The unparalleled warmth and exquisite flavor awakened the brightest, most cherished memory buried deep within the little girl’s heart.
“Mom…” Her sob was like a heavy hammer striking everyone’s heart.
Every noble.
Every guard.
Even the Celestial Dragon seated high above.
They stared at the scene in stunned silence.
For the first time in their lives, that simple plate of pancakes let them experience something they had never possessed before— True light.
Bakara’s face turned deathly pale.
He looked at his own dish—Deep-Sea Stars.
Beautiful.
Luxurious.
Cold.
Empty.
Then he looked at Ryne’s Dawn, a dish capable of moving people to tears and rekindling hope itself.
He knew.
He had lost.
Completely.
“N-No…
Impossible…” Bakara staggered backward in a daze.
“I’m the Master Chef…
I…” “You lost.” Rocks’ voice came from behind him like a death sentence.
Saint Garumarco abruptly rose from his jeweled throne, pointing excitedly at Ryne.
“You!
That dish of yours!
Make another one for me!
No—make a hundred!
You’re going to be my personal chef!” His bodyguards immediately stepped forward to seize Ryne.
But Rocks moved first.
He stood in front of Ryne, looking up at the Celestial Dragon with an incomparably savage, arrogant grin.
“Sorry.” “My Head Chef isn’t someone you get to lay your hands on.” He stepped forward.
An overwhelming aura erupted into the sky, instantly engulfing the entire plaza.
“Well…” “The appetizer is over.” Rolling his neck, Rocks produced a series of loud cracks.
“Now it’s time for the main course.” His words boomed across the silent plaza like thunder.
The bodyguards surrounding Saint Garumarco finally shook themselves free from the terrifying pressure of Conqueror’s Haki.
As the World Government’s elite, they were warriors who would draw their blades against any pirate.
More than a dozen agents dressed in black suits instantly drew their weapons.
Cipher Pol Aegis 0 (CP0).
Like ghosts, they rushed toward Rocks from every direction in perfect coordination, cutting off every avenue of escape.
“Protect Saint Garumarco!” Fast.
But someone else was faster.
“WAHAHAHA!
Finally my turn to stretch my muscles!” With a booming laugh, Gatz charged forward like a moving mountain, planting himself in front of Rocks.
He didn’t even bother using the enormous anchor on his shoulder.
Instead, he simply threw a fist the size of a sandbag at the first CP0 agent.
The agent sneered.
His mastery of Iron Body (Tekkai) could withstand cannon fire.
What could an ordinary punch possibly do?
BOOM!
A deafening impact echoed through the plaza.
To everyone’s horror…
The CP0 agent’s proud Iron Body shattered like a fragile eggshell.
His chest caved inward as if he’d been struck head-on by a charging elephant.
Blood sprayed from his mouth as he flew backward, crashing through seven or eight fellow agents before finally stopping.
“What?!” The remaining CP0 agents froze in shock.
That single moment of hesitation was all it took.
A streak of silver flashed through the battlefield.
Silver moved.
His figure blurred like a phantom.
The spear in his hands seemed alive.
Every flick left behind countless afterimages.
He didn’t kill anyone.
Yet the spearhead and shaft struck each opponent’s wrist, knee, throat, and other vulnerable joints from impossible angles with absolute precision.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
A rapid series of crisp impacts rang out like heavy rain striking bamboo.
When the echoes faded…
Not a single CP0 elite remained standing.
Some clutched shattered wrists.
Others collapsed while holding their knees.
Weapons scattered across the ground.
The entire battle flowed so smoothly it resembled an elegant yet merciless dance.
“Tch.” “Captain, these guys’ bones are even more fragile than a Sea King’s.” “They’re no fun at all.” Silver rested his spear on one shoulder, speaking as casually as if he’d merely finished a routine chore.
Nearby, Dorum silently walked to Ryne’s side.
He never lifted a finger.
Standing like an iron tower, he simply guarded his young Head Chef.
Every guard who tried to approach instinctively retreated under his cold, intimidating stare.
From the moment Rocks spoke until every guard had fallen…
Barely a dozen breaths had passed.
The nobles in the plaza were completely dumbfounded.
Their mouths hung open as they trembled uncontrollably.
The CP0 agents they had believed represented the World Government’s greatest strength…
Had been utterly crushed.
Saint Garumarco himself froze.
Behind his bubble helmet, genuine fear finally appeared on his pampered face.
“Y-Who…
who are you people?” Rocks ignored him completely.
Instead, he walked over to the CP0 agent Gatz had nearly beaten to death.
Stepping on the man’s chest, he looked down at him.
“Tell me.” “Where’s the most valuable treasure on this island?” “Ptui!” “I…
I’ll never betray the World Government!” The man tried to cling to the last shred of his pride.
Rocks smiled.
Turning toward Ryne, he said, “Head Chef…” “It seems our main course wasn’t flavorful enough.” “This guest doesn’t have much of an appetite.” Ryne immediately understood.
He picked up one of the remaining pancakes and crouched beside the injured agent.
Holding the plate beneath the man’s nose…
The warm, pure fragrance of Dawn surged forward once again.
The aroma capable of awakening every beautiful memory flooded his senses.
The CP0 agent began trembling violently.
His will collapsed at astonishing speed.
On one side…
Unbearable physical agony.
On the other…
A temptation so profound it promised salvation for his very soul.
It was a torment far crueler than torture.
“I’ll talk…” “I’ll tell you…” He finally broke.
