“Cough, then what kind of gift do you want?”
Kaguya coughed lightly and looked at Nami.
“Shouldn’t you be the one to think of that?
Only then can your sincerity be seen~”
Nami winked craftily, a playful smile hanging on the corner of her lips.
Kaguya thought for a moment and had an idea.
“I’ve got it.
Follow me.”
Kaguya led the two girls through the bustling streets to the most prosperous commercial district in Loguetown.
He stopped in front of an old shop.
“This is the largest nautical supply store in Loguetown.
You’re so talented as a navigator; we can find the perfect gift for you here.”
Kaguya pushed open the door, and a faint scent of sandalwood wafted out.
As soon as Nami entered, her eyes were drawn to the various precision nautical instruments displayed in the window.
“Boss, you should have a Log Pose for the Grand Line here, right?”
The boss, who had been watching the three with a smile, froze.
“Young man, have you been to the Grand Line?”
“What?
Does a boss need to pry into a customer’s background to sell something?”
Kaguya asked back with a faint smile.
The boss rubbed his hands with a sheepish grin.
“That’s not what I meant.
It’s just…”
He lowered his voice.
“The Marine has been conducting strict inspections lately, and this kind of special merchandise…”
Thud
A thick stack of Berries was thrown onto the counter.
“Is this enough?”
The boss’s eyes immediately lit up with a golden glow.
“Enough, enough, enough!
I’ll go get it for you right away, distinguished guest.”
“No rush.
Do you have any eternal poses for the Grand Line?”
“It seems our guest is an expert…”
The boss wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and turned toward the back room.
“These things aren’t easy to find; let me check the inventory.”
“Kaguya, what are these Log Poses and eternal poses you’re talking about?”
“A Log Pose is similar to a compass.
However, the magnetic fields in the Grand Line are chaotic, so a normal compass won’t work there.
Only a Log Pose can provide direction.
An eternal pose is a special type of Log Pose that always points to a specific island, which is why it’s called an eternal pose.” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“So that’s how it is.
But why are you buying these?
Are we going to the Grand Line?”
“Not for now, but we’ll go eventually.”
“You’re leaving the East Blue?”
Nojiko asked with some surprise, her fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes.
Kaguya’s gaze drifted past the dazzling array of nautical instruments to the clouds floating outside the window.
“The East Blue is too small, and there are few strong people.
If I want to become stronger, I must enter the Grand Line.”
His voice was soft, yet it carried an unquestionable firmness.
“But you’re already very strong.
Even the Arlong Pirates were no match for you.”
Nojiko’s voice carried a hint of confusion and worry.
She looked at Kaguya’s resolute profile, trying to find an answer in his expression.
Kaguya withdrew his gaze, the corners of his mouth curving slightly into a faint smile.
“The Arlong Pirates are just small fry in the East Blue.
In the Grand Line, enemies stronger than them are everywhere.
I want to challenge a wider world and see true powerhouses.”
Nojiko was silent for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
She sighed softly but quickly revealed a gentle smile.
“Since you’ve made up your mind, Nami and I will definitely support you.”
“Sister, you…”
Nami looked at Nojiko in surprise.
If Kaguya was going to the Grand Line, she would certainly follow.
After all, she herself already belonged to Kaguya.
But from what Nojiko said, it sounded like she intended to come along too.
“Silly sister, you’re my only family.
Do you really think I’d let you go on an adventure with Kaguya alone?
Rather than staying at home worrying about you, I’d rather face the danger together with you.”
After speaking, Nojiko looked at Kaguya.
“Kaguya, you won’t mind me being a burden, will you?”
Kaguya took Nojiko’s hand and placed it on his chest.
“Of course not.
Having you willing to adventure with me is my good fortune.”
Just then, the boss came out carrying a wooden box.
“These are all the Log Poses and eternal poses in this shop.
There are only seven eternal poses, corresponding to the starting islands of the seven routes.”
“I’ll take all the eternal poses and two Log Poses.
Name your price.”
“Our guest is truly generous!
However…”
He glanced hesitantly out the door.
“The Marine has been strictly controlling such supplies lately, so the price might be…”
“Just tell me the price.”
“Five million Berries!”
“So expensive!”
Nami couldn’t help but cry out, covering her mouth with her hand.
Although she knew nautical instruments were pricey, this figure was still beyond her imagination.
Kaguya didn’t even blink as he threw the bundle he was carrying onto the counter.
“Here is six million Berries, plus the one million from just now.
Give me a set of the nautical books in your shop.”
“And this compass too!”
Nami picked up an exquisite compass from the counter, stroking its fine carvings as if she couldn’t bear to put it down.
The boss’s eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly.
“Of course, of course!
Our distinguished guest is truly a straightforward person!”
He turned and walked quickly to the bookshelf, taking down a set of heavy nautical logs and atlases from the top shelf.
“Guest, this is the most comprehensive collection of nautical data in my shop, containing records of the climate, currents, and dangerous areas of all known islands in the first half of the Grand Line.”
The boss carefully handed over the yellowed volumes, a trace of reluctance flashing in his eyes.
“These are treasures I spent twenty years collecting.”
Although the boss’s acting was good, Kaguya didn’t want to hear his nonsense.
Kaguya packed everything up and walked out the door with the two girls.
“Just give those nautical logs a quick look; don’t listen to that boss’s nonsense.
The weather in the Grand Line is unpredictable.
You only need to learn the methods for dealing with extreme weather from them.”
“Mhm, Kaguya, why do I feel like you know a lot about the Grand Line?”
“Did you come to the East Blue from the Grand Line?”
“No, I was already in the East Blue when I opened my eyes.
The information about the Grand Line is just what I’ve heard from others.
I only know it’s dangerous, dangerous in every aspect.
That’s why I’ll only enter the Grand Line once I’m fully prepared.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll study these nautical skills well.”
Just then, a commotion came from behind the three of them.
“Stop right there!”
“Clang, clang, bang, bang!”
The three turned back to see a squad of Marines chasing a pirate.
The pirate, with a face full of fleshy scars, brandished a blood-stained machete and rampaged through the street.
Pedestrians scrambled to get out of the way, stalls were knocked into disarray, and fruits and goods were scattered everywhere.
“Tashigi?”
Kaguya recognized the leader of that Marine squad; it was Sergeant Tashigi from the Loguetown Marine Base.