The successful lighting of the " Will Lighthouse " provided a valuable safety buffer for the voyage of the Thousand Sunny Modified. After a period of rest and sailing, based on the star map fragments they obtained from the remnants of the " Ark of Hope " and the guardians of the Ecological Corridor, they located a legendary neutral area— the Star Ring Market.
This is an artificial settlement built on the ruins of a giant star ring. The star ring itself belonged to an ancient civilization that has long since vanished. Its magnificent metal structure remains sturdy after countless years. Now it is occupied by caravans, intelligence brokers, adventurers, and outlaws from various star systems and races, forming a peculiar market that is both chaotic and orderly.
As the Thousand Sunny slowly entered the designated harbor, the scene before them astonished even the well-traveled Straw Hat Pirates. Various alien races moved about busily: there were the " Crystal Cluster People," whose bodies were covered in crystals and who communicated through light waves; there were the " Floating Spirit Tribe," who floated like jellyfish and sensed information through tentacles; and even the " Beast-Form Species," who retained some animalistic features but possessed high intelligence. All sorts of strange flying machines and vehicles were docked at the harbor, and the sounds of hawking, bargaining, and conversations in countless languages mingled together, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
"It's so lively here!" Chopper's eyes widened as he looked at a glowing, jelly-like creature on a nearby stall.
"Stay alert," Jinbe whispered a reminder. "In places like this, intelligence and danger go hand in hand."
Their primary objective is to gather intelligence: more information about the " World Devourers " and the " Abyss Will," other potential threats, and... how to further enhance the effectiveness of the " Will Lighthouse," or find a more fundamental solution.
The market's intelligence center is a massive, domed building made of transparent material, with countless holographic screens floating inside, displaying information from various star systems in real time. To obtain intelligence, one needs to pay " Universal Points "—a type of hard currency obtained through trade or barter in the Star Ring Market.
"We need Universal Points." Nami immediately got to work and began assessing the items they could exchange—rare plant samples obtained from the Ecological Corridor, some gadgets made by Franky, and even some harmless spacetime energy crystals condensed by Allen all had some value.
Luffy was far more interested in shopping than getting information, and was quickly drawn to all sorts of unfamiliar snacks and strange gadgets. Zoro kept an eye on him to prevent him from causing trouble. Sanji, on the other hand, developed a strong interest in alien ingredients and kitchenware. Brook was attracted to a stall selling various musical instruments (including some he had never seen before). Chopper and Usopp were both curious and afraid of the various strange medicines and inventions.
Allen, Robin, Franky, and Jinbe went directly to the intelligence center.
After paying for some plant samples and energy crystals, they gained certain access to information.
Robin skillfully navigated the interface, filtering through keywords. Information about the " World Devourers " was scarce, and most of it was vague, filled with accounts of fear and destruction, confirming it as a periodically occurring, catastrophic entity. The " Abyss Will " was even more elusive, suggesting its existence defied conventional understanding.
However, a message with a high level of encryption that required additional payment caught their attention:
[... An ancient manuscript (fragment) concerning the theories of ' Law Resonance ' and ' World Barrier Reinforcement ', originating from the remnants of the ' Stargazers ' civilization...]
" Stargazers?" Robin's eyes lit up. "A legendary ancient civilization that focused solely on observing the laws of the universe and remained uninvolved in any conflicts! Their legacy might contain the knowledge we need!"
Without hesitation, they paid the majority of the remaining Universal Points to gain access to the tattered scroll.
The fragments consisted of peculiar symbols and energy diagrams, which Robin could barely decipher. They mentioned that the " World Barrier " was not fixed; its "thickness" and "resonance frequency" were closely related to the overall level of consciousness and energy circulation efficiency of life within the world! A powerful, harmonious civilization itself was the best barrier! External intervention, such as a specific " Law Encoding " technology, could "reinforce" key points, similar to patching the barrier.
More importantly, the fragments vaguely mention that certain extremely rare " World Seed " or " Origin Matter " themselves contain innate laws that stabilize and strengthen the World Barrier, making them ideal mediums for "reinforcement."
" The World Seed... the Origin Matter..." Allen murmured, "This might be the key! If we can find this, we might be able to fundamentally strengthen our world, making it less of a 'prey'!"
Just as they were celebrating their discovery, Franky suddenly whispered, "Hey, we think we're being watched."
Not far away, several figures wearing heavy armor, their faces obscured, and exuding a fierce aura were approaching them intentionally or unintentionally, their gazes fixed on the holographic image of the tattered scroll that Robin was browsing.
Clearly, this valuable intelligence about the " World Barrier " has also attracted the covetous eyes of others. The rules of the Star Ring Market are not always reliable when faced with sufficient profit.
A new storm is about to break out in this bustling yet dangerous interstellar market.