Murphy, are you sure you won't change your mind?" A dozen sailors stood at the dock of the Sabaody Archipelago, led by Mori, with tears in their eyes. They looked like they were saying goodbye to their best friend. And if it weren't for the impatient expression on Murphy's face, the scene might have been touching.
- Eh! I told you that I'm not interested in a career as a pirate, and I'm not interested in taking you with me on my journey!
Murphy sighed. Being a pirate or not didn't really matter. Either way, he published his material under the pseudonym Hagoromo. That was what the invisible man from Moria's ship had done, combining piracy with freelance writing under a pseudonym.
But Murphy didn't like making trouble for himself. Being wanted would mean constantly having to deal with the omnipresent Marines and the all-pervasive pirate hunters. How could that compare to his current freedom?
The same was true of companions - at least now he had no desire to have them.
- Don't be so categorical, everyone has moments when they need help. However, we discussed everything and decided to settle in Water 7. We will never forget your kindness, Murphy. And if you ever need help, just contact us. As long as we can hold swords and guns, we will do everything possible to come to you!
- Okay, okay, I appreciate your kindness. Bye!
Murphy didn't say anything else and just left. These people were too emotional, perceiving him as a great benefactor who saved them from disasters. But Murphy knew perfectly well that he was only interested in the Devil Fruit.
The further he walked along the main road, the quieter the voices from the pier became, until they died away completely.
The Sabaody Archipelago consisted of 79 zones, each with its own characteristics: some served as amusement parks, others as shipyards, others were lawless areas where pirates and slavers operated, and some were even Marine bases.
While wandering the archipelago, Murphy changed his clothes, throwing away his patched shirt and putting on a loose white sweatshirt, which made him look fresher and brighter.
After making inquiries, he reached the 75th zone, known for its hotels and shopping streets. It was located between the Marine base and the lawless areas. He planned to settle there temporarily.
Murphy's original plan was to find the World Economic Gazette's branch office on Sabaody and, depending on the circumstances, spend some time there. It would be convenient for his work and allow him to learn some journalistic tricks.
However, after careful questioning, he discovered that no one knew where this branch was, or whether it existed at all.
The newspaper's headquarters were well hidden, with all external communications going through the News Coo, the Den-Den-Mushi, and the telegraph. But Murphy believed that such an important hub as Sabaody should have at least some representation!
Unfortunately, the reality turned out to be the opposite - long inquiries yielded no information. However, perhaps it was precisely because of its secrecy that the World Economic Newspaper remained the only media outlet that dared to tell the truth.
As for the few local newspapers in Sabaody, Murphy had no interest in them at all. The events that attracted his attention were not available for coverage in these publications.
If so, it was necessary to find another way to settle down.
He glanced down the street and entered a bookstore called The Bubble.
The store was two-story - the sales area downstairs and living quarters upstairs. The area was small, enough for one person to work.
- Master, I saw the notice at the entrance. Are you selling the bookstore?
Murphy knocked on the table, waking the shop owner, who was engrossed in reading a newspaper.
— I'm selling!
The owner of the shop had a very noticeable moustache, similar to the number eight, and a pointed chin, which gave him a sly look.
Hearing Murphy's voice, he answered automatically. But, raising his head and looking at Murphy, his lips curled slightly, the tips of his mustache rose up, and his eyes rolled back: - However... children have no business here!
Having said this, he returned to reading the newspaper.
Murphy, who had already taken a couple of steps and was about to look around the store, turned around abruptly upon hearing the owner's answer and froze in place in an awkward pose.
Was he underestimated again?!
His eyelid twitched and he pounded the table again. "I'm not kidding. I came to look around the store, and I'm not a kid."
- You... don't interfere with my business. District number 30 would suit you better, there's an amusement park there, - the owner of the bookstore answered without raising his head.
— ...
"Do my new clothes make me look even younger?"
Bam!
Lost in thought, Murphy hit the table again. This time it was louder, with a distinct rhythm that was completely different from the previous one.
The impact was followed by a long echo, reminding the shop owner of falling dominoes.
He looked up again. Murphy's fingers had not yet fully left the surface of the table, which first wobbled and then fell apart with a crash.
- I'm just asking, are you selling your store or not?!
Murphy's face remained calm and his speech was clear, but the shop owner's hair stood on end as if a dark cloud were hanging over him.
- I'm selling! Of course I'm selling! Let's talk calmly!
As soon as he answered, the shop owner realized that the oppressive atmosphere had disappeared. If it weren't for the broken table in front of him, he might even have thought that he had imagined it all.
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he looked closely at Murphy.
He was not an ignorant person. There were many pirates and marines on the Sabaody Archipelago, and skirmishes often occurred, and this boy, although he looked young, clearly had considerable strength. However, his character did not seem to be the best.
- I'll inspect the second floor.
— Just three floors, with a warehouse downstairs. Look at everything: shelves, furniture, books, exclusive supply channels, three months' rent in advance, and so on. All together — a million...
The shop owner stroked his mustache, looked at Murphy's palm, became frightened and corrected himself: - Okay, if it weren't for urgent matters requiring my departure, I wouldn't have allowed you such favorable discounts. But now I'm ready to give it up for some 800 thousand belli.
"300 thousand belli," Murphy offered.
"It's too little," the owner looked worried.
- Then tell me, what is really valuable here?
"Location... Well, okay, 400 thousand, I can't sell it for less," the owner wanted to say something else, but seeing the disdainful expression on Murphy's face, he gave in.
"This boy knows his stuff. Too bad!"
— Shake on it!
After a quick look, Murphy decided to buy the bookstore. The price didn't really matter - he had other plans, and he wasn't really going to be in the book trade. He was only bargaining so that he wouldn't be seen as easy prey.
According to his calculations, there were no more than two months left until Roger surrendered to the authorities. So how could he prove that Roger surrendered himself and was not caught?
The best way is to capture the moment of Roger's surrender, or to film his dialogue with high-ranking Marine officers. And the place where this will most likely happen is Marine headquarters.
Murphy couldn't just go to headquarters to film, and he didn't have to. With the Den-Den-Mushi surveillance system, he could just stay there and gradually implant his devices through passing sentries, penetrating deeper into headquarters.
Remote control is convenient and safe.
Zone 75 was neither a safe nor particularly dangerous area. Due to its proximity to lawless areas, skirmishes were common, but due to its proximity to the Marine base, they quickly died down. It was also the closest shopping district to the Marine base, which meant more contact with Marines and simplified his surveillance plan. So, with everything he needed in place, all he had to do was sit quietly in this Bubble Bookstore until things started to unfold as they should...