Grand Line

After two days of sailing.

The Moya Adventure Group finally reached the foot of Reverse Mountain.

They watched the seawater surge uphill, its roaring waves creating a spectacular sight.

Everyone was thrilled. They were finally about to enter the Grand Line.

"Look, Captain Moya! A merchant fleet's showing up—and they're actually daring to come over. Hahaha!"

Bartolomeo was excited, rubbing his hands together as he prepared for a big score.

"After all, our flag doesn't look like a pirate flag at all."

Nami had figured out what was going on. She raised a finger and explained.

"Are you heading through Reverse Mountain too? You're incredibly well-informed."

The merchant ship behind them drew closer and called out loudly.

"What do you mean?"

"You don't know? Since you don't look like pirates, I'll tell you.

"There's an Island Whale in the Grand Line that rams Reverse Mountain every so often.

"If you try to cross Reverse Mountain at that time, your ship will be wrecked and everyone aboard will die.

"According to the East Blue Chamber of Commerce, there haven't been any reports of the whale ramming the mountain from yesterday to today. This is the perfect time for our East Blue merchant fleet to cross.

"Those pirates who recklessly set sail on a whim without learning anything deserve to die. Hahaha!"

So that was it. Moya had always wondered about that when he watched the show. No wonder the Marines hadn't dealt with the whale—it even served to weed out reckless rookie pirates.

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

"Come on, come on! I'll take a few copies of the latest paper."

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

"Captain! The ship over there—they look like pirates!!!!!"

The merchant ship's first mate clutched a newspaper and stared at Moya and his crew in terror. Trembling, he called out to the captain.

"What?!"

The entire merchant ship seemed to jump in fright. They quickly slowed down and backed away, their crew rowing frantically to escape.

Moya and his crew were left with speechless expressions.

WANTED: Moya, known as Emperor of Beauty. Bounty: 500,000,000 Beli. Wielder of Three-Color Haki. Suspected user of a memory-based Devil Fruit.

His crew includes a prophecy-based Devil Fruit User. He knows many of the world's secrets and has crushed several Marine Branches in the East Blue. A heinous criminal with enormous ambitions and a grave threat.

Dead or alive.

Only Moya's bounty poster had been updated this time. The other crew members' bounties remained unchanged for now.

But that was more than enough to shock every member of the Moya Adventure Group.

What on earth had this captain discussed with Fleet Admiral Sengoku? His bounty had skyrocketed to 500 million.

Moya was also pleased as he admired the handsome photo on his bounty poster and its grandiose epithet.

"500 million Beli!!! Captain Moya's become a notorious pirate across the seas! His bounty is way higher than this year's Supernovas'!"

Buggy was beside himself, gaping in disbelief. Everyone jumped for joy.

"Settle down. This means we'll face more and more danger. Keep training, and don't you dare get yourselves killed."

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

"Are you ready, my underlings? Tell me your dreams!"

Moya dropped a wooden barrel onto the deck, planted one foot on it, and shouted.

Everyone exchanged glances.

"To become the greatest navigator and help Moya become king! Wherever our blades point, none can stand in our way!"

"To become the greatest gunner and help Moya become king! Wherever our blades point, none can stand in our way!"

"To become the greatest doctor..."

"The strongest fighter..."

"A swordsman who can stand on his own..."

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

"Get out of here! I'm the strongest second-in-command..."

"Hahaha!"

"Let's go, my underlings! Up Reverse Mountain!"

Sea Cow Moo pulled the Yanhuang into the rising current, and its speed surged. The ship whipped violently from side to side, nearly crashing into the Red Line's mountainside.

"Sube Sube no Mi: Glazed Yanhuang!"

The Yanhuang's hull turned slick and smooth. When it hit the mountainside, it slid right off.

"Bari Bari no Mi: Protective Wall!"

Bartolomeo added another layer of protection around the ship. Double protection—good for him, good for everyone.

Nami, Buggy, and the others clung tightly to the railings to keep from being thrown overboard.

"What a reliable bunch."

Everyone's eyes brimmed with tears, their emotions running high. The Grand Line, here we come—with a bunch of reliable companions at our side.

They rode the current up, then let it carry them back down.

Though the ship took a few jolts and bumps, they made it through Reverse Mountain safely.

They had entered the Grand Line.

A new world lay before them. A new chapter was about to unfold. A new journey had begun.

Once the Yanhuang had settled down, everyone checked for injuries and damage to the ship. The Millennium Dragon hatchlings and the pets shut away in their room were all fine, quietly staying put.

Now that the ship was steady, they let the Millennium Dragon hatchlings out to stretch their wings.

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

"Our first banquet in the Grand Line! Let the feast begin! Hooray!"

At that moment, the sea suddenly began to churn, as if some kind of monster were about to rise from its depths.

"Roar!"

An enormous Island Whale surfaced, its head covered in scars.

Laboon sneezed, spitting out a ship with a sheep-shaped figurehead. It was the Straw Hat Pirates' Going Merry.

"I'm starving! That smells so good!"

At last, Crocus had sent Straw Hat Luffy out of the whale's belly, and the first thing Luffy noticed was the delicious aroma coming from the Moya Adventure Group.

"Is that the Moya Pirates? You're having a banquet! Let me join! I want to join your crew, Moya!!!"

Starving, Luffy shouted at Moya.

Crocus emerged from the whale's belly as well, the latest newspaper in his hand.

He looked from Moya's bounty poster to Moya aboard the Yanhuang, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

By rights, Straw Hat Luffy was the one who inherited Roger and Shanks's will.

But according to the news Gaban had sent, Moya had also awakened his Conqueror's Haki after being stirred by Roger's will. He was even more talented than Luffy, having awakened it so quickly.

"Senior Crocus, come down and join the banquet!"

Moya had spotted the Roger Pirates' ship doctor, Crocus. Of course he wanted to get something out of him, whether it was medical knowledge or the Log Pose for the Grand Line.

Naturally, Moya wanted the Log Pose for this route from the original story. Otherwise, he'd have no advantage from knowing the plot.

Besides, this route had many Devil Fruit Users with potential.

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

Crocus asked solemnly, his eyes full of doubt.

"Uh, I think so. But it only works sometimes. Still, I can understand what my little Millennium Dragons are trying to tell me."

"Wow, what a cool green-feathered bird! Huh, it has teeth too! Sugoi!"

Luffy stretched out his arms, grabbed one of the Millennium Dragon hatchlings, and enthusiastically squeezed it, completely ignoring its fierce struggles.

"Idiot! That's a Millennium Dragon! How can you treat a little dragon like that?"

Little Apis leaped up and whacked Luffy away with a stick. She bared her teeth, her face dark with irritation.

"Sugoi! It's a dragon! So cool!"

Luffy rubbed his head as he got back up, his eyes sparkling. Everyone else was speechless.

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

Moya looked at Crocus with an eager expression.

Had he deliberately chosen the route Roger had taken?

Could it be that he had truly inherited Roger's will?

Or was it because of the rumored prophecy-based Devil Fruit User in his crew?

But Crocus had just given one Log Pose for this route to the Straw Hat Pirates.

If he gave another to Moya, would the two pirate crews end up clashing?