"Reverse Mountain?"
Robin frowned and rejected the idea:
"It's too early. At the very least, we need to find a better navigator first."
Unlike the calm Four Seas, the climate of the Grand Line was unpredictable.
There, encountering strange phenomena was anything but unusual.
One moment, the sun could be shining brightly, and the next, a blizzard could rage.
Icebergs could appear in temperate waters, and whirlpools could lurk beneath tranquil surfaces.
Not everyone could be like the Barto Pirates, who relied on rural grandmothers' life hacks to brute-force their way into the New World.
With only that second-rate navigator currently aboard the Storm Petrel, there was no way they could handle the Grand Line's weather.
Even if they traveled underwater, they would still have to contend with unpredictable currents and Sea Beasts far more numerous than in the Four Seas.
With their current crew, venturing into the Grand Line was anything but a rational choice.
Dier spread his hands and explained:
"I didn't say we were going to the Grand Line."
He knew his limits—aside from himself and Perona, the combat abilities of the others were practically nonexistent.
Going to the Grand Line now would just be asking for trouble.
"We're heading to Reverse Mountain, not the Grand Line."
"Madson, do you know... uh..."
Dier hesitated, unable to recall the name of the old man at Twin Capes.
"That guy—the Pirate King Roger's ship doctor."
He only remembered that the old man had once been the Pirate King Roger's ship doctor, so his medical skills must be exceptional.
"Crocus!"
Madson blurted out, though his expression darkened slightly as he added in a low voice:
"If it's him, then he might indeed be able to cure Platinum Lead Disease...
But ever since Roger's death, he's vanished without a trace. No one has seen him since."
The same went for the rest of Roger's crew—it was as if they had evaporated from the world, never appearing in the public eye again.
However, Dier knew full well that the man was still at Twin Capes at the foot of Reverse Mountain, keeping company with the whale Laboon.
Under his orders, the Storm Petrel changed course, heading toward Reverse Mountain.
Meanwhile, Dier and the others returned to the dining room for lunch.
At the table, Dier idly played with a coin, making it disappear and reappear in his hand repeatedly, drawing curious glances from Lami and Perona.
It was his spatial storage ability.
Within his brow was a Hyperspace, the shape of which he could freely manipulate—turning it into a sphere or a cube.
However, no matter how he altered its form, its internal capacity remained fixed—currently, it was only about the size of a coin.
As he continued using this spatial storage ability and improved his proficiency, the internal space would gradually expand until it reached its current limit.
"Lami, eat properly. Don't stare at the Captain."
"Oh~ Okay, Mom."
Leia lightly tapped Lami's forehead—the little girl had been staring intently at the coin in Dier's hand, trying to figure out how it vanished into thin air.
Dier was drawn to the mother and daughter's little exchange, his gaze turning thoughtful.
Law, age seven. Perona, age six. Lami, age five.
Were there too many kids on this ship?
"Madson, have you talked to your wife and child about future plans?"
Madson, who had been focused on his meal, looked up and opened his mouth to respond—only to find it sealed shut by telekinesis.
"Just think your response. I'll hear it."
Dier continued eating expressionlessly. His ability was Mind Communication, not Telepathy.
A conversation requires both parties to communicate—one-sided speech is merely transmitting sound.
However, this doesn't mean he could read others' minds; he could only hear their responses, not their other thoughts.
"We talked last night. Both Leia and I decided to stay on the ship. Law and Lami didn't want to be separated from us, so they chose to stay too."
Dier silently gave a thumbs-up in his heart.
One revolutionary leader abandoned his son with the old man, leaving the boy unaware he even had a father until he turned seventeen.
One sniper left his son in their hometown and, despite lingering in the East Blue for a year, never once visited.
A certain Germa experimented on his son, turning him into a tool.
Compared to those three, Madson—who respected his children's wishes—was a damn good father.
"Good on you. You're a great dad. Now keep eating."
Hearing this, Madson shoveled a mouthful of rice, chewing mechanically, his mind elsewhere.
Why was the captain asking about this?
Did he think Law and Lami were useless, just freeloaders on the ship?
Maybe he should find someone to adopt them. Was there anyone he absolutely trusted among his acquaintances?
As Madson furrowed his brows and spiraled into overthinking, Dier's voice echoed in his mind again, tinged with exasperation.
"I was just asking casually. Don't overthink it."
Dier couldn't read minds, but Madson's thoughts were painfully obvious.
"Eat in peace. If I wanted to kick anyone out, I'd say it outright."
He truly had no intention of driving anyone away—it was just idle curiosity.
If Lami hadn't wanted to stay, he would've called Bege to escort her and the others to Windmill Village in the East Blue.
It was a perfect place to lay low.
As for their status as criminals, a certain old man wouldn't care.
In fact, revealing the truth might even earn them some sympathy.
But since Lami chose to stay, there was no need for that.
One child was supervision, two were upbringing, and three weren't much different.
Both Madson and his wife were doctors, and Law was a promising talent.
As for Lami...
Well, she could be Perona's playmate.
In the afternoon, the Storm Petrel raised its sails, heading toward Reverse Mountain.
Perona and Lami played on the deck. Close in age, they quickly became good friends.
The more mature Law didn't join them, opting instead to train with Hina.
During breaks, they even read comics together.
Robin set up a lounge chair, basking in the sun while reading.
Beside the chair stood a wooden barrel filled to the brim with water.
A small stool was placed inside the barrel, where Dier sat submerged up to his neck.
Immunity to seawater was a passive ability, but unlike [his physique constantly improving], it didn't operate continuously.
The latter was always active, requiring no effort to master.
One day, he'd raise his limits through "belief," and the next, he'd reach them.
Seawater immunity was different—it only activated and improved when he was submerged.
Fortunately, sitting in the barrel wasn't boring.
Two extra arms extended above his head, holding a comic book in front of him to pass the time.
The Madson couple plunged headfirst into the operating room—this would be their workplace from now on, and it needed proper preparation.
At the same time, they welcomed their first patient.
Deno, diagnosed with kidney deficiency.
"Dr. Madson, I might have raised my voice a little too much the other day...
Do you think this condition is still treatable?"