One Piece: The Strongest Trait System

[66] : The Calm Belt's Great Use! The Red Line!

His Smoke-Smoke Fruit ability allowed him to freely solidify his smoke for attacks or use its elemental form for capturing and manipulation. Even within strong currents, subtly altering their course should be possible.

At the very least, entering the Grand Line channel wouldn't be a problem; they wouldn't need the near-death experience from the original story.

"You should have said so sooner!" Sanji, Zoro, and Usopp yelled simultaneously, exasperated.

"Hahaha! Sorry, sorry! Your expressions were just too funny!" Rowen laughed heartily.

"Seriously! Don't scare me like that, Rowen!" Nami leaned against Rowen's shoulder, wrinkling her nose cutely.

"I was about to say, if we can't use the entrance, maybe we should just detour south and enter from there," Zoro said, relieved, managing a smile. The chart did show an alternate southern route into the Grand Line.

"That wouldn't work," Nami immediately refuted.

"RIGHT! Nami's right!" Luffy instantly agreed.

Nami felt a flicker of gratification. 'Maybe Luffy isn't a complete idiot after all.'

"We have to go through the entrance! That's the exciting way!" Luffy declared loudly, pointing at Zoro.

"YOU MORON! That's not the reason!" Nami transformed into her sharp-toothed angry state again.

So much for Luffy making progress...

"Hahaha," Rowen chuckled, watching Luffy's antics.

"Huh? What's going on? The storm suddenly stopped," Usopp remarked, looking out the window curiously.

"It's really quiet... Just moments ago, it was pouring rain and howling wind," Sanji added.

"Yeah! Great weather!" Luffy threw open the cabin door, grinning.

"You can still see the storm over there, but there's absolutely no wind here," Zoro observed, gazing at the distant storm clouds.

"N-No! This can't be! We should be able to ride the current into the entrance!" Seeing the clear weather, Nami, the navigator, turned deathly pale.

"What's wrong?" Seeing Nami's unusual panic, everyone except Rowen looked concerned.

"We're in the Calm Belt, aren't we?" Rowen stated, stepping out of the cabin. He felt the utter stillness of the air—not a breath of wind. All the Merry's sails hung completely limp. A slight smile touched his lips.

"Calm Belt?" Luffy and the others looked confused.

"Yes! The Calm Belt! Quick, furl the sails! We need to row back into the storm!" Nami urged frantically.

"Why are you panicking? This is a sailboat! Why do we have to row?" Luffy asked curiously.

"Yeah, why go back into the storm?" Usopp added.

"Stop asking questions! Just do as I say, you idiots!" Nami yelled desperately.

"But the weather's so nice now," Zoro commented, stretching lazily.

"Rowen! Please tell them! You know about the Calm Belt, you must know what's here!" Nami pleaded, looking at Rowen, her face utterly pale.

"I know. Just like you mentioned detouring south earlier... our ship is currently drifting south," Rowen replied, seeing Nami's terror, then glanced at Zoro with a smile.

"Huh? Does that mean... we're already in the Grand Line?" Zoro asked cluelessly.

"Idiot! If it were that easy, everyone could get into the Grand Line!" Nami snapped, transforming into her sharp-toothed state again.