After leaving the Fleet Admiral's office, dinnertime was approaching. Both Gustave and Garp tactfully avoided mentioning the 150 million Berries discrepancy—after all, both had their own secrets to hide.
Returning to Garp's villa, Gustave found Luffy sitting with a dejected expression, his hands conspicuously empty.
"Luffy, didn't you go shopping? Where are your purchases?" Gustave asked after carefully confirming that Luffy had returned empty-handed.
"Yes, I heard Gustave gave you 500,000 Berries. How come you don't have anything now?" Garp added with obvious confusion.
"Uncle Gustave, Grandpa, when I went shopping this afternoon, I met this uncle wearing yellow clothes who looked kind of... well, shifty," Luffy began his tale.
"When he saw me, he asked who I was since he'd never seen me before. So I told him my name and mentioned you, Grandpa."
"After hearing that, the uncle said he was your colleague, Grandpa! Then he bought me lunch and said he could show me the fun places around Marineford."
"So I followed him to this place where you could win toys by playing games, but the uncle had spent all his money treating me to lunch. So I gave him all the money Uncle Gustave gave me and asked him to help me win toys. But he was really unlucky today and didn't win anything! After the money was gone, I had to come home."
Luffy recounted his afternoon adventure with innocent enthusiasm.
Gustave rolled his eyes after hearing this story. The moment Luffy mentioned "shifty," he knew the boy had encountered Kizaru. After all, who else at Marine Headquarters fit that particular description?
Learning about Luffy's subsequent experience, Gustave was astounded that Kizaru would actually swindle money from children. He'd thought himself quite cunning, but Kizaru had proven even more devious. There was always someone better at being worse!
"Damn that Borsalino! He knew Luffy was my grandson and still pulled this stunt!" Garp exploded with righteous fury, stalking out of the house with his fists clenched menacingly.
"Where are you going, Grandpa?" Luffy asked innocently, watching Garp storm off.
"It's nothing. Let's go start dinner," Gustave said, patting Luffy's shoulder while heading toward the kitchen.
Po and Tom also gave Luffy sympathetic pats before following Gustave.
"Hey, Ace, what do they all mean?" Luffy remained completely bewildered.
"Luffy, I'm never going to hit you on the head again. Just... try to be more careful, okay?" Ace didn't expect his naive brother to be so easily deceived. He'd have to be nicer to him in the future, or someday Luffy might get sold and still help count the money.
While Garp settled accounts with Kizaru, Gustave began cooking.
Since their voyage had depleted their spice supplies and Marineford lacked the seasonings needed for his particular cuisine, Gustave planned to keep things simple this time.
First was roasted whole lamb. While shopping at Marineford's market, Gustave had discovered exceptionally high-quality mutton and purchased generous quantities.
Before roasting, Gustave marinated the lamb in a blend of apple preserves and finely sliced onions. The sweetness of the apples helped neutralize any gamey aroma, while layering the meat with a delicate, fruity fragrance.
Once marinated, he coated the lamb with a rich barbecue sauce—his own recipe crafted back at the G-3 Marine base. They had prepared it in bulk for the King Squid feast, and there was still plenty left. Some had been gifted to the G-3 officers in appreciation, while the rest was stored for their future meals.
The roasting itself demanded precision. Gustave carefully controlled the heat, turning the meat at just the right intervals and brushing on fresh layers of sauce as it caramelized. These weren't just cooking steps—they were techniques honed over years of experience, the rhythm of a master chef at work.
The second dish was a hearty pilaf. Gustave believed in maximizing every ingredient—the mutton from the roast could serve double duty, lending its flavor to more than just one course.
He began by heating oil in a wide, heavy-bottomed pan. Once it shimmered with heat, he tossed in finely chopped onions, stirring them until their fragrance bloomed and turned translucent. Next came generous chunks of mutton, their edges searing as they hit the pan. Once the meat had browned slightly and its juices began to release, he added a pinch of salt for balance.
Then came the diced carrots, tossed in and stir-fried just enough to coat them in flavor—no need to soften them fully yet. Gustave added the pre-soaked rice and poured in water, spreading the mixture evenly across the pan. Using chopsticks, he poked a few holes down to the bottom—a technique to allow steam to circulate and cook the pilaf evenly from the inside out.
Now, all that remained was the waiting. As the rice slowly absorbed the broth, the mutton would become fall-apart tender, and the carrots would soften into gentle sweetness—every grain and morsel infused with the depth of the dish.
The final dish was a soup—light, clean, and meant to balance the richness of the previous courses. Gustave understood the importance of contrast; after the depth of roasted lamb and the hearty pilaf, the palate needed something gentle to reset.
He chose a simple pumpkin broth. No spices, no cream—just fresh pumpkin simmered slowly in water. The natural sweetness of the vegetable would be enough. This minimalist approach wasn't due to laziness, but intention. By stripping the dish down to its essence, Gustave allowed the pumpkin's delicate flavor to shine through, offering warmth, comfort, and clarity in every sip.
When dinner was ready, Garp returned muttering angrily, followed by Kizaru carrying an enormous gift box.
Whatever communication had occurred between Garp and the man who'd swindled his grandson, Kizaru now wore sunglasses instead of his usual clear lenses.
"Uncle, why did you come back with Grandpa?" Luffy asked with surprise, seeing Kizaru trailing behind Garp.
Kizaru glanced at Garp, and seeing the obvious threat in the vice admiral's expression, forced a smile that only made him appear more disreputable.
