The journey from Flevance to Reverse Mountain took approximately ten days.
Life aboard the Storm Petrel was uneventful, with everyone occupied by their own tasks.
Dier's schedule was particularly packed.
During the day, he soaked in wooden barrels while simultaneously working on setting restrictions.
At night, he treated Lami's Platinum Lead Disease and enhanced the Storm Petrel's various capabilities.
In between, he had to squeeze in time to train his other abilities.
Now, he possessed over a dozen active abilities:
Hypnosis, Flame Power, lightning, water manipulation, flight, telekinesis, curses, Heat Vision, Storage Space, locating people out of thin air, Freezing Breath, body luminescence, Mind Communication, healing injuries, curing Platinum Lead Disease, gender transformation, and a minimal amount of Armament Haki.
This didn't even include the three abilities he had bestowed upon the Storm Petrel, the autonomous growth granted to the Ship Spirit, the Automatic Upgrade of the Energy Chamber, or the enhanced physical attributes he had given to Robin and the other two women.
As for passive abilities, he currently didn't have many.
His physical attributes were constantly improving, he had a passive training aura, and he was immune to seawater.
The ability for his talents to automatically grow was still in the process of being acquired.
Among his abilities, Flame Power had the highest potential ceiling and the highest proficiency.
The high ceiling was due to the universality of Flame Power.
The newspapers reported that he wielded multiple powers, and while people might doubt his other abilities, most believed he truly possessed flames.
After all, this ability was far too common—even street performers could spit fire after a swig of alcohol.
His high proficiency was thanks to the Flame Devourer's trait, making training exceptionally easy.
Beyond that, Dier mainly focused on honing several abilities with relatively high ceilings at the moment:
Hypnosis, water manipulation, lightning, and Storage Space—all of which had been mentioned in the newspapers.
Time passed in the midst of training.
After evading two groups of Marines and defeating a band of Pirates, the Storm Petrel arrived at the foot of the majestic Red Line.
...
Boom!
A thunderclap roared, lightning twisting through the dark clouds, stirring even fiercer storms and gales. The waves surged like towering mountains, crashing against the even more colossal Red Line and shattering into nothingness.
Beneath the turbulent sea, the bright yellow Storm Petrel hovered motionless in the depths, entirely unaffected by the harsh weather.
The Energy Chamber tirelessly burned charcoal, supplying electricity to the entire ship and illuminating its interior brightly.
In the well-lit room, Dier lay on a soft bed, listening to communications from various sources.
The new King of the Visa Kingdom had ascended the throne—none other than the former captain of the peacekeeping force, whom the Marines had deemed "restored to normal."
"A few days ago, the Marines sent another team of psychologists to assess my mental state.
After confirming that I was truly free from influence, they seemed relieved. They even comforted me, saying I should live well and not dwell on the Hypnosis incident."
"That's to be expected. The implications of temporary control versus permanent control are entirely different."
Dier continued flipping a coin in his hand, unsurprised by the Marines' reaction.
Temporary Hypnosis control was troublesome, but at worst, it branded him a dangerous criminal.
Permanent brainwashing, however, was another matter entirely.
In the future, the Revolutionary Army would be labeled the "most dangerous criminals in history" simply for inciting rebellion.
Permanent brainwashing didn't even require rebellion—it could turn a nation's leader into an ally outright.
Wasn't that just stealing from the World Government's own backyard?!
That was precisely why Dier had arranged for the peacekeeping captain to send photos to the Marines—
And feigned breaking free from control, all to downplay his own threat level.
"The comics from West Blue should arrive in about three days. Prioritize distributing the one about the Ship Spirit."
"Understood, boss."
After ending the call with the Visa Kingdom, Dier proceeded to contact the Lia Kingdom, Ghost Island, Colon Island...
Outside, the storm raged on.
By dawn the next day, the Storm Petrel finally surfaced, greeted by the morning sun.
