Sage stood up, spread his arms wide, and laughed loudly: "Marika, let's get lively, and the cook brigade, prepare the feast's food. Ho ho ho! Everyone, we're having a banquet!!"
"Long live the Captain!!" the pirates continued to cheer.
"Cooking for such a hearty-eating captain is truly a delightful thing."
Marika gave a gentle smile, led the cook brigade to the kitchen, while the pirates began dividing the spoils of victory, moving what needed to be moved, taking what needed to be taken. Before long, the spoils in the banquet hall were cleared out; at the same time, Marika and the cook brigade brought food and wine, and the hall became bustling.
Among the arrangements, Pearl took on the responsibility, leading his newly formed Pearl Battle Squad to quickly set up the tables and chairs. Once the pirates were seated, the festivities began.
The gloomy storm couldn't suppress the lights and noise aboard the Death Star at all. As the storm interwove with the rain, lightning thundered and struck the ocean, forming a sea symphony that reached a crescendo as the ship sailed forward.
It wasn't until four hours later that the excitement in the banquet hall gradually subsided.
"Tch, this bunch is useless when it comes to drinking, ho ho ho!"
Looking at the pirates sprawled all over the ground, Sage finished the wine in his glass, extended it forward, "Lily, another pour!"
Lily picked up a beautifully decorated bottle and poured a fragrant wine for Sage. She glanced out the window and said, "Sage, we're almost there."
Outside the window, a massive island could be seen. On a cliff of the island, there was a lighthouse casting its light in a certain direction.
"Guiding light."
Lily said, "Follow the direction of the light, and we'll reach the entrance to the Grand Line, Sage. Are we entering the Grand Line now?"
Renedithia, whose small hands were greasy from eating, and Marika, who was leisurely eating a steak, both looked up at Sage.
Gin, who had drunkenly collapsed on the ground, slowly got up. Although his face was still flushed red from drinking, his eyes were incomparably bright and determined, full of anticipation.
"Hmph, if we don't go now, are we waiting for the headquarters to find time to come to the East Sea to arrest me? Logue Town isn't a small town; drawing attention here would make the situation hard to handle!"
Sage smirked, "Gin, wake up these drunkards, set sail, power up, we're heading to the Grand Line!"
"Yes, Captain Sage!"
Gin's eyes widened, and he clenched his fist tightly, "This time, we'll definitely conquer this sea route!"
Last time with the Krieg Pirates, they failed.
But this time is different. They will definitely enter the Grand Line and sail onward!
"Can't wait to see your performance, ho ho ho!"
Sage stood up, walked out of the banquet hall, and stood on the deck.
The storm hadn't let up, rain pounded on his body, the fierce wind blowing his fluffy coat, making it flap loudly.
Three others followed him out and stood with Sage at the bow of the ship, watching as the ship sailed over the turbulent sea.
The crew got up, moved to the deck to unfurl sails or headed to the power room to control the engine. The ship sped up; soon they saw the massive continent stretching between heaven and earth, its top almost out of sight.
In front of the ship stood a gigantic gate, surrounded by very turbulent sea currents, forming whirlpools, appearing even more violent under the storm, as if wanting to engulf everything.
Beyond the gate, the rapid sea currents climbed upwards along the door, flowing backward to reach the peak.
"Ah, indeed quite perilous."
Marika gently touched her cheek, saying, "Is this the Inverted Mountain..."
Lily solemnly said, "Be careful; if the course deviates even slightly, we'll crash into the Red Earth Continent along the currents, and with that speed, even a ship built by Leti can't withstand it."
"Don't worry!"
Renedithia patted her small chest, "The ship I built is made to withstand such currents and huge waves; no wave can overturn it!"
After speaking, she looked at the approaching entrance, took a deep breath, and shouted out loud:
"I'm going to build a ship that allows everyone in the world to sail safely!!"
Lily was taken aback, "What's this about?"
"Huh? Didn't you know? It's a tradition. My master said that everyone entering the Grand Line must shout out their dreams because the route is grand, so dreams shouted out must also be grand!" Renedia naturally responded.
"Ah, how wonderful."
Marika chuckled, also facing the entrance; her gentle smile unchanged, but her voice carried a firmness that even the storm couldn't overshadow.
"I want to create the ultimate dish that will feed everyone in the world!"
Lily tightly gripped the gemstone sword handle at her waist, closing her eyes slightly.
In her mind, she recalled the Oyekot Kingdom, where those unable to pay taxes became bandits, in the town that was plundered, the mayor enjoying wealth and luxury, and also Sage...
When Sage landed in the Kingdom, he killed Ennio, causing oppressed people to leave the Royal City. When landing in the town, he plundered the mayor while the civilians didn't resist, and during the entry into the Deep Forest Kingdom, the residents who deliberately avoided confrontation yet held onto that slight hope...
Lily opened her eyes, facing the entrance, and earnestly shouted out: "I want everyone in the world to no longer be oppressed!!"
"If there has to be someone who oppresses, Sage, I hope it's you, because you don't rob the poor! Right, Sage?"
Lily looked at Sage.
"Captain."
Marika smiled.
"Captain?"
Renedithia tilted her head.
Turning their backs to them, only Sage's upright posture and the fluttering fluffy coat could be seen, and he curled the corners of his mouth.
Thinking about the whole world makes me seem clumsy...
Your dreams are so big, don't you need to make a plan?
All he initially wanted to achieve was to become a big landowner, the rest needs planning too.
The dreams of pirates, they really are...
Sage stretched out his hand, the rain falling into his palm, squeezed tightly, scattering the raindrops.
"Then let's become the biggest landowner in the world!!"