"How long can I maintain the Somersault Cloud with my current stamina? Since I haven't set off yet, I might as well test it out."
Badak spat out the Somersault Cloud and leaped onto it, but suddenly felt something was off.
He definitely needed to bring some supplies—food, water, luggage, and the Belly he had accumulated over this period. All of these would add weight and take up space.
"I can eat while flying to replenish my energy. Once the food is consumed, the space it occupies will decrease."
"But I also need to consider resting spots when I'm out at sea. Should I bring a boat? Hawkeye's small boat seems perfect—it can float on the sea and also be lifted into the sky by my Somersault Cloud. Anything heavier would be unnecessary."
What started as a carefree journey for one man, one sword, and one cloud slowly, inexplicably turned into a snail-paced expedition for one man, one sword, a boat loaded with supplies, and a dutiful cloud.
Once he made up his mind, Badak immediately sprang into action, heading straight for the island where the shipyards were located to buy a small boat.
Shipyards were abundant in Sabaody's areas 50 to 59. Large ships usually had to be custom-ordered, but small boats could be purchased on the spot for immediate pickup.
Badak quickly noticed something unusual. Though he had avoided this area before to steer clear of pirates, he never expected to see so many men in black suits. Without a doubt, these were agents of the World Government.
No wonder people like Rob Lucci and Kaku were considered elites—they disguised themselves as shipwrights and ended up becoming the best among them. No one suspected their true identities before they were exposed. These so-called agents were more like ordinary workers.
After some thought, Badak realized these men were likely here to capture the escapees from Mary Geoise. But judging by the agents' fruitless expressions, the fugitives must have hidden elsewhere—perhaps in the more chaotic districts of areas 1 to 29.
Badak soon bought his boat—a sleek, single-masted vessel, entirely different in style from Hawkeye's. Though not crafted from the wood of the Adam Treasure Tree, it was made from the finest timber available. Originally, it had been a gift commissioned by a wealthy man for his child, but after the man met an unfortunate end at the hands of pirates, the boat remained unsold. After all, a small boat priced at 20 million Belly was hardly a bargain.
But a treasure is priceless to its beholder. Badak fell in love with it at first sight and bought it without hesitation.
During the purchase, Badak was questioned by the men in black suits, but he paid them no mind. He even cooperatively assured them he'd report any findings.
Badak didn't know how to sail, but he had a trick up his sleeve—using the Somersault Cloud to push or pull the boat. By furling the sails and manipulating the cloud to wrap around the vessel, he could move the boat forward, backward, or even sideways.
"Mom no longer has to worry about me rowing with a sword like Hawkeye."
"The Somersault Cloud is so handy!"
Badak had even developed a skill akin to the Wish-Fulfilling Staff. Though the Somersault Cloud appeared as a mere cloud, it was tangible and could change shape according to his will.Badak shaped it into a staff, and it became a staff. It could grow larger, shrink, lengthen, or shorten—all at will. Moreover, it was a flying staff, though a flying sword would work just as well. There was just one problem Badak hadn't solved yet: the Wish-Fulfilling Staff currently felt a bit too soft when hitting people.
"Wonder if Haki can reinforce the Wish-Fulfilling Staff?"
Badak sailed the boat to Grove 46, then controlled it to fly toward his residence. Good—it wasn't too taxing.
As the house drew near, Badak suddenly felt as if his head had been struck. The sensation was familiar—Conqueror's Haki. His own Conqueror's Haki reacted instinctively, flaring out in response.
Ever since his Conqueror's Haki awakened, Badak had been trying to train it. But, well, it was better than nothing. Even now, he still couldn't control it with precision. His residence occupied an entire tree root by itself, with no neighbors nearby. But a little further away, many people lived there—and their nighttime sleep quality had been excellent lately. Sometimes, when young couples were getting intimate, they'd inexplicably both "fall asleep" mid-act, only to wake up the next morning staring at each other in confusion. Given time, some peculiar rumors about Sabaody would surely spread. Fortunately, Badak was about to leave, even though the lease on his house hadn't expired yet.
The other party's Conqueror's Haki quickly receded. Badak scratched his head—this wouldn't do. Even though they were both beginners, if the other side withdrew so fast, he couldn't reel his own back in. His Haki continued to press outward, but there was no reaction from the other side.
Badak decided to investigate. His curiosity was piqued.
A group of people lay unconscious on the ground, clearly having gone through a fierce battle. Many were still bleeding.
"Huh, black suits. Well, that's fine. But where's the person who released the Conqueror's Haki? Oh? These three must be the ones who got ganged up on?"
"These hair colors… at this particular time… could it be them?"
Badak took out his Video Transponder Snail. He'd missed capturing Hawkeye's embarrassing moment last time—he couldn't let this opportunity slip by.
After getting rich, Badak had immediately bought this high-end Video Transponder Snail—high-definition recording, easy printing, and low maintenance.
Circling the crowd twice in the air, he snapped several close-ups from the perfect angle. "Shocking! Pirate Empress Knocked Out by Small Fry!"
Seeing no one else around, Badak hauled the three sisters onto his boat. Thankfully, they were still young—if they'd been fully grown, his little boat wouldn't have been able to fit the two snake women.
"Should I take them to Grove 13? Nah, I'll wait till it's dark."
...
Hancock jolted upright, still dazed. The last thing she remembered was heading to Grove 13 with her two younger sisters to seek Shaki's help—something they'd heard about from the elders on the Nine Snake Pirates' ship. But they'd been exposed, chased by a crowd, and her sisters had been quickly overpowered. In her fury, she'd unleashed her Conqueror's Haki, knocking out their attackers—only for another wave of Conqueror's Haki to surge from the distance. Already exhausted, she'd blacked out.
Her sisters!
She whipped her head around—good, both were here. No, wait—bad! Had they been captured again? She began trembling uncontrollably.
She didn't notice a Den Den Mushi recording everything from across the way.
"Hey, you're awake. Want something to eat?"Badak pointed to the food on the table, watching Hancock alternate between spacing out and trembling, unsure what was going through her mind. This woman's inner world was particularly vivid, with an overactive imagination.
Hancock finally noticed Badak's presence. "Who are you? Did you capture us? What do you want?"
"No no no, I found you—I mean, I saved you. You were unconscious when I saw you, so I brought you here. Why were you passed out?" Badak began playing dumb.
Could someone have rescued them without taking them away, merely moving them from the battlefield?
Hancock noticed that both her sisters' clothes were relatively intact—though torn in places, their backs weren't exposed. She sighed in relief.
"Thank you for your help. Why haven't my sisters woken up yet?"
"Not sure. Maybe they're just exhausted?"
"Then... where is this? Why are we wrapped in clouds? These are clouds, right?"
"We're on a ship—one that flies through the sky. Pretty cool, huh? It's mine!" Badak said proudly.
Unfortunately, Hancock was too preoccupied to react much. She hesitated, wondering whether to ask Badak to help take her sisters to Grove 13.