《One Piece：The True Codex》Chapter 70: The Calm Belt Venture

Due to William's unfamiliarity with the treasure locations as the newly appointed navigator, the Red-Beard Pirates were forced to rely on Barbarossa's memory to navigate. This resulted in several days of delay, and by the time they arrived at the island, the treasure had already been completely looted by Sherlock and his team.

Standing in the empty cavern, the pirates felt a chill run down their spines. The treasure wasn't just Barbarossa's—it was theirs too.

These riches were the fruits of years of bloodshed and toil on the high seas. Even though their collusion with the Marines and Arcadio had allowed them to live more comfortably than other pirates, every coin and gem in that treasure was still stained with the blood and sweat of the Red-Beard Pirates.

Barbarossa stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the ceiling of the cavern, lost in thought. The crew was restless, but no one dared disturb him. After all, they still vividly remembered what had happened to the last unfortunate soul who had dared interrupt their captain.

After a long silence, Barbarossa finally seemed to snap out of his daze. His voice was calm as he called out, "Stolt, come here."

William, who had been waiting on the outskirts of the group, stepped forward. Barbarossa spoke again, this time with a commanding tone. "We're heading to the Calm Belt."

William hesitated, unsure if he had heard correctly. "You mean... the Calm Belt?"

Nearby pirates who had overheard Barbarossa's words began murmuring among themselves, but a sharp glare from Barbarossa's single eye silenced them immediately.

It was only natural for William and the others to question such a decision. During his studies to learn navigation, William had read extensively about the geography of this world. Every book that mentioned the Calm Belt described it in terms that could be summed up in four words: extremely dangerous.

This region was the true graveyard of the seas.

The geography of this world was peculiar. The Red Line and the Grand Line divided the planet into four seas—East Blue, West Blue, North Blue, and South Blue. These two lines, which encircled the globe, severed the connections between the seas. The Grand Line's ability to act as a barrier was largely due to the Calm Belt.

William, whether in his previous life or his current one, wasn't a scholar and had little interest in delving into the mysteries of this world's bizarre geography. What he did know was that the Calm Belt encircled the Grand Line, forming two bands of sea where the wind never blew. For ships relying on sails, this was a death sentence.

But the lack of wind wasn't the only danger. The Calm Belt was home to countless sea monsters, creatures so massive that even the largest ships appeared to be mere toys in their eyes. These beasts, known as Sea Kings, made the Calm Belt a nightmare for anyone daring to traverse it.

The dangers were easy to imagine: a powerless sailing ship stranded in a vast, desolate sea with no food, no supplies, and no hope of rescue. Meanwhile, beneath the surface, countless Sea Kings lurked, waiting to strike.

The threats of starvation, lack of resources, and Sea Kings were more than enough to spell doom for any pirate crew.

Even though the Red-Beard Pirates were among the most formidable forces in the East Blue, venturing into the Calm Belt was tantamount to suicide. William understood this, and so did Barbarossa.

"It's not the Calm Belt itself," Barbarossa clarified, glancing at William. "We're heading to its outskirts. We're after a Devil Fruit."

Devil Fruit!

William's heartbeat quickened, though he maintained a façade of confusion. "A Devil Fruit? Do those really exist? Are they found in the Calm Belt?"

"I don't know where they grow," Barbarossa admitted. "But in the East Blue, the Calm Belt is the most likely place to encounter one."

William furrowed his brow, still feigning doubt.

Barbarossa's irritation was evident. While their destination was technically the outskirts of the Calm Belt, it wasn't much safer. Sea Kings occasionally ventured beyond the Calm Belt, and their presence in the surrounding waters could be just as catastrophic. The lack of human settlements and supply points in these areas further compounded the risks of such a voyage.

Barbarossa, sensing William's hesitation, begrudgingly offered an explanation. "In the Four Seas, every moment, there are pirates dreaming of entering the Grand Line and making their mark..."

He let out a low, mocking laugh, as if ridiculing those pirates for their naivety. "At the same time, in the Grand Line, every moment, there are pirates desperate to escape from that graveyard."

The allure of Pirate King Roger's treasure drew countless pirates into the Grand Line. Among them were fearless individuals willing to face any obstacle, but there were also many who quickly regretted their impulsive decisions.

The Marines' headquarters was located within the Grand Line, and the World Government's focus was largely concentrated there. The naval forces in the Grand Line were far stronger than those of the Four Seas combined. Pirates in the Grand Line not only had to contend with relentless Marine pursuit but also had to guard against betrayal and attacks from other pirate crews.

For pirates terrified by the Grand Line's harsh environment, crossing the Calm Belt to return to the "peaceful" Four Seas wasn't an unimaginable notion—especially for those lucky enough to have obtained wealth within the Grand Line.

For instance... a pirate crew fortunate enough to acquire a Devil Fruit.

A single Devil Fruit was worth 100 million Beli—and that was the minimum price. Few would be foolish enough to sell such a rare treasure for its base value. In the Four Seas, where Devil Fruits were little more than legends, their price could soar to astronomical levels.

"This season is when Sea King activity is at its lowest," Barbarossa explained with a sinister grin. "If any lucky bastards manage to escape the Grand Line via the Calm Belt, it'll be now. And they'll head for the East Blue!"

William nodded slowly, adding, "Because the East Blue is the weakest of the Four Seas. Everyone knows that. Any pirate crew capable of entering the Grand Line isn't weak. Even if they escape from the Grand Line, they'll still have overwhelming strength compared to the pirates and Marines of the East Blue."

Indeed, in the years to come, a fishman pirate crew with similar ambitions would prove William's statement true.

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