The Devil's Triangle, one of the most mysterious regions in the entire sea, is perpetually shrouded in an impenetrable fog.
No one knows what truly lies within these mists, and no one has ever fully explored this area—not even the legendary Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
The massive Ark Maxim soared through the sky, plunging straight into the heart of the fog.
Jake had taken an unusually long leave from Sengoku this time.
Aside from resolving matters on Fish-Man Island, he also intended to find the perfect hiding spot for the gold the Marines had transported down from Sky Island.
And this location, almost without a second thought, could only be the Devil's Triangle.
In this region, due to the dense fog and the chaotic magnetic fields across most of the sea, it was nearly impossible to navigate without considerable strength and technology.
But Jake was different.
With the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he could precisely avoid the disorienting magnetic interference through extensive electromagnetic sensing.
And if that wasn't enough, Jake could simply activate his Level 50 Awakening ability and light up the path ahead like a miniature sun.
Besides, the Ark Maxim could fly.
If all else failed, they could just ascend above the fog and bypass the area entirely.
As Jake gazed at the foggy expanse, a faint unease settled in his heart.
Because in the latter part of the Devil's Triangle in his past life, three colossal figures had appeared in these waters.
Those figures were at least ten thousand meters tall.
Though it was later explained that they were merely projections of the Sky Islanders, what kind of projections could emit light?
If those three projections truly existed—and worse, if Jake and his crew happened to encounter them—things could turn very bad, very quickly.
But Jake trusted his luck.
The odds of that happening were slim.
Gekko Moria had been lurking here for years without ever running into such things.
Surely, Jake wouldn't be unlucky enough to stumble upon them on his first visit, right?
The unlikelihood of their existence, combined with the minuscule chance of an encounter, convinced Jake to take the risk.
A cold, slimy wind brushed against his face, like the clammy skin of a corpse.
Sugar stood on the deck of the Ark, a trace of fear flickering across her face as she instinctively hid behind her older sister, Monet.
With a hint of worry, she asked.
"Nee-san, are we really going there? It feels so scary... It's still daytime outside, so why is it so dark here? What if there are ghosts inside?!"
Just then, young Sanji approached from nearby, carrying a plate of sliced fruit.
He handed it to Sugar, his cheeks slightly flushed as he said.
"Um, Miss Sugar, if you don't mind, you could have some fruit to relax. And if any danger or ghosts show up ahead, I swear I'll protect you with my life!"
Hearing Sanji's words, Sugar giggled and accepted the fruit from him.
She smiled sweetly and replied.
"Thank you, Sanji! You should have some too—you must be tired after cutting all this fruit! And if we run into danger, I'll protect you too!"
Sanji's face turned beet red at her words, his heart swelling with warmth.
As for why this kid was here, the reason was quite simple.
After Judge chose to stay with Dr. Vegapunk to continue his research, Sanji was entrusted to Jake by Sora.
She said Sanji's personality wasn't suited to staying there any longer and wanted him to travel with Jake to see more of the outside world.
Jake naturally understood Sora's decision.
After all, for someone like Sanji who hadn't yet awakened his lineage factor, staying in that place full of monsters wasn't exactly safe—especially with his uncontrollably dangerous older brothers around.
Until his brothers were fully treated, Sora was deeply concerned about letting Sanji meet them.
Thus, at Sora's request, Jake allowed little Sanji aboard his ark.
Initially, Jake worried Sanji might harass the female crew members.
But after Sanji laid eyes on Sugar, his heart seemed completely captured, devoted solely to her.
Jake wasn't sure why—perhaps because Sugar was the one who took the most care of Sanji when he first boarded?
Though Jake never quite figured it out, he didn't bother digging deeper.
As long as Sanji didn't disrupt the ark's atmosphere, he could do as he pleased.
At the moment, Law stretched out his hand to Sanji and said.
"Hey! Give me some too, Sanji!"
"Get lost, you damn man!"
"What the hell did you say?!"
The next moment, the two were at each other's throats.
Seeing this, Rosinante sighed helplessly and crouched down, attempting to separate the two fighting kids with his own body.
But clearly, he underestimated the destructive power of those two brats.
With a sharp pain in his facial muscles and a dull thud to his head, Rosinante collapsed on the spot.
Sanji and Law, having kicked and clubbed Rosinante respectively, now panicked and scrambled to help.
Watching the lively commotion on the ark, Monet smiled and said to Jake.
"It seems no matter when, our ship never lacks this kind of lively atmosphere. But Jake, what exactly is your purpose for coming here? You haven't even told me."
Hearing Monet's question, Jake gazed at the ark, which had nearly reached the edge of the Devil's Triangle, and replied softly.
"To find a suitable place for the gold from Sky Island. Also, there's someone inside the Devil's Triangle who interests me greatly. Monet, have you heard the name Gekko Moria?"
"Gekko Moria?! Oh, Zephyr-sensei mentioned him before. He was supposedly one of the most notorious Pirates outside the Four Emperors, rising to fame as a Supernova in just a few years. But didn't his crew get completely annihilated by the Beasts Pirates after he go to war with Kaido?"
"That's old news. According to Tesoro's intel, Gekko Moria recently appeared on a small island in the West Blue and took away its most famous doctor, Hogback."
"The last place they disappeared was here, the Devil's Triangle, the place closest to hell in legend."
Jake gazed at the sea, his eyes carrying a hint of admiration.