Loguetown was not far from Reverse Mountain, but the Moss still sailed for more than a day.
During that time, Mark's injuries had fully healed. The fair skin on his arms slowly turned bronze, and his strength had improved as well.
After that battle, his control over both Devil Fruit abilities and Haki had improved considerably.
When they saw Reverse Mountain, both Mark and Chiu Chiu were stunned by the sight before them.
Seawater flowed backward and climbed upward, the currents incredibly fierce.
A scene that defied all physical common sense appeared right before their eyes.
"We have to rush through as quickly as possible. The currents here are dangerous, and if we misjudge them, we could very well die here." Daisy looked at the surging upward current, her little face grave.
This was the first challenge every pirate had to face on their way to the Grand Line.
Mark and Chiu Chiu nodded. Sailing the seas meant facing countless dangers beyond their control.
At a moment like this, they entrusted their lives to Daisy.
When danger struck, the navigator was the one the entire crew could trust most.
Mark said, "Daisy, we believe in you!"
Chiu Chiu said, "Boss, whether I get to eat grilled meat depends entirely on you!"
Daisy let out a soft breath, determination flashing through her eyes.
"Set sail!!!"
Daisy gave the commands, Mark manned the helm, and Chiu Chiu stood at the bow, ready at all times to deal with unexpected situations.
The three had clear roles.
After a harrowing journey.
Following the chart's directions, Daisy quickly led them over Reverse Mountain and into the Grand Line.
All three of them breathed a sigh of relief.
If the Moss had been destroyed while crossing Reverse Mountain, Chiu Chiu and Mark's ability to fly would have ensured their survival. But afterward, they would have needed to prepare a new ship and cross Reverse Mountain again.
By then, all the Beli, the Moss, and the large stockpile of ammunition aboard would have been wasted.
There would never again be someone like Arlong in the East Blue for him to rob—someone rich, that was.
Having arrived at the Grand Line, Mark and the other two stood at the bow, closed their eyes, and took a deep breath.
This was the Grand Line, the Grand Line known as the Demon Sea.
They had finally taken their first step.
From here on, they would gain new companions.
They would earn new titles.
They would attain greater status.
It was as if everything in the world was beckoning to them.
"Companions, what should be the first thing we do after arriving at the Grand Line?" Mark took a deep breath of sea air and asked with his eyes closed.
Chiu Chiu shouted into the sea breeze, "Naturally, we throw a feast!"
Daisy said, "All you ever think about is eating. Still, I am rather hungry..."
A faint smile touched Mark's lips. "Then let's have a feast!"
"We'll hold it over there!"
He turned and pointed somewhere. Chiu Chiu and Daisy followed his gesture.
There stood a lighthouse.
After crossing Reverse Mountain, they had arrived at a place called Twin Cape.
Twin Cape was named after the two Red Line peaks that stood to the left and right.
A lighthouse stood on each of those peaks, identical in appearance.
A lighthouse keeper lived here.
And he was exactly the person Mark had come looking for.
Crocus!
He possessed something Mark wanted.
A Log Pose!
Though he was not a navigator, anyone who had read the original story knew how important a Log Pose was on the Grand Line.
Because the Grand Line's weather was so unpredictable, one often could not rely on observing the skies to find a suitable route. Here, a Log Pose was like a sea chart for the Four Seas, able to accurately guide one to the next destination.
Mark happened to know that Crocus had one.
If possible, it would be best to get that Log Pose.
After all, not every pirate crew on the Grand Line had a Log Pose.
If he could not get it, there was nothing to be done. He would not do anything excessive to an old senior.
At that moment, beneath the lighthouse, an old man in a floral shirt lay back in a rattan chair, basking in the sun.
On the table beside him sat a glass of ice water and a folded newspaper.
He had once been the ship's doctor aboard Roger's pirate ship, and was now the keeper of the Twin Cape lighthouse.
He was also the doctor who looked after the whale Laboon.
A simple-minded whale who had always awaited the return of the Rumbar Pirates.
When the Moss approached the lighthouse, Crocus spotted Mark and the others.
When he saw the pirate flag on Mark's mast, surprise flashed through Crocus's eyes.
That flag... looks familiar. Which sea did they come from?
Crocus quietly used Observation Haki to inspect the people aboard, discovering there were only three figures in total, one of whom was not even human.
Moreover, the two humans were both very young. That little girl in particular was definitely still underage...
A pirate crew made up of a bunch of brats actually made it from the Four Seas to the Grand Line. Heh!
Crocus chuckled, growing deeply interested in Mark and the others.
Within the range of his Observation Haki, Mark and the others were young, but they were not weak. Especially that little fellow over two meters tall with a massive axe on his back—he actually gave Crocus a faint sense of danger.
As Crocus sized Mark up, Mark was sizing him up as well.
Daisy followed Mark's gaze. When she saw Crocus, a puzzled look appeared on her face.
"Mark, do you know that old man?"
"I don't, but the old man does." Seeing the old man seated in a rattan chair outside the small house beneath the lighthouse, Mark smiled faintly.
Gaban knows him...
Curiosity flashed in Daisy's eyes.
When the Moss reached the foot of the lighthouse, Mark and Chiu Chiu carried some ingredients and tableware off the ship.
"Do you need something?"
Seeing them bring a large quantity of ingredients onto the island, Crocus immediately rose and asked. An imposing aura appeared around him.
"We came here to hold a feast, and we would also like to invite you to join us," Mark said with a friendly smile.
"Hold a feast here? Invite me?" Crocus was confused. He did not know them.
Mark's next words cleared up Crocus's confusion.
"Old man Gaban mentioned you to me..."
At the mention of Gaban's name, a smile appeared on Crocus's face, and his aura immediately receded.
"I see!"
Half an hour later...
"Hoho~ Mark, your cooking is really quite good. Did Gaban teach you this too? That old fellow's cooking isn't much to speak of." Crocus kept stuffing the food on the table into his mouth as he spoke indistinctly.
"It's all right... I learned from the neighbors in town, and picked up a little from the old man too," Mark said modestly.
Crocus did not seem to hear Mark clearly. He simply kept eating ravenously, taking a gulp of wine every now and then.
Chiu Chiu refused to be outdone, rapidly stuffing food into his mouth.