Sailing on the Grand Line was unlike any other voyage in the seas. The challenges here were not merely the fierce and notorious pirates one might expect. No, the true peril lay in the unpredictable weather and bizarre turbulence that constantly threatened the ships crossing these waters.
Compared to the capricious whims of the sea itself, the danger posed by pirates—although formidable—was somewhat secondary. Pirates in the Grand Line were strong and ruthless, yes, but their encounters with passing ships were still relatively rare. The sea was vast, and the weather often dictated the course far more than any enemy crew.
Leo, the crew's vigilant navigator and weather expert, had already warned them about this. Thanks to his keen eye and quick thinking, the ship had avoided crashing into dangerous icebergs on their way to Whisky Peak, a notorious island nestled within the Grand Line's perilous routes.
However, even with Leo's sharp warnings and guidance, the weather proved to be an unrelenting torment. Sudden, drastic shifts in temperature forced the crew to endure freezing chills one moment and scorching heat the next. At times, the ship's wheel spun unpredictably, threatening to send them careening in the wrong direction—180 degrees away from their intended path.
But thanks to Nami's expert skills and prior knowledge of the sea, she was able to predict these violent storms and steer the ship through the chaos with minimal damage. Her weather charts, combined with Leo's warnings, saved them from certain disaster multiple times.
After surviving yet another fierce tempest, the entire crew found themselves utterly exhausted. The heavy toll of the journey weighed down on them as they flopped onto the deck, basking in the brief calm sunlight that broke through the clouds.
"Hmm~~~~~" Zoro yawned lazily, stretching his arms above his head as he stood up. "What a comfortable sleep…" His green eyes scanned the deck.
Leo was the only one who remained at the helm, deeply focused on the rudder while occasionally glancing at a strange booklet. The pages were filled with ghostly drawings and cryptic symbols that none of the crew understood. Next to Leo, a small, peculiar doll-like figure rested, which he occasionally fiddled with absentmindedly.
The rest of the crew, however, were sprawled on the deck, soaking up the warmth of the sun and taking the chance to recover their strength.
Zoro's eyes narrowed with a mix of disgust and disbelief. "Even when the weather's good, you guys act like you've got nothing better to do. Lazy bunch."
He turned his gaze to two unfamiliar faces who had quietly joined them on the ship. Something about those two unsettled him. "And who are those two guys on the boat? They give off bad vibes... I feel like I've heard their names somewhere before."
Just as Zoro was lost in thought, a sharp pain exploded in his skull.
Bang!
Nami's fist had collided with the back of his head, her dark eyes flashing with anger. She glared at him with a ferocity he hadn't seen before.
"...You actually slept until now?!" she shouted in frustration.
Zoro staggered forward, clutching his throbbing head as two large bumps formed instantly.
Nami's scowl deepened. "You call us lazy after sleeping through all this? Serves you right!"
Before Zoro could protest, another two heavy punches rained down on his head, doubling the size of the bumps. He collapsed onto the deck with a groan.
Nami then turned her sharp gaze to the others still lounging around. "Come on, snap out of it! Whisky Peak is just ahead!"
Her voice carried the weight of command and exhaustion, and it was the first time the crew had witnessed such a ruthless side of their normally cheerful navigator.
Vivi and the others, sensing the tension and not wanting to get caught in Nami's wrath, quietly slipped off the ship to investigate the island ahead. Their movements were careful, and they avoided drawing attention.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed as Vivi and her companion stumbled out of the water, soaked and utterly drained. They collapsed onto the shore, gasping for breath.
If they hadn't rushed back early to warn the crew, they might have been in far worse shape.
Their unexpected appearance quickly caught the attention of the island's residents.
A steward with curly hair hurried over and carefully helped Vivi to her feet. His voice was filled with concern. "What happened? Mr. 9, Miss Wednesday—you were supposed to be whale hunting. Why do you look like this?"
