After half a day of sailing, the Traveler finally reached the Nordis Kingdom.
In the North Blue, Nordis was considered one of the wealthiest nations. Its harbors alone were a testament to that prosperity three massive docks stretched across the bay, each bustling with ships. Unlike the Flower Kingdom, where pirate ships roamed unchecked, Nordis's harbors were filled mostly with merchant vessels. A few military warships bearing the royal insignia patrolled the surrounding waters, proof of the kingdom's solid power and discipline.
As the Traveler glided smoothly into port, Eli Winters looked out over the busy docks. Laborers worked tirelessly beneath the scorching sun, their bare backs reddened by the heat. They hauled crates, shouted orders, and sweated through the day with one simple goal to feed their families. It wasn't a glamorous life, but it was one built on perseverance.
Once the Traveler was moored, everyone disembarked except Simon, who chose to remain aboard. He'd always been quiet, preferring solitude in the crow's nest. Even though the last storm had torn it down, he still decided to stay and watch over the ship. Big Pan, on the other hand, was brimming with energy and excitement as they stepped onto land.
The moment they set foot on the pier, a group of locals approached, calling out cheerfully to attract passengers for their carriages. They weren't quite carriages more like tricycles with padded seats on the back. For a split second, Eli was reminded of home. It felt just like stepping out of a subway station and being swarmed by motorbike drivers trying to lure customers.
He was about to refuse when he noticed the eager spark in Filina and Fiona's eyes. They clearly wanted to look around. Smiling faintly, he changed his mind it would be a good chance to learn about this country anyway.
Eli picked a middle-aged driver whose tricycle was cleaner than the rest simple, sturdy, and freshly polished.
"Where to, my friends?" the man asked warmly, his accent thick but kind.
Eli smiled. "Nowhere in particular. Just show us around a bit. And tell us about your kingdom while you're at it, Uncle."
The man's eyes lit up with pride. As he began pedaling through the cobblestone streets, he said, "Ah, the Nordis Kingdom! We're rich in trade and blessed with resources. You see, we found a special kind of mineral here makes weapons sharper than anything else in the world! Neighboring countries all want to trade for it. And our king? A strong leader, with an army to match."
As they passed a large stone building, Eli noticed a long line of people outside, stretching around the block. "Uncle," he asked curiously, "what's that place? Why is everyone lining up?"
The driver glanced over. "That's where they hand out food aid. The kingdom's rich, sure, but we've got our share of poor folk and refugees too. His Majesty is merciful gives out rations every month."
Eli nodded thoughtfully. His gaze drifted to the crowd just in time to catch a sudden commotion.
A blond boy with a long scar across his cheek was hurling stones at a disheveled middle-aged man. "That's Bellamy again," the driver muttered, irritation flickering across his face. "Always picking on that poor man, Tatt."
Bellamy. Eli's eyes narrowed slightly. The name struck a chord. That Bellamy? The one who idolized Donquixote Doflamingo, who mocked those with dreams as "fools and trash"? Even at this age, the arrogance was already there.
"What happened between them?" Eli asked, genuinely curious.
The driver sighed. "Well, that goes back three years. Nordis used to be a great agricultural nation. Then, some farmers found that mineral I told you about. It made fine weapons, durable and deadly, so the nobles started mining like mad. But soon enough, the farmland went barren. Crops stopped growing, and the soil turned to dust. People starved.
"The king made a new decree every man between fifteen and thirty must work the mines to earn food. But the mines are dangerous. Death rates are high. Those poor folks in line? Their husbands and sons died down there."
He pointed toward the crowd mostly elderly, women, and children and then toward Bellamy. "Bellamy's father and Tatt used to be royal scientists. They tried to figure out why the land was dying. Bellamy's father died during the research, and his mother fell sick from poverty. After losing both parents, the boy lost himself too. Now he mocks Tatt, calls him delusional for still chasing answers."
Eli said nothing. The story painted a grim picture of a kingdom thriving on exploitation and loss.
When they reached a lively street, Eli asked the driver to stop near a tavern. After paying a thousand Berries, he and his companions stepped inside.
The tavern was loud and packed, filled with sailors and merchants laughing over spilled beer. They found a corner table, ordered drinks and food, and settled in.
"Boss," Big Pan said after a gulp of ale, "doesn't this place feel… weird to you?"
Eli raised an eyebrow. "Weird how?"
Big Pan frowned. "I don't know. Just… off."
Filina nodded in agreement. "It's the people. There are no young faces. Everyone's middle-aged or older. It's noisy, but there's no energy. It feels dead."
