A cook, vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates?

The rich fat was forced out by the high temperature, flowing slowly along the natural patterns on the stone slab, dripping into the campfire below, igniting even higher flames, and pushing the domineering aroma that blended meat, spices and mineral notes to its extreme.

"Gulu..."

Gatz sat cross-legged in the spot closest to the stone slab, his eyes wide like copper bells, staring unblinkingly at the slices of meat that were turning from raw to cooked. His Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably, and his saliva almost flowed into a small stream.

He felt as if he were not waiting for a meal, but for a sacred coronation ceremony.

"Head Chef, is it ready yet? I feel like my stomach is about to rebel!"

His voice carried a hint of grievance, like a child who was waiting for candy but couldn't get it.

"No hurries."

Without turning his head, Ryan was using a special little brush to evenly brush the juice of crushed red berries, picked from the island and with a faint lemon scent, onto the slices of meat.

This action not only cuts through the greasiness and enhances the aroma, but also neutralizes the slight earthy taste of porcupine meat.

"Top-quality ingredients require patience."

Ryan's tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable authority.

"A slight difference in cooking time can drastically alter the taste. You wouldn't want to eat a piece of meat that's burnt on the outside but raw on the inside, would you?"

Gatz immediately shook his head vigorously: "No, no!"

"Then wait."

Seeing Gatz's embarrassed expression, everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The air above the deck was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Newgate leaned back on his enormous throne, which had somehow been moved to the beach again, and took a large gulp of the largest oak barrel he had captured from the Buzz Pirates' ship.

The spicy liquor slid down his throat into his stomach, bringing a burning warmth, and he let out a satisfied burp.

"Glug glug glug, this wine is not bad. Although it can't compare to the special blend made by Rennes, it's still strong enough."

He looked at his family, who were eagerly anticipating a barbecue, and at the rising smoke and firelight. His usually dignified, hawk-like eyes were now filled with tenderness and contentment.

This is the home he wanted.

There is the most reliable family, the most delicious food, the most exhilarating battles, and... the most reassuring noise.

Chapter 152 Stone Slab Grilled Meat Feast

Oden was completely captivated by Rein's fluid and skillful cooking techniques.

He watched as every movement of Rein, every flip of the meat and every sprinkle of spices, seemed to contain a peculiar rhythm, which was somewhat similar to the principles of swordsmanship he pursued.

“Brother Ryan.”

Oden couldn't help but lean closer and ask curiously, "Is there any trick to your grilling technique? I feel like you flip the meat at just the right moment every time, as if you're looking for the weakest point in the enemy's defenses."

Ryan glanced at him and said casually, "There's no need to be particular, just listen."

"listen?"

Oden was even more confused.

"Ah."

Raine pointed to the stone slab.

"Listen to the sound of the fat bursting, the sound of the meat fibers stretching out under high temperature, and the sound of the spices blending with the meat juices."

"They will tell you when to flip it, when to add ingredients, and when... it has reached its most delicious peak."

This enigmatic answer plunged Oden into deep thought. He sat cross-legged, actually closed his eyes, and listened intently, as if trying to glean some profound truth about swordsmanship from the sizzling sound of the grilling meat.

In the corner, Dorum was writing furiously in his notebook by the light of the fire.

"The record shows that the volcanic rock slabs conduct heat evenly and are rich in various minerals beneficial to the human body, making them suitable as portable kitchen utensils for emergency use on board. The downsides are that they are too heavy and easily break under Gatz's footsteps, leading to high repair costs..."

The new trainee crew member, Teach, performed flawlessly as always.

He wasn't as loud and boisterous as Gatz, nor as unconventional as Oden.

He simply sat quietly in an inconspicuous corner, taking the initiative to distribute tableware and pour drinks for everyone.

He would carefully remember everyone's cup, and would rush to the ship to fetch another one as soon as the Newgate barrel was empty, always with that innocent yet ingratiating smile on his face.

"Alright, let's eat."

Finally, amidst everyone's eager anticipation, Renn uttered these heavenly words.

He used huge iron tongs to pick up the first batch of grilled meat slices and distribute them to everyone's plates.

The meat slices had an enticing caramel-colored exterior, while the inside was a tender pink, so juicy it seemed about to overflow.

"I'm gonna start now!"

Gatz was the first to let out a deafening roar. He didn't even bother with cutlery and just grabbed a piece of meat bigger than his face and stuffed it into his mouth.

As soon as the meat entered his mouth, Gatz's eyes widened in surprise.

It was an indescribable, primal, and wildly delicious flavor.

The crispy, caramelized outer layer and the tender, chewy meat inside, combined with the complex flavors of spices and the subtle refreshing taste of lemon berries, exploded on his taste buds like a volcanic eruption.

"Wow! So delicious! It's so good! I feel like my muscles are singing!"

Gatz wolfed down his food while mumbling incoherent praises, his mouth greasy with oil.

"Wow! This meat! It smells so good, it's full of power!"

Oden also thoroughly enjoyed the meal, feeling that it was more satisfying than all the delicacies of Wano Country combined.

A lavish stone-grilled meat feast was being held on the beach of this nameless island.

Everyone ate meat and drank wine heartily, sweeping away the fatigue and depression of the past few days.

Meanwhile, the prisoners of the Buzz Pirates, who had been forgotten on the other side, were tormented by the irresistible aroma of meat, to the point of ecstasy.

They were tightly bound and left on the edge of the jungle, able to smell the intoxicating aroma, but unable to even get a sip of soup.

