Chapter 322 - 20-33

Chapter 20: Treasure Distribution - Lu Bao is Unhappy"Cheers to the new ship and new crew! Cheers!"

On the Going Merry, Lake and his crew were celebrating happily, each face beaming with genuine smiles. Indeed, how could anyone not be happy with such a group?

However, everyone's attention soon turned to Lake, because he hadn't yet told them about the treasure they obtained from Syrup Village. The unknown is what piques the most curiosity.

Seeing this, Lake naturally didn't hide anything. He took out the Destroyer from his spatial ring again, the one he had put away earlier during their playful fight.

Usopp and Luffy's eyes lit up upon seeing the gun again, but before Lake could speak, Nami snatched it away, examined it for a moment, and then said...

"This gun looks really weird, and it's all black and ugly..."

Before Nami could finish speaking, Usopp snatched it away, hugging it like a precious treasure, exclaiming, "You have no idea! This gun is just...so cool!"

Luffy agreed, immediately going up to grab it from Usopp. Seeing this, Lake reluctantly separated the two and explained,

"This gun is called 'Destruction,' a sniper rifle with unlimited ammo. It's currently in an unawakened state; its specific effects will only be discovered by the user. Usopp, I hope you won't disappoint me."

Usopp became even more excited upon hearing Lake's words, holding the Destruction Gun in one arm and saluting Lake, saying, "Mission accomplished!"

Lake was amused by this. Usopp truly lived up to his reputation as the life of the party on the ship. With Usopp's gift finished, it was Zoro's turn.

A blank golden scroll appeared in Lake's hand. Nami, thinking it was the same as last time, immediately leaned closer.

This time, Lake couldn't let Nami be so capricious. After all, this was a golden scroll of inheritance, and Lake had already decided to give it to Zoro.

If Nami accidentally used it, what would become of her, a navigator, wielding a sword to fight?

Seeing Lake dodge, Nami puffed out her cheeks and said to him, "You're stingy!"

Lake, suppressing the urge to pinch Nami's cheek, coughed twice and handed the scroll to Zoro, saying,

"This is a scroll of inheritance. After using it, you will receive the complete swordsmanship inheritance of a great swordsman. However, I don't know if there will be any danger, so..."

Zorro didn't wait for Lake to finish speaking and took the scroll, saying, "I'm going to become the world's greatest swordsman! I can't miss any opportunity to become stronger!"

This was exactly what Lake had expected. Lake then had Zoro silently recite the mantra to use it. Zoro did so, and the scroll emitted a golden light that enveloped him.

Then, the golden light transformed into a layer of something like a golden cloak, covering Zoro's entire body. Zoro himself was now sitting cross-legged on the ship with his eyes closed, his consciousness already within the inherited world.

Now, only Lake's own Ebony and Ivory guns remained. Lake only gave a brief introduction to these two guns, as he hadn't even figured out their abilities yet.

However, at this moment, the usually oblivious Luffy suddenly became unhappy. He counted on his fingers and said, "Nami has one, Usopp has one, and now Zoro has one too..."

After muttering to himself for a while, Luffy suddenly grabbed Lake's head and shouted.

"Lake! Lake! Why don't I have any! They all have some! I'm the captain! I don't care, I want that incredible treasure too!"

This sudden grab almost made Lake's brain shut down. Coming to his senses, Lake quickly pulled Luffy off him and explained.

"Okay, okay, I know, Luffy. Treasure isn't something I can control, but don't worry, next time we find treasure, whatever it is, I'll definitely give it to you!"

After receiving Lake's promise, Luffy finally stopped causing trouble, but he still looked on with envy as Usopp used the Destroyer to fight the bird.

Seeing this, Lake tried to distract Luffy, saying, "Speaking of which, Luffy, we have a new ship now, but we're still missing a pirate flag, right?"

Luffy nodded repeatedly and laughed, "Hehehe! Leave the pirate flag to me, I've already thought of one!"

After saying that, Luffy immediately went to the cabin to find materials, spread them on the deck, and began drawing the pirate flag. This way, Luffy wouldn't mention the treasure for a while.

Taking advantage of this quiet moment, Lake went to Nami's side to ask about their next course. Nami looked at the sea chart in her hand and remained silent for a while before saying,

"Around here, there's a legendary treasure island, a very famous island, because it's associated with many strange legends."

Lake thought for a moment and said, "A legendary treasure island, huh? That sounds interesting. Let's head there; I'm sure Luffy will be very interested too."

Luffy, who was drawing the pirate flag, was already captivated by the words "legendary treasure island" and agreed to Lake's suggestion without hesitation.

Nami had anticipated this outcome, so she smiled and said, "Then you must protect me! Here I come! Treasure!"

Nami no longer seemed afraid; her mindset had changed a lot during her time with Lake and the others.

Lake glanced at a strange patch of dark clouds in the distance and smiled, thinking,

"The legendary treasure island... the island of rare beasts, huh? The treasure chest on the mountaintop is still unknown, isn't it? This way, I can also fulfill the old man's wish; it's killing two birds with one stone."

Chapter 21 Uncle Camon with the Treasure Chest, His First Unexpected Event"Adventure! Adventure!"

Luffy excitedly dashed off as soon as he disembarked, unstoppable. Reluctantly, Lake set off with Nami and Usopp.

As for Zoro, he hadn't yet awakened from his inherited power, so he stayed on the ship to guard it. According to Lake's memory, there was no danger here.

After exploring the island with Nami and Usopp for a while, Lake discovered that the island was indeed a bit strange, referring to the animals.

As for the childish traps and the old man hiding his box in the bushes, they were all easily detected by everyone's Observation Haki.

Except for Usopp, of course. Lake also gave Usopp a lesson on Haki and explained how destruction enhances Observation Haki.

However, for Usopp, who had just acquired Observation Haki, all of this was still too far off, so he remained a timid sniper.

Nami, on the other hand, was much bolder, partly because her Observation Haki allowed her to see her surroundings, and partly because Lake was by her side.

After ignoring the childish traps along the way, Lake grabbed the old man with the box. Seeing that he had been exposed, the old man didn't resist.

He simply pleaded with Lake and his crew not to harm the animals there. Just then, Luffy, who had previously darted out alone, arrived.

However, he was surrounded by a pair of animals, seemingly quite familiar with them. Seeing this, Lake slapped his forehead helplessly and said,

"Don't worry, old man, that guy is our captain. It seems your animal friends are quite familiar with him."

The old man with the box was also quite shocked. After all, he had been trapped on this island for twenty years, and no one but himself had been able to get close to these animals.

However, this made the old man with the box lower his guard against Lake and his crew, and he began to introduce himself: his name was Camon, and 20 years ago he was a pirate, searching for treasure on the island with a crew.

He climbed a lonely peak and found four treasure chests. Just as he was about to inform his crew, he accidentally fell into an empty chest.

While he struggled, the pirate ship sailed away. Camon then tried to claim the treasure chest on the lonely peak, but couldn't climb it because his body was stuck inside.

He remained trapped inside the chest ever since, and over time, his body became one with it.

For the past 20 years, he has lived with the island's rare beasts. Whenever someone sets foot on the island, he uses the beasts to scare them away, preventing them from taking his treasure.

Everyone was astonished to hear that Camon had been trapped inside the chest for twenty years. Lake was more curious about whether they could pull Camon out.

Luffy naturally had the same idea. The two exchanged a glance and immediately stepped forward to try and pull him out, but Camon quickly shouted to stop them.

He explained that because his body hadn't moved for twenty years, he had long since become one with the treasure chest, and if he destroyed it, he would be finished.

Unfortunately, Lake's idea failed, but he had more important things to do, so he suggested that he help Uncle Camon go up and see what was in the treasure chest.

Camon also offered to share some of his treasure with them if they could help; he'd been guarding these chests for 20 years.

It shouldn't end like that, so even if the system didn't intervene, Lake would personally contribute the treasure to fulfill Camon's dream.

Soon, led by Camon, they arrived at the very high mountain. Luffy, seeing this, immediately spoke up.

"I've already been here before, up there..."

Before he could finish, Lake covered Luffy's mouth and turned to his companions, saying, "Luffy and I will go up."

The astute Nami, having already guessed what was going on, nodded. Then, Lake used Mooncloth to carry Luffy, making his way through the air to the summit.

This novel experience kept Luffy exclaiming in surprise throughout the journey. As soon as they arrived, Luffy shouted, "This is so much fun! Lake, let's do it again!"

Lake punched Luffy and said, "We're not here to play around."

Only then did Luffy remember why they were here. He said, "Lake, I've been here before. These treasure chests..."

Before Luffy could finish, Lake interrupted, "They're all empty, right?"

Luffy nodded silently, seemingly realizing something. Lake tried calling the system, but unfortunately, there was no response.

However, thinking about it, these empty treasure chests, even if unknown, couldn't be considered treasure. Just as Lake was about to put some treasure inside...

Suddenly! Nami screamed from below. Lake, ignoring the boxes, immediately used Moonwalk to ascend into the air.

Looking down, he saw only the injured Uncle Camon lying on the ground, surrounded by animals lying in pools of blood. Lake instantly flew into a rage.

Before Luffy could return to the ground, Luffy followed closely behind. Seeing Uncle Camon's condition, Luffy rushed forward to help him up, calling out to him.

"Hey! Uncle Box! Are you alright?! What happened?!"

Camon, still not unconscious, coughed up blood and said, "A group of people suddenly appeared... They seem to be pirates who just landed. Your crewmates... have been captured..."

Hearing Camon's words, Lake's clenched fist cracked, and he activated his Observation Haki, gradually increasing its range until it almost covered the entire island.

Finally, Lake noticed them on the shore and turned to Luffy, saying,

"Luffy, quickly take Uncle Camon to the Going Merry to stop the bleeding. His injuries can't be delayed. Zoro hasn't finished his inheritance; he needs protection too. We can't let him be interrupted."

