Chapter 99: A Single Thought, World of Ice and Snow
Following Aokiji's call, a short figure emerged from the yurt.
His face was aged, a lush white beard growing from his chin. He looked up at Aokiji. "Um... Is everything alright now... Mr. Marine?"
"Eh? This old grandpa..."
Luffy looked at the emerging figure, then back at Aokiji, scratching his head puzzledly. "Why isn't he as long as you are?"
Aokiji: "."
"That Marine is just naturally tall, that's all!" Usopp yelled irritably.
The group watched as the short old man continuously pulled items out from the yurt. Aokiji chatted with them casually, without any reservation.
It turned out that after arriving on the island, he had discovered this old man who, due to a fear of heights, hadn't come down from his stilts in ten years. Aokiji had conveniently rescued him.
Long Ring Long Land consisted of ten small islands. Due to geographical factors, the inhabitants here had a migratory habit, moving to the next small island after a certain period.
Everyone else had left, leaving the stilt-riding old man alone on this island for ten years. His only companion was his beloved horse, Sherry, whose neck was as long as a giraffe's, waiting for him here...
After a short while, the old man had moved all his supplies out of the house, finally packing up the yurt itself. Everything was piled onto a crudely made cart of wooden stakes, with Sherry the white horse harnessed to it.
"Um... Mr. Marine, I've prepared everything as you said. But..."
The stilt-riding old man looked up at Aokiji, his wrinkled lips parting as he asked, "How are you going to send me across? It seems you only have that..."
The old man raised his short arm, gesturing towards the bicycle lying on the ground.
"Mah~ Relax. There will be a way. However..." Aokiji stood with hands on hips, his white cape slung over his wrist, scratching his head with a troubled look.
"Your companions are on the third island. Even with a horse-drawn cart, it'll take at least two days to get there. It seems you don't have enough food."
"Relax!" a voice interjected. Luffy grinned widely. "We can give you some food, old grandpa!"
"Oh, that would be truly wonderful. Thank you."
The stilt-riding old man stroked his long white beard, his aged face turning towards Luffy. "So you are good people after all! I thought you were pirates!"
"Ah! We are pirates!" Luffy replied straightforwardly, grinning with his hands on his hips.
"—Hiss!" The old man sucked in a sharp breath...
At the edge of the island, waves lapped gently against the shore. The towering pile on the cart now included some additional food. The group stood on the grassy land, Aokiji in his light blue attire squatting by the shore in front of them.
Can this really work? It's a bit too exaggerated, Reiner thought, secretly amazed. He knew what the other was planning, hence his astonishment.
Although it was composed of ten small islands, each island itself wasn't small. For this large horse-drawn cart to require two days of travel, one could imagine the distance involved.
A cold aura gradually emanated from Aokiji. Centered on him, the green grass within a radius of several meters became coated in a layer of white frost. Aokiji extended his hand, submerging it into the sea surface. The seawater slowly congealed into white ice, spreading outwards.
"—Ice Age!"
Swish—!
A sheet of white instantly swept across the entire sea surface!
As if time had solidified and space had frozen, the azure blue sea transformed into a boundless world of ice and snow in the blink of an eye!
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"Hey! This is a bit too ridiculous!"
All the Straw Hat members stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, shocked beyond words!
Even if it was seawater, to freeze such a vast area in an instant was far beyond anyone's imagination.
Only at this moment did they truly grasp the meaning of 'Admiral'. This was—
The World Government's Highest Combat Power!!
Reiner was no exception. Only by witnessing it firsthand did he realize how difficult it was to achieve such a feat in an instant. The effectiveness of an ability was inseparable from both physical constitution and development.
Although Reiner's stamina was ample, Frieren's output still depended on the template's strength and the fruit's level of development. Among his templates, Ace and Crocodile naturally had the highest physical stats, but they clearly couldn't compare to Aokiji.
If we had really fought earlier... aside from relying on high-speed, high-damage lightning, Aokiji would have easily neutralized any other method.
"Alright. This ice surface will last for seven days, connecting all the way to the third island."
Aokiji stood up, turned around, righted his bicycle, and slung his coat over his shoulder. His gaze fell upon their group, making several of them instinctively clench their fists.
However, Aokiji merely mounted his bicycle unhurriedly, preparing to leave, and said coolly, "Well then, I'm off too. Ja ne~~"
With that, Aokiji casually pedaled his bicycle away, gradually disappearing across the ice.
