#134 - Chapter 134 Small Garden
"Not bad, good progress today."
Crocodile's voice cut through the heavy sea fog, accompanied by the roar of waves.
He stood at the bow, like a nautical deity, his sharp eyes piercing the misty white curtain ahead.
"Steer the ship upstream!"
He shouted into the distance, ordering, "A little further up, there will be a tributary. We can reach the shipping lane sooner from there!"
He was tall and upright, the chiseled lines of his weathered face appearing even more rugged in the wind.
Crocodile gripped the handrail tightly, the salty mist of the sea swirling around him, his captain's cloak billowing fiercely in the wind, majestic and domineering.
"Aye, aye!"
"Full speed, turn hard to starboard!"
The crew acted swiftly and orderly under his command, knowing the dangers of this sea area.
Everyone remained vigilant, carefully observing the surroundings.
Crocodile continued to issue commands, "Be careful when sailing, watch out for the reefs."
As his words fell, the ship turned slightly, and the crew's gazes seemed to pierce through the thick fog, spotting the tributary Crocodile had mentioned.
Under the sailors' skilled handling, the ship moved like a nimble seabird, skillfully dancing on the crests of the waves, weaving through the hidden reefs.
"As expected of the captain, he can even find this shortcut."
Although the route was dangerous, under Crocodile's leadership, everyone was full of confidence, fearlessly facing the unknown challenges ahead.
The sails billowed, pointing into the distance, and under Crocodile's command, the ship sailed towards the secret path, known from prior investigation, cleaving through the waves and speeding forward.
"Jin An, you could at least be a little useful."
Crocodile was irritated looking at the unconcerned Jin An.
This Marine was eating and drinking his supplies, leaving everything to them.
He only knew how to lie around there. If the other party wasn't wearing a Marine uniform, Crocodile would have thought he had a beggar on board.
"There's nothing I need to help with. You can handle everything, so just pretend I don't exist."
Jin An drank his juice, feeling extremely relaxed.
"What is the mission the Navy gave you?"
Crocodile tried to remind him of his duty.
"You are all experts, you don't need me to escort you. Just pretend I don't exist."
Jin An didn't take Crocodile's words to heart, emptying his mind.
A pirate pointed forward and shouted,
"Hey, everyone, look, dolphins!"
"Wow!"
"They look quite cute."
The dolphins leaped out of the sea in the eyes of the pirates and quickly approached them.
"C...Cute?"
Jin An looked at the dolphin, which was dozens of times larger than the pirate ship, and asked Crocodile next to him.
"Captain, it's coming over here!" a crew member said with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.
Crocodile narrowed his eyes and glanced at the giant dolphin.
To be honest, it was his first time taking this route, and he hadn't expected to encounter such a thing.
Then he decisively gave the order, his voice without a trace of hesitation, "Speed up and get out of here! There's an island not far ahead, let's go there first."
Under his command, the crew immediately took action.
The oarsmen accelerated their rowing, and the helmsman steered accurately, beginning its acceleration.
The dolphin's huge silhouette continued to leap through the waves, as if chasing the suddenly speeding ship, or simply enjoying the pleasure brought by the boundless ocean.
The pirate ship was like a startled water bird, drawing a white wave mark on the sea, heading straight for that unfamiliar island.
The dolphin simply wanted to find someone to play with. As the ship accelerated, it gradually slowed its swimming speed, disappointedly returning beneath the surface of the sea.
The pirate ship sailed slowly, the wooden planks on its sides carving ripples in the emerald green water, propelling it forward on the island's wide waterway.
As the ship approached the island, an endless expanse of lush green unfolded before them, towering trees like natural barriers, standing straight into the clouds, rising from the ground.
The canopies intertwined, squeezing the space of the blue sky, and sunlight could only pass through sparse gaps, dappling on the pirates' rough faces.
"This is Little Garden."
"This dense rainforest is like a secret realm."
"It has such a cute name, but how is this place small?"
A young crew member jumped onto the ship's railing, gazing at the scenery on the shore, his eyes gleaming with a desire for the unknown.
His words triggered a burst of rough laughter.
Indeed, this place called "Little Garden" was in reality a vast island covered in jungle.
Suddenly, a deafening cry broke the silence, echoing in the empty sky.
"Squawk!"
With that violent screech, a huge dinosaur cut through the azure sky.
It spread its wide wings, suddenly swooping past from high in the sky, skimming over the pirate ship's mast, its departing giant figure leaving an unforgettable impression in the sky.
"This island is quite interesting."
Jin An stood on the deck, looking at the surroundings like a magical painting.
"How about we go down and see what other interesting things there are?"
He turned to look at Crocodile, having come here with such difficulty, he naturally wanted to see the dinosaurs on this island.
Crocodile frowned slightly, he didn't like unexpected variables.
His life at sea had made him accustomed to many strange things, but this island was indeed different.
He weighed the pros and cons, his inner decision conflicting with Jin An's suggestion, he didn't want to accompany the other party in doing these meaningless things.
"Captain, maybe we shouldn't go. Let's just get the Log Pose recorded on the ship as soon as possible and leave here quickly."
He nervously looked around, every corner seeming to hide unknown dangers.
Jin An stood on the deck, his gaze passing through the magnificent sea, landing on the fascinating island.
He smiled provocatively at the surrounding pirates, "The unknown represents opportunity, how can you pirates be so timid?"
The pirates looked at each other, being seafarers by nature, charging and ramming had become their habit, but Jin An's words had no effect on them.
Faced with unknown dangers, they weren't stupid, how could they risk their lives.
"If you guys aren't going, I'll go first."
Without even waiting for everyone to respond, he had already stepped towards the island.
"Remember to wait for me, otherwise I'll go to Alabasta."
Crocodile heavily stepped onto the deck of the ferry, his voice deep and powerful, "I'll go with you."
Hearing this, Jin An's lips curled into a non-smiling arc, knowing that this deep-minded pirate wouldn't let him leave alone.
"Don't hold me back then."
...