"I know! Then I'll leave Usopp and Nami to you, Lake!" Luffy naturally knew the situation was urgent and didn't object to Lake's arrangements.

After speaking, he immediately picked up Camon and rushed towards the Going Merry, guided by animals along the way.

Having settled Luffy, Lake didn't dare delay any longer and headed towards the shore at full speed. This time, Lake had truly been careless.

He thought that with his understanding of the original storyline, nothing unexpected would happen, but now it seemed that many things had changed since his arrival.

Now, Lake is thinking that no matter who the other party is, he will make these guys pay the price!

Chapter 22 The Enraged Lake, Slaughtering DogsOn the shore, a group of pirates were busily transporting rare animals from the island to their ship. The leader, wearing a wolfskin hood, smiled increasingly broadly as he looked at the unfamiliar creatures.

Just then, a group of his men emerged from the forest, carrying a bound man and woman.

"Boss! We've captured two people on the island!"

"Oh? Bring them here to see."

These two were Nami and Usopp, who had been captured while waiting for Lake and Luffy below. They were suddenly attacked.

Usopp, completely unaware, was immediately seized. Uncle Camon, not being mistaken for a human, wasn't taken. Nami, with her Observation Haki, noticed them.

However, Nami's current fighting ability was limited to her finger pistols, which was insufficient against the large number of pirates. Therefore, to avoid provoking them, Nami chose a smarter method.

Like Usopp, she pretended not to notice and was then captured. The two were brought before the group's leader.

The man before her was over two meters tall, with a muscular physique; he was the kind of guy who looked intimidating. Nami recognized him the moment she saw his appearance.

This was Blood Wolf Zaku, captain of the Wolf Pirates, with a bounty of 19.5 million Berries. In the East Blue, the weakest sea, the highest bounty was only held by Nami's Shadow Fishman, Arlong, at 20 million Berries.

This guy's bounty was only slightly lower than Arlong's, but his notoriety and cruelty far surpassed Arlong's.

Zaku's gaze swept over Nami and Usopp, ignoring Usopp before walking straight to Nami, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

"Isn't this one of Arlong's crew's officers? Pirate thief, I didn't expect to see you here. Is Arlong on this island too?"

Nami knew this guy so well because they had met before, back when Nami was still working for Arlong.

This guy once directly challenged Arlong, but it seems Arlong prevailed, allowing Zaku to escape.

Afterwards, it's rumored that Zaku gained considerable power outside and prepared to seek revenge on Arlong, only to discover that Arlong had allied with the Navy.

This prevented him from pursuing Arlong, so Zaku began plundering and pillaging throughout the East Blue. His landing on this island was purely coincidental.

Discovering the unusual animals here, Zaku figured they could fetch a good price, so he sent men to capture animals all over the island, killing any that resisted, as living animals would sell for a higher price.

Back to the beginning, Nami, hearing Zaku's words, angrily replied, "I'm no longer with the Arlong Pirates! My crewmates are on this island; they'll be here to rescue me soon."

Zaku, upon hearing Nami's words, burst into laughter: "Crouching crewmates? Hahahaha! I specifically inquired about you. To get a pirate crew's treasure, you'll go to great lengths to join that crew, only to run away after getting the treasure. So, you haven't gotten the treasure yet?"

Saku's words brought Nami to tears. She couldn't refute them; she had always been like that, having always hated pirates until she met Lake and his crew.

This scene was too much for Usopp, who was bound. Taking advantage of a moment when his captors weren't paying attention, he broke free and pulled out his slingshot to attack.

"Ultimate Kill - Smoke Star!"

Instantly, a thick cloud of white smoke enveloped the area. Usopp seized the opportunity to reach Nami and untie her, but the next second...

Sizzle!

Three bloody gashes appeared on Usopp's back, splattering blood onto Nami's face. A panicked Nami screamed.

"Usopp!"

However, the only response he received was Zaku's voice: "Heh heh heh~ You think you can escape from me with such childish tricks? How naive!"

Usopp collapsed to his knees in agony. Nami quickly helped him up, then glared angrily at Zaku, raising her finger and shouting.

"Die!"

*Snap!*

The finger gun struck Zaku, but its power was far from satisfactory. Zaku merely turned his head away, and when he turned back, he lightly wiped the mark from his face with his finger, saying,

"That move was quite interesting, but too weak. Looks like you're not prepared to cooperate properly. Perfect, I can see Arlong with your corpse, right? I really want to destroy him!"

"Or how about I destroy you first!"

Just as Zaku was about to make his move, another voice suddenly rang out. The fear born of the unknown made Zaku take a step back and shout to those around him.

"Who! Who's playing tricks there! Show yourself if you dare!"

"Trash like you doesn't deserve to see me. Daring to lay a hand on my companions, you deserve to die!"

The moment the words left his lips, an incredibly terrifying aura erupted, engulfing the area. Sak could clearly feel a terrifying pressure.

He knelt on one knee, struggling to support himself, but all his subordinates rolled their eyes and collapsed. This scene caused Sak's resentment to erupt completely.

"Awooo!"

With a wolf's howl, he transformed into a giant red wolf, exuding a bloodthirsty and savage aura, warily surveying his surroundings.

Suddenly, Lake appeared, but on Sak's head. Sak, transformed into a giant wolf, was completely unaware of Lake's arrival.

Thump!

A tremendous force slammed his head into the ground. Seeing Lake appear, Nami's previous fear finally vanished, and she immediately shouted.

"Lake! Usopp is injured."

Lake nodded to acknowledge, then looked at the still-struggling Zack at his feet and said coldly, "Dying like this is more suited to you."

*Sizzle!*

With that, Lake drew his katana and decapitated Usopp. He then looked at the pirate ship beside him, using Moonwalk to fly into the air and unleashing a series of Tempest Kicks, completely destroying the ship.

Lake wasn't a bloodthirsty man, but these guys, stunned unconscious by his Conqueror's Haki, couldn't be let off so easily. To prevent them from waking up and escaping,

Lake destroyed the pirate ship. The fate of these guys would then be decided by Uncle Gamon and the island's animals.

After doing all this, Lake carried Usopp and Nami on his back, running towards the Going Merry. When he arrived, he saw many pirates lying scattered around.

It was clearly Luffy's doing. Luffy sensed Lake's presence the moment he appeared, knowing his crew was still in danger.

So, he completely abandoned his usual demeanor, protecting Zoro and Camon on the ship without a moment's slackening, even enhancing his Observation Haki.

After seeing Lake bring Usopp and Nami back, Luffy finally breathed a sigh of relief. Now there was nothing to worry about; they were all safe.

Chapter 23: The Sword God and the Sword Saint Appear. Zoro Awakens.Afterwards, Nami bandaged Usopp's wounds and re-bandaged Uncle Gamon, who was wrapped up like a dumpling by Luffy. That very night, both wounded were lively and energetic again.

This once again made Lake marvel at the wonder of this world. Watching everyone joking around the campfire, Lake reflected on himself once more.

He had always thought that with his understanding of the plot, everything was under his control, but this unexpected turn of events had occurred.

Lake should have realized that from the moment he appeared in this world and chose to join Luffy, the butterfly effect had already begun, and the future had become unknown.

He could no longer afford to be so careless. Even things he knew would happen could go wrong for some reason. For the sake of his crew, he would never make such a mistake again.

The campfire party continued until late at night. The next day, Lake and his group bid farewell to Uncle Gamon and the island's rare animals.

Lake had already had Luffy tie up the pirates, leaving everything to Uncle Gamon. He figured the pirates would be terrified to see their boss scattered like that when they woke up.

Although they didn't get the treasure they wanted from Rare Beast Island, the trip wasn't a complete waste, as it served as a wake-up call for Lake.

Looking at the still-sleeping Zoro, Lake knew that once he awoke, his strength would skyrocket.

He might even become the strongest on the ship besides himself, so Lake needed to prioritize Luffy's training.

The Going Merry set sail again, heading towards the famous Baratie, the floating restaurant.

...

Several days had passed since leaving Rare Beast Island, and Zoro was still unconscious, while Luffy underwent specialized training by Lake.

Based on his understanding, Lake instilled in Luffy the concepts of Gear Second and Gear Third, essentially providing Luffy with a framework for thinking.

As for when Luffy will grasp them, that depends on himself. The only truly specialized training consists of two things: blindfolded evasion and taking hits.

Don't let its seemingly hasty approach fool you; this is the method used by Rayleigh, the Pirate King's right-hand man, to train Luffy, even though Rayleigh has been called a 'mediocre teacher'.

But this doesn't hinder Lake from using this method to train Luffy. After all, the beatings he's endured these past few days have not only improved Luffy's Observation Haki but also given him some understanding of Armament Haki.

However, Lake's training has also reduced Luffy's time to play with Usopp. As a result, Luffy now immediately wears a mournful expression when Lake calls him on the ship.

Helpless, Lake can only create a schedule for Luffy: fixed training times each day, with the rest of the time left to his own devices, euphemistically called a balance between work and rest.

That morning, Luffy, having finished his training, was practicing with Usopp using a cannon. Clearly, even with his Observation Haki, Luffy's aim wasn't as good as Usopp's.

As expected, Usopp was exceptionally talented in accuracy. Under Luffy's constant praise, Usopp gradually lost himself, smashing several rocks and reefs in succession.

Then the person who was accidentally injured came looking for him. A furious Johnny stormed onto the ship, yelling, "Get out here, you damn pirate!"

Knowing this guy was going to sabotage the Going Merry, Lake didn't give him a chance, instantly appearing before him and subduing him with a swift chop, ending the little farce immediately.

Afterwards, Nami noticed that Joseph, whom Johnny had brought onto the ship with, had scurvy, so she treated him with an orange.

In his final moments of lucidity, seeing the unconscious Johnny, he immediately tried to attack everyone without any explanation, also wanting to sabotage the Going Merry as a show of force.

