The Banquet

"Those really are two remarkable kids... I never expected to see the Flame-Flame Fruit and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit here..."

Watching the flames flying in from afar and the lightning striking toward them, Rayleigh looked at Roger, who had appeared beside him, and said in amazement.

"Yeah... They remind me of those three young brats in the Navy..."

Rayleigh immediately understood who Roger meant.

After all, the Roger Pirates had crossed paths with the Navy plenty of times. Those three brats who had suddenly appeared in the Navy and quickly made names for themselves, becoming as strong as monsters despite their young age, had given them a real headache.

Just then, the two figures descended from the sky and landed without ceremony on the Waver Roger was standing on.

Everyone in the Roger Pirates stared in surprise at the two kids who had suddenly appeared in their midst.

"Captain... who are they...?"

Gaban, standing beside Roger, asked in puzzlement.

Roger was about to answer, but then he remembered that he didn't know the two kids' names either, so he said,

"These two will be staying with the Roger Pirates for the next few days. Why don't you introduce yourselves?"

At that moment, Ye Mu really felt like he'd walked straight into a tiger's den. Before him stood people who were legendary figures in the story of One Piece, now alive and right in front of him.

Rayleigh, Gaban, Bullet, Kozuki Oden, Crocus, Shanks, Buggy, Nekomamushi, Duke Inuarashi, and many, many others.

There were more than a hundred people!

So this was the Roger Pirates!

He was astonished, but calmly introduced himself.

"My name is Ye Mu... This is my younger brother..."

"Enel..."

After embarrassing himself in front of Roger earlier, Enel had learned his lesson and eagerly gave his name.

"Ye Mu and Enel, huh..."

Roger savored the two names, then suddenly turned to everyone and said cheerfully,

"Now that we have new friends, according to our rules..."

As soon as he spoke, the slightly tense atmosphere grew lively. Everyone excitedly joined in.

"Banquet... A banquet..."

"Yeah... Long live the captain..."

The lively atmosphere left Ye Mu and Enel a little dazed.

After all, the two of them had spent the past five years living in isolation together. They had never experienced an atmosphere like this, let alone one arranged to welcome them.

"So this is what being a pirate feels like..."

Enel murmured.

With Gan Fall leading the way, everyone drove the Wavers to a flat stretch of ground. Night had fallen, and the banquet began...

Beneath the night sky, somewhere on Upper Yard,

bright bonfires, the aroma of malt liquor, and mouthwatering roasted meat.

As the melody of Binks' Sake rang out, everyone sang merrily and raised their cups.

Though this was Gan Fall's territory, he seemed like an outsider among the guests, while the Roger Pirates acted like they owned the place, singing and dancing.

Enel had been a little reserved at first, but with this friendly bunch looking after him, he soon got drunk and started letting loose. He showed off the powers of his Rumble-Rumble Fruit, crackling with electricity and flashing with light.

The people around him played along enthusiastically, their eyes sparkling with admiration.

Ye Mu, on the other hand, sat by himself, contentedly drinking juice and eating delicious food as he watched the show.

Not far away, Roger and Rayleigh sat together, their eyes fixed on Ye Mu. After draining a cup, Roger asked Rayleigh,

"What do you think of those two kids?"

Rayleigh thought it over before answering,

"That kid named Enel isn't much different from Shanks and the others, but that young man, Ye Mu, is far too mature and composed to seem like a child..."

Roger seemed to understand, and said pointedly,

"I can't hear what's in his heart, but I can tell that kid has big ambitions. Do you know why he came to see us today?"

Rayleigh shook his head. Roger didn't keep him waiting. He drained his cup and said,

"He wants me to teach him Haki..."

It seemed like a simple request, but an eleven-year-old who met the famous Roger Pirates could have asked for plenty of other things. Yet the only thing he'd asked for was to learn Haki. That alone showed how much the kid yearned for power.

"Haki? A kid that young already wants to learn Haki? Even though he has such a powerful Devil Fruit..."

"Yeah. That kid really is extraordinary. What was I thinking about when I was his age? Hahahahaha..."

But Rayleigh knew Roger wasn't laughing so happily just because of that. It wasn't the only reason he'd agreed to the two kids' request.

Sure enough, Roger continued,

"Do you know what that kid called me when I first met him?"

"???"

Rayleigh was taken aback. Roger's answer left him even more stunned.

"The future Pirate King..."

"!!!"

Rayleigh was still reeling when Roger continued with a laugh,

"He called me the Pirate King, but there wasn't a trace of surprise in his eyes. It was as if I were just an ordinary person. And it seemed like the kid knew I didn't have long to live..."

"!!!"

"Hahaha! Of course, that's just my guess. Maybe I'm imagining things. After all, who in this world could know the future..."

But Rayleigh couldn't help taking it seriously. His expression turned grave. After thinking it over, he abruptly stood and headed for Ye Mu.

Roger was startled.

"Hey, Rayleigh, what are you doing? Wait..."

"Hey, kid. How are you?"

Rayleigh brought his drink over and sat beside Ye Mu. Roger hurried after him, but Rayleigh's next words eased his worry.

"Everyone else is drinking. Why are you having juice?"

Ye Mu looked at Rayleigh, who had sat down beside him, and answered casually,

"I'm underage. Besides, you probably won't be on Sky Island for long. I don't want to waste my time learning Haki by getting drunk!"

Rayleigh was very surprised by Ye Mu's answer. His maturity and composed gaze made it hard for Rayleigh to see him as a child. Remembering what Roger had just told him, he finally couldn't hold back.

But under Roger's pleading gaze, he put it as gently as he could.

"I... have a friend... He's seriously ill, and I wanted to ask if you know any way to cure him..."

After saying this, Rayleigh waited for Ye Mu's answer, tense and hopeful.

He swore he'd never been this nervous, not even when he and Roger faced Rocks.

Then he watched Ye Mu shake his head and say,

"No..."

In an instant, disappointment filled Rayleigh's heart. Even Roger's expression shifted slightly.

Even as the future Pirate King, who would choose death if he could go on living?

It was truly tragic to see a hero grow old.

But Ye Mu's next words made their hearts leap again.

"I'm not a doctor, so I don't know anything about treating illnesses. But I know of three things in this world that might help... At the very least, they should be able to slow the illness down..."