"Uh... I actually have a few questions I'd like to ask you."
Raiden Ei was direct and stated her purpose. She knew his background, and for someone who had seen major events, telling the truth might be more effective than holding a knife to his throat.
"Oh? Haha, there's actually something this old man can help with. Tell me about it. Although I'm just the lighthouse keeper of Twin Capes and don't know much, I will certainly tell you whatever I know."
Crocus laughed even more heartily than before.
"I see you've been here at the entrance to the Grand Line for a long time! I've only just arrived here and am not very familiar with the situation on the Grand Line. Could you explain the conditions of the Grand Line to me?"
"Of course. The Grand Line is extended by seven magnetic lines. You can choose any one here, but no matter which island the magnetic line starts from, once you choose, you cannot change it. You can only proceed island by island along the route.
"That's why, due to the influence of magnetism, ordinary compasses cannot determine direction on the Grand Line. The most important thing for sailing on the Grand Line is the log pose.
"It is a special needle that can store the magnetic direction pointing to the next island. Do you have a log pose?"
"Uh... I have one, it's this one."
Hearing Crocus's question, Raiden Ei pretended to take out her log pose from the small bag at her waist.
She didn't hand it over to him immediately but looked at it herself. As she turned the needle left and right, it pointed in one direction, causing her to breathe a sigh of relief—thankfully, it wasn't fake.
She handed the needle to Crocus, intending for him to help check if there were any issues with the log pose so she could be mentally prepared.
"This log pose was moving erratically when I was in Loguetown. I thought it was broken. Can you help me check if there's anything wrong with this needle?"
Crocus took the needle from Raiden Ei's hand, turned it up, down, left, and right, and only returned it after confirming there were no issues.
"There's nothing wrong with this log pose. Perhaps it hasn't entered the magnetic field of the Grand Line yet, so it hasn't reacted. I've always been on the Grand Line and haven't been to the Four Seas, so I don't know much about these things.
"But this log pose is fine. As long as you choose a route, it will point you to the next island. However, upon reaching the next island, it will take anywhere from a few hours to several months for the log pose's magnetism to recharge, only then can you depart for the next island."
"Then how should I choose a route? Can you point out which seven routes they are for me?"
Raiden Ei used this as an opportunity to directly ask about the matter she was most concerned about.
"As long as you hold the log pose and stand at the intersection of the seven routes, it will show a directional tendency. You can distinguish which seven routes they are one by one, and then choose one to proceed. However, the weather on the Grand Line is unpredictable, so you must prepare early. Sudden snow, thunder, or hail are all common occurrences."
Raiden Ei understood Crocus's explanation and now knew how to proceed: "Alright, I know all this. Thank you for explaining; this has solved a lot of trouble for me.
"What are you doing here now? Is there anything I can help you with?"
Crocus touched the headscarf tied around his head: "No need. I am just treating its injuries. I haven't introduced him to you yet.
"This whale is named Laboon. Due to some events, he crashes into the Red Line every day, and his injuries have never healed."
Raiden Ei looked at the still-bleeding wound not far away. She felt she couldn't help much. She wasn't some hot-blooded protagonist, nor did she possess an imposing aura that could make people believe her with a single word.
She was also reluctant to stay here pointlessly to comfort him. If simple comforting worked, Crocus would have done it long ago, and he might not even want her to stay here.
At worst, she could bring Brook back here when she met him later. She didn't really want to seek him out proactively: "Well then! Old sir, I can't help much here. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now. I won't delay you in treating its wounds."
Seeing that Raiden Ei genuinely held no malice toward him or Laboon, Crocus gained a bit of understanding of her character and decided to ask for a favor, even if the hope was slim.
"Uh... actually, I do have one thing I need to ask of you. Are you willing to listen?"
Raiden Ei knew from Crocus's expression that it must be about Laboon and Brook. She nodded. What choice did she have but to listen? He had just told her so much about the Grand Line, although she already knew most of it.
Seeing that Raiden Ei had agreed, Crocus told her everything about the Rumbar Pirate Crew and Laboon: "I hope that if you happen to meet them, regardless of their current situation or location, please convey a message for me: Laboon is still waiting for them."
Raiden Ei was'stabbed' again in person, but thankfully, she had experienced many things in this world: "I can. If I see them, I will definitely bring them back here."
"Hahaha, thank you for your help. I won't keep you from continuing your voyage on the Grand Line any longer."
Crocus laughed louder than before.
Given the personality Crocus was showing now, it was hard for Raiden Ei to reconcile him with the old man in the anime who was constantly stern, bad-tempered, and liked to talk to himself. Was this the disparity of the world? She didn't quite understand.
"Goodbye then."
Raiden Ei did not linger. Using 'Geppo,' she headed directly toward the Grand Line. She still needed to experiment with the seven routes. The sky was nearly dark now.
Crocus watched Raiden Ei go, touching the headscarf on his head: "Speaking of which, why is she always flying in the sky! Doesn't she need to take her ship?"
...However, on the other side at the entrance to the Grand Line, three warships were blocking the entrance. Two of them were patrolling the sea surface, and on the central warship...
Sengoku stared at the surging sea before him and sighed. When he turned, he saw Garp lying on a nearby chair, fast asleep. Veins bulged on his forehead.
Ignoring his own injuries, he shouted directly at the sleeping Garp: "Garp! You are here to carry out a mission, not to sleep! Get up!"
Garp was instantly startled awake. Seeing it was only Sengoku shouting, he didn't care and lay back down, preparing to sleep again, not forgetting to reply: "Mission? Isn't someone already handling things here? Just call me if anything happens. I'm going to sleep a little longer."
Sengoku was truly furious. Seeing him lie down and fall asleep made his anger surge: "Have you forgotten the order given to you by the Fleet Admiral?"
Seeing that Garp was still sleeping, he stopped bothering with him. He found a chair and lay down to sleep too. Why should he, an injured person, worry so much? He wasn't the Fleet Admiral.
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