Shakky vented all the anger in her heart on the ingredients.
As the chef of the Rocks Pirates, she naturally had some real skill. The small cleaver in her hand chopped against the cutting board with a steady clack, clack, clack.
Whether vegetables or meat with hard bones, everything was cut into neat, uniform pieces.
This time, she chopped with slightly more force than usual.
It was almost as if the thing lying on the cutting board was not food, but "Ares"!
Naturally, this enormous banquet was divided into inner and outer areas. The newcomers stayed on the outskirts, while the official crew members gathered inside Skull Castle.
The core members of a higher rank and the captains were naturally in different rooms.
Ares, flanked by Whitebeard and Golden Lion, naturally went with them, heading straight to the officers' room.
This made countless members of the Rocks Pirates envious, and they all cast admiring looks their way.
In private, they discussed it animatedly.
"That kid Ares was offered a bounty of forty million Berries by the Marines as soon as he went to sea. They call him the Blood Hand!"
"That news spread across the island ages ago. I even specifically asked the people who sailed with Ares about it. I heard he actually fought Marine Vice Admiral Garp!"
"Holy shit! That guy's that fierce? Isn't he afraid Garp will punch him to death?!"
"Fierce? He's more than fierce! The entire crew was sailing away, but Ares jumped straight into the sea and charged at the Byrnndi World Pirates alone. Tell me, is that brave or not?!"
"Awesome! He's the damn father of awesome! The captain of the Byrnndi World Pirates is the World Destroyer, Bundy World!"
"Why do you think Golden Lion and Whitebeard value that kid so highly? Naturally, he has secrets!"
"Secrets? Come on, tell us!"
"........."
The members of the Rocks Pirates were discussing the matter with great enthusiasm. The special treatment Ares had received from Golden Lion and Whitebeard, the two strongest captains aboard the ship, had already attracted the attention of many pirates.
To this day, no one in the Rocks Pirates had ever managed to make Golden Lion and Whitebeard personally teach them together!
And it was not only those two captains. Word had it that Captain Ochoku also looked after Ares exceptionally well.
Among the crowd, Kaido watched Ares with a pair of huge, bell-like eyes filled with envy. He felt extremely bitter inside.
After all, Ares had stepped on him and, as a result, gained Captain Rocks' favor, leaping over the dragon gate to become an official member of the Rocks Pirates.
Now he had even become someone Whitebeard and Golden Lion valued.
This filled Kaido with intense envy and jealousy.
"Just wait!"
I'll definitely surpass you. I'll train ten or a hundred times harder. Streusen has already taught me Armament Haki. Once I master it, I'll obtain that Devil Fruit from Linlin.
Then I'll definitely surpass you. I, Kaido, won't just become an official crew member—I'll become an officer of the Rocks Pirates!!
Kaido's eyes shone brightly, and a fierce flame rose in the depths of his pupils.
I must reclaim the glory that belongs to me!
I should be the most " dazzling," most "popular," and most "powerful" newcomer on the Rocks Pirates!
Inside the room.
When Ares entered, a scorching gaze suddenly landed on him. His senses had grown much sharper, and he followed that gaze over.
He saw that Charlotte Linlin's eyes had remained fixed on him the entire time.
When Ares looked over, Linlin even made an extremely provocative expression. The corners of her bright-red lips curled upward, and she stuck out her tongue to lick them.
Her eyes shimmered with springlike allure as she threw Ares a flirtatious wink.
WINK!
Charlotte Linlin's actions made Ares frown. Whitebeard, whose arm was around Ares's shoulder, also noticed Linlin's gaze. At once, he glared at her with a look as sharp as a sword.
Whitebeard warned her in an icy tone, "Linlin, don't even think about making a move on Ares. He's still a child!"
"If I find out that you have, I'll sink you into the sea!"
Ares might have been huge, but Whitebeard knew that he was only fourteen or fifteen years old—a minor, still just a child.
And Whitebeard knew Linlin's character all too well.
Over the years, the children Linlin had given birth to in the Rocks Pirates, both boys and girls combined, already numbered more than a dozen!
At her most fertile, she could even give birth to as many as four children in a single year!
As for who the children's fathers were, even Whitebeard could not remember them all. Some of the children did not even know who their own fathers were.
Golden Lion puffed on his cigar and grinned, revealing an evil and overbearing smile. "Linlin, Ares is my disciple. If you think your steel skin can withstand my Golden Lion's slashes..."
"Then be my guest and try!"
"Let's see whether your skin is harder or my blade is sharper!"
He exhaled a thick cloud of white smoke, his face radiating fearless dominance, as if saying, Go ahead if you've got the guts.
Threatened by Golden Lion and Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin immediately widened her eyes in anger and said bluntly, "I just like Ares!!"
"As long as you agree to let me have children with him, I can give you gold, Berries, and anything else..."
Before she could finish the final word, "you"—
Linlin suddenly widened her eyes in disbelief.
Reflected in her amber pupils was a sharp, massive saber: Whitebeard's Cloud Piercer!!
Her heart jolted violently!
Whitebeard had actually drawn his weapon for that brat Ares at the officers' banquet of the Rocks Pirates...and attacked her outright!!!
Whoosh!
Whitebeard Newgate glared furiously and shouted, "Linlin! Are my words no longer enough?!"
His right hand raised Cloud Piercer, and with a flash, he aimed the gleaming, razor-sharp tip at Charlotte Linlin's face. In the end, however, he stopped.
His expression cold and severe, Whitebeard radiated a powerful, savage aura that instantly enveloped Charlotte Linlin. He glared at her with furrowed brows. "Linlin! Today is Captain Rocks' banquet, but that doesn't mean you can make a move on Ares in front of me!"
"This is a warning!"
"Next time, my blade will strike you directly!"
The fierce wind carried by Cloud Piercer slapped against Linlin's face. As it swept across her cheeks, beads of cold sweat welled up on her forehead.
The entire room fell utterly silent!
One could hear a pin drop!!
The tense, oppressive atmosphere climbed to its peak.
Streusen ran out from behind Linlin, wearing the smile of a peacemaker. "Newgate, Linlin was only saying it casually."
"We're all members of the Rocks Pirates. There's no need to make things so unpleasant!"
"Captain Rocks will be here soon. It wouldn't be good for him to see everyone like this."
"Put the blade away!"
At that moment, the other officers also began chiming in. Silver Axe rose from his seat and said, "A banquet is the happiest time for pirates. Everyone should enjoy it."
He walked straight over to Ares and asked, "Ares, don't you agree with me?"
Everyone in the room turned their eyes toward Ares.
Although Ares was currently only an "official crew member," and had been a newcomer for less than a month, there was nothing anyone could do about the fact that Golden Lion and Whitebeard valued him and had his back.
Those were the two strongest captains in the Rocks Pirates.
As a result, the other officers did not dare look down on Ares.
Ares stated his attitude directly as well. "I want to eat! I want to drink!"
After training for most of the day and then taking a bath in his room, he was already starving.
Hearing Ares's answer, the room immediately erupted in laughter.
"Gyahahaha..."
"Gurararara..."
".........."
Only a few minutes later, Captain Rocks and Captain John also arrived in the room together.
The banquet officially began.
.........
Special skit:
Ares looked at the dining table before him. It was covered with nothing but: "extra chapters," "extra chapters," "extra chapters"...
He immediately lost his appetite.
He looked pitifully at the esteemed readers and said, "My food is five-star reviews, power donations, and tips. Please feed me a little."
Before you continue