Lake, rubbing his head, remarked, "You two are a perfect match."

He then used the same method to knock him unconscious again, finally tying the two together and throwing them onto the deck.

Looking at the two figures, Lake thought, "They've both appeared, which means we're almost at the Baratie. Zoro, Zoro, if you don't wake up soon, you'll miss your chance to fight the world's greatest swordsman."

Perhaps he was preoccupied with these thoughts, the golden light surrounding Zoro disappeared, and he slowly opened his eyes.

Lake could clearly feel an invisible wind surrounding him; it seemed he had succeeded.

After waking up, Zoro sensed the person beside him and turned to look at Lake. After a moment, Lake asked, "How do you feel?"

Zoro looked at his hands and said, "Very strong! But at my current level, I can only unleash one-tenth of my power."

Hearing this answer, Lake was shocked. One-tenth meant that the Wind Swordsman's legacy was at the level of a Great Swordsman.

Lake was genuinely happy for Zoro and congratulated him before saying, "Oh, by the way, go see if you recognize those two outside."

Chapter 24 Iron Fist Hopperdy? What kind of trash dares to call himself Iron Fist?"Huh? Joseph? Johnny?" Zoro, just out of the cabin, looked at the two bound hand and foot on the deck and exclaimed in confusion.

Hearing the familiar voice, the two turned around and immediately cried out excitedly, "Brother Zoro!"

The crew, hearing that Zoro knew them, stopped arguing. After all, although Zoro had shown signs of aggression, he had been subdued by Lake before he could even make a move.

After being untied, the two explained the situation, and Luffy and Usopp quickly apologized, almost accidentally burying him alive.

The two then asked why Zoro was on a pirate ship, and were quite surprised to learn that Zoro was now a pirate.

After some casual conversation, it was soon time to eat. Since there were still two people on board, Lake prepared extra food; he had been in charge of cooking for the past few weeks.

There was no way around it; none of the people on the ship were reliable. Nami could cook, but she charged for it, and the rest were even worse.

As everyone chatted at the dinner table, Lake suggested hiring a chef. Luffy, looking puzzled, asked, "Lake, aren't you the chef?"

Lake shoved a large chicken leg into Luffy's mouth to shut him up, saying helplessly.

"Thank you for your appreciation. Firstly, I have so much time, and secondly, my cooking is just edible; it can't achieve the nutritional balance of a real chef, which is a very important point."

Nami: "That's right. If you want to sail the seas, you absolutely need a good chef. Joseph's scurvy was due to a malnutrition problem."

Usopp: "So that means if I keep eating Lake's food, I'll end up like Joseph! How terrifying! A chef! We absolutely need a chef!"

Johnny: "If you guys want to find a chef, we know a place."

Joseph: "That's right, if it's that place, you can definitely find an excellent chef."

Johnny & Joseph: "The famous Baratie!"

...

Following the directions given by Johnny and Joseph, Nami quickly spotted the 'fish' ship on the sea—a ship shaped like a giant fish.

However, just then, they encountered the Marines. Joseph and Johnny, due to their identities, quickly hid.

Luffy watched them indifferently, while Lake had an idea. Soon, the warship sailed alongside the Going Merry.

A man with light purple hair and wearing brass knuckles stepped forward and said, "That's an unfamiliar pirate flag. And what kind of nobody just set sail?"

"I'm Marine Headquarters Lieutenant Commander, Iron Fist Hobbdy! Captain? State your name!"

Luffy immediately replied, "I'm Luffy!"

Usopp, being clueless, tried to interrupt Luffy, but Lake pulled him back, giving him a threatening look that immediately silenced him.

The man didn't say much to Luffy, probably because they both looked young and didn't take them seriously.

But who didn't think the same thing? Lake was curious how this guy dared to call himself Iron Fist; wasn't he afraid of death?

Lake, seeing Hopdy preparing to leave, immediately went to Usopp and whispered something. Usopp, upon hearing this, excitedly ran down to the cabin.

A moment later, Hopdy, preparing to leave, casually remarked, "They're an eyesore. Sink them."

Boom!

However, before he could even respond, a massive cannon blast erupted, but the targets were themselves.

That's right, Lake had instructed Usopp to fire directly at them; after all, they were pirates, and they couldn't afford to wait to be attacked without initiating an attack.

The warship rocked violently. Hopdy was stunned. Regaining his senses, he immediately shouted angrily, "What are you all standing there for! Sink them!"

Seeing no response, Hopdy was about to explode when he turned around to see a black-haired boy with a gentle smile on his face already on their ship.

Hobby remembered Lake's face, so he directly threatened, "Kid, attacking the Marines first is an unforgivable crime. Prepare to die!"

Lake chuckled and said, "Since you say we're unforgivable, why don't I retaliate and wipe you all out?"

Hobby burst into laughter upon hearing Lake's words: "Wipe me out? Hahahaha! Naive brat, do you really think you can do whatever you want just because you're flying a pirate flag? I'm a Marine Lieutenant-General! Iron Fist Hobby! Die, brat!"

With that, he charged at Lake with his fist raised.

Clang!

After a crisp sound, Hobby stared in disbelief at his shattered brass knuckles. Only the blood and pain from his knuckles brought him back to his senses.

Lake clicked his tongue and said, "Tsk tsk tsk~ You're pathetically weak. I'm quite curious how you dare use the title 'Iron Fist,' you idiot!"

Hobby's face flushed red from Lake's mockery. He naturally used that title to piggyback on the Marine hero Iron Fist Garp, because he was a nobody, so Garp wouldn't even notice him.

But now, he'd been exposed by some unknown brat. Hobby, enraged and embarrassed, covered his hand and backed away, then shouted.

"What are you all standing there for! Shoot! Kill this damned pirate brat!"

Only then did the surrounding Marines seem to snap out of their daze. After all, what they'd just witnessed had been quite a shock, but they had no choice but to obey their officer's orders.

So one by one, they all raised their guns and aimed at Lake, but unfortunately, Lake wasn't going to give them a chance, calmly saying...

"Let's not waste time, I'm starving, everyone calm down!"

The moment Lake finished speaking, a terrifying aura erupted, instantly causing everyone on the warship to collapse, not a single one standing.

Lake shook his head disdainfully and said, "This generation of navy is a bit lacking~"

After saying that, Lake returned to the Going Merry. His crew had been waiting for a long time. Earlier, Lake had suddenly said he'd handle it and then disappeared, reappearing on the warship.

No one expected this way of handling things. Joseph and Johnny were also astonished. They swallowed hard and quietly approached Zoro, asking...

"Brother Zoro, is Brother Lake always this terrifying?"

Zoro chuckled, then looked at Lake and said, "That guy hasn't even shown his true terror yet."

Both of them broke out in a cold sweat, inwardly marveling at the monsters on their ship. The little interlude ended.

The group set off for the sea restaurant. Thanks to Lake's intervention, Luffy didn't damage the restaurant, saving them a lot of trouble.

Chapter 25: A Kin's Talk to Zeff, and His Terrified Reaction"Ah~ the sea! Thank you for granting me this encounter today. Ah~ love! Mock me for my unbearable pain. As long as I can be with you, whether I become a pirate or a demon, I'm prepared!"

These astonishing words came from their next crewmate, the cook Sanji. Seeing Sanji's infatuated expression, Lake couldn't help but twitch his lips.

The remaining crewmates' expressions showed they shared Lake's thoughts, but then a voice from behind Sanji interrupted his infatuation.

"Since you've already gone this far, why don't you just go sail with them and become a pirate? This shop doesn't need you anymore!"

"What did you say, you old geezer?!"

"Anyway, the chefs here don't like you, so you might as well go to sea and become a pirate. Get out of this shop!"

"I won't argue with you, but don't push your luck, you old geezer!"

"How dare you treat the boss like that...who do you think you are, you brat!"

...

The two argued and almost came to blows, but Zeff knew his limits and only dealt with Sanji before leaving.

Seeing this, Lake stood up and said to his companions, "I have to leave for a while, you guys eat first."

Although his companions were very curious, they didn't say anything. Before leaving, Lake specifically went to Nami and tossed her a small bag.

"Pay up, don't get harassed over a few meals. I'm leaving."

Nami was a little confused, but upon hearing it was money, she immediately put the bag away. Then, Lake suddenly disappeared.

A while later, Lake appeared outside Zeff's room. Before Lake could even knock, Zeff's voice came from inside.

"Come in, the door's unlocked."

Lake smiled and pushed open the door, saying, "Excuse me, boss."

Zep wasn't surprised to see Lake, as if they'd already discussed it, and said, "That Conqueror's Haki from before, was it you, kid?"

Lake nodded without denying. Zep continued, "Hmph~ Kids these days are really scary. You've got this much strength before even entering the Grand Line?"

Lake laughed and replied, "Compared to a former great pirate like you, I'm still far behind."

Zep laughed and said, "Hahaha~ Kid, excessive modesty is arrogance. I can feel that the power within you is far more terrifying than this old man's. So, what brings you here?"

Lake didn't deny Zep's words; after all, even he himself didn't know his current strength. Lake got straight to the point, saying he wanted Sanji to be their chef.

Zeff had anticipated this, and after a moment's thought, said, "Sanji's feelings for this restaurant are too deep now..."

Lake immediately interjected, "I can see that, but I think it's more about his guilt towards you than the restaurant."

Hearing Lake's words, Zeff fell into thought again, then began telling Lake a story about Sanji, ending with a single sentence.

"He's still young, and he has his own dreams. He shouldn't be stuck in this restaurant forever. If you can take him away, then go ahead. I agree."

Zep turned and left the room. Lake, having gotten the answer he wanted, also left and returned to the restaurant.

During Lake and Zep's conversation, some things happened. First, Sanji came over to fawn over her, and Nami instinctively wanted to tease him and get a free meal.

