Grove 65

As they spoke, the Bubble Gondola drew ever closer to the Sabaody Archipelago. Not only did the sea breeze grow warmer, but Gawain also caught sight of the enormous Yarukiman Mangrove.

The largest Yarukiman Mangrove was more than ten times taller than the ordinary mangroves around it. The canopy Gawain was looking at now belonged to that very tree.

At the same time, countless bubbles drifted through the gaps between the massive canopy's branches.

Those bubbles looked much like the ones blown from a toy bubble wand. The only difference was that the bubbles here were truly enormous.

And when larger bubbles reflected rainbow-colored light, they were countless times more beautiful than small ones.

Beside him, Mjosgard shook his head, tossing Gawain's trip to Marine Headquarters out of his mind.

Then he put on an excited smile and continued fulfilling his duties as a guide.

"Since this is your first time leaving Mary Geoise, you must have never seen a real Yarukiman Mangrove, right?

"Haha, let me introduce it to you!

"Yarukiman mangroves can often be found all over the world, but none of the mangroves elsewhere are as huge as the ones on Sabaody Island.

"Moreover, because Sabaody Island's mangroves have grown for so many years, their roots have intertwined with one another, forming spaces for people to walk on.

"In other words, the roots of every enormous mangrove are connected to a vast island formed by its root system.

"The Sabaody Archipelago currently has seventy-nine mangroves that can be called truly enormous. That number will continue to rise over time, but for now, Sabaody only has seventy-nine islands.

"Islands Seventy-Nine through Fifty are the places we often visit. As for the remaining islands, don't worry, I've been to them too. I can introduce them all to you.

"What a shame. If you weren't going to Marine Headquarters, I was planning to take you around every island!"

"There will always be time to tour Sabaody, just not now. We'll do it after we send the Merfolk home."

Gawain replied with a smile, and Mjosgard nodded in satisfaction.

Just then, the Bubble Gondola gradually slowed down. As it neared a stop, Mjosgard pointed at the Yarukiman Mangrove before them and said,

"This is Grove 65, the middle one among the nine mangroves bordering the Red Line.

"Both sides of this place are Marine garrisons, so there's really nothing interesting here. In a while, I'm going to the right side first. That leads to the shipyard and coating workshops.

"What about you? Do you want to come with me and take a look at the coating place first?"

"Going straight to the coating place?" Gawain asked. "Senior, wouldn't it be better to first find somewhere for the Fish-Men to settle down?"

"You're right!" Mjosgard hurriedly nodded. "I'll hand them over to the Marines shortly and have them send the Fish-Men to my residence at Grove 76!"

As his voice fell, the Bubble Gondola came to a complete stop. Gawain walked to the exit and nodded at the soldiers kneeling on one knee outside.

And those soldiers...

When they saw Gawain, they were genuinely stunned. Then they looked doubtfully toward the vice admiral recently assigned to garrison Sabaody.

They truly did not understand. When the Bubble Gondola had departed, hadn't the notice from Mary Geoise said there would be two Celestial Dragons?

Why was there only one before them?

Meanwhile, beside the vice admiral currently stationed there, his adjutant quietly said to him,

"Vice Admiral Doberman, have you seen that CP0 agent before? Why is he standing in front of Saint Mjosgard?"

"Don't call me Vice Admiral. Call me Doberman!"

Doberman first corrected him, then quietly answered,

"As for the identity of the person in front, although he isn't wearing a bubble helmet, can't you see the World Government emblem pinned to his collar?

"Your attention is all over the place. No wonder your Observation Haki still hasn't even gotten started after all this time, while your Armament Haki is so far ahead!"

"Sir, you literally beat my Armament Haki into me, all right?"

As they spoke, Doberman had already begun walking slowly toward Gawain's group. The adjutant could only stop complaining and follow him.

Passing through the kneeling soldiers, the tall Doberman arrived before Gawain and Mjosgard, bowed, and said,

"Welcome, Saint Gawain and Saint Mjosgard, to the seas!

"I am Marine Vice Admiral Doberman, temporarily serving as Sabaody's special envoy during this period. I stand ready at all times to receive you, my lords!"