“I-In the Golden Treasury…
deep inside the mountaintop Vacation Estate…” “There are treasures gathered from all over the world…” “And…” “And the Heavenly Tribute collected from the Prospar Kingdom …” “Excellent.” Rocks nodded in satisfaction.
Lifting his foot, he swept his gaze across everyone present before finally stopping on Saint Garumarco.
His voice wasn’t loud.
Yet every word echoed clearly throughout the plaza.
“Today’s a good day.” “So I’ll spare your lives.” “Everything of value on this island…” “Belongs to me now.” “And one more thing.” He pointed at the utterly broken Bakara.
“This man’s cooking is an insult to food itself.” “From this day forward…” “I don’t ever want to hear the title Master Chef associated with him again.” Bakara’s face turned ashen.
His legs gave way beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground.
He understood.
It was over.
Not only his culinary career…
His entire life had just been sentenced to death.
Saint Garumarco trembled with fury.
Pointing at Rocks, he shrieked, “How dare you!” You're stealing the treasure of a Celestial Dragon!
“A Marine Admiral will arrive soon!” “None of you are getting away!” “A Marine Admiral?” Rocks laughed as though he’d heard the greatest joke imaginable.
His laughter resounded across the heavens with unrivaled arrogance.
“Then let them come.” “It’ll be the perfect chance for the world to see…” “…whether these so-called gods bleed.” Ignoring the utterly terrified crowd, he waved to his crew.
“Gatz.” “Go collect our spoils.” “Silver.
Dorum.” “Protect our Head Chef.” “Yeah!” Laughing excitedly, Gatz hoisted his massive anchor and strode toward the mountaintop treasury.
Each step made the ground tremble beneath his feet, like a raging bull charging into a japanese shop.
Rocks walked over to Ryne and affectionately ruffled his hair.
His smile was filled with approval.
“Head Chef.” “How was today’s main course?” Looking at the chaos his single dish had set into motion, Ryne finally allowed himself the faintest smile.
“The timing was perfect.” The Island of Splendor suffered an unprecedented plundering.
Inside the Golden Treasury, Gatz was like a child in a candy store.
Gold bars.
Jewels.
Ancient works of art.
Anything that glittered was stuffed into several enormous sacks he found in the vault.
When he returned to the plaza carrying mountains of treasure on his shoulders, the assembled nobles nearly had their eyes pop out of their sockets.
Their hearts ached at the sight.
Yet not a single person dared utter a word.
Under the watchful eyes of the island’s elite, the Rocks Pirates swaggered away.
They didn’t board the small boat they’d originally arrived in.
Instead, they commandeered the harbor’s most luxurious and fastest gilded three-masted sailing ship.
The moment Dorum stepped aboard, his eyes lit up.
“The keel’s decent…” “But these sails are absolute garbage…” He grumbled the entire time while skillfully remodeling the vessel.
In less than half an hour, the flashy noble pleasure ship had been transformed into a pirate ship with vastly superior performance.
Only after it sailed away from the harbor did the island’s suppressed emotions finally erupt.
Saint Garumarco’s furious screams echoed into the sky.
He swore the audacious pirates would pay the highest possible price.
The news spread even faster than word of the cooking duel .
“Rookie Pirate Crew Publicly Challenges a Celestial Dragon!” “Master Chef Bakara Suffers Complete Mental Collapse!” “Island of Splendor’s Treasury Completely Plundered—Losses Beyond Estimation!” One explosive headline after another was carried across the seas by the News Coo.
For the first time, the pirate crew known as the Rocks Pirates burst onto the world stage in the most domineering way imaginable.
Marine Headquarters was shaken.
The World Government’s highest authorities were enraged.
Countless organizations turned their attention toward this dangerous new rising star.
Meanwhile…
That very “rising star” was lazily sunbathing on the deck of their newly acquired ship.
“WAHAHAHA!
That felt amazing!” Gatz lay atop a mountain of treasure, grinning from ear to ear.
“Captain, we’re rich now, aren’t we?” Rocks lounged with one leg crossed over the other, casually rolling a ruby the size of a pigeon egg between his fingers.
“Money’s just a tool.” “Nothing interesting about it.” His gaze shifted toward Ryne, who was busy in the galley experimenting with new ingredients.
A playful smile tugged at his lips.
“Though…” “We can at least use it to build our Head Chef a proper kitchen.” At dinnertime, Ryne prepared an extravagant feast using the finest ingredients taken from the Island of Splendor.
Flame-grilled A5 meat steak.
A rich golden bisque made from the legs of a giant deep-sea king crab.
A vibrant rainbow fruit salad made from an assortment of rare fruits.
With premium ingredients of this quality, the power of the Way of Food reached new heights.
Everyone could feel subtle but unmistakable changes taking place within their bodies.
Their strength.
Their speed.
Their senses.
All steadily improved.
After dinner, Rocks gathered everyone together.
He spread out the newest confidential World Government nautical chart that he’d “borrowed” from the king’s study.
“We’re famous now.” His tone remained calm.
“From this point on, the Marines and Cipher Pol will come after us like sharks smelling blood.” “We can’t afford to visit places like the Island of Splendor anymore.” “So where are we headed?” Dorum asked.
“Back to the East Blue?” “No.” Rocks shook his head.
His finger slowly traced the map before stopping firmly on an uncharted region in the middle of the Grand Line.
No islands were marked there.
Only a skull symbol…
And a line of ancient writing.
The Land Where Gods Slumber.
“Here.”
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