Because the pirates of the North Blue always avoided crossing paths with Sherwin and his crew, the ti they spent going to the Navy bases to exchange bounties was greatly reduced.
On top of that, after defeating Cracker, their fa skyrocketed. Even their floating restaurant on the sea saw a sharp drop in custor flow...
In the end, it was still a huge loss!Just thinking about how all he got from Cracker was that pretzel-shaped shield—and without even obtaining a shard—made Sherwin chest ache badly.
But on the other hand, this also made their map-clearing speed increase dramatically, and the progress on the handbook map soon reached seventy-five percent.
Sherwin didn’t hesitate and directly tapped the upload icon. Very quickly, a sea-blue summoning ticket shard appeared in the insert page...
Now, he already had two map pool shards in hand. The only thing he wasn’t sure of was how the Grand Line map shards would be calculated.
If the first half and the second half were counted separately, then there would be one more shard. In that case, if he wanted to gather enough for a third sea-blue summoning ticket, he might have to unlock the maps of the Red Line and the Calm Belt.
If the entire Grand Line was counted as one, then the map pool would probably only have these two shards.
But no matter which case it was, Sherwin couldn’t possibly complete the set in a short ti, so he wasn’t anxious. Instead, he started thinking about how to plan their route once they entered the Grand Line.
According to the approach he used in the Four Seas, the most efficient way to clear the map would actually be to travel in a zigzag, slowly covering most of the routes. But Sherwin had no intention of doing that anymore.
Because until he found the four red Poneglyphs, even if he traveled all over the other places, he most likely wouldn’t be able to fully unlock the Grand Line map.
Although he could let Klee ow try her luck, considering the bizarre climate in the latter half, Sherwin felt that Raftel wasn’t sothing that could be found so easily.
After all, with the power of the Four Emperors, if the Final Island were just an ordinary island, then even without the so-called Road Poneglyphs, a carpet-style search should have stumbled upon it, or it would have already been discovered by the World Governnt and sealed off.
But so many years had passed, and the only ones who found it were Roger and his crew. So, in all likelihood, there must be so special thod of opening or entering it.
Adding to that the islands occupied by the Four Emperors and the World Governnt that barred outsiders, as well as the scattered islets outside the seven main routes—even if Sherwin only wanted to reach seventy-five percent, it still wouldn’t be sothing he could accomplish in a short ti.
That being the case, Sherwin no longer felt it was necessary to stubbornly grind out map progress.
It would be better to first follow the route that Luffy and his crew had taken, collecting the weapons and other items that appeared in the story.
The efficiency of obtaining shards would actually be higher that way. Besides, with the Grand Line ever-changing climate and tangled web of powers, Sherwin wouldn’t necessarily be able to act strictly according to plan.
So this ti, Sherwin didn’t have Huai ow help plan out a detailed route. He simply set a general sailing goal and headed toward Reverse Mountain.
...
When Sherwin and his crew piloted the Dodo Advance back to Reverse Mountain once more, everyone mood was fairly calm.
After all, even the most recent addition, Link ow, had already experienced the wonder of the upstream river once.
As for Sherwin, Sanji ow, and Klee ow—the three "veterans"—this was already their third visit to Reverse Mountain... The little ragdoll cat even yawned out of boredom.
"..."
Sherwin had originally thought about giving a passionate speech, but when he saw all the cats looking so lazy and indifferent, he instantly lost his drive.
The climbing process needed no extra words—it was simply following the upstream current all the way up, reaching the top of Reverse Mountain without any risk.
But unlike the previous two tis, this ti Sherwin and his crew didn’t drop anchor. Instead, they let the Dodo Advance continue to follow the current, sailing toward the Grand Line.
"Oh, right," Sherwin suddenly rembered sothing. "Ai, at the lighthouse near the exit, there a very skilled doctor. You should try exchanging dical knowledge with him."
Haibara ow, who had been forcibly dragged out of the lab by Huai ow, looked conflicted.
Her research was at a critical stage, and she really didn’t want to be distracted. But Sherwin suggestion was indeed very tempting...
While the little kitten was caught in hesitation, the lighthouse of Twin Cape had already co into view.
