Chapter 33: First sail on 'Paradise' sea
The blue sky began to darken as the sun dipped beneath the horizon.
The weather shifted from calm and breezy to wild and raging. Clouds thickened, seawaves churned, and lightning crackled in the distance.
It was the first time the Straw Hats had encountered such weather since officially assembling.
Baphomet rode the wild waves easily, ignoring the violent collisions of water. Behind it, a massive island whale leapt in and out of the sea repeatedly, bidding its farewell—its deep calls a mix of joy and reluctant sorrow.
Even Crocus's figure could be seen far off, watching the disappearing ship with eyes full of anticipation, intrigue, and excitement.
"The world is about to welcome a major reshuffle… Roger, the prophecy is more outrageous than we ever imagined… It seems I must inform the others, or our next actions will be in vain…"
Onboard—
Because everyone was curious about the Grand Line's weather, they had all gathered outside. There was also another reason: a stranger on board—Vivi.
Only if the captain allowed it would she be permitted into the inner area of the ship. That space was a top secret. If Luffy didn't trust her, then, well… she'd be knocked out and released only after they reached her destination.
On the other side, Zala lounged against the railing, eyes fixed in Crocus's direction, her gaze heavy with thought.
Luffy seemed to guess her mind.
"Zala, are you interested in Crocus's background?"
At that moment, Kaya—wearing reading glasses and sitting on the railing with her legs swinging playfully above the sea—looked up from a medical book and joined in innocently.
"Hmm, isn't he a doctor? And a top-skilled one at that. He even treated such a huge whale. His library is full of rare and advanced medical books. He was generous enough to give me many interesting ones."
Yasha, scanning the sea with her scope, snorted.
"The moment you saw medical books, you lost your mind. Aren't you the one always claiming to be the smartest among us? That old man is suspicious, but he and the captain seem to be on the same wavelength. That's why I think it's fine."
In the corner, Vivi—flustered, unsure whether to sit or stand—quickly vouched for him.
"Although the old man has strange tastes, he's definitely not a bad person…"
Nami, watching the playful arrow dance on her Log Pose, smirked.
"Of course. After all, he even promised our captain a favor to save your ass. How could he be a bad person?"
"Nami, stop being so mean. Vivi-chan is gentle, and more importantly, she's the captain's guest. Show some decency…"
Nojiko rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe her sister was still holding a grudge over that one little 'Pfft'.
Finally, Zala answered Luffy seriously.
"I mean, he looks strong. I'm certain he's mastered two types of Haki. His physical skills are advanced, even if age is holding him back. He was definitely a master of these seas. The old me wouldn't have lasted a second against him.
Such a master hiding in this place—it's strange to think it's just a coincidence. He also seems to know something about your ability and origin, and is very familiar with it. If you hadn't been fine with it and shown no displeasure, I'd have cut the old man's head off."
Vivi shivered at Zala's blunt tone, while Kuina laughed heartily.
"Zala, when it comes to loyalty to the captain, no one dares compete with you. We all knew the old man was odd from the start, but Luffy wasn't surprised at all. He even spoke to him like an old friend and agreed to escort Vivi-sama in exchange for a favor. Only a slow idiot like you would still be hung up on it…"
The girls smirked as Zala's face turned pink with embarrassment.
Luffy laughed along, patting her head.
"I'm glad you didn't cut him. The old man might be suspicious, but he means us no harm. As for why…"
Luffy went on to explain that Crocus was a member of the late Pirate King Gol D. Roger's crew. A legendary pirate like that knew many secrets—it was no surprise he'd know about Luffy's hidden ability.
The girls, along with Vivi, were shocked.
The Pirate King—such a big name—was more than gossip; it was history.
Vivi seemed to recall something and murmured,
"No wonder… so he was part of that crew I once heard about…"
Her expression eased, as her earlier doubts about Crocus faded.
Nami's eyes narrowed with interest.
"What did you figure out?"
"My elders had some dealings with the Pirate King's crew…" Vivi answered timidly.
Nami tsked but stopped pressing her. She hadn't expected the princess to be this timid.
Luffy watched the exchange with amusement—just as the sea began to change again.
The weather shifted wildly.
One moment—thunder.The next—clear skies.Then—a sudden storm.Then—gentle snowfall.
If not for Baphomet's precise sailing, even Nami would have had trouble keeping their course steady in such chaotic currents.
Vivi explained that the strange weather was caused by the magnetic fields of different islands colliding.
Luffy, knowing the truth of the world's post-apocalyptic nature, wasn't surprised.
Baphomet sped along faster than usual—Luffy had released some of its restraints. Within hours, the silhouette of their destination appeared.
If not for fear of frightening their guest, they would have arrived even faster.
Still, Vivi stared in disbelief.
"How is that possible? We arrived so fast?! It should take at least a day and a half…"
Nami, still studying the mechanics of the Log Pose, replied calmly.
"This sea is smaller than it seems. The chaotic currents are what throw ships off course. Our ship is strong—currents can't fool it."
Luffy grinned.
"Baphomy-chan is awesome."
The ship quivered lightly, almost like it was purring from the praise. The girls chuckled at the display, while Vivi remained stunned.
As they neared port, a huge crowd could be seen celebrating their arrival.
Nami rolled her eyes.
"I can feel the malice from here…"
The others looked wary, but honestly—the crowd was so weak that their caution felt like giving them too much credit.
Zala's gaze shifted toward a hill.
"The strongest one on this island is hiding there…"
Luffy adjusted his hat, smirking.
"Show some respect—they're Vivi-chan's compatriots."
Vivi flushed in embarrassment. Her people were making a scene, and it was mortifying. Still, she didn't mind Luffy teasing her. In fact, she enjoyed their small talk—though as a reserved maiden, she kept her composure.
Luffy went on.
"The strongest aura on the hill, watching us through a scope—that's our next partner. Sanju, go prepare a feast. We've got a new nakama coming aboard."
Sanju and the others were surprised, though not shocked.
Only Vivi looked confused—she didn't know of anyone like that in Whiskey Peak.
Finally, Baphomet docked, and with it came loud music and clapping.
The great heroes of the Straw Hat crew had arrived.