An Uneventful Night

As Ra reached the mess hall entrance, the sun had just set. The dinner bell had rung half an hour ago.

Through the windows, the building was brightly lit. The pirates' laughter and arguments could still be clearly heard through the wooden doors and stone walls.

"Hey! You guys see that? Those two brats are still eating!

It looks like they haven't stopped since dinner started half an hour ago!"

A pirate holding a wine glass pointed at Oshi and Obe, who were feasting nearby, and said to those around him.

"The food they've eaten must weigh more than they do! How is that even possible?!"

"Could they be special ability users? After all, Burufatt brought those two brats here.

Speaking of which, where is Big Brother Burufatt?"

"He's over by the counter." The pirate who was asked pointed to the serving counter.

At that moment, Burufatt was holding a bottle of strong liquor, his face flushed red as he shouted, "Come on, Red-haired brat, take down your sister for me!

Hahahaha! Don't be a coward, that's the spirit!

Gulp, gulp, gulp~

Drink up! Awesome!"

Seeing Burufatt start it off, the other pirates began to egg them on.

"Go, Red-haired brat, don't stop! I bet ten thousand Berries on you winning!"

"My twenty thousand Berries are on you, Blue-haired brat, don't embarrass yourself!"

"Hmph, how vulgar! I'm not here to be your boring post-meal entertainment."

Obe said, stopping her actions. After drinking a glass of juice, she elegantly wiped her mouth with a napkin. She was already full.

However, Oshi beside her didn't seem to be stopping. She was still stuffing a large bone with meat, as big as her head, into her mouth...

"Haha, I won!"

"Hey, who's the loser who bet against me?~"

"Oh! That's the spirit, Red-haired brat! Hahahahaha~"

Burufatt, who had also won his bet, burst into laughter and then chugged the remaining half bottle of wine in one go.

Some rejoiced while others mourned. Those who won were smug, while those who lost were dejected.

"Damn it! Just a little bit more, my Berries!"

"Wuwuwu~ I lost all my money for finding Miss Lilith. I have to squeeze into the shared room tonight."

"Don't be sad, little brother. While you can't go accompany Miss Lilith, you still have me~"

"Huh? What, what do you mean?"

The pirate unnaturally shifted his butt a little further away.

"I mean— I can totally take your place tonight to take care of Miss Lilith~

After all, I won quite a bit of money just now. Hahaha~"

"Get lost!"

"Hey, Old Cook, I remember there's still some of that left, bring it out quickly." Burufatt dropped the empty wine bottle and shouted loudly towards the kitchen.

"Got it."

An old pirate wearing a spotless chef's uniform and a tall chef's hat responded, then turned around and carefully retrieved a bottle of what looked like quite expensive wine from the kitchen's ice cellar.

This was something Burufatt had snatched from a luxurious merchant ship not long ago.

Fearing he would drink it all if he kept it with him, he had temporarily stored it in the mess hall's kitchen and would have a small cup whenever he craved it.

Taking the wine bottle from Old Cook, he shook it to confirm there wasn't much left. Burufatt then simply shattered the bottle's opening and poured a small cup for Oshi. Without fear of cutting his mouth, he then drank directly from the bottle.

"Haha~ Awesome!

Little brat Oshi, come and try this. This is a special brew for Fish-Man Island Royalty.

It's said to be brewed using a secret mermaid technique. I finally got my hands on it a while back."

"Wuwu, wuwuwu, wuwuwuwu... (Is that so? Let me try. I've never drunk anything other than beer.)"

Oshi, with her mouth full of food, mumbled as she picked up the cup, ready to taste the flavor of this fine wine from another world.

But just as her lips were about to touch the rim of the cup, a fair and slender hand grabbed her wrist.

Feeling the resistance, Oshi pulled. It didn't budge.

Not believing it, she pulled again with all her might, but it still didn't move...

"Wuwuwuwu! (Who, who's disturbing this great me from drinking!)"

Oshi turned her head, looking displeased at the owner of the hand.

What greeted her eyes was a strand of brilliant golden hair and a familiar face with a strange smile.

"Pfft! Cough, cough… cough! La-la-la-la-la sister? Why, why are you here?!"

The moment Oshi recognized the person, she practically leaped off her stool.

Her movement was like that of a middle schooler caught sneaking into an internet cafe after lying to their parents about going to cram school.

Seeing the familiar smile on Ra's face, Obe immediately stood up and explained, "Reporting, Big Sister! Oshi is the only one who drank. I didn't touch a drop, please investigate, Big Sister!"

[This guy!]

Oshi turned and looked at Obe, who was kicking her while she was down, with disbelief.

"Uh, uh, La-sister, please let me explain.

I, I didn't actually know this was alcohol. I thought it was juice~ Haha~" Oshi attempted a desperate struggle.

But Ra ignored Oshi and said to Burufatt, "Mr. Burufatt, my sisters are not yet adults. Please don't try to get them to drink anymore, okay?"

"Haha, it's fine! When I was her age, I could drink eighteen…"

"Okay?" Ra uncharacteristically interrupted him mid-sentence.

"Uh, okay, okay, I promise." Burufatt's instincts told him not to say another word.

[This feeling… it's just like facing the legendary enraged Sea God.]

Seeing this, the other pirates fell silent, not daring to even breathe too loudly. The previously noisy mess hall became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"Oshi, come out with me for a moment."

Without letting the suffocating silence last much longer, Ra released Oshi's arm, uttered these words, and walked outside first.

Oshi, standing rooted to the spot, looked around for help, but wherever her gaze fell, the pirates averted their heads as if suddenly interested in the mess hall's decor.

"Obe, my dear sister, you…"

"Heh heh~

I've always wanted to see this expression on your face, this helpless look like you've been called outside by the homeroom teacher!

My dear second sister~" Obe put on a grimace that shattered her usual persona.

"I've always remembered it, you know~

That… day's… business!"

"You…"

"Oshi." Ra, already at the door, turned back and urged her.

Oshi shivered, lost her voice and strength, and shuffled towards the door step by step as if bound by chains by the Black and White Impermanence.

The large door slowly closed, but no one dared to make a sound. After a long while, some of the bolder pirates in the mess hall began to whisper amongst themselves.

"Th-that's the new Executive? So terrifying!" one pirate whispered.

"I almost thought I wouldn't see tomorrow's sun just now!"

"She's so small, but she gives me the feeling of those giant Sea Kings! Like I could be swallowed whole at any moment."

"Brother Burufatt, what's the background of this new Executive?"

"I don't know. I heard King said he recruited her after she fought with Boss Kaido. Boss Kaido immediately gave her an Executive position."

"Hiss~ Fought with Boss Kaido?!

That's too exaggerated. That little kid looks only about ten years old…"

"Yeah, yeah. With those skinny arms and legs, she looks more delicate than noble ladies. If you hadn't said anything, I would have thought she was a princess from some country visiting us."

"Alright, alright. Just behave yourselves in front of her from now on. That person is definitely not someone to be trifled with." Burufatt pushed through the crowd and left the mess hall.