Mox had been drifting across the vast blue waters of the East Blue for three whole days.
After crossing stretches of sea that alternated between calm waters and gentle ripples, a lush green island finally appeared on the horizon.
This was the southernmost island in the East Blue.
Because it was far from the route leading to the entrance of the Grand Line, its relatively remote location had allowed it to escape the attention of most pirates.
The island wasn’t large, but it possessed a rare sense of peace and vitality.
Merchant ships and fishing boats came and went in an orderly fashion around the harbor, while pedestrians strolled leisurely through the streets.
The cries of vendors and the sounds of laughter blended together into a peaceful melody.
“I heard from the people at the Baratie that this is Vice Admiral Gala’s hometown.
Apparently, he retired here to recuperate after being injured during a mission?”
Mox stepped onto the pier, immediately noticing that the atmosphere here was different from other places.
There was none of the tense, hostile air he had encountered elsewhere.
Instead, the island carried the calmness of a place that had weathered countless storms.
He soon realized the source of this security.
Along both sides of the streets and at key points around the harbor, he could see guards dressed in civilian clothes.
They stood tall and straight, moving with military discipline.
They weren’t regular Marines, but they possessed the bearing of soldiers.
Their sturdy physiques concealed explosive strength, and their sharp, eagle-like eyes constantly swept over the passing crowds with unmistakable vigilance.
“These people have clearly undergone rigorous military training.”
Mox understood immediately.
These guards had to be the work of the retired Marine Vice Admiral Gala.
With a veteran who had once wielded considerable authority stationed here, along with a group of guards personally trained by him, it was no wonder this little island had managed to remain untouched amid the chaos of the East Blue.
However, the island was considerably livelier than usual today.
A huge banner stretched across the main street, its bold lettering impossible to miss:
“East Blue Big Eater Tournament — Gather the Strong, Compete for the Ultimate Prize!”
Vendors carrying ingredients could be seen everywhere.
The seafood in their baskets still carried the salty scent of the sea, while the meat glistened with freshness.
The fruits and vegetables were so plump and vibrant that they looked as though juice might burst from them at any moment.
In front of numerous hastily erected cooking stations, chefs were showing off their skills.
Some were adjusting sauces, while others demonstrated their knife work.
The air was filled with the enticing aromas of various foods, drawing passersby to stop and watch.
Following the flow of people and asking around for directions, Mox eventually arrived at a spacious outdoor plaza.
The place was already bustling with activity.
Several workers were working together to assemble an extraordinarily long dining table that stretched across nearly the entire plaza.
Its surface was smooth and polished, large enough to seat hundreds of people at once, with rows of high stools arranged neatly along both sides.
At the front of the plaza stood a temporary stage that had already been completed, clearly intended for the host and the awards ceremony.
A long line had formed in front of a tent marked “Registration.”
Mox walked closer and glanced at the notice board.
Registration Fee: 1,000,000 Berries.
“One million?” someone nearby exclaimed.
“Wasn’t it only 100,000 Berries in previous years?
That’s a tenfold increase!”
“What do you know?” another person whispered, excitement evident in his voice.
“This year’s champion’s prize is a Devil Fruit!
I heard it’s worth at least 100 million Berries!”
The crowd immediately erupted into discussion.
“A Devil Fruit?
No wonder the registration fee is so high!”
“Even if I spend a million, winning a Devil Fruit would still be an incredible deal!”
Watching people pull out their money one after another to register, Mox’s lips curled slightly.
The organizers were certainly clever.
The tournament would stimulate spending throughout the island, while the registration fees alone were enough to recover their costs.
They might even make a fortune from the Devil Fruit itself.
After all, the more people who entered, the greater the total revenue—and it could easily exceed the actual value of the prize.
Mox walked up to the registration desk and asked the staff member for more details.
“Excuse me, if I have an invitation, do I still need to register?”
The staff member immediately became more serious.
“Contestants holding a Gold-Embossed Invitation don’t need to pay the registration fee.
You can participate directly.
Do you have any other questions, miss?”
“Is this it?”
Mox took out the Gold-Embossed Invitation he had “picked up” from the Big Eater Pirates.
“It’s gold!”
The staff member and several nearby spectators stared at the “little girl” in astonishment.
“Anyone holding a Gold-Embossed Invitation placed in the top ten in a previous tournament,” the staff member explained.
