Chapter 368: Laugh Tale
Last time, Brett had invited Shanks and Hawkeye to journey to Laugh Tale together. Neither refused.
Though Hawkeye had no interest in becoming Pirate King, visiting Laugh Tale wouldn't be bad. After all, as the world's greatest swordsman, few things in this world could attract his interest anymore. Laugh Tale was certainly one of them.
As for Shanks—when the Roger Pirates landed on Laugh Tale back then, he and Buggy hadn't gone along. As a pirate, naturally he yearned for that island.
Though he'd promised Roger he'd reach Laugh Tale in the future with his own crew through his own strength, now that opportunity was gone.
Before long, Brett would probably reveal Laugh Tale's secrets to the world. Then Laugh Tale might become a tourist destination. What adventure would be left?
Might as well go along for the ride.
That's what Shanks thought.
So the current situation: the party heading to Laugh Tale consisted of Brett, Tesoro, Nico Robin, Hawkeye, plus the Red-Hair Pirates.
The Red-Hair Pirates actually held the absolute numerical advantage.
Brett flew with everyone on the clouds. Speed wasn't particularly fast, considering they were carrying a large ship.
"Laugh Tale—wonder what it'll be like."
The Red-Hair Pirates' sniper Yasopp grinned. "Never thought we'd catch a free ride to Laugh Tale without finding a single Road Poneglyph."
"Hahaha! Better thank Brett properly!"
Shanks held a bottle in his one hand, breath already reeking of alcohol.
"Don't need the captain to say that!"
Lucky Roux emerged excitedly from the cabin, banging his left-hand spoon against his right-hand frying pan. "Sumptuous feast is ready! Let's use a lively banquet as a small token of gratitude!"
"I'm looking forward to it."
Brett transformed into dragon-man form and flew to the Red Force's deck. Right now he just needed to control the clouds—no need to maintain full dragon form.
"Then let's have a banquet!"
Tesoro, as a veteran socialite, had already merged seamlessly with the Red-Hair Pirates. After all, they were old acquaintances—they'd met twice before, not to mention Uta as a connecting bond.
The banquet was lively. Like the Straw Hat Pirates, the Red-Hair Pirates excelled at creating festive atmosphere. In no time the Red Force's deck became extraordinarily bustling.
The only one who couldn't quite integrate was Nico Robin. Though she'd wandered the seas for sixteen years, when these peak powerhouses appeared before her one after another, she still felt quite constrained.
But that didn't matter. This voyage didn't take too long.
Though movement relying purely on flame clouds was slow, fortunately the island where they'd met Shanks was already in the New World's latter half, not far from the final destination.
After spending most of another day, just as the banquet ended, they'd arrived.
"Laugh Tale is here?"
Hawkeye gazed in surprise at the distant massive object. "Quite unexpected."
"Hahaha! To think it's like this—but that makes sense. Only here could serve as the Grand Line's endpoint!"
Shanks also laughed heartily. "When Captain Roger and the others came here, they must've been equally surprised!"
Nico Robin walked to the bow in a daze. She sniffed. "The starting point is also the ending point. The person who left the great treasure back then probably wanted to teach us this principle."
"I just sense bad taste."
Tesoro laughed. "Isn't it interesting though? The place everyone's been to—turns out to be what countless people dream of!"
What now appeared before them was a massive mountain.
Its peak pierced directly into the clouds. Brett and the others had to float above the cloud layer to see the mountain's summit.
The mountain's color was red—under the setting sun's illumination, it radiated a dark luster like congealed blood.
This mountain was absolutely not obscure. Rather the opposite—this mountain's name was, if not universally known, at least widely renowned across the world.
Its name was Reverse Mountain.
The Grand Line's entrance. The beginning of all adventure.
Almost everyone venturing from the Four Blues to the Grand Line to begin their adventure careers passed through here.
But only after Nico Robin deciphered the ancient text on the Road Poneglyphs did Brett learn that Laugh Tale—that island called Laugh Tale—was hidden beneath Reverse Mountain.
The beginning is also the end.
Brett could only agree with Tesoro's assessment. Joy Boy had possessed some bad taste.
Who could have imagined such a thing?
"Well then, everyone—"
Brett smiled. "Ready to head to Laugh Tale?"
"Ohhh!!!"
Everyone raised their hands with high spirits. Even the aloof Hawkeye couldn't help his lips curving upward.
Brett began descending with the Red Force.
This sea area was truly the New World's end. Even Lodestar Island—the final island recording pointers could reach—now lay far behind.
Here remained only a surging ocean.
So no need to worry about being spotted during descent.
Just before landing on the sea, Brett released a massive bubble, completely enveloping the entire Red Force.
"Oh! You can even do that?"
Shanks exclaimed with wonder. "Coated the ship in an instant!"
Was this really the Azure Dragon Fruit's ability?
Hawkeye also couldn't help looking at Brett in surprise.
"Now's not the time to marvel at such things."
Brett waved his hand. The flame clouds carrying the Red Force continued exerting force, dragging the large ship forward toward Reverse Mountain.
Without taking much time, a deep wall already stretched before the Red Force.
Brett released his Observation Haki.
Soon, he heard different sounds.
The Poneglyph text said that coming from the New World side, at Reverse Mountain's base, a cavity led directly to Laugh Tale located inside Reverse Mountain.
And now, Brett had found this cavity.
He approached with the ship.
"There really is a hole!"
As the ship entered the hole, Tesoro still exclaimed in wonder.
The cave was deep but not particularly winding—just slanting upward.
The ship traveled forward and upward along the cave.
Then finally, dim light appeared.
The next moment, in the dark massive space, enormous splashing sounds suddenly rang out. The ship burst from the water.
Brett immediately turned his head.
He saw it—in the dim space, that pitch-black massive object over there.
"That is—Laugh Tale!"
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