I Will Become Hokage in One Piece

Chapter 35: Reverse Mountains and Island Whale

The Reverse Mountain, an extremely tall mountain at one of the points where the four Blues meet. It is located in the Red Line and is at the opposite side of the world from Mary Geoise.

This mountain is filled with unimaginable dangers and serves as the entrance to the Grand Line. Unless you take the Calm Belt, you must pass through here to enter the Grand Line.

Due to the incredibly strong ocean currents, the water in the four Blues is pushed upward against gravity, defying the laws of physics and converging towards the top of the mountain, forming an "X"-shaped intersection. At the point of convergence, the seawater flows downward, creating the only exit and entrance to the Grand Line.

Newton: Damn it, don't you cartoonists know how to respect me?

The Reverse Mountain marks both the beginning and the end of the Grand Line. On the other side of the mountain lies the endpoint of the New World. To reach the New World, one must first pass through the Red Line and then venture into the endless and treacherous New World.

Moreover, within the ever-changing environment of the New World, you never know what you will encounter. Sailing is the safest method, relatively speaking, compared to other means.

The Reverse Mountain stretches high into the sky, with its peak hidden from sight. As one reach the mountainside, one become engulfed in thick clouds.

"Wow, how tall is this mountain?" No one knows, but it's just incredibly tall.

At the entrance of the waterway, the sea water defies the laws of physics and rushes upwards. It feels like a dream. White stone gates stand in layers along the waterway, adorned with mysterious patterns. 

These stone gates have been standing here for an unknown length of time. They have witnessed countless aspiring young individuals longing for the great secret treasure, who have departed from this point. Day after day, year after year, these stone gates remain steadfast, like unwavering guardians, enduring wind and sun, motionless like a mountain.

"Momoo, let's go up, leave this place, and head towards the Grand Line. That's where freedom awaits us," Rodney said, patting the horns of the manatee Momoo, which towered over him.

The manatee mooed and, carried by the current, swam up the mountain. The ocean current was turbulent, as if rushing down from a mountain, yet it flowed from a lower point to a higher one.

"Now who can tell me that water flows downhill? I'm in a hurry!"

The manatee mooed and thrashed its tail rapidly, the wind blowing forcefully against its face, causing Rodney to squint his eyes.

Driven by the ocean current, they ascended through clouds saturated with water vapor. After several surges towards the mountaintop, they could see three other water channels. The four ocean currents converged at the mountain's peak, and then rushed towards a single outlet.

"Let's go!"

Rodney laughed and urged the Momoo to descend.

It was as thrilling and exhilarating as a roller coaster ride. Momoo remained stable, but the surrounding sea frequently surged upwards, soaking their clothes. Rodney was drenched, resembling a drowned chicken, yet his spirit remained high. Compared to a roller coaster, this was an even more thrilling experience, akin to riding a pirate ship.

"Oh—Momoo, speed up, speed up, speed up!"

Momoo accelerated, the strong wind blowing against their faces, creating a beautifully intense expression.

Emerging from the clouds once again, Rodney could now see the exit below and... a black island.

Wait, an island?

"Momoo, slow down, slow down, slow down!" Rodney yelled. 

Swimming at their current speed would surely collide with the island below. Why was there an island blocking the exit?!

"Moo—" 

Momoo also tried to slow down. However, even if it stopped and swam, the combined force of its previous speed and the current's push was still remarkably fast. It was a close call!

Human! Why are you so foolish?!

"Woo~~"

A piercing wail echoed in their ears, making Rodney feel as though dozens of people were screaming in agony, nails scraping against a blackboard, and knives scratching glass.

Momoo also shut its eyes in pain, pressing its ears against its skin. Its hearing was even more sensitive than Rodney's, and it could comprehend the language of animals. Within that sound, it sensed a mixture of pain, emotions, hope, and sorrow. But it also inflicted further harm upon its hearing.

