One Piece: Ascending the Divine Path

Sabaody Archipelago.

The end of the first half of the Grand Line in a general sense.

It is composed of the bare root system of the world's largest mangrove tree, so it has no magnetism and cannot be reached by a record pointer or a permanent pointer.

However, it makes no difference; all ships that want to go to Fishman Island will eventually be guided by the pointer to the vicinity of this archipelago.

The Sabaody Archipelago is divided into seventy-nine regions, each supported by a giant mangrove tree.

This is Area Sixteen, a notorious lawless zone on the island. It's a gathering place for all sorts of shady characters: pirates, gangsters, human traffickers, and underground merchants.

However, this does not mean that the area is a wasteland, after all, even criminals need to make money.

There are also many commercial facilities in this area.

Outside a pub, under a parasol.

Wearing a baseball cap and yellow sunglasses, with a glass of juice in front of her, Ian was secretly observing the house not far away while flipping through a newspaper.

Instead of wearing a marine uniform, she changed into a casual outfit: a light purple sleeveless fitted vest paired with blue shorts, revealing her long, slender, and fair legs.

Next to Ian sat Knight, who looked completely numb. He slid down and rested the back of his head on the chair back.

Knight was also dressed casually, wearing a loose gray printed T-shirt, light blue shorts, flip-flops, a small bag slung across his chest, and a fisherman's hat, looking very much like a tourist.

He stared blankly at the back of the parasol, and if he weren't still breathing, he could easily be mistaken for a dead man.

Ain glanced at Knight, who seemed ready to fall asleep at any moment, and tried to suppress the smirk on her face. "Don't fall asleep, Knight. The fugitive could appear at any time."

Knight's voice was hollow, as if he were just a soulless shell. "Are you gloating, Ain?"

"I'm just reminding you."

Ain's lips seemed to be taut but not quite.

Knight's lips twitched slightly.

The Sabaody Archipelago is under martial law, and the navy is searching everywhere.

But that's still not enough. The Sabaody Archipelago is too big, and there are still many things to be aware of.

So, the recruits split up and began to act under Zephyr's orders.

They work in pairs, with the weaker member responsible for a safer area and the stronger member responsible for a more dangerous area.

Ain and Knight were assigned to Area 16, a lawless zone, to keep watch on the building not far away.

It was an underground shipyard that specialized in coating ships for pirates. If you paid enough, they could even provide ships that had already been coated.

If the escaped convicts want to go to the New World, they will almost certainly come to Chambord.

If he comes to Chambord, there's a good chance he'll come here.

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That makes sense, but Knight is really upset.

After training to the point of exhaustion yesterday, he caused a huge disturbance in Impel Down last night, even leading the prisoners out of the Calm Belt in one go, which severely depleted his mental energy.

I was just about to recover in my dream when I was woken up. I packed my things and quickly took a boat to the Sabaody Archipelago.

I only managed to get a short nap on the boat.

Even in this short time, they took the time to create their own dream spaces for those new hubs.

They then pulled the ordinary fugitives into the dream world and granted them a secondary level of privileges—they could not possess other beings, had no exclusive dream space, and could only enter the dream world while asleep. However, the consumption was much less, and they could create many at once.

However, basic welfare is still provided. Knight built a city for these fugitives to live in, and almost all entertainment facilities on the sea can be found in this dream city. Fine wine, delicious food, and beautiful women are also inexhaustible.

At least the prisoners were completely addicted to it.

"No, no matter how much we keep watch outside, it might not be of any use."

Ain suddenly spoke up, "If the fugitives really come to Sabaody Archipelago, they will probably be more careful to hide. Even if they want to apply the coating, they probably won't come in person."

Knight yawned, slowly sat up, and his dull eyes finally showed some change. "Oh? What do you mean?"

Ain looked at Knight. "Let's go, let's infiltrate that shipyard and take a look. Knight, use your ability to make us invisible."

Knight looked at Ain with interest. "Oh, she can say something useful sometimes."

Anyway, it's boring to just sit here and do nothing.

"If you can't speak properly, you should shut up."

Ain said with a forced smile.

I'll say it again, it would be better if Knight didn't have a mouth.

"That little Ian is quite arrogant."

