I noticed the way I arranged chapter 28 to 30 was wrong, So I deleted it and reposted it.
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After everyone came out, Crocus told Luffy and the others the story of Laboon the whale and a group of pirates. It was a tale of friendship and loyalty that touched everyone deeply.
After hearing Laboon's story, Luffy couldn't contain his excitement. He approached Laboon, gazing into the whale's huge, sorrowful eyes, as if he could see the loneliness and longing buried deep within. Luffy earnestly said, "Laboon, let's make a promise, how about it?"
Laboon seemed to understand, letting out a low cry: "Owoo~ Owoo~~" The sound echoed across the silent sea, filled with anticipation and a touch of hesitation.
Luffy suddenly laughed heartily. His laughter was as warm as sunlight, lifting everyone's spirits. He declared, "Alright, it's settled! No more ramming into the Red Line—it's too dangerous! I'll help you find your friends. If I do, you'll hear about it in the news, and when that happens, I'll bring them back to see you!"
Laboon let out another cry: "Owoo~~" It was a sound full of trust and hope for the future.
The scene brought a sense of peace to Crocus. Smiling, he slowly pulled out a Log Pose from his coat and handed it carefully to Nami.
Nami accepted it joyfully, examining the small, delicate device.
Crocus cleared his throat and addressed everyone. "You've just arrived in the Grand Line, so you might not be familiar with how things work here. In this mysterious and vast sea, ordinary charts and compasses are completely useless."
Everyone looked surprised.
Crocus continued, "The Grand Line's magnetic fields are incredibly erratic. Regular compasses lose their direction. To reach the next island, you need this Log Pose. It's the only way to navigate properly out here. Without it, you'd get lost in the vast ocean and might never find your way."
Understanding dawned on Nami. She slapped her forehead. "So that's why our compass kept spinning in circles the moment we entered the Grand Line. The magnetic field here is just too strange!"
She turned to Crocus, her face full of gratitude. "Thank you, Mr. Crocus. You've really helped us a lot. Without your warning and this Log Pose, we'd have been in big trouble."
Crocus waved it off with a smile. "You're welcome. It's just a small favor."
He then shared several important tips about surviving in the Grand Line, including how to deal with extreme weather.
When Luffy learned that Crocus was not only a lighthouse keeper but also a skilled doctor, his eyes lit up. "Old man, you're a doctor? That's awesome! We're just missing someone like you! Come sail with us!"
But Crocus shook his head gently. "I'm afraid I can't join you. I'm over seventy now, and my body's not what it used to be. Besides, I can't leave Laboon. He's still covered in injuries. I have to stay and look after him."
Seeing this, Shin'ya stepped forward and said, "Forget it, Luffy. He's too old—don't make it harder for him." Then he turned to Crocus. "I can help with healing. I'll treat Laboon's injuries."
Hope sparked in Crocus's eyes. "Really? That would be incredible. I'd be truly grateful!"
Shin'ya didn't waste words. He appeared instantly on top of Laboon's head. "Hold still, Laboon. I'll help you heal."
With that, he activated his healing ability and quickly mended Laboon's wounds from repeatedly ramming the Red Line.
Just as he finished, two figures appeared on the shore. One was Baroque Works' "Miss Wednesday," tall, with blue hair and a graceful presence. The other was Mr. 9, short and somewhat goofy-looking.
Sanji noticed them from afar. A suave smile curled across his lips. With a slick flourish, he vanished and reappeared in front of Miss Wednesday like lightning.
He knelt on one knee, hand on his chest, and said with a magnetic tone, "My lady, I am Sanji, at your service. Allow me to escort you onto our ship and treat you to a romantic voyage at sea."
Miss Wednesday smiled politely. "Alright, thank you."
Mr. 9 quickly interrupted, "Please wait! There's something we need your help with." Then he dropped to his knees with a thump, looking at Sanji pleadingly.
Sanji looked at him, annoyed. "Fine, come on."
And so, the group returned to the Going Merry. On board, Sanji and the others gathered around to hear what Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday had to say.
Mr. 9 spoke with a grimace. "Our ship was smashed by that giant whale, and now we're stranded. We humbly ask if you could take us to Whiskey Peak—our companions are waiting there."
Luffy blinked. "What a weird name!"
Usopp: "Never heard of it."
Nami: "You think we'll just take you for free? What's in it for us?"
"Big brothers and sisters~ We're poor~ Please take us with you. We don't even have money for food," Mr. 9 begged.
Crocus sighed. "Don't be fooled. These two look shady. They probably have ulterior motives."
But Luffy didn't care.
"Alright~ You can come aboard! We're headed for Whiskey Peak! Let's set sail!" he declared cheerfully.
No one objected, and the group—including Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9—officially boarded the Going Merry.
However, aside from Shin'ya, no one noticed the sly smirk that crossed the newcomers' faces—a hint of a plan in motion.
Zoro immediately sprawled on the deck with his three swords and went to sleep. The others went about their business.
Soon, the weather turned.
True to the Grand Line's reputation, the skies shifted rapidly. One moment it was spring, the next winter.
The Going Merry sailed through heavy rain, snow, hail, and even absurd weather phenomena like hailstones dozens of meters wide. It was like a meteorological disco—spring, summer, autumn, winter, typhoons, downpours, exploding waves, the sea flipping upside down—you name it. Luffy and the others scrambled to keep up, while Zoro slept soundly.
Thankfully, with Nami's precise forecasts, they managed to weather the chaos without too much trouble.
Half a day later, the skies finally cleared.
Luffy, Sanji, Nami, Usopp, Miss Wednesday, and Mr. 9 collapsed on the deck in exhaustion. Only Shin'ya sat calmly—Zoro was still asleep.
Just as they were catching their breath, Zoro sat up, stretched, and looked around. "You guys are slacking off? The weather's perfect. Don't you have anything better to do?"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A furious Nami rose and smacked Zoro several times, eyes blazing. "You moron! Do you know what we've just been through? You slept through it all, and now you're calling us lazy?"
Zoro tried to reply, but Nami slammed her fist down again, raising a few lumps on his head.
"No matter how hard we shook or hit you, you didn't budge! Sleeping like a dead pig—and now you have the nerve?" she growled, punching him again.
"Pfft—Hahaha! You totally deserved that, Zoro!" Shin'ya laughed at the battered swordsman.
Nami shot him a glare. "Don't laugh! Just because you're strong doesn't mean you're off the hook. You didn't help either. You were just watching, weren't you? This time I'll let it slide, but next time, help out."
Just then, Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 spotted Whiskey Peak in the distance. They quietly slipped to the stern, jumped into the sea, and swam around to another entrance, intending to approach the island from a different direction.
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