Chapter 56: What North Blue Knows

In another world, people are really nice to the other me.

On a small island in East Blue, Belo Betty was smoking a cigarette. She took off her sunglasses and revealed very kind eyes. She smiled and said,

"I met Mr. Dragon and his revolutionary army just after they saved our village from destruction. He taught me so much."

"Wow," Bello and Betty both took a puff of their cigarettes.

"That's amazing. I wish I had been that lucky."

[The ship is flying through the air, with clouds passing by. It's such an exciting experience.]

[Your power is really handy. Just keep smiling," Naguri couldn't help but compliment.]

"Being able to cross over the Red Line is already a great strategic skill, no less than Shiki's Fuwa Fuwa no Mi Fruit."

"Is the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi Fruit really strong, Mr. Naguri?" A soldier from the Revolutionary Army asked with curiosity.

"I've never met Shiki myself, but I've heard his Fuwa Fuwa no Mi Fruit can make anything he touches float. They say he can float multiple islands at once," Naguri explained.

"At that level, I still have a long way to go," Fujitora admitted honestly.

"My Gravity Fruit isn't powerful enough to lift an entire island yet."

"After all, he's the strongest pirate around. They say he's the one with the best chance of becoming the Pirate King," Naguri said emotionally. "But you're not doing bad at all. Just keep smiling. You're still young, and the future holds endless possibilities."

They kept chatting and laughing, but Roja noticed that Belo and Betty weren't smiling. He sighed quietly.

It had been over a week since Moluobu Village was destroyed, yet this young girl seemed to be keeping her emotions hidden. She hadn't smiled once.

But Roja understood. He'd gone through the destruction of the Kingdom of Ke Roja himself. Some wounds could only heal with time.

After a day of flying, Roja and his crew landed near the mainland with the red earth, marked "980".

Instead of continuing their journey, they turned back and headed towards Reverse Mountain.

There, they found the Cross-sea Chamber of Commerce and purchased a sea chart of the North Blue.

"Every time, I can't help but think, your initial investigation was really worth it," Fujitora couldn't help but comment.

The initial investigation across the Red Line led them to discover the Trans-Ocean Chamber of Commerce and establish contact with it directly.

In the future, the Trans-sea Chamber of Commerce would prove to be immensely helpful to Roja and the others many times.

"That's why we need to keep researching. The world has countless hidden paths. If you don't explore, you'll never know them. People always need to be good at learning," Roja said with a smile.

After a quick resupply, Roja and their ships set sail once more.

Not being familiar with the North Blue, Roja and the others didn't have a clear destination. They were here for research, so Roja simply followed the distances marked on the sea chart between the islands.

In the blink of an eye, it's been half a month since Roja and the others arrived in the North Blue.

During this time, they've gained some basic knowledge about the North Blue.

The sea environment here is harsh. Unlike the calm seas and mild weather of the East Blue, the North Blue is full of rough conditions and unpredictable weather.

It's said to be the sea closest to the Grand Line, and it's truly unpredictable. One moment it's calm, the next it's a raging storm.

The weather here is just as unpredictable. In one area, you might have a mild or even hot climate, while the next island could be covered in snow year-round, sending shivers down your spine.

"No wonder the North Blue is known for its chaos. The climate here is too harsh, and the living conditions are much worse than those in the Kingdom of Goa," complained a revolutionary soldier, tightly wrapped in his cotton coat and shivering.

"Hey, the climate here is even worse than the Grand Line, and it's nothing compared to the New World," Naguri chuckled.

"When you venture into the Grand Line, you'll experience true warmth one moment and thousands of miles of snow the next. And as for the New World, you'll encounter super thunderstorms that'll dry you out in seconds."

"That's the kind of environment where you'll end up dead if you're not careful," Naguri remarked, puffing on his pipe. "As for the North Blue, it's like dealing with child's play."

"Master Hammer, you always have such a way with words. We feel like small fry next to you," the complaining revolutionary soldier said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"You little brat," Naguri said, pretending to swing his pipe at him, cursing with a smile.

Before he could actually swing the pipe, Naguri stopped himself, looked into the distance with a helpless expression, and muttered, "This North Blue is already a mess. Why are there so many pirates?"

Boom boom boom.

Naguri's complaints were cut short as several shells rained down towards them.

It's only been half a month since they arrived in the North Blue, and this is already the fifth pirate attack they've faced.

Om, Fujitora drew his staff and sword, unleashing a purple gravity wave that stopped all the incoming shells before shooting them back, sinking the pirate ship.

Everyone was already accustomed to the chaos and danger, having long adapted to such situations.

Roja didn't even lift his head from the book he was reading.

