The Supernovas Become Prey / An Embarrassed Robin ...

Arthur likewise had not expected the Straw Hat Pirates to have gradually caught up in the span of two months.

Arthur's route was much shorter than Luffy's.

Leaving aside the East Blue, Arthur had Robin's Eternal Poses, allowing him to cut out many unnecessary stops. His route through the Grand Line had been Whiskey Peak, Alabasta, Sky Island, and Water 7.

Luffy's was different: Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, Drum Island, Alabasta, Sky Island, and Long Ring Long Land before he finally reached Water 7.

There had also been detours such as the Marine Branch at G-8 Fortress.

Arthur had been far, far ahead of Luffy and the others.

Does that mean the Paramount War is about to begin? Arthur wondered quietly, opening his eyes and looking at the blue sky.

(P.S. The picture on Sanji's first wanted poster was a drawing, which caused trouble for that human-trafficking boss in the original story. His second bounty was higher and had a real photograph, and he had to be captured alive.)

Chapter 62: The Supernovas Become Prey

The Sabaody Archipelago lay before the Red Line at the midpoint of the Grand Line. It was an island formed by many enormous trees. Because those trees were the world's largest mangroves, the Yarukiman Mangroves, the Sabaody Archipelago lacked the magnetic field found on other islands.

Thus, when a Log Pose reached the Red Line, it would be drawn to Fish-Man Island ten thousand meters below.

The Sabaody Archipelago's most famous attraction was its bubble culture. It was also close to Marine Headquarters and the end of the first half of the pirates' journey. All sorts of people mingled there, drawing merchants, bounty hunters, and human traffickers in droves.

Merchants fought desperately to secure a piece of territory on the island and make a fortune.

Bounty hunters and human traffickers came together because the Sabaody Archipelago was a place pirates had to pass through. Their gathering had created the Lawless Zone, and they too hoped to make a fortune.

Even though the island had a Marine base, the Marines would not take the initiative against the pirates. The combined pirate forces from the various routes were simply too vast.

The Marine base in the Sabaody Archipelago mainly served the Celestial Dragons who came down from the Holy Land Mary Geoise.

Without a doubt, the Sabaody Archipelago was the most prosperous island on the Grand Line, and also the most chaotic.

"Is that the end of the Grand Line? What a beautiful island. It's even prettier than Water 7."

The Don Stallion sailed slowly toward the Sabaody Archipelago. Resting her chin in her hands, Nami gazed at the approaching island, its many towering trees, and its countless transparent bubbles, and sighed in admiration.

Having followed Arthur from the East Blue, Nami had gradually broadened her horizons on their journey through the Grand Line.

She had seen the oddly shaped Cactus Island, also known as Whiskey Peak, an impossibly vast desert kingdom, and a Sky Island suspended in the air. She had also confirmed that Shandora, the city of gold from the world-famous fairy tale "Noland the Liar," really existed, and seen the enormous fountains of Water 7. Now, faced with the Sabaody Archipelago, Nami wanted to draw all these islands and their routes.

In fact, she had already begun.

"The Sabaody Archipelago is also called Soap Bubble Island. It's an island formed by the world's largest mangroves. Its distinctive culture comes from the roots secreting a special natural resin as they breathe. The resin expands with air to form bubbles. These bubbles don't burst in the Sabaody Archipelago, so they're used in all sorts of ways. Pirates who want to reach Fish-Man Island have to take advantage of the archipelago's bubble culture to coat their ships," Arthur explained to Nami and Robin from beside them. "The island is made up of seventy-nine mangroves. Each tree is an island with towns and all kinds of facilities on it, and people have divided the seventy-nine islands into zones."

"There are six zones in total. Groves 1 through 29 are the Lawless Zone, mainly home to slave shops, slave auction houses, bounty hunters, and human traffickers."

"Groves 30 through 39 mainly have shopping streets, residential streets, parks, amusement parks, and so on..."

"Groves 40 through 49 are mainly sightseeing areas and specialty shops. That's where civilians enter the Sabaody Archipelago, and where we'll land first."

