She returned to the table, sat down, and took out paper and pen, swiftly writing something.
Shano finished brushing his teeth, came back to the table, continued to tidy up the bowls and chopsticks, noticed this scene, and casually asked:
"What are you writing?"
"Dream travel list!"
Belle-Mere snapped her fingers, "Totto Land's Ten Thousand Nations, Giant Kingdom Elbaf, the Country of Love and Passion and Fairies Dressrosa... I've wanted to visit these places for a long time. Later, I can visit them one by one. Hmm… But the place I most want to go to is still this… I seem unable to reach it on my own. Looks like it's up to you to help make it happen."
"Where?"
Shano leaned over, took a glance, could it be Marinfanto?
That place is indeed quite unique.
Belle-Mere used to be in the Navy, Marinfanto could well be the Holy Land she dreamed of, but was held back by qualifications, strength, and merits, as she didn't qualify to enter as an ordinary Marine.
If it were up to him, Sengoku might give him face.
Like urgently recalling the Three Great Admirals, assembling fifty thousand elite troops or something…
"Huh?" Shano was startled upon seeing the end of Belle-Mere's pen pointing at, "The Red Earth Continent?"
"Yes!"
Belle-Mere excitedly raised her head, eyes glowing with anticipation, "I heard that standing on the top of the Red Earth Continent, one can see the landscape of the entire world, the Four Seas, the Windless Zone… everything falls into view. I once went to Log Town with my superiors for an exchange early on, and ever since I saw the majestic Red Earth Continent in the distance, I couldn't forget it, and I've always wanted to climb up and take a look!"
Really?
Shano scratched his head, somewhat at a loss, "Belle-Mere, your dream is too simple, right? It's just the Red Earth Continent. I can take you there right now."
"Really?"
Belle-Mere's eyes lit up but then she grew a bit worried, "That's directly controlled by the World Government. Considering your current standing, is it…"
"Don't worry, the Red Earth Continent is vast. Besides Holy Land Mary Geoise, which is indeed a bit risky, I can come and go as I please anywhere else."
Just find a spot near Inverted Mountain, a location that's the shortest line distance from Cocoyashi Village, won't take much time.
"Let's go, Belle-Mere, let's set off!"
"Why rush, I haven't finished writing the list. Go, go, go, wash the dishes first."
"Oh, right, almost forgot..."
...
That morning.
After a simple farewell with Uncle Ken, Scar, and others, Shano left Cocoyashi Village with Belle-Mere.
The two rode the hoverbike, speeding all the way towards Inverted Mountain.
"So nice."
Ken stood at the pier, watching their backs with envy.
Belle-Mere is really lucky, if only he had such a promising son.
What was he daydreaming about… He scratched his head casually, but quickly felt something was off, took off his patrol hat, and was dumbfounded.
Hey?
Where's my little windmill?
...
"Almost there, Belle-Mere, can you see it?"
Two days and two nights later, as the hoverbike's engine roared, the outline of the Red Earth Continent gradually came into view.
The towering mountain walls stretched for miles, endless, like the backbone of the world, reaching straight into the sky.
Belle-Mere poked her head out from the back seat of the bike, gazed upward, pupils slightly dilating, breath unconsciously slowed.
"So… breathtaking."
She murmured softly, the sound tinged with a hint of wonder.
"Going up to look is even more spectacular."
Shano parked the bike on a reef, tucked it into a capsule, then stretched out his hand, palm facing up: "Come, hold on tight."
Belle-Mere hesitated for a moment, her fingers slightly tightened, holding his hand: "We're… we're just going to fly up like this?"
"Pretty much."
Shano laughed heartily, abruptly stomped his foot—
"Let's take off!"
A layer of air waves surged beneath their feet, and their figures soared instantly, shooting up like arrows.
"Wah!!!"
Belle-Mere was startled, tears and snot sprayed out, instinctively clutched her foster son's arm tightly, the wind whistled by her ears, the weightlessness made her heartbeat pound wildly…
But very soon.
The scene before her stole all her focus.
It was dusk, clouds skimming past, sunlight penetrating the mist, dyeing the cliff sides of the Red Earth Continent in golden hues.
Below, islands and seas shrank rapidly, turning into specks of green, embedded within endless blue.
"This…"
Belle-Mere's breath hitched slightly, stared blankly at this never-before-seen landscape.
Shano started to decelerate, bringing her steadily to the top of the Red Earth Continent.
Sigh…
Winds surged from all directions, billowing her hair, Belle-Mere stood dazedly at the edge, below her a sheer cliff, before her an immense and boundless Grand Line.
Where the sea meets the sky seemed to be the end of the world.
She remained silent for a long, long time, then wiped the corners of her eyes, turned to smile at the bold young man beside her, softly spoke:
"So lovely, Shano."
As for her, she had a rough patch in life, lost her parents when she was young, almost starved to death in her own home.
It was kind villagers who pitied her and raised her, but often got angry with her personality, calling her a mischievous fool.
"Belle-Mere! Did you swipe all the coconuts at the village entrance again?"
"Hey, Belle-Mere! You jerk! Did you release all the fish I reeled in the barrel after fishing all day?!"
"Huh? Belle-Mere! You say you want to join the Navy, how could that be, hahaha, the Navy is a strict place, how would they accept a rascal like you who only knows how to cause trouble!"