Less than half a day into his flight the next morning, Ash Thalos spotted a pirate ship cutting across the sea below.
On a whim, he descended and politely asked if they knew the way to Drum Island.
To his mild surprise, they actually did.
Not only that, they even handed him a spare Log Pose.
To thank them for their generosity, Ash treated the ship to a spectacular fireworks display made entirely of lightning and wind pressure. The pirates never forgot that day, even if they never understood why the sky suddenly tried to kill them.
The next day, Ash arrived at Drum Island.
"Hah. Iron Body plus solar energy stored inside my body."
Standing on the frozen pier in beach clothes and sneakers, Ash muttered to himself.
"I do not even feel the cold of a Winter Island."
He looked around at the snow-covered buildings and frowned slightly.
"No idea if Wapol is king yet. Actually… I can calculate it."
"In the timeline, Princess Vivi first appeared at sixteen in 1522. Two years later, during the Levely, she was eighteen."
"Wind back three sessions. At six years old, she attended with her father and got slapped by that idiot Wapol."
"Twelve years back from that… no, ten."
"So in 1512, that hippo was already king of Drum Kingdom."
Ash narrowed his eyes.
"It is 1515 now."
"So that moron has probably already started his big purge and driven every doctor away."
He shrugged.
"Forget it. A ship doctor can wait. First, I need a Log Pose."
…
On the sea, sailing from Drum Kingdom toward Alabasta.
"Wapol, you lunatic."
Ash checked the Log Pose on his wrist and adjusted his direction.
"Making up stupid laws all day. Buying a Log Pose needs royal permission? Do you have nothing better to do as king?"
He snorted.
"Lucky for you I am in a rush, or I would beat you up twice before Monkey D. Luffy even gets here."
"Entry fees, permits, nonsense taxes. Absolute psycho."
…
Alabasta Kingdom.
Port city, Nanohana.
"Phew…"
Ash sat cross-legged near the pier, breathing out slowly.
"Four days of flying just to reach Alabasta. That nearly killed me."
Spotting land from afar had made him too excited. He had spammed Flash Steps the whole way, draining his energy faster than expected.
One minute later, he stood up straight.
"Full stamina restored."
He patted his stomach and grinned.
"First priority, food. I need to taste the cuisine of a desert kingdom."
His eyes lit up.
"Huh? Spice Bean? That sounds familiar."
Guided by memory, he wandered through Nanohana and soon found the restaurant that once made Portgas D. Ace pass out from happiness and sent Luffy roaring for more.
"Chef's hat, five-star logo on the apron."
Ash nodded.
"Same guy, just a few years early."
He slid onto a barstool and slapped the counter.
"Boss, bring out everything good you have."
"That is… a lot of food, customer."
The owner stared at him in disbelief.
Ash laughed.
"I am a big eater. Start with ten portions for a taste test."
With no choice, the owner nodded.
"All right, give me a moment."
While waiting, Ash calmly mapped out the rest of his schedule.
"From Reverse Mountain back to Diwen Village, Pini can make it in three or four days."
"There is a captured pirate ship in port. Loading everyone and their supplies takes two more days."
"Several hundred villagers traveling together, but with Pini and five Devil Fruit users onboard, safety is guaranteed."
"So in about ten days, they reach Twin Capes."
"My side, one day to Small Garden, one to Drum, four to Alabasta."
"Six days already."
"In the original plot, the Straw Hats reached Jaya in two days after leaving Alabasta. At my speed, I can do it in less than one."
"Once on Jaya, I rest while pinpointing the Knock-Up Stream, then shoot straight into the sky."
"Finish Sky Island in one day, then return to Twin Capes in another one or two."
Ash smiled slightly.
"Fifteen days total. About five days behind Pini's group."
"They have Big Brother Sali, five other ability users, and a fresh two hundred million Berries. Money and security are solved."
"As for Princess Vivi…"
Ash waved his hand dismissively.
"Nine years old, still a brat. Nothing worth watching."
"Crocodile has been scheming here for years, but Robin will not join for another three. Until then, Baroque Works is boring."
"And his casino? I already left a mental imprint. I can gamble there anytime."
He leaned back.
"Decision made. After lunch, buy a Log Pose and head straight for Jaya."
"Your order, customer."
The owner wheeled in ten massive plates of desert cuisine.
"Enjoy."
"Wow, looks incredible."
Ash grabbed a fork, eyes shining.
"Ohhh, so good."
"Glad you like it."
"Another ten. No, twenty."
Ash spoke between bites.
"Repeat these ten, then bring ten different ones."
"You are serious?"
Sweat appeared on the owner's forehead.
"Completely serious."
Ash swallowed three plates in record time.
"I am already done with these. Hurry up."
"…Coming right up."
While Ash ate happily, two scruffy men in the corner had been watching him for a long time.
"Boss, that is the thief from the wanted poster. The one who stole the treasure chest. Want to jump him?"
"Idiot. He walked in empty-handed. Where is the chest?"
"Maybe he sold it or hid it. Grab him and make him talk."
"Moron. Even if the loot exists, his bounty is only 800 Berries. Look at how he eats, he is not weak."
"True. His meal costs more than ten thousand, and he is worth 800. Total bottom-feeder."
"Shut up and eat. After this, we go check that bounty hunter gathering. Easy money might show up."
…
Even without Observation Haki, Ash's Innate Divine Sense picked up every word.
He nearly snapped when they repeated "only 800 Berries", but decided to let it go.
Trash was not worth ruining a good meal.
They were bounty hunters, not pirates. Hardly worth vaporizing over gossip.
When he finished eating, Ash casually placed a stack of cash on the counter.
One million Berries.
Fifty thousand for the food.
The remaining nine hundred and fifty thousand for the recipes.
The Spice Bean owner personally walked him to the door, bowing repeatedly.
Ash then asked where to buy a Log Pose and strolled off.
…
"Someone waving a million around and you still did nothing. Lucky you."
Ash muttered.
Then he stepped into a shop specializing in navigation tools.
Minutes later, he walked out smiling.
"Next stop."
"Jaya Island."