But then she suddenly remembered the bag of jewels Lake had given her earlier, and Nami instantly understood. She stopped trying to please Sanji.

Silently eating her food, a slight blush on her face, she muttered with a smile, "Honestly… does he know me that well? You little devil~"

Although Nami ignored Sanji, he wasn't affected and continued to cling to her. However, this atmosphere was quickly broken.

A man wearing a headscarf and looking exhausted walked in. He entered with an arrogant air, but his voice was weak and listless.

He looked like he'd been starving for a long time, and his identity was quickly recognized by the surrounding diners: Gin, the Battle Commander-in-Chief of the Krieg Pirates' fleet.

However, in his weakened state, Gin was utterly powerless against the chefs of the floating restaurant, getting beaten up and thrown overboard.

Already weak, Gin became even weaker after the beating, barely able to get up. But soon, his savior appeared.

Sanji appeared with a plate of seafood fried rice. Gin ate the meal with tears streaming down his face, expressing his deepest gratitude to Sanji.

Luffy witnessed this scene, and at that moment, he made up his mind: Sanji had to become their chef.

Sanji naturally refused. Their subsequent conversation consisted almost entirely of Sanji refusing, but Luffy's refusal was met with Sanji's refusal—it all seemed abrupt and unrelated.

The conversation only shifted when Gin interjected with a question about Luffy's purpose, and the topic turned to the Grand Line. Just hearing the words "Grand Line" made no difference.

Gin's face immediately showed undisguised fear, and his entire body began to tremble. At that moment, another voice joined them.

"Just a little setback and you're this scared? You're not a very good pirate."

Looking towards the voice, they saw Lake, who was eating the dessert Nami had just stolen from the table.

Luffy, seeing Lake, immediately exclaimed happily, "Lake, you're back! This is my new crewmate, a great cook!"

Completely ignoring Sanji's shouts of protest, Lake smiled helplessly at the scene. Then Gin spoke up.

"You're also his crewmate? Then your goal is also the Grand Line, right? I sincerely advise you..."

Lake finished his food in one gulp, then even stopped Gin from speaking, changing the subject.

"You were saved by him, weren't you? I overheard someone talking about your identity earlier. Since you said you encountered a shipwreck on the Grand Line, you must not be the only one who went hungry."

Upon hearing Lake's words, Akin understood his meaning and immediately said, "Betraying my benefactor! I'm not that kind of person! Please don't worry."

Lake nodded in response, "I hope so. After all, we don't want to meddle. Let's go, Luffy."

Luffy, unhappy to hear Lake call him, said, "But the cook hasn't joined yet."

Lake immediately pulled Luffy away, saying, "Don't worry, the owner of this restaurant has agreed to let Sanji come with us. He can't escape."

Luffy immediately perked up again, "Great! Lake, you're so smart! Now we have a cook!"

Chapter 26 Krieg Arrives, Hawkeye Makes His DebutBack at the restaurant, the crew had all eaten and drunk their fill. Luffy even announced that Sanji was now their chef, and all eyes turned to Lake.

Knowing Luffy's words were unreliable, Lake smiled helplessly and said, "I guess so, but we'll be staying a few more days."

Having received Lake's answer, everyone understood. But staying longer wasn't so bad; money was the last thing they needed.

According to Luffy, Lake's incredible ring contained inexhaustible wealth—of course, that was an exaggeration, but for them, it was truly more than enough.

For the next four days, the crew rested well, eating and sleeping, almost forgetting why they had come all this way.

Usopp couldn't help but ask Lake, "It's the fourth day already, Lake, when are we leaving?"

Lake glanced at the surrounding weather and suddenly smiled, saying, "Soon. Something's definitely going to happen today."

Just as Lake expected, a huge ship slowly appeared in the sea restaurant's view amidst a thick fog. The crew noticed it too.

Luffy: "Wow! What a huge ship! But it looks a bit dilapidated."

Nami: "That...yes, that flag...the ruler of the East Blue, Captain Krieg!"

Zoro: "The ruler of the East Blue? I think I've heard of that guy."

Usopp: "Damn it! It's that terrifying guy! Let's get out of here!"

Lake: "Finally! The show's about to start. Let's go, crew, to the restaurant."

Although everyone was a little confused, they still followed Lake to the restaurant, where everyone was already in a panic.

Some people had already escaped by ship, and they all recognized the pirate flag. Now, in the entire restaurant...

Besides Lake and his crew, only Sanji and Zeff remained calm. Sanji, as always, served Lake and his group a table full of food.

As they were about to leave, Lake looked at Sanji and asked, "Regret it?"

Sanji didn't turn around, took a drag of his cigarette, and said, "I'm a chef. I only know that I can't let people go hungry, that's all."

Lake smiled and then said to Luffy, "Looks like our chef has run into a little trouble. I'll leave it to you, Luffy."

Luffy was engrossed in his meal, but he nodded upon hearing Lake's words. A while later, the massive pirate ship finally arrived.

However, the East Blue's overlord who entered was not what anyone expected. His tall figure was barely able to enter the restaurant with the help of Gin.

He immediately begged for food in a humble manner, and naturally, neither the diners nor the chefs agreed; most people just wanted to kill him while they could.

However, there was one exception. Sanji was already cooking in the kitchen, and soon he came out carrying a bucket of fried rice.

Ignoring everyone's attempts to stop or object, he placed it in front of Gin, saying, "Hurry up and feed him, Gin."

Gin was once again captivated by Sanji's charm, but Krieg, who was engrossed in eating, had no such thoughts.

Lake, idly playing with his fork, launched an attack on the unsuspecting Sanji the instant Krieg finished eating.

Unfortunately, the attack couldn't reach his hand.

*Sizzle!*

The flying fork pierced Krieg's left hand, causing him to kneel in pain, his attack interrupted.

Seeing Sanji still standing there in a daze, Lake said, "Still standing there dumbfounded? Do you have to wait until his fist is on your face before you fight back?"

Sanji's gaze towards Krieg turned icy. Argin, standing nearby, was also stunned; he hadn't expected Krieg to attack Sanji so directly.

That man was their benefactor, and Chief Krieg had promised him he would never harm anyone here.

Seeing this, Lake continued, "As a chef, you've already fed the hungry customer, but now that the well-fed customer is being disobedient, shouldn't you be responsible for kicking him out?"

Sanji lit a cigarette and said, "That guy's right. I've done what a chef should do. Since this bastard attacked me, I have to finish this."

Gin, with a conflicted expression, stood up and said, "Mr. Sanji, I'm truly sorry. I didn't expect things to turn out this way, but if you intend to harm Boss Krieg, I can't stand idly by!"

At this moment, Krieg stood up, giving Lake an extremely unfriendly look, to which Lake responded with a nonchalant smile.

Just as Krieg was about to retaliate, a bystander suddenly shouted.

"My God! What is that?!"

"Krieg's ship... it's... it's been cut in two?!"

"Why is that man here! The man known as Hawkeye, the world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk!"

...

Hearing this, not only Krieg was thrown into a frenzy, but Zoro was also so excited he almost overturned the table. Krieg turned and hurriedly ran outside.

Sure enough, he saw a small raft with candles lit like will-o'-the-wisps, and a man carrying a huge cross on it.

Seeing this, Krieg gritted his teeth and cursed, "That bastard, he actually caught up... Just you wait, this restaurant and that damned brat will be finished!"

After saying that, Krieg ran back to his ship, now split in two. It was unclear what he was planning to do.

His crew also came out, because Zoro had just stated that this man was his target at sea, and he was going to challenge him.

No one was allowed to interfere in this battle, even if he were to die at the hands of his opponent. Lake didn't try to dissuade him after hearing this, even though Zoro already understood the gap between himself and the great swordsman.

However, he still chose to challenge Mihawk, perhaps driven by his own ambition. It was rare for Luffy, the captain, to be so serious.

He nodded in agreement with Zoro's words and demanded that the rest of the crew not interfere under any circumstances. Nami, Usopp, quickly declared that he didn't want to die.

Lake looked at Zoro helplessly and said, "Don't worry, I won't interfere, but... no matter the outcome, you absolutely have to survive!"

Zorro smiled and left with a dashing back view, saying, "Don't worry, I won't die until I fulfill my ambition!"

Then, witnessed by everyone, Zoro went straight to Hawkeye's side and challenged him on the planks of Krieg's wrecked ship

Chapter 27 Zoro's complete defeat, Lake seeking revenge."I've never seen such a supple sword."

"A sword with only power has no strength."

"Was this ship also cut down with this sword?"

"Indeed."

"I see. So you truly are the strongest… I set sail to see you."

"What is your goal?"

"The strongest!"

"Hmph~ How foolish."

"You're quite free, aren't you? Let's have a match."

"A match… Hmph, pathetic weakling. If you were truly a first-rate swordsman, even before we've clashed, you would surely see the difference in our strength. Or do you still draw your sword against me even knowing that? Is it courage or ignorance?"

"It's because of my ambition! And… a promise to my dearest friend."

The conversation ended. Zoro had already tied his bandana and was holding his three swords, but Hawkeye then removed the small cross necklace from his neck.

It turned out to be a very small knife. Hawkeye then explained with a rather mocking expression that this was already his smallest sword.

However, this action didn't provoke Zoro's anger as in the original story. Zoro simply sighed and said, "Whatever, I'll make you serious."

Hawkeye smiled at this, and then their battle erupted instantly. Zoro charged forward, launching an attack, his three swords slashing at Hawkeye in seamless succession.

Clang! Clang! Clang…

But all the attacks were blocked by Hawkeye's daggers. Zoro, however, remained calm, his gaze growing even sharper.

Hawkeye, intrigued, said, "Take back what I said before. Your mental fortitude is already that of a first-rate swordsman, but if you want me to get serious, you'll have to show me your strength."

Zorro stepped back, assuming a fighting stance, and said, "As you wish."

"Three-Sword Style: Steel-Cutting Flash!"

