[Chapters release early on Web Novel]

...

It was a blissful early morning in the South Blue.

*Snore..* *Chuu..*

And content faces were resting happily in their hammocks.

Truth be told, there had been the odd storm here and there.

But for the most part, the ocean of the South Blue has offered Swiss and the gang many a day of picture-perfect sailing.

It had been so good, in fact, that our crew had taken it for granted.

Jinzo, Grit, and Raito snored away, enjoying an early hour sleep not usually afforded to them.

Outside, on deck, Swiss and Joka faced each other.

Warming their skin in the morning sun.

"Yosh! I'm so pumped to be back on the ocean!" Swiss stretched enthusiastically.

"If I had known our mornings on the ocean were as fun as this; I'd have sailed out sooner. +"

Joka stretched accordingly, in his own routine.

Swiss noticed this, "Ooooh, so you stretch before fighting too, huh?" He wiped his nose like he was talking like the expert of all knowledge, "Mmm, yes, I always tell my students to stretch beforehand."

Swiss loved to talk bullshit. Hell, to the average person, he might even be believable.

But not to Kimagure Joka. His gaze was all too quick to pick up on what part of someone was joking.

Joka gave Swiss a sly grin, "Ah, the pirate apprentices you told me about. To think you personally trained such impressively accomplished pirates. 3"

'The apprentices I told you about..?' Swiss stopped a moment to scan his memory

"TROLOL!"

then Swiss muttered to himself, "What kind of bullshit am I talking when I'm drunk?"

Swiss cleared his throat, "Ah-hem.., indeed, I have trained many big shots. But enough about me. Tell me about your new devil fruit power!"

Kimagure Joka extended his arm and clenched his fist in provocation, "Tell you now, and ruin the surprise? ~"

"Whatever, asshole. Before we begin…"

Swiss poured himself a glass of milk, picking it up.

He shuddered with dread as he poked his tongue through the hole where he had a missing tooth, courtesy of Captain King-Hit during their fight in Jam Land.

Swiss' heart pounded in his chest as he brought the glass to his lips, "I sure hope this works!"

*Gulp gulp gulp gulp*

After finishing the milk, Swiss opened his mouth in a big grin, waiting expectantly.

"!"

Sure enough, the desired effect happened.

Peeking through his gums came a tooth, growing until completion, replacing what was missing.

"Yosh!" Swiss could not believe his luck.

The thought of sailing the seas like an ugly hillbilly with a missing tooth had started to become a nightmarish reality for Swiss.

That is until he remembered the One Piece manga.

He had seen Luffy and Brook drink milk to replenish their bones and teeth, but he was still skeptical.

"… I had no idea milk worked like that. *"

"Baka! Of course, milk works like that! What are you, one of those soy milk drinkers? Trolololol!"

With that issue resolved, Swiss threw the empty glass at Joka's head.

Joka instantly caught it the moment it almost hit him. In result, his vision was temporarily blocked.

When he moved his hand away-

"! +"

Joka's typically slanted, predator-like eyes suddenly widened at the dash from Swiss.

["Dynamic Entry!"]

It was a leaping kick aimed right at Joka's chest, only instead of hitting its target..

"NANI?!"

Joka leaned back, showing impressive flexibility as he dodged the attack effortlessly.

Without anything to stop his momentum, Swiss kept going.

Over the railing of the ship and into the ocean.

*Splash!*

"… bruh."

Swiss looked like a wet dog as he climbed the ladder back on board the Jalopy. He smacked the side of his head to get some water out of his ear.

"Kukuku. 3" Joka giggled, covering his smile with an oddly elegant hand.

"Oh, you think that's funny, do ya? Bastard.."

Swiss took off his shirt with the island flower patterns and wrapped it up into a whip.

"Dodge this!"

Swiss chased Joka around the deck, flicking his shirt at him with seasoned speed and precision.

"Trolololol, I used to be a champ at flicking towels!" Swiss oh-so desperately wanted to land a cracking whip onto Joka's skin and see his reaction.

Sadly for Swiss, Joka was having none of it.

He dodged Swiss' whip-flick attacks as if they were the slow actions of a tortoise.

The anticipation of landing a hit had gotten so intense that Swiss was feeling some mental fatigue.

"Huff…huff…"

Slow and steady wins the race?

"Cunt…," Swiss said after catching his breath, "Is this how bitches fight? I feel like I'm growing a vagina over here."

"I was just setting things up. *"

"Setting things up?" Swiss mused as he took a step towards Joka, prepared to engage him again.

