Red Adventure Archipelago.
Not long ago, this place was buzzing with activity thanks to the arrival of more than a dozen pirate crews. But once they left, things quickly quieted down again.
There were still people coming here to explore or search for treasure.
However, after so much time and so many failed attempts, no one had found any treasure. Instead, quite a few people lost their lives trying.
Because of that, fewer and fewer people were coming to Red Adventure Island now.
Only a few stubborn or very strong adventurers still dared to come here, hoping to find the hidden treasure.
Port town.
These days, aside from a few merchant ships and local fishermen, only a small number of pirate crews would stop by.
Not far from the harbor, a ship that looked like a navy vessel was slowly heading toward Red Adventure Island. Even though it looked like a warship, it clearly wasn't one. No one here had ever seen a ship like it.
People began gathering to see who the owner of the ship was.
"That flag…"
Suddenly, someone stared closely at the flag hanging from the ship. It felt oddly familiar, but he couldn't quite remember where he had seen it before.
The people around him turned their eyes toward the flag after hearing his comment.
"It does look familiar…"
"Ah! I remember now! That's the Dream Exploration Team's flag!"
"There are rumors that their ship looks like a warship, and with that unique flag, no doubt about it—that's definitely their ship!"
"No question about it!"
"I can't believe the Dream Exploration Team really made it to the New World… and they came to Red Adventure Island!"
"It's… it's really them…"
...
Once everyone recognized who it was, the whole port burst into noise.
When the people in the town heard the commotion, they rushed toward the port. Even the strong fighters who were still on the island made their way over, hoping to see the Dream Exploration Team for themselves.
Right now, some of the more well-known people staying on this island were the treasure hunter Fire Rat, the mercenary Strongkla, and the Vulture Pirates' captain Thunder Vulture.
One of them had the Mouse-Mouse Fruit: Ancient Type, Fire Rat form; another was a mercenary with a powerful body and strong Haki; and the last had the Bird-Bird Fruit: Vulture form.
"Lately, people have been saying the Dream Exploration Team is strong enough to rival the Four Emperors…" Strongkla said softly while watching the Dream ship draw closer. A bit of fighting spirit naturally rose from within him.
"Hey hey hey, Strongkla, don't try anything crazy. I'm not strong enough to fight someone on that level!" said Fire Rat nervously.
"I never said I was teaming up with you," Strongkla replied, glancing at him.
"Bastard!"
"I'm just worried you'll drag me down, got it?!" Fire Rat's face turned dark as he growled back at him.
Not far away, Ryuen looked calm.
Compared to these strong fighters, the people near the port began to cheer loudly, welcoming the Dream Exploration Crew on their own.
"Welcome, honored members of the Dream Exploration Crew, to Red Adventure Island!"
"Welcome!"
"Ah! I see the most beautiful chef, Anya!"
"And there's Nami! No wonder she's the best navigator on the sea—so cute!"
"Roar!"
"I see Captain Ryuen! He's really cool!"
…
On the water,
The Dream Crew heard the noise from the port and felt confused for a moment. But as they got closer and heard what people were saying, they realized they were being welcomed.
"What's going on?"
"Did they recognize us?" Leah looked surprised by the scene at the port.
"Of course! We're pretty famous on the seas now. But I didn't expect so many people here to know us," Daisy said, feeling proud as she heard the cheers.
"Hehe, that's great! It'll make it easier for us to learn about this place," Robin smiled, covering her mouth.
Kuina was happy too: "Yeah, but these people are so enthusiastic—it almost makes me feel spoiled."
"Anyway, let's get ashore first," Ryuen said quietly.
As their ship got closer to the dock, the cheers grew louder and the crowd's excitement increased.
The Dream set docked quickly.
When the Dream Crew members stepped onto the land, the locals came forward to greet them with respect and warm welcomes.
"Welcome, brave warriors of the Dream Exploration Crew!"
A tall man with a beard stepped up. His eyes showed respect and hope for the Dream Crew.
"Thanks for the warm welcome. We're the Dream Exploration Crew, and we're happy to be here," Ryuen replied with a smile.
"Hahaha, we're glad you're here! I manage this port, so if you need anything, just ask me," the man said, smiling as he shook Ryuen's hand.
He didn't expect the Dream Crew to be so easygoing. They didn't seem like a group with power equal to the Four Emperors at all!
"Thank you," Ryuen said, feeling the man's sincerity and kindness through the handshake.
Not far away, the treasure hunter Huo Shejun, mercenary Qiang Kela, and the Vulture Pirates' captain, Lei Jiu, all looked seriously at the Dream Crew.
"Hey—"
"Qiang Kela, didn't you want to challenge them before? Here's your chance," Huo Shejun urged.
"Huo Shejun, do you think I'm stupid?" Qiang Kela looked grim as he stared at the Dream Crew.
Before the Dream Crew docked, he might have had the courage to challenge them. But now, feeling the strong pressure coming from them, his fighting spirit vanished without a trace.
"Heh heh heh…" Huo Shejun forced out a few awkward laughs.
Nearby, the Vulture Pirates' captain Lei Jiu also looked very serious.
"They seem friendly, and don't give off any threatening vibe, but no matter how I look at it, this team feels unbeatable... no wonder they're on the Four Emperors level," Lei Jiu muttered.
Many others around the port shared the same feeling.
Even just a little of Ryuen's presence showed them what true top fighters felt like, and it wiped out all their hidden thoughts deep down.
After that, the Dream Crew was warmly treated by the island's people.
They tasted local special dishes and visited some interesting places.
Through talking with the locals, they got a deeper understanding of this mysterious island. Nami and Robin also gathered lots of useful information about the island.
This information would help a lot with their upcoming adventures!
---
You can read 10 Chapters ahead on my
pat reon.com/GMadman