Chapter 30: Sabaody Archipelago
The afternoon sun shimmered through the giant mangrove trees of Sabaody Archipelago, casting glowing hues across the ground as Jessie and his crew stepped into Grove 13. The salty breeze carried a faint scent of adventure and danger, characteristic of the last stop before the New World. The bustling streets were filled with pirates, bounty hunters, and Marines in plain clothes, all with their own hidden intentions.
Jessie stood at the front, his dark coat fluttering lightly as the wind passed by. Beside him were Uta, the world-renowned singer with unmatched charisma; Kuina, his stoic swordswoman with unmatched focus; and Vash, the carefree yet deadly gunslinger whose smile always betrayed his trigger-happy personality. On his shoulder, BlackEye Panda, the ever-snoozing yet powerful pet, blinked lazily.
Behind them, anchored at the edge of the island, was the Voidreign, their mysterious ship powered by the fused Anywhere Door and enhanced with ancient Void Tech. Guarding it were Seraphim Hancock and Seraphim Mihawk, silent, vigilant, and loyal only to Jessie. Meruem, Jessie's deadliest fighter, had already parted ways earlier, saying, "I'll scout the underground scene. I'll return before you head to Fish-Man Island."
Jessie gave a nod and turned his eyes toward the old wooden building ahead.
The sign above read: Shakky's Rip-Off Bar.
He walked forward with calm steps, hand resting on the hilt of his blade—not out of threat, but habit. A small bell rang as he opened the door.
Ding!
Inside, the lighting was dim and cozy. Old posters of wanted pirates hung crooked on the walls. At the bar stood a lean woman with short lavender hair, a cigarette lazily resting between her fingers—Shakky, a former member of the Rocks Pirates and once part of their intelligence unit.
She looked up, her sharp eyes locking with Jessie's. "You finally showed up," she said with a slight smirk. "Didn't even need intel to know you'd come here eventually."
Jessie met her gaze and gave a small nod. "You always know everything."
Shakky laughed lightly and motioned toward the empty booth in the corner. "Take a seat, but fair warning, the drinks aren't cheap."