The Log Pose Trap

Though the Calm Belt was an alternative, Ling Donglai knew it was not so easy to enter.

In the first half of the Grand Line, the only vessels capable of crossing the Calm Belt were Marine warships fitted with Seastone hulls, and Pirate Empress Boa Hancock's Kuja Pirates.

The Kuja Pirates were similar to him, using sea beasts to pull their ships forward. Perhaps aside from the necessary strength, ships pulled by sea beasts could also reduce the hostility of Sea Kings.

"Fresh water, seasonings, long-lasting rations... We should have bought everything we need, right?" Nami asked uncertainly, instinctively looking at Ling Donglai.

"We're still missing a Log Pose," Ling Donglai said after thinking for a moment.

"A Log Pose... What's that?"

Born in the East Blue and having little interest in the Grand Line, it was only natural that Nami did not know.

"It's a necessity on the Grand Line. A Log Pose records the magnetic fields between the islands of the Grand Line, correctly guiding pirates to the next island. Every island has a different magnetic field, and the Log Pose needs to record it for a period of time before it can point to the next island once it is fully charged. If you arrive at another island without reaching the one indicated by the Log Pose, its magnetic field will be replaced. There's also something called an Eternal Pose... It seems to be a pointer that permanently records an island's coordinates and won't change because of other factors."

"So that's how it is..." Nami nodded, then followed the map of Loguetown to find shops that sold Log Poses.

"I didn't expect selling Log Poses to be a monopoly in Loguetown. There are only two shops selling them," Nami remarked, mentally preparing herself to be ripped off.

Rare goods were valuable. With only two shops in all of Loguetown selling these things, it showed just how scarce they were.

They first went to the nearest shop, but it was far quieter than Nami had imagined.

With such monopolized yet essential supplies, there should have been plenty of buyers. Why was it so deserted?

"Something seems off."

Ling Donglai placed a hand on Nami's shoulder and spoke softly.

The moment he entered the shop, more eyes around them turned toward him.

At six foot three, he stood out in Loguetown, where most people were of average height, but not to any extraordinary degree.

There was no reason for the number of gazes directed at him to suddenly increase.

The only possibility was that his actions had crossed some invisible line, making him stand out like a crane among chickens.

Nami remained calm. "Boss, how much is a Log Pose?"

"Hahaha, another rich fool who wants to head to the Grand Line. A blank Log Pose costs one million Beli!" The chubby shopkeeper slowly raised one finger.

"What... That expensive? Why don't you just rob us?!" Nami instinctively jumped up.

Even though she had prepared herself, she could not help being shocked by the price of a Log Pose that had not been part of their purchasing plans.

That was one million Beli. Even if she became a thief, who knew how long it would take her to save that much money.

"Hahaha, listen to you. Could robbery make money as quickly as I do?" The shopkeeper revealed a contemptuous expression.

"You want to go to the Grand Line, yet you can't even come up with one million Beli. You'd only be going there to die. Besides, the other shop charges the same price. This is illegal merchandise banned by the Marines, hahahaha... If you buy it on the black market, money won't be your only problem, hahahaha..."

The shopkeeper looked as if he had them completely in his grasp.

"Oh, and if you buy from me, I'll throw in some information about the Grand Line. It's very helpful for newcomers. Plenty of rookie pirates without any information died the moment they rode the Knock Up Stream up there!"

"Don't be hotheaded idiots. For the sake of your own lives, doesn't one million sound pretty cheap?"

"Besides..." The shopkeeper rested three fingers on the table and kept tapping them.

"You'd better be quick when buying illegal goods, or you won't be able to buy them at all... Hahahaha..."

"The saddest thing is having money... but no life left to spend it." The shopkeeper took out a Log Pose and played with it in his palm.

"Noticed newcomers asking about Log Poses, suspected of intending to enter the Grand Line. Identity confirmed: the sea fighter with a bounty of thirty million Beli. Under close surveillance..."

"What do we do? We don't seem to have that much money..." Nami poked Ling Donglai's abs, interrupting his Observation Haki sensing.

They simply did not have enough money for a Log Pose worth one million Beli.

"If I'd known, I would've bought fewer clothes..." Nami looked at the goods being carried outside the shop by a horse-drawn carriage.

"Forget this so-called Log Pose for now. We need to leave." Ling Donglai took Nami's hand, lifted her onto the carriage, then cracked the whip.

"Hyah!"

The carriage immediately raced down the street.

The purpose of the Marine office in Loguetown was to intercept rookie pirates heading for the Grand Line and cut off the pirates' fresh blood.

Ling Donglai had initially thought the Marines were too lazy to deal with the pirates filling the streets. He had not expected them to hold them up over Log Poses instead.

It made sense. If they did not know about Log Poses and recklessly pressed onward, nine times out of ten they would be buried by the Grand Line's strange and ever-changing weather, losing their way.

Such pirates were nothing to worry about.

"Who the hell are you? You've got some nerve, racing a carriage down this street!"

There were simply too many pirates in Loguetown. Several sword-wielding pirates on the road were displeased by Ling Donglai's arrogant behavior and directly blocked the carriage's path.

"Move!" Ling Donglai stretched out a hand, and a lightning whip lashed out, tearing their flesh open.

"Bastard! You dared attack men from the Gale Pirates? You've got a death wish!"

It was like poking a hornet's nest. The entire street immediately descended into chaos.

Pirates were pirates. When no one provoked them, they could behave themselves in town, but once someone did, they ignited at the slightest spark.

First, members of the Gale Pirates began shoving people aside as they chased after Ling Donglai. Before long, one of those being shoved swung his blade back at them. "The hell are you pushing me for? You tired of living?!"

The chaos instantly spread.

"A pirate with a thirty-million-Beli bounty caused a major disturbance? Then put it down immediately."

At the Marine office, the colonel who received the report unhurriedly put on his Marine uniform. He did not even button it, merely bit down on a cigar, then mounted his beloved motorcycle and set off.

Behind him, white smoke filled the air as squads of Marines began moving out to capture those pirates who did not know their place.

With this colonel from Headquarters here, mere pirates would be suppressed with a wave of his hand!