Sabaody Archipelago is known as the Island of Failure and Re-Departure, second only to Loguetown in the East Blue, the Island of Beginning and End.
This reputation comes from its role as a mandatory stop for ships heading to the New World or Fish-Man Island, where vessels must undergo coating. As a result, the island constantly draws in pirates, traders, and travelers.
For Ash and the Dawn Faction, however, coating was irrelevant.
They crossed the Red Line using teleportation gates, with their ships transported alongside them. Because of this, despite passing through the Grand Line multiple times, Ash had rarely taken the time to explore Sabaody properly.
During his previous visit, aside from receiving his Shichibukai appointment from Tsuru and causing trouble at the auction house, the only place he briefly visited was the Soap Bubble Park while searching for Tsuki.
It had left an impression.
This time, after arriving, Ash headed there directly.
Unlike the entertainment facilities of other islands, Soap Bubble Park resembled the amusement parks from his previous life. It had roller coasters, pirate ship rides, drop towers, bumper cars, and many other attractions.
Standing over two meters tall, Ash was impossible to miss among the children lining up for rides.
Many tourists and parents quickly recognized him. Remembering his reputation as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and a ruthless pirate hunter, they felt a surprising sense of safety and relaxed as they played with their children.
Meanwhile, pirates, traffickers, and criminals lurking in Zones 31 to 39 spotted him and immediately scattered.
By the next day, news of his presence would likely spread across the seas. After Gourmet Island, Carnival Island, and Gran Tesoro, Sabaody might become yet another place tied to the name of Heavenly Emperor Ash.
For pirates, that kind of news would be a nightmare.
Fortunately for them, Ash had no intention of causing trouble. Between rides, he made a brief visit to the auction house in Zone 1.
The owner, Disco, nearly collapsed when he saw Ash appear again. Ash simply instructed him to send word if any Devil Fruits appeared at auction, then returned to the park.
He knew Disco would not dare ignore him, especially considering his connection to Donquixote Doflamingo.
When Doflamingo received the report, he fell into deep thought.
From what he knew, nearly every known member of Ash's crew already possessed a Devil Fruit ability. So why was Ash still collecting them?
Was he preparing for hidden forces, or recruiting new members?
The uncertainty left Doflamingo uneasy.
In the end, he made a decision.
Agree to Ash's request.
The Donquixote Family already dealt in Devil Fruits regularly. Normally, high-quality fruits were reserved for their executives, while lesser ones were sent to auction.
However, this situation was different.
If Ash specifically sought Devil Fruits, then providing them might serve as an opportunity to build favor.
...
Twenty days passed quickly.
Ash spent his time enjoying the park, even becoming familiar with several of the children who frequented it.
Then, on May 10th, the monthly auction began.
Before heading over, Ash received a call from Sali.
Sali excitedly told him that his children had been born, three boys.
Ash laughed, clearly pleased, and promised to prepare three special Devil Fruits as gifts for their one-month celebration.
With that, he headed to the auction in high spirits.
Disco did not disappoint.
The Devil Fruit of the day was revealed early rather than saved for the finale.
A Paramecia-type, the Shockwave Fruit.
Its ability resembled that of Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit, though it felt like a lesser variation.
Whether that assumption was correct did not matter.
What mattered was that this fruit had never appeared before, making it a valuable addition to Ash's collection.
The starting price was 100 million Berries.
Ash immediately bid 100 million.
A fat man wearing a crown raised it to 150 million, likely a royal from a World Government–affiliated nation.
Ash did not spare him another glance and raised the bid to 200 million.
The man attempted to continue, but those beside him quickly stopped him, their faces pale with fear.
No one else dared to compete.
With a swift count, Disco brought down the gavel.
Sold.
Ash immediately understood the situation. His reputation had intimidated the bidders, and Doflamingo likely allowed it to happen.
Still, Ash had no intention of accepting such a favor.
He had no interest in building ties with Doflamingo beyond simple transactions.
So during the remainder of the auction, he deliberately purchased two famous swords at prices far above their actual value.
By now, including past acquisitions, Ash possessed four Great Grade swords and eleven Skillful Grade swords.
Among the Great Grade swords, the black blade Shusui was his primary weapon. The other three, Enma, Nidai Kitetsu, and Ame no Habakiri, had all come from Wano.
None of them showed any abnormal influence when wielded by Ash. There was no leaking aura, no drain on his Haki. Their nature depended entirely on the user.
The remaining Skillful Grade swords came from auctions, collections, and spoils of war, many originating from Wano, a nation renowned for its swordsmithing.
Even so, Ash had yet to encounter any of the twelve Supreme Grade swords.
When the auction ended, Ash had gained one Devil Fruit and two renowned blades.
As for the slaves listed for sale, Ash had initially considered buying and freeing them.
However, every individual up for auction this time turned out to be a pirate.
It was clear Doflamingo had arranged the items with careful intent, taking Ash's identity into account.
Mission Progress: Devil Fruits Collected [44 / 500]