The Unconventional Route: Twin Ship Spirits

New World, on the sea.

"Yes, Zephyr has already given me half of 'that thing'."

On the deck of the flagship of the Fleet 211, 'Roman' was talking to Den Den Mushi on the Den Den Akainu.

"Don't worry, there are many people in this world who can defeat me, but there are only a few who can take things from me... I can't say there aren't any, but at most there are only a few."

"Be careful... never mind, I'll have Kizaru come pick you up."

"OK."

After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, 'Roman' walked directly to the cabin. As soon as the door closed, a group of second-generation officers on the deck immediately let out a series of 'hehehehe' sounds that only men understand.

"Tsk tsk tsk, if it weren't for the fact that the boss's Life Return technique is so advanced, wouldn't he have been exhausted to death?"

"Healthy kidneys, strong kidneys!"

"You guys think, when the boss went to see Zephyr before, did he have Rear Admiral Ain use the 'Return-Return Fruit' on him? Otherwise, how could he have regained his virility so quickly? Hehehe~~~"

Ah, this...

The other second-generation rich kids were stunned. They never expected this guy with the thick eyebrows and big eyes to be so...

"You guys, if you're so free, come and spar with me."

Isca walked over with a cold expression, her gloved fingers landing on the hilt of the knife at her waist, instantly silencing the group of second-generation rich kids.

What sparring? What sparring? Just getting beaten up, who would do that?

"I'll do it!"

Borgin flicked his blond hair, revealing a hearty smile.

However, the other second-generation members simply clasped their hands in silent mourning: Brother Borgin, rest in peace.

Beneath the ocean of the New World.

"Hmm, it's been two years since I took a bath on the Sunny Merry."

Nami lay lazily in the bathtub, nestled in the bubbles, next to a hazy child wearing a raincoat.

'Nami, is it really okay for us not to keep an eye on things from outside?'

That's right! This is the Straw Hat crew's least noticeable yet omnipresent 'partner': the Ship Spirit 'Merry'!

"It's alright, Roman is here. And all we need to do is follow the ocean current forward."

········

But Mr. Roman has entered 'daydreaming mode' again.

Merry was speechless, and could only hope that nothing unexpected would happen while Nami was taking a bath. But then again:

"Hurry up, Usopp!"

"Don't rush, how can you fish deep-sea without making the line secure?"

If Usopp used to be the one tearfully trying to dissuade people from such suicidal behavior as fishing for giant fish, now that he's become "skilled and daring," he's joined the ranks of those courting death.

"Oh, you all look very happy."

Robin and Franky watched the show from the sidelines. Although the two 'adults' wouldn't participate in such a dangerous activity, they were perfectly capable of helping out.

"Hehe, when I came here I was only thinking about visiting Fish-Man Island, I didn't think about this at all."

"That's because Roman and Nami were there at the time..."

Chopper pinpointed the root cause of everyone's "self-destructive" behavior: Nami was taking a bath, and although Roman was sailing the ship, everyone knew he had entered "AFK mode" again.

"This time we must catch a deep-sea fish, and then Sanji will cook it for everyone when we reach the surface!"

"Great idea! To commemorate entering the 'New World,' let's have a drink..."

Zoro looked up at the strange fish with its claws outstretched outside the ship's side;

"Fry this."

Luffy pointed to another deep-sea fish that looked like an old man;

"This would taste amazing with the sauce,"

Usopp gestured to a long, winding, snake-like fish;

"This would be perfect for making grilled fish fillets..."

"Fine, whatever kind of Sanji it is, I'll definitely be able to make it delicious!"

Luffy stretched his shoulders, and then:

"Gomu Gomu no Jet Pistol!"

The fist pierced through the bubble enveloping the Sunny Merry and slammed into the old fish's head with terrifying force. Although there was no external injury, the fish's brain had been turned into a paste by the penetrating force of the fist, killing the fish, which was about the same size as the Sunny Merry, on the spot.

"Quick, Usopp! Pull it back."

"Isn't it a little too big?"

Despite saying that, Usopp still picked up a giant slingshot, easily shot the huge iron hook with the rope attached into the monster fish's mouth, and then began pulling the rope back:

"But this fish... it looks like an old man..."

Normally, fishing ends here.

But how could it be a "normal situation" when the Straw Hat crew, a group of people with "monster-attracting" physiques, are gathered together?

A huge, dark figure swam over, opened its mouth full of sharp teeth, and swallowed the 'old man fish' whole!

"Ah, our fish have been eaten as bait..."

Luffy chuckled in response to Usopp's words.

"Don't panic, buy one get one free!"

Boom!!

However, the next second, another, even larger figure swam over and swallowed the pitch-black monster fish whole!

"Ah, our bait, along with the fish, has been eaten again..."

In response to Chopper's words, Luffy crouched on the ship's railing.

"Don't panic, buy one get two free!"

·······

"No, no! The boat is going to capsize!!"

Finally, this fish was practically a Sea King, and with a single struggle, the entire Sunny Merry was dragged off course! Nami, in the bathtub, rubbed her forehead.

"I have a feeling Luffy and his gang are up to their old tricks again..."

'They're fishing, but that fish... it's huge. Is this really okay, Nami?'

"Leave it to them."

On the deck, Zoro flicked his thumb, Wado Ichimonji at his waist was suddenly drawn.

"One-Sword Style: 360 Pound Phoenix!"

The blade flashed like lightning, unleashing a chilling aura that soared into the sky before being restrained by Zoro! With a single forward swing, a vacuum was created in the vast ocean!

The Flying Slash into a straight line, instantly piercing the Sea King's head! Minimizing any impact on the bubbles encasing the Sunny Merry.

"Deep-sea fish dishes? I'm itching to try them too."

