On the Grand Line, each island has its unique magnetic field, rendering compasses useless and necessitating the use of "Log Poses." However, in the Four Seas, magnetic fields are standard, so Log Poses are ineffective, and traditional compasses are used instead.
"Sir, are you kidding? With waves this big, even if you took a small boat, there's no way you'd make it through!" Wagner's face was filled with disbelief.
A lifeboat to navigate the waves that even a warship couldn't breach? Ridiculous.
Hailan wasn't surprised by Wagner's doubts. If he hadn't seen various influential individuals at the Navy headquarters, he wouldn't believe it either: "Who said I was taking a small boat? I said I can run across."
Wagner's confusion deepened: "Run? You mean using Moonwalk to run on the sea to the Victoria Kingdom?"
"Exactly."
Hailan patted Wagner's shoulder, explaining: "It might sound unbelievable, but an elite Navy headquarters colonel can indeed cross the sea alone in such conditions. Of course, not in waves like those at the Battle of Edd War. You'll understand more when you get to the headquarters. The strength of the people there will exceed your imagination."
Although Wagner's admiration for the headquarters grew stronger, he was still worried about Hailan's safety since seeing is believing.
"But sir..."
"Enough. I now order you to bring all your comrades back to Loguetown without fail. Don't make me hand over command to Kuro. That's an order!"
"Alright..."
"What did you say?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Sir, here's the compass you asked for."
Kuro quickly emerged from the cabin: "If you really intend to cross the sea to the Victoria Kingdom on your own, I suggest you take a wooden plank with you. If you get tired, you can rest on it."
Hailan's eyes lit up: "Who taught you that?"
Kuro adjusted his glasses: "I heard there's a type of bird that carries a small branch in its beak when crossing the sea. When it gets tired, it drops the branch onto the water and rests on it. I don't know if such a bird actually exists, but the principle is worth learning."
Although the rain entirely soaked his glasses, Kuro didn't take them off.
Hailan nodded: "Alright, help me prepare one."
"Understood!"
"Damn, the mast is broken, but the storm has stopped. Is the sky itself messing with us?" Wagner cursed.
Hailan looked up at the top of the ship: "It's not the sky; someone is messing with us!"
"Enemy attack!"
Realizing this, Wagner was the first to alert the soldiers. Just as everyone was dropping what they were doing to grab weapons, Hailan stopped them.
"Everyone, calm down. Continue your duties. You're no match for this person."
Though Hailan couldn't see the person's face under the hood, he sensed a formidable presence.
"Kuro, don't get clever. Stand down!"
Kuro, who was preparing to ambush with his cat claws, was immediately ordered to retreat by Hailan.
"There are quite a few people on this ship..."
Before the man's calm voice finished, a powerful aura radiated from him, spreading in all directions.
The wind roared, and it was as if a mushroom cloud had erupted from the deck, even dispersing the dark clouds in the sky and letting sunlight shine through in beautiful hues.
On the warship's deck, most soldiers instantly fell unconscious, some even foaming at the mouth as if greatly shocked.
"Hiss..."
Hailan staggered, feeling as though someone had hit the back of his head with a sledgehammer.
Conqueror's Haki!
And a particularly strong one at that!
Besides the cloaked man, only Hailan and Wagner remained standing on the deck.
Wagner looked worse off, with blood trickling from his nostrils.
Hailan chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Wagner, are you getting a nosebleed?"
"Of...of course..."
Wagner struggled to stand upright, his body seemingly not under his control: "I accidentally ate too many sunflower seeds last night..."
Hailan examined the cloaked man more closely: "Wagner, if you're tired, just sleep. This guy is my friend. There's no danger."
"But I'm really not...ah..."
Thud!
Wagner collapsed onto the deck.
Seeing that everyone except Hailan had fainted, the cloaked man finally spoke slowly: "Oh? I'm your friend?
I don't recall having a friend like you.
But since you withstood my Conqueror's Haki, you might indeed qualify as a friend."
With his headache easing, Hailan exhaled: "Alright, stop the mystery act. You're Monkey D. Dragon, aren't you?"
"....."
Dragon fell silent.
He thought his disguise was pretty good and that his voice had changed over the years. How did Hailan recognize him?
Dragon hadn't covered his face, just hidden it in the shadows.
But he didn't know that Hailan's sensory perception and recognition abilities were extremely sharp. By comparing with the impression in his mind, he could basically identify this mysterious cloaked man.
Dragon jumped down from the top of the ship and removed his hood: "Do I need to wear a mask from now on?"
"That's none of my business."
Hailan suddenly changed the subject: "Congratulations on the birth of your son, Dragon!"
Dragon paused: "Uh...thank you..."
When Dragon was young, he often visited Navy headquarters. With his talent, Sengoku and Garp thought he would become a new star of the Navy. However, as he grew older, he visited less frequently and eventually stopped coming altogether.
Dragon's smile turned melancholic: "But I might not be a good father."
"Indeed, since you're going for a revolution."
"A revolution?"
"Still pretending?"
Such a poor performance wasn't typical of someone like Dragon.
But if Dragon was conflicted internally, that was different.
"Even Garp might know by now. You can't hide it."
Dragon thought for a moment, then suddenly said: "Hailan, come with me!"
"Uh..."