A cook, vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates?

His roar shattered the post-war silence and ignited a fire in everyone's hearts.

"Oh oh oh oh oh!"

A deafening cheer erupted on the deck. The crew threw their weapons into the air, hugged each other, and jumped and danced like children who had just won the world.

Some laughed, some cried, and many more laughed and cried at the same time, releasing all the fatigue, tension, and fear that had accumulated over the past few days.

Dorum, clutching a broken mast, cried more bitterly than anyone else, muttering, "It's good that we won...it's good that we won...the repair costs...we'll settle the repair costs later..."

Oden excitedly brandished his twin swords and performed his self-created, chaotic victory dance on the deck, eliciting bursts of laughter from the crowd.

"Gulalalalala! Gulalalalala!"

Newgate leaned back on his throne, looking at his family who had survived the ordeal, and let out his signature laugh.

The laughter was louder and more exhilarating than ever before, filled with pride and satisfaction.

His gaze passed over the cheering crowd and landed on the figure sitting quietly in the corner of the kitchen.

Raine did not participate in the revelry; he simply leaned against the window, his face pale and his breathing slightly rapid.

That pot of spiritual nectar had almost drained him of all his sense of culinary duty and spiritual energy; it was a kind of exhaustion that came from the depths of his soul.

But as he looked out the window at the faces laughing heartily and listened to the lively chatter, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up slightly.

This is the scenery he wants to protect.

worth it.

Newgate's gaze met Ryan's in mid-air. The two did not speak, yet it was as if they had exchanged all the words they wanted to say.

Newgate raised his huge glass to him, and Ryan smiled and nodded.

In the shadows of the corner, a figure quietly tucked a piece of roasted meat that Gatz had dropped amidst the cheers into his robes.

Teach looked up at the man laughing heartily on the throne, then at the pale-faced young chef in the kitchen who seemed to be in control of everything. A deep greed and calculation, completely out of character for his age, flashed in his eyes.

"The elixir of the spirit... it's truly an irresistible power."

Thief, hahaha...

Silent, maniacal laughter echoed wildly in his heart.

……

Chapter 149 is classified as Top Secret!

This earth-shattering battle in the Storm Labyrinth was like a depth charge dropped into the ocean, unleashing a monstrous wave far more powerful than a tsunami.

When news spread that Marine hero Monkey D. Garp and Zephyr had joined forces to lead five elite fleets to besiege the Whitebeard Pirates, the whole world believed that the pirate crew was about to perish.

However, when the final results were broadcast across the world on the tiny wings of the newsbird, the entire world fell silent.

The navy... has been defeated!

The defeat was so decisive and so complete.

The five fleets suffered heavy losses and retreated in disarray.

This is no longer a simple defeat; it is an unprecedented disgrace in naval history!

In an instant, the world's attention was focused on the white whale named New Moby Dick and the man named Edward Newgate with the white beard.

People were horrified to discover that after Rocks' death, instead of peace prevailed on this sea, a monster even more pure and unpredictable than Rocks was born.

At the heart of this storm, another name began to enter the sights of all the top powers with an unstoppable force—the God's Chef, Raine.

If Whitebeard is the captain and strongest spear of this monster ship, then this sixteen-year-old young cook is the heart and soul of the ship.

He can use cooking to instantly revive dying warriors and double the fighting power of exhausted armies.

This ability is enough to be the final deciding factor in any protracted war.

Naval Headquarters, Marshal's Office.

The Navy Admiral, Steel Bones, slammed the report in his hand on the table, veins bulging on his always stern face.

"A bunch of good-for-nothings! Five fleets! Two admiral-level fighters! And they can't even take down a single pirate crew!"

Standing opposite him was Sengoku, who had just returned from the front lines and had a solemn expression.

"Marshal Kong, the responsibility for this failure lies with me."

Zhan Guo said in a deep voice, "We seriously underestimated their strength, especially that cook."

He passed on a top-secret report that was urgently submitted by CP0.

At the heart of the report was a somewhat blurry photograph, magnified several times.

In the photo, a young man calmly holds a pot of thick soup that radiates golden light, while the crew members around him all exude a surge of energy, as if demons have descended to earth.

"The Elixir of the Spirits..."

Steelbone Kong read aloud the name given to the soup in the report, his eyes filled with dread.

"To use cooking to perform massive, high-intensity instantaneous amplification and healing... this ability is simply forbidden!"

"Give me the order!"

Steelbone Kong's voice was resolute and carried an unquestionable authority.

"Increase Edward Newgate's bounty to 5 billion Berries! Double the bounties for the rest of the core crew members!"

He paused, then his finger landed heavily on Ryan's seemingly harmless face.

"The threat level of this divine chef, Rein, must be redefined! His existence is more destructive to the balance of this world than Whitebeard himself!"

"Classify his bounty as top secret, with an internal threat level equal to that of Lox D. Giebeck! Notify all CP agencies to gather all intelligence on him at all costs!"

The winds of the world grew ever stronger and more violent because of this battle and because of this young man named Raine.

Countless ambitious people, schemers, the strong, and the weak all began to cast their gazes, intentionally or unintentionally, toward the white whale that stood proudly in the storm.

……

The victory celebration on the New Moby Dick lasted a full day and night, with the deck piled high with empty barrels of wine captured from naval warships and cleanly gnawed bones.

