Manix Island

Luo Ya stepped onto the pier clutching his suitcase, the docks bustling with a sea of people. He clicked his tongue in wonder as even the most fierce-looking pirates followed the flow of the crowd in an orderly fashion.

As he entered the town with the throng, the architecture before him was dazzling. Just then, a young boy with a buzz cut approached him.

"Sir, is this your first time on the island? Do you need a tour guide? It only costs one thousand Beli for the day."

"You'll do. First, take me to try some of your local delicacies." With that, Luo Ya pulled out a thousand Beli and handed it to the kid.

"No problem, sir. Just call me Sang Wei." Sang Wei tucked the Beli away and led Luo Ya toward a restaurant.

Inside, the decor was simple, yet it gave off a very welcoming vibe.

Sang Wei was clearly a regular here; as soon as they walked in, the waitstaff greeted him warmly.

Once they were seated, Sang Wei waved his small hand. "One order each of the Golden Bubble Fish, the Peak Bird Egg, and the Sea King Steak."

After ordering, he turned to Luo Ya. "Sir, these are the restaurant's signature dishes. You'll definitely love the Bubble Fish."

Luo Ya smiled and patted Sang Wei's buzz cut. It felt quite nice—no wonder adults loved rubbing children's heads.

The dishes arrived quickly. Luo Ya first tasted the highly recommended Bubble Fish. The texture was soft, tender, and smooth; the moment he bit into it, it burst in his mouth like a bubble, releasing tiny, granular bits that were likely fish roe.

Luo Ya's eyes lit up. It was indeed a unique dish, and truly delicious. Just as he was about to dig in, he noticed Sang Wei gnawing on a piece of flatbread.

Caught under Luo Ya's gaze, Sang Wei nearly choked and had to gulp down a large mouthful of water to recover.

"Alright, waiter, bring another round of everything we just ordered. Kid, come over and eat with me. It's not a free meal, though—you'll have to tell me all about this island."

Sang Wei scratched his head and joined him at the table, though he ate with far more refinement than Luo Ya, who was devouring his food like a starving ghost.

Through Sang Wei's explanation, Luo Ya learned that the nation on this island was called the Norberto Kingdom, and their King, Brunen, was considered a wise and martial ruler.

The island's citizens lived in great prosperity, and the country championed bodybuilding, making it a famous "Island of Bodybuilders" among the surrounding seas.

The men on the island were hulking figures with bulging muscles, and the women were equally toned, with wasp waists and athletic builds.

Because of this, the island's defenses were always well-maintained, and pirates rarely dared to come and cause trouble.

The reason the island was so lively lately was that King Brunen was holding a tournament for the sake of his daughter, Princess Madalina.

Princess Madalina's appearance was quite at odds with the island's aesthetic. Because everyone else exercised year-round, the men were handsome and the women beautiful, all with excellent physiques.

The Princess, however, was a woman weighing nearly three hundred pounds. King Brunen planned to hold a bare-handed fighting tournament, and the strongest combatant would win a Zoan-type Devil Fruit.

Furthermore, Princess Madalina would choose one of the contestants to be her weight-loss coach. Whoever succeeded in helping her slim down would be granted one request by King Brunen.

"That doesn't make sense. She didn't get fat from eating a Devil Fruit, and everyone on this island is practically a fitness coach. Why is your princess so heavy?"

The waiter, who had been serving the extra dishes, chimed in, "Everyone on the island knows why. When Princess Madalina was young, her mother was killed by pirates while protecting His Majesty the King.

"Because of that, King Brunen has always doted on Princess Madalina, sparing her from the rigorous training that all royal children are expected to undergo."

Sang Wei added, "Even after she grew up, the King couldn't bear to see the Princess suffer. Exercise requires self-discipline, and the Princess would get winded after just a few movements. She'd grit her teeth and train for a while, but when the results weren't immediately obvious, she'd just give up."

Luo Ya understood now. It was, in short, a story of an old father spoiling his daughter, though even he had finally reached his limit.

Holding a bare-handed fighting tournament served two purposes: it stimulated the economy, and it allowed his daughter to find someone she liked who could help her lose weight.

Luo Ya had no interest in being a so-called coach. With his strength, he could walk through the first half of the Grand Line sideways; if he wanted to make a request, no one would dare refuse him. Of course, Luo Ya wouldn't actually do that—well, cough, he probably wouldn't.

However, Luo Ya did intend to participate in the tournament. He had been practicing the Dragon Claw Fist for a long time without ever testing it in real combat, and this was the perfect opportunity to gauge his progress.

After the meal, Luo Ya had Sang Wei lead him to register for the tournament. Once signed up, he learned the competition started the very next day—he had caught the tail end of the registration period.

They wandered around the island until the sky began to darken, and Sang Wei led Luo Ya to a hotel.

Luo Ya paid for the room, gave Sang Wei another thousand Beli, and waved him off before heading inside to rest.