"Goodbye, Mr. Marine~" The stilt-riding old man, sitting on Sherry's back, waved and shouted towards Aokiji on the ice, then turned back to look at the Straw Hat crew behind him.
"And you all, thank you, pirates! I'm off now."
"Ah! Goodbye, old grandpa! And Sherry!" Luffy grinned and waved, seemingly completely unconcerned by Aokiji's visit.
"Phew~~" Nami let out a long sigh of relief, clutching her chest, her voice still holding a trace of lingering fear. "That was terrifying! I thought we were going to be arrested for sure."
"As a disaster-level Logia user, wielder of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, you're really..."
Reiner looked speechlessly at Nami. Hiding behind me was one thing, but kicking me out towards him earlier... I think you're itching for a lesson.
"What's wrong!? I'm just a weak woman!" Nami yelled, shaking her fist.
"Anyway, it's best that no fight broke out," Reiner awkwardly pushed Nami's fist aside, lit a cigarette, and added, "The magnetic field here still needs some time to set. Robin, I'll leave that to you. Let's go prepare for a picnic later."
"Sounds good! Picnic! Picnic!"
Luffy immediately got excited and was about to run off to hunt prey. He was the only one in the entire group who had already forgotten the shock of Aokiji's terrifying power.
Nami went to comfort Robin, chatting about some girly topics. Although Robin still couldn't quite forget the matter with Aokiji, she feigned nonchalance on the surface and chatted with Nami, gradually pulling herself out of her earlier mood.
Reiner summoned undead to gather firewood and set up a campfire. Everyone busied themselves, and soon they began their lunch picnic.
The weather was fine and sunny. On the open plains, a gentle breeze rustled through the green grass, creating ripples.
Under a tall, slender poplar tree, the group of young people sat in a circle, their cheerful laughter echoing continuously, casting all unpleasantness to the back of their minds in the relaxed atmosphere.
After a two-day stay, the Log Pose finally finished recording, slowly drifting to point towards the next island.
The group boarded the Going Merry and continued their voyage, heading towards the next unknown island – at least, unknown to most of the crew.
After three days of sailing...
The sun shone brightly, white clouds unfurled leisurely. A small sheep-headed boat drifted gently on the azure blue sea. A seabird skimmed across the water, snatching up a small fish.
On the Going Merry's deck, Zoro sat leaning against the thick mast, sleeping. Several others played and fooled around nearby, occasionally pranking the sleeping Zoro.
And at the entrance to the second-floor living area, a small white table was placed by the ship's rail, two cups of coffee resting upon it.
Reiner leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, holding a pen and paper, taking inventory of the ship's supplies and jotting down miscellaneous items to be purchased on a list.
Creak~
"This door is really noisy," Sanji said, emerging from the living room with a tray, looking at the rickety wooden door.
"From setting sail in the East Blue until now, the Merry has gotten pretty dilapidated."
"Mm. We're arriving at Water 7 soon anyway. We can find a shipwright there to take a look," Reiner replied, turning his head.
"And find a gold exchange! I want to convert all the gold from Sky Island into cash!"
Nami, nearby, squinted with a smile. "Just right! We can properly furnish the Merry too!"
"Water 7? Is that our next destination?" Sanji asked, walking up and placing a fruit platter on the table.
"Mm. We're almost there anyway, so it's fine to tell you," Reiner put down his pen and paper, speared a piece of mango, and said, "Water 7 is a very famous and prosperous water city in the Grand Line, with many specialty products. We can all experience that slowly once we arrive."
"More importantly, it has world-class shipyards. The Pirate King Roger's ship was designed and built by shipwrights there."
"The Pirate King's ship!"
Hearing Reiner's words, Luffy, on the deck below, looked thrilled, stretching his head over. "Sounds super awesome!"
"Mm. The Oro Jackson," Reiner nodded, popping the mango into his mouth. "The world's most super-class shipwrights are gathered there."
"That's great!"
Luffy's chin caught on the railing as his entire body snapped upwards from the deck with a thwack. "Maybe we can even find a shipwright to join our crew!"
"Agreed! Agreed! Should have thought of this sooner!" Usopp immediately chimed in enthusiastically.
"I'm not a real shipwright! Every time something breaks, I have to fix it! It's better to find a real shipwright; that would be more reliable."
"Heeheehee! That's because you're pretty handy, Usopp!" Luffy praised him with an exaggerated grin.
