The tavern reeked of stale ale, sweat, and desperate hopes—exactly the kind of place Alex despised. Yet here he was, nursing a tankard opposite Mara, the one of the very few living soul from his forgotten D clan branch he could tolerate.
Mara slammed her own whiskey down with a thud. "You're late. Again."
Alex smirked, swirling the dark liquid in his glass. "Lost my way. Typical."
She snorted, nearly choking on her drink. "For someone who claims to know the world, you really suck at directions."
Alex raised an eyebrow, deadpan as ever. "Hey, I'm good at other things. Like surviving giant fights and getting spears from angry Elbaf giants."
Mara arched one brow. "Only you could make that sound like a vacation."
Their laughter cut through the tavern's raucous noise, a brief moment of warmth amid the chaos.
After a few more rounds, Alex leaned forward, voice dropping to a hush. "So... what's the real story? Why'd you come all the way here? And more importantly, how much trouble am I in?"
Mara grinned, eyes sharp. "Trouble? You're the reason half the Celestial Dragons are waking up in cold sweats. Our family's legacy isn't just a bedtime story anymore—it's kicking and screaming its way back. And you, Count D Alex, are the damn alarm clock."
Alex chuckled dryly. "Great. I'm basically a walking global chaos beacon."
She nudged him. "Don't sell yourself short. You're also the only fool dumb enough to fight a giant and walk away breathing."
He raised his tankard with mock solemnity. "To stupidity and luck, then."
Mara's face turned serious, eyes locking with his. "Listen, the Celestial Dragons, Imu, the World Government—they aren't just fancy titles. They're monsters hiding behind crowns. Our clan has been lurking in shadows, but the game's changing fast."
Alex nodded, rubbing his temple. "So, what's next? Go on a quest? Save the world? Just another Tuesday in paradise?"
She smirked. "Exactly that. But first, you gotta train. You can't fight a war with a cursed fruit and a shiny spear alone."
Alex groaned. "More training? I'm too old for this."
Mara laughed. "Old? You're barely twenty-five."
"Doesn't feel like it," he muttered, downing another shot.
Taking a breath, Mara leaned closer. "Oh, and by the way... the Straw Hat's about to stir up hell here. Luffy's gearing for a showdown with Crocodile, the Desert King."
Alex's eyes flickered. "The same Crocodile that commands Baroque Works?"
"Yep. And there's more—Robin's here too. The archaeologist. If the current trend grows like this She's gonna join him ."
Alex absorbed the news, a smirk tugging at his lips. "That kid always lands in the eye of the storm. Figures."
Mara's voice lowered, eyes darting around. "And—this is the real kicker—they've uncovered a Poneglyph that holds the location of Pluton, one of the ancient weapons."
Alex's grip tightened on his tankard. "So it's all coming together. The past bleeding into the present."
Mara nodded. "And everyone's hunting that stone. The elders scared out of their wits if it falls into the nobels hands."
Alex clinked his glass with hers. "Then we better be ready when the world explodes.By the way care to join me in a drama "
The tavern buzzed around them, but in that cramped corner, two cousins braced for the chaos on the horizon—ready to play their parts in a war far bigger than either expected.