The salty ocean air blew through the town as the Solar Rift Pirates navigated the busy port, their goal carved in stone.
Obtain a Log Pose. Reach the Grand Line.
There was only one problem—they didn't have one.
The Grand Line differed from the four Blues. It did not follow regular navigation rules. Compasses were useless there. The only way to travel safely from island to island was by using a Log Pose, a special device that homed in on an island's magnetic field and drew the user to it.
Without it, they were stuck.
The Crew's Discussion
Solian leaned against the railing at their ship, arms crossed as he digested their situation.
"We can't just sail in blind," Jorin muttered, pacing. "Without a Log Pose, we'd be lost before we'd even started."
"Where do we find one, exactly?" Solian asked.
Kael adjusted his coat. "They don't sell them just anywhere. Most people outside of the Grand Line don't need them. But some pirates, traders, or bounty hunters would."
Drayce leaned back against the mast, smiling. "So what I'm hearing is—we buy one, steal one, or win one."
Vance chuckled. "I like the sound of the last two."
Jorin shot him a look. "And if we don't find one?"
Solian exhaled, thinking. They had come too far to turn back now.
"Then we'll find another way," Solian said. "For now, let's split up. Someone in this town has to know where we can obtain one."
A Town of Thieves and Scams
The port town was a seedy mix of merchants, bounty hunters, and small-time pirates. There was smoke pouring out of chimneys, bars were occupied by boisterous sailors, and street vendors called out their wares.
It did not take long for the Solar Rift Pirates to realize something—everyone was attempting to scam them.
Milo and the Twin Tempest
Milo, Aria, and Leon walked through the marketplace when they spotted a stall with a sign:
"AUTHENTIC LOG POSES – LIMITED AND RARE!"
A hunched merchant greeted them with a smile as they approached.
"You've got sharp eyes, young ones!" the merchant said, holding up a compass-like device. "This here is a REAL Log Pose! A rare item, only available for 500,000 berries!"
Aria narrowed her eyes. She took the Log Pose, tilting it side to side.
Then, without warning—
She snapped it in half.
The merchant screamed in horror, but Aria just smirked, tossing the broken pieces aside.
"Fake," she muttered.
Milo groaned. "Figures. Everyone's trying to scam us."
Leon crossed his arms. "This is gonna take forever."
Vance and Jorin at the Tavern
At a local seaside tavern, Vance and Jorin were at the bar, asking questions.
A few drinks later, a drunk pirate finally gave them a lead.
"A Log Pose? Good luck! The only ones around here who have one are the Iron Scales."
Jorin's eyes narrowed. "Iron Scales?"
The pirate hiccuped again. "Mean bastards. Captain Rygar Ironjaw—his crew stole one from a merchant ship. You'll have to take it from them if you want a Log Pose."
Kael's Lead at the Docks
Kael, ever the quiet observer, found a fisherman at the docks who gave the same answer.
"The Iron Scales docked here a few days ago," the old man said, sitting on a crate. "Stirred up trouble. Picked fights. They're strong."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Where are they now?"
The fisherman pointed toward a western section of the port. "Still docked over there. If you're thinking about stealing from them… be careful."
Kael nodded, then turned back toward the ship.
They had their target.
Regrouping and a New Target
Back aboard the ship, the crew made their reports.
"Looks like we've found our next target," Solian said, his fist tightening on the railing.
The Iron Scales.
A pirate crew with a Log Pose—between them and the Grand Line.
"They won't just give it up," Jorin said.
Kael smirked. "Then we take it."
The Solar Rift Pirates set their sights on their next battle.