Clang!

Crack!

Zorro assumed his stance and then launched an attack at Hawkeye with incredible speed, as if the surrounding wind itself was aiding the attack.

The power of this move clearly surprised Hawkeye, as his dagger broke. Seeing this, Hawkeye abandoned his earlier mockery.

He drew his massive black sword from behind his back and said, "Boy, state your name."

Zoro, seeing this, readjusted his breathing and assumed a fighting stance, saying, "Roronoa Zoro!"

Hawkeye immediately responded, "I'll remember you, long-lost strongman! To show the highest honor for a swordsman, I will use this world's strongest black sword to send you to your doom!"

Zoro smiled and said, "I'm truly grateful, but I will not lose!"

"Three-Sword Style Secret Technique: Gale Breath Slash!"

Clang! Sizzle!

The exchange was too fast for anyone to see clearly; they only felt as if a sudden gust of wind had swept through, making it difficult to stand.

But the result was already evident: a terrifying gash in front of Zoro was dripping blood continuously, and of his three swords, only the Wado Ichimonji held in his mouth remained, while Mihawk had silently sheathed his sword.

Seeing this, Lake couldn't help but shake his head and say, "Is the gap still too big? He really needs to grow. But... you've injured my comrade like this, so you won't get away with this today, Mihawk."

The battle ended, and the heavily wounded Zoro struggled to stay upright, but this only caused him to bleed more profusely, a heartbreaking sight.

Hawkeye, seeing this, spoke up: "It's over, Roronoa Zoro. You've died too soon! I am Dracule Mihawk! Understand yourself, know the world, become stronger! No matter how many years pass, I will be waiting for you in this strongest position! Surpass this sword, surpass me! Roronoa Zoro!"

Hawkeye's impassioned speech finally made Zoro accept his defeat, and his body collapsed, unable to support him any longer.

But how could Lake let Zoro fall so badly? He instantly appeared beside him and caught him. Luffy also flew over, so anxious that he even plunged his head into a wooden plank and couldn't pull himself out.

Nami and Usopp quickly rushed over in a small boat and put Zoro on the boat for emergency treatment. Then, with his last strength, Zoro recreated his classic moment with Luffy.

"I won't lose again! Until I surpass that guy, until I become the world's greatest swordsman, I absolutely will not lose again! Any objections, Pirate King?"

Luffy naturally responded happily to Zoro, and Mihawk praised them as a great team before preparing to leave.

However, Lake wasn't about to let him go so easily, so he appeared directly in front of Mihawk and blocked his way. Mihawk, somewhat puzzled, asked...

"You're one of that swordsman's companions, right? What are you planning to do by stopping me?"

Lake nodded and smiled, "Sort of. Seeing my friend get bullied so badly by you, it's a bit upsetting to let you leave like that."

At this moment, Usopp quickly shouted from the small boat, "Hey! Lake! Don't be impulsive! That guy..."

Unexpectedly, Nami interrupted Usopp, "Let him do it. Don't you know Lake's personality?"

Usopp was stunned, remembering Lake's reaction when he and Nami were captured. Luffy had told him that it was the first time he'd seen Lake angry.

Without waiting for Hawkeye's reply, Lake spoke directly to Luffy behind Hawkeye, saying, "Luffy, let me handle this. Krieg and his crew are all yours. Please, this is crucial for getting Sanji to join."

Luffy was silent for a moment before saying, "I know! Lake, you absolutely can't be hurt!"

Clearly, Luffy panicked when he saw Zoro severely injured, so seeing Lake also seriously injured would have been devastating.

After Luffy retreated, only Hawkeye and Lake remained on the plank. Hawkeye didn't know Lake's strength, but his personality was as described.

He wasn't the type to use his full strength against a predator, so just as he hesitated to draw his sword and was about to test Lake, suddenly...

Whoosh!

Boom!

A terrifying sword aura flew past Hawkeye, turning what were once large pieces of ship debris into a pile of dust.

At this moment, Lake's aura was steadily rising. He held up his now completely black sword in one hand, the red six-pointed star in his eye appearing particularly eerie.

Seeing this, Hawkeye smiled again, decisively drawing his black sword and saying, "You surprise me. I didn't expect to encounter such an interesting opponent in the East Blue."

It was currently midday, the sun blazing high, almost noon, so Lake's power was steadily increasing.

He continuously compressed and converted the solar magic power into his own physical strength, because in this battle, Lake could only use Divine Vision.

Chapter 28 Lake vs. Hawkeye: A World-Class BattleClang!

The massive black blade and the slender, shallow sword clashed for the first time, the sonic boom sending Krieg's men flying.

Hawkeye was very close to Lake at this moment, able to see the eerie red six-pointed star in Lake's eyes, causing him to momentarily lose focus.

However, in a battle between experts, this momentary lapse in concentration is an opportunity. Lake immediately used Shave to vanish from his spot.

The next second, a massive, jet-black sword aura descended from the sky. Hawkeye, seeing this, dared not be careless, his eyes sharpening, a dark green aura enveloping his black blade.

Boom!

Hawkeye swung his sword, as if the surrounding air had been cleaved open, the space around him seemingly frozen, followed by a deafening roar.

Lake's sword aura was also blocked by Hawkeye's attack, the massive boom accompanied by suddenly appearing waves.

After that attack, Lake clearly felt his stamina draining away; he didn't have much time to fight Hawkeye for a long time.

Once this window of time passed, Lake's stamina wouldn't be enough to sustain the God-like illusion that copied Hawkeye's moves, and he would be instantly defeated.

So Lake disappeared again, appearing directly in front of Hawkeye. Their swords clashed once more, each strike increasing in power and speed.

Clang! Clang! Clang…

As their attacks grew faster and faster, most people couldn't even see their movements clearly anymore. This scene deeply shocked Zoro.

Zep, watching the two fight, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "That kid actually possesses such terrifying strength…?"

Then Zep looked at Lake's companions, seeing their faces filled with more worry than surprise, and smiled, saying…

"That kid has a good group of friends, and they're all quite formidable. They've all awakened Observation Haki... No wonder they had that expression."

Sanji, on the other hand, hadn't awakened Observation Haki and was already struggling to keep up with the two's movements; his vision was beginning to blur.

Boom!

After another powerful strike, both men staggered back. Hawkeye, feeling his trembling hands, said to Lake.

"I see. While it's surprising, it's undeniable that you used my swordsmanship, right? So this is what it feels like to fight yourself."

Lake smiled, not denying it. Instead, he raised his dark, slender sword with a confident smile, saying, "Wrong, it's fighting a stronger version of myself!"

Then, a terrifying dark green aura emanated from Lake's sword, and this aura continued to grow stronger. Hawkeye was now completely focused, not daring to be careless in the slightest.

So he attacked directly at Lake, casually unleashing a sword aura powerful enough to easily cleave a pirate ship, which flew towards Lake.

Seeing this, Lake remained completely calm. Just as the sword aura was about to strike him, Lake moved.

Boom!

He swung his sword in front of him, instantly dispersing Hawkeye's sword aura. But that wasn't all; Lake launched another attack, appearing before Hawkeye once more.

Seeing this, Hawkeye's black blade slashed at Lake without hesitation. Lake, however, instantly changed his attack, his body transforming into rubber as he performed a backbend impossible for a normal person, dodging Hawkeye's strike.

Then, his shallow-handled sword unleashed terrifying power, swinging upwards with incredible force. In that instant, the surrounding environment seemed to shift.

Accompanied by streaks of black lightning, Lake's strike ripped through the sky. Hawkeye reacted instantly, managing to withstand the force of the blow.

Soon, everything returned to calm. Lake's body was completely overloaded. Exhausted, he coughed up blood and nearly collapsed.

He could barely keep from falling, supported only by his shallow-handled sword. Hawkeye stood frozen in place, seemingly oblivious to what was happening. At that moment, no one dared to breathe.

Suddenly.

Sizzle!

Hawkeye's left shoulder split open instantly, spraying out a large amount of blood. Blood also seeped from the corner of his mouth, indicating that the attack had seriously injured him.

At this moment, Hawkeye was kneeling, clutching his wound, but his face showed no anger; instead, he looked pleased.

Luffy rushed over to check on Lake's injuries, and Nami quickly helped Lake onto the small boat, her face full of worry.

Soon, Hawkeye stood up, his wound no longer bleeding, and slowly walked towards Lake. Seeing this, Luffy immediately stepped in front of Lake to shield him.

Usopp, though frightened, trembled as he raised his black weapon, Destroyer. Nami hugged Lake tightly, as if to ensure he wouldn't be hurt.

Lake was deeply moved by this scene, but knowing Hawkeye wasn't one to back down, he told his crew not to worry.

Then, with Nami's help, he stood up and looked at Hawkeye. After a moment, Hawkeye suddenly extended his hand to Lake and said...

"You're the most talented person I've ever met. With your abilities, you'll be at the pinnacle of the world. I hope we can be friends someday."

Lake was surprised by Hawkeye's actions and words. It seemed Hawkeye always made friends this way; Shanks' friendship with Hawkeye was probably similar.

The world's greatest swordsman and a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—such a background would undoubtedly be helpful to Lake in the future. Without hesitation, Lake shook hands with Hawkeye.

Then, smiling, he said, "I still have a long way to go, but I accept your recognition. I might need your help in the future."

Hawkeye, without any hesitation, smiled and said, "Let's get to the Grand Line first. You'll find me later."

And just like that, Lake inexplicably became friends with Hawkeye. Although the turn of events was unexpected, the outcome was quite good.

However, what happened next was irrelevant to Lake, because he was truly exhausted. Noon had passed, and every muscle in his body ached terribly.

When he stood up to talk to Hawkeye, his body was already trembling uncontrollably. After Hawkeye left, Lake collapsed next to Zoro.

Zoro's gaze had been fixed on Lake ever since the battle ended. No one knew what he was thinking, but Lake naturally noticed Zoro's gaze.

