"Um… Anya, weren't you just tearfully saying goodbye to your dad a moment ago?"
Hog looked at Anya, who was happily running back and forth on the ship, and couldn't help but comment.
Seriously, she had just been acting like the world was ending, and now, as soon as they left Loguetown, she was bursting with joy.
"Hmph…"
Anya stopped in her tracks, crossed her arms, and smirked.
"Do you think I don't know what that old man is thinking?"
Hog looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
"He just wants me to miss him, that's all. Those tears he shed earlier? Totally fake. He's probably forgotten all about me by now and is off drinking!"
Anya snorted coldly, her tone full of familiarity and frustration with her father.
"Uh…"
Hog felt a bit awkward after hearing that.
So, that whole touching farewell was just for show?
Sure enough, as Anya predicted, Jehalon wasn't the least bit sad. Instead, he was happily drinking with Captain Smoker at his restaurant.
There wasn't a trace of sorrow on his face.
"Nami, what are you looking at?"
Feeling awkward, Hog turned to Nami, who was studying a map.
"Hmm…"
"I'm figuring out which route we should take once we cross the Red Line," Nami replied, spinning a pen between her fingers.
"Routes?"
Anya looked puzzled.
"That's right. Once we cross the Red Line and reach the Grand Line, there are seven possible routes. I'm deciding which one we should take,"
Nami explained as she glanced back at Anya, then at Ryuen.
Ryuen frowned slightly.
Based on his knowledge, after crossing the Red Line and arriving at Twin Capes, the next stop would be Whiskey Peak.
He was also aware that the Grand Line's first half had seven routes, all leading to the same final island—Sabaody Archipelago.
But if they chose another route, he wouldn't have his usual advantage.
In other words, what about Robin?
He still wanted to save Robin, the mature beauty, after all~~~
But~~~
If they went through Whiskey Peak, there'd be no real adventure left for him.
He already knew nearly everything about that route.
"Nami, you decide which route to take. As the navigator, it's your call,"
Ryuen said calmly.
"Figures… I knew asking you wouldn't help~~~"
Nami rolled her eyes and returned to studying the map.
Everyone on the ship laughed.
They all knew Ryuen might be strong, but when it came to navigation, Nami always had the final say.
On the route from Loguetown to the Red Line, the Dream Ship didn't stop at any islands, as they'd already visited them before.
Finally, after a day, they approached the Red Line!
At first, all they saw was a thick blanket of white mist, leaving them clueless about what lay ahead.
Even Ryuen couldn't figure it out.
The experience of actually being there was nothing like what he'd seen in the manga!
As they got closer to the Red Line, it started raining continuously, and the thick mist made it impossible to see the way forward.
"How's it going?"
"Have you found the route yet?" Ryuen asked, shielding his face from the rain.
"Not yet!"
"The fog's too thick. Visibility is too low—we can't see anything!"
Hog, steering the ship while braving the rain, shouted back.
Everyone was feeling uneasy.
If they couldn't find the channel soon, they might crash straight into the Red Line!
"Everyone!"
"Look over there! Look! Is that the route?"
Suddenly, Nami shielded her face from the rain with one hand and pointed ahead with the other, shouting loudly.
Everyone immediately turned to look in the direction Nami was pointing. Sure enough, they could see a narrow gap in the distance.
"Is that the channel leading to the Grand Line?"
Daisy asked, her voice filled with doubt.
"It's so small!"
"Nami, are you sure about this?"
Nojiko followed up with another question.
"Everyone!"
"Who is the navigator on this ship?"
Nami didn't answer directly and instead shouted back.
"It's Nami!"
Everyone replied in unison.
"Then follow my instructions and head in the direction I'm pointing!"
Nami shouted happily.
"Got it!!!"
Giggle ~~~~
Hog immediately spun the helm, steering the ship toward the direction Nami had indicated.
As they got closer, the gap in the mountain became larger in their view, and everyone finally saw it clearly!
The water was actually flowing *up* the mountain through the channel!
"Hurry!"
"Quick, pull in the sails!"
Nami shouted nervously.
Ryuen moved the fastest, jumping onto the mast to untie the ropes, while the others quickly worked to pull in the sails.
Rain poured from the sky, thick mist surrounded them, and the currents were incredibly strong. Everyone felt tense as they clasped their hands in silent prayers, hoping the Dream Ship would enter the right current.
The closer they got to the Red Line, the stronger the current became.
Hog gripped the helm tightly, steering the ship with all his might. At this point, there was nothing more anyone could do but trust that they had chosen the right current.
But everyone believed in Nami.
This was her chosen route, her chosen current!
As the Dream Ship successfully entered the upward current, all seven people on board broke into thrilled smiles.
They were about to cross Reverse Mountain!
"Yeah!"
"Nami, you're amazing!"
Kuina shouted excitedly.
"As expected of our ship's navigator! You're incredible, Nami!"
Hog added earnestly.
As the ship's helmsman, he understood better than anyone just how brilliant Nami's guidance had been.
"Hahaha!"
"Of course! I *am* the navigator of the Dream Ship, after all!"
Nami laughed proudly, hands on her hips.
"Look! This is unbelievable! Our ship is actually climbing a mountain!"
Anya exclaimed in amazement as she watched the water flow uphill.
"That's because the Red Line blocks the current, making the water so strong that it can only rush upward!"
Nami explained to everyone.
"So that's how it works~~~"
Everyone nodded in understanding.
Especially Anya, who was experiencing her first adventure at sea.
She felt thrilled—it was her first time feeling the excitement of adventure, and she loved it!
"Ahhhhhh~~~~~~~"
The seven of them shouted in excitement as the Dream Ship rode the current to the peak of the Red Line and crossed Reverse Mountain!
Boom, boom, boom~~~
The Dream Ship plunged into the downward current.
All they had to do now was ride the downward flow to reach the Grand Line!
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