As the last trace of intoxication dissipated with the morning sea breeze, the battered behemoth set sail once more, like a weary lion licking its wounds after a hard-fought battle, slowly drifting away from the swirling sea that had witnessed its glory and power.

Sailing was a tedious experience, especially after a thrilling battle.

The atmosphere on the ship was unusually quiet.

Gatz's roar subsided considerably. He spent most of his time sitting at the bow, meticulously polishing his massive anchor, which had developed several nicks, with a whetstone, his gaze focused and resolute.

His battles with Zephyr and those lieutenant generals made him realize that brute force alone is not enough.

Oden sat cross-legged in a corner of the deck, his two swords resting on his knees, and closed his eyes in meditation.

He seemed to be recalling every detail of his battle with the naval powerhouse, his sword intent sometimes sharp and sometimes restrained, becoming increasingly elusive.

Newgate sat quietly on his throne, drinking his wine, his gaze fixed intently on the endless horizon.

This victory brought them not only glory, but also immense pressure.

They knew that from this day forward, they would become the focus of the world, a thorn in the side of the navy, and the target of countless ambitious individuals.

The road ahead will only become more treacherous.

Only Rennes' kitchen remains the eternal sanctuary on this ship.

No matter how turbulent the outside world may be, the aroma wafting from that small kitchen can always precisely soothe the nerves of every crew member that have been taut from the battle.

After two days of rest, Raine's body had basically recovered. Although the pot of Spirit Elixir had consumed a great deal of energy, it had also brought his understanding of the meaning of food to a whole new level.

He discovered that when he incorporated his desire to protect his family into his cooking, the energy contained in the ingredients underwent a wonderful transformation, becoming more vibrant and easier to absorb.

This opened a door for him to reach a higher level of culinary skill.

In the past few days, he hasn't cooked anything fancy; he's just used the most ordinary ingredients to prepare the most homely and heartwarming meals for everyone.

A steaming bowl of seafood porridge, a piece of rye bread toasted to a crispy exterior and tender interior, and a plate of side dishes made with seaweed and dried fish.

These seemingly ordinary foods, like a silent warm current, nourished the weary bodies and souls of every crew member, allowing them to find a harbor that could be called home on this turbulent sea.

Of course, there was one person on the ship whose style was quite unique.

That was the new trainee crew member, Marshall D. Teach.

After this battle, he performed even better, to the point of being perfect.

He gets up before dawn every day and wipes the deck until it shines, cleaner than Dorum's own face.

He would offer to polish Gatz's anchor, even though he was too weak to even leave a scratch on it. But his attentive attitude pleased Gatz, a simple-minded guy.

She would quietly stay by Oden's side while he meditated, offering him a towel to wipe his sweat and a special thirst-quenching juice made by Raine.

He would even climb the tall mast and try his best to share the lookout work with Silver with his small eyes.

Teach was meticulous and never complained. He always had that innocent yet ingratiating smile on his face, like the most obedient and sensible younger brother who was also the least noticeable.

Only Renne and Marco, unintentionally, would always have their eyes fall on this child.

They could sense what a profound and calm heart lay hidden beneath that innocent mask.

Chapter 150: Unknown Island

That noon, as Ryan was preparing lunch, Teach was helping him in the kitchen as usual, washing vegetables and dealing with food waste.

"Head Chef, you're amazing!"

Teach said in an admiring tone as he vigorously scrubbed a huge potato.

"The soup you made that day was simply a miracle! I've never smelled anything so delicious, nor have I ever seen such amazing cooking!"

His tone was sincere and full of childlike curiosity, as if he were simply expressing his admiration.

Raine didn't turn around, but calmly cut a piece of sea monster spine meat in his hand, the blade striking the cutting board with a rhythmic sound.

"Want to learn?"

"Raine asked casually."

Teach paused, a fleeting glint of cunning flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by an innocent smile.

"Of course I want to! If I could learn even half... no, even a tenth of your culinary skills, I would be completely satisfied!"

"Then let's peel the potatoes first."

Ryan's tone remained flat and emotionless.

"Remember, the first thing a good chef must learn is to respect the ingredients; any waste is a desecration of life itself."

"Yes, Head Chef! I've got it!"

Teach nodded vigorously, and then, with an unprecedented seriousness, began to grapple with the giant potato, as if it were not a potato, but a Bible leading to supreme power.

Renn glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and sighed softly to himself.

This child's cunning and shrewdness were far deeper than he had imagined.

His thirst for power was written undisguisedly in his eyes, only cleverly concealed by a veneer of naivety.

Whether leaving such a lurking beast on the ship would be a blessing or a curse, even Renn himself couldn't predict.

But Ryan knew that Newgate had already made his choice.

As the ship's head chef, all he could do was prepare enough food, and... a sufficiently sharp knife.

Whether it's used for chopping vegetables or for severing ambitions that shouldn't exist.

……

The New Moby Dick sailed at sea for seven or eight days.

The damage to the hull has been largely stabilized thanks to Dorum's tireless repairs, but the stockpiled supplies, especially fresh water and some special spices, are running low.

"Captain, we need to find an island to dock and resupply."

Dorum, with dark circles under his eyes darker than the bottom of a pot, said weakly.

"There's an island right ahead. It doesn't look very big, and it should be an uninhabited island, which is perfect for us to rest."

Newgate nodded and gave the order.