“Not only are they exempt from the registration fee, but all their expenses on the island are covered.
They’re also entitled to stay in special guest accommodations.”
Mox’s heart stirred.
He hadn’t expected the captain of the Big Eater Pirates to be useless in a fight but number one when it came to eating.
He touched the understated yet luxurious Gold-Embossed Invitation in his pocket.
Since it came with such benefits, there was no reason to waste them.
The tournament was still two days away.
He could use the time to properly enjoy this rare stretch of peace.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
By the day of the Big Eater Tournament, the entire plaza was already packed with people.
The stands were completely full, and the cheers and whistles of the spectators were deafening.
Nearly half of the contestants were already seated along both sides of the long table.
Every one of them was warming up and preparing themselves, their eyes filled with hunger for the championship.
The competition was scheduled to begin at noon.
With an hour remaining, Mox took out his Gold-Embossed Invitation and handed it to the staff member at the entrance.
The moment the staff member saw the insignia on it, his eyes widened dramatically.
His face filled with disbelief before quickly changing to one of respectful caution.
“Miss, please follow me.
Your seat is over there.”
Mox couldn’t be bothered to explain anymore.
He was already completely immune to this.
Under the curious and probing gazes of the surrounding contestants, Mox was led to the center seat directly beneath the stage.
The position offered an excellent view and faced the stage directly.
Clearly, it had been reserved for contestants of particularly distinguished status.
The moment he sat down, a loud, rough voice came from beside him.
“What the hell?
Why hasn’t this started yet?
I’m starving!”
Mox turned his head.
Sitting beside him was a middle-aged woman weighing at least five hundred jin.
Her face was covered in layers of flesh, and she was irritably patting her enormous, round belly.
When she noticed Mox sitting beside her, she immediately stopped complaining.
She narrowed her eyes and looked him up and down as though examining some rare curiosity.
“Hey, kid.
You’re here to compete?”
Her booming voice drew the attention of several people nearby.
“What is the tournament committee thinking?
What is a little runt like you doing here?
Go sit at the children’s table in the back!
Hahaha!”
Before Mox could say anything, a staff member hurriedly explained,
“This contestant holds a Gold-Embossed Invitation.”
“Gold?”
The woman’s mocking expression instantly froze.
Disbelief replaced it.
She leaned closer and lowered her voice.
“Kid, I came in third place last year.
How come I’ve never seen you before?”
“Don’t tell me you stole your parent’s invitation.
Hahaha!
Now that’s interesting!”
Mox raised his eyes and glanced at her before ignoring her completely.
She’s just an NPC.
What’s there to talk about?
Seeing that Mox had no intention of responding, the woman’s face turned from green to white.
Eventually, she snorted resentfully and turned away.
As time passed, the contestants gradually arrived, and the seats along the long table slowly filled.
The spectators in the stands became increasingly excited, and the atmosphere grew hotter by the minute.
Finally, only five minutes remained before the competition.
The host strode onto the stage with a spirited expression and picked up the microphone.
“Ladies and gentlemen!
Contestants!
Welcome to the East Blue Big Eater Tournament!”
“I’ll be your host!”
Thunderous applause and cheers immediately erupted from the audience.
The host basked in the enthusiasm.
Once the noise finally subsided somewhat, he continued.
“I believe everyone is already impatient to begin!”
“The rules of this competition are very simple!
Our staff will serve ten enormous dishes one after another.
Whoever finishes every dish first will be crowned this year’s champion!”
“In previous years, the champion was often decided before the tenth dish was even served!”
“So let’s hope this year’s contestants can give us an even more exciting surprise!”
He paused before changing his tone.
“Additionally, to ensure fairness and prevent anyone from cheating by using Devil Fruit abilities, we’ve prepared specially reinforced elastic belts for every contestant!”
“Everyone, please put them on now!”
The staff immediately stepped forward and distributed the belts.
Mox accepted his belt.
The moment his fingertips touched it, he felt a sudden weakness.
A force capable of suppressing Devil Fruit abilities.
Seastone.
“This organizer certainly knows what they’re doing.”
Mox thought to himself.
“They’ve controlled the amount of Seastone perfectly.
It won’t leave someone completely incapacitated, but it’ll still completely suppress their Devil Fruit abilities.”
However, this had absolutely no effect on him.