"Ahem! Of course! There's nothing this great Usopp can't do!"
"Then it's decided! Let's go recruit a shipwright to join our crew!"
Luffy loudly announced his decision, then paused and added, "And find a musician to join too!"
Just then, a sound from afar caught the crew's attention.
"Woo woo!!"
Hearing the sound, the group turned to look and saw a long black shadow speeding across the sea surface from the distance.
"What's that? A ship?"
"Doesn't look like it. What ship is that long?"
"Is it a train? But it's traveling on the sea?" Question marks couldn't help but float above their heads.
"That's the Sea Train. Though I haven't gathered much information on it before," Reiner recognized the steel beast speeding across the sea surface and spoke coolly.
"All I know is that it's a steam train that runs on tracks built over the sea. It's worth mentioning that it was designed and invented by Master Tom – the same shipwright who built the Pirate King's ship."
"Invented by the Pirate King's shipwright!" Luffy suddenly became fired up. "Quick! Let's follow it and see!"
"How could we possibly catch up, idiot?"
Reiner said speechlessly, pointing towards the direction the train was heading, where a lighthouse stood. "Let's check over there."
Soon, the rudder turned, and the Going Merry tilted slightly, deviating from its course towards the lighthouse.
At the base of the lighthouse stood a small wooden cabin. At the entrance stood a little girl with twin pigtails sticking up, bright lipstick on her lips, and a round, blond face. A blue-furred rabbit with long, tied-up ears squatted at her feet.
Seeing them approach, the little girl immediately shrieked towards the inside of the cabin, "Oh no! Pirates! Granny Kokoro! Pirates are here!"
"Coming!" A figure holding a liquor bottle emerged from inside in response.
Underneath long, curly blond hair, a saggy face was heavily made up. A prominent beer belly emerged from within.
Just as she was about to step out the door, one foot kicked the doorstep directly.
Thump!
Kokoro, having tripped, lay sprawled on the ground. She tipsily lifted her head, looking confusedly at the little girl.
"Eh? What was I coming out for again?"
"She's actually a drunkard!!"
The crew's jaws dropped to the floor as they yelled, "Drunk like this in broad daylight!? Can she really watch the lighthouse!? So unreliable!"
Reiner looked at the woman called Granny Kokoro, faint memories surfacing. Vaguely remember she's a mermaid, right? But...
Looking at her chin, which seemed to merge into her neck, and that beer belly... For a mermaid, it was truly...
Ai~~ Reiner couldn't help but sigh. Should I tell Sanji? I almost can't bear to...
The group jumped off the ship. Nami walked up and helped Kokoro up. "Are you alright, Granny? We just saw the train pass by here and came to take a look."
"How impolite, young lady! Who are you calling Granny!? Glug glug glug~"
Kokoro grinned, first tilting her head back and taking a large swig of liquor before looking at them. "You're talking about the Puffing Tom, right?"
"Puffing Tom? Is that the name of that ship... no, that train?" Nami asked casually, helping Kokoro over to a chair before stepping back.
"That's right! That's right!"
The little blond girl beside her eagerly answered, seeming quite lively. "Amazing, isn't it!? A train that travels on the sea! Also, my name is Chimney."
"Hello! My name is Luffy!"
Luffy grinned, introducing himself, then asked, "Where does that train go?"
"It departs from Water 7 and passes through Queen of Spring Town - St. Poplar, Gourmet City - Pucci, and Carnival Town (Shift Station)."
Kokoro answered Luffy straightforwardly, then tilted her head back for another swig of liquor, adding:
"The train tracks also connect to Enies Lobby. There's a special train that goes there."
"I see! Then let's go to Gourmet City!" Luffy declared, hands on his hips, deciding for himself.
Duang!
Nami punched him directly on the head, yelling angrily, "Didn't we agree to go to Water 7 to repair the Merry!?"
"Ah, right, right! Then forget it," Luffy waved his hand sheepishly.
"Um... Granny Kokoro," Reiner sidled up to Kokoro with a shifty look.
"That St. Poplar you mentioned... the Queen of Spring Town..."
"Tsk tsk tsk. I understand what you mean, young man."
Granny Kokoro glanced at him teasingly. "But... are you sure now is a suitable time to ask, little mister?"
Before Granny Kokoro could finish her sentence, a dazzling blue-white electric light surged forth.
—CRACKLE!!
(End of this chapter)
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