The current in the downstream canal was much more turbulent, and the motorboat's speed was significantly faster, cutting the travel time almost in half. The night had already fallen, and the canal was shrouded in darkness, with only the swaying lights of the motorboat illuminating the churning water.
Just as the motorboat was about to rush out of the canal's mouth, Andy's eyes widened in astonishment. "It's… it's actually snowing!" he exclaimed.
He'd come from the West Blue, where it was still as warm as spring with no signs of snow. Crossing the Red Line was like stepping into a completely different world.
"Does it feel strange?" a hoarse, world-weary voice said from beside him.
Andy quickly turned his head. He'd almost forgotten about the old man, Crocus, who had joined Roger's ship as a doctor to find the Rumbar Pirates. Andy hadn't seen the island whale, Laboon, yet.
Crocus had heard the motorboat's engine roar and had just come out of his lighthouse. He hadn't expected anyone to make it safely to the Grand Line at night. Andy steered his motorboat to the shore, stored it in his pocket dimension, and walked toward Crocus.
"Yeah, it does feel strange. Can you tell me about it?" Andy asked, pulling out a bottle of wine. He tossed it to Crocus, then took out a bottle for himself, ready to celebrate entering the Grand Line.
Crocus caught the bottle with ease, his eyes lingering on the label for a moment before he looked up at Andy. "West Blue wine. A space-type ability. You must be the one they call Red Hawk."
"Hey! You took my wine, so hurry up and talk!" Andy said with mock anger, eyeing Crocus suspiciously. He wondered if this old man had a bounty on his head.
Crocus looked away, found a chair, and slowly sat down. He uncapped the bottle, took a long swig, and looked out at the boundless sea.
"This is the Grand Line," he began slowly. "The most climatically complex sea in the world. The islands here are divided into four types: spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and each island has its own unique seasons. For example, where we are now is winter, but the next island you arrive at might be a scorching summer or some other season.
This is a unique climate phenomenon of the Grand Line, and the weather at sea is incredibly unstable. When you feel the climate start to stabilize, it means you're getting close to the next island."
Andy lowered his head in thought, frowning. He took a big gulp of his own wine. "So, the key to sailing here is to understand the climate patterns?"
Crocus slowly nodded. "That's pretty much it, but no one has ever claimed to fully understand the Grand Line's climate."
Andy understood. It seemed that in the waters of the Grand Line, only the climate of the islands and their surrounding waters was relatively stable, while the open ocean was a wild, unpredictable mess. He wasn't worried, though. As long as he was strong enough, the weather would be the least of his problems.
"Old man, I didn't expect you to be so easy to talk to," Andy said. "To thank you, I'll treat you to some hot pot." He then pulled out a one-meter-wide copper pot from his space. Next came hot pot seasonings, fresh beef slices, crisp green vegetables, burning charcoal, a windproof stove, a bright lamp… he systematically laid out everything they needed.
"Hot pot? That name fits," Crocus said, his eyes lighting up as he saw the ingredients, especially the full plate of beef. "I won't be polite!" He quickly moved his chair closer.
Before long, the water in the copper pot began to boil, the bubbles rolling. Andy threw all the ingredients into the pot, and as it gurgled, a delicious aroma filled the air.
"Let's eat! Hot pot is perfect for a winter night like this," Andy said, dumping large basins of meat slices into the pot. There was no time for shabu-shabu; he just wanted to get it all in there.
The two of them ate to their hearts' content, and after they were full, they continued to chat for a long time. It was mostly Andy asking questions and Crocus patiently answering, using his vast experience to explain the ins and outs of the Grand Line.
Once all his questions had been answered, Andy set up his tent and prepared for a good night's sleep. Crocus returned to his lighthouse.
The next morning, a huge whale's roar woke Andy from his sleep. He groggily crawled out of the tent and saw that the snow had stopped, and everything around him was a pristine white. He looked out at the sea and saw a giant whale swimming along the coast, gathering strength, ready to slam into the Red Line.
"Laboon! You're starting again!" Crocus shouted, rushing out of the lighthouse.
"BOOM!"
Just as Crocus spoke, Laboon slammed into the Red Line, making a dull but earth-shattering sound. It truly was a sight to behold; Andy silently cheered on the whale's perseverance.
Andy then put his tent back in his space and walked toward the shore. "Old man, I'm leaving. Thanks for answering my questions last night. As a thank you, I won't kill you. Goodbye," he said jokingly, then released his motorboat and leaped onto it.
"You brat! You're 100 years too early to think about killing me!" Crocus puffed out his beard and glared, shouting loudly.
"Hahahaha! Goodbye, old man!" Andy laughed heartily, twisted the motorboat's throttle, and sped off like an arrow into the depths of the sea.
"What a formidable kid," Crocus said, watching him go, filled with emotion. "It's been a long time since I met such an interesting young man…"
"BOOM!"
Another muffled thud brought Crocus's attention back to the whale.
After leaving Twin Capes and reaching a specific sea area that Crocus had mentioned, Andy finally took out his Log Pose and put it on. He didn't want to take the Whiskey Peak route, so he'd asked Crocus to recommend another one and explain how to use it. Crocus had told him everything he needed to know.
Andy glanced at the Log Pose on his wrist, then twisted the throttle. The motorboat sped off in the direction the needle was pointing.
The next island is… Erguotou Mountain!
He couldn't help but laugh out loud. This was going to be a fun journey.
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