Several months earlier, during the outbreak of the Purge War.
Sabaody Archipelago.
The sea breeze swept through the Yarukiman Mangroves, and vast bubbles rose from the ground, refracting rainbow light beneath the sun.
The Spade Adventure Group's ship was docked in a hidden shipyard, its coating already complete.
A transparent film covered the entire vessel, like a thin yet resilient bubble wrapping it tightly inside.
On deck, Deuce checked the medicine chest while lowering his head to write something in his notebook.
"Getting ready to enter the undersea route, and the captain is acting like a child going out for the first time."
The words had barely fallen.
Ace excitedly leaned over the rail, reaching out to poke the coating outside the hull.
"Hey! This thing really won't break?"
"Can we really go through the seabed?"
"Fish-Man Island is really ten thousand meters deep?"
The crew beside him also gathered into a group.
Scar hugged the mast, claiming he was not afraid while his eyes kept darting beneath the surface.
Mihal adjusted his glasses, while Rock Flow crouched at the bow and repeatedly checked whether the anchor chain was secured.
Wallace lay beside the gun emplacement, excitedly studying the angle of the newly modified cannon.
Bangxi held a bag of ingredients and sternly warned everyone, "Once we're down there, nobody is allowed to crash into the kitchen!"
Kotatsu lay in the shadows, its tail swishing back and forth, seeming calmer than everyone else.
Deuce adjusted his mask and said helplessly, "Captain, please at least try to act more mature."
Ace turned back with a wide grin.
"We're heading to the New World!"
"Who wouldn't be excited?"
In the corner of the shipyard.
An elderly man in a cloak sat atop a wooden crate, holding a bottle of liquor as he