The Freedom.
The entire hull was dripping wet, as if it had just been salvaged from the water.
At the bow, the sheep's head was not yet dry, shimmering with a golden light under the setting sun, much like a real sheep.
Two streams of seawater flowed down from the sheep's head's eye sockets, as if the sheep's head itself was crying from the journey.
On the deck in the middle of the ship, A Hua, the other two, and Indigo were all lying on the deck, too exhausted to move.
In just half a day, they had experienced all four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
One moment it was a spring day with warm sunshine, and the next they were in a winter with heavy snowfall. After the sleet, a summer thunderstorm with lightning followed.
Only autumn offered a brief respite.
But who could have imagined encountering a sandstorm at sea, an unimaginable weather phenomenon?
It was truly absurd.
Have you ever seen hail the size of a human head or body?
Have you seen ocean currents filled with icebergs?
Have you seen waves tens of meters high whipped up by storms?
...
They had encountered all of this in just half a day. If not for Kong Tai's abilities, their small boat would have long since sunk to the bottom of the sea!
"Is this the welcome gift of the Grand Line?"
"It's certainly unique!"
Kong Tai stood at the bow, looking at the small black dots appearing in the distance under the setting sun, a sense of relief washing over him.
He was a little tired too, not physically, but mentally.
He didn't know what it was like for others to first enter the Grand Line, but their journey had been excessively dramatic.
Even Indigo, an old hand in the Grand Line, had never encountered such rapidly changing weather.
The Grand Line, compared to the four seas, was relatively narrow, like a ribbon encircling the planet.
Therefore, the chances of encountering other ships in the Grand Line were very high.
Encounters almost always led to brutal battles.
This was the second terrifying aspect of the Grand Line: if you weren't strong enough, you could be sunk by other ships at any moment, becoming nothing more than a package delivered to make another ship more powerful.
Here, with money, you could buy anything, including, but not limited to, slaves, a common commodity in the Grand Line.
In the first half-day, Kong Tai and his companions had encountered several pirate ships, but these pirate ships had not survived the initial leg of the journey and had been buried at the bottom of the sea without ever engaging Kong Tai's crew.
Or perhaps, these pirates were simply unlucky to have run into Kong Tai.
Maybe they were even dragged down by him.
Because Kong Tai had a feeling that the Grand Line was somehow resisting his entry.
"Hahahaha..."
Or perhaps he was just overthinking things.
They hadn't chosen any specific route this time; they had randomly used the magnet at Twin Capes.
They ended up on route number 5, while Luffy's route was number 4.
So, the path ahead was entirely unknown to Kong Tai.
Why not choose route number 4 to "Whiskey Peak"? Because he wanted to see other starting islands.
Now that they were in the Grand Line, going to "Alabasta" or "Drum Island" where Chopper resided was simple, wasn't it?
Both were large islands with kingdoms, and Alabasta was one of the twenty royal families of the world.
Besides, at this time, "Vivi," the princess of Alabasta, Nefertari Vivi, had likely just joined Baroque Works and wouldn't be at Whiskey Peak, making a visit there pointless.
So, he decided to be capricious and chose a random route, planning to find a Log Pose later to navigate to Drum Island and Alabasta.
According to Crocus, the starting island for route number 5 should be an island with a kingdom named "Bask Kingdom."
It was said that this kingdom was famous for producing a type of wine called "Bask."
Thinking of wine, Kong Tai couldn't help but swallow.
His luck was good; even a random selection led him to an island he desired.
Creak—!
Creak—!
Guina walked over, her footsteps echoing on the decaying wooden planks, corroded by the seawater.
Although they had only been at sea for less than a month, the journey had not been easy.
Especially Reverse Mountain and the last half-day of sailing.
After all, the Freedom was just a small sailing ship worth a few million Berries.
It was only thanks to Kong Tai's abilities that they had managed to survive this journey.
Otherwise, it would have fallen apart long ago.
Kong Tai didn't pay attention to the creaking sounds.
Now that they were in the Grand Line, the Freedom would soon become obsolete.
The weather and currents here did not permit such a rudimentary vessel to sail.
He felt no attachment to it; they weren't the main crew, so the Freedom wouldn't develop a ship spirit, a legendary entity.
"Bask Island, it's a spring island, and also a winter island."
Guina walked quietly to Kong Tai's side, took his right hand, held it close, and looked towards the approaching island, saying,
"How magical! An island with two completely different climates."
"And they coexist harmoniously."
They could now see the rough outline of the island ahead.
From a distance, Bask Island looked like two large steamed buns connected to each other, spanning across the distant sea.
The island on the left was lush with greenery.
The one on the right was pure white, clearly covered entirely by snow.
Looking up at the sky.
Above the winter island on the right, a thick layer of clouds loomed.
And the clouds seemed to be completely separated by something, forming a distinct, straight line, blocking them at the midpoint between the two islands.
From afar, it was an awe-inspiring sight.
Kong Tai couldn't explain this phenomenon, and he believed no one could.
He could only attribute it to the Grand Line's special magnetic field, which could create such a magnificent landscape, a miracle, perhaps.
Sizzle sizzle!!
Indigo led the way, followed by A Hua and the other two. Everyone stood at the bow.
"I think I've been to this island before."
Indigo gazed ahead, lost in thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up.
"Yes! I remember Golden Lion came here to buy wine."
"Tell me, how was the wine here?"
"Hmm..."
"How to put it!"
Indigo pondered for a moment, then looked up and smiled at Kong Tai, "It was about seven or eight years ago. I vaguely recall Golden Lion quite liking the wine here."
"But he never came back afterward."
"And I've forgotten what the wine tasted like."
He paused, his eyes filled with nostalgia, then continued, "However, what left the deepest impression on me wasn't the wine."
"Not the wine?"
A hint of confusion flickered in Kong Tai's eyes.
According to Crocus, Bask Island was most famous for its wine. If it wasn't the wine, then what was it?
Sensing Kong Tai's confusion, Indigo quickly explained, "Well, for me, it was definitely not the wine that left the deepest impression."
"Then what was it?"
"It was the king of this place!"
"The king?"
"Yes!"
Indigo nodded, then said, "That King Bask, that King Bask... hmm..."
As he spoke, Indigo suddenly fell silent.
He remembered that Golden Lion had come here specifically to invite the king to join his crew, which was why he had such a vivid memory.
But now, he couldn't recall the king's name or appearance at all.
If not for seeing Bask Island, he might not have even remembered visiting this place.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Indigo shook his head and said to Kong Tai, "It's strange, I have absolutely no memory of the King of Bask Kingdom now."
"It must have been too long ago!"
He shook his head, saying,
"I'm getting old, always forgetting things that aren't that important."
"Strange?"
Kong Tai looked at the two islands glowing golden in the setting sun.
A deep curiosity stirred within him.
To be invited by Golden Lion, even if ultimately refused, he shouldn't have been an ordinary person.