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Upon hearing Aero's question, Dylan promptly stepped forward with a report.
"According to the latest message from Ray, his fleet should be near Reverse Mountain right now," he said. "They're fully prepped. Recon has already been completed, and they've even sent advance scouts some of whom have successfully entered the Grand Line."
Dylan's emotions were mixed. From his days as a greenhorn setting out from Rubber Island to where they were now it all felt like a dream. The vastness of the world they were now stepping into overwhelmed him with awe.
But beneath all that... was a surge of excitement.
Like a pebble breaking the stillness of a lake, ripples of adrenaline coursed through him.
Aero nodded slightly, then turned to Eddie. "What's our position?"
"We're still a fair distance from Reverse Mountain," Eddie replied with rare seriousness. "But we're very close to the rendezvous point Ray mentioned."
The room fell silent.
Even the sound of the sea outside seemed louder against the tension within the captain's quarters.
Each of them had come this far for different reasons.
Dylan had joined purely out of admiration for Aero's strength his loyalty and discipline made him the most reliable crew member on board.
Eddie came aboard to repay a life debt but the journey had also fulfilled his lifelong dream of sailing the seas. For him, duty and desire were one and the same.
As for Gin, he had initially been drawn in by the fame of Aero's name. But over time, he'd come to value the crew as more than just comrades they were his family.
That's what united them.
They'd chosen to follow Aero not just across the East Blue but into the unknown.
Everyone harbored ambition.
Dylan, Eddie, and Gin wanted to become stronger not just spectators, but warriors capable of standing beside their captain in battle.
And Aero… he wanted power.
Not to dominate the world, but to ensure that no one else could decide his fate for him.
Once, he had been the adopted son of a drunkard, someone with no direction in life. Maybe back then, he would've lived a quiet life and died quietly too.
But the Wind-Wind Fruit had changed him.
Now, he charged forward, driven by one purpose: to become powerful enough that no one could ever chain him down again.
"The Grand Line is far more dangerous than anything we've seen in the East Blue," Aero said as he surveyed his crew. "But it's also our opportunity our chance to shake the world."
"I, Aero declare that I'm going to stand at the very top of it!"
He spoke the words slowly. Deliberately.
There was no shock on the crew's faces because this was exactly the kind of dream they expected from their captain.
Eddie gave a beaming grin, teeth flashing.
Even the ever-stoic Dylan cracked a smile.
Their captain had a dream worth chasing.
And so did they.
---
On deck, Aero now stood face to face with the ten ships of the Hurricane Pirates.
They weren't particularly strong but they weren't weak either.
Aero didn't expect world-shaking power from them. Not yet.
He planned to mold them into a true crew people who followed him, not just the name.
He knew one thing to be true: people follow the strong.
He sat down on the chair Eddie had brought up and waited for Ray to arrive.
Dylan stood to his right. Eddie and Gin flanked his left.
Ten of his old crewmates stood behind him.
Ray's fleet had larger ships than the Dove but the flagship remained Aero's.
Ray, dressed in a black cloak, slowly stepped onto the deck.
To him, being a pirate was a lifelong identity. But the man standing before him Aero was now the one he called "Captain."
"Captain," Ray greeted, bowing deeply with respect.
Aero gave a small nod. "I heard you sank a Marine ship. Bold of you."
Ray's face paled with cold sweat.
He had heard the rumors Aero despised unnecessary bloodshed.
But he straightened his back and replied, "Captain, we're pirates. They're Marines. We were born to be enemies. We can't afford mercy."
Aero sighed and tossed a newspaper onto the deck.
Then he stood.
"Next time, run your actions by me first. You're part of the Hurricane Pirates now not the kingdom. And remember no one's life is more valuable than a crewmate's."
Only then did Ray realize: Aero wasn't questioning his strength or his actions.
He was questioning his loyalty.
The truth was, Ray had only attacked the Marines because King Buggy ordered him to.
And Buggy… was simply acting under Aero's plan.
Ray had hesitated to retaliate even when provoked until crew members were injured by Marine cannon fire.
That's when he finally struck back.
But now, Aero seemed to be letting it slide.
And honestly? That was fine with Ray.
Because something far more important was happening.
It was time to cross Reverse Mountain and enter the Grand Line.
---
"Let's hit it!" Aero shouted.
"AYE AYE, CAPTAIN!!" the crew roared back.
Their voices echoed high above the Red Line, shaking the very sea and sky.
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