"Groves 50 through 59 mainly have shipyards and coating craftsmen. When we want to go to Fish-Man Island, we'll have to get the ship coated there."

"Groves 60 through 69 are the Marines' base in the Sabaody Archipelago, as well as the government's entrance and exit."

"As for Groves 70 through 79, they're mainly hotel streets. We're going to stay in the Sabaody Archipelago for a while, so we'll need to book a room there."

When he finished, Arthur looked at Robin and said, "The island is chaotic. Pirates cause trouble in certain areas, but the Marines won't pay them any mind, so you don't need to wear a cloak. A veil will do."

"All right, I understand." Robin smiled gently and did as he said, putting on a blue-black veil the same color as her hair and eyes.

"Once we're on the island, enjoy yourselves! There are plenty of things here you never saw in the East Blue." Arthur rested a hand on Nami's head, ruffled her short orange hair, and smiled at her eager expression. "We'll be staying on the island for a while. Whatever you run into, don't back down. Everything is within my range of perception, so there's no need to hold yourself back..."

"Mm-hmm..." Nami nodded like a chick pecking at grain, her eyes gleaming gold.

"The same goes for you. You don't need to worry," Arthur told Robin. "Once we're on the island, we'll split up for now. I'll come find you at dusk."

"Thank you for your hard work, Captain," Robin said, propping her cheek on one hand.

He can sense the whole island?

I still underestimated you, Captain.

Arthur knew nothing of Robin's thoughts. After giving them his instructions, he turned his gaze toward the Sabaody Archipelago, a rare hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Have nearly all the Supernovas landed already?

The last time, Arthur had won a battle against Enel on Sky Island. Although the enhancement had made Arthur considerably stronger, his physical attributes had not changed.

During this time, Arthur had focused on his spear technique. Since leaving Water 7, he had raised it from grade B, when combined with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, to grade B+, but only his spear technique had improved.

His physical attributes and other powers had remained unchanged.

His grade C Armament Haki, in particular, was pitifully low compared to his grade A++ Observation Haki.

Although his strength had already reached a monstrous level, Arthur still felt it was far from enough.

Ordinary pirates could no longer provide him with victories.

Now, Arthur naturally set his sights on the highly renowned Supernovas.

This particular generation of Supernovas would be known as the Worst Generation.

Even if the enhancements they brought could not compare to Enel's and Crocodile's, they would be much stronger than those from the dozens of previous victories.

In Arthur's eyes, this generation of Supernovas had undoubtedly become prey.

Chapter 63: An Embarrassed Robin

The Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 41.

A silver-white, three-masted sailing ship with a white horse's head at its bow had pulled up to shore, furled its sails, and dropped anchor.

Creak—

A mechanical staircase built by the exceptionally skilled shipwright Franky extended down to the shore, and three figures descended.

"Go this way and you'll soon see a shop that specializes in Bubble Cars." Arthur cupped Nami's head and kissed her hard on her red lips, then pointed in a direction and smiled at her and Robin. "This is where we part ways. Have fun."

"Mm-hmm. You too..." Nami waved, a sweet smile on her face.

"Goodbye." Robin, carrying a shoulder bag, smiled and waved as well.

"Remember, if anyone gives you trouble, you don't have to put up with it. Just deal with them. I'll be watching you the whole time," Arthur reminded them as he walked backward. "If you see lightning striking from the sky, don't worry or be afraid. Just pretend you don't know anything about it."

"Yes, yes..." Nami and Robin nodded repeatedly.

Seeing that, Arthur waved, turned into a bolt of blue-white lightning with a smile, and vanished.

"You're so gentle, Captain," Robin said with a soft laugh behind her hand as she looked at the spot where Arthur had disappeared.

Nami nodded, her face full of happiness. "Of course. He's my knight, after all," she said proudly.

"Yes, yes..." Robin nodded helplessly. "Then please keep your knight in check from now on. He shouldn't last so long at night. It's very disturbing."

