Chapter 38: Breaking into the WorldThe deck of the going merry was warmed by the afternoon sun.Luffy was sprawled on the floor of the lounge like a boneless gummy candy."Sanji, is the food ready yet?"He shouted weakly, his stomach letting out a loud "rumble" in response."If we don't eat soon, I'm going to starve to death!""What's the rush?"A crisp response came from the doorway of the lounge. Mark walked in carrying a stack of clean plates, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing flour smudges on his forearms."Sanji and I are both cooking today. It's a rare, luxurious lineup, so can't you wait a few minutes?""Wow! Cooking together!"Luffy immediately braced his upper body, his eyes shining like two stars:"It must be super delicious, I can't wait!" Luffy was overjoyed inside—this was double the happiness!With a "bang," the lounge door was pushed open. Zoro walked in, wiping away sweat, his short green hair still dripping with beads of perspiration; clearly, he had just finished a vigorous training session.He sat down on the sofa, his muscles still slightly tense, his body carrying the scorching heat of exercise."You stink!"Nami rushed over holding her nose and reached out to push Zoro toward the door."Don't come into the lounge right after working out, go take a shower! You smell like sweat, it's ruining my appetite!""You woman..."Zoro gritted his teeth and struggled, but was pushed stumbling by Nami's deft move."Sooner or later, I'll turn all the oranges on your precious tree into wine."The kitchen was already a hive of activity.Sanji, with a cigarette in his mouth, stirred the broth pot with one hand. White steam, wrapped in the aroma of bones, wafted out, condensing into a thin layer of mist on his meticulous blond hair.He caught a glimpse of movement from Mark's side out of the corner of his eye and raised an eyebrow:"Oh? Mark, your cooking technique is quite rare."Mark was standing in front of a large porcelain basin. Inside were thin, cicada-wing-like fish slices that had been boiled in a delicious spicy broth, topped with a thick layer of chopped chili peppers, red as a burning fire.He held an iron pan in his left hand, the hot oil inside emitting blue smoke and sizzling.With a "whoosh," he used a large iron spoon to scoop up a full spoonful of hot oil and poured it over the chili peppers in the basin—"Sizzle!"With an explosive sound, the scalding hot oil wrapped around the chili peppers and instantly burst, a strong, spicy fragrance mixed with a faint charred aroma suddenly erupting—This scent was like a flavor bomb, instantly sweeping through the entire going merry.Luffy and the others in the lounge were first choked into coughing. Nami even pulled out a handkerchief to cover her nose, but after two seconds,Everyone's gaze involuntarily drifted toward the kitchen, and crystal-clear saliva quietly formed at the corners of their mouths."Th-this, what kind of divine scent is this..." Usoppsniffed hard, looking intoxicated,"Just smelling it, I feel like I could eat three bowls of rice!"Luffy's eyes were already glued to the kitchen door, and he quietly activated his skill.He pretended to whistle while looking at the sea, but two fingers were "running" on the deck:Because of the gum-gum fruit's ability, his fingers became thin and long, like two little mice stealing things, sneaking toward the kitchen.Just as his fingers were two centimeters away from the basin of boiled fish slices, with a "snap,"A silver mousetrap suddenly sprang up, precisely clamping onto his fingers."It hurts—!"Luffy yelled in pain, jumping around the lounge, shaking the mousetrap on his hand.Nami and Usopp laughed until they couldn't straighten their backs. Usopp even hugged his stomach and lay on the deck, laughing while slapping the floor:"Hahahaha... Luffy, why do you fall for it every time! Sanji has been guarding against you for a long time!"A moment later, Sanji's shout came from the kitchen: "Dinner is ready!"Everyone immediately swarmed to the dining table, only to see the table full of sumptuous dishes.Sanji took off his apron and introduced proudly:"To celebrate our upcoming entry into the Grand Line, today Mark and I specially made a South Blue elephant tuna set meal—The ingredients are from that giant fish I won in the Loguetown cooking competition!""Wow!" Luffy's eyes widened, and he was the first to pick up his chopsticks.Usopp picked up a big mouthful of boiled fish slices and started puffing after just two chews:"So spicy! But... but I can't stop!" He inhaled with a "s-ha s-ha" sound while continuously putting food into his mouth.Nami held a bowl of milky white fish bone soup, taking small sips, her eyes squinting in satisfaction:"This fish bone soup is delicious. Sanji, your skills are getting better and better."Luffy's rubber arms danced in the air, grabbing this and snatching that, his mouth full of food as he shouted vaguely:"Delicious! Everything is delicious!""Hey, Mark," Zoro raised his glass and downed a cup, "Bring another barrel of orange wine!""Idiot, of course you drink strong liquor with sashimi."Mark smiled and tossed him a bottle of strong liquor similar to vodka."This goes better with it."The going merry was filled with laughter and joy. The sunlight shone on everyone's faces, warm and dazzling.But where there is joy, there is sorrow.Time back to three days ago, in the conference room of Marine Headquarters, the atmosphere was so serious it could be wrung out like water.A commodore looked at the document in his hand, his brow furrowed:"Giving the Straw Hat such a high bounty for the first time, is it too much?After all, they are just newcomers who just set sail...""That's enough."Vice Admiral Momonga interrupted him, "This was decided by the meeting, just execute it. Notify all branches to issue the bounty posters immediately."His eyes were as sharp as knives, and he whispered to himself: "Straw Hat... I hope I don't run into you.""Ah—so full, so full!"Luffy lay on the deck of the going merry, closing his eyes to digest, his round belly like a bulging balloon.Suddenly, the sunlight in front of him was blocked by something. He opened his eyes curiously and muttered:"What is it, it's just a big bird.If I wasn't full, I could have caught it for a barbecue..." After speaking, he lazily closed his eyes again."Plop!"A cool drop of something landed on Luffy's forehead.He was stunned for a moment, reached out to touch it, it was slippery. He brought it to his nose and smelled it, and suddenly flew into a rage:"Bastard! How dare you poop on the Pirate King's head! Let me catch you and roast you! Gum-Gum..."The commotion here attracted everyone's attention.Nami rushed over in one stride and gave Luffy a knock on the head:"Idiot! Look closely at what this is!""Ah, it hurts!" Luffy covered his head and glared at her, "Isn't it just a big bird?""This is a News Coo!"Nami said angrily, "If you hit it, who will deliver the news to us in the future?We won't even have a place to buy newspapers if we want to read them!"As she spoke, she immediately turned to the News Coo in the air, her eyes smiling into crescents:"I'm sorry, News Coo, give us the latest news."The News Coo curled its lip and snorted, flying forward on its own.Nami smiled awkwardly and hurriedly increased the price:"Double! We'll pay double Berries!"Only then did the News Coo slowly fly back to the going merry.Nami turned her head and glared at Luffy:"This money will be deducted from your allowance!"As she spoke, she smilingly took out four Berriesfrom her pocket and put them into the News Coo's coin box.When she passed Luffy with the newspaper, she didn't forget to "humph" at him.Nami found a chair, sat down, crossed her legs, and opened the newspaper:"Let me see if our crew made it into the paper." She flipped through two pages quickly, then her eyes lit up, "Found it!""What? On the newspaper?"Usopp hurriedly squeezed over: "Let me see, is there a bounty on it...""Get aside."Nami reached out and pushed him away, "Let me read it.""It is reported that an extremely vicious pirate crew has recently appeared in the East Blue. The members are arrogant and have repeatedly provoked the dignity of the Marine...""Extremely arrogant, repeatedly provoking the dignity of the Marine, openly confronting the Marine..."Usopp swallowed, feeling a little guilty,"It's not talking about us, is it?""Why are you all looking at me?"Usopp found that everyone's eyes were focused on him, and he became even more panicked, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead,"It sounds like I did it all by myself...""Luffy and I basically only fight Marines,"Mark teased, "Among us, you've been the most arrogant when facing the Marines lately.""It's not certain that it's talking about us!"Usopp still held onto wishful thinking, "Nami, keep reading."Nami cleared her throat and continued reading:"The Captain of the pirate crew, Monkey D. Luffy, has defeated well-known pirates such as Kuro, Buggy, and Krieg,And even defeated the Loguetown branch Colonel Smoker in Loguetown. As a rookie pirate Captain, his strength completely subverts cognition.Not only that, his subordinate Vice Captain Monkey D. Moxing single-handedly defeated a MarineColonel,His Devil Fruit ability is unknown, and the weapon in his hand contains the power of an unknown Devil Fruit...""Vice Captain? Monkey D.?"Mark pointed at his own nose, looking blank,"What's the situation? What is Marine Headquarters doing!When did I say I was the Vice Captain? Also, what's up with my name!""Hahaha, it's rare to see you so panicked, Mark."Luffy laughed and patted his shoulder, "As my Vice Captain, you have to be calm and composed when things happen!""Calm my head!" Mark said frantically, "When did we have a Vice Captain position on our ship?""Now you are." Zoro