That's when a feeling of weightlessness swept him off his feet.

["Bungee gum!"]

"Wha-wooooow!"

Swiss felt a tug pull him up to the sky.

Before he knew it, he was dangling upside down.

"Dafuck?!"

Swiss flailed around for a moment before calming down and assessing the situation.

He looked up to see he was hanging by his leg.

Attached to his leg was a slightly see-through pink gooey substance.

Following its thread, he could see the other end was attached to the wooden mast above.

"Oi, what the heck?!" Swiss said, bouncing up and down due to the elastic nature of his bonds.

"You like it? My power has the properties of both rubber and gum. I ate the Bungee-Bungee no Mi. +"

"I'd like it much more if you let me down!" Swiss replied.

"So you admit defeat? ~"

"… Fuck off."

Swiss reached for his cutlass, and after a bit of awkward maneuvering, he was able to cut himself free.

With a heavy *THUD* Swiss crashed to the deck, "Oww!"

He rubbed his head as he asked, "So, your power is bungee gum, huh? Is your body made out of the stuff, or do you create it, sorta thing?"

Joka held his hand out and let it ooze out a thicker veil of bungee gum, "My body? No. I can essentially excrete it out of any pore of my body, but my body itself is not made of bungee gum. +"

"Hmmm. That rules you out of being a logia or special paramecia." Swiss said as he stood on his feet, "You ate a paramecia, the most common of Devil Fruits. Unless that is, you ate some kind of secret mythical zoan, only for it to be revealed at a crucial moment in an epic plot twist. Though I highly doubt that.."

"Do you know quite a bit about Devil Fruits, Swiss-san? ~"

"Bruh, I'm like, the Devil Fruit encyclopedia in this bitch. But I ain't ever heard of no Bungee-Bungee mi. I'm curious-"

"About? *"

"I can clearly see your power in your hands right now. It's thick and pinkish in color. It kind of reminds me of red jelly in that sense. But why didn't I notice when you attached it to my leg?"

Joka raised a brow and gave Swiss a smile. He was all too happy to share, "Good question. Depending on how strong or elastic I create my bungee gum, the more visible it becomes. +"

"Nani? So you can change its potency?"

"More or less. I'm still working out the details. But if I weaken my bungee gum enough, it becomes the barely visible thread you saw. ~"

"Bruh, that 'weakened' version was still strong enough to send me flying!"

"Kukuku, sort of. That depended on where you were when I activated it. If you were closer to the mast, I wager the elastic snap would not have been as jerky. ~"

"Damn dude. Your power low key sounds like you need a high IQ to work it. Physics and shit.. Anyway, you've had your big reveal. Can we spar now?"

"What have we been doing all this time? 3"

"Some form of interpretive dance? Come on, let's fight each other without your powers."

"No. *"

"No?!"

"Mmm. I want to practice with my powers. It's not like everyone we encounter is going to not use their powers just because you don't have any. 3"

"You fucking.." Swiss could not argue with his logic, but he also did not feel like sparing someone with a specific power that wouldn't help translate into combat experience against others, "Fine! If you want to play it that way-"

*SHING!*

Swiss unsheathed his cutlass. Its magnificent jade-green hilt radiated an array of colors for a brief second when Joka caught sight of it reflecting the sun.

Swiss rested the cutlass on his shoulder, shooting Joka a taunting expression, "If you're gonna use all you got, then I'm gonna use all I got!"

He then cupped his man parts with his hand, "Just be thankful I'm not using this weapon right here."

"Mmm. Keeping track of such a small thing would put a taxing strain on the eyes. 3"

"Trolololol! You fucker!"

Their clashes and loud taunts to each other ensued.

So loud that our sleepy heads inside had a rude awakening.

…["TROLOLOLOLOL!"]

"Huh?!"

Grit snapped his eyes open, "A nightmare?!"

"Nope. Your sad reality."

On the hammock above, Raito had woken also.

"Bastards.." Grit peered at the open window where the noise of the fight outside was coming from, "Is a relaxing morning too much to ask for?"

"Haha, just be thankful you got to wake after the sun came up."

Jinzo was the one to have said this. He was already in the corner of the cabin where the kitchen was, brewing a pot.

"Coffee, anyone?" Jinzo asked.

Grit groaned, "Ugh, yeah, alright."

The trio sleepily sat at the round table. When the pot was ready, Raito stood for the door.

"I'll go ask if they want some."

"… Just leave them out there. We don't need the noise." Grit replied, rubbing his temples.

"If you want noise in the morning, try being sensei to Bakato for three years."

