Where's My First Mate? Into the Grand Line!

The next day at noon, the sun hung high in the sky.

At the Loguetown Marine Base training ground, Smoker trained as usual.

"This is strange. Why hasn't that stupid woman shown up?"

Smoker habitually lit a cigar.

Tashigi, who usually practiced swordsmanship at the training ground, was nowhere to be seen today.

It was not that he had any special feelings for Tashigi. She was simply one of the few Marines he recognized.

"Wait, didn't she leave with Luo Wen yesterday?"

Smoker took a deep drag from his cigar and exhaled a massive ring of smoke.

It seemed that he had not seen Tashigi since Luo Wen left yesterday.

That stupid woman... she had not been tricked, had she?

"No, I have to go bring her back!"

Smoker stubbed out his cigar and was about to leave when he spotted a Marine standing beside him timidly.

"Commander Smoker, this is Chief Petty Officer Tashigi's letter of resignation."

The Marine handed a sheet of paper to Smoker, then stood to one side trembling.

Smoker unfolded the paper.

Commander Smoker, thank you for looking after me.

You do not need to worry. I have joined Luo Wen's crew to seek out more famous blades.

I caused you a lot of trouble in the past. I am truly sorry.

I hope that when we meet again, you will already be a high-ranking Marine officer.

Oh, and please stop smoking. It is bad for your health.

There were only a few brief lines, written in an extremely messy hand. It looked like she had left it behind in a hurry.

"My first mate was abducted?"

Smoker lit another cigar and took a deep drag, calming the frustration in his heart.

Tashigi might have been a little foolish, but she embodied the justice Smoker recognized. She was also one of his few friends.

He truly could not understand how Tashigi had been led away.

In less than half a day, Luo Wen had somehow talked his first mate into leaving.

Was that charm not a little too ridiculous?

Tashigi, you were way too easy to fool!

"Forget it. I hope you'll be well."

Smoker gave up on the idea of chasing after Tashigi.

This was her own choice. As her friend, Smoker could only wish for her to achieve her dream.

That guy Luo Wen should be reliable, right?

Thinking of Luo Wen's strength and his consistently good reputation, Smoker felt slightly more at ease.

Before Reverse Mountain, aboard the Windrider.

They had departed Loguetown yesterday morning. After sailing for an entire day, the Windrider had finally arrived at Reverse Mountain.

This was the final barrier to entering the Grand Line.

Reverse Mountain was a strange and dangerous mountain.

The powerful currents of the four seas converged here, their tremendous force driving the seawater upward against its natural flow.

Using that immense power, ships could cross Reverse Mountain and enter the Grand Line.

But if a ship was not properly controlled, it would crash into the Red Line, leaving both ship and crew destroyed.

"So this is Reverse Mountain? The seawater really flows upward. This is incredible!"

Tashigi stared at the rising seawater and could not help exclaiming in amazement.

She had come from Marine Headquarters. When she traveled between Headquarters and the East Blue, she did not need to pass through Reverse Mountain.

Marine warships had their own power systems, and Seastone was installed beneath their hulls. They could pass through the Calm Belt to reach the Grand Line.

Compared to Reverse Mountain, that route was undoubtedly much safer.

While Tashigi marveled at Reverse Mountain's spectacular sight, Nami was somewhat worried.

The thunderous crash of the currents against the mountain walls filled her ears. The rushing waters slammed into the cliffs, their immense force instantly turning the seawater into mist.

If a ship were caught in it, it would definitely be smashed to pieces.

Within the narrow canal, the water flowed at an unbelievably fast speed. One slight mistake, and the ship would be flung into the air and crash onto the nearby Red Line.

Every part of this place posed the ultimate challenge for a navigator.

"What a dangerous place. Can we really make it through safely?"

Nami bit her lower lip, her heart full of unease.

Even though she considered herself the best navigator in the East Blue, she could not help feeling terrified before such a challenge.

"Relax. We all believe in your ability."

"Right, Tashigi?"

Luo Wen gently stroked Nami's back, comforting the nervous navigator.

"That's right. I believe in Nami too."

Tashigi nodded vigorously.

Although she had only joined the crew yesterday, her adorably simple nature made her willing to trust her companions' abilities.

"Why do you have so much faith in me?"

Nami did not understand why Luo Wen had such confidence in her.

"Because you are the best navigator in my eyes. Of course I have faith in you."

Facing Nami's question, Luo Wen simply smiled and encouraged her.

This was top-tier navigational talent officially recognized by fate. A mere Reverse Mountain was nothing to her.

"Because you are my companion. Of course companions should trust each other."

Tashigi did not have so many complicated thoughts. To her, it was only natural. They were supposed to trust one another.

"Phew... Since you put it that way, I won't let you down!"

Nami let out a breath, her gaze turning firm.

Both of her companions trusted her so much. She could not let them down.

It's only Reverse Mountain. I'll conquer it!

"Get ready! I'm charging in!"

Nami suddenly spun the helm.

Following the ascending channel and riding the reverse-flowing seawater, the Windrider charged up Reverse Mountain.

Under the violent currents, the Windrider rocked fiercely as seawater-laden winds lashed the deck.

Tashigi stood beside Nami, helping her control the helm.

Luo Wen stood on the deck at the bow. No matter how the ship swayed, he remained as steady as a mountain.

He was their safeguard against any unforeseen accident.

Just as they were about to cross Reverse Mountain, the currents from the other three channels collided, and a wave dozens of meters high surged straight toward them.

"Luo Wen, there's a wave! Our ship is going to be knocked down!"

Nami cried out in alarm.

She and Tashigi desperately turned the helm, but they still could not avoid the enormous wave.

The wave was too large, covering the entire channel. There was nowhere for them to evade.

If it struck them, their ship would be smashed into the Red Line in an instant, leaving them utterly shattered.

"Don't panic. It's only a wave."

Luo Wen remained calm, not taking the sudden wave seriously at all.

Holding his greatsword, he slashed out a crescent-shaped strike at the wave.

The instant the slash collided with the wave—

The wave, dozens of meters high, was instantly scattered and turned into mist that filled the sky, no longer carrying the force to strike the Windrider.

"So strong!"

Nami and Tashigi stared in stunned silence.

They only knew that Luo Wen was overwhelmingly powerful when dealing with pirates.

They had not expected him to remain just as invincible before the might of nature.

"It's amazing to have a captain like this!"

Tashigi shouted excitedly.

Luo Wen's figure, holding his greatsword and cleaving apart the wave, gave her an incomparable sense of security.

Nami nodded in agreement. No matter when it was, Luo Wen always put people at ease.

Filled with the joy of surviving disaster, Tashigi and Nami guided the Windrider across Reverse Mountain.

The rest of the journey was dangerous but uneventful, and they finally arrived at Twin Capes.

They did not encounter the whale Laboon, which was within Luo Wen's expectations. It did not ram the Red Line every day, after all.

Looking at the azure sea before him, Luo Wen felt his spirit soar.

The East Blue was not bad, but for him, the Grand Line was far more vast and open!