As the Dawn ship approached the Sabaody Archipelago, Vice Admiral Tsuru's call arrived exactly as scheduled.
There was no avoiding it. The Dawn ship was simply too conspicuous. Its massive size was larger than several of the smaller mangrove islands that formed the Sabaody Archipelago itself.
After ending the call, Ash instructed Youki to anchor the Dawn ship a little farther away from the archipelago.
Once everyone gathered on deck, Ash looked at the group and spoke.
"Alright, we have finally reached the Sabaody Archipelago. Does anyone want to explore the islands?"
He paused briefly before continuing.
"We also need to resupply fresh produce, seeds for the orchard and vegetable garden, and a large amount of seasoning."
Kirk immediately spoke up.
"Saff and I can handle that. One of us should stay behind to guard the Dawn ship."
Saff smiled and shook her head.
"Bro, you should go. I'll stay behind, guard the ship, and continue researching new recipes."
Kirk disagreed immediately.
"No, it makes more sense for me to guard the ship. I have the Space ability."
He gestured toward the island.
"You should go explore the archipelago. You spend too much time in the kitchen. You could also buy some clothes you like."
Saff spread her hands helplessly.
"But I can't use the storage ring. There's no way I can carry that many supplies."
Kirk waved the concern away.
"It doesn't matter. After you buy everything, just call Ash and let him store it."
Ash shrugged.
"But I have to visit the Marine Base on Island 66 to meet Vice Admiral Tsuru."
He spread his hands casually like Kuma.
"The island we're facing right now is Area 41. The entertainment and shopping districts are between Areas 30 and 49. We're not heading in the same direction."
Kirk immediately complained.
"You can go to the Marine Base first and teleport over to find Saff afterward. Don't try to be lazy."
Ash sighed.
"Alright, alright."
Then he turned to the others.
"What about you guys? Aren't you going to explore the island?"
Brook looked up toward the towering mangrove trees that formed the Sabaody Archipelago.
"This truly is remarkable," he murmured.
"The legendary island of failure and rebirth."
He chuckled softly.
"Yohohoho. This is also my first time here. In that case, I shall accompany Miss Saff on her shopping trip."
Perona thought quietly for a long moment.
After weighing her options carefully, she decided the safest choice was staying close to Saff.
"Then I'll go shopping with Big Sister too," she said softly.
Youki glanced at Tsuki, who was already bouncing with excitement at the thought of going ashore.
Youki clicked his tongue.
"Fine. Kirk and I will guard the ship."
Kirk looked at him calmly.
"I can watch the Dawn ship myself. You should go explore the island too."
Then he added casually,
"The Sabaody Archipelago gathers the best wine and cigarettes from all four seas."
Youki's eyes instantly lit up.
"In that case, count me in."
Ash nodded.
"Alright, everyone has made their decision. See you later."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ash vanished instantly using teleportation.
Youki rolled his eyes.
Then he turned to Brook.
"Need a ride?"
There was a simple problem.
Everyone on the ship could fly, even Perona.
Everyone except Brook.
And the Dawn ship was still a considerable distance away from Area 41.
Brook chuckled.
"Yohohoho. Although my combat strength is far inferior to yours, I can handle this myself."
Before finishing his sentence, Brook leapt off the side of the Dawn ship.
His legs moved rapidly as he ran across the surface of the sea, stepping on the waves as if the water were solid ground.
The others stared in shock.
Tsuki's eyes nearly popped out.
"Brook is running across the sea! That's incredible!"
Even from far away, Brook responded cheerfully.
"Because I am only bones, my body is very light. As long as I run fast enough, I can accomplish this."
Youki shouted back.
"No one asked how you did it! And that explanation makes absolutely no sense!"
"Yohohohoho...!"
Suddenly a strange noise echoed.
"Wuuu...!"
Tsuki's expression suddenly changed.
"Wait! Wait! Brook is sinking!"
"Yoho!"
Halfway submerged, Brook suddenly shouted and leapt upward.
