Chapter 281

"This is actually a man-made natural environment!" Logan exclaimed, his voice filled with astonishment.

Creating an artificial environment with a radius of just one kilometer would be an incredible feat of engineering. But this—this place stretched for kilometers on end. It was vast and seemingly boundless, extending far beyond what the eye could see.

Dozens of kilometers, at least... maybe even over a hundred kilometers! Logan thought, his mind racing. Such a massive man-made environment would be undetectable to most. Without his system cheat, even his Observation Haki wouldn't have been able to cover such an immense distance.

"This is crazy… The sunlight is artificial? That's impossible!" Sanji muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.

"I agree," Franky chimed in, crossing his bulky arms. "The warmth feels real—it's shining on me like the real deal. This is SUPERRR!"

Chopper frowned, looking between Logan and the others. "But Logan wouldn't lie. If he says it's man-made, then it has to be!"

"It's too outrageous," Brook added with a laugh, the incredulity in his voice obvious. "Creating sunlight… Yohohoho, what a feat!"

The entire Straw Hat crew was in shock, processing the idea that they were standing in a completely artificial world.

Logan's frown deepened as he continued to analyze. "This is indeed a man-made world. If I'm right, this place isn't on the surface of the ocean. We're likely in some kind of space beneath the sea."

He paused for a moment before adding, "Though there's another possibility—this could be inside the body of a giant Sea King."

Robin's eyes lit up, and she nodded in realization. "That makes sense! No wonder a beacon is required to get here."

From the observation tower, Usopp pointed toward the water below. "Look! The current is carrying us straight toward that island up ahead!"

Logan glanced at the island in the distance, feeling the weight of history pressing down on them. "Let's head to the island first," he suggested, his voice steady. If his guess was correct, that island could be the remains of the massive kingdom from 800 years ago.

Before long, the Going Merry reached the coast, and the crew eagerly disembarked, excitement buzzing in the air. This adventure felt different from their past experiences, and none of them wanted to miss a moment of it.

Even the three members who usually stayed behind to guard the ship jumped off eagerly this time, unable to contain their enthusiasm.

"That's a city!" Franky announced, his mechanical eye scanning the horizon. "But it looks like it's been reduced to ruins."

"It's not just a city," Logan mused, studying the crumbling structures. "It was a massive kingdom once. We'll need to search thoroughly."

Given the sheer size of the area, Logan suggested, "This place is enormous. Let's split up into teams. If anyone finds something unusual, contact the rest of us immediately."

Everyone nodded. With their Den Den Mushi communicators, staying in touch wouldn't be a problem. And there was no need to worry about Zoro getting lost, now that Kuina was with him.

"Alright, who's coming with me?" Luffy exclaimed, his arms raised in excitement.

"I'm with you!" Usopp shouted, running to Luffy's side.

"Me too!" Chopper joined, his hooves bouncing with energy.

Keya smiled warmly as she stepped forward. "Count me in as well."

Franky waved to the group, striking a pose. "I'll search on my own. I want to see if I can find any technological relics. SUPER!!"

"Wahaha!! Let's go!" Luffy grinned, unable to hold back his excitement. He and his group strolled toward the city ruins at a leisurely pace, as though they were on a picnic rather than embarking on a dangerous adventure.

"Yohohoho~~ I'll go with Franky, just in case he encounters something!" Brook quickly followed after Franky, though his excuse was a flimsy one.

"I'll just roam around. Call me if you need anything," Zoro said casually, waving his hand as he wandered off. Now that Kuina was with him, he felt no need to worry about getting lost.

Sanji, ever the charmer, moved close to Nami. "I'll join you, Nami-chan!"

But before Sanji could get too comfortable, Nami grabbed Logan's arm. "I'm with Logan."

Defeated, Sanji quickly shifted his attention. "Then I'll go with Robin!"

Robin rolled her eyes playfully at him. "I'm needed with Logan, especially if we encounter any ancient texts."

Sanji slumped in defeat. His gaze drifted to Reiju, but she simply gave him a puzzled look.

"Forget it…" Sanji muttered, dejectedly following after Zoro. "Don't worry, Zoro, I'm here! You won't get lost!"

Zoro shot back without missing a beat, "Who said I wanted you around, curly-brow?!"

"You!" Sanji snapped.

"So annoying!" Zoro groaned.

As their banter faded into the distance, Logan and the others exchanged amused glances. "Alright, let's go too," Logan said.

Logan, Nami, Robin, and Reiju made their way toward the center of the ruins. The scale of the place was mind-boggling, the remnants of a once-great civilization looming over them. At the heart of the city stood a tall tower, its silhouette striking against the artificial sky. Perched atop the tower was a structure resembling a flying saucer.

Without wasting time, the group flew toward the top of the tower. Reiju could fly on her own, while Logan used a Clow Card to carry both Nami and Robin.

Once at the top, they had a clear view of the entire city below. The ruins stretched out beneath them in every direction.

"Hmm?" Logan's sharp eyes spotted something strange in the distance. He leaned over the edge of the railing, squinting at what appeared to be a formation of figures.

Upon closer inspection, Logan realized they were not people at all.

"They're robots," Logan said, his voice tinged with surprise. "And not just any robots. They're massive—about the size of a giant."

The realization sent a shiver down his spine. The robots were lined up in a neat formation, almost like an army awaiting orders.

Logan's eyes narrowed as he studied their design. There was something familiar about them. Where had he seen robots like this before?

Then it clicked.

His eyes widened in recognition. "These... they resemble the robot from the Egghead Island arc," Logan whispered to himself. The one that had lost its power and remained a mystery even to Vegapunk.

Vegapunk, the genius scientist responsible for the creation of the Seraphim, had been unable to understand the workings of that broken robot.

Yet here, standing before them, was an entire army of such robots, still intact.

"This technology is far more advanced than even Vegapunk's," Logan muttered, his heart racing. The potential power of these machines sent a chill through him.

If these robots could be reactivated…

Hiss!

The thought sent a thrill of both excitement and apprehension through Logan. What would happen if these ancient machines were brought back to life?