Raito had a soft and warm smile as he pushed open the cabin door.

That smile turned sour at the sight that met him.

Dangling from the mast like a glorified punching bag was Swiss, all beaten and bruised.

Joka wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead as he turned to acknowledge Raito, "Ah, morning, Raito-san. 3"

"Uhh…" Raito noticed the blood dripping from Joka's knuckles.

As evident by Swiss' beaten appearance, he could only guess who the culprit was.

"What are you guys doing?" Raito asked with a rather confused tone.

"Itsthhsawunvwun" ("It's a 1v1") Swiss replied, his lips so swollen that it was hard to understand.

"Between who? Your face and his fists?"

"Errr…" was all Swiss could utter as his mouth flowed with his blood.

"Anyway, the pot is ready if you guys want a drink.."

"Okway! Bwe wite dere"

As Raito returned inside, Joka looked to Swiss, "I take it this is my victory? *"

"Asth if!"

Swiss and Joka joined the rest of the crew at the table.

"Morning, you two. You're looking extra plump this morning, Swissan. Been catching your beauty sleep, I take it?" Jinzo teased.

Swiss groaned in reply as he painstakingly reached for the DiVinci whiskey bottle and poured himself a glass.

After pouring the glass, he looked at the nearly-full bottle of DiVinci whiskey in his hands, shrugged his shoulders, and drank from that instead.

"I swear, you have a screw loose.." Grit told him.

With each passing day sailing with Swiss, Grit felt his sanity slipping more and more.

"You're one to talk," Jinzo said, pouring Joka some tea.

"Ahhh!" Swiss exhaled in satisfaction, the warming effects of the alcohol soon taking effect, healing the bruises from his fight with Joka, "Much better!"

"I take it your session went well?" Raito asked.

"If you call getting my ass beat as 'going well', then yeah." Swiss leaned back into his wooden chair, "Sleep well?"

"Mmm. You?"

"Sorta. I was having a nice dream until I heard Grit talking to people in his sleep.." Swiss said with a cheeky smile.

"Huh? What was I saying?"

"Trolololol," Swiss chuckled before singing, "All those conversations are the secrets that I keep!"

"Kukuku, how devilish of you, Swiss-san. *"

"By the way," Jinzo went on to ask, "Where did you get the alcohol? I thought we ran out of the stuff yesterday."

Jinzo didn't just 'think' this. He made the extra effort to confirm that the alcohol supplies had run out. This was a habit he quickly formed after joining Swiss at sea.

"Oh, this?" Swiss looked at the contents in his hands, "That Shelby bastard had a bunch of this stuff stocked at the bar of his imperial box. After the Royal Jam, I broke in there and helped myself. The security there was non-existent! I was going to save these bottles for special occasions, but you know how that goes.."

"Stealing from Mr. Shelby. Not the smartest thing you've ever done." Jinzo lamented.

"But also not the dumbest!"

Casual conversation continued for a while before Swiss had to stand and get himself another bottle of whiskey.

"Right! Since I now have a nice glow on, what's say we plot our course? Oh Mr. Navigatorrrrrr-"

After Swiss said this, Jinzo let out a soft sigh, "Very well. And don't call me that.."

Jinzo unrolled their map of the South Blue onto the table.

"Right. As you can see, I have drawn what I predict to have been our course thus far onto the map."

Grit followed the line as it left from Zealandia to the shores of Midland, how it radically changed course after being swooped up and dropped in the calm belt, and how since then, the crew had beelined their way across the South Blue to Jam Land.

"This looks like we let a headless chicken plot our course." Grit remarked.

"We have Swiss' insistence of visiting Jam Land to thank for that. Honestly, it's a miracle we even made it."

"Don't be so modest, my dear Jinzo. It was all thanks to you!" Swiss replied, taking another sip of his drink.

"…So now that there aren't any more funny named places for us to get sidetracked to, what's the plan?" Raito asked.

"… +" Joka listened intently.

"We're going here, naturally."

Jinzo pointed at the upper left corner of the South Blue, "If what Swiss said is true, and Reverse Mountain actually exists-."

"I'm telling you, it's real!"

"… Right. Well, as I was saying, if what he said was true, then our next destination makes perfect sense."

"Why's that?" Raito wondered aloud.

That's when Jinzo pointed to their next stop, some distance southeast of where the gang theorized Reverse Mountain would be located.

"Because this is arguably the most prosperous location in the South Blue."

Swiss stood eagerly so to get a better view of Jinzo's reveal.

When Jinzo took his hand away, uncovering the spot on the map, Swiss giggled childishly.

