A cook, vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates?

With each word he spoke, the head chef of G-5 next to him turned paler.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Ryan began his performance.

Instead of choosing those fancy ingredients, Ryan picked up the most ordinary and largest piece of bone-in beef rib from the G-5 canteen.

First, it is quickly marinated using a secret method, and then a high-temperature blowtorch is used to form a thin crust on the surface of the beef, locking in all the juices.

Next, Ryan put the huge beef rib directly into a huge pressure cooker, adding more than a dozen spices and vegetables "borrowed" from the G-5 kitchen.

Finally, he carefully opened the cold jade box and poured the ink of the starry river onto the beef ribs like a black waterfall.

Cover the pot with the lid and turn on the fire.

The entire process was smooth and fluid, filled with a certain mysterious sense of ritual.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the dish to be ready.

As the pressure cooker's valve began to vibrate wildly, a complex aroma a hundred times more potent than the previous sample, a blend of exquisite meaty and deep-sea seafood fragrance, leaked out of the pot. Bastiel's body jolted violently, and his Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.

Finally, the time has come.

Ryan opened the pot lid.

In that instant, it seemed as if thousands of stars burst forth from the pot!

A thick, almost impenetrable black-gold beam of light shot into the sky, enveloping the entire port in a sacred yet sinful fragrance.

Bastiel and all the officers behind him froze the moment they smelled the aroma, their eyes becoming glazed and fanatical, like believers witnessing a miracle.

In that moment of distraction, an almost imperceptible shadow—Silver—silver silently blended into the shadows of the harbor and vanished.

In the distance, on that dilapidated sailboat, Lockes looked at the black beam of light shooting into the sky in the direction of the harbor, a cruel smile on his face.

"The signal to start dinner has arrived."

……

It was a fragrance so enchanting that it could make even the soul succumb.

Bastiel and the senior officers behind him had completely forgotten their identities and duties. Their eyes were fixed on the huge pressure cooker, and their minds were filled with only one thought—to eat it!

With a blank expression, Raine placed the huge beef rib, stewed until tender and falling off the bone, with an obsidian-like sheen, on a large silver platter.

The beef seemed to breathe, each tremor releasing an even more deadly allure.

"My dish is called Abyss Roar."

Ryan gave a concise introduction.

"Give me!"

Bastiel practically pounced on him, disregarding his dignity as a vice admiral, and tore off a large chunk of piping hot beef with his hand and stuffed it into his mouth.

The moment the beef entered his mouth, his large, bell-like eyes widened in shock, and he froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

It was an exquisite taste that defied description.

The beef fibers are stewed until incredibly tender, yet retain a perfect amount of chewiness.

With a gentle touch of the teeth, the meat juices, soaked with the ink of the Milky Way and the essence of dozens of spices, exploded in the mouth!

The deep umami, the wild aroma, and the domineering mellowness—these three flavors, like three ancient behemoths, waged an earth-shattering war on his taste buds.

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa!"

Bastil let out a roar that was inhuman, a mixture of pain and ecstasy.

He felt as if his soul had been dragged into the abyss of delicious food by this flavor, where he was utterly consumed and destroyed, and then reborn in the ultimate deliciousness.

The officers behind him also rushed forward to grab the food, eating with tears streaming down their faces, making a complete fool of themselves, showing no trace of their former elite naval forces.

They were completely immersed in this feast, created by Renn himself and dedicated to the devil.

Just as the G-5 branch command system was completely paralyzed by a meal, the fall of this steel fortress began.

Boom!

With a loud bang, an invisible force blasted a huge gap open in the outermost steel gate of G-5 fortress.

Newgate walked in slowly, holding a naginata. He didn't even use his full strength; a casual air blast was enough to open a path for his companions.

"Gurgle gurgle gurgle, this door is pretty sturdy."

"Hahaha! I'm here!"

Gatz's massive figure followed closely behind, carrying the anchor and charging wildly along the fortress's main road like a mad bull.

Any naval soldiers and fortifications that attempted to stop him were utterly torn apart by his ferocious power.

Behind them, a huge, pink figure was walking with a cheerful gait, swallowing a giant piece of cake as it went.

Chapter 44 The Heist of the Century

"Delicious! The battle cake that Raine made is so delicious!"

Charlotte Linlin's eyes crinkled into crescent moons as she smiled, and she felt a surge of energy coursing through her body.

This is a special Berserk Sweetheart Energy Bar made by Raine for her. It is made with a high concentration of life energy and several rare fruits that can make people highly excited. It can make Lingling unleash her strongest fighting power while maintaining a happy mood.

"Prometheus, burn that iron lump!"

Lingling pointed casually.

The sun Prometheus immediately spewed out a huge pillar of fire, turning a cannon that was just about to fire into molten iron.

"Zeus, send a shock to that house over there!"

Zeus, the thundercloud, struck with a thunderclap, and a thick bolt of lightning struck down, scorching a naval barracks until it was charred black and blue. The soldiers inside screamed and fled in panic.

Lingling is like a child playing in an amusement park; every attack she makes is full of innocence and joy, yet it brings devastating blows to the G-aX5 branch.

This invasion was not a war from the beginning, but a planned and premeditated armed plunder.