The confidence behind his determination to win the competition did not come from his own appetite.
It came from the Trash Can Space rewarded by the system—a storage space he could manipulate with his mind rather than through his Devil Fruit ability.
This ridiculous system even insists on calling it a ‘Trash Can.’
He had long since realized that the system seemed to have something against him.
Today’s host wore a golden-yellow suit and a fox mask.
He was just about to announce the start of the competition when a loud, powerful voice suddenly came from the entrance.
“I hope the old man isn’t late!
Hahaha!”
Everyone turned toward the voice.
A muscular elderly man walked into the plaza.
He wore his iconic dog-head hat.
His face was etched with the marks of age, but his eyes remained as sharp as an eagle’s.
An imposing aura naturally radiated from him, commanding respect without the need for intimidation.
The moment Mox saw that face, his pupils contracted sharply.
His entire body froze.
That dog-head hat.
That unmistakable grin.
And that invisible pressure…
“Marine Vice Admiral…
Garp?!”
The name exploded inside Mox’s mind.
One of the greatest powerhouses in the world of pirates.
The legendary Marine who had once chased the Pirate King, Gol D.
Roger, across the seas.
Luffy’s grandfather.
The Hero of the Marines.
Why was he here?!
What made Mox’s scalp tingle even more was that, after sweeping his gaze across the plaza, Garp walked straight toward the long table.
And then—
He sat down directly opposite Mox.
There was no need to guess.
That old man was most likely last year’s champion…
An enormous pressure instantly descended upon Mox.
He could practically feel the air around him solidifying.
Garp also noticed Mox staring at him.
His gaze settled on the young man, and a hint of surprise flashed through his eyes.
It quickly turned into a look of interest.
He chuckled softly.
“Looks like this year’s competition won’t be so boring after all.”
The host had clearly recognized Garp as well.
“Oh!
It’s our previous champion, Vice Admiral Garp!
Everyone, let’s give him a warm welcome!”
After the applause and cheers died down, the host raised his voice.
“All right!
Everyone is ready!”
“I hereby announce that the East Blue Big Eater Tournament officially begins!”
The moment his voice fell, the staff pushed out carts loaded with food.
The first dish was Tuna Sashimi.
An entire tuna more than a meter long had been sliced into pieces as thin as cicada wings and arranged neatly across a gigantic platter.
Soy sauce and wasabi were placed beside it.
The delicate freshness of the fish combined with the sharp fragrance of the condiments was enough to make anyone want to start eating immediately.
Mox was genuinely hungry.
He didn’t bother using his ability yet.
Instead, he picked up his chopsticks and began eating quickly but elegantly.
The tuna was tender and practically melted in his mouth, carrying the fresh sweetness of the sea.
It tasted excellent.
Garp, meanwhile, was much more direct.
He grabbed a huge stack of sashimi, dipped it into some wasabi, and stuffed it into his mouth.
“Hmm!
Fresh!”
The first dish was quickly devoured.
The second dish followed immediately.
Roasted Bordeaux Goat.
An entire goat had been roasted until its skin was golden and glistening.
The crispy exterior released streams of oil between the meat, filling the air with an intense aroma.
Mox remained composed.
The goat was perfectly roasted—crispy on the outside and tender within, without the slightest trace of gaminess.
He ate with considerable satisfaction.
When he finished, he patted his stomach.
I can still eat more.
Garp and the hefty woman beside him also dispatched their portions with ease.
The woman in particular ate with oil dripping down her face, her speed showing no signs of slowing.
The third dish was a Giant Burger.
The burger was nearly half as tall as a person, with layers upon layers of bread, beef patties, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese.
The portion was enormous.
Just looking at it was enough to make most people feel full.
This dish was clearly the first major dividing line.
Many contestants struggled halfway through and eventually shook their heads and gave up.
Less than half of the contestants managed to finish the first three dishes.
Those who remained were all elite eaters with astonishing appetites.
Mox looked at the enormous burger and slightly raised an eyebrow.
If I keep eating like this, I’m really going to be stuffed.
Without changing his expression, he silently activated his mental control and transferred the food he had chewed into the Trash Can Space.
On the surface, he continued taking large bites.
His movements remained smooth and natural, without revealing the slightest flaw.
“Whew…”
When the last bite disappeared, Mox deliberately exhaled in relief, pretending to be somewhat exhausted.
