Chapter 35: Arrival at Sabaody
The voyage from Marineford to Sabaody Archipelago was short—only two hours. Soon, the distinctive groves of giant mangrove trees, with their soap-bubble-producing bark, appeared on the horizon.
"Is that Sabaody?" Satoru murmured, standing at the bow. He'd spent most of his life in Windmill Village and Marineford. The sheer scale and implied chaos of this famed archipelago were new to him.
"You can already see it? Your eyes are honestly unfair," Chris said, coming to stand beside him. The others could only make out a distant, greenish blur. Satoru, apparently, could see the bustling docks and floating bubbles.
"If I had eyes like that," a cadet named Jiro chimed in, "I wouldn't be a Marine. I'd be a reporter. Or a... scout."
"Why's that?" another asked.
"Are you stupid? It's like built-in binoculars. You could see... everything. Even with the curtains drawn, you'd know exactly what's happening inside any room."
"Now that is a useful ability," the second cadet said, his voice taking on a dreamy, slightly lecherous tone.
Satoru listened, his expression flat. Are their minds always in the gutter?
"Don't judge them too harshly," Chris whispered, leaning closer. "They're sixteen, seventeen. Peak of their... hormonal years. You understand."
Satoru was only ten, but his demeanor often made them forget his age.
"So, be honest," Chris continued, his voice dropping even further, a mischievous glint in his otherwise noble eyes. "You haven't... you know. Used them for that. Peeking into houses. Especially at night."
Satoru gave him a deadpan stare. Even the seemingly upright Chris? Herac, standing nearby, was also pretending not to listen while clearly straining to hear the answer.
"So I should 'understand' you too, then," Satoru said flatly.
"Ah, no need, no need!" Chris straightened up immediately, his princely composure snapping back into place.
Chris—full name Ross Chris—was a former prince from a Grand Line kingdom. No one was quite sure what possessed him to forsake his throne for a Marine uniform, but he'd never lost his aristocratic bearing. Even now, he maintained an air of refined dignity.
As their ship finally docked at the Marine port in Sabaody, no official greeting party awaited them. They were still just cadets.
At the local Marine base, a Vice Admiral with a cigar clenched between his teeth—Vice Admiral Akira—received the report.
"The cadets have docked, sir."
"Hmph. The orders from Headquarters are clear," Akira grumbled, blowing out a smoke ring. "No matter what trouble they stumble into, we are not to intervene unless they formally request aid. What is Sengoku thinking? Are they being set up to fail?"
He was a former student of Zephyr himself. During his own graduation trial, nearby Marine support had been permissible. This new rule felt like abandonment.
The junior officer beside him could only shrug, equally baffled.
Back at the dock, Chris addressed his classmates before they disembarked.
"Listen up. Once ashore, you're free to explore. But remember: do not cause trouble. Do not let hot blood override cold sense. Some mistakes cannot be undone here."
He was the only aristocrat among them. He knew the glittering surface of Sabaody hid festering darkness—slave markets, underground auctions, dealings that would sicken any person of conscience. These cadets had joined the Marines out of a sense of justice. Witnessing such evils might provoke them to act rashly, and the powers behind that darkness were often connected to the World Nobles themselves. It was a trap they could not afford to spring.
"We'll be careful, Chris," one cadet assured him. "We won't stick our noses where they don't belong. We save our fists for the Evil Skull Pirates."
"Good. And one more thing," Chris's tone turned deadly serious. "There will be Celestial Dragons here. If you encounter one, you will adopt the highest form of respect. You will kneel. You will not make eye contact. Is that clear?"
This was the most critical warning. As a noble, he understood the protocol—and the fatal consequences of breaching it—better than any of them.
"Chris, relax," Satoru said, walking over and giving his friend a light pat on the back. "We're only here for a day. The odds of running into that much trouble are slim."
"It's not the others I'm most worried about," Chris said, turning his sharp gaze on Satoru. "It's you."
The blunt statement momentarily silenced Satoru.
After two years, Chris knew him well. Beneath the calm, easygoing exterior was a will of absolute steel and a pride that bowed to no one. That unshakeable core was what Chris feared most. In a place like Sabaody, where the wrong glance at the wrong person could mean death or enslavement, Satoru's innate defiance was a powder keg waiting for a spark.
(End of Chapter)
✨If you're enjoying this story, consider supporting me on Patreon —
Patreon.com/TofuChan
💕Patreon members get early access to chapters, bonus content, and voting power on future ideas.💕
Every bit of support helps me write more and faster. Thank you so much for reading! 🥰
Bonus Chapter For Every 100 Power Stones
Lets hit the goal of 150 Patreon Members now for 5 Extra Chapters 💕
We are at 140 members right now.
Donate me Stoness!!!
The poll taken in Patreon was Won by Naruto: Path to Godhood with Kamui so please add it to your collection💕