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Rojen and Jason turned their heads and saw a young figure sprinting toward them, his legs pumping furiously.
They quickly recognized him as a member of Old Rays' pirate crew.
"Hah... made it just in time!" The young crew member let out a breath of relief.
"What do you need from us?" Rojen asked, puzzled.
"Our captain heard you're heading to Baterilla Island, so he sent me to deliver a gift to you!" The young pirate grinned.
"A gift?" Rojen and Jason exchanged glances.
The crew member swiftly pulled out a sea chart from his pocket. The map was remarkably detailed, far more comprehensive than the one Rojen had.
Accepting the chart, Rojen studied it closely.
A thick red line stretched from Yassa Island to Baterilla Island. However, he quickly noticed that this route was completely different from the one he had obtained at Sayn Island.
"What is this?" Rojen asked, frowning slightly.
"This is a route our captain explored during his five years in South Blue. Very few people know about it. We managed to escape safely thanks to this path."
The young pirate took a deep breath and continued, "It's shorter, saves time, and has far fewer Marine patrols!"
"Our captain knew you were heading to Baterilla, so he wanted you to have this sea chart."
Rojen's gaze darkened as he thought of the man who carried the scent of the sea, his expression turning somber.
"Thank your captain for me. I won't forget this favor."
"Heh, the captain figured you'd say that. He also told me to pass on a message," the young pirate cleared his throat, lowering his voice dramatically.
"We are all men who bear the will of the sea— why worry about small things? I'm helping him simply because that kid looks pleasing to the eye!"
Hearing this, a smirk formed on Rojen's lips.
"Pleasing to the eye? Ha!"
Turning, Rojen boarded [The Logan], and Jason followed, pulling up the anchor.
The sails unfurled, and [The Logan] rocked slightly before gliding away from the shore.
"Tell your captain— we'll meet again on the vast sea!" Rojen called from the bow.
"Next stop: the Grand Line!" The young crew member shouted back, waving.
"Tell him to wait for me— I'm coming to the Grand Line!" Rojen's voice rang out across the waves.
At that moment, he finally understood why that man yearned for the sea so deeply.
Dreams, freedom, and promises between comrades— these intangible forces intertwined like an unseen treasure map, drawing them forward with undeniable allure.
This treasure wasn't just about gold and riches.
"Jason, I suddenly feel an exhilarating rush! Ha ha!" Rojen turned, his eyes shining with excitement.
Jason blinked, scratching his head in confusion, unsure how to respond.
"Meow!" Lordling nimbly leaped down from Rojen's shoulder, letting out a soft cry.
"You two better brace yourselves— we're heading straight into the storm!" Rojen lifted his gaze to the sky.
Dark clouds loomed over the vast ocean, golden lightning streaking across the heavens like a furious dragon, roaring and crackling in its fury.
Amidst the dense storm, a lone seabird soared defiantly, cutting through the winds like a streak of black lightning— wild, free, and untamed.
Let the storm rage on!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Thunder roared across the sky as heavy rain lashed the deck. Rojen stood in the downpour, letting the water drench him, his eyes gleaming like stars in the darkness.
"Jason! Adjust our course— Baterilla Island is our destination!"
His voice cut through the storm, defiant against the fury of nature.
"Aye, captain!"
Jason's deep voice echoed in response. Rainwater dripped from his towering frame as he gripped the ship's wheel, guiding The Logan forward through the surging waves.
On the sea chart, Old Rays had not only marked a faster route to Baterilla but had also drawn various paths crisscrossing South Blue. Some lines were thick, others thin, yet all of them pulsed with the wisdom of an old pirate's many journeys.
Roughly half an hour later, The Logan sailed beyond the storm's reach, emerging into clearer waters.
Rojen unfurled the chart once again, his gaze tracing the boldest route.
A small smirk played on his lips.
"With this, our odds of saving Rouge— and getting out safely— have just gone up."
His finger followed the winding course Old Rays had drawn. Though it curved unpredictably, it shaved nearly a third off their journey.
"If we take this route, we'll reach Baterilla in just seven days."
Seven days. That was all the time they had.
With that thought, he called Jason over.
"Captain, you needed me?" Jason grinned as he plopped down onto the deck, scratching the back of his head.
"I need to ask you something." Rojen's tone was serious, his gaze steady.
Seeing his captain's expression, Jason straightened up. "Shoot."
"I need to know— just how strong are you?"
Jason blinked, taken aback for a moment before rubbing his chin in thought.
"My strength, huh? Hard to say exactly, but I ate the Riki Riki no Mi— the Strength-Strength Fruit. It turned me into a Strength Man."
His grin widened as he flexed an arm.
"I can amplify my power up to 500 times. Not only that, I can control strength itself— boost my own, weaken my enemies. Pretty cool, right?"
Rojen's brows lifted slightly. Strength Man? Now that Jason mentioned it, his terrifying raw power made perfect sense.
"Honestly," Jason continued, "I haven't even gone all out yet. Last time, those bastards drained my energy, then ambushed me. That's why I blacked out."
"When I came to, I was already on that pirate ship." He chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head.
Rojen's eyes sharpened.
"I need you for something important."
Jason's grin faded, replaced by a rare moment of seriousness.
"Leave it to me, Captain! You saved my life. I'd give everything for you."
Rojen waved a hand. "It's not that dramatic. If everything goes according to plan, we'll get through this without a hitch."
A soft meow interrupted them.
Rojen turned to see Lordling perched nearby, watching them with unblinking golden eyes.
"Right. You too, Lordling." Rojen smiled. "I'm counting on both of you."
With that, the three of them— man, beast, and feline— huddled together on The Logan, laying out their strategy for the battle ahead.
(End of Chapter)