Dier slung a bulging backpack over his shoulder and took Law with him as they left the ship.
They were going to climb a mountain.
Most of the Red Line was sheer vertical cliffs.
Only at Reverse Mountain was there any semblance of a slope.
Using his flight ability, he carried Law and landed firmly on the rugged terrain of Reverse Mountain.
Boom!
The roaring, upstream-flowing canal thundered like rolling thunder.
Law adjusted his spotted hat, eyes wide with awe and excitement.
Reverse Mountain—this was where Sola, Warrior of the Sea, had once fought against the wicked Germa, single-handedly defeating Spark Red and Winch Green.
He looked around eagerly, searching for traces of his idol's legendary battle.
"Stop gawking. Hold on tight—if you fall into the canal, you're dead."
Dier shifted into his two-meter-tall Beast Form, gripping Law's arm firmly.
The raging canal whipped up fierce winds, making it dangerously easy to slip.
He decided to just pick Law up, carrying him as he trudged step by step toward the summit.
Could the currents of Reverse Mountain flow backward?
He wasn't sure—the original story never specified, and he'd never heard of such a thing.
Even if it were possible, he wouldn't risk taking the Storm Petrel up the canal.
If they followed the North Blue's current straight ahead without adjusting at the peak, they'd only crash onto the slopes of Reverse Mountain in the South Blue.
The sails had to be adjusted beforehand to ensure the ship could smoothly descend into the downstream current and enter the Grand Line.
The navigator aboard the Storm Petrel wasn't skilled enough for that, and Dier had no plans to challenge the Grand Line just yet.
So instead, he chose to climb the mountain—while also bringing Law, a Platinum Lead Disease patient, for Crocus to examine.
Lami's body had been completely cleansed of Platinum Lead, but traces still lingered in Law's.
Inside Dier's backpack were a Den Den Mushi and Madson's recent research notes—references for Crocus.
"Will that doctor really help us?"
"He will. I can offer him a price he can't refuse."
Dier spoke confidently. The "price" he referred to was, naturally, a certain afro-sporting skeleton gentleman.
It was late 1503, and this panty-loving skeleton was likely still drifting somewhere in the Devil's Triangle.
After flying over the canal, the two began their descent.
By afternoon, they finally reached Twin Capes.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Not spotting the iconic island whale, Laboon, Dier had no choice but to knock on the lighthouse door.
Click—
The door creaked open.
Crocus, dressed in a pink shirt with yellow and green patterns, paired with shorts and sandals, rubbed his bleary eyes.
His hair was distinctive—resembling saffron, with purple and yellow "petals."
But right now, he was just confused, wondering if he was still half-asleep.
A man… and a kid?
He poked his head out, finding neither ships nor wreckage on the sea surface.
"Who are you people? Where did you come from?"
Law tensed his small face and spoke:
"I'm Trafalgar..."
"My name is Crocus, the lighthouse keeper of Twin Capes. I'm 54 years old, blood type AB, a Gemini."
Law: "..."
Nobody asked for that information!
"I'm Kali Dier, a traveling hypnotist. Thirteen years old."
"Pleasure to meet you."
Under Law's utterly bewildered expression, two hands clasped together firmly.
"What business does the recently infamous 'Most Heinous Criminal in History' have coming here?"
Crocus narrowed his eyes slightly, showing no intention of releasing his grip.
This place wasn't cut off from the world—News Coos delivered fresh newspapers daily.
The most sensational recent news was naturally the reports about Hypnotist Dier.
If this hypnotist before him showed even a hint of hostility, he would strike immediately.
He wasn't some feeble doctor—he was a crewmember of the Pirate King.
He'd fought the Whitebeard Pirates for three days and nights, faced Golden Lion's fleet alongside his comrades.
At 54, he was still in prime fighting condition.
Feeling the pressure from the handshake, Dier maintained his smile,
"To seek medical treatment—for Platinum Lead Disease."
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