Chapter 98 – The Old Man Drops the Act, the Captain Already Knows Everything
"As the ship doctor of the Pirate King, how could you possibly be an ordinary old man?"
Exactly.
Aike had deliberately let the Libra "almost" crush Crocus.
Just to confirm a long-held fan theory from his previous life.
The forum bros were right.
Combat medic is a One Piece tradition!
Besides Crocus,
Aike's gaze drifted beneath the calm sea.
An incredibly powerful life signature lurked down there.
Far beyond any sea beast he'd felt in the East Blue.
"Island Whale Laboon…"
"I knew it would be big, but this thing could probably body-slam most deep-sea Sea King lords and win."
"The name 'island' really isn't an exaggeration."
Aike rubbed his chin in amusement.
Come to think of it, the tailed beasts weren't exactly small either.
If Laboon-class whales and the nine tailed beasts threw down—no Tailed Beast Bombs, pure physical brawl—who would win?
While Aike was lost in versus debates,
a terrified Nami leaped onto his back and sank her teeth into his shoulder.
"You bastard! Were you trying to kill us?!"
"That drop was way too fast! What if the ship broke?!"
Indeed.
When they first flew over the Red Line, looking down from the clouds at the continent that split the oceans had been breathtaking.
Yakumo had even pulled out her sketchpad to capture the majesty.
Then Aike decided to give them a "surprise."
He cut most of the repulsive force mid-flight.
The smooth descent instantly became near-freefall.
Nami forgot she knew Moonwalk, clung to the mast screaming the whole way down.
Nojiko and the others were rattled but recovered fast with their own powers.
They just rolled their eyes at Aike's prank.
Nami, the physically strongest yet most freaked out, lost face completely.
While the girls teased her, she vented all her embarrassment on the real culprit—by jumping on his back and biting.
Unfortunately, Aike's skin was battleship-grade.
She didn't even leave a tooth mark.
Defeated, she slid down and switched to seduction tactics as revenge.
(She'd probably regret that tonight…)
Drama over,
everyone finally noticed where they had landed.
The starting point of the Grand Line: Twin Capes.
And the very grumpy old man glaring at them from the shore.
"You guys have a… unique way of entering the Grand Line."
"Almost turned this old man into pancake. If I wasn't a decent swimmer and fast on my feet, I'd be fish food right now."
Crocus grumbled, arms crossed.
All traces of the "frail old veteran" act from his escape were gone.
The girls heard "almost crushed an old man" and instantly glared at Aike, ready to apologize.
Only to see him lean on the railing with a knowing smirk.
"Old man, you're a lot more than just 'a decent swimmer.'"
"As the doctor on the Pirate King's crew, dodging that little fall was child's play for you, right?"
"?!"
Crocus's eyes sharpened instantly.
The complaining grandpa persona vanished.
His gaze turned razor-sharp.
"You know who I am?"
"By now my name should be completely erased from the seas."
Crocus stared at Aike, curiosity and wariness mixing.
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