Knight snapped his fingers as he spoke.

Then, the two figures vanished instantly.

Knight slowly stood up and walked towards the nearby dock. "Let's go, don't make a sound."

He can only project new sounds; he cannot erase the original sounds.

"Wait, Knight!"

Ain's voice carried a hint of confusion, "Where are you?"

"Um?"

Knight turned around and, through the illusion, immediately saw Ain looking around with a embarrassed expression.

She lacks Observation Haki and cannot see through illusions, so she has no way of knowing her location.

Knight couldn't help but laugh out loud. "What kind of infiltration is this?"

"Stop talking nonsense."

Ain blushed slightly. "Think of something!"

"Is there any other way?"

Knight grabbed Ian's hand and pulled her forward. "Let's go."

"Knight, you—" Ian was startled.

But before he could even utter a word, Knight cut him off with a single sentence.

"I told you, don't make a sound."

Ain immediately shut up.

She gently bit her lip. How could Knight, that rude guy, grab her hand like that?

Damn it, if it weren't for the mission—

However, his hands were so big and warm; the heat seemed to travel up his arms and directly to my face.

Knight turned around thoughtfully, his gaze passing through the illusion to see Ain, whose face was slightly flushed.

Tsk, Xiao Chunu, are you eyeing your brother Knight's gorgeous body again?

The two entered the dock without any problems.

The dock was enormous, with several ships undergoing coating. Two of them were flying pirate flags, and one pirate ship had already been coated.

Knight felt Ian squeeze his hand.

He understood what she meant. In addition to monitoring all possible areas on the island, the recruits were also monitoring every ship that had been coated but had not yet submerged into the deep sea.

After all, the fugitives could simply steal such a ship.

This ship is also a potential target.

It must be said that Professor Zefa's considerations were indeed thorough, because there was indeed a ship that had already been coated, which was prepared for the fugitives.

However, the fugitives are still quite a distance from the Sabaody Archipelago.

As for the ship—

Knight swaggered over to the side of the ship, casually running his finger across the membrane layer that was attached to the hull.

Finger pistol.

The tough membrane was instantly torn open with a sizable gash, and then, with a snap, the entire membrane shattered instantly, just like a water bubble.

"What?"

The coating technicians were completely dumbfounded.

"Hey! What's going on here!"

The shipyard owner strode over, his face ashen. "Who's in charge of this ship? Damn it, the employer's coming to inspect it soon! He's a pirate with a bounty over fifty million; if we anger him, we're all finished!"

The coating technicians remained silent.

"What are you all standing there for! Everyone stop what you're doing and re-coat this ship!"

Ain couldn't help but chuckle as she watched this scene.

Knight is such a jerk.

Although it looks pitiful, the thought that they are coating pirates makes me feel great.

If it weren't for the mission, everyone in the dock would have been arrested long ago!

The two then walked around the dock again, and only left after confirming that there was nothing unusual.

Once they were away from the dock, Knight deactivated his powers. "Anyway, let's eat first, Ain. I'll give you a chance to treat me to dinner."

Ain couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Why should I?"

Knight said lazily, "Just because you've taken advantage of me for so long."

Ain said speechlessly, "Who took advantage of you?"

Knight didn't say anything, he just gestured downwards with his lips.

Ain subconsciously looked down, and the next moment, her face suddenly turned bright red.

She was still holding Knight's hand.

Knight waved his hand, saying with interest, "I've already let go."

Like being electrocuted, Ain flung Knight's hand away and instinctively took a few steps back, stammering, "I...I...I..."

"There's no need to be nervous."

Knight shrugged. "The fact that you're so obsessed with me shows you're a woman of good taste, but don't think you can have me all to yourself. I'm a treasure of the world."

"Knight! Shut up!!"

Ain's face turned bright red, and she almost screamed.

Knight sighed, his tone wistful. "Tsk, you've got a good deal and you're still acting innocent. Woman, your name is greed."

"Knight!!"

Can I kill him?

How can there be such an annoying person as Knight in the world!

The girl cried out in her heart.

Knight smiled.

Ain is actually quite fun.

But Luna should be reuniting with the fugitives by now, right?

In that case, the deep-sea dive operation is about to begin.

I apologize in advance, Professor Zefa.