"Loo"Gurararara! Brother Lind, you're just standing here alone? Why not join the rest for some drinks? I'm sure everyone's dying to meet you!"
A bold, booming voice pulled Lind out of his thoughts. Turning his head, he saw a towering figure—over six meters tall—walking toward him.
Whitebeard strode over and clapped a heavy hand on Lind's shoulder.
"First time being a pirate? Still not used to it? Don't worry, a few drinks and you'll loosen up!"
Whitebeard had noticed Lind standing alone by the window and assumed he might be feeling out of place in the festive atmosphere, so he came to offer some company.
"Hahaha, not at all, Captain Newgate. It's just my first time attending such a grand feast—I wanted to take it all in."
k out the window. Isn't it lively?"
Lind gestured to the sea of pirates celebrating outside.
"Gurararara! No doubt about it—among all pirates, only Captain Rocks could throw a party of this scale!"
"Brother Lind, mind if I join you for a bit? I'd like to enjoy the view too."
Moved by Lind's response, Whitebeard expressed his desire to stand and watch with him.
"Hahaha! It would be an honor, Captain Newgate."
Of course, Lind had no reason to refuse.
He did feel a bit awkward, though, standing next to someone three times his size.
And so, the two of them stood side by side, watching the festivities through the window, chatting idly.
Eventually, Whitebeard brought up the real reason he'd come to find Lind.
"Brother Lind, there's something I'd like to ask of you."
Lind wasn't surprised—he'd already expected this. At his current strength level, only the top brass of the Rocks Pirates had requests worth entertaining.
As for the other pirates? Lind might be a cultured man, but he could throw hands too—he wasn't going to waste time helping every small fry.
"Hahaha! Whatever you need, Captain Newgate, just say the word. No need to be polite."
"Gurarara! In that case, I won't hold back!"
"I heard from Shiki that the poem he recited outside Hive Island—you wrote it. Could I trouble you to write one for me too?"
For some reason, Lind thought he detected a hint of embarrassment in the tone of this 6-meter-tall mountain of a man. He assumed it was just his imagination and didn't dwell on it.
"Hahaha! No problem, Captain Newgate. I'll have it ready in seven days—just tell me where you live so I can send it over."
"Gurararara! That's too much trouble. I'll come to you instead—brothers don't let brothers run errands for them!"
"Of course, if you ever do come visit me for drinks, I'd be more than happy. I've got a few bottles of fine wine I've been saving—let's crack them open together!"
Maybe worried Lind would misinterpret his refusal; Whitebeard added a quick clarification.
"Hahaha! In that case, I won't hold back. Just know—I can drink!"
Lind raised an eyebrow and grinned.
"Gurarara! No need to be modest. We're brothers now, and you're doing me a big favor!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily.
"Anyway, I won't take up any more of your time. Keep chatting with me, and the others will get impatient!"
"Gurarara! Brother Lind, you're quite the popular guy, huh?"
It was clear other commanders were waiting for their turn with Lind—they all wanted to hit him up for a poem too.
"Oh, right—Shiki must've warned you about Linlin, yeah? Be careful with that woman. Don't let her face fool you!"
"Of course, with your strength, if you do want to 'experience' her, you'll probably be fine."
Whitebeard grinned mischievously.
"Gurararara! I'm off, Brother Lind!"
Without giving Lind a chance to reply, Whitebeard strode away, his steps oddly quick, almost like he was fleeing.
Since neither of them had made any effort to lower their voices, and the others were all masters of Observation Haki, their conversation had been completely overheard from the start.
At first, most of the bystanders just looked curious, clearly interested in chatting with Lind themselves.
But once Whitebeard dropped those last few lines, everyone's expression turned weird—glancing between Lind and Charlotte Linlin with barely concealed amusement.
Fortunately, since it had only been a private conversation, things didn't get out of hand.
Other than Linlin shooting Whitebeard a glare, no one caused a scene.
Before long, the other division commanders and even senior crew members like Fire Blossom and Shaky started coming to Lind one by one, all to request their own poetic "titles."
Linde had expected this, but it still gave him a bit of a headache.
Still, given his strength, there was no rush. He could take his time.
And of course, following the "you scratch my back, I scratch yours" rule, Lind expected to get plenty of good stuff in return from these powerful pirates.
Soon, he had wrapped up most of the requests from the division commanders and senior staff.
Seeing the junior officers eager to approach, Lind knew it was time to stop standing alone.
He quickly made his way over to drink with Whitebeard, Shiki, and the other commanders.
This time, Lind was a force to be reckoned with. Compared to his first round with Shiki, where he got drunk in minutes, he now wielded his anti-alcohol plant elixirs and his drinking power level skyrocketed.
Even among the heavy-drinking veterans of the Rocks Pirates, Lind held his ground — partying until the banquet ended without collapsing.
In the days that followed, Lind settled into life on Hive Island.
His daily routine: sparring with Whitebeard, Shiki, and other top members of the Rocks crew, then drinking. Thanks to this, he gained systematic knowledge in swordsmanship and all three types of Haki — growing rapidly in skill and strength.
Every day, Lind could feel himself getting stronger.
"This must be what they mean by a long build-up for an explosive breakthrough.'"
He found himself thinking that more than once.
And to be fair, Whitebeard's treasured collection of fine liquor? Worth the hype.
Thus, in Hive Island — the pirate stronghold — Lind enjoyed, for the first time in two and a half years, a rare period of peace, indulgence, and comfort.
Until Whitebeard came to visit again.