Family Banquet

After settling their future route, the Twin Goddess began speeding toward Reverse Mountain in an astonishing cycle of acceleration, charging, cooling, and acceleration.

After only half a day, there wasn't a single ship in sight across the entire sea. The Sky Pirate Flag had left all the pirate ships and Marines far behind.

Night gradually descended...

Ye Mu and Enel continued their arduous training aboard the ship. This time, Tiger joined them as well, though his main duty was still controlling the Twin Goddess's course.

As for Freya, she carried baby-5 around the ship and picked out a room for the two of them. After tidying up their luggage and moving in, she slipped into the kitchen and began preparing dinner.

This was Freya's first time preparing a meal for everyone as the head chef of the Sky Pirate Crew, so she naturally couldn't afford to be careless.

Feeling the force needed to control the helm growing stronger and stronger, Tiger voiced his judgment. "The currents have already begun to change. We should have been drawn into the current leading to Reverse Mountain. If everything goes smoothly, we'll be able to see Reverse Mountain tomorrow morning. However, just to be safe, I suggest we find somewhere to anchor for the night. It would be best to enter Reverse Mountain after dawn tomorrow, when visibility is at its best."

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

At that moment, baby-5 emerged from the cabin in a new outfit, hopping along happily. With a smile, she shouted, "Lord Enel... Lord Ye Mu... Lord Tiger... Sister Freya says dinner is ready..."

"Captain, you two go ahead. I'll join you after I find somewhere to moor the ship."

"Mm. Sorry for the trouble."

When the two of them entered the brightly lit dining room, they saw that the huge, long dining table was already filled with all kinds of food. Appetizers, soup, fish, meat, main courses, salad, desserts, and drinks were all present. The aroma of food, mixed with the warm air, filled the entire dining room and filled them with a sense of warmth and happiness from the bottom of their hearts.

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

At that moment, Ye Mu felt that recruiting Freya onto the ship had been an extraordinarily wise decision.

At last, they wouldn't have to eat only fruit, roasted meat, and stew.

The delicious food was simply irresistible.

At that moment, Freya emerged from the kitchen dressed in white chef's attire, carrying a bowl of broth. She placed it on the table.

"Can we start eating?"

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

Unexpectedly, Freya firmly waved her hand.

"No. Go take a shower first. Can't you smell how bad you stink? Besides, Mr. Tiger hasn't come in yet. How can we start eating ahead of him..."

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

"Bastard, who are you calling a housekeeper..."

Ye Mu didn't give Freya a chance to blow up and ran off to wash himself.

About ten minutes later, everyone sat down together again.

No one touched the food covering the table. Everyone stared eagerly at Ye Mu, clearly waiting for him to speak.

Seeing this, Ye Mu raised his wineglass without hesitation.

"This is our Sky Pirate Crew's first official family banquet."

"First, let's raise a toast to our head chef, Freya. Thank you, Head Chef Freya, for preparing such a wonderful feast for us. We'll be counting on you from now on as well!"

"Cheers... Cheers..."

"Next, let's raise a toast to our navigator, Mr. Tiger. Without Tiger, Enel and I would probably still be drifting on the sea. We'll be counting on you from now on too!"

"Cheers... Cheers..."

"Then let's raise a toast to our little crewmate, baby-5. Thank you, little girl, for bringing us so much happiness and so many smiles. Oh, wait—the drink in this little girl's glass is fruit juice, right?"

"Of course. Who do you think I am? It took you until now to think of that?"

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

"Next, let's raise a toast to our pirate ship, the Twin Goddess. She is the strongest support of our pirate crew. To the Twin Goddess, cheers!"

"Cheers... Cheers..."

"Finally, let's raise a toast to the Sky Pirate Crew, this big family of ours, and to each of us within 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, I now declare that we can eat!"

The entire banquet instantly burst into a festive atmosphere.

Ye Mu and Enel took the lead, casting aside their identities as captain and vice-captain. Like children, they began competing for food with tears of happiness in their eyes. The others were infected by their enthusiasm and quickly joined in.

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

"Waaah... What have I been eating all this time?"

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

"Wouldn't you 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 is truly amazing..."

"Sister Freya is the best..."

"..."

The banquet's joyous atmosphere gradually faded only after midnight.

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

Ye Mu, Enel, and Tiger remained perfectly sober.

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

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

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

"Ah... Right... I'm a pirate now..."

"Sister Freya, are you awake?"

baby-5's voice sounded beside her. When Freya turned her head, she saw the little girl in pajamas staring at her with a pair of beautiful, wide eyes.

"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 wake you..."

"Ah..."

Freya hurriedly got out of bed and changed clothes before heading to the outer deck.

In an instant, the dazzling sunlight struck her eyes, making her feel rather uncomfortable.

"We need to brew some wine specifically for women."

Thinking this, Freya gradually adjusted to the light. She walked over to Ye Mu and looked toward the distance and the surrounding sea.

"Didn't you say we were almost there? Why can't I see anything..."

Freya remembered her father telling her that Reverse Mountain stood in the middle of the towering Red Line, splitting the entire Red Line in two. Yet now, let alone the Red Line, she couldn't 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 couldn't see anything resembling the Red Line. In the distance, there was only a surging mass of dark clouds connecting the sky and sea, dividing the entire world in two.

At that moment, Freya realized what was going on.

"Could Reverse Mountain be inside those clouds..."

"Mm."

It was Tiger who nodded as he answered.

"Reverse Mountain is inside those clouds. Because of the Red Line's unique geography, the entire airflow is blocked by the Red Line. Combined with the unique ocean currents, that area is often shrouded in clouds like these."

"This is also why Reverse Mountain is called the first challenge when entering the Grand Line. Its climate and environment are extremely complex and difficult to make out in the darkness. Combined with the powerful ocean currents, ships are basically impossible to control in there. Nearly half of all pirate ships are wrecked here, bringing their pirate voyages to an end."

"Eh... Then what about us...?"

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