"Alright, everyone! Time to set sail!"
Under the blazing sun, Luffy raised his fist with enthusiasm, issuing a command to Robin and Brook.
"Luffy~ The Grand Line's geography is quite complicated. I need to review the charts again and run some calculations..."
Robin, though reluctant to dampen Luffy's excitement, had to point out the reality, they couldn't just set off recklessly.
"Really?" Luffy looked a little puzzled, but then shrugged and said casually, "No worries. We're not taking the Calm Belt this time anyway."
"Huh?" Robin and Brook blinked in unison, confused.
To get from the Grand Line to the East Blue, one usually had to cross the Calm Belt. Was Luffy implying they had found another route?
"Alright, alright! Let's get on the ship! Time to go!" Luffy didn't offer any explanation. He just smiled and ushered them aboard.
Though still bewildered, Robin and Brook obeyed and boarded the ship.
"Okay! Uncle Crocus, we're heading out!" Luffy waved loudly to Crocus, who was still stunned by Laboon's sudden disappearance.
"Ah? Oh... goodbye..." Crocus waved absentmindedly in return, still in a daze.
With a splash, Luffy leapt into the sea.
Moments later, the seawater near the shore began to bubble and boil, hot steam visibly rising into the air.
Robin and Brook exchanged wide-eyed glances, clearly thinking the same unbelievable thought. They nodded slowly, amazement written across their faces.
The ship suddenly trembled. Robin and Brook quickly grabbed hold of the railing to steady themselves.
Astonishingly, the massive ship began to lift into the air.
Luffy clung to the ship with one hand and directed a jet of searing fire downward from the other, locking in the center of gravity. The heat distorted the very air around them.
Crocus removed his glasses, wiped them clean, and put them back on. He mumbled to himself, "I must be getting old… hallucinating now, huh… hehe…"
Soaring through the sky, Luffy could no longer hear Crocus's muttering. He shouted loudly to the shrinking figure below, "Goodbye, old man! I'll visit again in a few years!"
As he spoke, the flames in his hand flared even brighter, bursting with tremendous power.
The ship, propelled by the fire, surged upward toward the top of the Red Line.
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The Red Line encircles the pirate world, an enormous, mountainous continent that spans the globe. At its summit live the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons.
After the infamous adventurer Fisher Tiger scaled the Red Line with his bare hands, stormed the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, and freed thousands of slaves from various races, the World Government finally recognized the weakness of the Red Line's defenses. They secretly launched a massive recruitment effort and formed the first official Army, focused solely on land-based operations.
Previously, the Red Line was only guarded by naval troops, mainly near established trade routes to fend off pirates and extort tolls from merchants.
But after the Fisher Tiger incident, the government poured vast resources into reinforcing the entire Red Line, pushing construction to dangerous extremes.
One army base after another sprang up across every corner of the continent.
Two main Marine Headquarters were set up on either side of Reverse Mountain, with Mary Geoise as the center. At fixed intervals, new army outposts were established, all under orders for constant, 24-hour surveillance.
Each division of the Army was tasked with guarding specific sectors of the Red Line to prevent any repeat of past incidents.
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At one such base, the man temporarily serving as Commander-in-Chief, the former Fleet Admiral Kong, was listening to a briefing in his office at the foot of Reverse Mountain.
Kong was an imposing figure: a broad-chested, dark-skinned old man with a "mountain"-shaped beard and white hair, exuding immense authority. He'd just returned from a global military conference.
"Reporting, Commander. The latest government directive orders all forces to intensify training and preparations for war. We are to implement the government's military strengthening strategy and swiftly select new candidates for Army Marshal and Generals. If necessary, personnel may be reassigned from other branches."
"Also, we must not forget our duty, to guard every corner of the Red Line with utmost vigilance."
"Enough, enough." Kong rubbed his temples, sighing deeply.
"Generals of that caliber don't grow on trees… Do the Five Elders have no grasp of reality?"
"In my humble opinion, sir," the aide offered, "perhaps they expect you to appoint elite candidates from the Marine to temporarily fill Army roles, "
"That's even more unrealistic!" Kong interrupted sharply. "There are already too many threats at sea. The Marine's elite combat strength is stretched thin as it is. How can they afford to spare anyone?"
As a former Fleet Admiral himself, Kong understood the Marine's struggles better than anyone.
"Besides, the Army doesn't face nearly as many active threats. Why the rush?"
"But, "
Before the aide could finish, a shrill alarm suddenly blared.
Kong's brow furrowed. Without hesitation, he stood and strode toward the door.
"What happened? Let's go, check it out!"
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"Wow! So this is what the top of the Red Line looks like?" Luffy gazed at the base and its garrison of soldiers with curiosity. "What exactly are they trying to protect?"
Most of the Celestial Dragons were concentrated in Mary Geoise. The rest of the Red Line was largely barren, yet the government had deployed this massive military presence.
Clearly, the Red Line wasn't as simple as it seemed.
Still holding the ship aloft, Luffy gently descended in front of one of the military base gates and set the vessel aside, intending to take a short rest.
From the moment they departed Twin Cape to now, reaching the summit, only about three hours had passed.
But even Luffy felt a little mentally drained. He had planned to rest on the Red Line before continuing. Who would've thought they'd land smack in the middle of the government's Marine Headquarters?
The gates of the base opened, and a well-trained squad of soldiers rushed out, swiftly surrounding Luffy and his ship.
From their ranks, several figures stepped forward. They wore cloaks similar to the Marine's "Justice" uniforms but gave off a heavier, more grounded presence. They approached Luffy with measured steps.
One of them radiated an overwhelming aura of power, so intense that it made the ship creak and stirred up clouds of dust across the ground.
"Luffy!"
"Luffy-san!" Seeing the standoff, Brook and Robin immediately leapt off the ship and flanked Luffy, ready for battle.
"It's fine. Don't worry."
Luffy, however, remained calm. He turned to reassure them with a gentle tone.
"Who are you people?! How dare you trespass in Marine Headquarters!" Kong marched toward them, a tidal wave of pressure trailing in his wake.
In the pirate world, those whose strength defies aging aren't limited to just Garp.
BOOM!
Luffy released his Conqueror's Haki, clashing with Kong's aura in a violent shockwave.
Then, silence.
Both men simultaneously withdrew their power, as if by mutual agreement.
Luffy stepped forward and declared coolly,
"Under the title of Warlord of the Sea, the Starry Sky Pirates request passage through the Red Line into the East Blue."
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