Sabaody Archipelago

Inside a classroom.

Ring-ring-ring...!

The dismissal bell rang. After Vice Admiral Tsuru finished gathering her textbooks and materials from the podium, she did not turn and leave. Instead, she addressed the Military Academy students below:

"Today is Friday. Saturday and Sunday are days off.

"However, I hope everyone will spend these two days studying and reviewing properly.

"Because next Monday, there will be a comprehensive examination covering both military theory and navigation."

"Class dismissed!"

After saying that, Vice Admiral Tsuru finally left the classroom with her materials in her arms.

"Yo! Sephiroth, want to go out and have some fun?"

At the classroom door, Tokikake approached with Maynard. Wearing a broad smile, he slung an arm around Sephiroth's shoulders, making it impossible for the latter to break free.

Ever since the two of them had brawled on the training ground that day, Tokikake had given up pursuing Gion and turned his attention to the female nurses in the infirmary.

Yet, surprisingly, the relationship between Sephiroth and Tokikake had not worsened. The two actually got along fairly well.

"Where to? Another bar in town?

"If that's it, then forget it..." Sephiroth said, shaking his head.

Behind Marine Headquarters Marineford was a town for the families of Marines to live in.

There were thirty thousand Marine soldiers permanently stationed on the island alone. Including their families, the total population was around one hundred and fifty thousand.

Thus, basic amenities such as restaurants, bars, bookstores, and more had naturally sprung up to meet demand.

After school, Sephiroth had also been dragged out by Tokikake and the others to wander around twice.

But...

Honestly, in Sephiroth's eyes, that town was no different from an ordinary rural village from his previous life. The scenery was nothing special either.

Entertainment in town was scarce, and the noisy bars were the only places that could barely be considered entertainment venues. He had been dragged there both times...

He was not a drunkard. He did not dislike drinking, but he could not say he liked it either.

The Military Academy had rules: from Monday to Friday, during regular school days, lights had to be out at ten every night. School ended at six in the evening.

After setting aside the necessary time for chores and meals, he only had a little over two hours left.

Therefore, he did not want to waste all his precious free time in a bar.

With that spare time, he would rather study medicine or practice swordsmanship.

"No, no, no! We're on break now, so why would we go to that town...

"Of course we're going to the Sabaody Archipelago!

"It's far more interesting there than this place."

"Sabaody..."

Sephiroth murmured softly before looking toward Smoker beside him.

"I want to take a look. Are you coming?"

"Yeah! I don't have anything to do anyway, so I'll come too!"

As he spoke, Smoker took two cigars from the armband tied around his left arm, lit them, and put them in his mouth.

Seeing this, Sephiroth's craving for tobacco flared up. He casually took one for himself and waved it in his hand, signaling for the other man to lend him a light.

"Hey! If you want to smoke, buy your own!

"What's with mooching cigarettes off me every day? Seriously..."

Although Smoker complained, he still tossed over his lighter.

"Well, it can't be helped. I was actually planning to quit smoking, but you smoke in front of me every day, so I can't quit even if I want to...

"How about quitting with me?"

Sephiroth shrugged helplessly as he lit the cigar in his hand, took a gentle puff, and exhaled white smoke.

"If you want to quit, quit yourself. Don't drag me into it," Smoker said irritably.

"If I quit but you don't, and we stay in the same dorm every day, wouldn't I just be breathing your secondhand smoke every day?" Sephiroth retorted unhappily.

"You're going to the Sabaody Archipelago too?

"That's great. I was just planning to go shopping... By the way, Hina, are you going?"

Gion, who was holding her textbooks in her arms, came over after hearing their conversation and turned to look at Hina standing beside her.

The slender, lovely girl with long pink hair tilted her head and thought for a moment before nodding.

"Hina wants to buy a newly released perfume. The Sabaody Archipelago should have it.

"Hina is going too!"

Thus, after finishing their discussion, the six of them returned to their dorms, changed into casual clothes, and boarded a commercial high-speed sailing ship bound for the Sabaody Archipelago. After sailing for over an hour, they finally arrived at their destination...

Sabaody Archipelago.

It lay before the Red Line in the middle of the Grand Line. The archipelago was filled with towering trees, while enormous roots jutted out from the ground everywhere.

The Sabaody Archipelago was divided into Islands 1 through 79, with every ten islands forming a district. The islands in different districts each had their own specialized industries.

