A cook, vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates?

Whether he boards the ship or not is not that important.

"Alright, let's forget about that lion that got away."

Lox's voice interrupted everyone's thoughts. Pointing to the wild boar that was roasted to a golden brown and glistening with oil, he shouted with boundless pride, "Let's eat! We won't leave until we're drunk!"

"Oh oh oh!"

A conflict sparked by an unexpected encounter ended in a lively bonfire barbecue feast.

The enticing aroma of meat and the unrestrained laughter of monsters once again filled the air above the island.

For them, this was just a trivial little episode in their Grand Line adventure.

The hustle and bustle of the bonfire dinner gradually subsided, leaving only the crackling flames and the gentle melody of waves lapping against the rocks.

Shiki's departure did not leave much of a ripple in the hearts of the group. For these monsters who were used to adventures on the Grand Line, it was just an insignificant little episode.

What they cared more about was the volcanic rock roast meat that Raine cooked with that giant wild boar and newly discovered spices on the island—a dish that could make even the soul tremble.

Gatz let out a satisfied burp, feeling as if every bite of meat he had eaten had transformed into pure power, coursing through his limbs and bones.

He even felt that he could punch through the entire island.

Of course, this is just an illusion.

Chapter 68 Another guy with a "D" in his name

"Hiccup... Head Chef."

Gatz approached Renn, who was tidying up the kitchen utensils, with a fawning smile on his face.

"When will we be able to eat such delicious barbecue again?"

Ryan glanced at him, said nothing, and silently wiped a greasy roasting fork until it gleamed.

Dorum, like a treasure hunter, collected a large amount of hard, fire-resistant, and corrosion-resistant volcanic rock and a type of extremely tough ironwood on the island, preparing to carry out a small-scale reinforcement and upgrade of the Azure Dragon.

He knew that as the crew's abilities grew, the pressure on the super battleship also increased day by day, and it was always good to be prepared.

Rocks and Newgate stood side by side on the edge of the cliff, gazing at the moonlit sea in the distance.

"Gurarararar, that brat named Shiki does have some backbone."

Newgate took a big gulp of wine, his tone tinged with admiration.

"Honest backbone? It's nothing but self-comfort for the weak."

Lox scoffed dismissively, but a barely perceptible smile flickered in his eyes.

"However, his ambition to become the master of the sea is real; there are more and more interesting people on this sea."

The resupply operation lasted for three days.

Over the course of those three days, the Qinglong's storerooms were crammed full of fresh meats, fruits, and exotic spices that Renn had discovered.

Dorum also reinforced several key stress points on the hull using volcanic rock and ironwood. Although it was only a drop in the ocean, it did offer some comfort to his anxious heart.

With everything ready, the Azure Dragon set sail once more, like a satiated black beast, silently gliding into the deep sea and heading towards the greater depths of the Grand Line.

Life on the ship returned to its usual routine of spiritual practice and bustle.

Gatz's daily training regimen changed from being beaten unilaterally by Newgate to being beaten alternately by Newgate and Rocks.

Although he was bruised and battered every day, his resilience and strength were increasing at an alarming rate. Dorum complained more than once that the sound of Gatz practicing walking on the deck was almost as loud as a meteorite impact.

Lingling, on the other hand, was obsessed with the various desserts that Raine made with lava fruit, a specialty of the island.

Most of the time, it's like a docile giant cat, basking in the sun at the stern of the boat while holding a cake.

Zeus and Prometheus, who were above her, also became more lively because of the improved food; one was responsible for thunder to add to the festivities, and the other for roasting meat as an extra treat.

Occasionally, they would even fight over the snacks that Renne fed them, adding a lot of fun to the otherwise monotonous voyage.

Silver remained silent, spending most of his time on the lookout tower, observing the ever-changing ocean currents and clouds with his superhuman eyesight.

He was no longer satisfied with improving his marksmanship, but began to try to integrate his aura with the wind and the waves, pursuing a higher level of stealth.

Meanwhile, Ryan was conducting all sorts of daring culinary experiments in his new kitchen.

The Float-Float Fruit of Shiki the Golden Lion on Radiant Island gave him some new inspiration.

He tried to create a dish that would make food feel strangely suspended in the mouth using an ingredient called air algae. Although he failed many times, he never stopped trying.

In these noisy, chaotic yet vibrant days, the Qinglong sailed for another twenty days.

That day, a newsbird, in an almost suicidal descent, screeched as it dropped a stack of the latest newspapers and several brand-new bounty posters onto the deck, then fled without looking back, as if a natural disaster were chasing after it.

"Oh? There's new news again?"

Gatz picked up the newspaper out of curiosity.

When he saw the headline on the front page, his eyes widened as much as an anchor.

[Shocking! The Roger Pirates have unexpectedly risen to prominence, decisively defeating a Marine Vice Admiral's fleet!]

In the newspaper, a candid photo took up a huge portion of the page.

A man wearing a straw hat and with an extremely confident smile on his face was cleaving a naval warship in two with a single stroke.

Behind him, a blond man with long hair and glasses was calmly directing the battle, and a man wielding two axes stood imposingly.

"Roger?"

Locke also came over, looking at the man's photo in the newspaper with a hint of interest in his eyes.

“Gol D. Roger… I’ve been hearing that name a lot lately.”

