Veteran Joins the Battle, Hated Foods

The next day,

"Ah... a rest after a great battle,"

Luffy leisurely soaked in the hot spring and sighed.

"Ah, that feels so good~"

"Hmph, apart from you being the 'big battle,' we're just warming up at best."

Zoro snorted unhappily, but didn't say anything more. He also lay back in the hot spring, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation.

Although the sudden volcanic eruption yesterday evening did indeed disrupt the peace of the seaside city of Sekken overnight, after a large number of naval personnel arrived and announced that the eruption had been "resolved" by naval ability users, most people resumed their businesses and work today. After all:

"Where on this vast ocean is 'safe'?"

This is the lament of an old navy man standing beneath the statue.

Even in a 'peaceful' place like the East Blue, there are nobles oppressing people from within and pirates plundering them from without; how could there possibly be any place in the New World where ordinary people can feel safe?

In Big Mom "Whole Cake Island of Treasures," all citizens must surrender one month's life every six months, but as long as they can live peacefully, they are content with it. This world is certainly an adventurous place for the strong, but it's not so friendly to ordinary people.

So now that a skilled naval officer has resolved the volcano issue, the ordinary people of Sekken can simply continue with their lives. If this were in my previous life, a town situated at the foot of a volcanic eruption would, if not instantly empty, at least be filled with panic.

"I got my hat back," Luffy said, patting the Straw Hat lying next to him as he Luffy in the hot spring. "Chopper and the others have all been restored to normal, and that Dyna Stone has been recovered by the Navy. We should continue our journey now, Roman."

Roman was also soaking in the hot spring next to him, removed the towel covering his face.

"No problem, I've already contacted Franky. The Sunny Merry has been repaired and is ready for service."

Splash—

"Alright, let's get ready to go!"

Luffy, always full of energy, raised his arm and shouted, which made the others stand up from the hot spring. They all had perfect figures!

Pity,

They were all men.

Except for a certain skeleton.

"Here it is?"

When Zephyr awoke, he found himself lying on a clean boat. He pulled back the covers and sat up, his body wrapped in tattered, bright green bandages. This immediately gave him a sense of his predicament, because:

"This feeling of power... is it the Navy's 'new medical bandage'?"

"Professor Zephyr, you're awake?"

The sound of him getting up prompted the person outside to push open the cabin door. A beautiful woman named Ain, with long, flowing, wavy, sea-blue hair, looked at the robust old man sitting on the bed with surprise.

"Ain, whose warship is this?"

As a lifelong naval veteran, Zephyr sensed the moment he regained consciousness that he was on a warship. Coupled with his treated injuries and the specialized medical equipment the navy had only recently acquired...

"Professor Zephyr,"

A slow, deliberate voice sounded behind Ain, and a man in a golden striped suit appeared at the cabin door.

"It's Borsalino,"

Are you here to arrest me?

In response to Zephyr's words, Kizaru raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Professor Zephyr, don't scare me."

"I was just following orders. If you have any complaints, please save them for Sakazuki."

·······

"So Sakazuki didn't send you to take my life? I'm curious, what made such a stubborn man change his mind?"

When faced with Zephyr's question, Kizaru's lips twitched.

"If I said it was out of respect for the teacher, you certainly wouldn't believe me. Actually, it was that kid 'White Dove' who dissuaded our Fleet Admiral. Of course, I heard privately that White Dove spent 50 billion Beli to bribe our Fleet Admiral in order to protect the teacher..."

"Absurd!"

How could a dignified Fleet Admiral accept bribes?

Zephyr slammed his hand hard on the bedside table, leaving a clear five-finger print. But the slight upturn at the corner of his mouth betrayed his true feelings. After all:

Who really wants to go to war with their students?

Moreover, after fighting Luffy, Zephyr seemed less desperate.

"Professor Zephyr,"

Kizaru, who had just entered, took out a newspaper.

"Admiral Fujitora apologized to the former royal family of Dressrosa behalf of the World Government, acknowledging that the 'Shichibukai' system was a mistake of the World Government."

?!

How could this be...?

"Therefore, after an emergency discussion, the World Government decided to propose abolishing the 'Shichibukai' system at the Reverie!"

Although it's just a proposal, it's practically tantamount to it being 'approved' in advance. After all, with the World Government speaking, how many Affiliated Nation would dare to disobey?

Besides, what does the life or death of the Shichibukai have to do with most countries? In any case, the biggest underground trader, Doflamingo, has already fallen.

Zephyr was taken aback by Kizaru's words. He had been so desperate lately that he had even considered destroying the world; why would he care about such outside news? Besides, this had only happened a few days ago. As for abolishing the 'Shichibukai,' that was an internal secret of the Navy.

In an instant, Zephyr, lying on his sickbed, recalled what Roman had told him: 'Abolish the Shichibukai'... So that kid wasn't just trying to comfort him after all.

"Former Marine Admiral 'Black Arm' Zephyr!"

Kizaru, who was usually lazy, suddenly became serious, stood tall and straight, his bearing as sharp as a javelin, revealing the temperament of a soldier.

"Marine Headquarters is now recruiting you as part of the fighting force for this operation to suppress the 'Abolition of the Shichibukai,' you—"

Kizaru's eyes, hidden behind his gold-rimmed glasses, stared seriously at the teacher on the bed.

What do you think?

