It would take two more days of sailing from Loguetown to reach the Red Line. Returning to the original course would soon lead them to the Grand Line.
At sunset, Sanji's hands were a blur. A pirate ship's chef had only one core requirement: speed! To be delicious on top of being fast—that was the dream chef for countless people.
"Banquet time!" Luffy announced, holding up a massive piece of roasted meat.
"Whoo!"
Luffy had finally managed to carve out some genuine party time from his devilish schedule, and he was practically floating with joy.
He excitedly ran circles around the makeshift large dining table on the deck, his mouth stuffed to the brim.
Experience was accumulated bit by bit.
Through struggle, Luffy had also learned how to scrape together a little time here and there. Of course, if the [Pirate King Training Plan] took notice of this scraped-together time and turned 24 hours into 48 hours of training... well, he could only...
Enjoy it first.
Who cares about the impending flood!
"What an idiot, no one's fighting you for it," Nami said, her tone teasing but her eyes filled with laughter as she handed a glass of juice to Merry, who was sitting quietly in the premium seat on Luffy's shoulder.
"Time is money," Luffy declared, his stomach a bottomless pit. "Nami, throw me that meat in front of you."
"Catch."
The two were in sync. Nami felt a bit like she was feeding some kind of creature.
Merry still clutched her signature tiny mallet in her arms.
She timidly took the juice, taking small sips, her large eyes curiously observing the lively scene around her.
It's so wonderful to be like this and have a banquet with them.
Merry wanted to adventure with them, to carry them to even farther places, forever!
"For our nakama, Merry, cheers!" Luffy raised his tankard.
"Cheers!"
Everyone raised their glasses in response. Even Zoro lifted his sake bowl for once.
Merry shyly raised her glass of juice, her little face flushed.
On the ship, Nami played both mother and older sister. Naturally, she couldn't let Merry be led astray into drinking alcohol while she was so small.
Maybe when she's older.
The party atmosphere was electric. Sanji weaved through the crowd, constantly bringing out new dishes, but Luffy's stomach was clearly a bottomless pit.
"Not enough meat! How can a banquet be complete without a full fish course!" Luffy declared.
"It's the middle of the night. You expect to conjure fish out of thin air?" Nami put her hands on her hips, looking exasperated.
Just then, Merry, sitting on Luffy's shoulder, leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Luffy, I can feel lots of fish down below."
A ship spirit was one of the most miraculous existences on these seas. Not only were they the best helmsmen, but they could also comprehend every detail about the entire ship and even the surrounding waters.
That's why Nami held an innate fondness for Merry.
Compared to the idiots on this ship, Merry was practically an angel for a navigator. And on top of that, she was this adorable.
"Really?" Luffy's eyes lit up.
"Mhm!" Merry nodded vigorously, seemingly thrilled to be able to help. Before Luffy could even go fetch the fishing gear, the equipment flew over to him of its own accord.
"So this is a ship spirit's ability?"
"We'll never have to worry about capsizing again!" Usopp laughed heartily.
"Let's go, Merry! Time to fish!"
"Okay!" Merry waved a small fist.
Luffy grabbed a fishing rod and excitedly ran towards the ship's railing.
"Hey, don't you drop Merry!" Nami followed worriedly.
"Tch, why does this scene feel strangely familiar?" Zoro watched Luffy's retreating back, the small Merry perched on his shoulder, and took a sip of sake. "Feels like I've seen it somewhere before."
Sanji blew a smoke ring beside him. "Idiot moss-head, it's because that rubber moron is always sitting in that premium spot on the Going Merry's figurehead! Now it's just Merry's turn to sit on him."
"Oh, right."
By the ship's side.
"Luffy, the big fish is over there!"
"Got it!" Luffy was excited to see what he could catch.
Before long, a tug came from the line.
Luffy looked at Merry in pleasant surprise. A big one was hooked!
Nami happened to walk over just as Luffy pulled the rod.
Then, the moonlit sea surface suddenly bulged into a massive watery mound.
Immediately after, a terrifyingly grotesque, massive head covered in tentacles and sharp teeth burst through the water's surface. The part above water alone was nearly ten meters long.
This was too much to handle.
Nami's face went deathly pale; she almost fainted on the spot.
Luffy's reaction wasn't just different; it was the complete opposite.
This big guy should be just about enough to eat.
"Grilled, braised, steamed... let's have some of each!"
Luffy's arm stretched back dramatically. He inhaled air, his bones emitting loud cracking sounds. His entire arm instantly enlarged and was covered in jet-black Busoshoku Haki.
"Gomu Gomu no... Giant Pistol!"
The unidentified fish had its piscine worldview shattered. Since when was there anything this hard in the East Blue?
Completely unreasonable!
The enormous fish's eyes rolled back instantly. Its massive body, struck by that terrifying punch, went completely rigid, then slowly toppled backward onto the sea surface with a massive splash. It floated there, motionless.
"Done! The banquet continues!" Luffy turned back to call out.
"That fish was unlucky."
When it came to handling food, Sanji was a professional. A few skilled chopping kicks later, the guts and scales were gone.
Then they could cook it however they liked.
In this world, everyone had the appetite of a champion.
The most important thing to becoming strong was being able to eat.
After eating for a while, Nami realized she hadn't even eaten as much as Luffy managed in a few bites. That's why she said she could never become a powerhouse.
The banquet lasted a long time, until Merry began rubbing her eyes, her little head nodding as she grew drowsy.
"Alright, little one, time for bed."
Nami gently lifted Merry down from Luffy's shoulder and took her to get washed up.
The deck gradually grew quiet. Luffy was thoroughly satisfied from eating. However, the training time he had skipped was indeed a serious issue. He'd lost count of how many warning chimes he'd heard tonight.
But Luffy had an argument too. He'd spent the vast majority of his time developing his Devil Fruit abilities.
Gear Second enhanced his body's core functions. Could he take it to an even greater extreme? For example, a perfected mode where his entire body was covered in Busoshoku Haki while in Gear Second?
Gear Third enlarged a part of his body into a giant size. Could he achieve becoming a true giant?
Also, his current attack repertoire felt somewhat lacking. Luffy was trying to change that by mimicking animal attack styles.
On the deck, only Zoro remained, leaning against the railing and drinking.
He seemed to be in an excellent mood as he took out the two new swords he'd acquired in Loguetown.
Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri.
He gently wiped the blades, his gaze as tender as if looking at a lover.
"Oh, so these are the new swords?" Luffy curiously leaned over, reaching out a hand to touch them.
"Hey, who said you could touch those!"
Zoro immediately moved the swords away nervously, looking at Luffy with extreme wariness.
"You haven't even washed your hands!"
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!