Banquet

The revelry on deck came to an abrupt halt at the words "Kuja Pirates."

Every pirate's head froze with a click, as if someone had smacked the pause button with a hammer.

But Roger was the first to react.

He shot to his feet, grabbed Rock by the shoulders, and shook him furiously, his eyes bulging as though they were about to pop out of their sockets.

"W-w-wait a second!!!"

"You got on the Kuja Pirates' ship... so that means—"

"You met Shakuyaku?!!"

Rock was shaken so hard he nearly flung away his wineglass. He could only nod. "Yeah. She said she was going to Hachinosu to open a bar, so I hitched a ride on her ship."

"Boom—!!!"

This time, it was not the aftermath of a battle. The entire ship's pirates erupted as though they had all been struck by a collective mental shockwave.

"He actually rode on the same ship as Lady Shakuyaku?! What kind of luck is that!!?"

"No way! Lady Shakuyaku personally took him to Hachinosu?!"

"Even our captain has never gotten that treatment!!!"

The voices rose higher and higher, crackling like popcorn exploding in a pot.

The moment Roger heard, "Even our captain has never gotten that treatment," his composure completely shattered.

The next second, he dropped to his knees on the deck as if he had been struck by a heavy blow, pounding the planks with both fists.

"Uwaaaahhh—!!! I'm so jealous I could die!!!"

"Why?! Shakuyaku is the one I like most!!!"

"I've never even ridden on her ship!!!"

He wailed so heartbreakingly that, combined with his hulking build, the sight was both overwhelming and hilarious.

Rock: "..."

Rayleigh: "..."

The crew was already used to it. "Captain's acting up again..."

"He gets like this every time someone mentions Shakuyaku."

"Hand him a drumstick. He'll stop crying in a bit."

Rock really could not hold it in any longer. He turned to Rayleigh with a look that said, Is this guy actually normal?

The tips of Rayleigh's ears reddened. As if he had been caught red-handed, he slightly turned his gaze away and raised his cup, pretending to drink. "You'll get used to it..."

The air on deck seemed to grow more than ten degrees hotter just from the words "Kuja Pirates" and "Shakuyaku."

While the whole ship was still drowning in shock, envy, and jealousy, a loud, teasing voice cut in.

"Captain, looks like you've got another rival!"

Every gaze on the ship whipped in that direction.

Rock followed the voice and saw a man built like a mobile gun emplacement striding over.

His long black hair was tied into a wild ponytail. His yellow short-sleeved shirt stretched as though it were about to burst, each sculpted muscle flexing beneath it.

Every step made the deck boom beneath his feet.

It was the Roger Pirates' navigator, Scopper Gaban.

Though a small weight, it could move a great force;

Though a slender needle, it could pierce countless barriers.

For some reason, when Rock thought of what Gaban would accomplish in the future, those two lines suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Gaban wore a highly punchable grin as he plopped down beside Roger and casually patted Roger, who was still kneeling there and wailing.

"But I have to tell the truth—"

He deliberately raised his voice so everyone on the ship could hear him clearly. "Shakuyaku definitely won't like you!!"

"Give it up, Captain. You've got no chance at all!"

"I'm the one with the best chance of winning her over!!!"

"?!!"

Roger instantly became like a firecracker with its fuse lit, springing a full meter into the air from the deck.

"What nonsense are you talking about?! Shakuyaku is mine!!!"

Gaban burst out laughing. "You say she's yours, and that makes it true? Being captain doesn't give you special privileges in this!"

"You bastard, your hide is itching again, huh?!!!"

"Come on, then! Let's fight!!!"

The two immediately tangled into a brawl. Fists, grilled meat skewers, and wine cups flew everywhere, and even half the nearby barrels were knocked over.

The surrounding pirates grew excited as though a grand betting event had begun. "Place your bets! I'm betting on Captain!!!"

"I'm betting on Gaban!! His muscles are more ripped than usual today!!!"

"I'm betting on the grilled meat!! It'll definitely hit someone in the face first!!!"

"Aaah, don't throw the table at me—!!!"