That feeling was even worse than killing them outright.

"Boss...I...I'm so hungry..."

A young pirate, looking at the bustling barbecue party not far away and smelling the mouthwatering aroma in the air, said with a mournful face to the scarred captain next to him who was unconscious.

Captain Baz, the scarred-faced captain, slowly woke up. As soon as he opened his eyes, the domineering aroma of meat accurately entered his nostrils, causing his empty stomach to roar in protest.

He looked at the monsters feasting, then at his own mace, now deformed from being smashed, and his men, bound like dumplings, and a deep despair filled his eyes.

What kind of beings have I offended?

Just then, a small, thin figure walked over carrying a plate.

The plate contained a few scraps of roasted meat.

It's Teach.

With an innocent smile on his face, he placed the plate in front of Buzz.

"Brothers, you must be hungry too. This is a treat from our head chef."

Teach's voice was full of childlike innocence and compassion.

"Eat quickly, you'll have the strength to continue your journey."

The members of the Bartz Pirates were stunned when they saw the plate of roasted meat that had fallen from the sky. Then, their eyes gleamed with a hungry, wolf-like green light.

They no longer cared about dignity; like a pack of wild dogs fighting for food, they eagerly brought their faces to the plates and began to wolf down their food.

"Waaah... It's so delicious... It's so good..."

"I've never eaten such delicious meat in my life..."

Teach looked at their disheveled appearance, his smile growing even brighter. However, deep in his small eyes, a coldness and calculation, completely out of character for his age, flashed, as if he were observing experimental subjects.

Renn caught a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of his eye and sighed softly to himself.

This child has already begun to inadvertently reveal his talent for winning people's hearts.

Using the smallest favor to gain the greatest intelligence value and psychological advantage is something an ordinary child cannot do.

The barbecue feast lasted until late at night. When the last porcupine bone was completely gnawed clean, and everyone was lying on the beach with round bellies, contentedly counting stars, the unexpected happened.

A very subtle yet venomous and greedy gaze was cast from the shadows of the dense forest deep within the island, precisely locking onto Renn.

Ok?

Raine's extraordinary senses instantly caught this unusual probing.

He remained calm and continued lying on his back, but his Observation Haki spread out silently in that direction like an invisible net.

The next second, Renn's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Deep in that dense forest, he sensed a life force.

The aura was peculiar, filled with the smell of death and decay, yet it was also mixed with an extreme yearning for life, especially for an existence with such abundant life energy as him.

The feeling was like a vulture that had been lurking in the darkness for hundreds of years, starving and on the verge of decay, seeing the strongest eagle soaring in the sky.

"interesting."

Renn whispered to himself.

It seems that this island is not as simple as it appears on the surface.

Chapter 153 The Fruit of Soul Devouring

The morning sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows in the forest.

After a night of revelry, most of the crew of the New Moby Dick were still fast asleep on the beach, snoring loudly.

Gatz even used a wild deer that he had scared into fainting as a pillow, and drooled all the while sleeping.

Only a few people remained vigilant.

Newgate leaned back on his throne, closing his eyes to rest, but his aura of dominance, as deep as the ocean, still enveloped the area within several miles, and no movement could escape his notice.

Silver blended into the shadows of the tallest tree canopy like a ghost, his cold gaze sweeping across the entire island.

Meanwhile, Ryan had already packed his food box and was heading alone into the depths of the island.

The prying gaze he received last night confirmed to him that some unknown entity was hiding on this island.

The aura filled with decay and longing reminded him of a rare, demonic plant called the Soul-Eating Flower, recorded in the food encyclopedia.

This plant has no physical form; it feeds on negative emotions and life energy, silently parasitizing the shadows of other creatures, absorbing their life force, and creating the most realistic illusions.

Its fruit is highly poisonous, but it is also a top-grade ingredient for making a certain dish that can greatly enhance mental strength.

For Rennes, this is not just a crisis, but also an opportunity.

He followed the faint scent through the dense forest, around the stream, and finally arrived at a dark and damp canyon covered by huge vines.

A faint, cloying smell, like rotting corpses, filled the air.

Renn stopped in his tracks, knowing he had entered the prey's hunting range.

He didn't move forward. Instead, he took out a piece of leftover, fragrant roasted porcupine meat from yesterday from the food box, placed it on a rock, and then stepped aside, concealing his presence and waiting quietly.

For a creature that feeds on spiritual energy, any form of physical search is futile; only a purer, more vital bait can lure it out.

Time passed by, and the canyon was eerily silent, save for the dripping of water droplets and the rustling of the wind through the vines.

Just as Renn thought he had made a mistake, the shadow of the roast meat began to wriggle in an extremely strange way.

The shadow seemed to come alive; it slowly stretched and deformed, eventually transforming into a pitch-black hand that cautiously and greedily reached for the piece of roasted meat that emitted an enticing aroma.

coming.

Ryan's eyes sharpened instantly.

However, just as the shadowy hand was about to touch the roasted meat, a silver spear light, faster and silenter than the shadow, shot out like a venomous snake, precisely piercing the center of the hand and pinning it firmly to the rock!

"squeak!"

A piercing scream, unlike anything a human could produce, filled with pain and resentment, instantly echoed throughout the entire canyon.

The pinned shadow struggled violently, and countless black tentacles surged out from the surrounding shadows like wildly dancing serpents, sweeping towards the owner of the spear's edge.