"Is it the clown Buggy, with a bounty of 15 million Berry?" Tashigi quietly put on her glasses, her eyes fixed on the new arrival. "But why is she so different from the wanted poster?"
Except for a few obvious features, she wouldn't have recognized her. The woman was more delicate and had a slimmer figure. She wasn't a man at all! And how did she get here from the East Blue out of thin air?
Tashigi's mind was racing with questions. Since getting on Rodin's ship, her common sense had been challenged at every turn.
"Fifteen million Berry? Are you laughing at me?" Baki's voice was low, but Tashigi still heard it.
However, she didn't have time to pursue the matter further. Baki moved quickly to Rodin's side, bowing respectfully.
"Captain Rodin," she said, her loose clothes slightly disheveled from the journey.
Rodin cleared his throat, motioned for her to stand, and solemnly announced to everyone, "From now on, 'Baki' will be a member of our crew. She has good strength, and everyone should take care of each other."
"Baki?" Crocodile thought for a moment. He had never heard of this "little character."
Mihoko, however, knew her. "I remember Baki. Shanks once mentioned her by accident—a good friend of his on Roger's ship. But after they separated... it seems she has been unknown all this time, and her strength is also low..."
"Mihoko! You're the one who is unknown, I defeated you." Baki clenched her fists, glaring at the other woman. She couldn't stand being talked about like this in front of the captain.
"Defeated me?" Mihoko raised an eyebrow. She didn't recall ever losing to such an unremarkable person.
"Alright, we'll find out about Baki's strength in due time," Rodin interrupted, ending their bickering. He noted that the characters from this parallel world all had unique temperaments and looks. Baki, though twenty-eight, looked like a youthful eighteen-year-old girl.
Her three-and-a-half-star strength and awakened Devil Fruit ability were what truly mattered, especially her Chop-Chop Fruit. He was eager to see what it could do at such a high level.
"Um... Captain," Baki said, her hair still a mess.
"What's wrong?" Rodin asked suspiciously.
"Is there a bathroom? I want to take a shower." Baki looked a little embarrassed. She had fought Rayleigh for a day, and her clothes were dirty. She wanted to make a good first impression.
"Okay. We have hot water stored," Rodin nodded. "Tashigi, take her—"
"No need, Captain, I think I know where it is." Baki ran off in a hurry.
Rodin was slightly taken aback. Could she sense things with Observation Haki?
"Baki? Never heard of her. She doesn't look very strong. Don't tell me you found a weakling," Crocodile remarked, propping his leg on the railing.
Rodin smiled without saying anything. She's much stronger than you, he thought.
"Mama Crocodile... put your legs down. Don't be so lazy all day long."
"What did you call me?" Crocodile was slightly surprised. Though she didn't mind the new nickname.
Whoosh...
The roar of the wind and sea intensified. The warship, following the torrent, was about to plunge headlong into the Reverse Mountain, toward the Twin Cape waters. They were about to officially enter the Grand Line.
"ROAR!!"
A beast's roar suddenly pierced the air.
"What's that wall in front of us?" Tashigi asked, startled.
"That's an island whale," Mihoko said, placing her hand on the sword behind her.
"An island whale?" Tashigi's eyes widened. "The biggest one in the world? We shouldn't cut it open, should we?"
"We'll find out when we try," Mihoko replied.
"Let's avoid it for now," Rodin commanded. "Hard left rudder!"
But as soon as he spoke, the giant whale lowered its head, opened its massive mouth, and began to suck in everything around it—the water, the air, and their ship. The current sped up, and before anyone could react, they were pulled inside.
The warship slid all the way down the whale's huge esophagus. Looking up, everyone could see the fleshy walls and a faint, fishy smell.
"Captain, should we break out?" Mihoko asked.
"No," Rodin said. He knew that the lighthouse keeper lived inside this whale. After entering the Grand Line, with its chaotic currents and celestial phenomena, they needed a Log Pose to navigate. He was here to get one, and the old man who guarded the lighthouse in the original story had one.
The warship passed through a corridor and entered a sea of murky green.
"Is this... the whale's stomach acid?" Tashigi's eyes widened again. Above them, a delicate painting of clouds and seagulls seemed to be standing still in the air.
Tashigi felt her knowledge was once again being challenged. This single day had been far more exciting than her entire time in Logue Town.
Rodin, meanwhile, simply thought, "The Truman Show?"