However, it was clear that nothing he said would be appropriate at this point. He trusted Zoro, and besides, he was utterly exhausted, so Lake simply chose to sleep.

He believed Luffy would handle things afterward, and thinking this, Lake drifted off to sleep. While events subsequently deviated somewhat from the expected course, they remained largely the same.

Chapter 29 Heart-to-Heart Talk: Sanji and Zoro's ThoughtsKrieg, seeing the terrifying opponent, didn't even intervene, once again turning into a reckless fool, resulting in his defeat by Luffy. Gin, too, only realized his mistake at the last moment.

Thus, the once fearsome Krieg Pirates became the least threatening minor characters, easily dealt with.

Afterwards, Zoro needed to recover from his injuries, and Lake was still unconscious, so the group decided to stay at the Baratie. Luffy patiently tried to persuade Sanji.

In truth, after witnessing Zoro's willingness to die for his ambition, and after seeing Lake's epic battle against Mihawk for his crew,

Sanji's resolve began to waver. Sanji himself had a dream: the marine life of the four seas, separated by the north-south Red Line and the east-west Grand Line, had developed into distinct systems.

However, legend tells of a sea that gathers all the fish of the four seas together—Sanji's dream chef's paradise—ALL BLUE.

Every time Sanji mentioned this place, he would become very happy and talk about it enthusiastically, a scene Zeff naturally noticed.

So Zeff conspired with the restaurant's chef to stage a scene. Although it was eventually exposed, he still gave Sanji a push, and Sanji accepted Luffy's invitation.

Then came the iconic farewell scene that would bring tears to anyone's eyes, with Zeff's words, "Sanji, don't catch a cold."

Instantly, Sanji broke down, tears streaming down his face, and knelt down to thank Zeff for raising him all these years. Unfortunately, Lake didn't see this.

When Lake woke up, the Going Merry had already departed. As for its destination, Nami's worried expression revealed the answer.

After waking up, Lake quietly came up behind Nami, reached out and ruffled her hair, saying, "What's wrong? Were you worried I died?"

Nami, hearing Lake's teasing tone, angrily turned her head away, ignoring him, then looked at Lake with a pitiful expression that would break anyone's heart.

This immediately made Lake serious. He gently comforted her, "Alright, alright~ Don't worry. You know, you're returning as a hero, you know?"

Nami was amused by Lake, rolled her eyes at him, and then looked out the window.

"It feels like a dream... Every day since I met you guys has been something I never dared to imagine, but now it's real."

Lake smiled and said, "This is nothing. We'll have even more exciting adventures in the future, maybe even going to the skies and the seas."

Nami only took Lake's words as comfort and didn't pay attention to the meaning behind them. Suddenly, Nami realized that Lake had just woken up and probably didn't understand many things.

So she immediately led Lake to the kitchen. Lake was pulled along by Nami until they sat down. As soon as Nami entered the kitchen, she heard a lovesick voice.

However, when she saw Nami leading someone, the lovesick voice was heartbroken. But seeing that it was the awakened Lake, the lovesick voice still seriously began preparing food.

Now that Sanji is a member of the Straw Hat crew, Lake is naturally his partner too. Having been unconscious for so many days, Lake must be starving, which is why Nami brought him to the kitchen.

Sanji, naturally, wouldn't neglect his duties as a chef out of jealousy. Soon, a large, sumptuous table of food was brought out by Sanji.

Lake couldn't help but drool at the sight, having been hungry for so many days. Lake immediately began wolfing down his food, showing that any chef would be happy to see their work appreciated.

So Sanji sat down opposite Lake and started chatting with him.

"So that's how it is. Now I'm one of your guys too."

"Hmm...as expected. But you'll have to work hard from now on, since our captain's stomach is a bottomless pit."

"That guy's appetite is truly terrifying. But I heard they have a ring that can store food?"

"Yes, but it's more than just food storage; you can think of it as a large, independent space."

"Wow~ I've never heard of that before. Looks like you're really amazing. Then we can double the amount of food we buy from now on. Will it be okay to store it all there?"

"Hmm, that's no problem. I still have a lot of food stored in my ring. We can exchange cooking tips sometime."

"I've been wanting to say that for a while! I heard Nami say you can cook, and I even heard some of the dish names I didn't recognize."

"That's because those are all dishes from my hometown. They're all simple and easy to make, but I'm sure they'll taste delicious with your cooking skills!"

...

The two chatted for a while afterward. Sanji realized he and Lake had a lot to talk about, but actually, Lake was the same with everyone.

After all, Lake knew these guys inside and out; he'd seen them countless times.

A while later, after a hearty meal, Lake left the galley and found Luffy and Usopp playing hide-and-seek on deck.

The two greeted Lake happily when they saw he was awake. Lake then went to the top of the Going Merry's mast, where Zoro was sleeping.

Since Lake usually kept watch at night, Zoro typically slept at this time of day. However, Zoro opened his eyes the moment Lake appeared.

It seemed Zoro's Observation Haki had improved again. Lake greeted Zoro with a smile, and Zoro inquired about Lake's health with concern.

After learning he was alright, Zoro looked at Lake earnestly and said, "Lake, I want to become stronger!"

Lake, seeing Zoro's expression, knew he was still on the wrong track, so he sat down next to Zoro and began to offer him guidance.

"Zoro, what did you think of my fight with Mihawk?"

"Incredible! For the first time, I realized how far I am from the world's best..."

"Zoro, did you know that this world has four seas, east, west, north, and south? The East Blue is known as the weakest sea. Mihawk mentioned it before; you should know that."

"..."

"Even if you're a renowned swordsman, you're only just beginning. The Grand Line is teeming with powerful swordsmen. Not to mention the New World. The latter half of the Grand Line is known as the New World, a true paradise for the strong and a graveyard for the weak."

"The New World…"

"That's right. There's practically no weak pirate in the New World, not to mention the four Emperors of the Sea. Their ranks include many great swordsmen who can rival Mihawk."

"Great swordsmen who can rival that guy!"

"I'm telling you this so you understand, Zoro. This world is vast, and you're still at the starting point. If you want to become stronger, work hard. Heaven never fails those who strive."

"I understand. Thank you, Lake. I know you challenged Mihawk that day to avenge me. If anyone tries to kill you in the future, I'll stand in front of you!"

"You, can't you speak properly? Well… never mind, this is fine too. Don't worry, as long as I'm here, your path to becoming stronger will be much shorter. Don't forget, I'm a treasure hunter!"

Chapter 30: A direct attack on Alon's Paradise, focusing on efficiency."I can see an island ahead!" Usopp shouted from the watchtower.

The atmosphere was clearly different this time. Even Luffy maintained a serious expression, partly because Lake had spoken to him earlier.

This time, everyone was practically burning with anger. Their goal was clear: find that Arlong and take him down!

On the Going Merry, Nami seemed dejected, clutching her left shoulder, wanting to say something but unable to speak.

It seemed Nami's fear of fish-men hadn't completely disappeared. After all, it was a nightmare she'd lived since childhood. Even though Lake had displayed such terrifying power,

the nightmare hadn't vanished, and Nami was still afraid. Seeing this, Lake patted Nami's shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile.

Nami, having calmed down a bit, said, "Everyone... thank you, I..."

Seeing Nami like this, Sanji immediately said, "No need for thanks, Nami-san, your knight will definitely rescue you from this inferno!"

Zoro, standing nearby, said with a look of disgust, "Don't get killed by the fishmen, you perverted cook."

Sanji immediately retorted, "You, the injured one, are the easiest to kill, you moss-head!"

"Huh? What did you say!"

"I'm talking about you!"

...

Sure enough, as soon as Sanji boarded the ship, Lake had anticipated this. At first, Lake thought the two were in this situation because of some conflict.

However, after the past few days of travel, Lake had figured it out. The two just didn't like each other, but they also seemed to have a good relationship.

In short, it was a very special kind of tacit understanding, and Lake had gotten used to it. Now, their bickering conveniently eased the tense atmosphere.

The Going Merry docked quickly, but the crew didn't rush off. Lake immediately spoke to Usopp.

"Usopp, pull those little bugs out of the sea."

On the ship, only Luffy and Lake noticed something was amiss; even Zoro hadn't sensed anything, so they were all quite surprised.

But since it was Lake, it was probably true. Usopp immediately set up the Destroyer, scanned the sea, and then smiled.

"I see them!"

Bang! Bang!

Two shots were fired in quick succession, almost without pause. Usopp's sniping skills were undeniably high. Two powerful bullets pierced the seabed.

Soon, two pools of blood appeared on the surface. Lake took out a net, handed the other end to Sanji, and within moments, the two barely alive fish-men were pulled ashore.

Neither of them expected to be hit directly underwater, let alone with such force. Now, both were barely clinging to life.

After being pulled ashore, the two fish-men immediately recognized Nami. Just as they were about to cry for help, Lake swiftly brought down his blade.

*Sizzle!*

Without even giving them a chance to speak, Lake didn't want Nami to be further agitated. Arlong, that guy, always seemed to care about his own kind, right? These two were perfect for a show of force.

So Lake packed up the two fish-men's heads and had Nami lead the way. The others, sensing the somewhat violent aura emanating from Lake, swallowed hard.

On the way, Nami encountered the villagers of Cocoyasi Village, who were preparing to fight Arlong. Mayor Ken was like a father to Nami.

Ken confessed to Nami that they all knew about Nami's plan to collect 100 million to save the village, but they had pretended to stay away from her to avoid burdening her.

Upon learning the truth, Nami burst into tears. Lake felt heartbroken for Nami; she was so young when Bellemere died.

Fortunately, everything was about to end today. Lake invited all the villagers to watch the battle and witness Arlong and his gang's demise.

The villagers, unaware of what was happening, saw Nami wipe away her tears and approach Lake, saying, "They're my friends! I believe in them!"

