The reason Mary Geoise became like this was naturally connected to Naruto.
Fortunately, there were hardly any innocent people left here now.
The slaves were the first to escape, followed by the remaining Celestial Dragons and their lackeys.
After the World Government completely collapsed, the formerly oppressed finally dared to climb the Red Line, which represented an 'insurmountable barrier' in every sense, to witness the so-called 'Land of the Gods' with their own feet.
Regardless of whether this act dispelled the nightmares the Celestial Dragons instilled in their hearts, a group of quick-witted individuals soon found profitable opportunities.
First was scavenging the ruins of Mary Geoise.
A starved camel is still bigger than a horse.
Even after repeated destruction and the removal of various treasures, the ruins of Mary Geoise still held valuables that could tempt an entire nation.
If they didn't exhaust this remaining value, they wouldn't be worthy of being called pirates.
Not to mention, rumors even spread of someone finding a Devil Fruit up there.
It must be known that even the most useless Devil Fruit started at 'hundreds of millions' in auctions.
But only a few could climb the ten-thousand-meter Red Line. Those who couldn't climb weren't willing to watch the treasures being taken away.
Thus, another industry emerged.
They used hot air balloons or other flying objects to ascend directly from the ground to Mary Geoise.
This group not only went to Mary Geoise themselves but even turned this 'route' into something like public transportation.
Even if they couldn't find more valuables in Mary Geoise, they could profit from the high ticket prices charged to the scavengers.
This behavior undoubtedly further tore apart the halo surrounding the Celestial Dragons.
Whether it was the Revolutionary Army, the Marines, or others, they all welcomed this.
Naruto watched as the two pirates tore open a bag during a squabble, spilling deformed gold and silver utensils and even a whip with a gem-encrusted handle.
Probably another product of some Celestial Dragon's extravagant desires.
Naruto watched the two fight over the treasure, then looked around.
Countless similar scenes unfolded… some had already drawn swords and shed blood.
Those truly seeking to dispel the Celestial Dragons' shadow were gone. Now, almost all remaining here were pirates.
"This is... what pirates are."
Naruto didn't intervene, allowing one man to bash his companion's head bloody, then snatch his treasure and flee.
On the seas, pirates killing each other over treasure and profit were everywhere.
Even Roger had plundered, though his targets were mostly noble or large faction merchant ships.
Pirates like Luffy, who sought neither wealth nor profit but only followed their own path, were rare.
At least, among the pirates Naruto had met, only a handful were like that.
This was also why he always denied being a pirate.
He was neither a pirate nor a Ninja.
Naruto didn't identify with either label.
He didn't want to be someone else's blade, nor did he want to rob or kill others for mere profit.
After leaving the Oro Jackson, the most excessive thing Naruto did voluntarily was eat without paying.
And that was usually because he forgot his money. He'd also secretly return it later after finding some.
Other situations were almost always because others provoked him first, forcing him to retaliate.
Or else he acted righteously to save someone.
In short, Naruto believed his blade must be drawn for a reason, and that reason could be anything except personal desire.
"Such a fishy sea breeze..."
Leaving these words, Naruto rose into the air again, silently soaring over the entirety of Mary Geoise.
The pirate who had sensed Naruto earlier was now red-eyed, stuffing blood-stained treasure into a backpack, no longer as sharp as before.
The next moment.
"Argh!"
Another knife from who-knows-where pierced his chest.
The treasure he had just hidden was now in someone else's hands.
…
"Huh? This is..."
On the deck, Yamato, who had regained control of the helm through sheer shamelessness, looked at the Vivre Card in her hand, sounding puzzled.
Before she finished, Sasuke landed beside her like a shadow.
Couldn't blame him for reacting so fast… he had to.
Ever since he stopped Yamato from steering, she had been acting up, throwing tantrums, even trying to secretly raise the sails at night when everyone was resting.
Actually, when not drunk, Yamato's sailing skills were barely passable.
However...
As everyone knows, Huskies are energetic creatures, but the problem is their energy is excessive.
Hence the term 'escape artists'.
During the voyage, any little thing could attract Yamato's interest, making her instinctively head that way.
If it were just ordinary islands, it'd be fine, but she always steered toward strange places.
Like deep-sea whirlpools, hidden reefs... If not for her and Sasuke's extraordinary strength, allowing them to forcibly move the ship even if it ran aground, any other pirate doing this a few times would probably be stranded on some deserted island long ago.
"What happened?"
Before speaking, Sasuke's Observation Haki had already scanned the surrounding seas, confirming no strange sea creatures or islands, then he looked at her.
"It's the Vivre Card. The Vivre Card's direction changed."
Yamato held up Naruto's Vivre Card.
Sure enough, even without wind, the card was tilting in another direction.
"The Vivre Card's direction... I remember you said that represents—"
"It's Naruto-sama! He's set sail again!"
Before Sasuke could finish, Yamato cheered loudly.
"He must know that I successfully escaped and can't wait to come get me!"
Yamato stated with certainty.
Then, with one hand, she violently turned the helm, swinging the ship sideways, heading in another direction.
"Whoa!"
Sasuke reached out, pulling Baby-5 back before she was flung away, ignoring her heart-eyed expression again, thinking to himself, 'If I remembered correctly, Naruto should be in Amazon Lily taking care of his loved ones, right?'
'Furthermore, that guy might have even married those two ladies by now.'
'Why set sail again at this time?'
'Could he have been kicked out?'
His face remained serious, but his inner gossip spirit burned fiercely.
Sasuke took the Vivre Card from Yamato, then took hold of the helm himself.
"You go rest. I'll steer from now on."
"Huh?"
Yamato still hadn't processed it.
"But I just started..."
She barely got a few words out before meeting Sasuke's eyes.
'Oh! What intense emotion! Is his soul burning?'
Yamato felt she could empathize.
'It seemed Sasuke-kun was also looking forward to seeing Naruto-sama!'
Thus, though not understanding what she understood, Yamato, who felt she understood, released the helm, then patted Sasuke's shoulder with an 'I get you' expression.
Then, she led the struggling Baby-5 toward the deck.
'What a blazing friendship...'