NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 36: Crossing The Line
The Clown Pirates are crossing the Calm Belt now. Mantis is currently cooking some food for them and Steve. Jude is helping her because she didn't have anything to do and she is shy around Buggy. Cricket is helping Buggy make some small bombs, or also better known as Muggy balls.
"When did you learn making these things, Captain?"-Cricket
"Since I was on Roger Pirates. As pirates we also need to upgrade our weapons, so we need to do our own research. Sometimes we also need to make our own weapons instead of buying them."-Buggy
"To save money?"-Cricket
"There's also that, but the main reason is to not lose from our enemies. Our enemy isn't just Marine, but also other pirate crews. All of them will try to strengthen themselves, and the weapon is a must. If you can't strengthen yourself, then strengthen your weapons!"-Buggy
"Hmm, that makes sense. Maybe I need to make my own bullets?"-Cricket
"Yeah, I think you need to do it. Make some special bullets that have more damage or have unique properties. You can try to make the muggy balls small enough at bullet size to be used on your guns."-Buggy
They continue to make the Muggy Ball and after that, Buggy makes the other ball, the Buggy ball. It's a cannonball that will have great power, just like the canon Buggy ball. Buggy didn't bother to change the name, it's troublesome. Besides, it's the original Buggy's idea, so at least he will give appreciation by not changing the name.
'Sigh, I have some other weapon ideas that I get from the canon story. I want Kaido's long-range cannons, dial-powered weapons, or even Pacifista..... Let's forget that last thing, there's no way I can make pacifista.'-Buggy
Buggy has a list of weapons from One Piece and the modern world. He doesn't know much about the concept behind them, but he can learn it slowly. Good weapons are important for his crew to be strong after all, so he needs to make sure they have good weapons.
"Food's ready."-Mantis
Suddenly Mantis calls them and tells them that the food is ready. Buggy leaves his work and goes to the kitchen to eat. Mantis also has Steve's portion, and she asks Steve to stop walking and eat first.
After the meal, they continue their journey, and it didn't take long for them to reach Grandline. When they're near Grandline, they can see the contrast between Calm Belt and Grandline. The sky in Grandline is dark and there's rain right now, the wind & waves are also strong, very in contrast with the very calm Calm Belt.
"H-how can something like this happen?"-Mantis widens her eyes in disbelief
"You've just seen the surface, wait for it!"-Buggy
They wait for a moment, and suddenly a giant ice chunk falls from the sky. They can't even talk before the sky got bright and the sea becomes calm. But then, a rain of thunder cover the sky of Grandline.
"That is Grandline, the most ridiculous sea in the world."-Buggy
They've just stood there for a few minutes, but the weather on Grandline has changed a few times too. Buggy's crew can only stand in their place, rooted. They never see such a ridiculous thing, now they know that they're just small fishes in a pond.
"Steve, the Grandline sea is too dangerous for our current ship. Place it in your mouth while we cross Grandline. You need to move underwater to avoid detection too, alright? But you need to take air every once in a while, I'll tell you when we need it."-Buggy
"Rawr."-Steve nod
"And don't ever think about eating us, or I will blast your stomach to get out."-Buggy
"R-raawr."-Steve
Steve then place the ship in his mouth. The ship is small, maybe as small as Going Merry, so it can enter Steve's mouth just fine. After that, Steve dive into the sea and walks to cross the Grandline. He can move faster underwater, so it won't take long for Steve to cross Grandline.
Inside Steve's mouth, the Clown pirates lit up the lamps. Now they can see the mouth's interior where there are giant teeth, giant tongue, etc. They also smell something unpleasant here, so they wear gas masks now.
"He really needs to wash his mouth to remove this smell."-Mantis
"Maybe he'll do it if there's a giant toothbrush and toothpaste."-Cricket "H-how long do you think it will take for us to reach cross the Grandline?"-Jude
"I don't know, but Steve will be able to move faster now because he can use all his 8 tentacles and move underwater."-Buggy
"What should we do now, Captain?"-Mantis
"Do what you want, just don't cook! If he smells something good, he might gulp his saliva and swallow us in the process."-Buggy
*gulp* It's the three who gulp their saliva instead, make Buggy sweatdrop at them.
They just do what they want after that and after 5 hours, they reach the other Calm Belt. Surprisingly, they don't need to ask Steve to change the air inside the mouth. There are only 4 of them, so their oxygen consumption isn't that high. On Calm Belt, they move on the surface like before.
"I wonder what the sea of Grandline feels like."-Jude
"We can find it out in the future, there's no fun in telling it to you right now. Even showing it to you guys is a spoiler already. Besides, we aren't strong enough for that sea, we need to take it one step at a time, together."-Buggy
"Yes, let's take it one step at a time together."-Jude nod
"....."-Clown pirates
"Did this mean you want to be our navigator?"-Mantis grin
"Eh?"-Jude
Jude just realizes that saying 'together' means that she will sail with them. That means she will be their crew member.
"Y-Y-YOU, YOU TRICKED ME."-Jude take some steps back
"Oi oi oi, don't badmouth me like that, I just say I want us to sail together. We are a crew, and I want you to join, so I said together."-Buggy
"Captain is right, and usually the first thing that comes out from the mouth is the truth."-Cricket
"Now now, how if you follow your heart and just join us?"-Mantis
"I-i-i... I DON'T KNOW IT!"-Jude get flustered and run off to the women's room
"Hahahaha, she's really funny."-Buggy
"Yeah, we can tease her every day if she joins, hahahaha."-Cricket
"Do it moderately, or she really won't join us, hihihi."-Mantis
They leave their little comedic drama and focus on their journey. Some hours later, they finally reach West Blue. They have bought the West Blue map and decide to go to the nearest uninhabited island.
The pirates go by their ship on the surface, while Steve goes underwater. With Jude's help, they can reach the island just in half an hour. This island is also coincidentally, the closest island with Calm Belt & Red Line. No one wants to live here after all, and this island is small too. They reach the island right after the sky turns dark.
Steve catch some giant fishes while he moves underwater. Then, they have a party to celebrate their success at crossing the Grandline. Jude also joins their party more openly right now, because she has become more familiar with them.
They have a party until midnight before they sleep. The next morning Steve return to North Blue and bid farewell to them. The Clown pirates + Jude also leave the island and go to the next island.
"Alright, before we explore West Blue, let me give you some information. West Blue might be more dangerous than any other blues because there are some dangerous individuals in an organization here."-Buggy
"How dangerous?"-Cricket
"Very dangerous, they're even considered dangerous in Grandline."-Buggy
"What?! Why would dangerous organization on Grandline level stay in here?"-Mantis
"Because they're a country in here. They are a country, but also a pirate crew. They have some bounties, but they won't get caught because they're affiliated with WG. It's very contradictive, but that's what happens."-Buggy
"Who are they?"-Cricket
"Kano Country, with their pirate fleet, Happo Navy. Their leader is Don Chinjao, and he currently has 500 million beri on his head."-Buggy
""500!?""-Others
Of course, they are surprised by this, it's 10 times from Buggy's bounty. Buggy didn't know whether Chinjao have lost his drill or not though. But either way, he is still above their league right now. Buggy isn't afraid of Chinjao, but he needs to be wise and prioritize his crew's safety.
The Clown pirates decide to avoid making trouble with Happo Navy if they meet the group. Well, it's always better to avoid trouble if they can. But they will face the trouble that comes to them though.
"Now, let's find out what West Blue can offer to us!"-Buggy grin
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