"What are you reading, Roja?" Belo asked, sitting in front of Roja with her legs crossed.

"This?" Roja held up the book and glanced at the cover. "It's a North Blue fairy tale. Quite an interesting read."

"What are you talking about?" After half a month of sailing, Belo Betty gradually emerged from her sorrowful state, her expression no longer as gloomy.

"There are plenty of them, tales that stem from the legends of the North Blue, later adapted into fairy tales," Roja said, closing the book with a smile.

"For example, one of the most popular fairy tales in the North Blue, 'Noland the Big Tale,' recounts the adventures of a notorious liar named Montblanc Noland. In the story, he's portrayed as a big, foolish liar who firmly believes in the existence of the Golden Country."

"This character is said to have been inspired by a North Blue explorer from four hundred years ago. According to the legend, he claimed to have discovered the Golden Land during his travels. However, when the king sent others to verify his claims, they found nothing. As a result, he was sentenced to death."

"And then there's 'Germa 66, the Evil Army,' which tells the story of the righteous Marines defeating Germa 66, the wicked army that once ruled over the North Blue."

"There's also the beautiful white kingdom of Frevans. They say everything there is white, even the trees and flowers, just like something out of a fairy tale about ice and snow," Roja added.

Roja had a knack for storytelling. He narrated the fairy tales he had read so vividly that even Belo and Betty were captivated.

"Alright, after all that talk, you might as well read the book yourself," Roja said, handing the fairy tale book to Belo Betty.

"I didn't expect you to be such a kid at heart, Roja. I enjoy reading stories of assimilation. I always thought you were more mature than me," Fujitora joked.

"Fairy tales often hold historical significance, at least from the perspective of those who tell them. Especially the ones that are widely circulated in a particular region," Roja said with a smile. "They can help us quickly grasp certain aspects of this area."

"Moreover, I found something very interesting in these books," Roja announced.

"What is it?" Fujitora inquired, always eager to discover something new.

Every time he made a discovery, it always seemed to have a significant impact.

"I don't know, Fujitora, have you heard the story of the great liar Noland?" Roja asked.

"Didn't you just tell that story?" Fujitora looked a bit puzzled.

"Then, Fujitora, do you think Noland is truly a big liar?" Roja pressed on.

"What does this mean? Isn't this just a fairy tale?" Fujitora questioned.

"Noland is indeed a notorious liar. It's common knowledge among children in the North Blue," Naguri chimed in, having listened in on the conversation. With his extensive experience sailing in the North Blue, he was well-versed in its lore.

"Indeed, every child knows the fairy tale of Noland, the great liar," Roja acknowledged, his tone shifting. "But I stumbled upon another intriguing book."

Roja reached into his bosom and pulled out a book.

Naguri glimpsed at the cover and read aloud, "Noland's Voyage Diary."

"Yes, it's this voyage diary," Roja confirmed. "The bookseller in the North Blue who sold it to me mentioned that it's quite popular here. However, because Noland is deemed a liar, this book is mostly seen as a work of fiction."

"But when I first opened it, I didn't perceive it as a mere fabrication," Roja confessed.

"I compared the routes, directions, and islands in the voyage diary with some charts from the North Blue. I discovered that the records of the island routes in this diary are remarkably accurate," Roja explained.

"Considering the portrayal of Noland in the fairy tale as an idiotic liar who perished chasing the Golden Country, it doesn't seem likely that such a person could have written this diary," Roja continued.

"So, are you suggesting that Noland's diary is genuine? That the Golden Country truly exists?" Fujitora inquired.

"Yes, but I can't say for certain. It's possible that this voyage diary was fabricated by later generations and merely attributed to Noland," Roja replied, smiling. "However, let's investigate a little further."

"It just so happens that Noland's hometown, the Kingdom of Lubni, is very close to us," Luo pointed out to Hai Tu.

"I believe you're less interested in the Golden Land and more interested in the Kingdom of Lubni," Fujitora remarked with a hint of helplessness.

As they continued their investigation across the North Blue, Lubni Kingdom came up in their discussions.

Four hundred years ago, the Kingdom of Lubni was a significant power, and its influence grew even more after the discovery of coal resources a century ago.

In the harsh environment of the North Blue, with its many winter islands, and the Lubni Kingdom's abundant coal resources, the nation's strength and influence were substantial.

Roja must have recognized this and made the country a key target for their exploration of the North Blue.

"You're partially correct, Mr. Smile. I am interested in the Kingdom of Lubni, but I'm also intrigued by the Golden Country," Roja admitted with a shake of his head and a laugh.

