On the land next to the Twin Capes lighthouse.
"Is it okay to just let those two go?"
Nami was a bit worried; this seemed like letting the tiger return to the mountain...
"Don't worry, they'll be back soon."
Facing Roman's calm words, the others were puzzled. Roman didn't intend to keep them guessing and opened his palm:
In his hand was a 'watch-like' object, but unlike a flat watch, it was a round glass sphere with a slightly trembling needle inside.
"A Log Pose."
Seeing the curious faces, Roman had to continue explaining.
"Many islands on the Grand Line have strong magnetic fields, so ordinary compasses are completely useless here. You need this special Log Pose to navigate..."
"It can 'record' the magnetic forces between islands and use them to point to the next island..."
Oh~~~ X3
Roman's words made Nami, Usopp, and Sanji nod repeatedly, with expressions of 'we learned something.' Meanwhile, the old man glanced at Roman:
"I didn't expect you to know so much about the Grand Line."
"Are you the navigator of this ship?"
Facing the old man Crocus's question, Roman shook his head and pointed to Nami, who had an awkward smile.
"She's our navigator. As for me—"
Roman stroked his chin and finally gave himself a clear role.
"I'm the ship's 'nanny.'"
???
"People get old, and it's normal to be hard of hearing..." Crocus sighed with his hands behind his back, making the embarrassed Nami quickly change the subject.
"Roman, why do you have this 'Log Pose'?"
"It's simple, I took it from that man called Mr. 9 just now."
??
"Uh, this..."
Nami was speechless. Isn't that stealing? Stealing! I didn't expect you, Roman, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, to steal my role...
"We saved them, so taking a little benefit isn't too much, right? Or do you plan to continue navigating with a compass that points in all directions?"
"Not too much, not too much..."
As the saying goes, better them than us. If it weren't for those two 'kind people,' the Straw Hat Pirates would be drifting aimlessly on the sea... Speaking of the straw hat... it's been a while since we've heard Luffy's antics, which is very unusual—!?
"Roman, tell us, that's an illusion, right? I see Luffy on..."
On the giant whale Laboon in the nearby sea, a figure holding a mast was racing upwards! Roman nodded seriously.
"It's not an illusion, what you see is indeed Luffy."
Compared to the shocked Nami and Usopp, Zoro, Sanji, and Roman had already developed some 'immunity' to Luffy's actions, and they even had the leisure to chat.
"What is that idiot planning to do now?"
This was Sanji, with a cigarette in his mouth.
"Who knows, maybe he wants to climb the mountain for fun?"
This was Zoro, with three swords at his waist.
"But he's carrying the Going Merry's mast, right—"
"Yes, the main mast."
Usopp, with the best eyesight, nodded, and everyone was speechless. The scene was very awkward until Luffy, who had already reached the top of the mountain... the whale's head, and was out of sight, shouted his signature:
"Gomu Gomu no—"
?!
"That guy isn't going to..."
"Rocket!"
"Whoooaaaa~~~~!!!!"
Just by hearing the giant whale Laboon's cry, they knew Luffy was up to his antics again! And he probably attacked the whale...
Boom boom boom!
The giant whale suddenly slammed towards the land where everyone was, like a mountain toppling over! Because on its head, a figure was firmly holding onto the mast inserted into its wound, leaving it helpless.
"You idiot~~"
"You're going to get us killed—"
"Run!!"
Facing the giant whale crashing down, Roman instantly spread his wings, grabbed Nami, and flew back! Usopp, with tears streaming down his face, clung to his legs, while Sanji and Zoro immediately started running. Finally, before the giant whale Laboon hit the land:
Boom!
A loud crash, a real earth-shaking impact! Dirt and rocks flew everywhere, mixed with a 'splat' sound.
"Hey, kid!"
While the others hadn't reacted yet, the old man Crocus looked anxious, ready to rush forward as if his grandson was trapped! — But he was quickly held back by Roman's paper.
"Don't worry, old man, that guy won't die from blunt force!"
It's just Laboon~~ Think about the future, Guy will withstand countless iron rods and still stand strong...
Sure enough, as Laboon lifted its head, the 'flattened' Luffy got up, immediately using 'Gomu Gomu no Pistol' to hit Laboon's eye, causing the giant whale to cry out in pain and fling Luffy away again!
Wham!
Luffy flew and crashed below the lighthouse where Roman and the others had retreated, sliding down like a mural! Facing the angry whale and the confused crowd, the boy named Luffy stood up and shouted at Laboon.
"We're tied!!!"
Uh...
"I'm strong, right? We didn't settle the score, we have to fight again!"
"Your companions are dead, but I'm your rival!"
"After we circle the Grand Line, let's fight again!!"
Fifty years had passed, and Laboon's waiting had lost its meaning, leaving only pain. But Luffy gave its waiting a 'new meaning' again.
Whether friends or 'opponents,' whether human or whale, as long as there is hope, they can keep living!
"Casually making others wait for you, what a selfish guy!"
Roman, though complaining, showed no impatience. Although Luffy often seemed unreliable, he was particularly dependable at crucial moments.
"Hmph, this is our captain."
Zoro, Sanji, Nami, and Usopp, standing or squatting behind, watched Luffy make a promise to the whale Laboon, smiling.
...
"Alright, let's get ready to set sail."
After removing the mast from the whale's head and reattaching it to the Going Merry, and fixing the broken sheep figurehead, it was time to set sail. But before that, as Roman said:
"Please, take us with you!"
Looking at the man and woman who had returned and were kneeling in front of them: the same two who had tried to kill the whale Laboon, Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday.
"Dream on, you tried to kill Laboon before~~"
"By the way, who are you?"
Facing Usopp's question, the man with a crooked crown answered seriously.
"I'm a prince."
However:
"Liar!"
Even Usopp didn't believe such a lame prince.
"In any case, we can't reveal our identities, if we do, we'll die~~~"
"We don't want to do these sneaky things either, but 'the company' has rules..."
"Really?"
With an 'innocent' face, Nami generously agreed to their request.
"We can let you on board, but we only have a regular compass..."
"What... what, did you come to the Grand Line to die?!"
"Making us beg, turns out you went there too—"
The two who had just been kneeling in prayer stood up angrily!
"Ah, we just found something good," Nami took out the Log Pose Roman gave her, looking 'innocent.' "So you don't want to ride on our ship~~"
"Please, have mercy on us..." X2
The two knelt down again, tears streaming down their faces!
That was clearly their Log Pose~~~
"Get on the ship."
Facing the two being toyed with by Nami, Luffy casually decided.
Since the captain had spoken, no one would oppose. Soon, the group set sail after bidding farewell to the whale Laboon and the lighthouse keeper Crocus.
As the Going Merry gradually sailed away, the old man's face grew serious.
"Is this the person we've been waiting for?"
"What a remarkable boy, don't you think, Roger?"
After speaking, he turned to look at the lighthouse behind him.
"So, why did you stay behind?"
"As expected, I couldn't hide it from you, senpai,"
In a calm voice, Roman slowly walked out from behind the lighthouse. Clearly, on the distant Going Merry, a 'Roman' was seriously steering the ship!
"A puppet created by the Devil Fruit ability?"
Facing the sharp-eyed old man named Crocus, the 'Roman' below the lighthouse spread his hands.
"So I was exposed"
"As expected of the ship doctor of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger."
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