When the door of the small island house creaked open, an old man stepped out.
His hair was… unique. The top of his head was completely bald, while the hair around the sides—except for the very front—fanned out like a peacock's tail.
The moment he appeared, the old man fixed the Straw Hat Crew with a fierce glare. Without even looking, he somehow found a chair and sat down silently, continuing to stare.
His presence alone was enough to silence everyone.
Usopp, cracking under the pressure, blurted out, "W-What are you looking at us for? You wanna fight or something?"
The old man replied in a low voice, "I advise you not to. If we fight, someone will die."
Zoro grinned wickedly. "Oh? And who exactly would die?"
The old man's expression didn't change. "I would."
Sanji's eyes widened. "So it's you!"
Luffy burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Hahaha! You're hilarious!"
Zoro scowled. "Are you playing with us, old man? Who the hell are you anyway?"
"When asking someone else's name," the old man said calmly, "shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
"Oh, sorry, I—"
Before Zoro could finish, the old man cut him off. "My name is Crocus. I'm seventy-one years old, and I'm a doctor."
Sandy, knowing exactly who he was, quickly pulled Zoro back before he lost his temper. He tossed him a cold beer and studied Crocus carefully.
If I remember right… Crocus was the ship's doctor on Gol D. Roger's crew.
The original story didn't show his combat strength, but my Observation Haki tells me… this old man's no joke.
Crocus's gaze lingered on Luffy's straw hat, then shifted to Sandy with mild curiosity.
Feeling uncomfortable under the stare, Sandy snapped, "What are you looking at? If you want a beer, pay up—20 Belly a bottle!"
Duang!
Nami smacked him, grabbed the new bottle of beer, and handed it to Crocus with a sweet smile. "He's joking. Here, uncle!"
Crocus looked at the drink curiously. "I didn't ask for beer, but since you offered…"
He took a sip and his eyes lit up. "This beer is excellent. Can I have another bottle?"
Sandy groaned. "Another bottle? What do you think this is, a free buffet? If you want more, pay Belly! Nami, I'm charging it to you if he drinks more!"
Luffy burst out laughing again. "Uncle, you're too funny! Oh, by the way, can you tell us how to get out of here?"
Crocus pointed casually to a spot near the door. "You can get out from there."
At that moment, the whale suddenly rolled over.
Crocus frowned. "Those Baroque Works bastards must be harassing Laboon again. Damn them…"
Sandy pointed to the man and woman who had just jumped aboard the Merry. "You mean those two?"
They were none other than Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday—better known as Princess Nefeltari Vivi of Alabasta.
Arrogant as ever, the two intruders were swiftly smacked down by Luffy.
Soon after, led by Crocus, everyone exited the stomach of the giant whale, Laboon.
Nami stared at her erratic compass in frustration. "Uncle, is my compass broken?"
Crocus shook his head. "In this sea, common sense doesn't apply. Your compass isn't broken."
Nami frowned thoughtfully. "Then… it's a magnetic field, isn't it?"
Crocus's eyes softened as he glanced at Luffy's hat—Roger's old straw hat. They didn't seem like bad people, and he'd already had their beer, so he didn't mind helping.
"That's right," Crocus explained. "The islands in the Grand Line contain massive magnetic minerals. The entire sea has abnormal magnetic fields. The currents and winds shift constantly. For a navigator, this is hell without the right tools."
Nami nodded gravely. "Yeah. Without a way to navigate, we'd be lost for sure."
Crocus smiled knowingly. "If you want to sail the Grand Line, you'll need a Log Pose."
"Log Pose?" Nami blinked. "Never heard of it."
"It's a special compass that records magnetic fields," Crocus explained patiently.
Once Nami understood, attention turned to the two suspicious guests from Baroque Works. They wanted to return to Whiskey Peak and, without a ship, they could only rely on the Merry.
Usopp demanded, "Who are you two, anyway?"
Mr. 9 replied flatly, "Please take us to Whiskey Peak."
"Where's that?" Nami asked.
"It's our town," Mr. 9 answered.
"And your ship?"
Vivi looked awkward. "It broke."
"You've got some nerve," Nami said sharply. "Mr. 9, weren't you just trying to kill the whale?"
Usopp repeated, "Seriously, who are you guys?"
Mr. 9 puffed out his chest. "I am the King."
Sandy snorted. "Oh sure, and I'm the Pirate King. You want me to toss you into the sea?"
Vivi quickly panicked. "Please don't! I can't tell you anything."
Mr. 9 tried to smooth things over. "We want to go home. It's not like we're trying to be shady…"
Vivi added, "Our organization values secrecy."
Mr. 9 nodded. "So we can't say much."
Vivi smiled faintly. "We're asking for help because we trust your character."
Mr. 9: "We'll repay this debt."
Sandy clapped sarcastically. "Wow! A comedy duo. Luffy, it's your call."
Crocus warned them. "Ignore them. No matter what they say, they're not good people."
After thinking a moment, Luffy grinned. "Let them on. They want to go to Whiskey Peak, right? That's where we'll go."
Usopp was stunned. "Really? We're just taking two shady weirdos with us?"
"What's the big deal?" Luffy said casually. "Don't sweat the small stuff."
Sandy stretched. "Well, Captain's decision stands. Hey, Mr. Whatever-your-number-is, you've got a Log Pose, right?"
Mr. 9 carefully pulled it out. "Take care of it. It's the only one we have. If it breaks—"
Before he could finish, Nami snatched it away. "You talk too much."
"Ohhh…" Mr. 9 whined.
Just then, Laboon's mournful cry echoed again, loud enough to make everyone cover their ears.
The giant whale was ramming the mountain again.
Trouble was far from over.