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The Grand Line is split into two parts: the first half, known as Paradise, and the second half, known as the New World.
Over the years, the New World has evolved into a land of balanced chaos, ruled by major powers in a delicate equilibrium.
But Paradise? That's where things get wild.
It's the playground of rising pirates from all corners of the world. Unstable, crowded, and absolutely crawling with competition.
Three days had passed since the Hurricane Pirates crossed Reverse Mountain.
Aero's crew had been resting up at the base camp since then.
Why the wait?
Because Eddie's wrist still bore the Log Pose gifted by old man Zeff and it hadn't fully locked onto the island's magnetic field yet.
Until it stabilized, they weren't going anywhere.
And that gave Aero a chance to befriend a certain strange old man staying nearby one who just happened to be the former ship doctor of the Pirate King.
Crocus.
This world is full of hidden monsters living humble lives. Men with legendary pasts who now tend gardens, work lighthouses, or, like Crocus, care for a whale.
Yes, that whale: Laboon.
Crocus had once joined the Pirate King's crew on a journey to circle the globe not for treasure, but to look for the crew who abandoned Laboon at the Twin Capes.
Three years he sailed with Roger.
He wasn't a fighter, per se but he didn't need to be. His medical expertise alone was priceless.
Aero didn't mind getting a few "half-baked" doctors trained under Crocus. Nor was that all Aero wanted from the old man.
As he glanced toward Crocus in the distance, busily tending to the lighthouse, Aero picked up the morning newspaper.
Two headlines immediately caught his eye.
Both about him.
Or rather the Hurricane Pirates.
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Headline 1:
"'Hurricane' Aero Defeats Captain Smoker of Loguetown. Escapes Vice Admiral Garp."
That alone had skyrocketed their bounty totals.
Aero unfolded the new posters and chuckled.
Captain: "Hurricane" Aero – 75,000,000 Berries. Dead or Alive.
"So I gained 25 million just from that last fight… Guess that old smoke-addict really was important," Aero muttered to himself. "Or maybe it's Garp's leniency that made them overestimate me."
Next was Dylan's.
First Mate: 'Tenfang' Dylan – 20,000,000 Berries.
From 16 million after taking down Don Krieg, Dylan's bounty was rising steadily. The Marines even confirmed his position as vice-captain.
Then came Eddie and Gin.
Officer: 'Missile' Eddie – 18,000,000 Berries.
Officer: 'Ghostblade' Gin – 14,000,000 Berries.
Both had seen solid gains, though nothing as explosive as Aero's own bounty.
Then Aero looked at the last one newly issued:
Officer: 'Headsman' Ray – 10,000,000 Berries.
His very first bounty.
Ray had earned it by sinking a Marine warship, and the World Government had branded him "brutal." Thus, the nickname Headsman was born.
Aero spread the bounties across a tree stump beside him. But instead of excitement, he felt a creeping unease.
The total bounty on the Hurricane Pirates now exceeded 137 million Berries.
That much heat was bound to attract unwanted attention.
If they kept making noise, the Navy might launch a dedicated campaign against them.
That's why Aero was planning to lay low for a while.
He'd asked Buggy to track down a reliable method to learn Haki, but so far, no results.
At least the crew was improving.
Dylan's speed at firing lead bullets now rivaled that of actual guns, a huge leap.
Gin had nearly mastered two of the Navy's Rokushiki techniques: [Soru] and [Kami-e].
Aero had originally hoped to train his whole crew in Rokushiki, but it was proving unrealistic. Not everyone had the talent, and if those techniques became widespread, it could shake the world's power structure.
Aero wasn't looking to cause a revolution he just wanted strength. The kind of strength only a few could hold.
Only a handful of officers on the Dove, along with Aero himself, knew about the Rokushiki techniques.
From here, there were only two paths to grow stronger:
Devil Fruits, and Haki.
And Aero still had 200 million Berries tucked away. On the black market, that was enough to purchase one maybe two Devil Fruits.
The path ahead was filled with chaos, but so was potential.
Their journey in Paradise had only just begun.
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