"Right… so you're saying that if we happen to meet the Rumbar Pirates, we should tell them that the whale named Laboon is still waiting for them at Twin Cape, correct?"
Sami looked at the man in front of him—a middle-aged lighthouse keeper with a peculiar sense of fashion and hair that flared behind his head like a peacock's tail.
After extorting thirty million Berries from the mafia in Departure Town, Sami and his crew had received a rather "enthusiastic farewell" from the local Marines.
Fortunately, the Swordfish was a fine ship, and the crew were skilled sailors. They managed to survive the insane currents of Reverse Mountain and successfully reached the starting point of the Grand Line—Twin Cape.
Now they were speaking with the lighthouse keeper.
Crocus.
"That's right." Crocus nodded, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward the massive silhouette floating in the distance.
"If you run into the Rumbar Pirates, please pass along the message. Laboon has been waiting here for them to return."
Sami fell silent for a moment.
Of course, he already knew the answer.
The Rumbar Pirates had long since been wiped out in the Florian Triangle.
But if he told Crocus the truth right now…
Would the future ship's doctor of the future Pirate King still board Gol D. Roger's ship?
If Roger died early without a proper doctor…
If he never reached Laugh Tale…
If the Great Age of Pirates never began…
Would the wheels of history derail?
Would his tiny butterfly wings erase an entire era?
So Sami carefully chose his words and asked indirectly,
"Mr. Crocus… I respect Laboon's persistence. But sailing all the way around the Grand Line means facing countless dangers."
"It's already been five years."
"Have you ever considered… that they might have…"
He made a throat-slitting gesture.
The meaning was obvious.
Crocus's usual easy smile disappeared.
He stared at the sea for a long time.
At Laboon's massive body occasionally surfacing above the waves.
"I know," Crocus said quietly.
"I know better than anyone what this sea can swallow."
Then he looked back at Sami.
"But sometimes, young man…"
"Waiting itself is the last thing the living can hold onto."
"If everything eventually reaches an ending—whether good or bad—then it still has meaning."
"If you hear anything about them during your voyage… and someday you happen to return here…"
"Please tell me."
"Alright." Sami shrugged.
"Our crew doesn't plan to sail around the entire Grand Line anyway. We'll probably stay in the first half for quite a while."
"If we hear anything, I'll try to send word back."
"Hahaha! Then I'll be grateful," Crocus laughed.
He quickly changed the topic.
"So, which route do you plan to take next?"
"I've accumulated quite a few sea charts and Log Poses here. They might help you."
"Sea charts?" Sami turned and shouted toward the ship.
"Hans!"
Navigator Hans immediately jogged down from the ship.
"Boss! You called?"
"This is Mr. Crocus, the lighthouse keeper of Twin Cape," Sami introduced briefly. "And this is my navigator, Hans."
Then he added,
"Compare our charts with Mr. Crocus's. Let's confirm whether the information matches what we bought in the West Blue."
"Yes, Boss!"
Hans carefully examined Crocus's charts.
After a moment, he nodded.
"Boss, the terrain and island markings are mostly the same. The intelligence we bought in the West Blue seems reliable. Both sets can complement each other."
Sami nodded with satisfaction.
"We're new here. Better to double-check everything."
"But we definitely need those Log Poses. Thanks."
He took the Log Pose and continued,
"As for the route… I don't have any strong preferences."
"But I'm curious about an island called Little Garden. I'd like to check it out first."
"We're not in a hurry anyway. Instead of taking the fastest route, we'll probably wander around and explore."
"Little Garden, huh?" Crocus thought for a moment.
"That island is very different from the others."
"It still preserves an ancient ecosystem."
"Dinosaurs and prehistoric beasts rule the island."
"For newcomers… it's not exactly a friendly tourist destination."
At that moment, Hans jumped into the conversation with absolute confidence.
"No problem!"
"Our boss has a 69 million Berry bounty! A real big-time pirate from the West Blue!"
"Dinosaurs are nothing!"
Crocus looked at Hans's proud expression.
Then at Sami, who didn't deny it—only smiling helplessly.
He nodded in understanding.
"Oh? Sixty-nine million…"
"So you've certainly made a name for yourselves in the West Blue."
"Well then, I won't say much more."
He pointed toward a direction and offered advice.
"A Log Pose needs time to record magnetic fields."
"The closest island after Little Garden is Whiskey Peak."
"If you sail normally, that should be your next destination."
"You can resupply there while the Log Pose records the next island's magnetism."
"Whiskey Peak, huh?" Sami waved casually.
"Sounds like a good place just from the name."
"Thanks for the advice, lighthouse keeper."
He turned toward his crew, who had already finished resupplying.
Then he shouted loudly:
"Alright, boys! Raise the sails!"
"Next destination—Whiskey Peak!"
"OOOH!!!"
With the crew's energetic roar, the Swordfish slowly departed the peaceful harbor of Twin Cape.
The island whale Laboon released a long, mournful song.
Standing at the stern, Sami took one last look at the giant whale—and the shrinking figure beside the lighthouse.
He clenched the Log Pose in his hand.
Feeling the unique winds of the Grand Line against his face.
The adventure in the Grand Line…
Had finally begun.
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