crossed his arms, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, "It fits.""Yeah," Nami also echoed, "Having a reliable Vice Captain makes people feel a lot more at ease.""I agree too."Sanji nodded, "Whether it's strength or intelligence, your name alone as Vice Captain can serve as a deterrent.""I agree too!"Usopp stroked his chin and sized up Mark, "Not to mention, Mark really has a bit of Rayleigh's vibe.""Alright, alright," Mark waved his hand, "We are all partners, there is no high or low position.What I'm struggling with now is the name... Forget it, I can't figure it out, Nami, you keep reading.""Then let me see who else is on the paper." Namilowered her head and continued to look at the newspaper."Another member, Roronoa Zoro, was originally a famous Bounty Hunter in the East Blue, defeating a hundred Marine elites alone. He has reached the realm of cutting iron, and his methods are ruthless."Zoro crossed his arms, raised his eyebrows triumphantly, and a confident smile rose from the corner of his mouth."The chef of the Straw Hat, named Sanji, also defeated a hundred elite Marines, is good at kicking techniques, and his strength is also extraordinary."Sanji snorted and straightened his tie: "At least they have an eye for it.""The navigator of this crew, 'Cat Burglar' Nami, stole a transponder snail from a Marine Headquarterswarship,Used drugs to knock out fifteen Marine elites, and impersonated Marines to obtain intelligence. Her behavior is extremely vile!"When Nami read this, her face turned red in an instant, and she said angrily:"Hey! What do you mean extremely vile! I did that for everyone!""Hahaha, Nami, you are amazing!" Luffy clapped his hands and laughed."Finally, the crew has another member, Usopp, who is investigated to be the son of the Red Hair Piratesofficer Yasopp,Destroyed three Marine warships, blew up the East Blue 16th Branch, openly provoked the dignity of the Marine,Defeated the Bounty Hunter Daddy who takes children... The behavior is extremely vile!"When Usopp heard this, his eyes widened, and he stammered:"Th-this, is this talking about me?"Nami flipped through the newspaper and added another sentence: "There is also a strange record, saying that this group has a pet that defeated fifty Marines, which was also recorded in the file.""It's over... My life... My dream is over before it even started..."Usopp squatted on the ground, holding his head with both hands, drawing circles on the deck."Strange, why isn't the bounty written?"Nami muttered, shaking the newspaper, and suddenly a few pieces of paper fell out from inside.At the same time, Cocoyasi Village."Gen, who are you scolding? Why are you so angry?" Nojiko carried a large bag of oranges and placed it gently on the floor of Gen's house,Watching Gen pacing around the room with a newspaper, occasionally pounding the table."Oh, Nojiko!" Gen handed the newspaper over, his hands shaking with anger,"Look for yourself! How is the Marine reporting this? They actually said Arlong was defeated by them!And that business with Mouse, not a word was mentioned! The most hateful thing is,They said the Straw Hat Pirates forcibly demolished the houses of the villagers of Cocoyasi Village,Causing many residents to become homeless, and said that Marine Headquarters allocated 1.2 billion Berries,Led by Smoker and Hina to lead the elites to personally build houses for the villagers,Bringing peace and stability to the villagers of Cocoyasi Village! This is simply turning black into white! Damn it, there's even a picture!""Alright, alright, calm down, Gen."Nojiko patted his shoulder and suddenly caught a glimpse of what he was holding in his right hand,"Hey, what are you holding in your hand?""This..." Gen's expression softened instantly, his eyes filled with gratification,"Ever since the day they confronted the Marines, I knew there would be such a day."In the newspaper was Nami's bounty poster — "Cat Burglar — Nami, bounty 12 million Berries".In the Baratie restaurant on the sea, Zeff sat with his legs crossed (though he only had one leg), holding a newspaper in his hand, with a toothpick dangling from the corner of his mouth."The Straw Hat Pirates have gone a bit too far this time," he spat out the toothpick,"Especially that long-nosed Usopp; being targeted by the Marine this early on is certainly no good thing.But it's also a good thing; it'll let this flock of fledglings who just left the nest make a name for themselves early. Along with this bounty poster."The chefs nearby gathered around to look at the bounty posters, and when they saw Sanji's, they suddenly burst into laughter."Pfft... Hahaha! It looks just like him! It's exactly the same!"On Sanji's bounty poster, the photo section read:"Photo acquisition failed; drawn by the famous Marine sketching expert 007."The portrait drawn was crooked, the nose was ridiculously thin, and it looked both comical and hilarious.The bounty amount was: "Black Leg Sanji, bounty 47 million Berries.""Come on, come on, hang the bounty poster in the most prominent spot in the restaurant!"East Blue, Shimotsuki Village, dojo of Genzo.A group of children holding bamboo swords gathered around Shimotsuki Genzo, asking all at once:"Master Genzo, did Roronoa Zoro really learn swordsmanship here from you?""Yeah, yeah, how long do you have to learn to become a pirate as powerful as him?"Genzo waved his hands repeatedly: "I certainly didn't teach Zoro to become a pirate.""Huh... but I think he's really cool!" a little boy carrying a bamboo sword said, blinking his big eyes.Shimotsuki Genzo put his hands behind his back, looked at Zoro's bounty poster on the newspaper, and whispered to himself:"Zoro, you've taken another step closer to your dream, haven't you?I hope that after becoming a pirate, you won't forget your original intentions."On the newspaper, Zoro's bounty poster read:"Bloodthirsty Swordsman — Roronoa Zoro, bounty 55 million Berries."Windmill Village was bustling with activity."Everyone, we're having a banquet today!" a villager shouted while standing on a table."Oh! Cheers!" The sound of clinking glasses rose one after another."Cheers to the Pirate King of our Windmill Island!""Oh! Cheers!""Cheers to Mark for making a name for himself in the world!""Hey, Makino, there's not enough alcohol at all!"At this moment, the village chief rushed in leaning on his cane and said loudly:"You bunch of shameless things! Our village has produced two... no, three great pirates,and you're actually celebrating!" He knocked on the table while speaking, "Everyone stop!"But the villagers completely ignored him, and the noise drowned out his shouts."Look, aren't they very happy?"Makino smiled with her eyes curved like crescent moons and placed Luffy and Mark's bounty posters on the bar counter for the village chief to see."Good grief, I don't know what these two guys are thinking."The village chief muttered, "Luffy is one thing, he's always been a bit dim,but even Mark is... Makino, give me a beer, a super large one!"Makino picked up the bounty posters, neatly stuck them in the most prominent position on the bar counter, and said softly:"Luffy, Mark, you must take care of yourselves."Luffy's bounty poster read:"Straw Hat — Monkey D. Luffy, bounty 120 million Berries."Mark's read: "Demon — Monkey D. Mark, bounty 100 million Berries."Grand Line, on an unknown island, the Red Hair Pirates were vacationing.A sentry was observing the sea level with binoculars when suddenly, a black dot appeared in his field of vision.As the distance closed, he saw clearly what the black dot was, his face instantly turned pale, and he shouted:"Go report to the Captain! Hawkeye is here!"Just as he finished speaking, Hawkeye had already appeared in front of him and said coldly:"Vacationing in a place like this, of all places.""Ha-Hawkeye... what are you doing here?" the sentry's voice trembled slightly."I'm here to find Red Hair, not to fight," Hawkeyesaid.Red Hair heard his subordinate's report in the tent and woke up from his hangover."Hawkeye, what have you come for?"Before anyone knew it, Hawkeye was already standing behind the subordinate who was reporting, scaring the minion into a shiver."I met the kid you mentioned in the East Blue," Hawkeye threw the newspaper and bounty posters to Red Hair, "I came this time because I have something to show you."Red Hair picked up the newspaper and began to read it seriously, a smile gradually appearing on the corners of his mouth:"You've finally arrived, Luffy! Today really is a happy day!"His eyes suddenly narrowed, and he said to Hawkeye:"However, even so, don't think I'll just let you leave like this."Hawkeye was stunned, thinking: Are we going to fight again?But Red Hair burst into laughter: "It's time for a banquet!""Oh!" His companions immediately cheered."Oh, Luffy looks pretty good! Has he finally set sail?" Lucky Roux said, chewing on meat with a smile."Hey, Yasopp," a crew member pointed to Usopp's bounty poster,"This is your son, right! That's amazing, his bounty is actually higher than Luffy's!Yo, and he defeated Daddy, your son is something else!"Yasopp lifted his chin proudly:"Hmph, don't you know who his father is."But he thought to himself: Usopp, have you set sail too?It seems you've found some good partners. This bounty poster is marked "Only Alive,"what do the Marines want from you?But whoever dares to hinder my son's adventure, don't blame me for being ruthless!Yasopp talked tough, but his hands honestly and carefully folded Usopp's bounty poster and put it into his inner pocket.Benn Beckman patted his shoulder:"Alright, stop showing off, come and drink.""That's right," Limejuice also shouted, "Drink, drink! Next time we meet, we can make fun of Luffy; his bounty is actually not even as high as Usopp's, hahaha!"Red Hair turned to look