Knock, knock, knock—
The study door was tapped gently. Warm yellow light cast a silhouette on the wall.
"Come in."
Nami set down the completed drawings, took off her glasses, and rubbed her eyes. She took a deep breath, raised her arms, and stretched.
"Mmm~~, whew—"
After stretching, Nami started tidying the drawings and documents scattered across the desk, stacking the thick pile of papers in neat order.
After twelve years spent roaming the world from the small Sky Island of Visseria, she had finally finished drawing and organizing charts for every route along the Grand Line, including every island along the way.
She had personally surveyed and carefully mapped every chart. Each one also included a set of sailing guidelines prepared by Visseria's meteorologists after extensive study of local weather patterns.
The stack of charts in her hands was no exaggeration to call priceless.
Once she'd finished organizing the documents, Nami leaned back in her chair and let out a satisfied sigh.
Next, she planned to publish the material as a book and share this invaluable knowledge with the whole world. When that happened, the Grand Line would no longer be known as a "graveyard."
More importantly...
"I'll be able to make tons and tons of money."
Nami covered her mouth with both hands, tears of joy streaming down her face.
Just imagining her book being treated as scripture by navigators across the seas, and selling out the instant it was released, made her eyes turn into little symbols of money.
"Looks like you've finished organizing your Grand Line Sailing Guide."
Lina approached from behind and gently wrapped his arms around Nami, resting his chin lightly against her orange hair.
"Congratulations in advance on becoming the first navigator to go down in history."
"Mhm~"
Nami smiled happily, her eyes narrowing. She reached back and hooked an arm around Lina's neck, then gently rubbed her cheek against him. A cool sensation soothed her.
"With all this information, you can speed up your railway network plan quite a bit, too."
Nami closed her eyes, looking a little tired, and rested her head on Lina's shoulder. A trace of contentment crossed her face as she said,
"Maybe we really can cover more than ninety percent of the islands along the Grand Line with the Sea Train within twenty years."
"...Twenty years, thirty years—it'll happen someday. Maybe even sooner."
Lina smiled and nodded.
Six years ago, Vegapunk had already designed the Sea Train to withstand any environment and climate.
Later, the Black Snake Trading Company acquired the Galley-La Company in Water 7.
After countless rounds of testing and improvement, they finally completed the railway along the route Lina and the others had traveled last year, and successfully ran the entire line using the Rampaging Rocket Man.
Starting at Twin Capes, the route passed through Drum Island and Alabasta...
All the way to the Sabaody Archipelago, trade along the entire line had flourished under the Black Snake Trading Company's management.
With all the experience and technology they'd accumulated, and now Nami's charts covering every island on the Grand Line, connecting the entire Grand Line by rail within twenty years was entirely possible.
Poor Krista, though.
By the time she came of age and set sail as a pirate, who knew whether ships would still be a popular means of transportation on the Grand Line?
Carl and Krista had already gone to bed. Nami peeked through the door crack to check on them before returning to her bedroom to get some rest.
"By my calculations, we should reach the Sabaody Archipelago tomorrow morning. I wonder how everyone's been doing lately."
Pff—pff—!
She patted her fluffy pillow, lay down, and pulled up the covers, scooting closer to Lina.
"It's been half a year since we last got a letter, hasn't it? I heard Little Randy's already able to help out with the restaurant."
"It's been two or three years since we last saw them, I think. Time really flies. If not for Luffy's wedding, it might've been another three or five years before we all got together again."
Lina smiled and gazed quietly at the ceiling.
Not long after reaching Laugh Tale twelve years ago, the Straw Hat Pirates announced their disbandment, having completed their extraordinary voyage around the Grand Line. Before long, they went their separate ways and began their respective lives in retirement.
Luffy and Uta returned to Foosha Village for a while. They'd received a few letters from Uta since, and the two had set off on another voyage across the seas.
Uta had started her own company and toured all over the world.
Usopp had also returned home and had been living in Syrup Village ever since.
Zoro disappeared for quite a while. Every so often, rumors would surface about a certain Three-Sword Style Swordsman and Princess Ghost duo fighting for justice.
Then, a few years ago, a letter from bos mentioned that Zoro had settled down in the Sabaody Archipelago. Tired of running out of money for drinks every other day, he'd opened an izakaya on Grove 41.
It was easy to guess how well that would do. He mostly kept the place running by moonlighting as a bounty hunter (which was actually his main job), but he was living comfortably enough.
Lina and Nami, meanwhile, stayed on the small Sky Island of Visseria, flying all over the world. Nami pursued her dream of charting the seas, while Lina built and ran his Black Snake Trading Company.
Sanji and bos had opened a new sea restaurant. They'd originally planned to set it up in East Blue, but Boss Zeff had kicked them out for stealing his business.
Now their restaurant was near the Sabaody Archipelago. As the final meeting point for the seven routes of the Grand Line's first half, it had access to top-quality ingredients from around the world. With Sanji and bos's cooking, it was no surprise that business was booming.
Though apparently they didn't make much money, since most of their revenue went to charity. They'd even founded a charity called Justice of Chefs, dedicated to helping people around the world who couldn't afford food.
Lina's Black Snake Trading Company, Nami's royalties from her published knowledge, Uta's music company, and the sea railway company established by Franky, Vegapunk, and the Galley-La shipyards all contributed large sums to the charity each year.
Chopper had returned to Drum Island to care for Doctor Kureha in her old age while helping the country develop its medical industry.
Drum Island had now regained its former glory and become one of the world's leading nations. It was remarkable that a Winter Island with few natural resources had come so far through technology alone.
Robin had chosen a life of traveling alone, continuing to seek out the voices of history buried around the world. She'd also become a well-known archaeologist.
As for Franky, he'd naturally returned to Water 7. Leading his old crew and working alongside his idol, Vegapunk, he was pursuing his dream of "changing the world with technology"—mainly battle robots.
The Galley-La Company had been entrusted with most of the work to spread the Sea Train.
As for Brook, he'd naturally returned to Twin Capes to fulfill a promise that had lasted half a century.
He lived with Laboon and Uncle Crocus for a while. Later, when Uta started her company, she recruited all three of them. The four of them and one whale then set off on a world tour.
"And just like that, twelve years have passed..."
Lina felt a flood of emotion.
They'd spent these years flying all over the world, and now and then they'd visited the others along the way. But after retiring, everyone had been busy with their own lives, and there'd hardly been any chance for them all to get together again.
Everyone must've heard about Luffy and Uta's wedding and come this time.
Nami rolled over and climbed onto Lina's chest, sighing in a grumble.
"What am I supposed to do, Lina? I'm so excited about seeing everyone tomorrow that I can't sleep."
"..."
Lina shot her a speechless glance. "I'm tired."
"Cut the crap. Get up, now."
Before you continue