"It all started when we left Twin Cape and officially entered the Grand Line..."
Bardock and his crew spent the better part of the day at Twin Cape. At first, Bardock recounted their seafaring adventures to Crocus and introduced his new crewmates to the old lighthouse keeper.
Later on, Mansherry and Law eagerly sought Crocus's medical guidance. Crocus had always been deeply passionate about medicine and loved sharing his expertise with the younger generation, so both doctors walked away with a wealth of new insights.
Buru buru buru... A Den Den Mushi began to ring.
Ka-cha! Bardock pulled the snail from his pocket and answered the call.
"Bardock! Why have you been keeping such a low profile lately? Don't forget about me when you stumble onto a massive scoop!" an impassioned voice blared from the speaker.
"Oh, it's you, Morgans. Aren't you a busy man? What prompted you to reach out?" Bardock replied smoothly.
The albatross-man Morgans thrived on global chaos. To grab eyeballs, he dared to print any sensational headline he could dream up. Bardock had fed him exclusive material in the past and purchased high-level intelligence from him in return.
Known throughout the Underworld as "Big News Morgans," his information network was unrivaled. Since Bardock held onto plenty of hidden truths himself, the two had developed a solid working relationship.
In fact, Morgans was the exact source who confirmed Doflamingo had pulled strings behind the scenes to stick Bardock with that humiliating one-Belly bounty.
Speaking rapidly through the receiver, Morgans cut to the chase. "This is about you, actually. Haven't you been hunting for Arlong the Saw? My operatives just pinned down his location. How about it? Is this the intel you need?"
"Seriously? They finally made a move," Bardock said, his eyes lighting up with genuine surprise. "I thought they were going to hide out on Fish-Man Island forever."
Bardock had commissioned Morgans to track this target way back when the White Dragon was still sailing the East Blue. Now that they had finished their entire North Blue expedition, Arlong's faction finally stirred.
"Yeah. Arlong gathered a splinter group of Fish-Men and formed the Arlong Pirates. They've set their sights on the East Blue. I have their ship's exact coordinates and heading right now. If you're interested, I'll hand it over," Morgans offered generously.
"Strange. That doesn't sound like you," Bardock noted, raising an eyebrow. "Are you really planning to give this away for free?"
"Gyahahaha! Because this guarantees a massive headline! If you crush the Arlong Pirates, do you honestly think 'Knight of the Sea' Jinbe—a Warlord of the Sea—will just sit back and watch?"
Morgans didn't bother hiding his true motive, laying his cards flat on the table. He knew Bardock wouldn't flinch at the prospect.
Sure enough, Bardock didn't disappoint him. "Spit it out. Give me Arlong's coordinates."
"No problem. Here's the layout..."
Morgans's intelligence network proved its worth. Not only had he uncovered Arlong's destination in the East Blue, but he had mapped out their precise route. He advised Bardock to sail ahead and lie in ambush at a specific island, guaranteeing Arlong would walk right into the trap.
This predictability stemmed from how Arlong's crew traveled. Even though Fish-Men thrived underwater, they still required a proper ship for long-distance voyages. Besides, they were pirates. They couldn't exactly lug plundered treasure across the ocean floor. A galleon was indispensable.
With his next objective locked in, Bardock turned to bid Crocus farewell.
Having overheard the entire conversation through the Den Den Mushi, Crocus didn't try to make them stay. He simply offered a word of caution. "Bardock, 'Knight of the Sea' Jinbe is a rare, formidable master. Do not underestimate him."
The old doctor assumed Bardock was picking this fight deliberately to force the World Government to raise his abysmal bounty.
"Relax, Crocus. I know exactly what I'm doing. That wraps up our visit for now. We'll drop by to see you and Laboon again next time." Bardock waved nonchalantly, turning and striding toward the White Dragon.
Crocus escorted the crew back to the docks, waving as they boarded.
Laboon breached the surface, releasing a booming bellow. According to Chopper's translation, the giant whale was wishing them a safe voyage.