at Hawkeye, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry:"You mean, you fought with Luffy's Vice Captain?" Hawkeye pointed to the notch in his cowboy hat.Recalling the scene at that time:"That lion is not a pet; it is Mark's weapon, a quite special weapon.In terms of strength, a bounty of 300 million would not be excessive for him."Grand Line, on the Moby Dick."Gurararara! Is this your brother, Ace!"Whitebeard sat on his throne, with an IV drip attached to his body, yet his aura was still imposing.Ace held Luffy's bounty poster and showed it to Whitebeard with a proud face:"How about it, Pops, pretty impressive, right!""He looks like a fine man," Whitebeard grinned, "Let him come and be my son too!"Ace shook his head and said helplessly: "He is particularly obsessed with the throne of the Pirate King; he definitely won't join any pirate crew."Marco leaned over to look at the newspaper and asked curiously: "Ace, is this Monkey D. Mark also your brother? He's Luffy's Vice Captain.""That I don't know," Ace laughed,"Maybe Garp caught him from somewhere to be a Marine!"Revolutionary Army headquarters, Dragon stood on the base's platform, gazing at the boundless sea, holding Mark's bounty poster in his hand."Is that the long-haired kid whose Observation Hakisensed me?"He whispered to himself, his eyes deep, "Is Old Man trying to protect him?Monkey D. Mark, what secrets are you hiding after all?"The sea breeze blew his green coat, making it flap loudly, and behind him, the flag of the Revolutionary Army fluttered in the wind.Syrup Village, the trio of Onion, Pepper, and Carrot were holding the newspaper, rushing breathlessly towards Kaya's house."It's bad! Sister Kaya, it's bad!"They rushed into Kaya's room and handed her the newspaper. Kaya was sitting by the window reading a book, and upon hearing this, she smiled and put down the book:"I already know." "But, Sister Kaya," Onion said anxiously,"Captain Usopp's bounty is ridiculously high, and the newspaper says he is extremely wicked!But even though he loves to brag in the village, he doesn't have a single shred of 'wickedness' in him!"Kaya gently stroked Usopp's photo on the newspaper, her eyes firm:"You must believe in Usopp; what's in the newspaper isn't necessarily true.He must have done something that threatened the Marine to have such a high bounty.He really did what he said he would do; he's become brave! I also have to work hard and master my medical skills, so that if Usopp gets hurt in the future, I can treat him."On the newspaper, Usopp's bounty poster read:"Demolition Genius — Usopp, bounty 200 million Berries (Alive only)."On the going merry, everyone gathered around the bounty posters that had just fallen out, discussing them all at once."One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand... hundred million!" Luffy counted on his fingers and shouted in surprise,"Great! We haven't even entered the Grand Line yet, and the bounty is already this high!"Nami picked up the bounty poster that had fallen on the ground, flipped it over, and said in surprise:"Huh, this photo... when was it taken so cute?""100 million Berries!"Usopp said enviously, "Our crew has another partner with over 100 million!" Mark looked at his own bounty poster and sighed helplessly:"It's okay, within my expectations.But what the heck is this 'Demon' title?That guy Sengoku is the real demon, his whole family are demons!"He flipped to another one and suddenly froze:"Who is this?Does our crew have this person?"The bounty poster depicted a crooked portrait with a ridiculously thin nose, and next to it was written:"Black Leg Sanji, bounty 47 million Berries.""It says Black Leg Sanji... it seems to be Sanji."Nami said uncertainly."No, no, no! How could this be me!" Sanji first got angry,then knelt on the ground in frustration,"My handsome and charming face... all the beautiful ladies in the world will laugh at me... which bastard took this photo!""Not bad, 47 million right off the bat."Luffy patted Sanji on the shoulder, completely missing his pain.Everyone ignored Sanji who was kneeling on the ground in frustration and continued to flip through the bounty posters."Zoro, this title of yours is interesting — 'Bloodthirsty Swordsman',"Usopp pointed to Zoro's bounty poster, "Combined with the way you look covered in blood in the photo, tsk tsk, it's really scary!"Zoro's bounty was 55 million Berries, and he nodded with satisfaction:"It's a good start, worth having a drink tonight."Nami picked up her own bounty poster and complained with a frown:"Why am I being hunted! I'm clearly a well-behaved and cute girl!And it's as much as 12 million!""Well-behaved and cute?" Mark raised an eyebrow,"Are you talking about the 'well-behaved and cute' girl who stole a Marine transponder snail, drugged Marine elites, and impersonated a Marine to get information?""Mark!" Nami glared at him, and Mark immediately changed his tune:"Ahem, I mean, the Marine's eye for people is really accurate!"Finally, everyone flipped to Usopp's bounty poster."Nani?!"Everyone exclaimed."One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand... hundred million!200 million Berries?!"Luffy widened his eyes,"Higher than mine!"Usopp looked at the number on the bounty poster, then looked at the "Only Alive" note, rolled his eyes,"Thump"he fainted."Hey, Usopp!" Everyone rushed over.Mark couldn't help but laugh and cry as he helped him lie down on the deck:"The first pirate in the history of pirates to be scared faint by his own bounty poster, I'm afraid there's no one before him and no one after him.""What's this? There's another one?"Luffy picked up the last bounty poster, flipped it over, and froze,"Lion? Pet? Horned Lion — Ink Meteor, bounty 50 Berries?""Pfft hahaha!"Luffy held his stomach and laughed, "Ink Meteorwas actually given a bounty too, and it's only 50 Berries!""Heh, this is also unprecedented. I'm afraid it's the first time a weapon has been given a bounty." Zorosaid, stroking his chin."Alright, I'm going to train," Zoro stood up,"I'll strive to get my three swords on the bounty list too!"Luffy took Ink Meteor's bounty poster, ran to Ink Meteor who was dozing by the mast, and poked it:"Ink Meteor, look, you've been given a bounty too!"Ink Meteor lazily opened its eyes, looked at the bounty poster, then looked at Luffy, and suddenly rolled its tongue, curled the bounty poster into its mouth, and swallowed it."Hey! This isn't food! You stupid lion!" Luffy shouted."Oops, I was wrong, is it okay if I say you're not stupid... don't bite my butt! Ah—!"Luffy's screams and everyone's laughter rang out on the going merry,with sunlight spilling onto the deck, carrying endless joy and expectations for the future, as they sped towards the Grand Line.
Chapter 39: Prologue to the Grand LineThe wooden deck of the going merry was still damp with the morning sea mist, and a gentle sea breeze drifted through the lounge.Zoro was leaning against the corner, gripping his sword in meditation, the orange blade of the yodo himawari glinting coldly in the light.Nami was hunched over the corner of the table, drawing a nautical chart.The "rustling" sound of the pen tip across the parchment intertwined with the sound of distant waves slapping against the ship.Usopp sat by the window, filling iron pellets with gunpowder.Suddenly, the lounge door was pushed open with a "bang," and Mark stumbled in, holding three bamboo steamer baskets that were half as tall as he was. The white steam rising from the baskets instantly enveloped his hair, making him look like he had just crawled out of a steam vent."Let me show you what a real steamed bun is!"He slammed the steamers onto the table with a heavy "thud," the impact causing a small ink blot to appear on Nami's chart."Wow!" Usopp was the first to jump up, spilling some of the gunpowder from the iron pellet in his hand onto the floor. "This is too luxurious! Is today's breakfast the same steamed buns we ate on Warship Island?"Luffy's reaction was faster than anyone's. He had been sprawled out on a chair, but the moment he smelled the aroma, he sprang up as if pressed by a spring. His nose twitched exaggeratedly, his nostrils flared wide enough to fit a fist, and drool streamed down the corner of his mouth, almost dripping onto the deck."So fragrant—!" He lunged toward the table, his face almost pressing against the steamer lid, the heat causing his Straw Hat to tilt slightly upward. "Steamed buns, the meat buns that Grandpa and I both love!""Get off, get off!" Mark pushed Luffy's face away in disgust. Upon touching Luffy's sweat-covered skin, he used his ability to wipe it off with disdain.He walked to where Luffy had been and stood on tiptoe to reach for the top steamer lid—but his fingertips were still two inches away. His toes were almost at a right angle, his face was flushed red, and the tips of his ears were steaming.Suppressed snickers echoed through the lounge. Zoro paused his sword-cleaning, a barely perceptible arc forming at the corner of his mouth; Nami even put down her pen and crossed her arms to watch the show.Just as Mark was so embarrassed he wanted to crawl into a hole, he flashed, and a wooden chair suddenly appeared beneath his feet.Before anyone could react, they heard a dull "plop" behind them—Luffy, having lost his chair, remained suspended in mid-air due to momentum in his attempt to reach for the buns, only to land solidly on the deck the next second.But the kid rubbed the back of his head without even frowning, his eyes still glued to the steamer baskets, looking just like a puppy staring at a meaty bone."Whose hands are so fast?" Usopp rubbed his eyes. He had only seen a blur and hadn't seen how the chair "flew" from under Luffy's butt to Mark's feet.Stepping on the chair, Mark finally reached the steamer