The Grand Line

After two days of sailing.

The Moya Adventure Group finally arrived at the foot of Reverse Mountain.

Watching the seawater flowing upward against the current, the rolling roar of the waves was truly spectacular.

Everyone was filled with excitement; they were finally about to enter the Grand Line.

"Look, Captain Moya, a merchant fleet has appeared. They actually dare to approach us, haha~"

Bartolomeo was somewhat excited, rubbing his hands together in preparation for a big fight.

"After all, the flag we're flying doesn't look like a pirate ship at all."

Nami noticed the clue and explained, pointing her finger.

"Are the ships ahead also planning to pass through Reverse Mountain? You folks are certainly well-informed."

The merchant ship behind them pulled alongside and shouted a question.

"What do you mean?"

"You don't know? Since you don't look like pirates, I'll tell you. There is an Island Whale on the Grand Line side that rams into Reverse Mountain every so often. If you try to pass through Reverse Mountain during that time, your ship will surely be destroyed and everyone will perish. According to news from the East Blue Chamber of Commerce, there hasn't been any sound of the whale ramming the mountain from yesterday until today, which is exactly the time for our East Blue merchant fleet to pass. Those pirates who rush out to sea with nothing but hot blood and no information deserve their fate, haha~"

So that was it. Moya had been a bit puzzled when watching the show before; no wonder the Navy hadn't dealt with this whale—it actually served the purpose of filtering out mindless rookie pirates.

Just then, a few News Coos flew across the sky.

"Come, come, give us a few copies of the latest newspapers."

Both the merchant ship opposite and Moya's crew bought newspapers.

"Captain, the ones opposite... they seem to be pirates!!!!!"

The first mate of the merchant ship, holding a newspaper, looked at Moya and his crew in terror, speaking tremblingly to his captain.

"What!!"

The entire merchant ship seemed to jump in fright, quickly decelerating and retreating as countless oarsmen frantically rowed to escape.

They left behind a group of Moya's crew members with black lines of annoyance on their foreheads.

Bounty Poster: Moya, alias Emperor of Beauty, bounty of 500 million Beli, possessor of Three-Color Haki, suspected user of a memory-type Devil Fruit.

He has a subordinate who is a user of a prophecy-type Devil Fruit, knows many of the world's secrets, has crushed multiple Navy branches in the East Blue, is guilty of heinous crimes, possesses great ambition, and is extremely threatening.

Dead or alive.

Only Moya's bounty had been updated this time; the bounties of the other crew members remained unchanged for now.

But this was enough to shock every member of the Moya Adventure Group.

Just what kind of conversation did this captain have with Fleet Admiral Sengoku to make his bounty skyrocket to 500 million?

Moya, for his part, looked at the handsome photo on the bounty poster and his high-class alias with great satisfaction.

"500 million Beli!!! Captain Moya is now a great pirate famous across the seas, far exceeding the bounties of this year's Supernovas."

Buggy was going crazy, tongue-tied, while everyone else jumped for joy.

"Quiet down. This means we will face more and more danger. Everyone must continue to train; absolutely do not die."

Moya began to warn his crew not to get carried away or underestimate their enemies.

"Are you ready, my little ones? State your dreams!!"

Moya tossed a wooden barrel down, stepped on it, and asked loudly.

Everyone exchanged glances.

"To become the greatest navigator, to assist Moya in becoming King, invincible wherever his blade points."

"To become the greatest gunner, to assist Moya in becoming King, invincible wherever his blade points."

"To become the strongest doctor,..."

"The strongest combatant,..."

"A swordsman who can hold his own,..."

"The strongest second-in-command,..."

"Screw you, I'm the strongest second-in-command..."

"Hahaha~~"

"Lads, charge up Reverse Mountain!"

Sea Cow Moo pulled the Yanhuang into the reverse current, its speed surging. The Yanhuang whipped violently from side to side, appearing on the verge of smashing into the cliff face of the Red Line.

