Log Pose

With Crocus's guidance, Mark set his next destination on Solomon Shipyard.

According to Crocus, the shipbuilding techniques there were no worse than those of Water 7.

Moreover, Crocus knew one of the shipwrights at Solomon Shipyard, who had once been fellow disciples with Tom of Water 7.

Hearing this, Mark immediately perked up.

Tom of Water 7.

He was Water 7's master shipbuilder and held the blueprints for the Ancient Weapon Pluton.

Could his fellow disciple also know something about Pluton?

Or perhaps... he had seen Pluton's blueprints and possessed some advanced shipbuilding techniques.

In any case, Mark was very interested in this man.

At the banquet, to express his gratitude to Crocus, Mark brought down more ingredients from the ship and made several of his signature dishes.

Everyone was delighted, especially Crocus.

Although he had joined Roger's ship rather late, he had gotten along very well with all the crew members.

From him, Mark learned some embarrassing stories about Gaban, making everyone burst into laughter.

However, one thing caught Mark's attention: when Crocus heard about Mark's Devil Fruit ability, a grave expression appeared on his face.

"The Dark-Dark Fruit..." Crocus looked at Mark solemnly. "Can you show me your ability?"

Seeing Crocus's expression, Mark was somewhat confused.

After thinking it over, he still used the Dark-Dark Fruit's power.

After seeing it, Crocus's grave expression did not change. "It really is the Dark-Dark Fruit, that evil ability..."

"Evil?" Mark asked in confusion. How could a Devil Fruit ability be evil or not evil?

Daisy and Chiu Chiu also looked puzzled, not knowing why Crocus would say that.

After pondering for a moment, Crocus said to Mark:

"Do you know why the Dark-Dark Fruit is hailed as the most vicious Devil Fruit in history?"

After thinking for a moment, Mark answered, "Because its user can't turn into an element? And because of its powerful darkness?"

"No!" Crocus denied it.

He rose to his feet, walked to the shore, and looked out over the sea. After a quiet moment, he said:

"The Dark-Dark Fruit's most vicious aspect is not whether its power is strong. Its true evil lies in its ability to seize other people's powers."

After taking a deep breath, Crocus continued:

"Someone with this ability can quickly form a pirate crew made entirely of Devil Fruit Users. And because those stolen abilities can be selected, the crew members' Devil Fruit powers are often extremely strong."

"And this ability will also cause countless innocent people to die!"

A complicated look flashed through Crocus's eyes as he looked at Mark.

And once, someone had used this ability to create an incomparably powerful pirate crew.

Possessing such an ability, that man had also developed ambitions of overturning the world.

Unfortunately... he had failed.

Crocus had never expected that, after so many years, he would see this Devil Fruit again—and in the son of an old friend.

After hearing Crocus's words, Mark fell silent for quite a while.

So that was the ability he meant.

After obtaining the Dark-Dark Fruit, Mark had known how to use that ability. He simply had never used it on a Devil Fruit User until now.

"Crocus, this fruit's power is very strong, isn't it?"

"The Devil Fruit ability is indeed powerful..." Crocus said.

"Then if I ate such a powerful fruit and gained greater strength, there's nothing wrong with that, is there?" Mark also looked out at the sea.

"This is my qualification to climb to the summit. This ability can help me, and it will only help me."

His tone was exceptionally firm.

Crocus looked at Mark in surprise.

Only then did he realize that he had underestimated this little fellow before him.

The Dark-Dark Fruit might be powerful, but this little fellow was clearly even more powerful.

Still... he hoped what had happened to that man would not be repeated in this little fellow.

"We're leaving, Crocus!"

The three of them stood on the deck and waved goodbye to Crocus, though Mark felt as if he had forgotten something.

Crocus waved back at them. Then, as though recalling something, he said:

"You don't have a Log Pose yet, do you?"

Only then did Mark remember what he had forgotten: he had forgotten to ask Crocus about a Log Pose.

Hearing Crocus bring it up, Mark quickly nodded.

"No. Crocus, do you have one?"

"I happen to have one here. I have no use for it staying here, so I'll give it to you!"

Crocus pulled out a Log Pose the size of a pocket watch from his floral shirt and tossed it to Mark.

Mark caught it and wiped away some of its mottled rust.

This Log Pose looked rather old. He thanked Crocus.

"Thank you, Crocus!"

"Goodbye. Be careful on the way."

"Goodbye!"

After bidding farewell to Crocus, Mark and the others headed straight for Solomon Shipyard.

Their most urgent task was to solve the problem with their pirate ship. He truly feared that one storm would destroy the Moss right there.

With the Log Pose, Mark and the others arrived safely at Solomon Shipyard.

Although it was only around ten nautical miles from Twin Cape, they encountered a small hailstorm on the way.

One moment, the sky had been cloudless; the next, dark clouds had filled it.

Fortunately, the hail was not large, and they barely made it through.

However, the bow and cabin had also been battered full of small holes.

By the time they reached Solomon Shipyard, the pirate ship was already in a terrible state.

"Are you here to repair your ship?"

When the Moss sailed into the entrance of Solomon Island, a middle-aged man stood there, holding an iron bar and a hammer. He wore reddish-brown clothes, had graying hair, and extraordinarily large eyes.

Seeing the man's attire, Mark roughly guessed his identity.

A shipwright from the island?

Mark asked, "We're not here to repair the ship. Do you know Jerry? I'd like to ask the old gentleman to help build us a ship."

Jerry was the man Crocus had mentioned, a shipwright of exceptional skill and Tom's fellow disciple.

"You know Master Jerry?" the middle-aged man asked when Mark immediately asked for Jerry.

"I do." Mark nodded.

"Jerry is your master?" Mark asked in surprise.

"Yes!" The middle-aged man nodded with a smile.

When the middle-aged man heard that Mark had come to ask Jerry to build a ship and that he knew Jerry, his attitude immediately became much warmer.

"I'll take you to Master Jerry right away!"

The middle-aged man was extremely enthusiastic.

After Mark and the others moored the Moss, he led them into Solomon Island.

Solomon Island was, in its entirety, a shipyard.

Everywhere on the island were ships under construction or already scrapped, as well as many busy shipwrights, pirates, and merchants.

The island's shipbuilding industry looked enormous.