Hmm... Raboon wasn’t in sight for the mont. Crocus, however, had propped up a parasol and was lying back in a chair, leisurely reading the newspaper.
"Hello, Grandpa ow~" Klee ow leaned over the ship railing, greeting Crocus enthusiastically. "Why does your head grow flower petals, ow?"
"That not petals, it hair."
Crocus put down his newspaper and pointed seriously at his own head as he answered.
"Really, ow? Then can Klee touch it, ow?"
Before Sherwin and the others even had ti to dock the ship, the little ragdoll cat had already leapt down, trotting up to Crocus. Her ruby-like eyes sparkled with curiosity.
In fact, it wasn’t just Klee ow—Sherwin himself was quite curious about Crocus peculiar hair.
Not only was it shaped like petals, but the color was also a strange mix of yellow and purple, with even a few spots sprinkled in... He couldn’t tell if it naturally grew that way, or if Crocus had dyed it himself.
As for Klee ow adorable little request, Crocus didn’t refuse. After all, back on Roger ship there had also been a little Felyne Mink (though it had grown up later). Klee ow appearance gave him a warm sense of familiarity.
So Crocus bent down on his own, letting Klee ow freely paw at the hair he usually had to carefully maintain.
"Klee!"
Seeing that the little ragdoll wasn’t satisfied with just pawing, and was about to try pulling out a couple strands of Crocus hair, Huai ow quickly stopped her.
"Don’t be so rude, ow!"
Huai ow gave Klee ow little head a light tap.
"Ehehe... Klee was just curious~"
(==)
The little ragdoll stuck out her tongue, pulled back her restless little paws, and then bounded back onto Sherwin shoulder.
"We’ll be troubling you for a few days, Mr. Crocus."
Sherwin tilted his head and rubbed cheeks with Klee ow, then politely greeted.
Even without knowing that Crocus had once been Roger ship doctor, just the fact that Klee ow took the initiative to get close to him was enough for the crew to treat him with friendliness.
"You know ?" Crocus adjusted the glasses on his nose with so surprise.
Back when he was on the Pirate King ship, as the doctor, he had never been that famous. After so many years, hardly anyone rembered him anymore. Only when Shanks had passed through before did they briefly catch up.
"My information network is a bit broader. I just know a little more than the average person," Sherwin explained casually.
Crocus nodded and didn’t mind too much. After all, he had also recognized Sherwin identity and knew that the other wasn’t an unreasonable person.
"Sherwin said you’re a very skilled doctor, so what do you think about that well-known Amber Lead Syndro in the North Blue, ow?"
As a healing cat, Haibara ow finally couldn’t hold back and ran up to Crocus to speak with him.
"Amber Lead Syndro? Although I haven’t seen a real case, from the information I’ve gathered, it doesn’t seem to be an infectious disease. But I can’t shake the feeling that there sothing fishy about it..."
It was rare for soone (or a cat) to discuss dical knowledge with him, so Crocus beca interested.
He talked endlessly with Haibara ow, and by the end, he even took the initiative to invite Haibara ow into the lighthouse to look through his collection of books.
However, not long after going inside, Haibara ow ca out again with little enthusiasm.
"This old grandpa dical knowledge is already sowhat outdated. Most of the books in the lighthouse are ones I’ve already read, ow."
The little kitten burrowed back into Sherwin arms and explained: "Although so of his ideas are still worth referencing, unfortunately, I know of so more advanced and effective thods, so his materials aren’t of much use, ow."
That true. Crocus had been staying at Twin Cape all these years, with hardly any patients to treat. No matter how skilled he had been back then, his dical abilities no longer seed so impressive now.
He did occasionally get so newly published dical books through the News Bird or other people entering the Grand Line, but those books were all fairly ordinary. Naturally, Haibara ow had already read them long ago.
Although Haibara ow had looked down on him a little, Crocus didn’t feel offended. Instead, he burst into a hearty laugh: "Hahahahaha... looks like this old man really can’t keep up with the tis!"
Sherwin was just about to politely comfort him with a few words when the previously calm sea suddenly surged.
A massive, scar-covered head broke through the surface, letting out a piercing roar in the direction of Reverse Mountain—
"ROOOOOOOAAAR!"
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