lid. He took a deep breath and yanked it open—a wave of scalding white steam whooshed out, carrying a rich aroma of meat and dough that instantly filled the entire lounge.In the steamer were neatly arranged, snow-white buns, each the size of a fist. The pleats on the skin were as uniform as a work of art, with a faint off-white hue. Amidst the swirling steam, one could faintly see traces of soup flowing beneath the bun skin."See that? This is what a real steamed bun is!" Markstood on the chair, deliberately lifting his chin, looking like he wanted to be praised. "What did Apis's grandfather make? Wrapping pork in flour and calling it a bun? This is the real deal!""Try it, try it!" Luffy was already hopping in place, anxious. His rubber arm suddenly stretched out with a "swish," grabbing a bun and shoving it into his mouth."Hot, hot, hot—!" He instantly jumped up, tossing the bun rapidly between his hands, gasping "hoo-ha, hoo-ha" with his mouth open. Even so, he couldn't bear to spit it out. After swallowing, he smacked his lips, his eyes shining like stars. "So delicious! It's the same taste as two years ago!"With Luffy as a "cautionary tale," everyone else was cautious. Nami gently picked up a bun with her chopsticks, placed it on her plate, blew on it, and took a small bite—the scalding soup burst in her mouth instantly. The savory meat juices enveloped the firm meat filling, and the outer skin was soft yet chewy, not sticking to her teeth at all.She couldn't help but squint her eyes, covering her cheek with one hand, her tone full of intoxication: "Delicious! It's ten thousand times better than what Apis's grandfather made!"Usopp also picked one up, eating carefully for fear of splashing the soup, but a few drops still ran down the corner of his mouth to his chin. He hurriedly wiped it off with the back of his hand and said indistinctly: "This... this is too delicious! Mark, who did you learn this skill from?"Sanji didn't rush to praise it. Instead, he used a spoon to scoop up some soup that had spilled onto the plate, gently put it into his mouth, and closed his eyes to savor it. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes wide, his spoon clinking "clank" against the plate, his tone full of amazement: "The person who invented this bun is a genius! It's actually made with gelatinous pork skin filling! When heated, the pork skin gelatin melts into soup, which is how you get this juicy texture!""Eh?" Mark gave Sanji a thumbs-up in surprise, his eyes lighting up. "As expected of a top-tier chef! To be able to guess the core technique of soup dumplings just by tasting it! I thought I could keep it a mystery for a while!""By the way, Mark." Zoro finally put down his sword. He picked up a bun and shoved it into his mouth, his cheeks bulging, making his speech a bit slurred. "Is that dragon bone really unable to make an immortality elixir?"As soon as these words were spoken, the lounge fell silent instantly. Mark pulled five transparent glass bottles from his pocket and placed them on the table—the bottles contained white pills that glinted faintly in the sunlight.Except for Luffy, who was still burying his head in eating buns, everyone else stopped what they were doing, their breathing quickening instantly, their eyes locked on the glass bottles.The bun in Usopp's hand "plop" fell onto the plate, and he didn't even notice the soup running onto his crotch. He pointed at the glass bottles, his voice trembling: "Is... is this the legendary immortality elixir extracted from the Millennium Dragon bone?""Idiot! What are you thinking?" Mark knocked on Usopp's head and said irritably, "This is just the essential component I isolated from the Millennium Dragon's skeleton. It not only promotes bone growth but also prevents foot cramps when sleeping at night. It's the top choice for home and travel." He paused, deliberately drawing out his tone. "It also has an imposing name—High Calcium Tablets!""Tch! You made me get excited for nothing!" Usoppslumped back into his chair, only then feeling the wetness on his crotch. "Ah... ah, hot, hot, hot!" He jumped up, frantically wiping his pants, wailing continuously.A burst of laughter erupted in the lounge.On the deck of the going merry, the sunlight gradually dispersed the sea mist, and accompanied by the laughter of the crew, a happy day began just like that.Near Reverse Mountain—The afternoon sun became intense. In the lookout tower of the going merry, Sanji was holding binoculars, looking into the distance. The sea breeze blew his blonde hair into a bit of a mess, but he didn't care at all, occasionally adjusting his collar to maintain his gentlemanly posture."A report of love! Nami-san!" He shouted down to the control room below, his voice full of tenderness. "A large patch of rain clouds has appeared ahead; there must be a storm under those clouds!"In the control room, Nami was hunched over the chart table, her fingers sliding across a yellowed nautical chart. The edges of this chart were worn, her brows were tightly furrowed, and she muttered to herself: "According to the time and the chart, we should be seeing the Red Line by now! Why would storm clouds suddenly appear?""The Grand Line? Let me see!" Luffy's voice suddenly came from below, followed immediately by a rubber arm that stretched out with a "swish," wrapping around the railing of the lookout tower like a flexible whip. He used the elasticity to spring up, landing with a "bang" between Mark and Sanji."Luffy! It's crowded, you know!" Mark's face was squeezed out of shape by Luffy, his nose almost pressing against Sanji's shoulder. He reached out to push Luffy, but Luffy pressed down on his shoulder firmly."The Grand Line? Haha! This is so exciting!" Luffydidn't pay any attention to Mark's complaints. He spread his arms, feeling the oncoming sea breeze, and excitedly patted Sanji and Zoro's shoulders. "Pa... pa... pa! There must be super interesting adventures waiting for us ahead! Almost there... almost there...""Can you stop patting? It hurts!" Zoro had been leaning on the other side of the lookout tower, resting with his eyes closed, but his shoulder went numb from Luffy's patting. He opened his eyes wide, his gaze full of anger."Boom!" Sanji's leather shoe imprinted directly onto the left side of Luffy's face. "Clack!" Zoro's scabbard also slammed hard against the right side of Luffy's face."Sorry..." Luffy rubbed his face, pouting aggrievedly, but the next second, he stared into the distance again, his eyes reigniting with light.In the control room, Nami finally couldn't take it anymore. She slapped the chart onto the table with a "bang," causing the ink on the chart to smudge slightly. "Everyone, come here!" She shouted to the crew on the deck. "I once heard someone say that charts are marked like this—if all of this is true, then the entrance to the Grand Line is right here!"Her finger landed heavily on a spot on the chart marked "Reverse Mountain.""The top of the mountain?" Zoro walked over, leaned in to look at the chart, and frowned. "Are we going to steer the going merry into the mountain?""That's right, it's at the top." Nami nodded affirmatively, her finger tracing a winding line on the chart. "The chart shows a canal at the top; maybe it requires us to climb up along the canal!""Wow! That's so interesting!" Luffy jumped up, clenching his fists, his eyes sparkling with anticipation."How is that possible?" Zoro's tone was full of skepticism. "How can water climb a mountain? Do you think it's a waterfall?""Regardless of what you say, that's how the chart is drawn!" Nami was a bit angry. She pointed to the canal marker on the chart. "I've checked it three times; it can't be wrong!""Exactly! How could Nami-san be wrong? You idiot moss-head!" Sanji immediately stood on Nami's side, glaring at Zoro.Zoro was about to retort when he heard Usopp's shout from the control console. Usopp, who had been humming "When I was young, I liked to be alone by the sea, rolling up my pants, barefoot, bragging (taught by Mark)," was now gripping the control lever tightly, his face flushed red, and his body trembling. "Hey! Come help! Why is the current here so strong? The ship is completely uncontrollable!""Current? Strong?" Nami looked up sharply, her eyes lighting up instantly. She finally understood. "Why didn't I think of that!" She grabbed the chart, pointed to the location of Reverse Mountain, and explained rapidly,"Everyone, listen to me! Here at the Red Line, ocean currents from the four seas (East Blue, West Blue, South Blue, and North Blue) are guided by some mysterious force, flowing upward along Reverse Mountain, and finally converging at the summit to flow into the Grand Line!We must ride this upward current to climb the Red Line!Otherwise, we will be pushed directly by the massive current into the cliff walls, and the ship will be destroyed, and we will perish!We only have one chance! Everyone, stay sharp!""Anyway, it's just a very interesting mountain!"Luffy completely missed Nami's anxiety, still grinning foolishly on the side, showing a mouthful of white teeth.Nami held her forehead, silently complaining in her heart: "Relying on this guy to understand—am I crazy?"A moment later, Luffy, who was furling the sails on the mast, suddenly looked up, pointed ahead, and shouted: "Hey! I see an incredible mountain!""What?" Everyone rushed out of the control room and looked in the direction Luffy was pointing—On the distant horizon, a massive mountain rose from the ground, its silhouette looming in the mist, looking like a giant beast lying across the sea, taller than any mountain they had ever seen."Isn't this too big?" Usopp's mouth was wide enough to fit a fist, and the rope in his hands almost dropped."Is this the Grand Line?" Luffy jumped onto the deck