While Doberman spoke, Gawain habitually and discreetly examined his attire.

Putting his appearance aside, his clothing alone differed from that of an ordinary Marine vice admiral. Doberman's coat was purplish red.

Clearly, this man's personality was probably not particularly conventional.

At the same time, Doberman had already straightened up. Faced with the Marines' welcome, Mjosgard lightly waved his hand.

"You've worked hard, Vice Admiral Doberman!"

"Hm?"

The stern-faced Doberman was abruptly shocked. What the hell?!!

Since when would a Celestial Dragon say something like that?!!

For a moment, Doberman instinctively moved his arms. He felt that this group of Celestial Dragons was somewhat off. Since when had Celestial Dragons become so polite?

Could they be pirates in disguise?

Mjosgard had no idea what Doberman was thinking. Filled with emotion, he was still reminiscing about the past.

"How nostalgic. Sabaody's sea breeze, filled with the scent of soap... The last time I came here was five years ago. I think Vice Admiral Onigumo was the one who received me then.

"Doberman, how has Onigumo been lately? I still owe him an apology.

"Because when I last came to Sabaody, I was dissatisfied with Vice Admiral Onigumo smoking a cigar in front of me, so I called your Fleet Admiral Sengoku and gave him quite an earful!

"Thinking about it now, I was terribly wrong back then!"

"This...?!"

Doberman froze, finally recalling what had happened to his old friend Onigumo five years ago.

Wasn't that right? Because Saint Mjosgard had been dissatisfied, Onigumo had been sent to the New World for more than three years of dangerous field duty!

So the man before him really was a Celestial Dragon?

And a Celestial Dragon was actually greeting them, even wanting to apologize to Onigumo?

For a time, Doberman, who was already not much of a talker, became even less capable of speaking. He felt as though he were dreaming.

How could Gawain possibly fail to see what Doberman was thinking? So he lightly clapped his hands.

"All right, Mjosgard. Settle the Merfolk first, then make small talk!"

"Right, right, right. I was too excited, so I keep forgetting what matters. My mistake!"

Mjosgard hurriedly nodded, then pointed behind him at the Merfolk, who had been frightened by the Marines and were hardly moved.

"Let's skip the small talk for now, Vice Admiral Doberman. I hope you can take these Merfolk to my residence at Grove 76!"

"We were... making small talk...?!

"You called me... Vice Admiral?

"Not lowly...?!"

After a string of shocks, Doberman's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Had the sun risen in the west with a trumpet blaring or something?

This was getting ridiculously polite. Could this really be a Celestial Dragon?

But this really was a Celestial Dragon!

Watching the stunned, stammering Doberman, Gawain lightly cleared his throat.

"Cough, cough. Vice Admiral Doberman, manage your expression.

"First send the Merfolk somewhere safe to live. If anything happens to even one of them, I guarantee you'll miss your officer's uniform."

"Yes!" Doberman finally snapped to attention.

Although Saint Gawain's words were not as unpleasant as those of other Celestial Dragons, they finally gave him a familiar feeling!

Doberman waved a hand, and his adjutant immediately approached the Fish-Men. He respectfully extended his right hand, inviting the uneasy Merfolk to follow behind him.

Just as the Merfolk were about to follow the Marines away, Tris, with her red fish tail, could not help turning around and shouting to Gawain,

"Lord Gawain, once your ship has been coated, you'll definitely take us back to the Ryugu Kingdom with you, right?"

"Don't worry. I've been looking forward to the Ryugu Kingdom for a long time."

Gawain nodded and gave her a positive answer.

Upon receiving Gawain's answer, Tris nodded heavily. Then, reassured, she followed the group.

Watching the Merfolk's departing backs, Mjosgard smiled as he wiped away a few tears of joy.

The way he looked at the Merfolk was exactly like an old father sending his child to kindergarten for the first time...

After wiping his tears dry, Mjosgard nudged Gawain with his elbow.

"Tsk, tsk. As expected of you. Even though I protected them for five years, they only mentioned your name.

"They didn't even ask about me once. Sigh."