The Azure Dragon tore through the chaotic seas surrounding the G-2 Branch like a black bolt of lightning, leaving the pursuing Marine warships far behind. Inside the bridge, the atmosphere was the complete opposite of the raging storm outside, filled with the joy of survival and awe for their new vessel.
"Wahahaha! Dolum! Your skills are incredible!" Gatz excitedly slapped the sturdy alloy console, making a dull thudding sound. "This ship is steadier to pilot than I am in a fight!"
"Don't touch that! That's the commander's tactical simulation screen! It's made of a special crystal glass from the South Blue. If your dirty hands leave a single print on it, I'll fight you to the death!" Dolum rushed over like a mother hen protecting her chick, carefully wiping the smooth screen with his sleeve, a look of pained but blissful obsession on his face. He looked around the bridge, which was filled with a sense of futuristic technology, his eyes shimmering with tears. "Oh, my god, this perfect hull structure, this unparalleled power core... this is a holy relic bestowed upon me by the God of Shipwrights! I feel like I could drive it straight up the Red Line!"
"Gurararara... that's assuming these guys don't dismantle it while fighting on board," Newgate said, leaning back in the spacious command chair. He was holding a barrel of hundred-year-old rum he had just liberated from the G-2 wine cellar and took a hearty swig.
Linlin, on the other hand, had no interest in these iron chunks. She was pressed against the huge observation window, staring eagerly in the direction of the kitchen, muttering, "So hungry... when is Ren going to start cooking? We fought for so long, my cake has already been digested."
Rocks sat with his legs crossed on the grand commander's throne that had once belonged to Zephyr. He paid no attention to the crew's chatter, simply closing his eyes and savoring the unparalleled sense of control this super-warship gave him. He could clearly feel every vibration of the hull, every flow of energy, as if it were an extension of his own body. This was the vessel of a king, capable of carrying his ambitions.
Just then, a News Coo, as if it had seen a ghost, shrieked and dived down from the sky. It seemed to have been terrified by the horrifying aura emanating from the ship. It dropped a stack of the latest newspapers and a few brand-new bounty posters on the deck, and then fled at a speed three times faster than it had arrived, as if staying for another second would get it crushed into a meat paste by those terrifying presences.
"Oh? New bounty posters?" Gatz curiously picked them up. When he saw the contents, his eyes widened like bronze bells. "Oh my god!"
His earth-shaking cry attracted everyone's attention. When the crew saw the somewhat blurry, hastily printed, yet still domineering portraits, the deck instantly erupted in sky-shaking laughter and gasps of amazement.
Without a doubt, the fall of the G-2 Branch and the theft of the super-warship, a scandal that could be called the greatest in the hundred-year history of the Marines, had thoroughly enraged the World Government. Their bounty amounts had seen an unprecedented, explosive increase.
At the very top, naturally, was Rocks. The photo had captured the moment he blew open the fortress gate with a single punch, his wild smile and world-scorning gaze creating a powerful visual impact.
[Rocks D. Xebec: Bounty 3,000,000,000 Beli!]
[Crimes: Conquering the Marine G-2 Branch, stealing a top-secret warship, provoking the World Government. Unforgivable!]
"Wahahaha! Three billion! Looks like those old geezers at the World Government aren't completely clueless after all!" Rocks looked at his bounty poster and laughed in satisfaction. This number had already surpassed most of the famous great pirates on the sea, placing him directly among the top tier.
Following closely behind was Newgate. In his photo, he was shattering space with a single punch, his world-destroying presence seeming to leap off the page.
["Whitebeard" Edward Newgate: Bounty 2,500,000,000 Beli!]
[Crime: Core combatant of the Rocks Pirates, possesses the power to destroy the world. Extremely dangerous!]
And Linlin's bounty poster was even more exaggerated. Her photo showed her directing Prometheus and Zeus, like a natural disaster descending.
["Big Mom" Charlotte Linlin: Bounty 2,200,000,000 Beli!]
[Crimes: A natural-born destroyer, can manipulate the weather, suspected user of the Soul-Soul Fruit. Her destructive power and danger level are inestimable!]
Linlin tilted her head. Seeing the shockingly high amount, she smiled happily. "Wahahaha! With this much money, how many delicious cakes can I buy!"
Even the bounties for Gatz, Silver, and Dolum had taken an astonishing leap.
["Giant Anchor" Gatz: Bounty 300,000,000 Beli!]
["Phantom" Silver: Bounty 280,000,000 Beli!]
["Iron Wall" Dolum: Bounty 100,000,000 Beli!]
The total bounty of the core members of this newly formed rookie pirate crew had already surpassed the eight billion Beli mark! This number was enough to make any kingdom tremble, enough to make any Marine fleet turn back in fear. The name "Rocks Pirates," in the most flamboyant and domineering way, had become famous throughout the entire sea overnight.
"Alright," Rocks collected everyone's bounty posters. He stood up, his gaze sweeping over every excited crew member, finally landing on the kitchen. "Ren!" Rocks's voice was as loud as a bell. "To celebrate moving into our new home, and becoming the number one public enemy of the world's navies, for tonight's menu, I want the most top-tier feast!"
The kitchen door was pushed open. Ren walked out, wearing a brand-new, custom-made chef's uniform he had found in a G-2 officer's wardrobe. His expression was as calm as ever. "It's already prepared," Ren said peacefully. "To celebrate having a truly proper kitchen, tonight's menu is—The Hegemon's Triumph."
That night, an extremely luxurious feast was held in the spacious dining room of the Azure Dragon.
His experience points were steadily increasing, and he had accumulated a good number of Culinary Points. Over three hundred thousand, to be exact. Ren's culinary skill had already reached the Master level, but the battle at G-2 had also made him realize that his own personal strength was still the weakest link on this ship of monsters. Opponents of Zephyr's level would only become more numerous and stronger in the future. It was time to use these accumulated Culinary Points to exchange for some real power for himself...
The kitchen of the Azure Dragon could be called a mobile fortress of gastronomy. Not only was it spacious, but it was also equipped with the Marines' most advanced equipment. The temperature-controlled cold storage could perfectly preserve the freshness of any rare ingredient. The universal oven could simulate various cooking environments, from volcanic geothermal heat to polar ice roasting. The high-power ventilation system could even completely eliminate the smell of Linlin eating a durian cake in three seconds.
Ren stood before the gleaming new cooking station, feeling like a general who owned an entire arsenal. But at this moment, he wasn't thinking about what to make for the next meal. His consciousness was immersed in the system's shop interface, the dazzling array of exchange options making his head spin.
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