"This is... an island whale?"
Flowing smoothly downstream through the furious currents of Reverse Mountain, a small wooden plank rode the tide with perfect balance.
For most newcomers, this place was a deadly natural barrier.
But for true powerhouses, it was little more than a game.
"Yeah... if we keep sailing a bit longer, we'll reach Alabasta soon."
With a flick of his finger, the two of them—along with their tiny wooden boat—teleported into the belly of the whale. Inside, a small old man was relaxing on vacation.
"Long time no see, Crocus-san!!!"
Hearing that voice, the old man in a vest, shorts, and slippers, with hair like an umbrella, slowly lifted his head.
"Oh?! Isn't that Orin!!!"
"It's been such a long time!"
Clearly, Crocus recognized Orin the moment he saw him.
"Why are you here?"
Of course, what he was really asking wasn't why Orin was in Laboon's belly. After all, he knew a bit about Orin's abilities.
What he meant was—why had Orin appeared at the entrance to the Grand Line, the very place where young pirates from the four seas began their journeys?
Orin smiled, bringing Mihawk along as they landed beside the island inside the whale. He sat down naturally next to Crocus—as one of the doctors on the Roger Pirates, they had known each other for many years.
With a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips, Orin said,
"Starting from the four seas, with dreams in their hearts, young pirates sail up Reverse Mountain and into the Grand Line. Isn't that perfectly normal~?"
"That's..."
Crocus blinked. Hearing Orin say that left him unsure how to respond.
True, that's what young rookie pirates did—begin their voyage from Reverse Mountain.
But what on earth was Orin doing here?
Ever since leaving the Roger Pirates and retiring at Twin Cape Lighthouse, Crocus hadn't seen Orin in decades.
He'd always assumed this guy just flew straight over the Calm Belt or the Red Line—why would someone like him take the long way around, like an ordinary pirate?
Gazing at Orin for a while, Crocus finally said,
"You're not exactly a young man anymore, Orin."
"Uh..."
Orin fell silent for a moment.
He wanted to protest that he was still that same young remnant of the old era...
But looking at the old Crocus, Mihawk's mature beard, and then himself...
"But I've never actually formed a pirate crew, have I?"
Orin muttered stubbornly, unwilling to back down.
That line, however, made Crocus' eyes widen slightly, his expression shifting.
What did he mean by that?
"Hey, hey, Orin, don't tell me you're planning to—"
To start from the beginning of the Grand Line, sail around the world, and become the Pirate King—claiming the One Piece—that was the dream of nearly every pirate who came to Twin Cape.
And Crocus suddenly had a bad feeling about this.
"..."
Seeing Crocus' grim expression, Orin sighed and shook his head helplessly.
"Relax. I'm not heading to Laugh Tale."
"Ah, good. That's a relief."
Crocus instantly brightened up, clapping one hand into the other with a grin.
"So you really were thinking that way, huh!"
Orin was speechless. There really were too many straightforward people in this world.
He sat with Crocus for a while. Mihawk, realizing Crocus was just a ship doctor and not a swordsman, quickly lost interest.
"By the way," Crocus asked while chatting and serving them tea, "if you're not after that treasure, then why start your journey from the first half of the Grand Line?"
"With your talent and power, at your current level, you're probably no worse than Roger was. You could go anywhere you please."
"Well..." Orin chewed on a piece of meat before replying, "Crocus-san, do you still remember what Captain Roger once said—about the right time?"
"The right time..."
Crocus thought back, then nodded.
"Isn't it in about two years?"
"Almost. The new era doesn't just start all at once. I'm setting sail this time to witness the true beginning of it~"
"I see..."
Crocus looked at Orin seriously upon hearing that.
He thought of those former little kids—once just interns on the ship—who were now mighty pirates shaking the seas in this new age.
"Maybe I really am old now. I can't keep up with you young ones anymore."
"The true era is about to begin. Go see it for Roger, Orin."
"Ah... of course."
Orin touched the sword at his waist. Once a symbol of the old era, now merely a memento.
...
"King Seagull, I'll leave it to you."
"Gaah—!"
Sitting on his small wooden boat, Orin reached out and caught a paper that looked like a newspaper.
"'Fire Fist Ace spotted in the first half of the Grand Line, last seen near the Kingdom of Lulusia, currently believed to be heading toward Alabasta.'"
"What's that?" Mihawk asked curiously.
"Exclusive intel from the World Economic News, courtesy of Morgans. I requested it myself."
In this vast sea, relying solely on newspapers for information would be far too slow.
"Beru-beru-beru—"
Just then, Orin's Den Den Mushi began to ring.
...
"Click."
"Moshi moshi, Orin-sama! Do you need any more intel? I can keep the reports coming~"
A bird-faced man appeared, speaking with utmost respect.
For someone with a background as formidable as Orin—and the one who always backed his explosive headlines—Morgans had nothing but one hundred percent reverence and enthusiasm.
"No... not for now. You've done an excellent job, Morgans."
Orin praised him at the right moment. He had the habit of using Future Sight whenever he made calls, so through the Den Den Mushi, Morgans could see Orin's face—eyes glowing crimson, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
"It's my pleasure to serve."
But then, Orin changed the topic slightly.
"By the way... if I ever asked you to spread false news across the seas, you wouldn't have any problem with that, would you?"
"False news?"
Morgans froze for a moment, but quickly nodded. A wise man knew when to yield—he would never dare refuse Orin.
"Good. I may ask you to spread a few stories around the world someday..."
Orin's smile grew wider—more sinister, even—as if something amusing had crossed his mind.
"Not yet, of course. The experiment isn't complete. But just imagining it already sounds so... entertaining."
"This era... will only be interesting once it starts to burn in chaos~"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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