searched extensively. Remembering the generous tip Lucien had given him earlier, the man's mood was visibly bright.
Lucien set aside the Straw Hat Pirates' report and began flipping through the older newspapers, scanning years' worth of events.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea were largely unchanged. Donquixote Doflamingo, Dracule Mihawk, Gekko Moriah, and Boa Hancock were all accounted for.
The Revolutionary Army kept a low profile, with little reported activity.
Among the Four Emperors, Kaido, Big Mom, and Red-Haired Shanks remained as expected.
Then Lucien's hand stopped.
Fire Fist Ace, second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Lucien stared at the article, his expression shifting repeatedly.
He quickly searched through the remaining newspapers until he found additional reports.
There was no mistake.
Ace was alive.
Lucien was absolutely certain that Ace had died. He had personally ensured it. The outcome had even triggered a reward from his ability at the time.
Yet here Ace stood, alive and thriving.
There was only one explanation.
Another transmigrator, or perhaps a rebirth.
Either way, killing him once clearly had not been enough.
With Natsuki Subaru as precedent, even killing twice might be insufficient.
Worse still, this Ace was terrifyingly strong. One year ago, he had clashed head-on with Kuzan, an Admiral of the Marines, suppressing him throughout the entire battle.
Now, he was widely regarded as the successor to the world's strongest man.
Lucien finally set the newspaper down and moved on to the reports concerning the Marine Admirals.
Akainu Sakazuki, Aokiji Kuzan, and Kizaru Borsalino were all as expected.
But the strongest among them stood out immediately.
Silver Dragon Enel.
Lucien exhaled slowly.
He had anticipated this outcome. When he first arrived in this world, Enel had merely been one of the Marines' monstrous Vice Admirals.
Now, he had ascended to the rank of Admiral, and not just any Admiral, but the strongest among them.
Lucien was not surprised in the slightest.