East Blue, Elegia.
Elegia, located in the East Blue, was known as the "Country of Music." It was immensely famous throughout the world. Singers everywhere regarded it as a holy land, and performing in Elegia was the ultimate goal of singers and musicians alike.
Every year, nobles and wealthy people from all over the world came to this island to attend the concerts held here in person.
No one knew whether those nobles and wealthy merchants truly appreciated music, but things that let them flaunt their "noble character" were precisely what made them feel superior.
As a result, those who came to Elegia to watch performances had always been either rich or noble.
That was easy enough to understand. On these seas, ordinary people's lives were difficult—those who knew, knew. Furthermore, communication methods across the world were quite limited, and there were few channels or means through which music could spread.
Those with the leisure to enjoy music were inevitably people who did not need to work for a living. Only a tiny number truly loved it and came to the island of Elegia as if on a pilgrimage.
That morning, the Red-Haired Pirates' Dreyfus approached Elegia's coast.
It was June, and the sun shone brightly.
A cool sea breeze brushed lightly past. Leaning against the rail, Tsugikuni Yoriichi gazed at the lively, prosperous harbor in the distance with a faint smile on his face.
The East Blue was truly far different from the other seas. The situation at sea here was relatively stable. Pirates did appear from time to time, but they were usually not very strong.
Moreover, most of the Marines in the East Blue were fairly responsible, sparing no effort in pursuing pirates.
There were naturally corrupt Marine parasites as well, but their numbers and the harm