The atmosphere on deck instantly shifted from a "shock convention" to a "pirate brawl carnival," as lively as the world's most joyous absurdist play.

And while everyone else had gone completely wild, Rayleigh quietly walked over to Rock.

The lantern light reflected off his glasses, softening his gaze somewhat. He lowered his voice and asked softly.

"Rock... Shakuyaku, is she doing well?"

There was a trace of concern in his voice, so subtle it was nearly impossible to detect, utterly out of place amid the madness around them.

Rock glanced sideways at him. He looked casual, yet it was as if he had seen through everything.

He curled his lips into a meaningful smile. "If someone were willing to go see her..."

Rock paused for a moment, as though deliberately making someone's heart skip a beat, then quietly added.

"She'd probably be doing quite well."

Rayleigh's gaze trembled slightly behind his glasses.

He did not answer, but that instant of silence spoke more deeply than any words could.

The next day, the morning sun spilled across the sea, golden light dancing over the deck of the Oro Jackson.

Last night's revelry had long since ended.

Wine barrels lay overturned, grills were scattered about, and the crew slept sprawled in every direction. Some hugged barrels as pillows, while others drooled directly over the railings.

Amid this chaotic "battlefield aftermath," only Rock was full of energy as he strolled across the deck.

He had not drunk much last night, so he was instead the clearest-headed person on the entire ship.

Along the way, he ran into several crewmen who had awakened early. They no longer looked as terrified as they had on the first day, instead waving greetings at him.

"Morning, Rock!"

"You can really hold your liquor!"

"Want breakfast? We've got bread!"

Rock waved back as well, responding naturally.

When he reached the bow, he saw Rayleigh standing at the front of the deck, one hand resting on the railing as he studied a sea chart and directed the helmsman.

The morning sea breeze ruffled his golden hair. He looked composed and calm.

Rock walked over and greeted him. "Yo, you're up early."

Rayleigh turned around. Seeing him, he smiled. "Rock, did you sleep well last night?"

Rock scratched his head. "Ah, sleeping on your ship isn't exactly peaceful. It was noisy all night long."

Rayleigh chuckled. "Hahaha, really? We're used to it."

"To us, a noisy night is a normal night."

The two stood side by side, looking out at the tranquil horizon in the distance.

The breeze was gentle, and the sunlight was warm. It was impossible to imagine that the people from last night had nearly sunk the ship.

Rayleigh was silent for a moment, but in the end, he could not help asking the question in his heart.

"Rock... about what you said last night. That you had a 'purpose' for coming aboard our ship."

"Though I know you mean us no harm, I still want to know what exactly you meant."

Rock was briefly stunned after hearing that, then gave a quiet laugh. "Ah, that? Hahaha."

"You should know already, right? I said I was going to join the Marines."

Rayleigh frowned. "Hm? What does that have to do with us...?"

Rock raised one finger and pointed toward the distant sea. "I have a strong feeling."

"As long as I sail with your Roger Pirates—"

A flicker of lightning flashed in his eyes.

"There's a high chance I'll run into that guy."

Rayleigh's pupils contracted. "That guy... Don't tell me you mean—?!"

Just then—

"Boom—!!!"

A blinding flash of fire suddenly erupted over the distant horizon!

Accompanied by an ear-splitting howl through the air, a cannonball tore across the sky at terrifying speed, streaking straight toward the Oro Jackson!

Rock merely flicked his hand.

"Bzzzt—!!!"

Lightning exploded in midair, detonating the cannonball before it could reach them!

But the explosive shockwave was powerful enough to raise huge waves. The massive ship tilted violently, sending the pirates who had not yet sobered up rolling into a heap across the deck!

"Waaahhh—!!!"

"What happened?!!"

"Who's attacking us?!!"

At that very moment, an enraged roar that seemed to pierce heaven and earth came from afar.

"RO—GER—!!!"

Rayleigh's expression changed instantly. "That voice—!!"

Rock's lips curled into a smile. "Speak of the devil."

The morning sea breeze trembled beneath that furious roar.

One of the monsters standing at the very pinnacle had arrived.