········

"Ha ha ha ha!!!!"

Roman boy, everything is exactly as you said.

I want to thank you. Thank you for showing me a way out when I was at my most desperate! This kindness...

Splash—

"Veteran Zephyr,"

Zephyr suddenly got out of bed and gave a serious military salute.

"I obey!"

"Hehe, let's have a banquet~~"

"Let's have a banquet! Let's have a banquet!!!"

On the newly renovated Sunny Merry, Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper sang and danced with their arms around each other's shoulders, leaving Law standing next to them speechless.

"What exactly are you celebrating? Did you just escape death from former Marine Admiral?"

"What are you talking about? I didn't lose!"

Luffy Guotou, dissatisfied, and after thinking for a moment, added:

"But that uncle was really amazing. If he had persisted a little longer, I would have lost."

"I heard it was someone's asthma attack?"

Luo rolled his eyes. Only someone whose grandfather is the Marine Hero Garp would have Admiral go easy on them, right? Anyone else would have been killed long ago.

"Well, let's just say it's to celebrate the rebirth of the 'Sunny Merry'."

Roman stroked his chin and made a suggestion.

Although the Sunny Merry looked much the same as before, Roman noticed that many important parts had been reinforced with 'Wapol Metal'. Unless he encountered a truly top-tier expert, he believed that this ship could already roam freely on the in the Grand Line.

Of course, the premise is that you don't get swallowed whole by a giant Sea King.

"Roman, get the meat out here!!"

Amid Luffy's excited urging, Roman took out a large amount of food and alcohol from the 'Pocket Page', which immediately piqued the interest of Zoro and the others.

The Straw Hat crew's tradition: After a major battle, there will always be a banquet!

"No, no, no, you just had a 'flower appreciation banquet' a few days ago."

Law scoffed seriously, "You guys are basically throwing parties whenever you have free time, aren't you? It's a good thing you have Roman as your big spender, otherwise you'd be living off your savings long ago... And since you refuse to do your pirate business properly, you're getting poorer and poorer, to the point where you're almost begging..."

"Speaking of which, what do you all dislike eating?"

Since it's a banquet, the topic is naturally food. As they were talking Nami suddenly thought of this, and as the one who initiated the suggestion:

"I'll go first. I hate all canned food! — Because fruit should be eaten fresh."

Is that why you planted a bunch of orange trees on the boat?

Roman calmly took a sip of orange juice, even though most of the oranges from those trees would later end up in his cup.

"I'll do it! I'll do it!"

Luffy raised his hand high, drawing everyone's attention:

After all, in their eyes, there really is something in this world that Luffy doesn't like to eat? Could it be...?

"It's a cherry pie from some shop,"

With a furrowed brow, Luffy revealed the answer.

"I absolutely hate it! Only a pig would eat their cherry pie!"

Blackbeard:?!

"Speaking of food, it has to be chocolate, doesn't it?"

Zoro took a sip of his drink.

"That stuff is so sweet, just looking at it makes me feel nauseous."

"Me, me, me!"

Chopper raised his little hooves,

"I think the exact opposite of Zoro; I hate anything spicy. Because it's not sweet enough~~ Marshmallows are the best!"

"Aww, cotton candy and stuff..."

Franky held the cup with his little hand that was sticking out of his palm.

"I wouldn't eat that kind of thing, because it's not super hard at all!"

"I don't like eating mushrooms,"

Usopp picked up a skewer of barbecue,

"Because I was poisoned before!"

"Food?"

Robin gracefully rested her chin on her hand and pondered for a moment.

"I don't particularly dislike anything, if you can count chewing gum as food—because you can't swallow it."

"Hehehe, what I hate most is lemons~~"

Brook looked on with emotion.

"Because I can't make a 'sour' face—even though I don't have a face anymore, yohoho."

"What I hate is bread..."

After Luo Gang finished speaking, he realized what he had done and covered his forehead.

"Why should I discuss this with you? The assassins from the Beasts Pirates and the BIG MOM Pirates might already be waiting for us on the road..."

"What I hate is konjac because it has no nutritional value."

Sanji, carrying two plates of food out of the kitchen, continued the conversation, and then turned to comfort Law.

"Don't panic, it's no use panicking anyway. — This isn't my saying, it's a famous quote that our staff officer Roman often says."

··········

Being the Straw Hat crew's strategist is truly a hopeless situation!

Luo turned to look at Roman, but Roman misunderstood his gaze, nodded, and was the last to give his opinion.

"Personally... I dislike alcohol, but..."

Roman specifically emphasized:

"I just don't like it, not that I can't drink it. When I get serious, even just alcohol—"

"Forget it, forget it, big brother!" x2

Roman was completely bewildered by Usopp and Chopper, who were holding him tightly from both sides.

What's the meaning?

Do you think I can't drink?!

"Let's not talk about that anymore. Look over there, what's that—"

Following the direction Usopp pointed in with a horrified expression, everyone turned to look. It was:

A colossal elephant, so large it seemed to reach the sky and touch the sea, was 'walking' in the ocean, as if it were walking on a shallow lake.

"We're almost at our destination,"

Roman looked at the 'Natal-Lida Elephant', which he estimated to be at least tens of thousands strong... However, its legs, like those of the 'Longleg Tribe', had two joints, indicating that the seabed was actually quite deep.

"Zou,"