For a moment it looked like he had recovered.
Then he splashed straight back into the ocean.
Everyone froze.
Then chaos erupted.
"He sank!"
"Quick! Save him!"
Youki and Tsuki immediately attempted to use their Water Element control to pull Brook from the sea.
But Kirk had already acted.
Using his Space ability, he instantly teleported the completely soaked skeleton back onto the ship.
Brook lay on the deck, weakened and dripping with seawater.
"Ah... I have been saved," he said weakly.
"I sincerely apologize for troubling everyone."
He coughed repeatedly.
Youki's forehead bulged with anger.
"If you knew it would cause trouble, why did you jump into the sea!"
When they left Reverse Mountain, they had promised Laboon they would bring Brook back safely.
Tsuki crouched nearby, puzzled.
"Brook, why did you suddenly start sinking halfway through running?"
Brook looked embarrassed.
"Ah... about that."
He scratched the back of his skull.
"I was running a little too fast. My legs almost cramped."
He paused.
"Although I do not actually have muscles that can cramp. Yohohoho..."
Then he coughed again.
"I believe I need to rest for a while."
Youki waved dismissively.
"Forget it. Who knows how long it will take for this landlubber to recover after soaking in seawater."
He pointed toward the island.
"Let's go explore the archipelago first."
Kirk nodded.
"You guys go ahead. After Brook recovers, I'll teleport him over."
Tsuki laughed loudly.
"Great! I've been waiting forever!"
Sabaody Archipelago, Area 66
While Brook was still causing chaos back on the Dawn ship, Ash had already arrived at the Marine station on the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Grandma Tsuru, this is Ash. I'm already at the entrance of the Marine Base on Island 66."
Ash walked calmly along the path near the base gate while speaking into the Den Den Mushi.
The Marine soldiers guarding the base had already noticed him earlier.
But when Ash approached close enough for them to clearly see his face, their expressions changed instantly.
"It's him!"
"That's the Heavenly Emperor, Ash of the Dawn Hunter Pirates!"
The Marine on duty shouted the nickname loudly.
Ash rubbed his nose awkwardly.
He ended the call with Vice Admiral Tsuru and casually placed the Den Den Mushi back into his storage ring.
This nickname was the result of the conversation he had with Big News Morgans two days earlier.
Originally, Ash had wanted the title Sun God.
As for whether that title would one day belong to Monkey D. Luffy after awakening his powers, Ash did not care at all.
Unfortunately, Morgans rejected the idea immediately.
The reason was simple.
The World Government would never allow a pirate to use a title containing the word god.
In their eyes, only the Celestial Dragons had the right to associate themselves with divinity. Even they merely called themselves descendants of gods.
Ash found the logic ridiculous, but Morgans controlled what appeared in the newspapers.
Since he could not use Sun God, and titles like Solar Lord sounded unimpressive, Ash began thinking of alternatives.
Eight of the Ten Great Demon God Devil Fruits had already been designed.
Sooner or later, he would also create the Demon Court that ruled the heavens and the Ancestral Witches that ruled the earth.
If they would not allow him to be called Sun God, he could simply choose something subtler.
Thus the title Heavenly Emperor was born.
After all, the people of the pirate world did not truly understand the meaning behind the title Heavenly Emperor.
But that did not matter.
Give it two years.
Two years later, Ash intended to show the entire pirate world exactly what the title truly meant.
And just like that, the name Heavenly Emperor Ash of the Dawn Hunter Pirates began spreading across the seas.
At least it sounded far more impressive than titles like Heavenly Yaksha.
Although hearing it for the first time made Ash feel slightly embarrassed, he quickly regained his composure.
With the Devil Fruit editor in his possession, becoming the true Heavenly Emperor was only a matter of time.
Just as Ash was trying very hard not to react awkwardly to the title, a pleasant and mature female voice suddenly came from the direction of the Marine base.
"Huh? Is that the black blade Shusui?"