The Banquet

The sea breeze gradually subsided, but the raging flames of war had not yet been completely extinguished.

Hachi, dragging Kuroobi, stumbled and fell towards the sea. Amidst the splashing water, the two disheveled figures quickly disappeared at the horizon where the sky meets the sea.

Meanwhile, Ace was excitedly rubbing his fists, while Luffy and down shouting, "Let's go! Let's go! I want to eat!!"

They had only taken a few steps when Roy suddenly stopped.

As if sensing something, he turned to look at the wrecked remains of the Arlong Pirate Ship, his gaze landing on a certain spot at the stern, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"I almost forgot, they also have a 'little pet'."

He gently clenched his Right Hand, and a "humming" vibration resounded in the air!

"Boom!!"

The sea surface suddenly exploded with a thunderous roar!

Amidst the raging waves, a massive black shadow was forcibly Teleportation out of the seabed and soared into the air!

"Moo?!!"

The enormous manatee, "Momoo," stared with eyes as big as copper bells, struggling frantically in the air, flapping its wings wildly, but it was no match for that invisible force.

The entire village of Cocoyasi Village was dumbfounded.

"My God... that's a sea monster?!"

"It's so big! How did it fly?!"

"Wait... isn't that the monster that was following the Arlong ship?!"

Ace and Luffy's eyes lit up immediately. "Roasted beef!! Such a huge head!!"

"Yay!! We're going to have a big meal tonight!!"

Roy smiled and lowered his hand, Ace's flames instantly erupted behind him.

"Then let's have a banquet!"

Hours later, wisps of smoke rose from the village square, filling the air with a delicious aroma.

The manatee "Momoo's" enormous body had already been neatly divided into parts by Roy's precise Cut, and was now being roasted by Ace using the flames of the Flame-Flame Fruit, sizzling and turning.

The villagers sat together, some holding skewers, some raising their glasses in celebration, and the children circling around Luffy and Ace, who were now the "heroes" of the whole village.

Officer Genzo, wearing a windmill hat and with grease stains on his face, walked over carrying a wine bowl, accompanied by the village's old doctor Dr. Nako.

"Rear Admiral Roy."

Genzo gave a slightly nervous military salute, "You saved our whole village, I... we really don't know how to thank you..."

Dr. Nako bowed slightly. "Thanks to your timely intervention, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Roy waved his hand, his expression calm and firm. "No need for thanks."

"We are the Navy," he said solemnly. "Fighting Pirates and protecting the people is our duty."

"And you're very brave!"

Roy suddenly turned to look at Genzo, his eyes sincere, "Not everyone has the courage to stand up against ruthless Pirates."

Genzo paused for a moment, then grinned, but his face was already flushed red—this 36-year-old patrolman had spent his entire life dealing with "ordinary" matters and had never imagined that one day he would be personally praised for his "bravery" by Rear Admiral from the Marine Headquarters.

"I..."

Genzo's lips moved, but in the end he just scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "Hehehe..."

While he was still feeling embarrassed, Luffy and Ace were already locked in a fierce battle at the other side of the grill.

"Hey! I saw that medium-rare piece first!!"

"Stop grabbing! You just ate three pieces!"

"So you've eaten four skewers!"

"Quiet down, quiet down! I think this piece of thigh meat looks good, I'll cut a slice!"

"You don't know how to cut meat at all!!"

"Ha ha--"

The villagers burst into laughter at the two little devils, and the air was filled with a rare warmth and peace after the war.

Roy sat down as well, took the roast beef that Genzo handed him, and took a bite.

"Um."

He chewed for a moment and nodded in satisfaction.

"It tastes good."

"... Dad and Mom will probably like it."

East Blue, Loguetown Harbor, Night

Night fell, the fog still lingered, and the dim Harbor lights swayed gently in the sea breeze.

Everything was as usual.

The fishing boats had already docked, the vendors had packed up their stalls, and seagulls circled and cried among the masts.

The Harbor was quiet, with occasional patrolling sailors conversing softly.

