The barrier of the Red Earth Continent is the first checkpoint to the New World. Those authorized will abandon their ships and pass through Mary Geoise, and once they reach the New World, they'll switch to new ships, which requires a huge sum of money.
A ship's price isn't low, usually ranging from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of Belly. Most who want to enter the New World will sell their ships at Shampodi, then with the money, buy a new ship in the New World.
However, even so, there are still very few who go to the New World through official channels.
Those big businessmen wouldn't blindly increase their costs, and ordinary people can't afford it. Only those nobles going to New World for fun wouldn't care about these things.
Moreover, ships aren't just thrown away after one use. After purchasing them, they store and maintain them in specific places, and they won't have issues for a long time.
Other than that, if you want to spend no money, you can either traverse the Calm Belt from the West Sea and North Sea or coat beneath the Red Earth Continent at ten thousand meters, pass by Fishman Island, follow the sea currents, and enter the New World.
The Calm Belt is a death trap, not just for ordinary people; even seasoned warriors can't approach it. Even the Navy's special technology can't guarantee that Sea Kings can be avoided entirely.
Only Fishman Island is their sole route to the New World, even if the number of ships sunk there every year far exceeds that of the Inverted Mountain.
The New World is the place all pirates dreaming of obtaining One Piece long for. But the only one who conquered this region and reached Laugh Tale was Pirate King Gol D. Roger. The New World crushed pirates' dreams and ambitions one after another.
Meanwhile, Monkey D. Luffy, who ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, shouted about becoming Pirate King while challenging the New World, reaching Fishman Island located ten thousand meters in the deep sea, where he encountered the New Fishman Pirates.
Upon entering, Hody Jones of the New Fishman Pirates initiated a rebellion in the Dragon Palace Kingdom on Fishman Island. The Straw Hat Gang tried to stop them, resulting in a fierce battle, ultimately leading the Sea Kings to drag Noah's Ark away.
After the banquet, Luffy ate several platter-sized meals from the gigantic Shirahoshi and then lifted a large plate, leaving with Jinbe to an open place outside.
"Hey, you're all here!"
Luffy said smilingly to everyone.
At this moment, there were Zoro passed out, Usopp who was overeaten, Chopper fanning the drunken Sanji due to mermaids, and Nami waking up after having drunk too much.
"Hehe, then I'll eat it all by myself!"
Luffy put down the large plate, sat cross-legged, and took a huge sandwich to continue eating.
"Hey, Jinbe, come out to sea with us!" Luffy laughed.
"I promised you, of course, I won't go back on my word, but the current sea is no longer the same, ever since Akainu and Aokiji dueled..."
"What? Akainu and Kuzan dueled?!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Uh... you don't know about such a big incident?" Jinbe asked with surprise.
"I don't know, I was just training, and Rayleigh didn't tell me anything else."
"Rayleigh is too strict; this is a world-renowned major event..." Jinbe said helplessly.
Usopp lying there tilted his head, "I haven't heard of it either."
He's much like Luffy, staying on an uninhabited island with not much information around.
But Chopper was excited and proud, "I know, I know!"
Jinbe nodded and said, "Anyway, currently on the sea, there are three major things you need to know - one related to Navy, two to pirates."
"Akainu and Aokiji fought after Sengoku stepped down, one pushed by the World Government, and the other deeply respected within the Navy. Supposedly, Akainu won, becoming the new Navy Fleet Admiral. However, the usually lazy Aokiji resisted fiercely upon hearing Akainu becoming Fleet Marshal, leading to their battle."
"I don't know which island it was, but I know they fought for ten days and ten nights, and eventually, Akainu won, becoming the new Navy Fleet Marshal."
Speaking of which, Jinbe glanced at the scar on Luffy's chest and continued:
"As for pirates, one of them is Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach."
Luffy was indifferent, but Chopper's expression stiffened.
His hometown was the Drum Kingdom, and Blackbeard was the guy who looted his homeland.
"He was originally one of the old man's crew. After the old man's death, he quickly seized half the territory by using his knowledge of the old man's regions, now known as the top man below the Four Emperors, even dubbed as the 'fifth Pirate Emperor'."
"He possesses some unknown power that allows him to hunt Ability Users and steal abilities, massively hunting Ability Users to equip his men with strong abilities..."
"Eh? Wouldn't that put me in danger?!" Chopper was startled.
"No, I think no one needs the Human-Human Fruit..." Usopp waved his hand quickly.
"Luffy, especially you... Hey, are you listening!"
Jinbe wanted to emphasize this to Luffy but noticed he was absent-mindedly picking up a piece of meat with bones and eating it quickly.
"Hehe, don't worry about it. I still prefer letting things flow naturally in battle, deal with things as they come!" Luffy laughed heartily.
Jinbe: "..."
What does he mean by letting things flow naturally in battle?
Shouldn't a pirate captain identify his enemies and then target them as he progresses, ultimately achieving his goals?