Silver's figure moved like a ghost through the shadows of the fortress. He had already taken advantage of the enemy's distraction by the food to thoroughly familiarize himself with the fortress's defenses, communication nodes, and armory locations.

At this moment, he was like a precise surgeon, removing the nerves and claws of the fortress one by one.

The communications tower was cleverly destroyed by Silver, rendering it unable to send any distress signals.

Silver turned the officers' quarters upside down, preventing the enemy from forming an effective command structure.

The true mastermind of this operation—the shipwright Dorum—was now rushing toward his holy site with gleaming eyes, like a devout believer.

That was the secret dock located deep within the fortress.

Guided by Silver's intelligence and with Gatz's violent clearing of the way, Dorum arrived at the dock gates without any hindrance.

"I'm here! My darling!"

Dorum let out a heartfelt call and, with all his might, cleaved open the alloy gate of the dock with an axe.

Behind the gate, a colossal, entirely black vessel lay silently moored on the slipway, appearing before everyone's eyes.

It was a state-of-the-art experimental warship of the navy that had not yet been officially named.

Its hull is made of a special alloy that shimmers with a dark light, and its lines are full of power. The ship is covered with a dense array of previously unseen gun barrels and weapon systems.

It was like a steel behemoth lurking in the darkness, exuding a terrifying aura that sent chills down your spine.

"That's it...that's it!"

Dorum's eyes welled with tears as he stroked the warship's cold hull as if caressing a lover's skin.

He pulled out a stack of design drawings he had stolen from Silver from his pocket, and trembled with excitement.

"I've finally... found you!"

Just then, an angry roar came from the direction of the port.

"Bastards! What...what did you do to me?!"

Iron Stomach Bastiel finally snapped out of his culinary illusion. Looking at his devastated fortress and feeling the strange, satiating sensation within him that left him utterly powerless, he finally realized he had been tricked.

What a shame!

He roared, transformed into a half-human, half-rhinoceros form, and charged madly toward the dock.

However, a figure was faster than him and blocked his way.

It's Rocks.

He had appeared there at some point, a mocking smile on his face.

"Are you full, Vice Admiral?"

"Locks!"

Bastel's eyes were bloodshot: "I'm going to tear you to pieces!"

"is it?"

Rocks' smile turned cruel.

"Unfortunately, you won't have that chance."

Before he finished speaking, his figure vanished instantly.

When it reappeared, it was already behind Bastiel.

A powerful punch, crackling with Conqueror's Haki, landed squarely on Bastel's back.

puff!

Bastel's prized Zoan-type awakened defense was as thin as paper in the face of this punch.

He spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs, and his massive body flew out like a cannonball, smashing several buildings along the way before finally embedding itself in a mountain wall, its fate unknown.

Lockes withdrew his fist, not even bothering to look at him again, and turned to wave at his crew.

"Men! Get on board! We've got our new home!"

Rumble!

With a sickening metallic scraping sound, the massive dock gate was torn open by Newgate's shockwave and Linlin's superhuman strength.

Sunlight streamed in, illuminating the jet-black steel behemoth.

"My king! Awaken!"

Dorum stood in the driver's seat on the bridge, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism, and like a mad scientist, he pressed the start button on the warship.

hum-

The dormant steel heart began to beat, the entire warship emitted a deep rumble, countless indicator lights on the hull lit up one after another, and a huge and terrifying aura slowly awakened.

"Hahaha! Let's go!"

Gatz stood excitedly at the bow, waving the anchor at the terrified sailors outside.

Under the command of its new owner, Dorum, this terrifying warship, which had changed hands before even being named, was like an ancient beast that had broken free of its shackles.

With a ferocity completely disproportionate to its massive size, it smashed through the last line of defense in the harbor and charged toward the vast, boundless sea.

Behind them, the G-5 fortress was engulfed in flames and in complete disarray, with the despair in the eyes of countless naval soldiers.

The Rocks Pirates carried out this crazy heist, which can be described as a century-long crime, in the most flamboyant and domineering way.

……

The warship sailed on the calm sea, like a moving steel island.

The crew was overjoyed at receiving their new ship.

Gatz ran around on the wide deck, sometimes touching the giant cannon, sometimes looking at the novel weapon, constantly exclaiming "Wow! That's awesome!" like a country bumpkin who had just arrived in the city.

Lingling sat contentedly at the stern, clutching a victory celebration cake specially made for her by Renn, which was bigger than her head. She ate it with cream all over her face, while Prometheus and Zeus flew around her happily.

For her, as long as there are endless desserts, it doesn't matter where she goes or what kind of boat she takes.

Silver stood on the highest observation platform, calibrating the warship's ultra-long-range telescope and life detection radar, a rare hint of satisfaction appearing on his usually icy face.

The ship's detection and concealment systems were practically tailor-made for an assassin like him.

Newgate, meanwhile, leaned against the ship's railing, enjoying a bottle of century-old rum borrowed from the G-5 cellar.

He looked at the steel vehicle that was as responsive as an arm and as indestructible as a machine, and then at the group of partners beside him who, though eccentric in their behavior, were incredibly reliable in crucial moments. The longing for family in his heart seemed to be filled up without him even realizing it.