Sabaody Archipelago.
The entire archipelago was formed by numerous giant trees, with the ground being their roots, from which bubbles would emerge.
Hence, it was also called the "Soap Bubble Archipelago."
This was an island directly ruled by the Celestial Dragons, and it was the closest island to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
Celestial Dragons often descended from Mary Geoise to amuse themselves and purchase slaves.
Thus, it housed the world's largest and most comprehensive slave auction house.
Human traffickers from all over the world gathered here, enabling the Celestial Dragons to buy slaves of most races in this world.
Of course, this included merfolk from Fish-Man Island, located ten thousand meters deep in the ocean below.
At this moment, near Island 13, the Freedom gradually sailed closer.
As the island was directly ruled by the Celestial Dragons, there was a Marine base on it. Although there were no exceptionally powerful commanders, the troop strength was considerable.
Furthermore, it was close to Marine Headquarters, allowing for immediate Marine support at any time.
Consequently, while many pirates came here, they generally did not dock at the actual ports.
Only pirates heading to the New World would come ashore to find a Coater, and then sail their ship to the location designated by the Coater.
As the ship gradually came to a halt.
Everyone looked at the island in the distance, with bubbles continuously rising from the ground, their eyes filled with excitement.
"Let's go!"
Kouta stood at the bow of the ship, glanced at everyone, then took a step forward, jumping off the bow and onto the land by the island's edge.
"Mmm! It's a bit soft, completely different from normal land."
Kouta looked down at the lawn beneath his feet, stomped on it forcefully, and a look of understanding flashed in his eyes.
Rather than land or lawn, it was more like moss.
Looking up at the giant tree in the distance, its canopy enveloping the entire area, a trace of curiosity flickered in Kouta's eyes.
As far as he knew, the entire Sabaody Archipelago was actually the roots of a single tree.
And the tree before him had grown from the roots of that tree.
There were 79 such trees on Sabaody Archipelago.
Each tree bore a number, and people referred to the archipelago formed by these 79 islands as the "Sabaody Archipelago."
"The world's largest Mangrove, the 'Yalichimangrove.'"
Although he hadn't seen the true appearance of the world's largest mangrove, just the fact that its roots could form the vast Sabaody Archipelago indicated its immense size.
He wondered if this tree grew on the Red Line Continent or somewhere else.
It was said to be near Marine Headquarters.
Well... he could go see it when he had free time.
In this fantastical world, such a massive tree might have gained sentience.
"Haha!"
Shaking his head, he dismissed the wild thoughts. Turning around, he saw that his companions had all disembarked. Kouta extended his hand, palm facing the Freedom, and the nebula within his azure pupils spun rapidly.
Before everyone's eyes, the incomparably massive Freedom seemed to be drawn into a dimensional rift. With a hum, it rapidly shrank and shrank with the distortion of space.
Finally, it transformed into a tiny toy, hovering in Kouta's palm.
Except for Kuina, everyone else, including the three of them including A Hua, stared at Kouta's hand in shock, at the miniature Freedom in his grasp.
"This is the Freedom?"
"Wow!"
"Kouta, what kind of ability is this now!"
"Yohohoho~ How incredible!"
"Kekekeke~"
He turned his head, looking at the crowd that had quickly gathered around, their faces filled with amazement as they gazed at the miniature Freedom in his hand.
Kouta's lips curved upwards, and he said with a faint smile, "It's just like the 'Battleground of the Gods.' I've merely stored the Freedom within my domain, shrinking the space."
"Oh..."
Those who knew of the Battleground of the Gods, like A Hua, understood. Brook, who didn't, was filled with confusion.
As if sensing Brook's confusion, Kouta turned and explained to him, "Don't think too much about it. Just know that this is one of my abilities, and you'll understand what it is later."
"Yohohoho~ Understood, Mr. Kouta."
Brook suppressed the confusion in his eyes and smiled at Kouta. Although he was just a skeleton, his emotions were quite rich.
He retracted his gaze, and Kouta's fingers contracted. The Freedom in his hand gradually shrunk with the tightening of his fingers, finally becoming a tiny glass ball, as if sealed in amber.
Kouta put away his hand, tossed the glass ball containing the Freedom into his dimensional pocket, turned around, and smiled at the distance, "Let's go! Let's explore this beautiful island thoroughly."
"Then I'll go on ahead."
"You first, or me first, haha!!"
As soon as Kouta finished speaking, the three of them, A Hua, rushed forward impatiently.
Kouta shook his head, watching the backs of the three, and followed them.
Next were Kuina and Robin, followed by Indigo and Brook.
...
"Kouta, this tree has '13' written on it. Does that mean this island is divided into many sections by these trees!"
A Hua looked at the large number on the trunk of the giant tree, pushed up his glasses, and turned to look at Kouta.
"Mmm!"
Kouta nodded. "Sabaody Archipelago is an archipelago formed by islands demarcated by such trees."
"13?"
"..."
Looking at the number on the giant tree, a flicker of confusion appeared in Kouta's eyes. He felt as if he had seen it somewhere before. He then looked around, and when he saw the grassland in the distance, and the house built on higher ground beyond the grassland.
As if recalling something, the confusion in his eyes dispersed, and a look of understanding appeared on his face.
"So it's here!"
"?"
Everyone looked at Kouta, a string of question marks appearing in their minds.
"Kouta, do you recognize this place?"
"Mmm!"
Kouta nodded, then shook his head. "I'm not sure. Let's go!"
"Let's go over and see, then we'll know."
With that, he took the lead and walked towards the somewhat secluded house located not far behind the tree, built on higher ground.
Everyone glanced at the number on the tree, withdrew their gazes, and quickly followed.
At this moment, inside the house built on higher ground.
Several burly men, who looked like trouble, were drinking.
Judging by the interior, it was clear this was a bar!
A woman, who looked very young but was likely over sixty years old, was sitting behind the bar, smoking. (Mmm... a woman's age is a mystery...) She slowly stopped smoking.
The woman had short black hair styled in a mushroom cut, with bangs covering her eyebrows and her sides perked upwards. She wore a golden necklace around her neck and a red t-shirt with a spider pattern, layered with a fitted vest.
She looked quite fashionable.
She took a deep puff of her cigarette, holding it elegantly to her right with her right hand, her left hand supporting her right forearm from below her chest. The red light deep in her eyes disappeared, and then she exhaled a smoke ring, a smirk on her lips, and a mysterious smile on her face.
Then, as if she had discovered nothing, she continued to smoke elegantly.
Creak—!
Just then, the bar door was pushed open forcefully.
A handsome man, along with his companions, stood at the entrance of the bar.
The handsome man looked up, his azure pupils meeting the eyes of the woman behind the bar, whose age was difficult to ascertain. He smiled faintly.
"It really is here."