Somewhere in the Grand Line.
The setting sun had dyed the sky into a tapestry of interwoven orange-red and deep purple, while the sea shimmered as though strewn with broken gold.
Amid these waters stood an unusual island—it was not covered in jungles or mountains like ordinary islands, but filled with exquisite buildings and splendid lanterns.
This was the Pleasure District, a gray area tacitly permitted by the World Government, a gentle haven where desire and money intertwined.
Outside a pleasure house, Dawn stopped. Standing before its ornate wooden doors, his expression was strange.
He had not come here for such worldly desires. His purpose was to find someone—the scientist he had nearly forgotten, Caesar Clown.
The renovation work on Egghead had already been completed, and Vegapunk had entered a frenzied state of research at Dawn's request.
Everything had been progressing smoothly, until three days ago, when Dawn suddenly remembered that he still had another scientist under his command.
After asking around, he learned a piece of news that left him both amused and helpless:
On the very day he had taken Vegapunk to Elbaf, Stussy, who had been handling the follow-up matters, had temporarily placed Caesar in the Pleasure District.
By now, Caesar had been alone in the Pleasure District for several months.
"I hope that guy showed some restraint,"
Dawn rubbed his temples.
"If he died here, that would be quite the joke."
Feeling somewhat uneasy, he pushed open the pleasure house's wooden doors.
The moment he entered, warm lighting, cloying fragrance, and the gentle sound of shamisen music enveloped him.
Several courtesans dressed in vivid kimonos approached with smiling faces, swaying their graceful figures as they surrounded Dawn.
"This guest is quite unfamiliar, isn't he~"
"Would you like someone to drink with you?"
"This little lady is