"What's this—180 million?! Another flashy rookie about to leave Paradise and enter the New World?"
From atop a massive boulder, Shanks' curious voice echoed down.
"Seems like it. Lemme see."
Beckman, cigarette hanging from his lips, compared the wanted poster with the newspaper. After a few seconds, his eyes widened.
"Wait—no, that's wrong! This brat isn't from Paradise heading into the New World—he's from the East Blue! This is his first bounty, and he hasn't even entered the Grand Line yet!"
The rest of the crew jumped up, gathering around in surprise.
"East Blue?! They're still producing monsters over there?"
"Another outrageous kid shows up, huh…"
"Damn, not even entered Paradise and already worth 180 million… that's fifty mil higher than mine!"
A newly joined trainee raised his head toward Shanks. "Hey, Captain, was your first bounty ever that high?"
"Of course not! This kid's breaking records!"
Shanks crouched down on the rock, laughing heartily.
"When I first joined a pirate crew and pissed off the Navy, I was so hyped to see my own wanted poster—but everyone else got one except me!"
"Eh?! Seriously, Captain?"
"Haha, you really sucked back then, Shanks," Lucky Roo said, chewing on a chicken leg.
"What can I say? We all start as rookies. Hey, Beckman, lemme see that poster!"
"Here." Beckman handed it over.
"Even younger than I thought… huh?"
Shanks frowned slightly, staring at the photo—a black-haired boy laughing in the rain, arms outstretched. Something about him felt strangely familiar…
Even though it was their first time seeing each other, it felt like there was a deep, invisible connection between them.
Beckman's voice broke the silence. "He's scarier than I expected. Says here he's confirmed to have Conqueror's Haki—and he's only eighteen."
"Ohh!" Shanks grinned.
No wonder the kid felt like a kindred spirit. That explained it.
Beneath the Red Line
After a full night at sea, as dawn rippled across the waves, the Curtainfall finally reached the base of Reverse Mountain.
"Up ahead—it's the Grand Line!"
From the lookout tower, Nojiko held her spyglass high, straining to look toward the top. Somewhere up there was Mary Geoise, the Holy Land of the Celestial Dragons…
But the Red Line was too high, too steep—she couldn't make out a thing.
"Everyone, get to your stations. We're about to climb Reverse Mountain. If we're not careful here, we're done for."
Shanu finished giving orders, then turned to Nami.
"I'm putting you in command for this one. You don't have the arm strength to handle the rudder alone, so let Kuina steer—she'll follow your commands. Got confidence?"
"Of course! Leave it to me!"
Nami clenched her fist with determination.
Before following her brother to sea, she'd studied every scrap of information she could find about Reverse Mountain.
Still, she knew better than anyone: this was no ordinary current.
The upward stream was far more violent than anything in other seas. The path was narrow—one wrong move, and they'd smash against thousand-meter cliffs.
Under that kind of impact, even strong ships would shatter before hitting the water.
Even with the Adam Tree as its core, the Curtainfall could still suffer serious damage.
"All right then! Set sail—up the mountain!"
Standing proudly at the bow, Shanu faced the towering Red Line. Waves drenched him, wind roared around him, but he laughed boldly.
"Grand Line—here we come!"
"Wooo! Up the mountain!!!" Nami yelled even louder than him.
Thud!
The ship surged into the raging current, jolting violently as it began to climb. Everyone, already braced thanks to Zeff's warnings, held tight to the railings.
"Right fifteen degrees!"
Under Nami's steady command, the Curtainfall held strong, cutting straight through the violent stream like a sword.
Despite the howling winds, they reached the summit flawlessly—and for one breathless moment, the ship lifted into the air.
"Takeoff!!"
Nojiko hugged the mast, scanning around excitedly.
"Whoa, that's the West Blue over there! And look—Sea Kings! Huge ones in the Calm Belt!"
"I see them too—damn, those northern ones are enormous! Just the part above water is like four or five kilometers tall!"
"That's why nobody crosses the Calm Belt," Zeff chuckled. "Captain, think you could cross it alone now?"
"Probably?" Shanu scratched his chin. Even if one swallowed him whole, he could easily escape.
Still… too much hassle. Boats were better.
"Hold tight—we're going down!" Nojiko called out. But then her voice jumped an octave—
"Wait! Something's coming up from below!"
Gurgle, gurgle…
The sea beneath them darkened as a massive shadow rose from the depths.
A gray-blue mountain of flesh emerged, covered in scars. Under the morning light, it let out a mournful bellow—charging toward Reverse Mountain.
"What is that?!" Nami shrieked. "The books didn't say anything about a Sea King living here!"
"It's not a Sea King—it's Laboon, the island whale!" Zeff shouted. "Turn now or we'll hit it!"
"No time! We've lost control—the current's got us!"
She was right.
The Curtainfall was already in freefall, dropping fast like a roller coaster. The rudder couldn't respond.
Wind howled against their faces. The whale's enormous mouth loomed larger and larger—
"Don't panic," said Shanu calmly, even smiling. "It's better to go into its mouth than crash into its head."
"What kind of logic is that, bro?!" Nami wailed, clutching his leg.
"If I die, bury me in the orange grove on the ship so I can still travel the Grand Line with you—!"
"You idiot!" Shanu barked, kicking her lightly toward the railing.
"You're a Logia user. What're you afraid of?"
"Oh—right!" Nami blinked in realization.
And then—
A powerful suction pulled the ship straight into darkness.
Everything spun. Water roared. The whale's deep cries echoed around them.
Bam!
The ship slammed onto something soft and bounced twice.
Dim light revealed walls of pink flesh pulsing rhythmically. Digestive fluid streamed like rivers through fleshy grooves, carrying the ship forward through a narrow passage.
"We're going into the intestines? Gross!" Nami groaned.
"This isn't the intestines—it's the cardia. You're fourteen, right? Try learning basic biology." Shanu sighed, ruffling her hair. "Get ready—we're almost at the stomach."
The stomach?!
That didn't sound much better.
Nami looked down at her clothes—freshly washed an hour ago for their big Grand Line debut.
Suddenly—
A beam of light broke through, illuminating everything.
She looked up, wide-eyed. A gigantic iron gate stood before them, dozens of meters tall, slowly opening on both sides.
As the Curtainfall passed through, they were greeted by—
A vast expanse of blue sky and white clouds. Sunshine. Warm air. A peaceful breeze.
Like they'd never been swallowed at all.
Everyone, even Zeff, was struck speechless.
"This place really is…" Shanu smirked.
"Just like a Truman Show set."