Newgate joined in, grinning as he looked at the man in the photo: "Gurgling, another one with a 'D' in his name. This sea is getting more and more lively."

On the other side of the newspaper was the latest report about the Rocks Pirates. The World Government had clearly not forgotten their feat of capturing the G-2 branch, and their bounty had once again seen a slight increase.

Rocks, in particular, is approaching the 3.5 billion mark, a figure that would make any established pirate take notice.

"Tch, it's only increased by this little bit. Those old guys in the World Government are too stingy."

Locke tossed the newspaper aside dismissively; such empty fame no longer excited him.

His attention was now drawn to Roger, who was also rising rapidly.

"captain."

Silver's voice came from the lookout tower, as calm as ever.

"We are about to enter the Whirlpool Sea, where the currents are extremely turbulent and it is one of the most dangerous places on the Grand Line. But if we pass through here, we will reach the New World."

"New world..."

A burning flame of ambition ignited in Lox's eyes.

That is the true stage for the strong, the battlefield where the overlords vie for supremacy.

"very good!"

Lox waved his hand, his voice booming like a bell.

"Men, hold on tight! Let's go see what interesting creatures await us in the new world!"

"Oh oh oh!"

Amid cheers from the crowd, the Azure Dragon roared and charged headlong into the turbulent sea known for its chaos and danger, like a beast about to enter a new hunting ground.

The whirlpool-filled sea area truly lives up to its name.

The moment the Qinglong entered this sea area, it was as if it had been thrown from a calm lake into a giant washing machine that was running at high speed.

The sea surface is filled with terrifying whirlpools of all sizes and directions, each possessing the terrifying power to tear steel apart.

The sky was covered with dark clouds, and a fierce wind whipped up torrential rain, lashing the ship like a whip.

"Hold on tight! Everyone, hold on tight!"

Dorum roared hoarsely, clinging tightly to the massive rudder, the muscles in his arms bulging like rocks.

Under his skillful control, the Azure Dragon was like a nimble black dragon, weaving and dodging through countless deadly whirlpools, drawing breathtaking arcs.

"Hahaha! This is so exciting! It's even more thrilling than riding a sea monster roller coaster!"

Gatz tied himself to the mainmast with a rope, letting the wind and rain lash his body, his face full of excited smiles.

Chapter 69 Warring States Period, Garp

Lingling sat in the cabin on a specially made, bouncy, jelly-like shock-absorbing seat by Renn, enjoying the rocking motion while stuffing Renn's newly made Storm Puff into her mouth.

Lockes and Newgate stood side by side in front of the observation window on the bridge, looking at the apocalyptic scene outside. Their faces showed no tension, but rather a sense of leisurely enjoyment of the scenery.

"Gurgle gurgle, this awful weather is perfect for taking a nap."

Newgate yawned.

"I'll be ready to fight when I wake up."

Locke's gaze pierced through the rain, looking towards the distant unknown, a playful smile curving his lips.

“I smelled… a familiar scent, the scent of prey.”

Just then, Silver, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, his voice colder than the howling wind outside.

“A large fleet is approaching directly ahead, at the twelve o’clock position.”

"Ok?"

Everyone was cheered up.

In this awful weather and in this awful place, how could there be a fleet of ships?

Dorum immediately turned the power of the Azure Dragon's ultra-long-range detection radar to maximum.

Soon, a dense cluster of red dots representing enemy ships appeared on the radar screen. They came from all directions, forming a huge encirclement, and were slowly closing in on the Azure Dragon.

"It's the Navy!"

Dorum's expression instantly turned serious.

"At least thirty large warships! Are they crazy? Assembling a fleet in this weather?"

"No, they're not crazy."

Locke's smile grew increasingly cruel: "They came specifically for us."

This chaotic, turbulent sea area is a natural disaster and a dead end for others, but for a well-trained and well-prepared fleet, it is the best battlefield for an ambush.

The chaotic magnetic field here can block most reconnaissance methods, and the raging ocean currents can restrict the maneuverability of ships.

The other side had clearly anticipated that they would take this shortest route and had laid a trap here in advance.

"interesting."

A dangerous glint also flashed in Newgate's eyes.

"It seems those old guys in the World Government are finally willing to spend big."

As they drew closer, the massive fleet finally revealed its menacing silhouette through the rain.

The two leading ships were massive warships of the same class as the Azure Dragon, exuding an aura of oppression.

One of the ships had a figurehead resembling a majestic golden Buddha. On the deck, a tall man wearing round-framed glasses and a naval admiral's uniform stood with his hands behind his back, looking at them with a serious expression.

On the bow of another warship, a man wearing a white suit and a cloak of justice, munching on a senbei (rice cracker), was picking his ear with his little finger with a bored expression.

He appeared unrestrained, but his eyes, which occasionally flashed with a sharp light, contained a terrifying power that could make the sea tremble.

"Warring States period...and Garp..."

As Lox read out the two names, a genuine look of excitement finally appeared on his arrogant face.

Renn's eyes also flickered.

These two men will become naval legends in the future, standing at the pinnacle of the world. They are still very young at this moment, but their strength is already that of a mainstay of the navy.

"Gurarararar, it turns out these two are leading the team. The World Government really thinks highly of us."

Newgate's laughter also carried a hint of seriousness.

"Captain, the situation is bad."