Chapter 302: Reverse Mountain
With Charlotte's command, the ship charged full speed toward the entrance of Reverse Mountain.
Splashhh!
The sound of seawater crashing against the Red Line echoed as towering waves roared beneath the clear blue sky. The massive ship surged toward the mountain like a beast.
"Captain! Based on my calculations, if we want to scale Reverse Mountain, the river's current alone isn't enough. We'll need additional acceleration from the ship's engines!"
In the captain's quarters, a navigator approached Charlotte with a report in hand.
"Hmm? How can that be?" Charlotte frowned. His ship wasn't that big—why couldn't it make the climb?
After all, over a decade from now, even Gecko Moria had sailed a floating fortress made from an island into the Grand Line. Why couldn't his ship do it?
"Well..."
The technician looked down at his data, unsure how to explain.
"Forget the explanations. Just aim for the mountain and hit full throttle. Push through with everything we've got," Charlotte waved impatiently. "If you can't explain it, then we're doing it my way."
"Yes, sir!"
Immediately, the crew got to work.
Electric currents surged through the ship's systems as the Poseidon's engines roared at full capacity. The rumble echoed behind them, startling flocks of seagulls into the sky.
The black ship shot forward like an arrow.
It felt like riding a roller coaster—once the ship entered the ascending channel, it tilted nearly 90 degrees and charged up the river on Reverse Mountain.
Everyone clung tightly to railings and supports to avoid falling off. One misstep could mean certain death.
The thunderous noise even startled the mountain's watchman.
A middle-aged man with a bandana and harpoon stepped out of the lighthouse, narrowing his eyes at the massive black ship coming from the North Blue.
"Oh-ho! That's a big one. That flag looks familiar... Is it a rookie crew?"
Crocus squinted at the fast-approaching vessel.
Splash!
The ship burst out of the river, reaching the summit of Reverse Mountain.
"Yeahhh! We did it!"
Robert and a few other kids shouted in joy as they gazed at the magnificent view from the top.
Charlotte sat silently in the captain's chair. The technician beside him stood awkwardly, muttering, "This... This makes no sense..."
Charlotte chuckled and stepped outside.
The ship slowed, now cruising calmly along the river that ran across the mountaintop. In the distance, they could see someone standing by a lighthouse.
Charlotte smiled.
The ship gradually approached the lighthouse.
"Hey! Are you the lighthouse keeper?"
Robert and the others, as curious as ever, leaned over the railings and shouted at the man with the harpoon.
"Yes, I am!"
Crocus was surprised to see so many kids aboard a pirate ship. It was the first time he'd seen pirates bringing children to sea.
"Can you tell us where the West Blue is?"
Robert asked, remembering his dad had mentioned they were heading there.
"West Blue? Aren't you going to the Grand Line?"
Crocus was confused. Every pirate that reached Reverse Mountain usually aimed for the Grand Line—why the West Blue?
"Well, I don't know. Dad said he wants to tour all four seas before going to the Grand Line," Robert replied, shaking his head.
"Tour all four seas?"
Crocus was stunned. He then took a closer look at the flag hanging from the ship.
The more he looked, the deeper his frown grew. He felt like he'd seen it somewhere before. Realizing something, Crocus rushed back into the lighthouse and grabbed a stack of bounty posters he'd collected—famous pirates from across the seas.
And the Rockefeller Pirates were among the most notorious.
Upon seeing the flag, Crocus suddenly remembered—they were the infamous crew that had stirred up the North Blue over the past couple of years.
He came back out with a bundle of bounty posters.
"You kids... are you with the Rockefeller Pirates?" Crocus asked seriously.
"Of course! We're from the world-famous Rockefeller Pirates! My dad is one of the Four Legendary Pirates, Rockefeller Charlotte, with a bounty of 3.56 billion Berries!"
Robert proudly declared.
At seven years old, he idolized his father more than anything.
Crocus's expression grew complicated.
At that moment, Charlotte walked over and gave each kid a flick on the head.
"What nonsense are you all spouting? Go back to the cabin!"
Frightened, the kids scattered.
Charlotte stared at Crocus silently.
Just one glance from him sent a chill down Crocus's spine, making his whole body tense up.
"So this… this is what a New World pirate feels like? Quite different from the Roger Pirates…"
Crocus muttered to himself.
Not daring to linger any longer, he turned and left, heading toward Laboon's cavern.
Charlotte had no interest in Crocus. The man's only notable skill was medicine—and that wasn't enough for Charlotte to consider recruiting him.
Besides, if Crocus joined him, who would treat Roger's illness?
Without Roger surviving a few more years, who would go on to ignite the Great Pirate Era?
In any case, the Rockefeller Pirates had no shortage of doctors.
Even without counting the many physicians trained within the crew, Neitzen alone was more than enough—he was one of the world's top doctors.
Having eaten the Medicine-Medicine Fruit, Neitzen was capable of curing virtually any injury or disease.
Over the past few years, the Rockefeller Pirates hadn't suffered a single non-combat casualty.
Moreover, Neitzen was well-versed in traditional medicine and had developed a variety of potions.
Some of them could even enhance physical constitution.
Though these had little effect on Charlotte himself, they were incredibly effective for his children.
One potion, for instance, could eliminate a full day's worth of fatigue with a short soak.
Even Charlotte, who had seen countless wonders, was amazed by the effects.
And that wasn't all—Neitzen had also created beauty and skin-whitening formulas, which delighted Illyana and the other women to no end.
These potions had become a major source of income for the Rockefeller Pirates.
Charlotte made a fortune selling them.
Each potion cost only a few hundred thousand Berries to produce, yet he sold them for a million Berries apiece—with demand far exceeding supply.
The nobles of the North Blue—especially the women—went absolutely crazy for them.
Thus, Charlotte had found himself a new financial goldmine.
Much more lucrative than arms trafficking.
Nowadays, Neitzen was considered the financial pillar of the Rockefeller Pirates, funding all of Charlotte's expeditions across the four seas.
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