Sabaody, No. 17, Entertainment District.
Bars, clubs, bathhouses, and shops advertising "special services" lined both sides of the streets here.
Neon tubes in certain alleys stayed lit even during the day. The air carried a mixture of perfume, alcohol, and bubble resin.
Brook had just walked out of a bar, his black afro particularly conspicuous in the sunlight.
He leaned on his sword cane as he walked with a spring in his step, a satisfied curve at the corners of his skeletal mouth.
"Yohohoho-Sabaody's artistic atmosphere really does make a fellow reluctant to leave-"
As he laughed, Brook ended up leaning against a corner at a forty-five-degree angle, his forehead pressed to the wall as he sank into a little bout of depression.
After all, without the necessary equipment, he could only enjoy the innocent attractions here.
Just then, the device resembling a mechanical watch on his left wrist vibrated.
Brook lowered his head and pressed a button on its side. Shining's voice came through the watch, accompanied by faint electrical static.
"Brook. Several of Road Island's officers have come to Sabaody. Be careful. Head to No. 30 first and meet up with Hina and the others."
Hearing this, Brook straightened up.
"-Thank you for your concern, Captain, but I doubt anything will happen on my end..."
Brook walked away from the corner as he spoke, only to choke on his words halfway through.
Across the intersection outside, he saw a figure nearly six meters tall striding toward him.
The man wore an old-fashioned clown outfit and held a sake barrel as though it were an enormous beer mug. Dozens of pirate lackeys followed behind him.
"...Now this is a bit of a problem."
Brook used a hand to push his dangling jaw back into place.
Great Sake Barrel had