"Sig, are you really alright?" Morio asked worriedly, looking at the exhausted Sig.
"There have just been a lot of people receiving treatment these past few days, but it won't interfere with our business! Don't doubt my professionalism as a Navigator... Steer in this direction!"
Sig pointed roughly to the lower left...
At this time, the Red Force was sailing on the seabed, and as a "mature Navigator," he was quite adept at underwater navigation.
From the Sabaody Archipelago to Fish-Man Island, it's not as simple as just covering your face and diving straight down. You have to take advantage of the ocean currents, since Fish-Man Island is 10,000 meters below the sea!
Not far from the Sabaody Archipelago, there is a massive drop-off current. Once inside, the coated vessels will rapidly submerge, and then, utilizing the unpredictable deep-sea currents, they must reach the area around Fish-Man Island...
This is also a great test for the Navigator of a pirate crew, because there is no fixed route, only a general direction, and the Navigator has to judge the ocean currents on his own.
Morio was turning the rudder and using the deflector blades to change the left and right direction, while also using his foot to operate the diving valve controller to control the up and down direction.
As the helmsman, he must completely obey Sig's directions and steer the ship in the indicated direction.
For Sig, the changes in the surrounding ocean currents were entirely reflected in his mind!
The unpredictable ocean currents, in Sig's eyes, were like the traffic light in front of his house—familiar and without any danger...
With a slight rocking of the boat, Sig nodded. "Alright, we've entered the current... From now on, just stay on this current, and you'll reach the Great Falls Current. Once you're submerged in the Great Falls Current, I'll tell you how to proceed."
Sig looked up wearily, but it was pitch black all around; they were already far from the sea.
The reason for his fatigue was not because he was tired from the journey, but because the "treatment" in the Sabaody Archipelago had exhausted Sig and he hadn't had time to rest.
The Auction House... it must be reaching its climax by now, right?
Sig smiled slightly.
After several days of planning, Sig orchestrated a spectacular show of "Celestial Dragons being auctioned off," but unfortunately, as the director, Sig didn't have the opportunity to watch it himself.
Of course, Sig tried his best to "treat" only a few hundred important people, which already exhausted Sig —without the ability to "Mental Plague," he could only treat them one by one in this slow and painstaking way!
Sig didn't expect the hypnotic effect... no, the treatment outcome... to be permanent.
Eventually, more and more people will realize this!
In reality, as long as they come into contact with enough people or are given enough stimulation, they will come to their senses and realize how incredible things that they previously took for granted were.
Sig even gave the Celestial Dragons the "lightest" treatment, making it easy for them to wake up, so they could experience what it felt like to be auctioned off...
The process of treating the Celestial Dragons was also quite dangerous, because only three years had passed since the Mary Geoise incident. Although they were a bunch of idiots, they still hadn't forgotten to bring bodyguards. When the three Celestial Dragons went out, they were accompanied by CP0 agents.
Although none of them were a match for Sig, and assassination would have been even easier, Sig wanted to "treat" them and didn't want to be discovered!
Therefore, it was the combination of the Shadow Ascetic and the Vampire Fruit that allowed Sig to merge into the darkness, thus buying him a brief period of healing time.
Upon learning that the Rear Admiral left behind was Strawberry, Sig even gave the auction house manager a special "treatment," instructing him to seek help from the navy on time...
Sig didn't bother with a master like Strawberry, as treatment wouldn't be very effective anyway. Letting him participate in the Auction House fine.
Well, when the people around him take these "horrifying" things for granted, then he himself is the one who's sick!
And by the time others realize what they've done...
The fates of the Celestial Dragons' guards, the auction house staff, and the "customers" buying and selling slaves—everyone who witnessed this scene—seems almost predictable.
Only...
As Kizaru's confidant, what will be the fate of the one who righteously and forcefully declared the charges against Fisher Tiger and his own Strawberry on Foulsha Island?
Regardless of what role he plays at the Auction House, as long as Sig's "treatment" doesn't go wrong, he will undoubtedly witness the Celestial Dragons being auctioned off!
Should he be rewarded for rescuing the Celestial Dragons? Or...?
Sig couldn't help but feel a little excited...
"The mighty waterfall and ocean currents are right ahead!"
"It really looks like a waterfall. I can't believe there's such a current in the ocean?"
"That's amazing..."
"But the water looks like it's flowing really fast. What would happen if the coating broke?"
A series of exclamations interrupted Sig's thoughts—aside from Shanks and Sig, everyone else was visiting Fish-Man Island for the first time.
The journey Sig took was actually quite peaceful; Sig even collapsed on the way to Fish-Man Island and was never revived.
Since Fish-Man can swim directly back to Fish-Man Island, they don't need to navigate these complicated currents. They can simply choose the direction with the least current and swim downstream!
"If the coating breaks, I can swim back to Fish-Man Island with Jack ... at least he can breathe underwater. So, do you want to leave a will with me?" Sig reminded them.
"No, no, no, Brother Fei, please try your best not to damage the coating..." the Sailor repeatedly refused.
When Jack looked at Sig, he was equally puzzled—why could Sig swim, even though they were both ability users?
Then Sig closed his eyes again to sense the current, and said to Morio, "Listen to my countdown. When I reach '1,' steer sharply and leave the current in the direction the bow is currently facing."
Morio didn't speak, but simply gave Sig a thumbs-up to indicate that he understood...
After another bumpy ride, the Red Force burst out of the Great Falls current.
"Have we... have we arrived?" the Sailor asked Sig anxiously.
By this time, the surroundings were completely dark, and even with the faint light from the ship, one could not see very far with one's rudimentary Observation Haki.
"It's still early; we're only about four thousand meters from the sea surface."
As Sig spoke, Beckman, Lucky Roo, Gennosuke, and the others had already silently stood on the ship's side, surrounding the Red Force from all directions.
"I've already called the Sea King, try not to make a move," Sig warned, but the others remained on guard.
Under their Observation Haki, they could already sense that enormous sea beasts were lurking around them...