Ahead, the Four Seas are the parts of the world that cover the greatest area.
The Grand Line is merely a single sea lane sandwiched between the Four Seas and the Calm Belt.
That means, on the Grand Line, traveling from one island to the next usually doesn't take long.
In the original tale, the Straw Hat Pirates went from Twin Capes to Whiskey Peak in less than half a day.
Along the way, the Going Merry had to stop for a good while to endure the Grand Line's baptism.
Likewise, Yami and the girls needed only a few hours and reached a starting island a little after eight at night.
From afar, the lights on the starting island stretched across a broad area, no less than those of other kingdoms in the East Blue.
Even without farsight to confirm it, Yami knew the starting island they'd arrived at wasn't Cactus Island's Whiskey Peak.
Without an Eternal Pose, picking Whiskey Peak out of the seven starting islands would be a long shot.
Of course, Yami didn't mind at all.
He already held Eternal Poses for the Kingdom of Alabasta and Water 7; once he obtained his third strategic Devil Fruit, he could change routes anytime.
With Yami's farsight guiding her, Nami didn't need to circle the island looking for a harbor and brought the ship smoothly to a pier.
After disembarking, Carina quickly found a small stall, bought a local map, and asked the vendor about the island.
This starting island, as it turned out, was a World Government member nation.
With a standing garrison and surely a nearby Marine branch protecting it, fresh East Blue pirates didn't dare make trouble here.
Thanks to its special location and adequate self-defense, the island was favored by merchants and factions pouring in money to invest.
Just like Loguetown, this place had everything.
So any rookie who drew this route was a child of fortune.
Carina was thrilled at that.
Their first stop was a bustling island; here they could gather Grand Line intel and immediately pull ahead of other newcomers on this route.
Indeed, rookies who drew this course were all lucky ones.
Yami was surprised as well that among the seven starting islands, one like this existed.
So he handed the initiative to the girls and went wherever they wanted to go.
As a traveler, Yami knew the Grand Line's secrets.
But he wouldn't tell the girls first; for where they were now, knowing too much wouldn't help.
In the beginning, better to let them explore and grow at their own pace.
Carina and Nami didn't disappoint.
Their first stop was a nautical supply shop.
If you want to understand the Grand Line and your route, nowhere beats a nautical outfitter.
People who don't know this sea have no business running such a shop.
Even the clerks have to master the basics to be hired.
So after Carina and Nami bought a few items, the staff patiently answered every question.
Carina and Nami learned about the types of Log Poses and the differing magnetic fields for each island—fundamental intel.
In that same shop, Nami saw Thousand-Year Paper that could preserve charts for a millennium after drawing, and automatic floor scrubbers—navigation tools the East Blue didn't have.
Unfortunately, the shop was small.
It didn't carry New World-only materials for Vivre Cards, nor methods for crafting Eternal Poses.
Even so, it opened Carina's and Nami's eyes.
They started buying in bulk; Carina especially picked up several automatic scrubbers.
As for Nami, she bought out all the Thousand-Year Paper.
After raiding Captain Nezumi's private vault, Yami had handed everything to Carina and Nami to manage, letting them spend as they pleased.
They didn't splurge, but they didn't stand on ceremony either—spending where it mattered.
These were things unseen in the East Blue and likely rare elsewhere too.
On a starting island, they'd be hot sellers.
So they didn't wait until leaving to buy; better to secure them now before other rookies grabbed them.
Once everything was stowed back on the ship, the three didn't plan to sleep aboard. They returned to the city to find an inn.
"Hm?"
As they walked the bustling streets, a figure in a black cloak passed by the trio.
Yami, by habit, glanced at her—and then stopped.
In a city full of all sorts, you see all kinds of people.
There's no shortage of those who wear cloaks at night, even masks.
That sort of disguise usually means someone a bit known, but not confident enough in their own strength.
The person passing them was one of those.
Of course, Yami wasn't entirely sure.
So he turned toward the figure and called out, testing, "Nico Robin?"
The cloaked figure didn't pause, as if she hadn't heard him—or didn't know he was calling her.
Yami smiled.
His right hand made an OK sign; he focused mind reading on the woman.
Her inner panic and the escape routes she was weighing all played clearly before Yami's eyes.
"Master, do you know her?"
"Nico Robin—is she an acquaintance of Master's?"
Carina and Nami watched the figure vanish into the crowd and asked, curious.
"I know her. She doesn't know me."
Yami decided at once and stepped after her. "Come on—let's go welcome a new crewmate."
On the way, he sorted the timeline in his head and quickly understood why he'd run into Robin here.
Right now it was Sea Circle Calendar year 1515.
Robin entered the Grand Line from the West Blue five years before the main story—so about a year ago.
It seemed she'd arrived just a bit ahead of him.
More coincidentally, she'd picked the same route.
With that kind of 'fate,' how could Yami pass it up?