Chapter 173: The Tree Bridge

"As long as President Morgans is satisfied, I'll definitely get a promotion and a raise!"

The man thought excitedly.

His name was Dale, a reporter under the World Economy News Paper, whose main task was tracking and reporting on up-and-coming pirate stars.

On every starting island, there were reporters like Dale.

The content they wrote might not always make it to the press, but the pirates they followed were usually high-bounty individuals whose reputations had already begun to echo across the Grand Line.

Among these endlessly potential-laden pirates, a select few would stand out even more, blazing a trail all the way to Sabaody Archipelago, the halfway point of the Grand Line.

By then, the fame crafted by countless reports would culminate in their recognition as Supernovas.

It could be said, without reservation, that behind the name of every Supernova pirate, there was always an unsung hero in the form of a diligent reporter.

And reporters like them were the indispensable architects of such fame.

A pirate like Bacardi Maude—undoubtedly the top contender for the title of dark horse Supernova—had long been on Dale's watchlist.

So, when he heard Turkey Dada's booming, emotional voice, Dale immediately found a suitable vantage point.

"This guy nicknamed Turkey seems to have some real potential as a journalist. I'll have to find a chance to approach him and see if he's interested in joining the field," Dale mused.

In Dale's eyes, someone with Dada's talent for embellishment was wasting his abilities if he wasn't working as a writer.

While considering this, Dale raised his binoculars and focused closely on Maude and his group near the shore.

The so-called "masterpiece" was merely a pleasant surprise. If it was good enough to fill a serial slot in the newspaper, that would naturally be ideal.

After all, as the recommender, Dale's standing in President Morgans' eyes would surely improve.

But the most important thing right now was reporting on the dark horse, Bacardi Maude.

"Last year it was Fire Fist Ace, and this year it's Bacardi Maude..."

Through his binoculars, Dale locked onto Maude, whose face bore a faint smile. Unconsciously, Dale's own grin grew wider with excitement.

"When luck strikes, there's no stopping it."

Out of the seven routes, it just so happened that he was the one stationed at Twin Island when Bacardi Maude appeared. If that wasn't luck, what was?

Even a single high-definition frontal photograph of Maude, faxed to President Morgans, could match the workload of an entire month's worth of reports.

And if Maude caused a major incident on Twin Island, all the better.

Meanwhile, at the shore.

Thanks to Maude's encouragement, Dada felt as though a new path in life had opened before him.

He carefully took the book Maude handed back to him and stored it with utmost reverence.

To find such a kindred spirit left him with no regrets.

Since his idol had spoken, no matter whether the road ahead was bright or dark, he was determined to forge ahead!

"Big Brother Maude, shall we head directly to the restaurant in town now?" Dada asked.

After some back-and-forth conversations, Dada had grown bold enough to address Maude by name.

Though he was over a decade older than Maude, it didn't stop him from addressing Maude as "Big Brother."

"Sure," Maude nodded.

Before their Log Pose could store a full record, they would undoubtedly need to replenish their supplies in town.

However, this place clearly wasn't one of goodwill, so someone would need to stay behind and guard the ship.

After all, nearly six billion Beri was stored on the ship.

Such a vast fortune could easily drive the greedy inhabitants of the island into madness.

"Someone needs to stay and watch the ship," Maude said, glancing at his crewmates.

Given Jim's strength, leaving him alone to guard the ship might be a stretch.

The most suitable candidates were either Lafitte or Gaya.

"I'll stay," Lafitte offered, glancing at Gaya.

Whether it was Jim or Gaya staying behind, he couldn't rest easy.

Moreover, Gaya was the ship's cook, so it would be essential for her to go into town to purchase ingredients.

Without further deliberation, Lafitte took on the task.

Maude shared the same thoughts as Lafitte and immediately made the decision.

Dada cautiously suggested, "Actually, my brothers could guard the ship for you. I guarantee nothing will happen!"

It was just an old boat—why bother leaving someone like Lafitte to guard it?

That was his honest thought.

However, the so-called "old boat" held a fortune he couldn't even fathom earning in a lifetime.

There was no way Maude would let outsiders guard such an enormous sum of money. Without showing any displeasure, he politely declined Dada's offer.

Before leaving, Dada thoughtfully left five of his men behind to assist Lafitte.

...

Spring Island was lush and green, full of vibrant flora that pleased the eye.

The town on the island was built along the coast, with greenery lining every corner of its streets. Many structures featured a semi-treehouse design, blending harmoniously with the natural surroundings.

At the heart of the town was a straight, wide stone-paved avenue that divided the town in two, leading directly to a massive tree that connected the two islands.

Thanks to Dada's guided explanations, Maude's group gained a basic understanding of Spring Island.

They walked past the coastline and approached the roots of a massive tree, which Maude jokingly called the Yin-Yang Tree.

The sturdy, interwoven roots created a rope-like bridge above the ground.

On one side, the roots connected to the stone-paved road extending from the town, while the other side led to a bridge tunnel beneath the tree, crossing over a canal to the distant, snow-covered Winter Island.

Indeed.

While the weather on Spring Island was sunny and breezy, the opposite Winter Island was blanketed in dark clouds and falling snow, with harsh winds howling.

This strange contrast of spring and winter was a rare sight, even within the Grand Line.

"Dada, what's the name of this tree?" Maude asked, shifting his gaze from the snowy landscape back to the massive tree and its intricate bridge-like roots.

Dada hesitated briefly before answering, "I don't know the original name of the tree. Everyone just calls it the Tree Bridge."

"Tree Bridge..." Maude muttered, unimpressed. "Who came up with that name? It's accurate, sure, but it's way too uninspired."

Even his nickname "Yin-Yang Tree" sounded more creative.

As the group crossed the stone-paved avenue, a loud shout suddenly broke the peace.

"Stop right there, you little thief!"

A boy in a thick coat, carrying a bag of goods, sprinted toward them, head down.

Chasing after him was a burly man with a fierce expression.

"How dare you steal from me!" the man roared, raising his gun and firing several shots at the boy.

Only one bullet grazed the boy's arm, leaving a shallow wound that didn't hinder his escape.

The boy soon reached the tree bridge, catching sight of Maude's group ahead. His frostbitten face tightened as he deliberately moved to the side, giving them a wide berth before rushing past them onto the bridge toward Winter Island.

The burly man arrived moments later, helplessly watching as the boy disappeared into the distance.

"You little bastard!" the man spat venomously, frustration mounting. He then turned his ire toward Maude's group.

"Are you blind or deaf? Didn't it occur to you to stop that brat from Winter Island?" he snarled, pointing his gun at them.

Around the town, many bystanders turned their attention to the commotion.

Seeing the man's hostility, Dada's face darkened with anger, ready to step in.

Before he could act, Maude appeared in front of the man in an instant, gripping his neck with one hand and twisting his arm upward, forcing the gun skyward.

"If you dare point a gun at us, be prepared to die," Maude said coldly.

Without giving the man a chance to respond, Maud's grip tightened, snapping his neck.

The many onlookers couldn't help but stare, their gazes now tinged with unease.

Savage.

Meanwhile, the boy, now nearing the bridge tunnel, glanced back.

He saw the man's lifeless body crumpled on the ground and instinctively quickened his pace.

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