Seeing Nami's expression, A-Jian knew this group was the refuge Nami had found at sea, especially since Nami seemed close to Lake.

So A-Jian went directly to Lake and said, "Kid! If you ever dare to bully Nami again, I'll make sure you pay for it, even if you run to the ends of the earth! You hear me?!"

Lake, for some reason, felt like he was being addressed by his father-in-law, and quickly nodded in agreement, inexplicably expanding the group.

The large group arrived directly at the entrance to Arlong Paradise, where Luffy, who had been holding back all the way, smashed through the park's wall with a single punch.

The group of fishmen inside, bewildered by what was happening, looked on in confusion. At that moment, Lake threw the two fishman heads he was holding inside.

The head rolled out, and the fish-men inside erupted in chaos upon seeing what it was. Arlong rose from his recliner, staring in disbelief at the scene before him.

Lake, seeing this, scoffed, "What a disgusting guy. He cares about his own kind, but he doesn't care about other people's lives at all."

Lake's voice drew Arlong's attention. Arlong's eyes were already bloodshot, and he said in a low voice to Lake, "Did you do this?"

Before Lake could answer, Luffy interrupted, "Which one is Arlong?!"

Arlong turned to Luffy and said, "I am Arlong, so did you do this?!"

Bang!

Unfortunately, the response was Luffy's fist, which sent Arlong flying, embedding him in another wall.

Seeing this, Lake spoke up, "The captain's already made his move, what are you waiting for? Let's cause a ruckus!"

Zoro and Sanji rushed in simultaneously. Usopp wanted to stand beside Lake, but Nami pulled him inside.

Lake wanted to tell Nami not to force herself, but seeing the resolute look in her eyes, he swallowed his words.

Afterwards, Lake arranged for Joseph and Johnny to protect the villagers watching, and then he stood there.

Having witnessed Lake's true power, his companions knew that if Lake were to intervene, they would be out of the picture. Therefore, Lake's role now was simply to hold the line.

Preventing unforeseen circumstances and protecting innocent civilians—that was Lake's mission. Earlier on the way, Lake had thought of the nearly 100 million Berries Nami had buried in the orange grove.

That money, barring any unforeseen circumstances, should be considered a treasure trove before Nami's contact with Lake. However, dealing with these scumbags was more important right now

Chapter 31: Clash of Cadres, A Complete Victory"Brother Arlong!!!"

The surrounding fishmen cried out in shock upon seeing their leader sent flying, a sight that prompted Lake to scoff.

"Let's finish this quickly."

Zoro and Sanji, the most eager of the group, charged into the fray. Moments later, most of the fishmen lay dead in pools of blood, while Zoro and Sanji stood there, their faces contorted with murderous intent.

"Don't drag me down with you like that, you idiot swordsman."

"What did you say! Bastard, I obviously took down twice as many as you!"

"Huh? I clearly took down most of them. If you hadn't been holding me back, I could have finished much faster."

"Huh? Bastard, looks like you don't know how powerful I am. You're the one dragging me down!"

...

The two of them inexplicably started arguing and were about to fight, but Lake didn't need to intervene.

Having taken down so many opponents, Arlong's subordinates naturally wouldn't let the two escape, roaring as they charged towards Zoro and Sanji.

Sanji, looking at the two fish-men with topknots, said somewhat speechlessly, "Your appearance is truly unbearable to look at. Let's just finish you off quickly."

This topknot guy was one of Arlong's subordinates, Croobi, a soft-boned fish-man skilled in fish-man karate.

Although his appearance was comical, he was actually the most serious and strongest of Arlong's subordinates.

Sanji, who had just joined, hadn't improved much yet. Although he would likely have a tough time, dealing with him shouldn't be a problem.

Zoro had also started fighting his opponent, an octopus fish-man named Hachi. Hachi was simple-minded and honest, a swordsman with six arms, hence his self-proclaimed Six-Sword Style, but his actual strength was actually quite weak.

Having inherited the swordsmanship, Zoro, though currently wielding only a Wado Ichimonji, held his own against the onslaught of six swords.

During the exchange, Zoro realized the octopus wasn't particularly strong, so he deflected it with a single sword strike and then kicked it in the chest.

Hachi was also sent flying, rolling several times on the ground before coming to a stop. Nami and Usopp didn't actively seek trouble with the executives.

However, Usopp, due to his Destruction ability, had eliminated more fish-men than Nami, a scene witnessed by the remaining executive.

A fish-man with pouty lips—a kissing fish-man—its protruding lips resembled those of a gunfish, and it could hold large amounts of water in its mouth and spit it out to attack enemies.

This creature immediately attacked Usopp, unleashing a spit cannon. Usopp had become quite adept at using Destruction recently.

Therefore, his Observation Haki had also improved significantly. Now, wielding his Destruction weapon, Usopp's Observation Haki was almost on par with Lake's, making it impossible for such an attack to hit him.

Seeing Usopp easily dodge his attack, Chu charged directly at him. Usopp, instinctively frightened, wanted to run away.

But turning around, he saw Lake staring at him expressionlessly. Although he couldn't see Lake's emotions, Usopp realized his mistake.

He gritted his teeth, abandoning his escape plan, and said to Nami beside him, "Nami, help me!"

Nami was somewhat surprised to see Usopp's expression, but immediately responded when she saw Chu charging towards him.

The two then, as if pre-arranged, immediately separated. Chu's target was naturally Usopp, and he charged straight at him.

Usopp's heart was pounding, but he forced himself to remain calm, using his Observation Haki to carefully sense Chu.

Just as Chu was getting closer and closer, about to touch him, Usopp suddenly crouched down, causing Chu to miss its target.

Then, Usopp casually pulled out a bottle of red stuff and threw it at Chu's face. Just then, Chu turned to look at Usopp.

The red stuff was directly smeared on Chu's face, and the instant burning sensation caused Chu to scream. Usopp, seeing this, put his hands on his hips and laughed loudly.

"Hahaha! My ultimate move, Devil Pepper Star, isn't it painful, is it!"

Chiu, painfully wiping the chili peppers from his face, shouted angrily upon hearing Usopp's voice, "You despicable human, die!"

*Pfft!*

Suddenly, this guy fired another water cannon at close range towards Usopp. Although he couldn't see it, he locked onto Usopp by sound.

However, all of this was part of Usopp's plan. Usopp calmly called out to Nami, and then the water cannon exploded in mid-air.

As if attacked by something, Usopp seized the opportunity to raise his Destruction sword and, without hesitation, hit the target with a single shot.

*Bang!*

Chiu, who was wiping the chili peppers from his face just a second ago, was instantly shot in the head and fell into a pool of blood. Killing these guys didn't give Usopp a single ounce of guilt.

This is the benefit of doing mental preparation beforehand. Nami looked at Chiu lying in a pool of blood without any pity.

Zoro, realizing Hachi wasn't very bright, didn't go all out. Then, Hachi surprisingly summoned a sea monster with a whistle.

It was a massive dugong, originally from the Grand Line, forcibly brought here by Arlong and his crew.

Its enormous size caused the villagers watching to gasp in fear. Seeing this creature, Luffy had a daring idea.

Rek, seeing Luffy's eyes light up, knew what he was up to. Without hesitation, he used Conqueror's Haki to scare Moo Moo away with a single glance.

The spectators were completely unaware of what had happened, but Luffy's crew knew exactly what was going on. Luffy pouted, looking at Rek with displeasure.

Lake had no time for playing games and said directly to Luffy, "Stop fooling around. As captain, if you don't take care of that guy quickly, I'm going to have to."

Hearing that Lake was going to take action himself, Luffy panicked and shouted, "No way! This guy has to be mine! I'm in! Prepare to die, Arlong!"

A completely bewildered Arlong hadn't even figured out what was happening. After emerging from the wall, he was surrounded by the corpses of his own comrades, even his subordinate, Chuu, was dead.

Hachi was defeated, and even MooMoo, the sea monster he brought from the Grand Line, inexplicably fled as soon as it appeared. His strongest subordinate, Croobi, was now also at a disadvantage.

This sudden turn of events left Arlong completely stunned, but Luffy didn't care what he was thinking and charged straight at Arlong, delivering a punch.

"Gum-Gum Bullet!"

Chapter 32 The Mouse That Came to the Door: An Opportunity for Fame*Thud!*

Another powerful blow knocked out Arlong's teeth, sending him spinning through the air, blood splattering from his mouth.

Landed on the ground, Arlong finally faced reality and roared angrily, "Who are you?! What have you done to my people?!"

But to his surprise, Nami answered him, shouting, "Arlong! You will pay for everything you've done!"

Arlong looked up and noticed Nami. He finally understood where these people came from—it was all Nami.

Rage made Arlong lose his mind. His eyes bloodshot, he charged towards Nami. Perhaps due to a sudden power surge, his speed was absurd.

Even Luffy missed him, but Nami showed no fear as Arlong charged towards her. She knew that man would protect her, and she was no longer afraid!

*Thud!*

As expected, the instant Arlong approached Nami, Lake appeared before her and delivered a powerful knee strike to his chin.

With a muffled thud, Arlong, coughing up blood, flew backward, landing right where Luffy was. Seeing this, Luffy, somewhat enraged, shouted,

"You bastard! You're clearly my opponent, yet you went to get beaten up by Lake! I'll beat you to a pulp!"

As he spoke, Luffy stretched out his arm and grabbed Arlong's body. Before Arlong could react, his body began to spin rapidly.

"Gum-Gum Spin!"

Luffy twisted his arm, coiling it into a pretzel shape, and unleashed the attack at Arlong.

Bang!

Arlong, struck, rolled his eyes back, then was slammed to the ground by Luffy. The power of the attack was evident in the spiderweb-like cracks that surrounded him.

As expected, Arlong was completely powerless to resist after the attack, though he was probably still alive—exactly the result Laker wanted.