The Sabaody Archipelago's greatest feature was the special natural resin secreted by the roots of the Yarukiman Mangrove through respiration. The resin expanded in the air to form bubbles, which then slowly floated into the sky.

Because the bubbles could only exist within the climate range of the Yarukiman Mangrove, once they left the Sabaody Archipelago's climate zone, the resin would explode because it could no longer fully exert its power.

The residents of the Sabaody Archipelago had fully exercised their creativity and imagination, using these special bubbles to form a unique bubble culture and industrial chain. Products included bubble bikes, bubble-colored lights, bubble chairs, Ship Coating, and more.

The first and second halves of the Grand Line were separated by the Red Line, which encircled the entire planet and stood ten thousand meters tall.

Therefore, there were only two ways to reach the New World from Paradise in the first half of the Grand Line.

The first was to apply to the Holy Land Mariejois. Not only was this method time-consuming and labor-intensive, but one also had to abandon their original ship and pay a hefty sum before they could use the high-altitude elevator to reach the New World. Furthermore, this method was only available to the wealthy and nobility. Commoners, criminals, and pirates could not use it...

The second was to coat a ship with resin, then dive ten thousand meters beneath the sea to Fish-Man Island and enter the New World. Aside from the expensive coating fee, this method also involved the immense risk of encountering Sea Kings. One careless mistake could result in the ship being destroyed and everyone dying at sea.

Under the World Government's deliberate or unintentional indulgence, the Sabaody Archipelago was home to numerous underground forces in addition to the Marines and pirates. They were tangled together in all manner of dealings. Slave trading, arms dealing, drug trafficking... This island had it all. It could be said to encompass every dark aspect of the world.

The Marines were also helpless in the face of the World Government's indulgence and tacit approval. The Marines stationed at the Sabaody Archipelago could only obey orders and remain confined to Districts 60 through 69, guarding against pirates causing any major incidents.

If the World Government truly wished to suppress pirates and crime, the most direct method would be to send a heavy Marine force to guard the Sabaody Archipelago, making it impossible for pirates to coat their ships, dive to Fish-Man Island, and enter the New World...

Therefore, Sephiroth had not the slightest favorable impression of the World Government, an institution rotten to its core. All he felt was disgust!

Incidentally, the commander currently stationed at the Sabaody Marine base was Vice Admiral Kizaru Borsalino, the king of slacking off among the Marines and one of the future three Admirals...

Perhaps Kizaru had also seen through the situation in the Sabaody Archipelago and the World Government's actions. Was that why he followed his so-called "Ambiguous Justice"...?

Island 79 of the Sabaody Archipelago, Hotel Street.

After disembarking, the six followed Tokikake to a VIP private room on the fourth floor of an upscale restaurant. The room was decorated in an elegant European style, with white as its main color.

After entering, Tokikake waved grandly and said with a grin:

"This restaurant's food is quite good. Back when I was stationed at the Sabaody Marine base, I often came here to treat myself... I'm paying today, so order whatever you like!"

Sephiroth found a seat by the window. Feeling that the air inside was somewhat stuffy, he reached out and pushed open the window, revealing a bustling street below where people came and went beneath dazzling lights.

Although Tokikake said he was treating them, no one deliberately ordered anything especially expensive to take advantage of him. They all chose dishes they liked that were not too pricey.

Tokikake himself, however, casually ordered three bottles of red wine costing five hundred thousand Belly each, more expensive than all the dishes everyone else had ordered combined...

"This is red wine from the West Blue. It has a delicate and refreshing taste..."

As Tokikake introduced it, he picked up a bottle and poured a third of a glass into each of the six wine glasses before gesturing for everyone to try it.

Gion picked up her wine glass and gently swirled it in her hand. After taking in the wine's aroma, she subconsciously muttered:

"I didn't expect you to have such good taste."

"Of course. But it's already too late for you to notice my strengths now...

"After all, I've already fallen for Liliana. The sight of her in that white nurse uniform has been deeply imprinted in my heart..." Tokikake said affectionately.

"..."

Hearing that, the corner of Gion's eye twitched slightly. She had no desire to continue that topic.

Various dishes were brought to the table one after another. Sephiroth was also served the deep-sea lobster and seafood chowder he had ordered.

Just as he raised his spoon to taste the fragrant milky-white soup in the bowl before him, the lively sounds outside the window suddenly fell silent. He instinctively turned to look outside.

Tokikake's ears twitched. As though he had thought of something, a trace of disgust immediately flashed across his face...