Unable to withstand it any longer, they rolled into the sea, and Rodney followed, his feet sticking to Momoo's scalp as if glued, while his hands gripped its horns.

However, sound traveled faster underwater, intensifying the discomfort for both the Momoo and Rodney. They had no choice but to resurface.

The enormous black island loomed before them. Although their speed had significantly decreased, it still seemed like they would collide with it.

Just as Rodney made a move, the "island" moved as well. A colossal abyssal mouth opened, revealing white fangs resembling mountain peaks, and seawater surged in through the gaps between its teeth.

"MoMoo, quickly turn around if you don't want to be swallowed!" Hearing Rodney's words, MoMoo struggled against the powerful suction and managed to reach the other side of the island.

"Phew, we escaped." 

Rodney and Momoo let out a sigh of relief simultaneously. Thankfully, Momoo wasn't a ship; otherwise, turning around would have been nearly impossible.

Rodney gazed at the "island" and mumbled, "Is this the island whale Laboon? It's enormous."

Decades ago, the island whale from the West Blue arrived here with the Rumbar Pirates. The Rumbar Pirates entrusted it to Crocus, the guardian of the Twin Cape, and made an agreement with Laboon to circumnavigate the world and return. Unfortunately, the Rumbar Pirates were wiped out by other pirates in the Florian Triangle 49 years ago.

In the end, only Brook, who had consumed the Revive Revive Fruit, remained from the pirate group that brought joy to crying children. He was trapped in the Sea of Magic Triangles.

As for Laboon, it had waited for fifty years, but the Rumbar Pirates it longed for never arrived. Additionally, due to its immense size, it couldn't return to its former home by sea. Day after day, it repeatedly rammed into the Red Line, yearning to reach the other side and reunite with the Rumbar Pirates. It wanted to honor their previous agreement.

A whale with human-like emotions, how pitiful it was.

Its body was covered in scars from continuously colliding with the Red Line. If not for the treatment provided by Roger Pirates' ship doctor Crocus, it might have perished.

"Forget it, let's do Laboon a favor." Sighing, Rodney gathered his chakra near his vocal cords and amplified his voice. "Laboon, look this way! I have news about the Rumbar Pirates!"

The Rumbar Pirates were like family to Laboon. Upon hearing this, its enormous eyeballs shifted towards Rodney and the Manatee Momo.

Momoo was terrified, tears streaming down its face, on the verge of fainting. It wanted to turn around and flee, but Rodney threatened it, saying, "Don't you dare run away! If you do, I'll cook you up. You're no different from those Sea Kings you ate before. Just like them, I'll eat you."

Manatee moo: I'm in a terrible predicament! (T_T)

"Woo~"

The piercing sound rang out again, causing Rodney to cover his ears, but unfortunately, it had little effect.

"Boy, how do you know about the Rumbar Pirates?" At that moment, a robust old man with glasses, a flowery shirt, and a headdress resembling a rooster's comb stood on Laboon's back, his eyes filled with suspicion.

This man was Crocus, the ship doctor of Roger's Pirate and also the guardian of the Twin Cape. He spent his days reading newspapers to keep Laboon company and provide it with medical care.

Laboon had become a close friend to him over the decades, and they had been together for most of their lives. Aside from the period when Crocus left on Roger's ship, he had stayed by Laboon's side. 

However, despite sailing all the way to Laugh Tale, they never encountered the Rumbar Pirates. At that time, Crocus realized that the Rumbar Pirates were likely gone. To prevent Laboon from waiting in vain, he had brought this news to Laboon, which prompted Laboon to start colliding with the Red Line. It desired to reach the other side and search for the Rumbar Pirates itself.

Hearing a young man now claim to have information about the Rumbar Pirates, Crocus suspected him of being a liar. After all, this kid appeared to be in his twenties, while the Rumbar Pirates were pirates from fifty years ago, and few people knew about them. 

How could this kid possess such knowledge? He seemed glib, so he must be a liar, right?