"If the Golden Country is indeed as described in Noland's tale, with vast reserves of gold, it could provide us with significant funds," Roja continued.

"The next steps will require a considerable amount of money," he concluded.

"But it's too early to discuss these matters now. Let's head to the Kingdom of Lubni," Roja suggested, wrapping his cotton coat tightly around himself as he exhaled a cloud of white breath. "They say Lubni is a country with highly developed industry. I'm really looking forward to seeing it."

"Furthermore, it seems to be the only major country we've encountered so far with abundant energy resources," he added.

Three days later, Roja and their ships arrived at a port city in the Kingdom of Lubni.

"Is this the Kingdom of Lubni?" someone exclaimed.

"It's incredible," another person remarked.

"What kind of country is this?" others wondered aloud.

Sounds of amazement filled the air on the boat, one after another.

In front of the Lubni Kingdom, the sky appeared extremely gloomy, as if it were dusk. The culprit behind this eerie atmosphere was the few towering chimneys that could be seen even at the kingdom's outskirts.

It was hard to fathom the sheer size of these chimneys, continuously belching out black smoke into the sky.

The kingdom resembled a colossal beast, with the chimneys serving as its breathing ports, as if it were constantly exhaling.

While the sight was awe-inspiring, the pollution it caused was undeniably severe.

Walking on the streets, one could feel the fine black dust underfoot, impossible to sweep away completely.

The vegetation along the roadside showed no signs of life. Fragile plants had long perished, while hardy ones were coated in dust.

Even the dust on the blades of grass was thicker than the blades themselves.

"Cough, cough," not long after they set out, Belo Betty, with her frail constitution, couldn't help but cough.

It was difficult to believe they were still on the kingdom's outskirts.

"Everyone, try to cover your noses and mouths with multiple layers of cotton cloth," Roja advised, quickly helping Belo Betty cover her nose and mouth.

The level of pollution in this country exceeded his expectations.

"How do people live in such conditions?" a soldier of the Revolutionary Army coughed and asked incredulously.

Walking along the streets, one could feel the fine black dust underfoot, impossible to sweep away completely.

The vegetation lining the roadside showed no signs of life. Fragile plants had long perished, while hardier ones were coated in dust. Even the dust on the blades of grass was thicker than the blades themselves.

"Cough, cough," not long after they set out, Belo Betty, with her frail constitution, couldn't help but cough.

It was hard to believe they were still on the outskirts of the kingdom.

"Everyone, try to cover your noses and mouths with multiple layers of cotton cloth," Roja advised, quickly assisting Belo Betty in covering her nose and mouth.

The level of pollution in this country exceeded his expectations.

"How do people manage to live in such conditions?" a soldier of the Revolutionary Army coughed, asking incredulously.

"It doesn't matter if you have eyes or not; anyway, the sky you see is black," Naguri remarked sarcastically.

"Let's find a hotel and stay for now," Roja suggested.

"Betty, it's better if you don't stay here. You're too young," Roja advised Belo Betty. "I'll arrange for you to stay on a nearby island first."

"I want to stay here," Belo Betty insisted firmly.

"Roja, you're not much older than me. If you can bear it, so can I. If I can't even adapt to this environment, then I shouldn't even think about changing the world," she declared.

"It's not about whether you can bear it or not. Staying here will only harm your health. You're different from me, and your physical condition is too weak," Roja tried to persuade her.

"If I stay here, it will definitely make a difference. My mother always said that I would bring hope to people as long as I waved the flag," Belo Betty asserted firmly.

With that, she raised the crude flag she had brought from Moluobu Village and waved it vigorously.

Suddenly, a breeze seemed to sweep through, and everyone present felt a change. It was as if their bodies had become stronger. The change wasn't drastic, but it was noticeable.

"Demon fruit power?" Naguri exclaimed, eyes wide with astonishment.

"It seems to be a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit ability, enhancing the combat prowess of individuals, or even groups. For ordinary people, the effect is quite significant," Fujitora remarked.

"So you've got Devil Fruit power? Little Betty, did you happen to eat a very unappetizing fruit?" Naguri inquired.

"I don't know what a Devil Fruit is. A year ago, I was very hungry and ate a fruit that washed ashore from the sea. It was incredibly difficult to eat, and I couldn't swim afterwards," Belo Betty explained.

"Indeed, it seems to be a Devil Fruit. You're lucky," Naguri remarked.

"To think that the most worthless Devil Fruit costs 100 million Berry, while a Paramecia-type can easily sell for 300-400 million," he added.

"A peasant girl finding a Devil Fruit washed ashore from the sea... It truly is a stroke of luck," Naguri concluded.

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You can read the 10 advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion