When Roy opened his eyes, he couldn't help but hiss.
The wooden dome gleamed with a dark gold in the morning light, and the wind outside the window, carrying the smell of the sea, blew in and made the stray hairs on his forehead flutter wildly.
My body felt as heavy as if it were filled with lead, every muscle was protesting, and my brain was a complete mess, I couldn't even remember how I ended up there.
Looking down, I saw Chopper asleep by the bed.
A small bubble was rising from its blue nose, and its two little hooves were tightly gripping Roy's sleeve.
Roy tried to move his arm and let out a muffled groan.
The muffled groan startled Chopper awake.
" Roy! You're awake--!"
Chopper practically sprang into the air, his hooves pawing twice in mid-air before regaining his balance, then he pounced on Roy's chest, howling so loudly that the entire medical tent shook.
You slept for three days!
Three days!
I was afraid you wouldn't wake up!
Roy coughed twice after being bumped into, but a smile curved his lips:
Three days... no wonder I'm so hungry.
"You wait! I'm going to get Sanji!"
Chopper wiped away his tears and rushed outside, but after a couple of steps he turned back, his little face stern as he gave him a serious warning.
"Don't move around! Your body hasn't fully recovered yet!"
Roy nodded.
Chopper then ran out with peace of mind.
The tent fell silent.
Roy closed his eyes, Observation Haki naturally spread out, like an invisible net cast across the entire island.
Luffy's laughter came from the west, mixed with Usopp's screams and Nami's roars;
Kaido's hiccups drifted from the north, louder than thunder;
Tesoro and Brook's duet drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Hawk Eyes's aura was silent and steady, like a sleeping reef.
He withdrew his senses, a slight smile playing on his lips.
It feels good to be alive.
As dusk fell, Roy, supported by Chopper, walked out of the medical tent.
In the central square of the Giant Tribe, the bonfire was more than twice as bright as before, with flames leaping dozens of meters high, turning half the night sky orange-red.
The giants formed a circle, singing and dancing. Their voices were deep and resonant, and together they sounded like the breathing of mountains.
Luffy and Usopp are playing pranks. The two of them made a " Imu " dummy out of tree branches and rags. Usopp is carrying the dummy around the field, Luffy is chasing after him and punching it with his rubber fists.
Nami, Robin, Kuina sat together, the three women surrounding Yamato. Kuina was combing Yamato's hair with a comb, and Yamato looked awkward but didn't move away.
Zoro and Hawk Eyes sat in the corner.
A row of empty sake barrels sat between the two. Zoro was already getting a little tipsy, while Hawk Eyes maintained his unchanging expression, slowly sipping his sake.
"Again!" Zoro slammed the cup on the table.
Hawk Eyes glanced at him, then poured himself and Zoro a drink each.
Sanji was busy at the makeshift stove, surrounded by a group of giant chefs, all bending over and staring wide-eyed as he chopped vegetables, their expressions as if they were witnessing some kind of miracle.
Tesoro leaned against the nearby barrel, chatting casually with Sanji, and the two even clinked glasses when the conversation got interesting.
Bullet and Kaido's drinking contest has reached a fever pitch.
There were more than a dozen empty barrels piled up in front of each of them. Kaido's face was slightly flushed, and Bullet's neck was also red, but neither of them was willing to admit defeat first.
The Red Count sat alone under a large tree in the distance, his wine glass barely touching his hand.
His gaze occasionally swept across a certain direction at the edge of the square. Roy followed his gaze and saw Shanks standing on the edge of the cliff, his back to the banquet, looking at the sea under the moonlight.
Roy patted Chopper on the head, indicating that he could leave.
Chopper hesitated for a moment, then let go, but still followed three steps behind.
Roy walked through the crowd toward the cliff.
The fruit inside you is very dangerous.
Roy had just walked to Shanks' side when Shanks spoke. He didn't turn around, his voice as calm as if he were talking about the weather that night.
"You know Davy Jones?" Roy leaned against the railing at the edge of the cliff, looking out at the sea alongside him.
Shanks nodded. " Captain Roger mentioned it. There's a record on Laugh Tale, inscribed with information about the ' First King '."
So what is your mission?
Shanks turned and glanced at him.
Under the moonlight, those eyes were as deep and still as two wells.
My mission is complete.
Luffy is the one who needs to uncover the truth.
"Yeah!?"
Roy was silent for a moment, then suddenly said:
I was just thinking of going to take a look too.
What exactly was left on Laugh Tale that has kept you all so silent?
Shanks looked at Roy and smiled helplessly.
He took something out of his pocket and handed it to Roy.
"This is what you're looking for," Shanks said, "A rubbing of the last Road Poneglyph. The contents of that rubbing are the key to getting there..."
Everything only has meaning once you get there.
Roy took the rubbing and asked curiously, "Why are you giving it to me?"
"Because my mission is complete."
Shanks tilted his head back and downed the drink in his glass, then casually tossed the empty glass into the sea.
Luffy will get there.
But one person alone is not enough.
He didn't explain further, turned and walked towards the banquet. After a few steps, he stopped, and without turning back, said:
"Say goodbye to Luffy for me."
Roy watched him disappear into the firelight and shadows, then bent down and put the metal cylinder into his storage bag.
When they returned to the campfire, Luffy was sitting next to Loki.
The two were vastly different in size; Luffy, sitting there, was barely up to Loki's knees, yet he tilted his head back and laughed carefree.
" Loki, would you like to board my ship?"
Loki glanced at him sideways, while Iron Thunder leaned against his side, the shadow cast by the giant's massive body completely obscuring Luffy.
Your boat is too small.
"Then just shrink a little!"
Loki remained silent, lowered his head, and took a sip of his drink. After a long while, he finally spoke:
"You know I am a patricide."
"I know."
Luffy said it in a casual tone, as if he were talking about what to have for dinner.
"But your father was controlled by Imu, that's not your fault."
Loki was stunned.
His golden, vertical pupils flickered in the firelight as he stared at Luffy for a long time, his gaze filled with scrutiny, doubt, and a faint hint of emotion.
Luffy smiled and held out his hand, "Come on! My ship is missing a giant!"
Loki put down his wine bowl, and a slow grin spread across his face.
He stretched out his huge hand and carefully pinched Luffy's wrist with two fingers, which counted as a handshake.
"Okay. But I won't call you captain."
"Whatever!"
Hajrudin watched this scene from afar, his lips moved, but in the end he just sighed and turned his face away.
Roy walked up to the campfire.
His appearance gradually quieted the surrounding noise, and everyone turned to look at him.
The firelight danced on Roy's face, casting alternating shadows.