Slip-Slip Fruit: Glazed Yanhuang

The hull of the Yanhuang became slick and slippery, causing it to bounce off the mountain wall and slide right past.

Bari Bari no Mi: Protective Wall

Bartolomeo added an extra layer of protection to the ship; with double the defense, everyone was safe and sound.

Nami and Buggy clung to the railings, bracing themselves tightly to avoid being thrown overboard.

"What reliable guys they are."

Everyone's eyes welled with tears, their emotions running high. The Grand Line, here we come—arriving with a group of reliable companions.

Up against the current, then down with the flow.

Despite a few bumps and collisions, they passed through Reverse Mountain safely.

Entry into the Grand Line: Complete.

A new world lay before them, a new chapter was about to be opened, and a new journey began right here.

The Yanhuang finally steadied.

The crew began checking for injuries and hull damage. The Millennium Dragon hatchlings and pets kept in the rooms were all fine, staying put and behaving themselves.

Now that things were calm, they let the Millennium Dragon hatchlings out for a stroll.

The beautiful chef Carmen and the cook Rim began preparing a meal.

"The first banquet upon entering the Grand Line, let it begin! Hurrah~"

Just then, the sea surface surged violently, as if some monster were about to rise from the depths.

Awoo~

A massive Island Whale emerged, its head covered in scars.

Laboon let out a sneeze, and a goat-headed sailing ship was spat out—it was the Going Merry of the Straw Hat Pirates.

"So hungry, so hungry... it smells so good~"

Luffy of the Straw Hats, finally sent out by Crocus, was the first to catch the scent of the feast from the Moya Adventure Group.

"Is that the Moya Pirates? You're having a banquet? Take me with you, I want to join, Moya!!!"

Starving, Luffy shouted loudly toward Moya.

Crocus stepped out from the whale's belly, holding the latest newspaper in his hand.

He looked at the Bounty Poster of Moya, then at Moya himself on the Yanhuang, a hint of contemplation appearing on his face.

Logically, Luffy of the Straw Hats was the one who inherited the will of Roger and Shanks.

But according to news from Gaban, this Moya had also triggered Roger's will and awakened Conqueror's Haki—and he was even more gifted than Luffy, having awakened it so quickly.

"Senior Crocus, come down and join our banquet."

Moya saw the former ship doctor of the One Piece, and naturally, he wanted to fleece him for all he was worth, whether it was his medical expertise or the Log Pose for the Grand Line.

Moya certainly wanted the Log Pose for this specific route from the original story; otherwise, he would lose all his plot advantages.

Besides, there were many potential Devil Fruit users along this path.

"You awakened the Observation Haki that allows you to hear the Voice of All Things?"

Crocus asked with a serious expression, his eyes filled with skepticism.

"Uh, it seems so, but it's hit-or-miss. Still, I can understand and communicate with my little Millennium Dragons."

"Wow, what a cool green-haired bird! Hey~ it even has teeth! Sugoi!"

Luffy stretched his arms, grabbed a Millennium Dragon hatchling, and rubbed it frantically, ignoring the hatchling's violent resistance.

"Baka! That's a Millennium Dragon, you idiot! How can you treat the little dragon like that?"

The little girl Apis jumped up and knocked Luffy flying with a stick, baring her teeth with black lines of irritation on her forehead.

"Sugoi, it's a dragon! So cool!"

Luffy rubbed his head as he climbed back up, stars in his eyes, leaving everyone speechless.

"Senior Crocus, my ship doctor would like to learn from you. Also, I wanted to ask, do you have a Log Pose for the route through Whisky Peak and Little Garden?"

Moya looked at Crocus with a look of eager anticipation.

Did he choose the route Roger once took on purpose?

Could it be that he really had inherited Roger's will as well?

Or was it because of the rumors that he possessed prophetic abilities?

But he had just given a Log Pose for this route to the Straw Hat crew.

If he gave another one to Moya, he wondered if the two pirate crews would end up in conflict.