Morning sunlight filtered through the bubbles drifting all across the Sabaody Archipelago, bathing the entire island in a soft golden glow.
On the sea, a brand-new sailing ship with a lion figurehead cut through the morning mist and slowly entered the harbor of Grove 41. The Straw Hat Pirates' emblem fluttered on its sail in the sea breeze. It was the Thousand Sunny.
"Wow! So many bubbles!"
Luffy was the first to leap onto the bow. Gripping the railing with both hands, he stared wide-eyed at the bubbles floating everywhere, bursting at a touch, and danced with excitement. He sprang up, stretched out his rubber arm to grab a large bubble in the air, and floated up with it, grinning from ear to ear.
Zoro leaned against the mast with three swords at his waist. His sharp gaze swept over the densely packed ships in the harbor and the bustling crowds, and his brow furrowed slightly. This was the end of the first half of the Grand Line, at the foot of the Red Line, where all sorts mingled. Pirates, Marines, slave traders, and the Celestial Dragons' informants were everywhere. Danger lurked at every turn.
"All right, Luffy, stop playing." Nami walked to the bow with a nautical chart, grabbed Luffy out of the air, and pulled him down. "This is the Sabaody Archipelago, not somewhere you can fool around!" she snapped. "There are Marines and Celestial Dragons everywhere. If we cause trouble, we can forget about getting to Fish-Man Island smoothly!"
"Fish-Man Island!" Luffy's eyes instantly lit up, and he immediately forgot about playing. "Right! We're going to Fish-Man Island! And we need to get the ship coated!"
Sanji leaned against the ship's rail with a cigarette between his lips. His gaze swept over the pedestrians in the street,