As Sanji emerged from the kitchen, Luffy flashed a "V" sign.

"He has two more in his belly."

"By the way, is this ship moving forward?" Usopp noticed a blind spot. "I feel like it's sinking."

That's just your imagination.

·······

Open eyes--

When Roman, who was at the bow and helm, finished dealing with the 'matter' and came to his senses:

"Can you explain to me why the ship is sinking?"

Roman sighed silently.

"And why are we next to the 'deep-sea vortex'?"

"What?!"

After being informed by "Merry," Nami, drying her hair as she emerged from the cabin, sighed. In the time it takes for Luffy to take a bath, they'd managed to get the ship to the "White Dragon," a creature rarely seen even once in a century, at the bottom of the sea.

"This is a 'White Dragon,' a massive deep-sea whirlpool. Ships that get caught in it are usually found as wreckage in distant places."

"In short, it's a really amazing ocean current."

Faced with Luffy's 'super smart' expression, Nami was speechless. She turned her head and looked at him:

"Why is our boat being dragged by a huge fish?!"

"This is what we caught—"

"Are you all idiots?! How are we supposed to move such a huge fish? Cut the rope..."

"No!" X4

Nami ignored Luffy, Usopp, Zoro, Sanji, who all looked desperate, and turned to look at Roman was calmly navigating the ship.

"Roman, is it possible to get rid of him?"

Even the 'omnipotent' Roman shook his head when faced with this question.

"No, we're in the deep sea, so most of my methods are useless here. Besides, our ship has already been caught in the deep-sea whirlpool."

"That's settled then, everyone prepare for the impact."

??!!

As the Sea King towed by the Sunny Merry... well, it should be said that the Sea King towing the Sunny Merry were drawn into a massive, winding, dragon-like white vortex, the entire Sunny Merry instantly shrunk like a small paper boat tossed into a washing machine:

Spin, jump, without closing your eyes...

"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!"

Amidst Usopp and Chopper's screams, the Sunny Merry, equally terrified, displayed a meme-worthy expression:

┌(. Д.)┐

Um?

This is·····

' Mr. Roman, it wasn't me.'

Roman nodded as the child in the raincoat next to him shook his head.

It seems that Ship Spirit belonging to the 'Thousand Sunny' are also beginning to emerge. In that case... we need to find a way to get the 'Soul-Soul Fruit ability' from the Big Mom so that 'Merry' and 'Sunny' can appear before everyone.

However, damaging that 'Iron Balloon' is quite difficult.

"Was anyone thrown out just now?"

As the 'Sunny Merry' was swept along by a deep-sea whirlpool and sped into unknown waters, it was finally thrown out by the enormous centrifugal force. Sanji immediately stood up to check the number of people.

"Miss Nami?"

"Exist,"

"Sister Robin?"

"I am here."

"OK, full speed ahead! Get out of this hellhole—"

Why don't you count us?!

Chopper was furious;

"We seven survived, and we're truly sorry!"

Usopp was furious!

"Don't panic," Roman calmly turned the helm. What a joke! When has the Straw Hat crew ever followed the normal path? "It's nothing."

"Hey, hey, hey, this is anything but 'small'..."

Around the Sunny Merry, which had been flung out of the underwater whirlpool, were enormous creatures:

"Laboon?!"

Luffy's eyes popped out of his head in fright!

All around were whales as large as islands! Several of them had huge wounds on their heads—just like Laboon we encountered at Twin Cape.

"Waaaaah, Laboon!!"

Brook burst into tears and tried to rush out, but Usopp quickly pulled him back.

"Calm down! Laboon in the Grand Line, how could he have swum here? These are just normal Island Whale."

"Roman, follow the direction of the Island Whale and let the currents they create carry us for a while."

"OK,"

As the group rode the Island Whale's current upstream, Brook began to sing the melodious song "Sake of Binks," and light shone down from above, then:

Crash!!

The Sunny Merry broke through the sea and reached the open ocean! What awaited them was:

Usopp: "The weather is awful!"

Brook: "Yo ho ho, a downpour!"

Robin: "The wind is howling;"

Franky: "A raging storm!"

Nami: "The pointer has deviated."

Chopper: "Look over there—,"

Sanji: "Flames are rolling,"

Zoro: "It's like the entrance to hell."

Luffy: "Hehehe, just what I wanted!"

Roman: "Very good, let me explain to everyone, this is—?!"

"Please, please stop talking!" X8

Roman was speechless when faced with eight companions simultaneously bending down and extending one hand in a 'no' gesture!

What do you mean? I kindly read you a 'guide,' and you're still so disgusted?!

"Hmph, forget it, Roman."

Nami waved her hand, "If you told me everything, it wouldn't be an adventure."

Nami, having served in the Navy for two years, certainly knew where she was. But adventure is all about the 'unknown,' that's what makes it fun.

"Hehehe, an island full of flames!"

Luffy stood excitedly on the ship's railing.

"I smell adventure!"

... I can only smell the stench of you about to be burned!

Roman rolled his eyes but said nothing more. Instead, he made a rustling sound as he wrapped the sheets of white paper into the shape of a 'White Knight'.

"Roman, what's going on?"

"Don't forget, 'I' should still be with the Navy leading people to catch pirates."

"It didn't matter when we were on Fish-Man Island, but now it's best to appear as the 'White Knight.' Otherwise, it would be terrible if we attracted the Marine Admiral."

The actual situation is:

With Roman, the candidate Admiral, on his island appearance, Roman would probably be so scared that Caesar would immediately pack up his bucket and run away!

That's right, Punk Hazard is right in front of us.

Only the Straw Hat crew, who 'don't follow the usual path,' can come directly to this island.

P. S.: This book is only halfway through, far from the point of celebration...