A cook, vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates?

Together, the two of them created an absolute safety zone around the ship.

The saturation barrage of the G-8, which once struck fear into the hearts of countless pirates, now resembled a comical fireworks display, failing to even damage a corner of the sails.

In just a few minutes, the first line of defense that G-8 Fortress was so proud of was riddled with holes, and nearly half of the gun emplacements were rendered useless.

"How could this happen... How could this happen..."

Lieutenant General Will slumped dejectedly into his command chair. His proud Unyielding Fortress seemed like a joke in the face of these monsters.

At this moment, the dilapidated sailboat had leisurely sailed past the most dangerous bombardment zone and was about to dock at the fortress's port.

Locus glanced at the steel fortress that was already in turmoil, then at his crew of men, their fighting spirit high and their aura frenzied, and a cruel smile appeared on his face.

"The warm-up is over."

"Men, land on the island!"

"Beat down everything that breathes on this island!"

With a command from Lockes, their ship rammed violently into the main port of G-8 fortress with a ferocity completely at odds with its appearance.

Boom!

The specially reinforced prow of the ship resembled a battering ram, forcefully creating a huge breach in the sturdy dock.

Wood chips and stones flew everywhere, and the entire fortress trembled.

"Hahaha! I'm here!"

Gatz was the first to jump off the ship. His massive body landed on the ground, cracking the granite tiles beneath his feet.

He carried the giant anchor, charging like a bull into a china shop, rampaging through the naval soldiers who came to stop him.

Any defensive fortifications or human walls that attempted to block him were utterly torn apart by his immense strength, which contained the power of a raging spirit.

Chapter 34 Unilateral crushing

Silver's figure followed closely behind, but disappeared into the shadows the moment he landed.

He was like a grim reaper traversing the battlefield, each appearance accompanied by the fall of a group of naval soldiers.

His attacks were silent yet precise and deadly, targeting the enemy's command systems and heavy firepower, creating chaos and panic far exceeding that of a direct confrontation.

Dorum, carrying his giant axe, stood like a moving wall, clearing the way for his companions.

Ordinary swords and knives could only send up a string of sparks when they struck him, without even breaking his skin.

As he swung his axe, sending enemies flying, he also pointed out the structure of the fortress like a professional architectural critic.

"The foundation is okay, but the concrete grade is not high enough, so the load-bearing capacity is a bit lacking."

"Tsk tsk, the steel bars used in this wall are too cheap, no wonder it cracks when it hits."

Rocks and Newgate followed leisurely at the back, as if strolling in their own backyard.

They didn't even need to make a move; the sheer aura of Conqueror's Haki emanating from the two of them was enough to terrify most ordinary naval soldiers, causing them to faint instantly.

"Gurarararar, what a bunch of weaklings."

Newgate yawned, seemingly feeling a bit bored.

Inside the command tower, Lieutenant General Will stared at the hellish scene captured on the surveillance Den Den Mushi, his face turning ashen.

He knew that conventional defenses had become completely meaningless.

"All officers of lieutenant colonel rank and above, assemble immediately at the central square! Activate the Iron Wall Contingency Plan!"

Will roared as he gave the final order, "I'll go and meet them myself!"

He abruptly ripped off his lieutenant general's cloak, revealing a muscular physique covered in gruesome scars. As a lieutenant general capable of guarding G-8, he was no mere figurehead, but a seasoned and highly skilled martial artist.

However, in this chaotic battlefield, one person's actions were completely different from everyone else's.

Rennes.

After jumping off the ship, he did not participate in any fighting. Instead, carrying an unremarkable-looking food box, he avoided all combat zones and, like a lost traveler, headed straight for the largest building inside the fortress—the naval mess hall.

Raine's objective was clear: to inspect the enemy's food reserves in their kitchen.

Several naval lieutenants, who had been scattered by the aftermath of the battle and were preparing to regroup, saw the child acting alone. They were first taken aback, then overjoyed.

"Grab that child! He's definitely the pirates' Achilles' heel!"

"A little brat dares to go to the battlefield? He's asking for death!"

The three naval lieutenants immediately changed direction and charged toward Rein in an encircling formation, their faces gleaming with eagerness to make a name for themselves.

Raine stopped and looked at the three people rushing towards him, his brows furrowing slightly.

“Kitchen is a restricted area; unauthorized personnel are not permitted to enter.”

"Raine said calmly."

"Huh? What nonsense is this brat spouting!"

The leading lieutenant had already rushed in front of Renn, slashing down with his long sword, showing no mercy just because his opponent was a child.

Raine didn't dodge, but just as the blade was about to strike him, he took a small step to the side and simultaneously swung the food box he had been holding upwards at an incredible angle.

boom!

The hard bottom of the food container slammed into the lieutenant's chin.

With a muffled thud, the lieutenant's eyes rolled back instantly, and he fell backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood mixed with his teeth.

The other two naval officers were shocked, and their offensive stalled.

Raine didn't give them a chance to react. Her small figure darted out like a raccoon, the food box in her hand dancing into a blur.

Boom!

Two more dull thuds followed, and the remaining two sailors suffered the same fate as their companions. One was hit in the temple, and the other was struck in the back of the neck, both collapsing to the ground.

Throughout the entire process, Ryan's expression remained unchanged, as if he had merely swatted away three troublesome flies.

He glanced at the unconscious navy man on the ground, then weighed the food box in his hand, seemingly quite satisfied with its sturdiness.

This was specially made for him by Dorlum using leftover scraps from shipbuilding; it was incredibly sturdy.

"I already told you not to disturb the chef's work."