At the same moment Luffy defeated Arlong, the sound of the battle ending came from Sanji's side.

"Fish-Man Karate - Thousand Tiles..."

"Lamb - SHOOT!"

Thud!

Kroobi didn't even have time to react before Sanji kicked him, snapping his neck and killing him instantly. Sanji was somewhat disheveled in this fight.

After all, this guy was indeed difficult to deal with, but Sanji still managed to light a cigarette while suppressing his trembling.

Now, only the final result remained. Laker brought Nami to Arlong's side and immediately drew his katana, handing it to Nami.

Having come this far, Nami naturally wouldn't let Arlong go. She had waited too long for this moment. Nami raised her katana.

But just as Nami was about to land, a lewd voice interrupted her: "Stop!"

The voice came from a man with a lewd appearance who clearly wasn't a good person, accompanied by a group of Marines. This guy must be that rat.

Seeing the Marines appear, Nami hesitated and stopped what she was doing. Then, Lake, standing beside her, immediately said, "Do it."

Nami paused, meeting Lake's gaze. Quickly, she regained her confidence from Lake's eyes and slashed down without hesitation.

*Sizzle!*

The sharp blade cleanly severed Arlong's head, a sight that greatly surprised Rat, who immediately shouted at Lake and the others.

"Do you want to die?! You dare to lay a hand on me! I'm arresting you now as a Marine Captain. Surrender if you don't want to die!"

As Rat spoke, the surrounding Marines raised their guns, aiming at them. Zoro coldly looked at the group and said, "Want to fight?"

Lake smiled and stepped forward, saying, "An opportunity for fame delivered to my doorstep, how can I refuse? Leave it to me."

Hearing Lake's words, Zoro immediately lowered his guard, silently leaning against the wall to rest. The rest of his crew remained silent.

Seeing that Lake dared to approach him, Rat immediately shouted, "You still think you can resist? Don't think that just because you nobodies managed to beat the fishmen, you can act so arrogantly in front of me! Fire!"

Bang! Bang! Bang...

At Rat's command, the surrounding marines opened fire on Lake without hesitation, but unfortunately, all their fire was like hitting steel.

The fact that Lake wasn't harmed at all startled the Marines, who began to retreat. Rat, naturally, was also terrified, trembling and shouting.

"What kind of monster are you? Don't come any closer! I'm warning you! I'm Captain Rat of the 16th Marine Branch, don't come any closer..."

Lake simply approached them step by step, saying, "One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel. Looks like we're all in the same boat, so there's nothing to hold back."

With that, Lake suddenly raised his leg and kicked towards the Marines. Before they could even understand what was happening, the Marines began screaming in agony.

As attacks like sword beams pierced through their bodies, within seconds, the Marines behind Rat were either dead or wounded; none of them were still standing.

Now Rat was completely terrified, collapsing to the ground and begging for mercy. Lake ignored him, stomping his left foot hard on Rat's left cheek.

The force was so great that it left a footprint in the ground. The rat was completely silenced; he dared not utter another word and could only obediently wait for Lake to speak.

"I'll give you a chance to live. First, clean up the mess by eliminating all the fish-men here. Then, rebuild all the damaged parts of this town. Finally, our nameless pirate gang not only defeated Arlong's crew but also directly attacked your Marines. That's no small crime, is it? You know what to do."

The rat was so terrified he was about to wet himself, so he nodded incessantly no matter what Lake said. After Lake finished speaking, he withdrew his foot and stood still.

Seeing this, the rat immediately scrambled to escape, but Lake suddenly added, "Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, if you don't do as I say, I don't mind visiting your Sixteenth Branch."

Lake's smiling words became a lifelong nightmare for the rat. He was already terrified and didn't dare to respond, fleeing for his life.

Now it was finally over. The villagers who had watched the whole thing were still reeling. Lake went to Nami and retrieved Asauchi.

Then he turned and looked at the tall building in Arlong Park, saying, "That thing is just an eyesore."

Suddenly, dark Haki enveloped Asauchi, and with a seemingly casual swing of his sword, the next second...

BOOM!

The massive building was split in two and began to collapse. Nami, seeing this, burst into tears again, hugging Lake tightly and thanking him while crying.

Chapter 33 The Grand Feast, The Rat's Perfect AssistanceSanji, seeing Nami crying in Lake's arms, was so jealous he almost ground his teeth to powder. He'd sensed it the moment he boarded the ship.

Nami's relationship with Lake was closer than with anyone else, but adhering to the principle of "seeing but not saying," Sanji still felt envious and resentful.

Lake, looking at Nami crying in his arms, sighed and gently wiped away her tears, saying, "Alright, it's all over."

Luffy, standing nearby, shouted, "Shouldn't we have a banquet?!"

Usopp, hearing this, stepped forward and nudged Luffy, saying, "This place has been exploited so much by Arlong, there's nothing left for a banquet!"

But at this moment, Ken, who had been watching the battle, stepped forward and said, "Have one! Of course we should! And it should be the grandest banquet ever! Tell everyone in the surrounding villages that Arlong Paradise is gone, we're free!"

Ken's voice finally brought the villagers, who were still standing there, to their senses. They immediately cheered excitedly and ran off into the distance.

Hearing Ken's words, Luffy jumped up happily, and he and Usopp began dancing a strange, exaggerated dance.

Ken then turned his gaze to Lake and Nami. Nami, sensing Ken's strange look, immediately fled from Lake's arms.

Then, acting as if nothing had happened, he began searching for things in the ruins of Arlong Park. Lake always felt uneasy under Ken's gaze.

He always felt like he had done something wrong, so Lake avoided Ken's eyes, awkwardly rubbing his nose.

Unexpectedly, Ken said to Lake, "Come find me on the hillside east of Cocoyasi Village tonight. I have something to tell you."

Lake looked in that direction, then nodded in agreement. The banquet was about to begin, and the villagers were remarkably efficient.

By nightfall, everything was already set up, and amidst the lively atmosphere and cheers, the grand banquet began.

...

Meanwhile, at the 16th Marine Division, Captain Rat had recovered and excitedly dialed a Den Den Mushi.

"Hello! Can you hear me?"

"Yes, this is Marine Headquarters, reporting."

"This is the 16th Marine Branch, I am Colonel Rat, Marine ID: 00733, requesting Headquarters permission!"

"I can hear you without you having to shout."

"Listen up! A vicious pirate crew has appeared in the East Blue, called the Straw Hat Pirates! They pose a significant threat! They've already defeated Arlong's crew, who have the highest bounty in the East Blue!"

"The Straw Hat Pirates... Arlong's crew defeated? Received."

"Not over yet. According to my investigation, this group has committed countless atrocities in the East Blue, including arson, murder, and looting, even directly attacking the Marines and injuring a large number of Marines!"

"Countless atrocities... attacking the Marines..."

"Right, right! Treat all six of them as enemies of the government and issue bounties on their entire crew! Especially the black-haired swordsman brat, probably the vice-captain, he poses a considerable threat!"

"Bounties on the entire crew... Received, I will report truthfully."

"Okay, I'll fax their photos over right now!"

"Received."

*Click*

After the Den Den Mushi hung up, the mouse's anger lingered, but the thought of Lake's appearance instantly extinguished his desire for revenge. He could only vent his frustration by slamming the table.

The Straw Hat crew, busy eating, drinking, and having fun at the banquet, were completely unaware of what was happening. Everyone was enjoying the festivities.

The atmosphere didn't lessen; in fact, it became even more cheerful. Lake, carrying a plate of pastries, silently walked eastward.

Soon he saw Ken, who was sitting in front of a makeshift cross-shaped grave mound, drinking. Hearing footsteps, Ken turned around and said, "You're here. Come sit down."

Lake didn't refuse and went straight to Ken's side, offering him the pastries. However, Ken didn't eat them but instead began to reminisce.

"Kid, let me introduce you. This is Bellemere, Nami and Nojiko's mother. I think you should come and meet her since you kidnapped Nami."

Hearing A-Jian's words, Lake almost choked on his pastry. He quickly grabbed A-Jian's drink and gulped down two mouthfuls before swallowing, saying helplessly.

"Nami is my partner. Don't talk like I forced her."

A-Jian looked at Lake and smiled, saying, "Partner? I think more than that... Fine, kid, Nami is yours from now on. If one day I find out you've made her lose her smile, even if I can't beat you, I'll fight you to the death!"

"Alright, alright~ You already said that before, you're getting on in years, don't risk your life so easily. Nami has always considered you her father."

"You brat... Nami was right about you, she's right. Even for Nami's sake, I can't just die like that."

"That's right, that's right~"

"If I can't see Nami get married, I'm sure Bellemere won't let me off the hook even in heaven, hahahaha!"

"Pfft! Uh... how did we get onto the topic of marriage?!"

"Hahahaha! Alright kid, go back, I need to have a chat with Bellemere alone."

Lake, of course, wasn't that tactless. He took out the two bottles of wine he'd taken from the banquet from his spatial ring, placed them on the ground, and then turned and left.

This action made A-Jian's smile even wider. He opened the two bottles, poured one onto the grave mound in front of him, and said with a look of satisfaction.

"Bellmere, Nami's grown up, and she's met a really caring young man. We don't have to worry about her anymore…"

Lake had just returned to the village when he saw Luffy, his mouth stuffed with meat and holding two chicken legs. Upon seeing Lake, Luffy immediately swallowed all the food in his mouth.

Then he said, "Lake, where have you been? Oh, and do you know where the melon and ham are?"

Lake looked at Luffy helplessly and said, "I really don't know how much you can eat. It's over there, but it might be sold out; it's limited."

Hearing Lake's words, Luffy immediately shouted and rushed towards the direction Lake was pointing: "Melon and ham, wait for me!"

Lake was amused by Luffy and quietly returned to the village, rejoining the lively atmosphere.

No one expected that this grand banquet would last for three whole days, just as lively as the first day.