Just then, Ron stepped forward.
The afterglow of the setting sun cast upon his tall figure as he gazed at Laboon, who was still stubbornly crashing into the Red Line. His voice, though not loud, carried with exceptional clarity throughout the entire bay:
"Laboon, your persistence is not wrong!" Ron's voice seemed to carry a certain magic, causing the wildly crashing giant whale to suddenly quiet down. "Someone from the Rumbar Pirate Crew you made a promise with... is still alive!"
These words struck Crocus like a bolt of lightning.
The old man staggered back two steps, his wrinkled face filled with disbelief: "Wh... what?!" His trembling finger pointed at Ron. "How do you know about this?! And you even know about the Rumbar Pirate Crew?"
Luffy pouted, looking at Crocus with disdain: "Old man, you really haven't seen the world. My big brother Ron knows everything!"
Usopp also leaned over, his long nose almost poking Crocus's face: "Exactly, exactly! Not even knowing this, what a bumpkin old man!" He proudly shook his head. "Our Captain is a man who can do anything!"
Crocus was left speechless, his old face flushed red. He confusedly looked at these young people, wondering why they were so convinced by this young man named Ron?
That kind of unreserved trust was almost like... entrusting their lives into his hands!
Laboon let out a long cry, its huge eyes shimmering with anticipation. Ron continued: "One day in the future, we will bring that survivor back here." He said solemnly, "This is a new promise!"
Nami quietly tugged at Ron's sleeve: "Hey, is what you said true? Is someone from that pirate crew really alive?"
Ron nodded slightly. The skeleton musician, Brook, was currently in the Florian Triangle. He whispered: "You'll know when we get there."
Crocus was still in shock, unable to recover. Fifty years of waiting, fifty years of doubt, and today he actually saw hope in this mysterious young man.
"If... if this is true..." The old man's voice choked. "Laboon can finally get what he wished for..."
Luffy suddenly jumped onto the ship's railing, waving vigorously at Laboon: "Did you hear that, big guy! You must wait for us this time!"
Laboon let out a joyful long cry, its massive tail slapping the sea, stirring up towering waves. It no longer crashed into the Red Line but swam a circle around the Going Merry, as if expressing gratitude.
Crocus looked at this heartwarming scene, tears welling up in his cloudy eyes. He suddenly bowed deeply to Ron: "No matter who you are... thank you for bringing hope to Laboon..."
Ron helped the old man up, a mysterious smile on his lips: "No need to thank me, this is just a promise between us."
Crocus nodded slightly, then Ron's voice continued,
"Mr. Crocus," his voice was understated, yet it caused the surrounding air to momentarily still. "No matter what plans you have..." Ron's long fingers gently tapped the ship's rail. "Remember, don't provoke me, or my crew."
Before he finished speaking, an invisible pressure was suddenly released. Crocus's pupils constricted. This former Pirate King's doctor, who had experienced countless storms, now felt a chilling sensation creeping up his spine.
"Otherwise..." Ron unhurriedly adjusted his cuff, a cold light reflecting in his eyes. "I don't care about 'Pirate King's left hand' or 'right arm'..." He raised his head, a hint of crimson flashing in his eyes. "I'll wipe them all out."
These words were like a heavy hammer, striking Crocus's heart. His pupils constricted, and his wrinkled face was filled with shock.
He looked at the young man in front of him in disbelief. Not only did the other party know the secrets of the Rumbar Pirate Crew, but he even knew information like the "Pirate King's left and right hands"...
"Let's go!" The moment Ron turned, that terrifying aura vanished, as if everything just now was an illusion. He casually waved his hand, and the Going Merry's engine emitted a low hum.
Luffy was the first to jump onto the ship, the smile under his straw hat still bright: "Goodbye, old man! Remember to wait for us to bring someone back!"
Nami thoughtfully glanced at Crocus, who stood rooted to the spot, then turned to adjust the sails. Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp also boarded the ship.
The Going Merry slowly sailed away from the harbor, its hull gleaming in the sunset. Crocus stood by the shore for a long time, until that dreamlike pirate ship became a small dot on the horizon.
"This Ron..." The old man murmured to himself, his voice carrying an unprecedented solemnity. "What exactly is his background..."
He suddenly realized that he might have just witnessed the prelude to a new era unfolding.
...
The next day, early morning,
Nami stood at the bow of the Going Merry, the magical weather navigation chart in her hand glowing faintly in the sunlight. She carefully examined the constantly changing weather markers on the chart, her slender finger gently tapping a certain spot.
"There's a thunderstorm area ahead," she turned to Ron, who was steering, her orange short hair fluttering in the sea breeze. "But we can go around it from here."
She pointed to a winding blue route on the map. "This current will take us perfectly around the storm and save at least half a day's journey."
Zoro nodded, quickly turning the helm. The Going Merry immediately adjusted its course, its hull cutting a graceful arc across the deep blue sea.
"This thing is so convenient!" Usopp exclaimed, leaning over the railing, looking at the dark thunderstorm clouds to the front left. "Not only can it avoid dangerous weather, but it can also find the best route!"
Sanji walked over, cigarette in his mouth, and handed Nami a special glass of orange juice: "Miss Nami's navigation skills combined with this divine map are simply invincible~"
Zoro, holding his three swords, leaned against the mast, nodding in rare agreement: "It certainly saves a lot of trouble."
Nami proudly shook the weather chart, extended her right hand, revealing a small and exquisite device. It was a crystal-clear Log Pose, with seven-colored flowing light constantly circulating within.
"You think that's it?" she said excitedly, "Look at this! The Quick Storage Log Pose! A reward from the System!"
Luffy stretched his neck to peer closer: "What is this? It looks so pretty!"
"In the Grand Line," Nami patiently explained, her finger lightly tapping the Log Pose's surface, causing Going Merry-like bright spots to immediately circulate on it, "you have to wait for the Log Pose to store enough magnetic force at each island before it can point to the next island. This usually takes several days... and on some islands, you even have to stay for a year!"
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