Across from him, Garp burped, patted his belly, and remained completely unfazed.
The hefty woman beside them wiped her mouth, a trace of smugness in her eyes.
The fourth dish.
The fifth dish.
One dish after another arrived, and the number of eliminated contestants continued to rise.
By the time the seventh dish arrived—a huge basin of thick Seafood Chowder—only ten contestants remained, including Mox, Garp, and the hefty woman.
The chowder was packed with ingredients.
Shrimp, crab, shellfish, chunks of fish—everything was in there.
The broth was rich and heavy, with an incredibly filling texture.
After eating so much solid food, having to drink a thick soup was an enormous test for the stomach.
Garp scooped up a spoonful and swallowed it.
His brows furrowed slightly, and his expression changed.
Clearly, even he found this dish troublesome.
Mox, meanwhile, began his performance.
He clutched his stomach and put on a pained expression.
Every sip of soup looked as though it required all his strength, and his pace gradually slowed.
The hefty woman beside him struggled through several mouthfuls before finally putting down her spoon.
She slammed her fist against the table in frustration.
“That’s it!
I really can’t drink another drop…”
After several more dishes eliminated the remaining contestants, only two people were left at the table.
Mox and Garp.
When they simultaneously finished the seventh bowl of soup, Garp wiped his mouth and looked at Mox.
His eyes had become considerably more serious.
“Kid, I didn’t expect you to have such a big appetite.”
He narrowed his eyes.
“You aren’t cheating, are you?”
Mox scratched his head.
This is so damn awkward…
Nevertheless, he put on an innocent, harmless smile and replied sweetly,
“Grandpa, surely you’re joking.
We have referees watching us the entire time.
How could I possibly cheat?”
He waved his hand.
“I wouldn’t do that!”
Garp took a deep breath.
The aura surrounding him suddenly changed.
“Hmph!
Brat, don’t think you can beat the old man just like this!”
“From here on, I’m getting serious!”
“If you want to compete with me for the championship, you’re still a hundred years too early!”
The moment he finished speaking, Garp’s body shifted slightly.
His previously bulging stomach visibly shrank at an astonishing speed.
He had activated Life Return!
Holy crap!
Old man, that’s seriously not fair!
Mox could only curse inwardly.
The eighth dish was an enormous platter of extraordinarily long noodles.
The ninth dish was an entire roasted camel.
Even after using Life Return, Garp’s expression was beginning to look strained.
His swollen stomach clearly revealed the limits of his capacity, and fine beads of sweat had even appeared on his forehead.
Mox continued his “struggle.”
He clutched his stomach and wore an agonized expression, looking as though he might collapse from overeating at any moment.
Yet his hands never stopped moving.
Amid the thunderous cheers of the audience, the two men finished the roasted camel almost simultaneously.
Garp breathed heavily and stared sharply at Mox.
“Give up, kid.
I could eat another hundred dishes!”
If it weren’t for the cold sweat on his forehead and the slight trembling of his hand, Mox might actually have believed him.
Mox also pretended to be out of breath.
“Grandpa, you should stop forcing yourself.
Be careful your stomach doesn’t explode.”
The two stared at each other for three seconds.
Their gazes met in midair as though sparks were flying between them.
The next second, they simultaneously raised their hands and slammed them onto the table.
“SERVE THE FOOD!”
The host was so excited that his voice was nearly hoarse.
“MY GOODNESS!
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!”
“We have finally reached the tenth dish!”
“These two contestants have made it all the way to the final course!”
“This year’s competition is absolutely incredible!
This is a historic moment!”
“BRING OUT THE TENTH AND FINAL DISH!”
Amid the anticipation of the entire crowd, the staff pushed out a gigantic platter.
On it stood a mountain of desserts.
It was the world-famous Fish-Man Island specialty.
The cake was built from layer upon layer of delicate pastry and cream, adorned with abundant fruit and giving off an irresistible sweet aroma.
Looking at the towering “cake mountain,” neither Mox nor Garp hesitated.
They immediately buried their heads and started eating.
Time passed second by second.
The mountain of cake visibly shrank.
When Garp had eaten roughly half of it, he suddenly stopped.
He lowered his spoon and looked at Mox.
His expression was complicated.
“Kid…”
Garp spoke, his voice slightly hoarse.