Chapter 10 The Grand Route
Three days had passed since leaving Loguetown.
The ship continued to sail forward, and Ryan sat on a chair, smoking a cigar and watching Ann train.
Ann couldn't do much other training on this Warship; he could only add weights to himself and continuously train his strength.
These days, using the training methods from Marineford, he found that his strength and speed increased very quickly.
Compared to the vague sword skills he had always had in mind, the physical training he was doing now improved very rapidly.
"Very good, just keep practicing like this.
One day, I will become someone like Ryan," Ann, who was panting heavily under the weighted training, kept telling himself.
Although Ryan had been stronger than him since childhood and had always looked after him after joining the Marine, he had also worked very hard, desperately learning the sword skills Ryan taught him, but he simply didn't have the talent.
Despite continuous learning, he still couldn't keep up with his pace, but this time, he felt that physical training was the most suitable for him, and this time, he was determined to persevere.
Ryan, who was sitting on a chair reading a newspaper, saw his friend's diligent appearance, straightened his posture, and sat upright.
After a while, Ann was utterly exhausted, so Ryan pulled him up and sent him to the ship's doctor, telling him to rest well.
This scene had happened many times in the past few days on the ship, and Ryan had specifically observed Ann to prevent him from fainting during training.
When they arrived at the ship's doctor together, Ann asked Ryan, "How many more days until we reach Marineford?"
"Not many days left!
We are heading directly to Marineford by crossing the Calm Belt, so we'll be there soon," Ryan told Ann.
This fanatic, ever since realizing his talent in physical training, truly didn't want to stop for a moment, but there wasn't as much training equipment on this ship as in Loguetown for him to use, so he had always hoped to reach Marineford quickly.
According to the ship's crew, the equipment there was much more abundant.
However, as the Marine Warship crossed the Calm Belt, the speed to Marineford was indeed very fast.
In the anime, it took Luffy and his crew so long to reach the Sabaody Archipelago, but here, they would arrive in a few days.
The world of the Pirate King is divided into four seas—East, West, South, and North—by the Grand Line and the Red Line.
The Grand Line is a circular region that intersects the Red Line perpendicularly.
People from the four seas who want to enter the Grand Line, apart from crossing the Calm Belt, can only enter through Reverse Mountain.
At the same time, the geomagnetism, celestial phenomena, oceans, and air currents of the Grand Line are all in chaos, and one must rely on Log Poses and eternal poses to navigate.
And by relying on Marine Warships equipped with Sea Stone at the bottom, they can directly cross the Calm Belt and head to the Grand Line, naturally making the speed much faster.
Sea Stone is the crystallization of the sea, composed of the solid form of the ocean, so when sailing in the Calm Belt, it is perceived by the Sea Kings as a part of the ocean.
Therefore, they will not be attacked by Sea Kings and can quickly pass through the Calm Belt.
Grand Line, Haitang Island.
Haitang Island is a well-known tourist island in the Grand Line.
The island has no strong military power, and by continuously paying Heavenly Gold to the World Government, the Government specifically requested the Marine to establish a Marine Base here.
There is a nearby Marine Base guarding the Flying Bird Island from plunder by passing pirates.
As they were nearing Marineford, the Marine Warship stopped at the base here to resupply fresh water, food, and other essential supplies for the voyage.
As the crew went to the island to resupply.
Ryan and Ann also went to the island together to explore this tourist island; staying on the Marine Warship all these days had been too boring.
It was a rare opportunity to resupply on the island, so they told the crew and went to explore the island.
The styles of different islands in the Grand Line are not the same; this small island is a tourist-dependent island, and the scenery on the island is very beautiful, with an endless stream of tourists.
After exploring for a while, they arrived at a tavern on the island, planning to have a drink before heading back.
"Hey! Have you heard? The rumors near the island recently!" a slightly tipsy customer whispered.
"Are you talking about the recent rumor that kiyotsuki of the Great Grade Swords has appeared on this island?" another customer beside him said.
"Yes! Do you think this rumor is true? I've seen many swordsmen with swords coming to this island recently."
"Haha! Are you drunk? It's normal for some sword-wielding tourists to come to our island, which relies on tourism.
Besides, how could such a treasure appear here?"
"But more and more swordsmen have been coming recently."
"Haha! I think you're drunk and talking nonsense."
"I'm worried that if the rumor is true, they might start fighting on the island."
"Isn't there a Navy Lord? Don't worry about these things, let's keep drinking!"
"Hmm! Maybe I'm overthinking it.
Let's keep drinking!"
On the side, Ryan and Ann, who were drinking, noticed this news.
They exchanged glances, paid the bill, and walked out.
"Ryan, aren't you in need of a good sword?
This is a good opportunity; I think you can go and compete for it.
Let's go find the Marine officer in charge of Haitang Island to confirm the situation later!"
During this time, Ann also understood how much a good sword could improve a swordsman.
This time, encountering such a good opportunity during their voyage was something they absolutely couldn't miss.
"Hmm, we definitely need to inquire about it properly.
If there is indeed news of kiyotsuki, we'll observe first.
If it's in the hands of a pirate, we'll directly eliminate the pirate and take it.
If it's in the hands of an ordinary civilian, we'll see if we can acquire it.
If not, it doesn't matter; there are so many famous swords in this great sea, and I believe that one day, I will get the one that belongs to me," Ryan said calmly to Ann.
"Haha! That's true.
With your strength, even if you can't get this sword, by continuously eliminating those pirates in Marineford, I believe that one day, you can exchange your merits for a famous sword.
I don't believe that a huge Marineford wouldn't have a single famous sword."
Ann said with relief.
"Hmm, thinking like that, there's no problem.
As long as one's strength is sufficient, everything is not a problem," Ryan said confidently.
He has the System as a cheat, and he can still improve his strength.
Coupled with his already strong power, by taking on missions to eliminate pirates at Marineford, his level will surely see another increase.
At that time, his body will improve again, and at the same time, skill points can enhance his sword skills or Haki power.
Ryan believed that he would be completely different then than he was now.