"Yeah," Big Pan said, snapping his fingers. "Dead that's the word."
Fiona leaned forward, her voice steady. "What if the land's decay wasn't natural at all? What if the king caused it?"
Eli tilted his head. "Interesting theory. Why?"
"Because the moment the problem appeared, they didn't try to fix it they sent young people into the mines. And the scientists who investigated it? They died. Doesn't that seem suspicious?" Fiona said coolly.
Eli smiled. "If you're that curious, we can always investigate. After all…" His eyes glimmered with quiet confidence. "When you're strong enough, everything becomes a matter of interest."
The others grinned. Adventure, mystery, and danger that was exactly what they lived for.
Their conversation was cut short when a group of strangers entered the tavern. Their clothes were foreign gaudy and mismatched. Leading them was a lanky man wrapped in a cloak like a blanket, his hair slicked down with strange glue, a pair of tiny sunglasses perched on his face, snot dripping freely from his nose. He carried a staff marked with a clover symbol and walked barefoot, chains rattling around his ankles.
The tavern owner immediately rushed forward, bowing deeply. "Lord Trebol! What an honor to have you here!"
Trebol the sticky man himself. One of Doflamingo's top officers.
Eli's gaze sharpened. What's he doing here?
Trebol's nasal laugh filled the room. "Beh-heh-heh-heh! Old Darl, you always know how to please me. My food and drink better be ready!"
"Of course, Lord Trebol! The finest room awaits!" the tavern keeper said eagerly.
Trebol patted him on the shoulder, smearing sticky residue on his clothes. "Good, good. You'll get an extra shipment this month, eh-heh-heh!"
Just then, a young boy burst through the door it was Bellamy. He rushed toward Trebol with desperate excitement but was instantly tackled by one of Trebol's men.
"Bellamy!" the innkeeper shouted in horror. "You fool! Do you want to die? You can't offend Lord Trebol!"
Bellamy ignored him, staring at Trebol with burning devotion. "Lord Trebol, please! Let me join the Donquixote Family!"
Trebol's grin widened grotesquely. "Beh-heh-heh-heh! And what makes you worth our attention, little brat?"
"I've eaten the Spring-Spring Fruit!" Bellamy shouted, trembling. "Please, let me serve Doflamingo! I'll give him everything I have!"
Trebol twirled his cane. "Not enough. The Donquixote Family doesn't recruit weaklings."
"Then what must I do?!" Bellamy begged.
Trebol's smile turned sinister. "Kill a hundred people in this tavern. Do that, and maybe I'll consider it."
The room fell silent. Even the drunkest sailor froze in terror. Bellamy's face went pale, torn between fear and obsession.
Then something inside him snapped. With a springing leap, he slammed a man against the wall. Screams erupted as panic consumed the tavern.
Before Bellamy could strike again, a hand caught his arm mid-swing. Eli stood before him, calm and cold.
"You'd kill innocents just to join Doflamingo? You don't deserve your power."
Bellamy snarled, his spring-loaded limbs lashing out in furious attacks. Eli sidestepped effortlessly, then struck a single kick that sent Bellamy crashing through the wall.
"I won't let you harm another soul," Eli said quietly.
Trebol emerged from the back room, his voice dripping with malice. "Beh-heh-heh-heh! Interesting. You just made a powerful enemy, boy."
"Enemy?" Eli smirked. "You'll do."
Trebol sneered. "Then die!" Sticky mucus burst from his cloak, splattering across the room like bullets. Eli didn't even move. The attacks passed through his body harmlessly, tearing holes in the walls behind him.
Trebol's eyes went wide. "What are you?! Why can't my Haki touch you?"
Eli's lips curved faintly. "Because you're too weak."
In a blur, he appeared above Trebol, his fist wreathed in twin colors of Haki. "For trash like you, this is mercy."
With a thunderous crash, Trebol hit the floor, buried in rubble. His subordinates didn't fare any better Filina and Fiona had already taken them out with clean precision.
Big Pan pinned Bellamy to the ground, scowling. "You really piss me off, kid."
Eli dragged the unconscious Trebol out of the crater, grabbed Bellamy by the collar, and turned to his crew. "Let's head back to the ship. I'll deal with these two."
A ripple of space shimmered around them, and they vanished into the portal.
Back aboard the Traveler, Eli tossed the captives into the cargo hold with a grin. Two Devil Fruits in one day quite the haul.
"As for Doflamingo," he muttered, smirking, "who cares?"
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