Family Banquet

Once their future route was decided, the Twin Goddesses entered a cycle of acceleration, charging, cooling, and acceleration, advancing toward Reverse Mountain at an utterly unbelievable speed.

In just over half a day, not a single ship could be seen across the entire sea. It could be said that the Sky Pirates' flag had already left every pirate ship and Marine vessel far behind them.

Night gradually fell.

Ye Mu and Enel continued their grueling training aboard the ship, and this time Tiger joined in as well, though his main duty was still controlling the Twin Goddesses' course.

As for Freya, she carried baby-5 and picked out a room on the ship for the two of them. After tidying up their luggage and moving in, she hid away in the kitchen and began preparing the evening meal.

This was Freya's first time preparing food for everyone as the Sky Pirates' head chef, so naturally, she could not afford to be careless.

Sensing that the strength needed to control the helm was growing greater and greater, Tiger voiced his judgment.

"The currents have already begun to change. We should have been caught by the current leading to Reverse Mountain. If everything goes smoothly, we'll be able to see Reverse Mountain tomorrow morning. However, just in case, I suggest we find a place to moor for the night first. It would be best to land at Reverse Mountain tomorrow after daybreak, when visibility is at its best."

"No problem. I'll leave it to you, Tiger."

At that moment, baby-5 had also changed into a new set of clothes and came skipping happily out of the cabin, shouting with a smile.

"Lord Enel... Lord Ye Mu... Lord Tiger... Big Sister Freya says dinner is ready..."

"Captain, you go on ahead. I'll come over once I find a place to dock the ship."

"Mm. Thanks for your hard work."

When the two of them walked into the brightly lit dining room, they could see with the naked eye that the huge long dining table was already filled with all kinds of food. Appetizers, soup, fish, meat, main courses, salad, desserts, and drinks—everything was there. The aroma of the food, along with the warm air, filled the entire dining room, giving people a warm, happy feeling from the bottom of their hearts.

"Wow... This is way too lavish..."

At that moment, Ye Mu felt that his decision to recruit Freya onto the ship had been incomparably wise.

At last, they no longer had to eat only fruit, roasted meat, and stew.

This delicious food was simply too tempting.

At that moment, Freya, dressed in a white cook's outfit, came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of rich broth and placed it on the table.

"Can we eat now?"

Ye Mu was already impatient to taste Freya's cooking.

Who would have thought Freya would wave her hand very firmly?

"No. Go take a bath first. Can't you smell how badly you stink? Also, Mr. Tiger hasn't come in yet. How can we start eating early..."

"Not bad... You're already starting to look like a housekeeper..."

"Bastard, who's a housekeeper..."

But Ye Mu did not give Freya a chance to explode. He ran off to wash up.

Just like that, after roughly ten minutes, everyone finally sat together again.

Looking at the table full of food, no one moved. All of them stared at Ye Mu with burning eyes, clearly waiting for him to speak.

Seeing this, Ye Mu did not decline the honor and raised his wineglass.

"This counts as the Sky Pirates' first official family banquet."

"First, let's raise a glass to our head chef, Freya. Thank you, Head Chef Freya, for preparing such a big table of delicious food for us. We'll be counting on you from now on too!"

"Cheers... Cheers..."

"Next, let's raise a glass to our navigator, Mr. Tiger. Without Tiger, Enel and I would probably still be drifting out at sea right now. Please take care of us from now on too!"

"Cheers... Cheers..."

"Then let's raise a glass to our little crew member, baby-5. Thank you, little girl, for bringing us joy and smiles. Oh right, what's in this little girl's cup is juice, isn't it?"

"Of course it is. Who do you think I am, you? Only thinking of that now..."

"Hahahaha, cheers... Cheers..."

"Then next, let's raise a glass to our pirate ship, the Twin Goddesses. She's the strongest support of our pirate crew. To the Twin Goddesses, cheers..."

"Cheers... Cheers..."

"Finally, let's raise a glass to the big family that is the Sky Pirates, and to ourselves as members of this family. Starting tomorrow, we'll officially enter the Grand Line and begin our adventure. Get ready. This world will be turned upside down because of us... Cheers..."

"Cheers... Cheers..."

"All right, now I declare—dig in..."

The entire banquet instantly entered a joyous atmosphere.

Ye Mu and Enel were the first to set an example. Throwing aside their identities as captain and vice-captain, they started snatching food like children, their eyes brimming with happy tears. The others were infected by it as well and quickly joined in.

"Wow... This is way too delicious!"

"Wuuuu... What was I even eating before..."

"Bastard, do you have a problem with my cooking?"

"Anyone would get tired of eating the same thing for ten years... Besides, Ye Mu, how can what you make even be called cooking compared to this..."

"Our head chef really is amazing..."

"Big Sister Freya is the best..."

"..."

The cheerful atmosphere of the banquet only slowly came to an end around midnight.

Everyone had drunk a lot, but the only ones truly drunk were Freya and baby-5, who had secretly been drinking.

Ye Mu, Enel, and Tiger were still perfectly sober.

"Everyone will take turns keeping watch. We'll set out for Reverse Mountain tomorrow morning..."

By the time Freya woke up again, the sun was already high in the sky.

She opened her eyes and looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings. First she was startled, then she finally remembered.

"Ah... right... I'm already a pirate..."

"Big Sister Freya, are you awake?"

Baby-5's voice sounded beside her ear. Freya turned her head and saw the little girl in pajamas, her pretty big eyes wide open as she stared at her.

"So cute! But... what time is it now?"

"Lord Ye Mu said we're almost at Reverse Mountain. If you woke up, he told me to come call you..."

"Ah..."

Freya hurriedly got out of bed. After changing her clothes, she came out onto the deck.

In an instant, dazzling sunlight shone into her eyes, making her feel a little uncomfortable all over.

"I need to brew some wine especially for ladies."

Thinking that, Freya adjusted and walked over to Ye Mu's side, looking toward the distance and around them.

"Aren't we almost there? Why can't I see anything..."

Freya remembered what her father had told her: Reverse Mountain stood in the middle of the towering Red Line, splitting the entire Red Line in two. But now, forget the Red Line—she could not even see a mountain.

"You're awake... Isn't the Red Line right over there?"

Ye Mu pointed into the distance. Freya froze, rubbed her eyes, and looked carefully.

She still did not see anything that looked like the Red Line. All there was in the distance were rolling black clouds, connecting sky and sea, dividing the whole world in two.

At that moment, Freya realized and said, "Don't tell me Reverse Mountain is inside those clouds..."

"Mm."

The one who nodded and spoke was Tiger.

"Reverse Mountain is inside those clouds. Because of the Red Line's unique geography, the air currents are blocked by it, and with the special ocean currents on top of that, that place is often shrouded in clouds like these."

"That's also why they say Reverse Mountain is the first challenge to entering the Grand Line. The climate inside is extremely complicated, dark, and difficult to navigate, and with the powerful ocean currents as well, ships basically can't be controlled in there. So nearly half of all pirate ships are wrecked here, ending their pirate journey."

"Huh... Then what about us...?"

"Don't worry. Tiger is a professional navigator."