"Oh ho ho, Luffy, I felt terrible about not helping you win any toys this afternoon. After thinking it over repeatedly, I decided to bring you a proper gift."
Kizaru placed the massive gift box before Luffy. The container stood about 1.7 meters tall—taller than Luffy himself.
"Really?" Though uncertain about the contents, Luffy asked with obvious excitement.
"Really! Go ahead and open it," Kizaru replied with barely concealed anguish.
"Okay, I'll open it now!" Luffy eagerly untied the restraining ropes. The moment they loosened, the box opened on all sides, revealing an exquisite ship model within.
"Wow! This ship model is so detailed!" Luffy touched the model with extreme care, afraid of damaging it with excessive force.
"Ushi shi shi shi! Luffy, are you happy? This is my gift to you!" Though Kizaru spoke with apparent cheer, tears threatened in his voice.
"Happy! Thank you, Uncle! I knew you were a good person—not only did you buy me lunch, you also gave me this ship model!" Luffy now held Kizaru in the highest regard, having never encountered such a kind uncle.
"Good! As long as you're happy!" Hearing Luffy's joyful response, Kizaru turned away, a single tear silently trailing down his cheek—raw, unfiltered emotion masked behind his usual detached tone. In Luffy's arms, wobbling dangerously from side to side, was his most treasured possession: a towering 1:100 scale replica of a legendary Marine flagship, standing at an impressive 1.7 meters tall.
The model was no simple toy. Crafted from premium marine-grade alloy, it featured fully articulated masts, working rudder mechanisms, and hand-stitched silk sails, each adorned with the Marine insignia, weathered just enough to appear battle-worn. The hull had been painted with precision, layered with micro-shading to reflect sun-faded aging, and lacquered to a perfect, museum-quality sheen. Even the figurehead—carved from bone-white resin—was an exact replica of the original, down to the scratches and wear marks recorded in marine archives.
Kizaru had spent years sourcing parts and commissioning craftsmen across the seas. Every cannon was hand-forged. Every rope coil was measured to historical scale. The ship stood encased in a glass cabinet, under a temperature-controlled dome, protected from dust, fingerprints, and fate itself.
Until today.
After receiving the gift, Luffy invited Kizaru: "Uncle, you probably haven't eaten yet, right? How about joining us for dinner?"
Kizaru didn't answer immediately, instead looking toward Garp.
Seeing Kizaru's questioning gaze, Garp snorted before declaring: "Borsalino, since Luffy invited you, you can eat with us."
Only after receiving Garp's permission did Kizaru dare follow Luffy into the kitchen. He silently vowed never to swindle children's money again.
Entering the kitchen, Kizaru observed everyone busily working: Gustave preparing to serve the roasted lamb, Ace setting up tableware, Po ladling pilaf onto individual plates, and Tom... Tom was busy drooling.
"Do we have a guest?" Gustave asked, noticing Kizaru following Luffy.
"That's right, Uncle Gustave! This is Uncle Borsalino—he's the one who bought me lunch today and just gave me that huge ship model!" Luffy performed the introductions.
"Well then, Luffy, you can show your guest to his seat so we can eat," Gustave replied, carrying the roasted lamb to the table.
Kizaru sat down with Luffy. The moment he settled, the tantalizing aroma of the roasted lamb reached him, causing his stomach to growl audibly.
Luffy heard the sound and looked in its direction, making Kizaru's face flush with embarrassment.
Soon, Gustave and the others finished serving, and dinner could begin.
"I didn't expect guests today, so I didn't prepare an elaborate meal," Gustave apologized to Kizaru before they started.
"It's perfectly fine. Luffy mentioned that Brother Gustave's cooking is exceptional—even simple dishes from you would be wonderful," Kizaru responded diplomatically.
"Well then, let's eat!" Seeing everyone staring at him expectantly, Gustave wasted no time beginning the meal.
Kizaru used his chopsticks to pick up a pre-portioned piece of roasted lamb and took a bite. The moment it touched his tongue, the richness of the lamb fat blended with the smoky barbecue glaze, releasing a layered burst of flavor. The outer skin was golden and crisp, offering just the right amount of resistance before giving way to the firm, tender meat inside. Beneath the bolder notes, a faint trace of apple lingered—delicate, unexpected, and clearly intentional. Kizaru paused, chewing slowly, his expression unreadable behind the sunglasses.
Next, he scooped up a spoonful of pilaf. The once-white rice had taken on a light golden hue, having absorbed the rich cooking juices, and each grain appeared perfectly plump and distinct. Mixed throughout were tender chunks of mutton, thin slices of carrot, and bits of softened onion.
The moment he took a bite, the flavors melded seamlessly—the savory depth of the lamb, the sweetness of carrot, the gentle bite of onion, and the aromatic rice all combining into a warm, balanced mouthful. Kizaru paused mid-chew, caught off guard. He had eaten across the seas, but never had anything left an impression quite like this.
Gustave and his crew watched in amazement as Kizaru devoured both barbecue and rice simultaneously, as if he hadn't eaten in weeks, his mouth completely stuffed with food.
Finally, just as they were finishing the main courses, the pumpkin soup was served. The essence of the pumpkin had fully melted into the broth, leaving behind a smooth, warm sweetness that lingered gently on the tongue. Its preparation was simple, but that simplicity was its strength. One sip was enough to cut through the lingering richness from the earlier dishes, cleansing the palate with a soft, natural clarity.
Kizaru blinked, slowly lowering his spoon. After a moment of quiet reflection, he made a decision. From this day forward, he would make a much greater effort to grow closer to Luffy.