"Boy, how did you hear about the Rumbar pirates?" asked Crocus, perched on the back of Laboon, the majestic island whale.
Rodney, not seeing anyone around, nodded to Mom: "Wait for me here a little."
With the agility of an acrobat, he leaped and landed on Laboon's wet skin, using his heels like suction cups to pull himself up. Laboon, true to its name, resembled an island, gradually growing in size. Because of this, Crocus had to take refuge within Laboon's body to practice medicine.
Crocus created a cozy resting space inside Laboon's stomach, filling it with various objects. However, this did not disrupt the whale's daily life.
"What a charming creature, belonging to the pirates..." Crocus whispered, watching Rodney climb Laboon.
Reaching Laboon's back, Rodney discovered it was much larger than he'd imagined. There he encountered Crocus, Roger's ship's doctor, who gave him an unfriendly look. Next to him stood a deck chair with a parasol attached—a symbol of a carefree life to be enjoyed.
"You claim to know about the Rumbar pirates?" Crocus asked, frowning.
"Yes, that's true," Rodney replied without embarrassment.
"Did you know that this pirate crew existed fifty years ago?" Crocus asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Yes, this island whale Laboon was bred by them, although they are all dead now..." Rodney explained.
"Ooh!" Laboon, with his incredible hearing, caught the sound. His mood darkened, and his body trembled for a moment.
"Wait, I'm not finished speaking," Crocus interrupted. "Boy? Have you come to entertain Laboon and me?"
"Of course not. Fifty years ago, the Rumbar Pirates were wiped out by their enemies in the Florian Triangle. Everyone died except one member named Brook. He came back to life after eating the Rebirth Fruit. He's the last remaining member of the Rumbar Pirates." Rodney paused to let Crocus digest the information. "However, he was trapped in this place and couldn't escape. I heard that Gecko Moria of the Shichibukai took his shadow, preventing him from escaping."
"Woo~" A sound came from Laboon's body, not as sad as before; there was a hint of joy in it.
"You're not lying to me, are you?" Crocus asked, looking at Rodney doubtfully.
Rodney shook his head, reassuring him, "No, why would I lie to the Roger Pirates' ship's doctor? It would only bring trouble."
Crocus stroked his beard and said, "Now the old man is beginning to wonder where you got such news. The common folk don't know that I'm Roger's ship's doctor. I'm curious about the whereabouts of those Rumbar pirates you mentioned."
Rodney smiled and said, "I ate a strange devil fruit, and my eyes occasionally see random visions. I happened to catch a glimpse of the Rumbar Pirates." Brook was dressed in a black suit and a hat. He had an afro and thick lips—he seemed like an unusual character." He activated his Sharingan, adding a touch of credibility to his words.
"Well, come to think of it, he does match Brook's description," Crocus admitted, looking at Rodney's eyes with undisguised interest. "Your eyes... they really are unusual and possess a special power. Did you really dare venture into the Grand Line alone?"
Crocus sensed that Rodney might be overestimating his abilities. A pirate's journey was never a solitary one: to reach the end, he needed the mutual support of his comrades.
"There's also Momu... Although I'll free her later, I entered the Grand Line to hone my power, and I won't die. If I want to escape, ordinary people won't be able to catch me." He planned to head to a densely populated area where, using his shapeshifting technique, he could blend in unnoticed, so no one would recognize him. "These eyes don't just give me those abilities." Rodney looked confidently at Crocus, causing him to shake his head.
He leaned back on the chaise lounge and said, "Young man, if what you said is true, then Laboon and I are deeply in your debt."
"It's just a small favor," Rodney said dismissively, shaking his head. "Well, I don't have a Log-Pos... Look..."
In this world of chaotic magnetic fields and unpredictable weather, navigation along the Grand Line was only possible with the help of a Log Pose. The Log Pose sensed the magnetic fields between islands and guided the user in the desired direction. However, each time they crossed from one island to another, it took some time for the Log Pose to recalibrate and point to the next destination.