Raine muttered to himself and continued walking towards the building that emitted a faint aroma of food.

Meanwhile, in the central square of the fortress, Vice Admiral Will had gathered his last elite forces and was facing off against the main force of the Rocks Pirates.

"Rocks! Edward Newgate!"

Will's gaze was fixed on the two figures, and he exuded a powerful aura.

"This is a stronghold of justice! We will not tolerate scum like you running rampant here!"

Lockes didn't even bother to look at him; he simply extended a finger and flicked it lightly in Will's direction.

"Noisy."

An invisible, immense force appeared out of nowhere.

Lieutenant General Will's proud Armament Haki was as thin as paper in the face of this power. He was like a man hit by a high-speed train, spitting blood as he flew backward, smashing a huge hole in the wall of the command tower behind him.

Vulnerable.

Rocks withdrew his finger, yawned listlessly, and looked past the group of terrified marines towards the direction of the cafeteria.

"I wonder if the head chef has found anything good. I'm a little hungry."

The fall of G-8 Fortress was faster and more complete than anyone had anticipated.

When Lieutenant General Will, the branch's highest commander, was flicked away by Lockes' finger and embedded in the wall of the command tower, his fate unknown, the fortress's resistance crumbled.

The remaining naval soldiers completely lost their will to fight. They dropped their weapons, covered their heads, and squatted on the ground, their faces filled with fear and despair.

This battle was less a fight and more a one-sided crushing of the kindergarten by adults.

The members of the Rocks Pirates began to cheerfully clean up the battlefield, or rather, to carry out an organized and disciplined armed raid.

"Hahaha! I'm rich! I'm rich!"

Gatz kicked open the door to the fortress's treasury and stared at the mountains of Pele and gold inside; his eyes practically turned into the shape of Pele.

Like a mouse that has fallen into a rice jar, he carried bags of money onto the boat, muttering to himself, "Now I can buy lots and lots of meat!"

Dorum, on the other hand, was like a craftsman searching for treasure, tinkering and hammering away at the ruins of the fortress.

He removed several intact heavy cannons, preparing to install them on his own ship.

They also plundered a large number of high-strength alloy steel plates from the armory, preparing to carry out a comprehensive upgrade and renovation of the ship's hull.

For him, these military-grade materials were far more attractive than gold and peals.

Silver went even further, sneaking into Lieutenant General Will's office and pulling out a thick stack of documents from the safe, including the latest nautical charts of the waters under the jurisdiction of the G-8 branch, naval troop deployment maps, and some classified intelligence from within the World Government.

These intangible assets are far more valuable than money.

At this very moment, the most sacred place in the entire fortress—the kitchen of the naval mess hall—has been completely taken over by Raine.

He paced back and forth in the enormous kitchen like a king surveying his domain.

The original chefs were already terrified and huddled in a corner, trembling and not daring to breathe.

Chapter 35 New Bounty Order

"Using potatoes that have sprouted? Are they trying to cause food poisoning to the navy soldiers?"

"The temperature control in the cold storage is terrible. This fish has been dead for at least three days; its eyes are all cloudy!"

"And this piece of beef, the tendons and membranes weren't removed properly. If it's overcooked even slightly, it'll become as tough as a rubber band. It's a disaster!"

Every time Ryan pointed out a problem, the chefs would shudder.

They never imagined that an eight-year-old child could have such a sharp and professional eye.

Finally, Ryan found some ingredients that caught his eye in a locked private cold storage room reserved for lieutenant generals.

It was a carefully processed armored horned pig, a rare creature found only on certain islands. Because it eats a special metal ore year-round, its meat is firm and its fat layer contains rich minerals, giving it a unique flavor.

Next to it were several barrels of premium rum from the South China Sea, treasured by the G-8 branch.

"Well, it's barely usable."

Ryan nodded in satisfaction.

When the crew returned to the mess hall with their spoils, a rich, almost overpowering aroma of meat filled the entire square.

In the center of the dining hall, Raine was directing several naval cooks to prepare a brand new dish using a huge iron pot that had been captured and was large enough to stew a cow.

The iron-clad hog is cut into large pieces and simmered in a pot with root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots.

The golden lard is rendered out, blending with the sweetness of the vegetables and the rich aroma of rum to create a highly aggressive and complex fragrance.

The broth has an enticing dark brown color, bubbling away, and with each simmer, the aroma becomes even more intense.

"Head Chef! What is this? It smells amazing!"

Gatz was the first to crowd around, his drool practically dripping onto the ground.

"Overlord's Cooking"

Ryan answered succinctly.

This is a dish he created on the spot based on the available ingredients, aiming to bring out the energy of the ingredients in the most direct and powerful way to replenish the energy of the crew who have just gone through a warm-up exercise.

When the first steaming bowl of Ba Wang Zhu was served, everyone gathered around.

Rocks forked a piece of tender stewed pork and put it in his mouth, his eyes lighting up instantly.

The pork skin is chewy and soft, the fat is rich but not greasy and melts in your mouth, while the lean meat is soaked in the soup, tender and juicy, with a hint of rum aftertaste.

The potatoes and carrots were also stewed until soft and flavorful, perfectly balancing the greasiness of the meat.

Most importantly, as the food was consumed, a richer and more gentle energy, even more so than the previous pre-meal snack, slowly spread throughout the body.

The energy was no longer as violent as before, but rather flowed like gentle streams, nourishing their bodies, which had become somewhat weak from the surge in power.

They perfectly integrated and refined that external soul power with their own physique, transforming it into a power that truly belonged to them.