excitedly and then climbed to his special seat, spreading his arms, "So cool! Is One Piece here?!""The summit is covered by clouds, I can't see it at all." Zoro narrowed his eyes, gazing at the peak, his tone still calm, "But the shape of this mountain is definitely not right.""Those Celestial Dragons have such pea-sized brains; could it be because they live so high up and are oxygen-deprived from a young age?" Markrubbed his chin and muttered to himself."Do you see that crevice?" Nami pointed to a narrow gap in the middle of the mountain, her tone urgent, "That's the entrance to the river! We must seize this chance; hold the rudder steady, Usopp!""It won't move at all!" Usopp pushed the steering wheel with all his might, his face almost touching the console, but the wheel didn't budge, "The current is too strong, the ship keeps veering off!""Quickly to the right! It's veering, it's veering!" Luffyran to the deck, shouting anxiously.Seeing that the going merry was about to be pulled by the powerful whirlpool toward the steep cliff walls, where the protruding rocks looked like sharp teeth, ready to smash the ship to pieces at any moment.The crew panicked; Nami gripped the railing, her face pale; Zoro ran to help Usopp push the steering wheel, Sanji watched the cliff walls vigilantly, ready to deal with any problems; Usopp was so scared his legs had gone weak."Don't waste your energy, the steering wheel will break!" Mark suddenly stepped forward, took a deep breath, and placed his hands in front of him, "Ink Meteor!"Following his shout, a black light flew out from behind him and rapidly grew in mid-air—a giant ram-horned lion appeared in front of the going merry.Its fur radiated a black sheen like black gemstones, faint black mist swirled around its ram horns, its eyes were a deep gold, and while its four paws stepped on the sea surface, it didn't sink; instead, it floated in mid-air, exuding a powerful sense of oppression.If a weapon containing tyrant iron is nurtured with one's own Observation Haki for a long time, one can achieve control of the weapon using Observation Haki.Ink Meteor was his exclusive weapon provided by the system, and they had long been in tune, but controlling it consumed Haki very quickly.Luffy had the fastest reaction; he grabbed Ink Meteor's ram horns, his feet wrapping around the bow like vines: "Quick! Hurry! Charge toward the river entrance!" The entire sequence of actions happened in a flash.Mark nodded, closed his eyes, and his Observation Haki instantly spread out, enveloping Ink Meteor.Ink Meteor let out a deafening roar, the sound causing ripples on the sea, and then it pushed off with its four paws, sprinting toward the river entrance.Ink Meteor's speed was extremely fast, the current seemed to lose its power before it, and it pulled the going merry like a streak of black lightning, rushing toward the narrow river entrance.Mark's face grew paler and paler, sweat streaming down his cheeks, he gritted his teeth tightly, his hands clenched into fists—controlling Ink Meteorwith Observation Haki was already physically exhausting, and having to fight the current placed a huge burden on him.Fortunately, at the last moment, Ink Meteorsuccessfully pulled the going merry into the ascending river channel!As soon as the ship entered the channel, Mark could no longer hold on, collapsing onto the deck with a "thud," clutching his head, grimacing in pain.Ink Meteor was also pulled back onto the ship by the rebound force of Luffy's arm; it walked gently to Mark's side and rubbed its head against Mark's shoulder."Mark! Are you okay?" Nami was the first to rush over, crouching beside Mark, her tone filled with worry."Do you feel unwell? Eat some meat! Eating meat will make you recover!" Luffy also ran over, quickly shoving a still-warm bun from his pocket to Mark's mouth."Are you an idiot? You clearly need to drink alcohol!" Zoro also walked over, taking the wine flask from his waist; although his tone was blunt, it carried a hint of concern."I... f*ck..." Before Mark could finish, he suddenly scrambled up, rushed to the ship's railing, and vomited with a "bleh.""Damn, what is this? Altitude sickness?" After vomiting, Mark leaned against the railing, panting, feeling speechless, "Or is it my phobia from riding roller coasters in my past life? I have such a strong physique, yet I still get altitude sickness?"Sanji handed over a cup of warm water, his tone gentle: "Drink some water and rinse your mouth."Mark took the cup, rinsed his mouth, and cast a cleaning spell on himself—a pale blue light enveloped him, cleaning away all the stains on his body.He took a few deep breaths and felt much better: "Much better, I finally feel like I'm alive again!"He patted Ink Meteor's head and said with a smile, "Well done, you're worthy of being my weapon!" Ink Meteor let out a low whimper, as if responding to him.The going merry sailed slowly upward along the ascending channel, the cliff walls on both sides growing higher and higher, with sunlight piercing through the gaps in the dark clouds, forming shafts of light.The crew's excitement gradually grew; Luffy lay on the ship's railing, watching the sea surface below become smaller and smaller, and shouted excitedly: "Is this the upward current? It's so amazing!"Zoro gripped his sword tightly, his eyes resolute: "Hawkeye, I won't keep you waiting too long."Sanji gazed into the distance, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "Is the All Blue here?"Usopp took out his notebook and recorded quickly: "I will write my brave adventure stories here!"Nami's eyes were full of anticipation: "I will draw the most perfect nautical chart here!"Mark stood at the bow, feeling the direction of the wind, and murmured to himself: "Exciting pirate world, here I come!""Wow! We're at the top!" Luffy suddenly shouted, pointing ahead.Everyone looked up to see that the end of the channel was a wide platform; on the other side of the platform was a steep downward slope, where the current poured down, forming a massive waterfall."So, next, we just follow the current down, right?" Sanji said, his tone filled with a hint of anticipation.The going merry rushed down the platform with the water flow, its speed increasing rapidly, the wind whistling in their ears, and the crew shouted excitedly; Luffy even spread his arms, feeling the thrill of weightlessness."Can everyone hear some kind of sound?" Zorosuddenly frowned, his tone vigilant."Maybe it's the wind?" Nami said, though she was a bit uncertain, because the sound resembled the breathing of some massive creature."Ahead... it looks like a mountain?" Sanji raised his binoculars, his expression suddenly changing."How is that possible?" Nami took out her nautical chart and flipped through it quickly, "We enter the Grand Line after passing the Twin Capes here! How could there be a mountain?""It's not," Mark closed his eyes, and his Observation Haki spread out again; he could clearly sense a massive life force ahead, "My Observation Hakisenses a huge animal ahead!""Look... no... no way!" Usopp's voice suddenly trembled; he pointed ahead, his eyes wide open.Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing and were instantly stunned—it wasn't a mountain at all, but a giant whale!Its body was hundreds of times larger than the going merry, its skin was deep blue, and its head was covered with scars of varying depths; the most prominent one was an old scar on its forehead that almost ran through its entire head.It looked shocking. Its eyes were like two giant black lanterns, staring fixedly at the going merry, its mouth slightly open, and any single tooth exposed was as big as the going merry."It's a whale!" Nami shouted, her voice laced with a hint of fear."What do we do? Should we fight?" Zoro drew his sword, the blade emitting a "hum," his eyes staring sharply at the whale."How can we fight this? You're just thick-headed, aren't you!" Usopp was so scared he hid behind Zoro, "That's an Island Whale! Our ship isn't even as big as its teeth!""We're going to crash! What... what do we do?" Usopp watched the whale getting closer and closer, his voice trembling."Are we going to die?" Nami's face was pale, staring blankly ahead."There's no other choice, I haven't used this move in a long time." Mark took a deep breath; he knew that only he could save everyone while protecting the going merry.He flashed to the bow of the going merry, his body suddenly starting to soften and expand, his skin turning into a semi-transparent pale ink color, like jelly—this was his Slime Form."Slime Form: Super Size!"Mark's body expanded rapidly, soon becoming as large as the whale's eyeball; he stood between the going merry and the whale, like a giant semi-transparent jelly.The next second, the going merry crashed into him; the massive impact caused Mark's body to instantly deform, like a squeezed balloon, splashing slime all over the going merry.But this cushioning force caused the going merry's speed to instantly slow down, and it finally came to a safe stop.Just when everyone thought the crisis had passed, a huge shadow suddenly engulfed them—the whale's mouth slowly opened, and Mark and the going merry were instantly sucked in, as if swallowed into a dark tunnel.
