"Luffy, welcome back."
"Are you hungry? I've already prepared your meal!"
Seeing Luffy enter, Makino greeted him warmly.
Even without Luffy asking, she seemed to have anticipated it and brought out a large plate of food.
Luffy went to the bar, sat next to Shanks, and began to devour his meal.
"Oh?! So young, yet such a big appetite?"
Seeing Luffy's appetite, which far exceeded that of an average adult, Shanks couldn't help but exclaim.
"Mmm… mmm… this isn't enough!"
Luffy's mouth was full, and he managed to squeeze out a sentence.
"Ugh… cough… water… water…"
While speaking, Luffy wasn't careful and choked, reaching out to Makino in distress.
"Hahaha, what an interesting kid!"
Shanks laughed heartily and casually pushed a cup towards Luffy.
Luffy didn't hesitate, took the cup, and started drinking.
"Mr. Shanks, that's alcohol in your cup. Luffy is still a child, he can't drink alcohol."
Seeing Luffy drinking large gulps from a wine glass, Makino said worriedly.
"Hahahahaha! What does it matter?! A man has to drink alcohol! This kid looks quite like a man."
Shanks, however, didn't care at all, laughing loudly.
Due to years of training, Luffy's body looked very strong and sturdy.
Moreover, because of the skill "Extreme Digestion," Luffy had absorbed far more nutrients than his peers over the years, so his height was also a bit taller than in the original story.
This was why Shanks gave him such a evaluate.
"Don't worry, Makino, I won't get drunk."
After downing a large cup of alcohol in one gulp, Luffy put down the cup and assured Makino.
But even so, Makino strictly refused him.
"No, you can't drink anymore, Luffy."
With that, she handed a cup of water to Luffy and took away Shanks's cup.
Luffy, who greatly respected this "mother-like" figure, nodded in acceptance.
"Is your name Luffy? I'm Shanks, the Captain of the Red Hair Pirates."
Shanks looked at Luffy with great interest and greeted him politely.
"I am Monkey D. Luffy, the man who will become the Pirate King."
After Luffy finished speaking, he continued to bury his head in his food.
However, to his surprise, after he spoke those words, the previously noisy and bustling bar instantly fell silent.
Everyone looked at Luffy, who was engrossed in his food, with strange expressions, remaining silent for a long time.
"Luffy, you're saying strange things again. If Mr. Garp hears you, he'll scold you again."
Makino advised him softly.
"The Pirate King, huh? What an incredible dream."
Shanks sighed, and his eyes held a bit more admiration for Luffy.
Just then, a figure suddenly rushed to Luffy's side.
Immediately after, a somewhat childish and sweet female voice sounded in Luffy's ear.
"It's Shanks who's going to be the Pirate King, stop dreaming."
Luffy turned his head and saw a girl standing beside him, with half-red, half-white hair and a fashionable outfit.
At this moment, she had puffed-out cheeks and was glaring at Luffy with a competitive look.
He recognized the girl at a glance; it was Uta, the daughter Shanks had picked up.
"Also, what does a kid like you know about the Pirate King? Don't just talk nonsense."
Uta continued to argue, very displeased that a child like Luffy would say such a thing.
Because Shanks had once explained the meaning of the Pirate King to her, she always believed that only Shanks could become the Pirate King.
And Luffy's irresponsible words were disrespectful to Shanks.
"The Pirate King is the freest person on the entire ocean."
Luffy squeezed out another sentence from his eating break.
As soon as he uttered these words, Uta, who had already prepared her retort, was instantly stunned.
Because what Shanks had explained to her was precisely this meaning.
Even Shanks and the rest of the Red Hair Pirates, who had been watching from the side, were shocked by Luffy's words.
Who would have thought that a child who looked only seven or eight years old would possess such understanding?
"Your comprehension is heaven-defying. Through personal experience, your spirit has been enhanced."
"Your spirit has been enhanced, and your Haoshoku Haki has been strengthened."
A prompt suddenly appeared in his mind, which made Luffy unable to suppress a surge of pleasant surprise.
It seems that by making a bold choice at the right moment, one can enhance the spirit that influences Conqueror's Haki.
At the same time, Shanks and his crew suddenly looked shocked as they watched Luffy.
Especially the most perceptive Shanks.
He actually discovered that in that instant, a hint of the King's Haki emanated from Luffy's body.
Especially after having that feeling, when he looked at Luffy again, the boy's aura seemed to have elevated to another level.
This unusual feeling greatly shocked Shanks and made him involuntarily recall the purpose of his visit to the East Blue.
To find the next owner for the Nika Fruit.
Of course, he couldn't just hand over the Nika Fruit based on a simple feeling.
He still needed a long time to consider Luffy.
Putting his thoughts aside, Shanks then concerned himself with Uta, who was feeling down, and tried to smooth things over.
"Alright, alright, Uta."
"Becoming the Pirate King isn't that simple; don't compete with Luffy anymore."
"We'll be staying here for a long time, so you two should get along well."
Although surprised that Luffy could say such a thing, Uta was still unwilling to easily acknowledge him.
"Hmph! Didn't you say you wanted to become the Pirate King? Then let's have a competition!"
"If you can't even beat me, the daughter of Shanks, Captain of the Red Hair Pirates, then don't say such ignorant things anymore."
Luffy glanced at Uta and then very decisively refused her.
"No!"
With all her energy pent up and nowhere to release it, Uta immediately became even more enraged, clenching her fists and gritting her teeth.
"Why?! Are you... scared, you guy?"
"If you're scared, just give up directly."
Luffy showed a helpless expression and said,
"Why do I have to compete with you? There's absolutely no reason at all!"
Uta was already fuming with pent-up anger from Luffy and just wanted to quickly teach him a lesson.
"Then tell me, what will it take for you to compete with me?"
Hearing Uta say this, Luffy instantly became serious, looking at Uta and saying,
"Competitions have winners and losers. If you lose, then join my pirate crew."