Crocus chuckled. "Don't worry, come with me. Labun, just wait a little, soon you'll meet someone you've longed to see."
- Wu~ - Laboon's body moved, and, waving his tail, he created a huge wave and swam to the edge of the lighthouse.
When they reached land, Crocus learned that Rodney was a pirate hunter. He had killed many powerful pirates in the East Blue, which led him to tie the manatee Moma to the Grand Line. Newborn calves really aren't afraid of tigers! Modern babies are little different from their predecessors.
"Wait for me here." Crocus entered the lighthouse and retrieved Log Pose for Rodney.
Meanwhile, Rodney examined the scars and pits on Laboon's body. Some of them were fresh wounds, likely caused by recent encounters with the Red Line. Over the years, Laboon's body had suffered from constant impact.
"Then... The Art of Summoning!" Rodney cast a spell, and a slime over 20 meters long appeared next to him. The slime sister asked, "Master Rodney, please give me your orders."
- Sister Slug, do you think Laboon will be able to recover from his wounds?
"Laboon is quite massive," the slime sister remarked. "However, he's still smaller than my body in Shikkotsu Forest. You should know that my body, Katsuyu, encompasses the entire Shikkotsu Forest. Well, these wounds should heal quickly, in about half an hour. Lord Rodney, would you like me to begin? But please cleanse Laboon's skin of any seawater; the salt content could harm me. My slime won't cause any harm, but it will be quite uncomfortable."
After all, Slug's sister was still a slug, and the salt could dissolve her tissue. While she wouldn't die, it would be unpleasant.
— No problem. Labun, could you swim a little closer?
Labun obediently leaned forward, almost touching the nearly vertical cliff.
— Let's begin.
The water, as if alive, bubbled around him, forming a whirlpool. Rodney's chakra, like a life-giving spring, washed over Laboon's body, washing away the salty spray.
"Okay, I'm going up," said Sister Slug's voice.
She stretched out into a long ribbon, turning into a twenty-meter snake, and smoothly climbed onto Laboon's back, sitting on him like a doll.
Green medicinal chakra emanating from Sister Slime flowed through Laboon's body, reviving the wounded flesh. Old scars, already healed, were untreatable, but fresh wounds were closing before his eyes.
"This..." Crocus emerged from the lighthouse, holding a log in his hand. He looked in surprise at Sister Slime, who was perched on Laboon's head.
"Oh, Mister Crocus, this is my partner, Sister Slug. She can use my chakra to speed up the healing process. It's one of my abilities," Rodney replied.
"Is this ability a result of your transformation?" Crocus asked, glancing at the unusual creature.
"No, it's the ability to summon. My eyes possess wondrous powers," Rodney said, his eyes glowing red like embers. Crocus was momentarily taken aback, but then smiled. "Indeed, both of your abilities are truly astounding. Young man, you are truly amazing. May I know more?"
"That's no problem. You won't reveal my abilities, will you?" Rodney asked, looking at Crocus with distrust.
"You can trust me completely. Here, this is the log pose you requested. The magnetic energy is fully charged, and it points to the next island. So, which path are you going to take?" Crocus handed Rodney the log, pointing to the magnetic needle.
This was the starting point of the Grand Line. From here, seven different magnetic forces radiated out in different directions, representing seven different routes. Whichever route a person chooses, they will eventually reach the end point—Raftel.
"But which path does Alabasta choose?" Rodney asked, peering at the magnetic needle.
"This route," Crocus pointed in a certain direction.
"I see. Let's go there," Rodney answered decisively.
He chose this route simply because Luffy had taken it in the anime. He knew what awaited him on this route, while the other six routes remained shrouded in mystery.
*Ratun's note:*
Newborn calves really aren't afraid of tigers! is an expression used to describe the fearlessness and courage of young people who are willing to take on challenges and risks without hesitation or fear.
If you want advanced chapters follow me on patreon
50+chapters
patreon.com/Manofathousandskills