Chapter 40: Inheritance and PromiseThe giant mouth of the whale slammed shut.The final sliver of daylight that had been piercing through the gaps in its gums was completely swallowed.Thick darkness instantly engulfed the going merry.The ropes on the deck were still swaying.The lingering chaos from being swallowed by Laboon had not yet subsided.Only Luffy's cheerful voice suddenly rang out without warning:"Hey—I think I heard the whale say 'What a big jellyfish'! Hahaha, how interesting!"Everyone... fell into deep thought.They were all pondering the meaning behind what Luffy had said.A moment later, Usopp's voice stammered out.With a hint of uncertainty, he said, "Um, Mark.""Did you look a bit too much like a jellyfish just now?"He paused and swallowed hard."This whale... it didn't swallow us thinking we were a jellyfish, did it?"These words were like pressing the pause button on a time machine.The deck instantly fell into a dead silence.Perhaps it was the fear of facing the unknown in such an environment.Or perhaps it was the awkwardness of this unique opening.Regardless, everyone was now silent.Only the faint sound of water splashing against the hull was exceptionally clear in the darkness."I can see light up ahead." It was finally Zoro's voice that broke the awkward silence.Everyone looked in the direction he was gazing.Sure enough, they saw a faint light hanging at the end of the darkness in the distance.It was small, but enough to pierce through the suffocating pitch-blackness."It really is! That must be the exit!" Usopp had just breathed a sigh of relief when he suddenly thought of something and raised his voice."Wait, that's not right! If that's the whale's exit point for waste.""Shouldn't it be underwater?"A soft "click" sounded in the darkness.A flame flickered to life. Sanji lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.The orange-red spark illuminated his furrowed brow: "Exit point for waste?""Are you saying we're going to be treated like... waste and expelled?"No one on the deck replied.At this moment, silence was the best answer."What's wrong with everyone? Why is no one talking?""An adventure in a whale's stomach, how exciting! Go, going merry!"Only Luffy remained carefree, completely oblivious to the reason for his companions' silence.Usopp's voice trembled: "That's not just a matter of not talking.""The opening of the Straw Hat Pirates' logbook will have to read—""Our ambitious Captain, Monkey D. Luffy.""Leading his five elite East Blue pirate crewmates.""Having just shouted 'I'm going to be the man who becomes the Pirate King' at the peak of the Red Line.""The very next second, at the entrance of the Grand Line, the entire crew was eaten by a whale, mistaken for jellyfish.""And finally, expelled as 'waste'!""...Um, we are, after all, an overlord-level pirate crew from the East Blue.""Isn't this opening just too pathetic!""How am I supposed to brag about my brave deeds to Kaya in the future?""...How about we just... cut this part out?" Usoppsuggested.Agreed! x 4"No way!" Luffy suddenly jumped up.His sandals hit the deck with a "thump"."What an interesting adventure! Being swallowed into the stomach by a whale as big as a mountain.""Maybe there's treasure ahead! We have to write it! We absolutely have to!"He even reached out and patted Mark on the shoulder, with enough force to make Mark stagger."Mark, your slime look is so cool!"Mark thought: As expected of you. If I'm not embarrassed, it's others who are!Just then, the going merry was suddenly propelled forward by an undercurrent.The ship jolted slightly.That faint light grew closer and brighter.Finally, it burst forth like the morning sun—The going merry surged out of the darkness and came to a steady stop beside a lake shimmering with a pale green hue."Wow! Everyone, look! There's a blue sky and white clouds!" Luffy was the first to jump up, pointing overhead.Sanji, however, squinted and took a drag of his cigarette: "Something's not right. Look at that seagull."Everyone looked up.Only then did they notice that the white clouds in the sky were as uniform as if they had been painted on.A few seagulls were suspended in mid-air, their wings held in a spread position, not even moving them once;And the animal skeletons in this green lake water, as well as the small bubbles rising to the surface, all indicated that this was the whale's gastric juice—we really had been eaten by the whale!"Everyone, look over there! There's an island!" Usopp suddenly pointed toward the center of the lake, his voice full of surprise.Everyone followed his finger.There, in the center of the lush, green lake, a small island of about a dozen square meters was actually floating.The island was covered in a soft green lawn.In the center of the lawn stood a log-colored cabin.A rattan recliner sat at the entrance.Beside it, a blue and white striped beach umbrella was set up.There was even an empty glass next to the chair—it looked like a resort hidden away in some secret realm."Zoro! Your hair is growing on the island!" Luffysuddenly shouted, pointing at the lawn on the edge of the island.His tone was exceptionally serious.Everyone leaned in to take a look and couldn't help but laugh—the color of that lawn was exactly the same as Zoro's mossy head.Even the texture of the grass blades was identical to his hair, as if it had been plucked from his head and planted directly there."Hehe, it really is!" Mark laughed and slapped his thigh."Zoro, do you want to pull a few out and carry them with you?""Maybe you can use them as'spare hair' in case you get your hair cut off in a fight one day.""You could just glue it back on!""I swear, you guys..." Veins throbbed on Zoro's forehead. His hand was already on the hilt of his sword, his rage almost palpable."Try laughing one more time, and see what happens."But before he could finish his sentence, a loud "splash" suddenly erupted from the lake!A massive shadow suddenly lunged out from the green lake—it was a giant squid dozens of meters tall!Its body was thicker than the going merry's hull.Its ten tentacles were like thick, giant pythons, and the thickest one was even sturdier than the mast.The suckers were covered in sharp, fingernail-sized teeth, stained with sticky gastric juice and gleaming with a disgusting luster;Its two eyes, glowing with a dark light, were as big as wooden barrels, fixed on the people on the deck.Drool dripped down its tentacles, splashing into the lake and creating small green bubbles.No sooner had it poked its head out than it swung a tentacle toward Luffy—likely mistaking this jumping guy for something that was mocking it.Zoro's eyes narrowed, and the yodo himawari was instantly unsheathed.The blade hummed, glowing with an orange light.Observation Haki flowed down his arm and into the blade.Flames suddenly ignited, like a small snake coiling around the blade."I'm feeling strangely pissed off right now, you piece of trash."He flicked his wrist, his voice cold as ice: "One Sword Style — Flying Dragon Flame!"A slash engulfed in demonic fire instantly surged forth, transforming into a lifelike fire dragon in mid-air.The fire dragon opened its massive maw, letting out a roar that sent ripples across the lake.Flames showered down from its scales, landing on the lake surface and creating rings of fire;It charged straight toward the giant squid.Its sharp dragon claws tore through the squid's eyeball first.Murky ink mixed with gastric juice sprayed out."Boom!" The fire dragon slammed into the giant squid's skull.The crisp sound of bone cracking mingled with the "crackle" of burning flames.The giant squid's skull was instantly split open.The demonic fire spread along the wound, causing it to let out a deafening, agonized roar.Its massive body thrashed frantically in the lake, its tentacles slapping the water, causing the ship to rock violently.But just then, a strange scene unfolded—The demonic fire clinging to the giant squid's corpse suddenly detached, as if it had a life of its own, and drifted slowly back to the blade of the yodo himawari, completely merging back in.Leaving only a faint residual warmth on the blade.Even the rings of fire on the lake's surface were extinguished.Zoro gripped his sword, his brow slightly furrowed.He touched the blade lightly with his fingertips, a hint of confusion in his eyes: "What was that...?"Before Zoro could ponder it further, Mark's voice exploded: "Sigh! I was a step too slow!"He slapped his thigh and sighed, his tone full of regret."It would've been better if you'd just knocked it out! Sanji's cooking is so good.""We could've made some delicious dishes! But now...""The wound is filled with this filthy gastric juice.""It'll probably be corroded away before long. What a waste!""Exactly, moss-head." Sanji said, chewing on his cigarette.He shot Zoro a dissatisfied glare: "It's not every day we come across such a rare deep-sea ingredient.""I was planning to take out this big guy's eyeball and slow-roast it over charcoal.""Then add some black pepper to bring out the flavor... but you've wasted it all."Usopp's eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at Mark: "Mark! Don't you have that 'cleaning ability'?""Can you try to get rid of the gastric juice? Wash the squid clean.""Maybe we can still save it!"Mark reached out, and his Observation Hakiinstantly spread out, covering the entire green lake, his fingertips glowing with a faint blue light.But the next second, he shook his head and retracted his ability: "No.""This green lake is the whale's gastric juice; to it, it's no different from blood—""My ability can't decompose waste inside a living organism.""However," he said, changing the subject.His eyes suddenly lit up with excitement, as if he had discovered a new world."When I scanned it with my ability just now, I made an amazing discovery—there are quite a few good things hidden in the lake!"Everyone gathered around.Even Zoro temporarily sheathed his sword and looked over curiously.Mark didn't waste any time and immediately activated his ability: "Trash Control!"Ripples suddenly spread across the surface of the lake.Various metal fragments, glass shards, and rusty weapons.Even a few intact metal boxes.Slowly floated up from the lake—all things that the gastric acid couldn't melt in a short time.Their surfaces were still stained with green gastric