Throne Of Supreme

Chapter 212: Pirate Town

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Marinford.

Sengoku sat behind his desk, his expression calm but his eyes sharp.

A young naval captain stood before him, respectfully delivering his report.

"No findings?" Sengoku frowned slightly as he listened.

"Yes, sir," the young colonel responded, standing at attention. "We've found no trace of him in either the Grand Line or the Four Seas."

Sengoku fell into silence, his fingers lightly tapping the desk.

In recent days, one of the Navy's top priorities had been gathering intelligence on the "Dragon King" and uncovering his origins. Yet, despite the exhaustive efforts of both the Navy and the World Government's intelligence networks, they had turned up nothing.

It was as if this individual had appeared out of nowhere, leaving no trace of a past to uncover.

The young colonel hesitated before asking, "Marshal, what are your orders?"

"Continue investigating!" Sengokusl's deep voice resonated with authority.

This was a directive from the World Government.

The deaths of over a dozen Celestial Dragons—including a member of the Knights of God—had sent shockwaves through the higher echelons of power. The Celestial Dragons' fury was unrelenting.

"Yes, sir!" The young colonel saluted crisply and left.

Sengoku rose from his chair and walked to the window, gazing out at the horizon. His expression was heavy with thought.

"What troubled times these are," he murmured to himself.

---

A wide and straight road stretched toward a bustling town.

From the skies, a dark shadow descended silently into the woods beside the road, transforming into the figure of a young man with black hair and dark eyes.

This, of course, was Aoki.

He stepped out of the woods and onto the road, his gaze falling upon a sign at the town's entrance. The sign bore three large characters: Paltrow.

"Finally found a town," Aoki muttered, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The pirate world was vast and sparsely populated, with most of its surface covered by endless seas. It had taken him half a day to locate an inhabited island.

Following the road, he entered the town of Paltrow.

The town was lively, its streets lined with shops of every kind. Merchants called out to potential customers, and people bustled about, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.

This was good news for Aoki. A prosperous place like this made it easier to gather the information he sought.

For now, he strolled leisurely through the streets, taking in the sights. After days of solitary travel, seeing people again was a welcome relief.

As evening approached, the tantalizing aroma of food wafted from the restaurants lining the streets.

Aoki reached into his pocket, pulled out a lollipop, unwrapped it with deliberate care, and popped it into his mouth. The rich, creamy sweetness spread across his tongue, easing the weariness of his journey.

---

As night fell, the small town of Paltrow grew quieter, with most shops closing for the day.

However, one place remained lively—an establishment with a glowing sign that read: Dancing Girl Bar.

"Dancing Girl Bar? Interesting name," Aoki remarked.

Pushing the door open, he stepped inside. The warm, inviting air carried a blend of alcohol, savory food, and a faint floral fragrance.

Unlike the low-end bars he'd encountered before, this one lacked the oppressive stench of sweat and grime.

The bar was modest in size but bustling with activity. Most tables were occupied, and the lively chatter filled the space with energy.

Aoki approached the counter, where a charming bartender dressed in a dancer's outfit stood, her movements as graceful as her smile.

"Hey there, handsome," she greeted him with a playful glint in her eye. "What'll it be?"

Aoki's appearance had changed once more. This time, his features were strikingly handsome, drawing subtle glances from those nearby.

Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved a small stack of bills and slapped them onto the counter with casual flair.

"Give me your most expensive bottle of wine," he said confidently.

The bartender blinked in surprise before her smile widened. "Well, aren't you generous?"

Aoki asked, "Miss, have you heard of Barabio?"

"Barabio?"

The female bartender tilted her head in thought, then shook it regretfully. "No, I haven't. Why do you ask, handsome? What business do you have there?"

"I just want to check it out," Aoki replied casually, his expression showing no hint of disappointment.

The West Blue was vast. While traveling here wasn't as treacherous as the Grand Line, transportation was still inconvenient, and many people never left the islands they were born on.

"Little brother, are you looking to go to Barabio?"

A voice interrupted their conversation.

Aoki turned to see a middle-aged man with a kindly face approaching the counter.

The female bartender smiled and said, "This is Mr. Obi. He was once a powerful pirate and has traveled far and wide."

"Do you know about Barabio?" Aoki asked directly.

"Hoho, Barabio… now that's an interesting place."

Obi chuckled, eyeing the bottle of wine on the counter as he spoke. His gaze lingered longingly before he swallowed hard. "Not many people know about it. I visited once during my pirate days. Most people here have never even heard of the town."

Aoki picked up a glass, poured some wine, and pushed it toward Obi with a smile. "Let's drink and chat."

Obi wasted no time grabbing the glass, taking a hearty swig.

"Haha, I've wanted to taste this for so long. Today's my lucky day."

"Where is Barabio?" Aoki asked.

Obi's expression turned serious. "I don't know how you learned about that place, but listen, little brother, take my advice—don't go to Barabio!"

"Oh? Why not?" Aoki asked, intrigued.

"Because Barabio is a pirate town," Obi said gravely.

"A pirate town?" Aoki's eyes narrowed.

Obi nodded firmly. "Yes. Barabio is situated between the Kingdom of kano, the Kingdom of Tagona, and the Kingdom of Ram. It's a lawless island that pirates took over years ago. No one governs it—only the strong survive there."

Aoki hesitated for a moment before saying, "I heard Nico Robin was in Barabio about a year ago."

"The demon's child, Nico Robin? What do you want with her, little brother?" Obi's curiosity was piqued.

"I need her help with something," Aoki answered.

Obi shook his head regretfully. "You're too late. A year ago, Nico Robin was indeed in Barabio, hiding in a hotel under the guise of a waitress. But her location was exposed, and she escaped."

Aoki's gaze sharpened. "You seem to know quite a lot about Barabio."

Obi froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha, well, I was a pirate once, after all!"

"Do you know where Nico Robin might be now?" Aoki pressed.

Obi rubbed his chin in thought. "Rumor has it she appeared in Belesla, but I can't say for sure if it's true."

Aoki poured more wine for Obi and pushed the glass forward. "Then tell me how to get to Barabio."

Obi blinked, his expression confused. "But Nico Robin isn't in Barabio anymore."

"I know," Aoki said calmly, "but I still want to see the place for myself."

Obi sighed, a hint of worry crossing his face. "Alright, little brother, but be careful. Barabio isn't a place for ordinary folk."

---

A short while later, Aoki left the bar, heading toward the outskirts of the town. When he reached a quiet, desolate area, he stopped abruptly.

"Come out," he commanded.

For a moment, silence reigned. Then, four figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding him. Leading them was none other than Obi, the kind-faced man from the bar.

"So you noticed us, kid," Obi sneered, his earlier warmth replaced with malice. "It seems you're not as ordinary as you look."

Aoki stood still, his gaze calm and unbothered, as Obi and his companions closed in with wicked grins.

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