As they neared the Chambord Islands, more and more ships filled the surrounding waters.
Merchants from across the seas, pirates passing through on their way to the New World—countless vessels drifted by, creating a bustling scene.
The Yarchman Mangrove Port area was lively and crowded, completely different from the last time Asa had been here.
"To set foot on this miraculous island once again…"
Asa stared ahead for a moment before carrying the box of Bailey to the bow of the ship, his heart filled with emotion. The last time he was here, he'd been surrounded, captured, and imprisoned. But now, he felt relaxed—at peace.
He instructed the pirates to dock the ship in the coating area, between shipyard zones No. 50 to No. 59, then rose to his feet with a calm, commanding presence.
After some thought, he decided to seize the vessel for himself. Its performance was solid, and since its owner—Pizarro—had been tossed into the sea by his own men, the ship was effectively without an owner.
Asa drove all the pirates off the ship. Not that he needed to—most were eager to escape and scattered faster than a frightened herd.
There are two well-known routes into the New World. One involves using a World Government pass to cross the Red Line. The other, more common path is to coat your ship at Chambord and dive 10,000 meters below sea level to reach Fish-Man Island.
But in Asa's eyes, there was a third method—flight.
Still, he didn't plan to use that route. After all, he intended to recruit a crew, and they would live aboard this ship. Even though the Thor was a spacefaring vessel, Asa wanted to experience Fish-Man Island and its unique scenery.
So, his immediate priority was to find a coating craftsman to prepare the ship. After that, he would check in on Jessica.
Upon arriving on the island, Asa extended his Observation Haki, but he couldn't sense Jessica's presence. He assumed she was resting.
…
At the pier, coating craftsmen eagerly waited for customers. The moment Asa disembarked, a crowd swarmed around him.
"Captain! Will you entrust the ship to us? Our company has had only three failed coatings in decades!"
"Choose us! We've had a 100% success rate so far—no accidents!"
The coating craftsmen all jostled to sell their services, raising a loud and annoying clamor.
Asa frowned slightly and raised his hand to signal silence.
He already understood what they meant by "coating failure." A failed coating would collapse under the pressure of the deep sea, crushing the ship and dooming everyone aboard.
The deep sea's pressure was immense—powerful enough to crush even a steel ship, let alone one made of wood.
Failure meant certain death.
"Don't tell me your success rates. I just want to know—how much for a full coating?" Asa asked, raising the box in his hand.
"The ship behind you is pretty large! That's a huge project—10 million Beli!"
"We'll do it for 8 million!"
"7 million!"
The bidding war quickly drove the price down. Annoyed by their buzzing voices, Asa pointed at a middle-aged man with a sturdy frame, kind face, and thick calluses on his hands.
"Quiet. Forget the price—I'm choosing you," he said impatiently, tossing the box to the man. "Take 20 million. I only have one condition: finish it within three days. Got it?"
"Understood!" The craftsman, whose arms were as thick as a grown man's waist, nodded rapidly. He pulled 20 million from the suitcase and respectfully handed it back to Asa.
For a skilled craftsman with a capable team, completing the job within three days would be easy.
The other coating workers dispersed after realizing they'd lost the job.
…
Leaving the shipyard area (No. 50 to No. 59), Asa entered the tourist zone around No. 40.
The Chambord Islands were truly extraordinary—scenic and peaceful. The beauty of the place could make anyone forget their troubles. Asa used to wonder why Pluto Rayleigh chose to settle here, right under the Navy's nose. Now, he understood.
Sometimes, the most dangerous place is the safest. Other times, it's just a place someone can't bear to leave.
After browsing the entire street, Asa spent millions of Beli before finding clothing that satisfied him.
Shedding the prison uniform that had accompanied him for so long, he donned a crisp white shirt and a flowing blue cloak. It felt like a complete renewal.
Refreshed, Asa headed to Bubble Park.
Before he'd left, he told Jessica to wait for him there. He wasn't sure if she was still around.
The air was filled with colorful floating bubbles, glowing dreamily in the sunlight.
The park was alive with laughter and excitement. Everything—from the Ferris wheel to bumper cars—was made from bubbles. Children ran joyfully. It was a lively and heartwarming sight.
Asa strolled along the street, taking in the whimsical buildings on either side. A subtle smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he scanned the area.
Then he saw it—"Jessica's Dream House".
A vibrant sign hung above a bustling restaurant. People came and went, and the place was noisy with chatter and laughter.
Asa was certain—this was where Jessica had stayed.
He walked up briskly and pushed open the soft bubble door.
"Welcome!" a polite waiter greeted him cheerfully.
"I'm looking for Jessica. Do you know where she is?" Asa asked directly.
"Our store manager... Wait—You're—!"
The waiter's eyes widened. He quickly pulled a photo from his pocket and compared it to Asa.
"You're the person she was waiting for! Please come with me!"
The waiter's expression turned serious as he led Asa through the crowded restaurant toward the lounge in the back.
"Lord Asa," the waiter began as they entered, "the store manager mentioned you and instructed me to give you this key when you arrived…"
He handed Asa a strange, polygonal key.
"Oh?" Asa raised an eyebrow, accepting it. "Where did Jessica go? And what's this key for?"
"The manager didn't say where she was headed. But she was picked up by the Navy when she left," the waiter replied honestly. "As for the key, it opens a warehouse managed by the Gibson family—a long-established brand in the storage business. She said... there's something in there that you'll want."
With that, the waiter left quietly.
"Picked up by the Navy…" Asa murmured, unmoved. He wasn't particularly surprised.
Jessica's parents were chefs at Navy Headquarters. With such connections, it wasn't hard to imagine them pulling some strings to bring her back.
"Well then… Let's go check out this warehouse in the lawless zone first," Asa muttered, heading out the door.
(End Of Chapter)
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