Chapter 115: Pirate Town (part 1)
Half a month later, in the first half of the Grand Line……
“I see an island!”
Beasts Pirates’ ship doctor, acting as the lookout at the front of the deck, shouted while holding a telescope.
“If there’s no accident, that should be our next stop—Gaya Island.”
The navigator held the sea chart, squinted her eyes, looked in the direction the pointer was pointing, and said.
“Yeah…… If the log is recorded correctly, our final destination should also be around here.”
Wright sat on a chair, carefully flipping through the navigational log in his hand.
At this time, his brows were slightly furrowed, flipping one page back and forth repeatedly, seemingly having some doubts about something recorded there.
『Sea Current, eruption…… Is this reliable?』
“Let’s prepare for landing first. After we go on the island, we’ll ask around to see if the locals know anything.”
Ember bent over and walked out of the cabin, issuing the order for landing.
“Yo~ Finally, which family’s young lady is willing to show her face? Truly ‘after a thousand calls, she finally emerges’~”
Aoxi, who was sitting bored on the ship’s railing fishing, heard Ember’s voice but didn’t turn around, directly starting to speak sarcastically.
Anyone could detect the dissatisfaction toward Ember in her tone.
During these days in ‘Paradise’, whenever the group wanted to dock at islands along the way for resupply, Ember would hide in the cabin and not come out.
Of course, if Ember himself stayed home like a hermit, that would be one thing, but he also wouldn’t let others stay long on the island, giving only a very short time for purchase supplies each time.
This made Aoxi, who always liked to hop around everywhere, very unhappy.
Having finally escaped Ra’s control with great difficulty, she still wanted to properly indulge in critical corruption in the colorful world outside.
The 50,000 Belly sponsored by Burufaruto as a friendly gesture hadn’t been spent yet even now.
Ember ignored Aoxi and walked to Wright’s side on his own, communicating something with him, probably confirming the arrangements after docking.
By now, he had found a method to deal with Aoxi: as long as he didn’t pay attention to her, she would find it boring herself and stop bothering you.
This was almost a universal method for dealing with all such people.
Sure enough, without getting any response, Aoxi was like a toy with the battery removed, continuing to fish on her own again.
……
Magellan Town—a town located on the west side of Gaya Island.
Unlike towns on other islands, almost the majority of the residents in Magellan Town consist of pirates, and the rest are basically bounty hunters or members of underworld organizations.
The reason for this personnel composition is not only because it is in a remote sea area far from the Navy’s main jurisdiction, but actually there’s a more important reason.
This is the location mentioned in the storybook《Great Liar King Roronoa》’s tale, the “Golden City—Xan Dorra.”
Although four hundred years ago, the king of the Lubnir Kingdom had personally verified that it was just a lie, completely made up by Roronoa to deceive people.
But with the simple mindset of “whether there’s a date or not, swing twice,” even knowing there’s no gold here, many people still regard this place as a legendary adventure spot.
And with the popularity of recording pointers, people gathering here from the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line were surprised to discover that some pointers near here actually pointed vertically upward!
Thus, following “Xan Dorra,” a legend named “Sky Island” also began to spread from this place.
Legend has it that it is a fantastical island floating high in the high heavens, made of clouds, where gods and angels with wings on their backs reside.
“Gold,” “Sky Island”—words embodying dreams and romance appeared one after another, instantly giving this remote island on the Grand Line the feel of an adventure holy land.
Countless pirates and explorers harboring dreams and a thirst for adventure began to set foot on this island, and slowly a town was established.
Yes, this pirate town had already existed before the Great Pirate Era arrived, and at that time, Magellan Town was still a town full of romantic adventure spirit.
At least, it was like that a hundred years ago.
Later, as time passed, people gradually realized there really was nothing here.
No, there really was no “gold,” no “Sky Island,” nothing.
They had been fooled!
Just like the king in “Roronoa”‘s story, they had been fooled!
Even more foolish than that stupid king—they came here stupidly even after knowing there was nothing!
The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment.
Loss, sadness, depression, anger, and indescribable shame…… various negative emotions began to spread on the island at some unknown time, turning the whole island into a powder keg.
Finally, one day.
A drunk pirate shouted in public, “‘Sky Island’ and ‘Xan Dorra’ don’t exist at all! So-called treasure hunts and legends are nothing but the vain fantasies of you fools!” After these words, everyone erupted.
Almost overnight, Magellan Town fell from a dream-seeking place everyone yearned for into a mixed bag, chaotic no man’s land.
“Dreams” and “adventure” became objects for everyone to mock and laugh at for fun, and “Sky Island” became a taboo-like existence that everyone tacitly no longer mentioned.
However, compared to after the Great Pirate Era began, when a large influx of pirates caused the town’s atmosphere to completely shift to irredeemably chasing “reality” and “interests,” the current Magellan Town still has some people harboring “fantasy.”
These people’s “dreams” have died, but have not yet been truly “buried.”
……
In the largest tavern in the town.
“Bang!”
A figure one meter four tall with a four-meter-one aura kicked open the tavern’s gate and directly hopped onto the stool in front of the counter.
“Boss, warm two bowls of orange juice, and a dish of aniseed beans.”
“None.”
The boss, who was wiping a wine glass, didn’t even lift his head and directly responded.
“Hm?!”
That figure seemed somewhat dissatisfied.
“Then a bowl of beef noodles, load it with cilantro.”
“None.”
At this time, the boss’s hand holding the cup was already slightly exerting force, but he still didn’t look up.
“This doesn’t have either?”
“Then a free hot pot should be fine!”
“None!”
Now the boss behind the counter finally couldn’t hold back, directly slamming the cup in his hand onto the table.
Bang!
“You are deliberately……”
But just as he planned to look up and properly teach this nagging brat a lesson, the other party spoke first.
“You’re deliberately picking a fight, right? No this, no that, what kind of crappy shop are you running?!”
“You!”
The boss with the thick mustache was choked by this villain complaining first, almost unable to catch his breath.
“Hahahaha!” *n
The other customers in the shop all burst into laughter upon seeing this.
In this lively tavern, any amusing thing could become a side dish for everyone to enjoy with their drinks.