"Oh? Then who was it secretly using her ability to watch at night? I haven't even exposed you, and you're already accusing me, Sister Robin?"

"..."

Before long, a girl wearing a smug expression and a red-faced, deeply embarrassed woman walked side by side farther into the island.

"Neigh—"

A magnificent white steed galloped through the air toward the Lawless Zone at a moderate pace.

A flying white horse was a legendary creature found in stories.

The sight of such a legend come to life was undoubtedly the focus of everyone's attention.

Wherever the white horse passed, people stared after it and its rider in amazement, their expressions dazed, shocked, or greedy.

"Hey, hey... Could that guy be him?"

"It can't be anyone else. White clothes, blond hair. I can't see that legendary sword, but I'm pretty sure it has to be him—the Knight of Knights."

"I never expected the Knight of Knights to have a flying white horse!"

"Damn it... He's so handsome, so strong, and so famous. He's even the World's Greatest Bounty Hunter, and now he has such a cool mount too. Damn it!"

"Should we go tell the boss the Knight of Knights has come to the Sabaody Archipelago?"

"Let's go—"

"..."

Arthur, riding the white horse, heard all the chatter and whispers behind him.

World's Greatest Bounty Hunter?

World's Greatest Bounty Hunter?

Bounty hunting was a very disreputable profession to begin with. Many people even considered it part of the Underworld, and most bounty hunters were third-rate.

Arthur had defeated Crocodile, becoming the first bounty hunter to defeat a Shichibukai, so it was only natural that people had given him the title.

He had heard Franky use the title before, but Arthur did not care for it.

The titles he wanted were World's Greatest Swordsman and King of Knights.

Those two were naturally his goals as well.

Grove 13.

The King's Horse landed steadily, and Arthur dismounted, looking up at the bar at the top of the stairs in silence.

—Shakky's Rip-off Bar.

It was a bar in the Lawless Zone, owned by a mature woman named Shakky.

Few people knew that Shakky was a pirate who had retired forty years ago and now lived in the Sabaody Archipelago with Rayleigh, the Pirate King's right-hand man.

She was also an information broker, though just how extensive her information was remained unknown.

What was certain, however, was that she was no ordinary person.

Arthur had come here for only two reasons.

He had not come to meet Rayleigh through Shakky, much less to buy information about the Supernovas and their whereabouts from her.

Arthur wanted to test just how extensive Shakky's information network was and whether she knew he had killed the Arlong Pirates in Cocoyasi Village in the East Blue.

In truth, whether she knew or not, Arthur had never considered befriending Rayleigh. From the moment he killed Hachi, his relationship with Rayleigh had been decided.

Even if they were not enemies, they would definitely be strangers.

Secondly, Arthur wanted to buy something from Shakky, or learn from her whether there was a shop in the Sabaody Archipelago that sold something found only in the New World.

Creak—

Holding the reins, Arthur led the King's Horse up the stairs to the bar's entrance and pushed the door open.

"Welcome. What would you like?"

The bar was very quiet, with no customers. Leaning against the counter was a mature-looking woman with short black hair and a cigarette in her mouth. She was Shakky, the bar's owner.

Seeing Arthur enter with the white horse behind him, Shakky was not struck by the sight of the knight and his white horse. Instead, she elegantly blew a smoke ring and spoke with a smile.

"Do you have red wine?" Arthur sat on a stool at the counter, while the King's Horse lay down behind him, creating a considerable obstruction.

"I do, but it's two hundred thousand Beli a glass. Would you like one?" Shakky paid no mind to the King's Horse blocking the way. Nor did she immediately start preparing a drink, instead quoting an astronomical price with a smile.

"If it's worth the price, I can accept that," Arthur said with a nod and a chuckle.

"Then I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. It's just ordinary red wine," Shakky said, shaking her head.

"In that case, forget the wine." Arthur placed both hands on the counter and stared at Shakky with his emerald-green eyes. "Do you know who I am?" he asked bluntly.

"..."

Chapter 64: Arthur in the Eyes of the World

"Do you know who I am?"