The steward's brow furrowed. Normally, the pirates newly arrived here would be no match for the island's defenders, so the poor state of Vivi and her companion was surprising.
"Don't mention it..." Vivi's voice was tired as she explained the exhausting orders from Nami, who had pushed them relentlessly. They hadn't dared to resist, especially with their mission to gather information about Whisky Peak's suspicious atmosphere.
Vivi and the crew were members of the Baroque Works, a secretive organization with deep ties across the Grand Line. They immediately recognized the Straw Hat Crew as the infamous pirates who had caused a stir in East Blue. This recognition meant they couldn't risk sneaking away unnoticed.
After hearing their report, the steward's eyes widened in realization.
"I didn't expect it to be them," he murmured. "Looks like the task the boss gave us will be completed after all."
Turning to Vivi and her companion, he instructed, "Please write a full report about what happened here and send it to the boss."
The steward's tone shifted to calm professionalism as he motioned for them to rest. Then, facing his Baroque Works subordinates, he issued new orders.
"Prepare yourselves to receive this group of pirates. This time, they're different from the last ones. They're already famous throughout the seas, even in the weakest East Blue. We must be extremely cautious."
His words ignited excitement among the gathered Baroque agents.
"Gentlemen, these pirates carry a bounty totaling 150 million Baileys! Capturing them will make us all rich beyond our dreams!"
The steward laughed, his voice ringing with anticipation, and the surrounding Baroque members cheered, eager for the hunt.
However, a nun dressed in a simple but distinctive outfit stepped forward, her face showing hesitation.
"This bounty... 100 million for just one of the pirates..." she said quietly. "That places them on par with the Supernovas. And according to our intelligence, one of them is said to be a match for the world's greatest swordsman."
Her words hung heavy in the air, silencing the group for a moment.
The steward mulled over the risks before making his final decision. "We must do this. If we hold them back just long enough, our reinforcements will arrive."
With his resolve firm, the Baroque agents began preparing their plans and weapons.
---
Whisky Peak was a deceptive island. Nestled on one of the major Grand Line routes, it was famed as a secret base for bounty hunters and agents of Baroque Works.
To passing pirates, the island seemed welcoming and festive. Its residents greeted newcomers with unbridled enthusiasm, inviting them to grand parties filled with music, laughter, and, seemingly, warmth.
But these celebrations were nothing more than a trap.
Once the pirates accepted the invitations and indulged in the island's hospitality, most would find themselves ensnared and buried beneath the cactus-shaped peaks that dominated Whisky Peak's landscape—victims of their own greed and carelessness.
Experienced pirates who had gathered reliable intelligence wisely avoided this route altogether.
However, the Straw Hat Crew had almost zero information about Whisky Peak before Robin joined their crew. Leo, the only one aware of the island's sinister reputation, chose to keep quiet—he didn't want to risk missing the opportunity to meet Robin.
So, when the Merry Go sailed into the harbor, the crew was greeted by a breathtaking spectacle.
"Welcome to Whisky Peak!!" The residents' voices rose in unison as they crowded the pier, waving flags and banners in celebration.
"What... what's going on?!" Usopp and Sanji exchanged bewildered looks. Both had expected hostility, or at least cold indifference, not this uproarious welcome.
"Hahaha! Isn't this great? Let's go down and have fun!" Luffy said excitedly, jumping off the ship with Sanji and Usopp following close behind.
The music, the party atmosphere, and the throng of beautiful women and admiring residents were exactly what Luffy and the others had hoped for after the exhausting voyage.
For them, such warmth was genuine—there was no way this was a trap.
Behind the group, Leo stayed at the helm, still poring over the strange booklet filled with ghostly sketches and mysterious notes. Beside him, Zoro rubbed the lumps on his head, glaring after Nami who marched off with her usual sharp expression.
---
The excitement of the party masked the dangerous undercurrent flowing beneath Whisky Peak's surface—a perfect facade designed to lure in unwary pirates.
What would happen next, only time would tell...
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)