"Commander Hawk, I love you!!!"
The sudden, cracking shout tore through the crowd like a thunderclap.
Renn Hawk instinctively turned his head toward the voice. His first thought was half amusement, half curiosity. Which lovely Skypiean maiden had such bold taste?
But when his eyes found the source, Hawk froze.
The voice belonged not to a graceful young woman but to a burly Skypiean man with a round face and a thick, tangled beard. His body shook with excitement, his expression a mixture of awe and adoration.
"…"
"…Damn it."
Hawk's mouth twitched uncontrollably. He respected all orientations, of course. But this… was definitely not his preference.
He drew in a long, steadying breath and smoothed the twitching muscles at the corner of his lips. Too much. That was downright terrifying.
At that moment, the massive ship finally docked with a resounding creak of wood against cloudstone.
"Commander Hawk!"
Gan Fall, the knightly elder, and the Shandian Chief, the two leading figures of Skypiea's united people, hurried forward to greet him.
Hawk pointed to the docks, where a sea of people pressed together, roaring like a stormy tide. "What is all this?"
Gan Fall offered a sheepish smile. "After you left, we announced to everyone that peace and self-rule had returned, thanks to you. The people could not contain their gratitude. So… they came. They have brought everything they could as tokens of thanks."
"…"
Hawk said nothing. He simply led his men down the gangplank, boots tapping steadily.
When he set foot on Angel Island's central square, even he could not stop his pupils from contracting in shock.
Before him rose a mountain. Not of stone. Not of gold. But of gifts.
Towering heaps of Skypiea's finest harvests glowed under the sunlight cloud pumpkins with pale, soft rinds, sky tomatoes in hues of crimson and violet. Barrels upon barrels of Skypiea's unique brews were stacked in neat lines, their rich fragrance spilling into the air, so thick that a single breath left one intoxicated.
And that was not all.
Hawk's gaze swept farther, over a gleaming hill of dials. Impact dials. Heat dials. Breath dials. Even the rare flash dials. The sheer variety was staggering.
Beyond them were countless rarities cloud-borne plants cultivated for generations, exquisite carvings made from condensed clouds, and even the preserved forms of rare sky-fish, suspended in glimmering resin.
The square had been transformed into an open-air treasury, overflowing with wonder.
Behind Hawk, his crew fell into stunned silence.
"Whoa…"
Sanji's cigarette slipped from his lips. His wide eyes glowed as he stared at the piles of ingredients unique to Skypiea. His chef's soul blazed so hot it seemed to steam the air.
Sky shrimp! Cloud kelp! Aerial bream!
These were the legendary treasures of culinary lore, ingredients most chefs only dreamed about.
The All Blue… I swear I just saw a glimpse of the All Blue!
"Glup…"
Zoro swallowed hard, the overwhelming scent of aged liquor wrapping around him like an invisible chain. His gaze locked onto the barrels, hunger and longing burning in his eyes.
That fragrance… it was aged to perfection.
Smoker and Tashigi exchanged glances, both stunned. Had the Skypieans emptied their homes for Hawk?
Smoker's chest knotted with something far more complex. This guy… Hawk isn't just some monster in battle. He knows how to win hearts with the same brutal efficiency. Power. Wealth. Kindness. He wields them all. Just what kind of brain does he have?!
"Brother Hawk…"
Skylark tugged at Hawk's coat timidly. "There's no way we can carry all of this, right?"
"Mm. You're right."
Hawk nodded slowly. His ship's holds were already stuffed with Shandora's gold. There was no space for such a vast haul. More importantly, these were the people's treasures, the fruit of generations. He could not strip them bare.
But the dials… those were different.
The mountain of dials represented practical tools, weapons, even symbols of justice. Those, he could accept without guilt.
Decision made, Hawk stepped into the center of the square. His voice carried on the currents, magnified until it reached every last ear.
"My friends!"
The square fell instantly silent. Tens of thousands of eyes locked on him, glowing with reverence and hope.
"Your kindness, I have received in full." Hawk bowed deeply, his voice solemn and sincere. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you."
"Your passion shines brighter than Shandora's gold."
The crowd erupted like thunder.
"Commander Hawk has acknowledged us!"
"Our gratitude has reached him!"
Hawk raised a hand, palm pressing gently downward. The uproar softened back into silence.
"But many of these treasures… are your heritage. They are the fruits of your lives, your ancestors' work, your future's foundation."
"I cannot take them away."
Disappointment rippled through the crowd. Shouts rose, trembling with desperation.
"But Commander, this is our gift to you!"
"Please, if you don't accept, our hearts will ache!"
Hawk's gaze sharpened, his voice rising like a rolling wave. "Your fervor deserves an answer!"
He extended a hand toward the towering mound of dials.
"These dials are not mere trinkets. They are weapons of power, tools of survival, instruments of justice. So I will accept them, in the name of the Navy!"
Then he bowed again, his expression softening into a rare smile.
"As for the other gifts… I will take some, to remember this island and its people. But the rest, you must keep. Your joy, your peace, your lives well-lived that is the best reward you could ever give me, or the Navy."
For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then the cheers returned, stronger, wilder than before.
"Commander Hawk, long live!"
"Glory to the Navy!"
They understood. Hawk was not simply a warrior who crushed foes with thunder. He was a leader who tempered might with mercy. By accepting weapons, he honored justice. By returning treasures, he protected their future.
Their respect for him crystallized into worship.
Hawk allowed himself a faint smile. Then he turned to his men. "Go on. Pick something you like. Think of it as an extra reward for this mission."
"Oooohhh!"
Sanji exploded forward first, eyes ablaze. He dove straight toward the mountain of ingredients, muttering with manic excitement.
"Sky carrots, sweet as honey! Cloud lettuce, crisp as glass! With these, my recipes will ascend to new heights!"
"Yes! My masterpiece menu The Skypiean Supreme Feast of Sea, Land, and Sky! It's decided!"
Zoro strode toward the barrels with a grin. He crouched, pressed his face near the seams, and inhaled deeply.
"Ahhh…"
The blend of fruit, wood, and centuries-old spirit filled his lungs. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"This is the one."
Without hesitation, he hoisted a massive barrel onto his shoulder. One drink from this would be worth a hundred battles.
The others followed, laughter and cheers echoing across the square.
Hawk watched, satisfaction warming his chest. Loyalty and strength alike needed to be nourished with victory and reward.
Then, like a songbird fluttering from the crowd, Skylark scampered toward him, cradling something in her small arms. Her face glowed with excitement.
"Hawk! Look what I found in the fruit pile!"
She held it up proudly, a treasure gleaming in the sunlight.
Hawk's pupils shrank to pinpricks.
"That… that's…"
The fruit's pale-blue skin was streaked with jagged silver, like lightning frozen in flesh.
"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit?!"
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