juice.Mark casually pulled a portion of them toward the ship.They piled onto the deck with a "splash," the metal boxes clattering as they collided.Everyone stared at each other, wide-eyed, none of them having processed what just happened."What are you looking at? Start searching!" Markkicked Luffy, who was standing next to him, in frustration."Any pirate crew that makes it into the Grand Line is bound to have some treasure, right?""These boxes might contain gold coins, diamonds, or even Devil Fruits!"Nami's eyes instantly lit up like two light bulbs.She raised her fist and punched both the still-stunned Zoro and Luffy.The punch wasn't light: "Search carefully! Don't miss a single corner!""Especially those locked boxes! Check them thoroughly!"As she spoke, she squatted down and used a handkerchief to wipe the gastric juice off a metal box.Her fingers felt along the surface of the box—her sensitivity to treasure was more accurate than any detector."See! I told you there was treasure in the whale's stomach! Yay!" Luffy was the first to pounce.Rummaging through the pile of debris, his fingers suddenly touched something cold—It was a copper box about the same size as his Straw Hat.Its surface was engraved with complex patterns, and although there were clear signs of corrosion, it was still mostly intact.He jumped up, clutching the copper box, his smile revealing two rows of white teeth: "Look! I found a pretty heavy box!""There must be some good stuff in here!"Although the copper box's lock was rusty, it wasn't completely broken.Usopp leaned over, rubbing his hands: "Open it! It might be full of gold coins!""Gold coins!" Nami clenched her fists, $ symbols appearing in her eyes."Luffy, open it and let's see!""Leave it to me!" Luffy grinned, grabbing the copper lock with his right hand and giving it a gentle twist."Click," the lock snapped open.He slowly opened the copper box, and a golden light instantly spilled out—Inside, packed to the brim, were sparkling gold coins!"Gold coins! Gold coins! Gold coins!" A chorus of cheers erupted on the ship.Nami pounced on it immediately, hugging the copper box and refusing to let go: "Yes! This is worth at least five million Berries!""Everyone, perk up! There's definitely more!""Don't worry, Nami-san!" Sanji's eyes turned into hearts as he rolled up his sleeves and dove into the pile of debris."I'll find you a diamond the size of a fist!""I've got a diamond here! It's just not as big as a fist!" Usopp shouted, holding up a diamond the size of a pigeon egg."I've got a box of gold coins here, too." Zoro dragged an iron box out from under a pile of planks.His tone was flat, but he couldn't hide the slight smirk on his lips."I found another one!" Luffy held up another iron box.He opened it to find a few crystal-clear pearls inside.Just as everyone was busy working away.Luffy suddenly picked up a transparent glass dome.Inside, there was a two-colored needle, slowly trembling."What's this?" He shook the glass dome, and the needle trembled even faster."That is a log pose." A strange voice suddenly rang out.It was gentle, with a touch of age to it."So it's a log pose... Huh? Who's talking?" Luffylooked up.He realized that the cabin door had opened at some point.An old man was standing in the doorway.The old man's hair (or perhaps it was a hat) looked like a blooming flower, with layered purple and yellow petals;He was wearing a bright yellow Hawaiian shirt, printed with large red, blue, and yellow stripes, paired with blue shorts and black flip-flops;And he held a rolled-up newspaper in his hand.He looked as leisurely as someone on a beach vacation.He first swept his sharp gaze over everyone.His gaze carried the pressure unique to a powerful individual.Making Zoro instantly tighten his grip on his sword, and Sanji put away his playful grin.But the next second, the old man walked straight over to the rattan recliner and lay down.He unfolded his newspaper and started reading.As if the group on the deck were nothing but air."Say something, will you!" Sanji couldn't take it anymore.He clenched his fists and was about to charge over, but Nami grabbed him."Who are you? What are you doing here?" Zorostepped forward.His hand on his sword hilt, his tone cold.The old man lowered his newspaper, his eyes narrowing, his tone flat: "Before you ask for someone else's name.""You should introduce yourself first.""That's true, I suppose." Zoro hesitated for a moment, then began, "My name is Roronoa Zoro, and I am—""Yo, newbies?" The old man suddenly interrupted him. His voice wasn't loud.But it drowned out Zoro's words: "I am Crocus.""The lighthouse keeper of Twin Capes, and the nanny for this silly whale, 'Laboon'.""I'm 71 years old this year..."Zoro's face darkened instantly, and his hand slammed onto his sword hilt.The scabbard emitted a sharp "clink": "You old geezer!""Don't be impulsive, Zoro!" Mark hurriedly pressed down on his shoulder and shook his head."We don't know how strong he is yet. We can't act rashly.""I never expected that the esteemed overlord pirate crew of the East Blue..." Crocus's voice drifted over again.The tone was flat, yet it stuck in everyone's hearts like a thorn."The first thing you do when you come to the Grand Line is pick up trash."Who are you mocking? Mark exploded instantly: "What's wrong with us picking up trash?""Is picking up trash illegal? Which law states that we can't pick up trash?""Oh—hahaha!" Crocus suddenly burst into laughter.His hand holding the newspaper was trembling: "The last time I heard something this funny,""was 50 years ago.""Laugh at your sister! Be careful not to laugh your teeth out!" Mark's face turned red with anger.Smoke was practically coming out of his ears, but he couldn't think of a stronger retort."You, a pirate, are talking to me about the law?" Crocus laughed even harder.Tears were almost coming out."That's right! To hell with the law!" Mark stomped his feet in anger."This old guy's words are so infuriating!"Crocus laughed for a good while before stopping, wiping the corners of his eyes: "Actually, I should thank you all.""The trash inside Laboon's stomach has indeed troubled me for a long time.""However, this isn't the place to talk—your ship.""It can't withstand being soaked in stomach acid for a long time.""Oh no! We actually forgot about this!" Usopp spun around in a panic."What do we do? The going merry is going to be corroded, what about our future voyages!""Don't worry, it's fine for a short time." Crocus stood up and walked to the edge of the lake."This stomach acid is mixed with seawater, so the corrosiveness isn't actually that strong."He pointed to a secret door on the wall across the lake: "Let's go out and talk."Saying this, he leaped into the lake of stomach acid.He swam toward an inconspicuous rotating valve on the wall: "The valve is below the passage on the wall.""We are in the center of the lake now, we must swim over."He opened the valve, and a secret door on the wall slowly opened.The daylight from outside shone in. "Follow me."Just as everyone was preparing to leave with Crocus.Two heads suddenly poked out from the passage behind the island.The girl had long sky-blue hair and delicate features.She wore a pair of green earrings on her ears;The boy had green spiky hair, with a small golden crown perched on his head.There were also a few black markings on his cheeks."Miss Wednesday," the spiky-haired boy lowered his voice.His eyes were locked on the going merry: "This group's strength seems quite strong.""Especially that swordsman, he took care of the Giant Squid with one slash."The girl frowned, looking at the light at the secret door: "Mr. 9, didn't you hear what that old man said?""They are the overlords of the East Blue. Let's follow them and see, maybe there's a chance.""If we can recruit them, or... eliminate them.""Headquarters will definitely give us a promotion."She took a small communicator out of her pocket.She pressed the button on it, confirmed the signal was normal, and hid it back away."Let's go, follow them closely, don't get discovered."The group rowed the going merry, following Crocus's ship through the passage.Finally, they returned to the sea surface of Twin Capes.The sea breeze blew against their faces, carrying the scent of sunshine.Overhead was the real blue sky and white clouds, with clouds drifting lazily.Seagulls chirped and flew by in the distance, their wings grazing the sea surface.Stirring up small waves.The going merry stopped next to a lighthouse, the lighthouse towering into the clouds.The tower was painted with red and white stripes, and the light at the top was still on.Rotating and making a "click-clack" sound.Not far away, the whale Laboon was lying on the sea surface.Its body was as large as a small island, and its skin was dark blue.It was covered in scars of varying depths.Some wounds were still red and swollen, forming thick scabs—Its eyes were like two huge moons.At this moment, it was looking at everyone gently, with a hint of curiosity in its eyes."Old man, is Laboon the whale's name?" Namiasked, pointing at the wound on Laboon's head."What's the deal with the wound on its head?"Crocus sat on a reef, looking at the giant whale not far away.His eyes softened, and he spoke slowly: "Laboon is an Island Whale.""It was discovered by the Rumbar Pirates from the West Blue when it was young.""At that time, it was still very small and very lively.""It always followed behind the Rumbar Pirates' ship like a little tail.""Later, the Rumbar Pirates were going to enter the Grand Line." Crocus's voice became softer."But Laboon was too small to withstand the storms of the Grand Line.""Captain York left it at Twin Capes and entrusted it to my care.""Captain York made a promise to it: 'When we sail around the world, we will come back to pick you