After a while, a table full of delicious dishes was finally served. Just looking at them whetted the appetite.
Large lobsters, veal steaks, and other specialties from the floating restaurant. Vir didn’t eat as he usually did, without manners. Instead, he slowly savored each bite.
After finishing the meal and drinking a bottle of the restaurant’s finest wine, Vir felt very satisfied.
Initially, he had wanted to challenge Zeff, but seeing how Zeff never showed up, even after Vir’s provocation, he realized the old man had truly aged. This was the same man who once smashed his leg with a rock and ate it to survive due to lack of food—Zeff, whose legs were the foundation of his strength. It was unfortunate that he had indeed grown old.
Leaving a dozen diamonds on the table, Vir turned and left.
Sanji looked at the diamonds on the table but wasn’t overly thrilled. He merely smiled slightly, muttering, “Such a troublesome yet generous customer.” Every chef is pleased when their dishes are respected, especially when the respected chef is also their teacher, lifesaver, and foster father.
Vir walked out of the floating restaurant and set sail in a specific direction, without engaging much with Sanji. Sanji had his journey, and Vir had his own adventures.
Vir’s next destination was already decided—he was heading to the Grand Line.
Half a month later, a massive red mountain appeared before Vir, seeming to touch the sky.
Watching the anime couldn’t prepare him for the sheer size and scale of the Red Line. Seeing it in person was an entirely different experience; it was awe-inspiring.
He wondered how Fisher Tiger, the Fish-Man, managed to climb such a colossal mountain. What kind of hatred and determination to rescue slaves must he have had?
Struggling to control his ship, the rapid currents pushed it toward the Red Line. Vir would have been smashed to pieces if it weren’t for his electric-powered ship. Even now, he felt insignificant against the forces of nature.
After navigating for a long time, Vir finally spotted the entrance from a distance. The journey had drained him so much that he had to recharge the ship’s batteries twice.
He aligned his ship, turned off the power, and left the rest to fate. In those turbulent waters, even electricity couldn’t change direction effectively.
Vir felt his ship accelerating rapidly, then speeding up the Red Line.
Holding tightly to the ship’s railing to avoid being blown away, Vir felt a surge of excitement as the ship rocketed upward. This was the adventure he craved.
As the ship reached its peak, it soared through the air before crashing into the water and speeding downward.
“Laboon, don’t block my ship. If you damage it, I’ll find Brook and give him a beating, even if I can’t beat you,” Vir muttered, gripping the railing.
Having been at sea for a while, Vir had mellowed a bit. He was still ruthless but not as prone to slaughtering entire families. The vastness of the sea had changed him, but he was still dangerous if provoked.
Luckily, Vir sailed smoothly over the Red Line without encountering Laboon, sparing Brook any trouble.
After docking, Vir began searching for Crocus, the former doctor of the Pirate King. He needed a Log Pose, essential for navigating the Grand Line.
Despite searching for half a day, he didn’t find Crocus but instead found Laboon sunbathing by the sea.
Taking a deep breath, Vir shouted, “Crocus, come out! I have something to discuss with you!” The effort left him coughing, having used all his strength to ensure Crocus could hear him.
Laboon, startled, roared back, almost matching Vir’s volume.
Curiously, Laboon watched Vir, wondering how such a small person could make such a loud noise.
“Laboon, don’t look at me like that. I’m not here to play. If you crush me, it’ll be a waste of a life,” Vir joked, smiling at the whale. He admired Laboon’s steadfast wait for fifty years—a dedication few could match, especially for a whale.
“Who’s shouting so early in the morning? What do you want? Even if I can help, I won’t agree,” Crocus grumbled, irritated at being disturbed from his rest.
“Haha, old man, it’s already noon. And you’ll definitely agree to my request,” Vir said confidently, certain that the information he had would make Crocus comply.
“Oh? Let’s hear it. Why should I agree?” Crocus, a former Pirate King crew member, remained calm, showing little interest in Vir.
“I want your medical knowledge, notes, or something similar. Also, give me a Log Pose. In return, I’ll tell you news about Laboon’s companions. I know one of them is still alive,” Vir offered, presenting an irresistible temptation along with a challenging request.
Before Crocus could respond, Laboon became agitated, roaring and causing waves that nearly threw Vir against the Red Line. Fortunately, Vir had docked his ship far enough away.
After a while, Laboon calmed down.
“If you really know about the Rumbar Pirates, and your information is accurate, you can have both the medical book and the Log Pose,” Crocus said, excited. Finding the crew he had searched for throughout the Grand Line, especially with one member still alive, was invaluable for Laboon, who had accompanied him for decades.
“Yes, I know about the Rumbar Pirates. They were wiped out by other pirates, and only one member, Brook, survived in a different form,” Vir explained, waiting for Crocus’s response.
“That’s unfortunate, not finding the whole crew. But what do you mean by surviving in a different form?” Crocus asked, having no reason to doubt Vir, who accurately described Brook’s characteristic afro.
After fifty years, anything was possible. Crocus glanced at Laboon, whose eyes were filled with tears, unwilling to accept the truth. The whale submerged, perhaps having suspected but never wanting to believe it.
“Brook ate the Revive-Revive Fruit, so he didn’t die permanently. He was resurrected as a skeleton,” Vir detailed, explaining the situation to Crocus.
“Wait a moment,” Crocus said, jumping into the water to find Laboon.
Shortly, he returned with a large, waterproof-wrapped notebook and a Log Pose, handing them to Vir without further conversation before diving back to comfort the distressed whale.
Vir, holding the notebook and Log Pose, felt satisfied. The Log Pose was expected, but the medical notebook was a pleasant surprise.
Back on his ship, he set sail in the direction indicated by the Log Pose. After locking the ship’s course, he began examining the medical notebook.
Initially enthusiastic, Vir soon found himself bewildered. The notebook was genuine, but he had overestimated his learning ability and Crocus’s medical expertise. The contents were incomprehensible, filled with formulas and herb names he’d never heard of.
Realizing that advanced knowledge came with dedication, Vir accepted that not everything could be easily understood without effort. High-level skills, whether in medicine or swordsmanship, required intense study and practice.
Indeed, there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
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