After a while, Rolan looked down at the two boys in front of him, his mind still half-occupied with the system quest.
"By the way," he said lazily, "how do you two plan on paying for the barbecue you just ate?"
"We don't have any money," Luffy said proudly, his mouth still full of meat as he planted his fists on his hips. "But we'll pay you back with treasure later!"
Rolan raised an eyebrow. "So you're planning to dine and dash, huh?"
"I'm sorry," Ace said quickly, "we really don't have any money with us right now. But we do have treasure!"
Rolan's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Treasure, huh? Where is it?"
"I don't have any now," Luffy said, completely serious, "but I will once I become a pirate! By the way, do you want to come with me—"
Before Luffy could finish, Rolan vanished in a flash of light and reappeared right in front of him, flicking him sharply on the forehead.
Bang!
"Ahhh! That hurts! It's just like Grandpa's Iron Fist of Love!" Luffy yelped, rolling on the ground while clutching his head.
"Hey! What did you do to Luffy?!" Ace shouted, grabbing a rusty water pipe from the side and holding it like a weapon.
"Hmph. You eat and run, and you still have the nerve to act tough," Rolan said, narrowing his eyes as he tried to look intimidating. "Seems like I'll have to teach you a lesson."
He disappeared again, instantly reappearing beside Ace.
"He's so fast!" Ace's eyes widened as Rolan's figure blurred into view.
Sparks of electricity danced around Rolan's fist as he struck.
Clang!
Ace instinctively blocked with the pipe, but the force sent vibrations running up his arms.
Rolan smirked. "Not bad. You've got some skill."
But only for a moment. Within seconds, Ace was sent flying into the bushes.
"Gum-Gum Pistol!"
Before Rolan could even turn, Luffy's rubber arm shot toward him. Without looking, Rolan simply reached out, caught Luffy's arm mid-air, and pulled him forward. Luffy stumbled straight into his grip, where Rolan caught him by the neck.
"Cough! Cough! Let go of me, damn it!" Luffy thrashed wildly like a flailing octopus.
"Hey! Let go of Luffy!" Ace shouted, wiping blood from his lip as he pushed himself up.
"You two are the ones who ate for free," Rolan said calmly, his voice low. "Tell me, is your life worth that meal?"
As he spoke, he lightly traced the small scar under Luffy's left eye, then turned his gaze toward Ace with a teasing smile.
"I'm sorry! Please let go of Luffy. We'll go back and bring you the money," Ace pleaded, quickly tossing away the pipe and lowering his head.
Rolan tilted his head, pretending to think. "Hmm, not impossible… but how do I know you won't come back with reinforcements to jump me later?"
He tugged on Luffy's cheek, stretching it like rubber. "Interesting. So this is what a rubber man feels like."
"Hey! Stop touching my face!" Luffy yelled, trying to wriggle free. Very few people ever touched his face — and he didn't like it one bit.
"Your body's strange," Rolan said with feigned curiosity. "A Devil Fruit ability, right?"
"I'm a rubber man who ate the Gum-Gum Fruit!" Luffy said proudly. "Now put me down!"
Rolan smirked and dropped him in front of Ace. "Fine. But tell me first — do you really have treasure?"
"Cough… cough…" Luffy groaned, rubbing his neck as Ace helped him up. "Of course we do! Just not right now!"
"Come again!" Luffy shouted suddenly, clenching his fists. "I wasn't even serious that time!"
Rolan sighed and waved a hand. "You really don't know when to quit, huh? Fine, come at me."
He vanished again, reappeared in front of Luffy, and kicked him squarely in the stomach. The boy shot backward like a bullet, crashing into a nearby tree with a thud.
Only after Luffy hit the tree did Ace manage to react, thinking in disbelief, So fast… even faster than before.
He glared at Rolan, tightening his grip on the pipe once again. "Don't underestimate us!"
Ace lunged in from the left, swinging the pipe low toward Rolan's waist.
The corner of Rolan's eye twitched. You little brat, trying to cripple me already?!
He blocked the swing with a quick swipe, but Ace spun midair, twisting his body to follow up with a punch that grazed Rolan's cheek.
"Gum-Gum Pistol!"
At the same time, Luffy had freed himself from the tree and launched another long-range attack.
Rolan actually grinned. Their teamwork wasn't bad — they'd clearly fought side by side many times before.
But they were still far too slow.
He sidestepped Ace's punch, countered with a backhand slap that sent him sprawling, then twisted around, caught Luffy's stretched arm, and yanked him close. A quick kick to the stomach launched Luffy straight back into the same tree, leaving his head embedded in the trunk once again.
Dusting off his hands, Rolan sat cross-legged on the ground. "You two are still too weak. I haven't even used one percent of my strength."
"You don't even know Haki," he added casually. "You're not qualified to be my opponents yet."
Ace groaned, trying to stand, blood trickling from his mouth. "Damn it… he's my age, but he's so strong. But what's… Haki?"
"Ugh… Ace… help me…" Luffy's muffled voice came from where his head was stuck in the tree.
Rolan sighed and looked down at his hands, where faint traces of Armament Haki still shimmered. He hadn't wanted to overdo it, but to finish the fight quickly, he'd used it instinctively.
---
[System Notification:
Congratulations, Host, for completing the choice.
Rewards: Zoan Mythical Beast-type – Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Roc; 10 million Berries; Senzu Beans; Common Brick ×1.]
---
Hearing the system's voice, Rolan felt a surge of excitement. Another step toward strength.
He stood and waved dismissively. "Alright, you two can go. I don't need your money or treasure. Consider that beating your payment for the meal."
"R-really? You're just letting us go like that?" Ace asked suspiciously. "Aren't you afraid we'll come back with help?"
Rolan chuckled. "A true strong person fears no enemy."
"Then thank you for the food," Ace said, bowing respectfully before helping Luffy.
"Cough, cough, damn tree…" Luffy muttered as Ace pulled his head free.
"Oh, and next time if you want barbecue," Rolan called out as they turned to leave, "bring your own ingredients. And some good liquor."
Ace sighed, nodding quickly. "Got it…"
"Hey! Don't underestimate us!" Luffy shouted over his shoulder. "We really do have treasure, it's just—"
Before he could finish, Ace clamped a hand over his mouth and dragged him off. "Let's go…"
---