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The journey continued quietly for now.
Aero knew they didn't have the power to make waves just yet. So for now, the goal was to lie low, build strength, and strike when the time was right.
His eyes drifted to the second headline of the day's newspaper:
"Hurricane Pirates Confirmed to Have Crossed Reverse Mountain and Entered the Grand Line!"
It was a short statement but its impact was massive.
In the East Blue, where most civilians barely grasped the scale of the world, this headline sparked celebration. They believed that with the big-name pirate gone, peace would return.
But they had forgotten one thing: Aero had taken down nearly every major pirate in the region.
Now that he was gone, a power vacuum had formed.
Ambitious pirates were already on the move, eager to claim the now-vacant title of "ruler of the East Blue." Battles, raids, and chaos would soon return.
Luckily, Vice Admiral Garp had reappeared in the East Blue, just in time to deter some of those rising threats.
Maybe Garp understood that Aero wasn't the biggest problem.
No, the real danger came from the pirates Aero had been keeping in check.
Still, not everyone saw Aero's departure as a bad thing.
---
Back at the Baratie, Zeff and Sanji were catching up on the news.
"Old man! You remember that crazy pirate, Aero?" Sanji asked, waving the paper.
"That brat? Of course I do," Zeff muttered. "His bounty's up to 75 million now. Kid's making waves and he's already in the Grand Line."
---
Elsewhere, Zoro was busy tying up a bounty target when his companion, a green-vested swordsman, sprinted toward him with a newspaper.
"Zoro bro! Check this out!"
Zoro secured the ropes, handed Johnny the bound pirate, and glanced at the paper.
He blinked.
"This guy… looks familiar…"
"You don't remember?!" Joseph slapped his forehead. "That's Aero! The one who beat you up and then treated us to drinks!"
"Ohhh… right! That guy!" Zoro smacked his palm into his fist. "Said he'd buy me a drink next time we met. But now he's in the Grand Line… How's he gonna buy me anything from there?"
Johnny and Joseph both sweat-dropped. Somehow, Zoro had completely missed the point.
---
Meanwhile, in Cocoyasi Village, Nami had just returned home.
She and Nojiko were reading the same paper. Nami narrowed her eyes.
"Hard to believe that kid took down Arlong," she muttered.
"He's our savior," Nojiko said, staring at the bounty poster.
From outside came a familiar, gruff voice.
"That doesn't mean you should hang pirate pictures all over the house!" shouted Genzo, walking in and glaring at the walls.
Nami and Nojiko had cut out the Hurricane Pirates' bounty photos and plastered them like posters.
The girls exchanged a glance then stuck out their tongues cheekily.
---
On another ship, however, Buggy the Clown was anything but pleased.
He scowled at Aero's bounty poster, his signature red nose twitching with fury.
He stabbed the poster with a knife and shouted, "That bastard! He really went to the Grand Line?!"
Brrrrrr!
"Captain! It's Aero calling!" a crewman called out, holding up a Den Den Mushi.
"Who?!"
"Aero! From a few days ago the guy who entered the Grand Line!"
Buggy's expression froze then shifted into a disturbingly polite smile.
"Oh! Aero! Buddy! My dear, dear brother!" he cooed as he picked up the call. "Moshi moshi! This is your good pal, Buggy!"
---
Back on the Twin Capes, Aero returned his gaze to Crocus, still working near the lighthouse.
He called Eddie over, who was covered in soot from working on the Buggy Bombs.
As Eddie approached, Aero yanked the Log Pose off his wrist and turned to the eccentric old man.
"Hey, Uncle Crocus! Got a favor to ask!"
"How many times do I have to tell you?!" Crocus barked without turning around. "This old man's not up for your nonsense. Go bother someone else!"
"Come on, it's not what you think," Aero said, grinning as he approached the whale doctor, who was treating a massive scar on Laboon.
Yeah. That Laboon.
The giant whale had charged at them a few days ago as they crossed Reverse Mountain.
If Aero hadn't been prepared, the New Dove would've been torn in two.
Naturally, Aero responded the only way he knew how by punching the whale in the face.
Now, Crocus was still pissed.
A few amateur doctors from Aero's fleet were helping Crocus tend to Laboon's wounds. That was the only reason the old man had let them dock at all.
And no he didn't like them.
Aero had half-jokingly invited him to join the crew as a ship doctor. Crocus had flat-out refused.
---
"Log Pose, huh?" Crocus finally turned, eyes narrowing as he looked at the tool in Aero's hand.
"You mean like the one you're already holding?"
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