"Trololol, Baigon?"

"Indeed. The city of Baigon, a hub of trade and industry." Jinzo said, knowing all too well about Baigon due to his upbringing in the Yakuza.

"TROLOLOLOL! And that's honest to god, the last port before we leave?"

"Yes?"

"TROLOLOLOLOLOL! That's amazing!"

Swiss was laughing so hard it felt like his stomach was in stitches.

"I don't get it.." Raito was disappointed at not understanding the joke.

"Dude!" Swiss said, wiping a tear from his eye, "It's like whoever named the city was like, 'Oh, this is the last stop before entering the Grand Line? Bye, I'm gone!..'"

"Wooooooow." Raito was even more disappointed after hearing the explanation, "Baigon.."

"Haha, I'm starting to understand what makes you laugh, Swissan." Said Jinzo, amused at how much Swiss enjoys playing around with the English language.

"Dumb shit aside.." Grit interjected, eager to get the meeting back on track, "What can you tell us about it?"

"The city of Baigon. Quite the beautiful place, though I was only little when I visited."

After sharing briefly about the traveling Jinzo had to do in his youth as he had to follow his Aunt and her family on their trips around the South Blue, he then explained to the gang everything he knew about Baigon.

Baigon was a prosperous trading port in the South Blue, perhaps even the most prosperous.

This prosperity, after learning about Reverse Mountain, made much more sense to Jinzo now.

Considering it's the theoretical last stop before entering the Grand Line, that would explain why sailors from all over would gather there.

Due to how relevant a part it plays in the South Blue's economy, it is only natural that it became a melting pot of people trying to make their way in life.

Traders, pirates, criminals, entrepreneurs.. Practically anyone wishing to make some money.., they all flock after hearing the stories of opportunity that sing out from Baigon.

"Well, I tell you what, lads. If this sailing the world bullshit doesn't work out, what's say we all move to Baigon as one big happy family?" Swiss joked.

"Hmmm?*" Joka rested his head in his palm as he imagined the domestic dynamics of what their household would look like.

He looked at Swiss sitting at the table, drinking away, 'Kukuku, he would be the alcoholic father. ~' he thought to himself.

Then he looked at Jinzo, picturing him in an apron, 'And he, our mother 3.'

Joka had fun in his little daydream before zoning back into the conversation.

"It sounds like the perfect launching pad for our voyage," Raito concluded after hearing Jinzo's explanation.

"The perfect place for *some* people to get in trouble, more like.." Grit said, making no effort to hide his stare directed at Swiss.

"Yosh! I can't wait!" Swiss was too excited to notice the shade that had been thrown his way.

"So it's settled? *" Joka asked.

"Mmm." Jinzo hummed with decisive authority.

"Damn straight!" Swiss stood sloppily, banging the table and almost making everyone's tea cups fall, "To Baigon, full steam ahead!"

"…" the silence that returned to Swiss was not the answer he was looking for.

"I saidddd, to Baigon, full steam ahead!"

The rest of the crew looked at each other with the same embarrassed expressions.

They knew all too well that if they didn't indulge Swiss in his antics, they would never hear the end of it.

"…Yosh. Set sail." They all replied, un-enthused.

"Trololololol! That's the spirit! Hey, this calls for a celebration. Let's drink!"

"Ugh…" Jinzo, Grit, and Raito replied in unison, not yet recovered from the partying of last night.

"Kukuku. ~" Joka sat back and laughed. He enjoyed being the newcomer to the dynamics of the ship.

Either that, or he was a sadist who enjoyed the psychological pain that Swiss inflicted on them.

Call it what you want.

"Yosh! +" Joka earnestly replied, spurring Swiss on.

The rest of the crew knew exactly what Joka was doing. They all shouted at Joka in unison:

"Don't encourage him!"

But it was already too late.

The popping sound of high-quality whiskey bottles being uncorked signaled the start of something that could not be stopped.

Pandora's box? No-

Pandora's bottle.

—

[ssyffix: yo!]

[ssyffix: a very happy author over here]

[ssyffix: not just because I found time to write this chapter (I'm not addicted, I swear!)]

[ssyffix: but because I heard news that Berserk is going to be finished, and also that Togashi-sensei has returned to bring us another volume of HxH!]

[ssyffix: *cries*, there truly is a god.]

[ssyffix: hope you enjoyed the chapter! The Baigon arc should be lit]

[ssyffix: plot twist; the gang decide to actually settle in Baigon. The rest of the story is just them living in a crammed apartment, trying to make a life for themselves xD]