Until, a deafening roar shattered the stillness of the night!

"Boom!!"

Huge waves erupted from the sea, and a massive Pirate ship suddenly appeared in the center of the Harbor, its hull charred black and its flag tattered!

The sails prominently displayed the emblem of the Arlong Pirates!

"W-what?!"

"It's Pirate ship!!"

"Pirates have broken into the Harbor!!"

Screams erupted instantly on the dock, and people scattered in panic. Naval soldiers rushed out of the watchtowers, raising their Fire Pistol and aiming them at the ships.

But just as the tense atmosphere was about to explode!

"Stop it, all of you!!"

A Fire Charge roar silenced the Harbor.

Smoke billowed from behind the crowd as Smoker, wearing a navy coat and chewing on two Cigars that had burned out, strode over!

He glanced at the massive, battered ship, and a sneer appeared on his lips, "This is definitely the work of that bastard Roy!"

Sure enough, "Hey, smoke-emitting uncle~"

In the night breeze, Roy leaned against the ship's railing, waving his hand. His naval uniform shone brightly in the moonlight, and his smile was incredibly irritating.

Two little devils popped their heads out at the same time, their faces still covered in grease and sauce.

"Smoking Uncle!" Luffy waved excitedly, "We brought back gifts!"

"You guys actually know how to come back?"

Smoker's temple veins throbbed with fury. "What the hell are you three up to now?!"

Five minutes later, at the Naval Office in Loguetown.

Inside, candlelight flickered, and on the wooden table lay tattered logbooks and ledgers, page after page recording plunder and enslavement.

Smoker sneered as he flipped through the trinkets, "These scum Fish-Men have actually looted so many villages along the Grand Line, it's all stolen goods."

Roy leaned against the window, gazing at the swaying harbor lights in the night, and said leisurely, "I'm leaving the ship to you. Check what you can inside; leave the rest to the Navy Supply Section."

Smoker glanced at him. "You're going to need a whole day to deal with these petty thieves?"

Roy chuckled and pointed to the two people eating a late-night snack beside him, "Me? I didn't do anything, it was all thanks to these two kids."

Ace was happily munching on a piece of jerky, flames flickering between his fingers. "Mere Fish-Man are no match for you."

Luffy, having finished his third skewer of takoyaki, mumbled, "We... we also had a super awesome party!"

Smoker raised an eyebrow and gave them a rare second look.

The way these two children are acting has changed; they've grown so much already.

He was silent for a moment, then finally clicked his tongue and muttered, "Hmph, well done, kids."

As soon as he finished speaking, Luffy and Ace stood up abruptly, as if they had misheard.

"You grumpy old man, you're actually praising us?!"

"Really?! Are you running a fever?!"

"You two little brats!" Smoker slammed his fist on the table. "Get out of here!!"

The two were overjoyed and dragged Roy outside.

"Etc!"

Smoker took two steps after him, "Didn't you just finish a banquet? Why are you in such a hurry again?"

Ace shouted without turning his head, "We have to go back to see Grandma! Grandma's waiting for us to have a midnight snack!"

Luffy shouted, "She said she was going to make me meat soup!"

"Hey you guys... slow down! Running around like that late at night can make you directionally challenged and unable to find your way home!!"

"Who are you calling a directionally challenged person?!"

"That bastard Roy, he finally came all this way and ran off so quickly..."

At the Harbor, moonlight shone on the receding figure.

The residents not far away had already formed a circle, looking at the giant ship of the Arlong Pirates that was anchored there, their eyes filled with shock and awe.

"I heard they saved the entire Cocoyasi Village!"

"They actually took only one day... to defeat the Arlong Pirates and even made it back?"

"I heard they even held a banquet on the side!"

"That's Rear Admiral Roy from Marine Headquarters! He's so handsome!!"

A gentle sea breeze carries the lingering aroma of Barbecue.

"As expected of the elites of the Marine Headquarters."

"With them in East Blue, I feel so safe..."