Yes Marine Headquarters.
After killing one of Doflamingo's officers, there was almost no doubt that the Donquixote Family would send pursuers. And against the power of a Warlord, no ordinary Marine branch could offer protection. The safest place in the entire world was Marine Headquarters itself.
Ron wasn't particularly fond of the Marines, but in the face of Doflamingo's threat, heading to Headquarters was clearly the smartest move.
Stay calm, grow stronger, don't be reckless.
That was the creed of a cautious mage still building his foundation.
As a transmigrator gifted with a system and the path of a Magus, Ron had every reason to be confident, even proud. But because he was a magician and not some muscle-brained berserker, he was calm, steady, and rational. Pride did not mean arrogance, confidence did not mean blindness.
He was not Luffy, charging blindly into danger and surviving on luck and fate.
And having a system didn't mean he could strut around punching Whitebeard and kicking Blackbeard just yet. Without power to back it up, arrogance was suicide.
Even if he believed he would one day surpass Whitebeard and stand above the seas, he knew that ambition and action were two different things.
The odds of Doflamingo personally coming after him were low, and most of the top officers couldn't even fly. Vergo, the one who could use Moonwalk, was still undercover within the Marines. But Ron wasn't about to gamble on luck.
Power was the only law of the sea.
Be steady. Always steady.
He smirked slightly at his own thoughts. A cautious old mage, he told himself. Never act rashly.
"Marine Headquarters?"
Nami blinked, confused. "Why are we going there?"
She knew of the Grand Line and had heard of Marine Headquarters Marineford but didn't know exactly where it was.
Ron smiled. "To try joining the Marines."
Ordinary branches wouldn't help. Even if Doflamingo's men couldn't attack him openly, there was still danger. But if he became part of the Marines especially within Headquarters it would buy time and safety.
Besides, his achievement interface included one simply titled 'Step Foot in Marineford.' A free achievement was not to be ignored.
"You're going to become a Marine?"
Nami stared at him, surprised.
She despised pirates, but the Marines were another story. They had never helped her village, and they had let Arlong's tyranny stand. She had no hatred for them, but no faith either.
Ron shrugged. "Not that I really want to. But after provoking a Warlord, joining them temporarily is the safest path."
And who knew there might be hidden achievements tied to the Marines.
Until now, he hadn't cared for them because their path conflicted with most of his current achievements. Money-based goals like owning ten billion Beli, or ruling a kingdom, clearly didn't align with a Marine's lifestyle.
Still, there were countless achievements out there. He'd take them one at a time.
Nami puffed her cheeks. "But if you join the Marines, you won't make bounty money anymore. All you'll get is a salary."
Catching pirates wouldn't earn him rewards, and any loot would be confiscated. But faced with a Warlord's wrath, she reluctantly admitted his decision made sense.
They set sail according to plan.
A month later.
After weeks at sea, following their chosen course, Ron and Nami finally reached the waters near the Red Line.
A shroud of mist cloaked the towering landmass. From the deck, it was impossible to see how high it went. It was like a colossal red wall that had stood since ancient times, stretching endlessly into the clouds.
Below, the sea roared and churned. The sky was dark and heavy, clouds swirling low. Though there was no storm, the waves were fierce, threatening to overturn their mid-sized vessel at any moment.
When Ron turned his gaze to the other side, he saw something even more surreal.
The stormy sea simply… stopped.
Beyond a sharp, invisible divide, the world transformed clear skies, calm waves, soft sunlight. It looked like another world entirely.
"That's… the Calm Belt," Nami whispered, gripping the helm tighter. Her heart pounded as she glanced at Ron. "Are we really doing this?"
"Yeah."
Ron nodded, eyes calm and resolute.
They had come too far to hesitate now. Once they crossed this belt and flew a short distance beyond, Marine Headquarters would be within reach.
Seeing his steady expression, Nami bit her lip and turned the wheel. The ship began to glide toward the tranquil horizon.
Their food, fresh water, and savings were all secured nearby ready to grab if they had to abandon ship.
If danger struck, Ron would carry Nami and take to the sky.
"Sea Kings…" Ron murmured, his gaze sharpening as he stared into the distance.
His achievement system had several entries related to the Calm Belt and Sea Kings. Entering the Calm Belt itself was one. Slaying Sea Kings was another actually, a whole series of them.
From small to medium, large, and colossal. Four achievements in total, each requiring the defeat of just one creature of its kind.
But after a moment of thought, Ron shook his head.
Impossible.
Far too difficult.
Even the smallest Sea King dwarfed their ship many times over bigger than the Sea King of the East. His current spells couldn't kill one in a single strike, and anything less than that would be suicide.
If he couldn't kill it instantly, it would dive beneath the sea. And Ron had no intention of fighting underwater.
He'd need third-tier or higher magic to even have a chance.
The waves around them rumbled and rose as their ship pressed onward, but under Nami's steady hands, they pushed through.
Finally, with a sudden burst of speed, they broke past the dividing line between storm and calm
And entered the Calm Belt.
[Achievement unlocked: "Explorer I" - +1 Achievement Point]
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