Night fell.
Because the previous campsite was too small, Roy moved it to the shore.
Dorry and Brogy also went along at Roy's invitation.
A huge bonfire was lit on the coast, its flames shooting into the sky and turning half the beach red.
The dinosaurs hunted during the day were roasted over a fire.
Tyrannosaurus Rex leg meat, Triceratops ribs, Velociraptor tenderloin --
Savi and Jesus Burgess skewered chunks of meat with branches and roasted them over the campfire, turning them over and over. The fat dripped into the fire, sizzling and releasing a fragrant aroma that wafted far and wide.
Yamato hugged a dinosaur leg that was even bigger than herself and gnawed on it until her mouth was covered in oil.
Pea sat next to her, taking small bites of a skewer of grilled velociraptor meat, occasionally pulling a small bottle from her pocket and sprinkling some spices on the meat.
" Pea, what's that?" Yamato, leaning closer.
"A blend of spices from Hachinosu. Tesoro bought it for me."
"Sprinkle some on me too!"
She carefully sprinkled a layer of Pea on top.
Yamato took a bite, his eyes widening instantly. "Delicious! Have some more!"
"It's gone! This bottle was very expensive!"
"Mean!"
Jesus Burgess and Savi are at odds again.
This time it's not a food competition, it's a drinking competition.
Before leaving, Crocus gave Roy several barrels of his treasured rum, which were now all taken by the two of them.
You drink one bowl, I drink one bowl, until our faces are red and our necks are thick.
"Hahaha! Savi! You're done for!"
"Bullshit! I could drink ten more bowls!"
"Come!"
The two of them drank another bowl.
Tesoro and Enel were competing on the beach to see whose lightning was brighter.
Tesoro unleashed a torrent of electricity from his hands, golden arcs of electricity weaving into a massive net in the air;
Enel was not to be outdone; Thundercloud surged overhead, unleashing streaks of blue-white Inazuma.
The two of them talked back and forth, casting alternating light and shadow on half of the beach.
"Can you two just shut up for a second!" Lafitte, holding a wine glass, was so startled by the thunder that he spilled his wine.
"No!" they both exclaimed in unison.
Kazami sat alone on the edge of the campfire, eyes closed, her fingers gently tracing patterns on her knees.
He was still processing the sword techniques he had secretly learned from Dorry during the day.
That kind of sweeping, unstoppable swordsmanship was completely different from his fast sword style, but something contained within it made him vaguely grasp something.
After eating and drinking his fill, Bar lay down on the beach and fell asleep, snoring loudly.
Charon and Van Augur are playing chess—on a makeshift board made of seashells and pebbles.
Both players remained expressionless, making extremely slow moves, each requiring considerable thought.
Roy sat with Dorry and Brogy.
The giant sat cross-legged on the beach, Roy sat on a rock, and several barrels of wine were placed between the three of them.
Roy picked up his wine bowl and asked the question he'd always wanted to ask, " Dorry- senpai, Brogy- senpai, why did you two fight back then?"
Dorry and Brogy exchanged a glance and scratched their heads simultaneously.
"It seems it's because... a little girl asked us, whose prey is bigger?" Dorry said uncertainly.
"No, no," Brogy shook his head, "It's because we're arguing about whose hometown is better."
"Yeah?"
"It seems so."
"So how did it turn into a duel?"
"Forgot."
The two fell silent again.
Roy's lips twitched.
But Dorry took a sip of his drink, his tone becoming serious. " Captain Roy, the reason really doesn't matter anymore."
He gazed at the campfire, its light reflecting off his eyes, which were half-hidden by his disheveled hair, flickering uncertainly.
It's been a hundred years.
We fought for a full hundred years.
We've been fighting since we were young and strong, from Elbaf to this island.
How many times can we stop?
How many times can we count? But we haven't.
"Because this isn't a fight, it's a duel."
Brogy chimed in, his tone equally solemn:
"The warriors of Elbaf, once a duel begins, must determine a victor."
This is something ingrained in my bones; it has nothing to do with right or wrong, or whether it's worthwhile or not.
"If we stop now," Dorry said, "Then a hundred years of fighting will have been for nothing."
Roy was silent for a moment, then raised his wine bowl.
"Then I wish you both a speedy resolution."
Let's leave the matter of resolving their duel to the chosen one of the future.
Dorry and Brogy laughed simultaneously, raising their wine bowls—which Roy considered to be about the size of a water vat—and clinking them together with Roy's.
"Dry!"
The liquor splashed high into the air, turning amber in the glow of the campfire.
The three of them drank it all in one gulp.
Dorry put down his huge wine bowl and glanced at everyone.
Roy!
Every single one of your partners is a promising talent.
"I've been at sea for so many years, and I've never seen a pirate crew with so many capable young men."
"Ha ha!"
"Of course."
"They were partners I specially selected," Roy said with a smug look.
As the banquet drew to a close, Luo stood up from the corner.
All eyes turned to him.
This ten-year-old boy has barely spoken a word since he arrived on the Minion Island.
Most of the time, he would huddle alone in a corner, hugging his knees, watching others have fun.
But at this moment, he stood by the campfire, holding a bowl of juice in his hand— Yamato had insisted on giving him.
He looked at Roy, then at everyone else.
"Thanks."
There are only two words.
The sound was very soft, almost drowned out by the crackling of the campfire.
But everyone heard it.
Yamato was the first to react, slapping Luo on the back so hard he almost fell into the campfire. "What are you thanking me for! We're on the same side!"
Pea smiled and handed him a skewer of grilled meat, "Luo, this is delicious, you should try it!"
Savi raised his wine bowl. "Kid, if you don't understand anything in the future, just ask me!"
Jesus Burgess raised his bowl and shouted, "Hahaha! Yes! We've got your back!"
Tesoro, Enel, Lafitte, Van Augur, Charon, Kazami, Bar —all of them raised their bowls or cups, gesturing towards Luo.
Luo lowered his head, clutching the bowl of juice, his fingers trembling slightly.
Then, he tilted his head back and gulped down the bowl of juice in one go.
I drank too quickly and choked, coughing constantly.
Yamato laughed heartily, Pea quickly patted his back. Savi and Jesus Burgess laughed so hard they were doubled over.
Roy sat on the rocks, watching this scene, and smiled.
This little rascal is finally starting to melt.
The campfire gradually died down, leaving only the dark red embers flickering in the night wind.
Some were drunk, some were asleep, and they lay sprawled on the beach.
Jesus Burgess hugged Savi's feet as a pillow, but Savi was completely unaware.
Yamato and she leaned against Bar's iron ingot, drooling as they slept.
Pea curled up inside Roy's coat like a kitten.
Roy also leaned back on the rocks, gazing at the sea under the moonlight.
Gradually, I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, everyone woke up from their sleep.
Under Tesoro's control, the Ark Maxim has moved from the island to the shore.
See you next time, Don Libroki!
"Hahaha! Go!"
"I believe we will meet again somewhere in the ocean sometime in the near future, and then we will share a drink and have a good time."