up.'"He sighed, his tone carrying a hint of sadness: "Laboon believed it and has been waiting here ever since.""I once followed a foolish Captain to the Grand Linefor a tour.""Later, I received accurate news that the Rumbar Pirates encountered an accident after entering the Grand Line.""The entire crew was wiped out. I told Laboon the truth, but it was as if it hadn't heard me.""It only remembered that promise."Crocus pointed to the scars on Laboon's head—those wounds were of varying depths.Some were still red and swollen: "It rams its head against the Red Line every day.""Trying to break through to find its companions. Over time, its head became covered in scars.""Yet it still hasn't given up. Its daily wails can be heard throughout Twin Capes.""It seems to be calling out its companions' names.""I am a ship doctor." Crocus continued."Laboon's wounds cannot be healed from the outside, so I built that space inside its body.""To make it convenient to go in for regular treatment.""Ship doctor?" Luffy's eyes suddenly lit up, and he jumped in front of Crocus.Shaking his arm: "Do you want to come on our ship and be our ship doctor?""We happen to be missing one!"Crocus shook his head with a smile: "I am old, fighting and killing are things for you young people.""Besides, Laboon still needs me, I cannot leave.""Is that so..." Luffy was a little disappointed, then suddenly remembered something."By the way, old man, the log pose you mentioned just now.""What exactly is it?""The log pose is a necessity for navigators on the Grand Line." Crocus's expression was serious.Emphasizing the importance of this: "Without it, you are blind in the Grand Line."Nami immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply.Her attitude was exceptionally respectful: "Old man, I am the navigator of this ship, Nami!""I would like to ask you about the usage of the log pose, as well as the weather conditions of the Grand Line and the distribution of dangerous sea areas!""I have only seen materials about the Grand Line in books before, I have no practical experience, please guide me!"She took a notebook out of her backpack.Opening it to a blank page, her hand holding the pen was trembling slightly—this was hard-won navigation experience.More precious than any book.Crocus nodded and took out a log pose full of history from his bosom—The pointer was copper-colored, with intricate patterns engraved on the surface.There was a tiny scratch on the glass cover, it looked like it had been used for many years."The Vice Captain left just two days ago, he asked me to give this to you all."He handed the log pose to Nami: "This is a log posewe used to use.""Actually, there is no difference from a normal log pose, just take it as a blessing!""Vice Captain? Could it be Uncle Rayleigh?" Namilooked at him in surprise.The notebook in her hand fell to the ground because of the shock."That is to say, old man, you were the ship doctor of the Roger Pirates?" Nami covered her mouth with both hands in surprise.Crocus smiled and took a sip of hot tea: "When I was young.""I did serve as a ship doctor on the Roger Pirates for a period of time.""Roger, ah... he was a very interesting guy." Crocuswas full of nostalgia."Did Uncle Rayleigh go back? Did he also take the Grand Line?" Mark asked.His eyes were full of curiosity—actually, he had always wanted to figure it out.How Hawkeye, Krieg, and Red Leg Zeff returned from the Grand Line."Can you go back on the Grand Line? How could they return safely?""Hmm, he did return to the Sabaody Archipelago." Crocus nodded.His tone carried a hint of nostalgia: "But he didn't take the conventional route—""Rayleigh's strength is very strong, his three types of Haki are all top-tier.""Even if he went through the Calm Belt, the Sea Kings wouldn't dare to attack him proactively;""Not to mention that his ship can also sail inside the sea.""It's not strange at all that he comes and goes as he pleases.""I see!" Mark suddenly realized and clapped his hands."Sure enough, those who can return from the Grand Line are tough people! Krieg's pirate ship was originally a stolen navy ship.""It has Sea Stone; Hawkeye is a great swordsman, his strength is undeniably strong... no wonder they could return safely!""Let me tell you about the usage of the log pose." Crocus pointed to the dial of the log pose.Looking at Nami.Nami quickly picked up the notebook on the ground and started recording.Fearing to miss every word of Crocus."The magnetic field of the Grand Line is chaotic because the islands here contain a large amount of magnetic minerals.""The magnetic force of each island is different, and ordinary compasses will be interfered with.""They can't indicate the direction at all. The log posecan record the magnetic force of the island.""Once the magnetic force is full, it will point to the next island to go to.""The log pose needs to stay on the island for enough time to be fully charged with magnetic force—""Short as a few hours, long as a few days, or even a few months.""It depends on the magnetic strength of the island. For example, the magnetic force of Twin Capes.""It needs to be charged for 12 hours to point to the next island."He paused, his tone becoming serious: "As for the weather... the weather in the Grand Line is completely irregular.""One second it's sunny and clear, the next second it might be heavy rain or snow;""There are also gusts that can destroy ships, with wind speeds faster than typhoons.""They can blow ships thousands of meters into the sky; ice storms that freeze the sea surface.""They can turn the seawater into an ice field in a few minutes, even the ship will be frozen;""In adjacent sea areas, one might be scorching hot enough to roast an egg.""One might be freezing cold enough to freeze your breath; there are even Sky Island air currents that make ships lose gravity.""Sky Islands that can suck ships to ten thousand meters in the sky; and sea areas that rain candy.""The candy will stick to the sails, making the ship unable to sail.""You must be careful, Nami, you are the navigator.""You must always pay attention to weather changes, and observe the ripples on the sea surface and the shape of the clouds.""Anticipate danger in advance."Nami recorded it seriously, the tip of her pen sliding quickly on the notebook.Recording every word of Crocus, even noting the seriousness in his tone on the side.But before Crocus could finish speaking, a loud "boom" suddenly came from behind—As if some heavy object had smashed onto the sea surface.She looked back and almost fainted from anger: Luffy had actually jumped onto Laboon's back.And was waving his fists to "fight" with Laboon!Luffy ran rapidly on Laboon's back.Occasionally throwing a punch, hitting Laboon's skin.Laboon wasn't angry either, gently bumping into Luffy with its head.It was as if it was playing with him, its huge eyes full of smiles.After a while, Luffy jumped back to the shore, panting.But he was smiling exceptionally happily, and he shouted at Laboon: "We tied this time!""When we sail around the Grand Line, I'll come back to fight you again! I'll definitely be able to win next time!"He ran under Laboon's head and stood on tiptoe.Pointing at Laboon's forehead, he said seriously: "I'll draw our Straw Hat Pirates flag on your head in a moment.""You are not allowed to erase it, and you are not allowed to ram your head against the Red Lineagain! It will hurt.""This is our promise! You have to wait for us to return, and we'll fight again then!""Your companions are gone, but I will also be your opponent forever!" Luffy opened his mouth.Smiling exceptionally brightly, revealing two rows of white teeth.The sunlight shone on his Straw Hat, casting a warm glow."So you have to eat well, take good care of your wounds, and not hurt yourself anymore! We will definitely come back!"Laboon let out a long and cheerful whale call.The sound spread throughout Twin Capes, and the waves on the sea surface danced along with it.Its huge eyes seemed to well up with water.Like shattered starlight, it blinked slowly.Then it gently rubbed Luffy's shoulder with its large head, as if responding to his promise.Crocus sat on the reef, watching this scene.His eyes were full of gratification, and the corners of his eyes were even a little moist.He took a sip of hot tea and said softly: "The log pose has been fully charged with this island's magnetic force.""Good luck, Straw Hat Pirates. I hope you can achieve your dreams.""I also hope you can keep your promise to Laboon—it has waited too long."Luffy jumped onto the going merry, opened his arms, and shouted at the sea: "Everyone! Let's go!""Target the next island! We are going to find One Piece and become the Pirate King!""Laboon, wait for us to come back!""Oh!" The crew responded in unison, their voices full of excitement and anticipation.Echoing over the sea surface of Twin Capes.Nami adjusted the helm and pulled the sails.Driven by the sea breeze, the going merry slowly sailed away from Twin Capes;Zoro leaned against the ship's rail, wiping his sword, his eyes firm;Sanji was preparing food in the kitchen, and waves of fragrance came from the pot;Usopp was organizing the treasure he had just found, and Mark used his ability to do his main job—a cleaner.Crocus and Laboon stood on the sea surface, watching the going merry go away.Laboon let out another whale call, the long sound spreading across the sea surface.As if seeing them off, and also as if guarding that promise that spanned time.The setting sun shone on the sea surface, sparkling.The figure of the going merry became smaller and smaller, finally turning into a small dot.Disappearing at the entrance of the Grand Line.Crocus took a stethoscope out of his bosom and stroked it gently.Softly saying: "Roger, these are the people you expected, right!"