Choosing a Route, Ace

Crocus told them Laboon's story. After hearing it, they were all deeply moved. They had never expected a whale to possess emotions as complex as a human's.

"Looks like there are still many unsolved mysteries in this world. A whale waited forty-seven years for its companions," Ham said.

"That's amazing. I'm starting to like the big guy. I once saw the smartest Island Whale, but sadly, forty-seven years ago, his companions should have already..." Jelly shook his head.

"Yes, there's no hope left." Crocus took out a newspaper and lay back in a beach chair.

"Not necessarily. There are still plenty of possibilities in this world. Maybe one day in the future, his companions will show up," Rogge said with a smile.

Cook shook his head. "That was forty-seven years ago. Those people were already in their thirties or forties back then. Even if they're alive now, they'd be in their eighties or nineties. How could they still sail? Besides, Mr. Crocus said they received news of them back then. Everyone in the crew was wiped out on the Grand Line."

"Are you a devil? It's such a touching and loyal story, yet you insist on saying something so cruel!" Jelly glared at Ham and roared.

"The world is full of wonders," Ares marveled.

"Oh, I see it. You lot have some nerve, daring to attack Heavenly Tribute." After reading the newspaper for a while, Crocus suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

"Isn't that newspaper from ages ago?" Cook asked.

"Sometimes I stay inside Laboon, so I miss some news. That's why I asked the News Coo to deliver newspapers to me on time. The money is in that box. They leave the paper and take the money with them." Crocus pointed to a corner, where there was a mailbox and a box filled with Beli coins.

"Sigh, we have a pet on our ship too. It would be nice if it had feelings like Laboon," Rogge sighed.

"Isn't it all because of you, you bastard?" Jelly shouted at Rogge.

Taking care of Billy was no easy task. That dog was simply too stupid.

"If we run into them on our journey, we'll tell them Laboon is still waiting for them," Rogge said with a smile.

"It would be nice if you could. I went to sea back then too, but I never found them," Crocus said.

"Oh, Mr. Crocus went to sea too?" Ham asked in surprise.

"What? You don't recognize who this old man is?" Rogge let out a soft laugh.

"What is it? Does Mr. Crocus have some other identity?" Jelly and the others looked at Rogge in confusion.

Rogge stared at Crocus, and their gazes met.

Rogge smiled. "If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Crocus was once the ship's doctor aboard Pirate King Roger's ship, right?"

"What?" Cook and the other three cried out.

"How the hell did you know that?" Crocus stared at Rogge.

"There are indeed some things I know, but I can't tell you exactly how I know them." Rogge smiled.

Crocus looked at Rogge, then finally leaned back in his beach chair. "That's right, I was indeed aboard that ship back then. Kid, don't talk so big. If they could be found, I would have found them long ago. We even reached Laugh Tale, but finding someone on the sea is just too difficult."

"Laugh Tale, the location of the legendary One Piece... Crocus, the One Piece really exists..." Jelly said excitedly.

"Jelly, enough." Rogge lowered his head and shouted, stopping Jelly's questions.

Ham walked over, placed a hand on Jelly's shoulder, and smiled. "Does it matter whether the One Piece exists? The captain's dream isn't the One Piece."

Jelly came back to his senses, stared at Rogge, and took a deep breath. "Why the hell are you shouting so loudly!!!"

"Old man, recommend a route for us. Oh, and I want to go to Sky Island. You should have a suitable route to recommend, considering you must have gone up there back then," Rogge said.

"Sky Island? We visited quite a few Sky Islands back then. Which one do you want to go to?" Crocus said calmly. He did not dare look at Rogge now. This guy seemed to know far too much about them, and Crocus suspected it had something to do with his old comrades.

"The one with the bell," Rogge said.

"You even know about that?" Crocus widened his eyes at Rogge.

"I know a few things." Rogge shrugged.

"Fine. Take this route. It will bring you to the Kingdom of Alabasta. Continue along the route from Alabasta, and you should encounter Sky Island. But after leaving Sky Island, you'll probably change routes again." Crocus pointed toward a spot along the shore.

A Log Pose could make a choice here at the Red Line. How could the Roger Pirates, who had once searched the entire world for every Poneglyph, have never visited Alabasta? Luffy and the others changed routes at Garden and headed for Alabasta. Then they followed Alabasta's route to Jaya Island before going up to Sky Island.

The old man truly had not deceived them. He had not recommended Whiskey Peak.

If they went through Whiskey Peak, they would probably have to seek out Crocodile's subordinates and get an Eternal Pose to Alabasta from them.

If they took this route, Rogge might choose to visit Garden and see the giants.

But an adventure had to be their own adventure. Luffy and the others had their adventure; Rogge saw no need to follow someone else's route.

"Cook, is the ship all right?" Rogge asked.

"It's fine. I just need to patch up the railing," Cook said.

"We can set sail once I've stored the record." Ham held the Log Pose in his hand.

"I'm going to prepare a grand feast. We're setting out to conquer the Grand Line, so we have to celebrate!" Jelly said with a grin.

Ares said, "I-I'll watch..."

Rogge went fishing, Ares went to feed the dog, and everyone else had their own tasks. Crocus looked at the others before finally sitting beside Rogge with a fishing rod, joining him.

"Not long ago, I met another pirate who was rather different. You people are somewhat like him, but your ambition is greater," Crocus said.

"Oh? Is there another strong pirate crew?" Rogge tilted his head. Other than themselves, he could not think of anyone else who could become this year's super rookie.

"A Logia Fruit user from the East Blue. His name is Portgas D. Ace," Crocus said.

"Fire Fist Ace," Rogge murmured.

"Looks like you know him. Perhaps you'll become rivals someday. But your chosen routes won't cross unless you both reach Sabaody at the same time," Crocus said.

"This wasn't arranged by you, was it?" Rogge stared at Crocus.