Tesoro stood on the deck, the nautical chart flapping in the sea breeze. His brows were furrowed, and his knuckles rapped against the golden abacus, producing crisp metallic sounds.
He'd thought his captain would be reliable, a source of security, just like when Rhett had saved him and Stella from the Celestial Dragons.
"We've veered off course again," he muttered, gaze sweeping the blurry horizon.
The Bluma Jackson had been circling the same stretch of sea for two full days.
Moriah's shadow emerged from the gaps in the deck, yawning. "Heh heh heh... Didn't the captain say to 'follow your instincts'? That's what we've always done."
"Instincts?" Tesoro sneered, pointing at the compass — the needle spun wildly, drunk. "If this keeps up, we'll crash into the Calm Belt or get swarmed by a Navy patrol."
Perona floated over, holding Laboon, looking innocent. "But isn't the Eternal Log Pose pointing to the next island?"
"Twenty-three pointers, pointing in twenty-three different directions!" Tesoro finally exploded. "Has anyone actually looked at the nautical chart?!"
Rhett, basking in the sun, noticed the commotion. "Relax, Tesoro. We're not in the New World. This weather's nothing. I'll handle it with a few swings. Besides, we have energy propulsion, so the Calm Belt isn't a problem."
"Gild Tesoro, don't be so tense~" Rhett grinned. "The sea will guide us."
Tesoro took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. "Captain, our current course is completely off plan. If we keep going like this—"
"Plan?" Rhett waved his hand dismissively. "Who needs a plan? Adventure's all about the unknown! Besides, we never had a plan to begin with."
He'd been rejected once already. Rhett wasn't in a hurry to reach Laugh Tale. He'd wait a bit longer.
Enel crouched in a corner, tiny sparks dancing on his fingertips. "Mortals are such a hassle... If it were me, I'd just fly over."
Tesoro felt a throbbing pain in his temples. He never expected to be surrounded by such a bunch of problem children. Their survival was pure luck.
The original user had just killed that Celestial Dragon and bulldozed around recklessly. That had been a reliable version of him.
Night fell, and the sea became eerily calm.
Too quiet. Without a professional navigator, Tesoro had no choice but to pay extra attention.
Tesoro stood at the stern, his golden ring gleaming under the moonlight.
His Observation Haki faintly detected something unusual — the ocean currents were off.
"Everyone, be on alert!" he roared, turning sharply.
But it was too late.
On the distant horizon, a dark line rose — not the night sky, but a massive wave hundreds of meters high!
"A tsunami?!" Perona screamed, clutching Laboon tightly. Laboon enlarged, shielding her. The two were inseparable.
Moriah's shadow instantly expanded. "Heh heh heh... This is getting interesting. I'll just slice through this tsunami."
Rhett's blood mist boiled, and excitement flashed in his eyes. "Now this is what I call an adventure! Go for it, Moriah. I'm counting on you."
Tesoro grabbed the helm, gritting his teeth. "We've been dragged into a storm zone by the currents! Without a professional navigator—"
His words were drowned out by the roar of the waves.
The Bluma Jackson tossed violently, the mast groaning. Tesoro desperately steadied the helm, using his golden abilities to reinforce the ship, but his expression grew grim.
"This can't go on..." he muttered through clenched teeth. "We need someone who truly understands navigation!"
Rhett's figure flickered, his blood mist tearing through waves, but his voice remained relaxed. "Gild Tesoro, don't be so serious~"
Moriah wildly swung his shadow blades at the bow.
"Captain!" Tesoro finally snapped. "This isn't a joke! A real pirate ship can't rely solely on brute force and luck! We need someone who can read the sea!"
His voice cut through the storm: "We need a navigator!"
By the time the Bluma Jackson emerged battered from the uncharted waters, the sky was already turning pale.
On the deck, the crew sprawled in disarray. Stella brought Perona and Laboon pastries and juice. Rhett, however, was unfazed — he was the strongest fighter, and no weather in Paradise could capsize the Bluma Jackson.
Tesoro leaned against the railing, gazing at the distant island. He shouted toward Rhett's shark-like grin, "At the next island, we need to find a navigator."
Rhett wiped the seawater from his face and laughed. "What, feeling like your strength isn't enough anymore?"
Tesoro replied expressionlessly, "Captain, if you want us all to end up as food for sea kings in the future."
Perona floated over and whispered, "Actually... I think having a professional navigator would be nice..."
Rhett glanced at his crew and grinned. "Alright then! Next stop—"
He pointed toward the distant island. "We're going to find a navigator!"
The Bluma Jackson slowly approached the island, but Rhett's Observation Haki detected the complex emotions of its residents.
When a girl holding flowers passed by, the crowd's resentment peaked.
The village chief stepped forward and shouted, "What are you all staring at? Get lost! Without Master Lina, you'd all be starving."
The crowd wanted to retort, but under the chief's gaze, they fell silent.
Rhett stepped forward and pulled out a thousand berries. "Old man, I'd like to ask you something. Are there any famous navigators around here?"
Chief Bell was about to refuse, but seeing the money, he accepted it. Rhett could tell Chief Bell was short on cash, judging by his worn clothes.
The chief looked at Rhett and decided he didn't seem like a bad person, trusting his instincts.
"You don't look like ordinary people. Are you looking for a navigator? You should go see Lina. She's excellent, but alas..."
Chief Bell invited Rhett and his crew back to his house.
"Just some boiled water — don't mind the simplicity."
"Chief Bell, why is Lina so disliked? I noticed the hostility when people saw her."
Chief Bell sighed and shook his head. "Lina's master was an experienced navigator. She tried to improve everyone's lives by leading the villagers out to sea to fish.
At first, fishing did improve their lives, and with the area's abundant resources, as long as people were willing to work hard, their lives got better and better.
However, during a sudden tsunami, Lina's master had warned everyone not to venture too far.
But greed blinded them, and even though she did her utmost to save many, some villagers perished. The families who lost loved ones directed all their anger at Lina's master.
'It's all your fault they died!'
'Who told you to take us out to sea!' The villagers' angry shouts echoed endlessly.
Lina's master and I tried to explain that the disaster was a force of nature, beyond anyone's control, but her words were drowned out by the cries of rage.
In the end, she could only leave this land she once called home in sorrow, and the island's residents developed a deep prejudice against navigators because of this incident."