The moment Rocks joined the fight…
The outcome was never in doubt.
He was like a tiger charging into a flock of sheep.
Every punch carried overwhelming force.
The bounty hunters, who terrorized ordinary people, were as fragile as paper before him.
One after another, they fell screaming.
Gatz, Silver, and Dorum quickly finished off their own opponents before gathering behind their captain, watching his overwhelming display with awe and admiration.
Meanwhile, Ryne calmly picked up his frying pan and walked toward the kitchen on one side of the square.
The chefs inside had already hidden beneath tables, trembling in terror.
Ryne ignored them.
He walked straight to the cooking station and examined the prepared ingredients.
His brows furrowed.
“You’re serving guests ingredients this stale…” “…and you even intended to poison them?” His voice wasn’t loud.
Yet every cook shivered.
He picked up a fish from a basin.
Its eyes were cloudy.
Its gills had already begun to darken.
Then he pressed a finger into a slab of beef.
The meat was limp and lacked elasticity.
“This…” “…is the greatest insult a chef can commit against food.” His tone turned icy.
Turning around, he looked toward the now-finished battle outside.
Rocks had his foot planted on the chest of the last bounty hunter still capable of breathing, forcing information out of him.
Ryne walked over.
“Captain.” “I’d like to borrow this kitchen.” Rocks looked surprised, then shrugged.
“Go ahead.” Returning inside, Ryne looked at the terrified cooks.
“Bring me your freshest ingredients.” “Everything.” “If I find out you’ve hidden anything…” He casually lifted the frying pan.
Laika’s blood still stained its surface.
The cooks nearly collapsed in fright.
Without another word, they hurried into the cellar and icehouse, bringing out the premium ingredients they had been secretly hoarding.
Freshly slaughtered spring lamb.
Live lobsters still thrashing in their baskets.
Rare vegetables smuggled from neighboring islands.
Ryne nodded with satisfaction.
He then lit the largest bonfire in the center of the square.
Placing an enormous iron grill over the flames…
He began cooking.
The Forgotten Prehistoric World Ryne didn’t prepare anything overly complicated.
He simply treated the freshest lamb chops, lobster, and vegetables with the respect they deserved before placing them over the fire.
Then…
He quietly activated the Endless Seasoning Bottle once more.
Invisible seasonings drifted across the food.
Almost instantly— An aroma even more powerful than anything from the previous banquet exploded into the air.
It spread throughout Whisky Peak like magic.
The frightened townspeople hiding inside their homes smelled it.
Their stomachs growled uncontrollably.
Some cautiously opened their windows just enough to greedily inhale the fragrance.
Even the half-dead bounty hunters lying on the ground groaning in pain suddenly felt their spirits lift.
Instinctively…
They all turned toward the source of the irresistible aroma.
Even Rocks became curious.
What exactly was Ryne planning?
Before long…
The first batch of barbecue was finished.
Golden lamb chops sizzled over the fire.
Bright-red grilled lobster gleamed invitingly.
Perfectly roasted vegetables added vivid color to the feast.
Instead of serving his own crew…
Ryne carried a platter of grilled lamb chops toward the highest-ranking bounty hunter whom Rocks still had pinned beneath his foot.
The man’s eyes locked onto the meat.
He swallowed desperately.
Ryne crouched before him and calmly asked, “Who’s the leader of the Mosk Bounty Hunters Guild?” “Where is its headquarters?” “How many members does it have?” “Tell me everything you know.” The bounty hunter hesitated.
Ryne didn’t pressure him.
Instead…
He casually picked up a lamb chop and took a bite right in front of him.
Crunch.
The crispy crust shattered.
Juices immediately burst from the perfectly cooked meat.
The fragrance struck the prisoner’s senses at point-blank range.
It was torture.
Far crueler than any beating.
“I’ll talk!” “I’ll tell you everything!” The man’s resolve collapsed instantly.
Like spilling everything, he revealed everything he knew about the Mosk Bounty Hunters Guild.
Satisfied, Ryne tossed him the plate.
The bounty hunter grabbed it like priceless treasure.
Ignoring his injuries, he devoured the meat while tears streamed down his face.
Whether from pain…
Or overwhelming deliciousness…
Even he couldn’t tell.
Watching the scene unfold, Rocks stared blankly for a moment before erupting into thunderous laughter.
“Hahahaha!” “Brilliant!” “Using food to pry open an enemy’s mouth!” “That’s my chef!” “Your cooking works even better than my fists!” After that…
Ryne repeated the process.
One after another, the captured bounty hunters surrendered every secret they knew.
Their mental defenses crumbled before irresistible food.
The square became a bizarre sight.
The pirates leisurely enjoyed a barbecue feast.
The defeated bounty hunters desperately betrayed their own organization for another bite of grilled meat.
Gatz watched with his jaw hanging open.
Finally…
He raised a huge thumbs-up toward Ryne.
“Chef…” “That’s genius.” The interrogation banquet lasted until sunrise.
The Rocks Pirates emerged completely unscathed.
They seized a large amount of Berries from the bounty hunters…
Along with detailed intelligence regarding the Mosk Bounty Hunters Guild and the power structure of the first half of the Grand Line.
When they prepared to depart…
The townspeople silently gathered along the harbor.
No one cheered.
No one cursed.
They simply watched.
Ryne quietly tossed a bundle filled with food toward the hungriest-looking little girl in the crowd.
Without another glance…
He boarded the ship.
The pirate ship departed once more.
Standing at the bow, Rocks unfolded the newest sea chart taken from the bounty hunters.
“We’ve become famous.” He waved a freshly printed newspaper purchased from a News Coo.
Printed across the front page were the crew’s first bounty posters.
The amounts weren’t high.
Even Rocks’ bounty was only 30,000,000 Berries.
But for the first time…
The name Rocks Pirates had appeared before the world.
“Captain.” “Where are we headed next?” Dorum asked.
Rocks traced a finger across the chart until it stopped at one particular island.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
“According to the intelligence…” “Our next stop is a prehistoric island called Little Garden.” “They say…” “Two giants have been dueling there for more than fifty years.” He turned toward Ryne.
“Chef.” “Interested in dinosaur meat?” Ryne had been polishing his frying pan.
His hand paused.
“Dinosaur?” His Ingredient Encyclopedia naturally contained records of prehistoric creatures.
Rare.
High-grade ingredients.
A faint smile spread across his face.
“I’m interested.” The battered ship of the Rocks Pirates spent another half month battling the unpredictable weather of the Grand Line.
These days, Gatz’s favorite pastime—other than eating—was pestering Ryne about the next meal.
More than once, he fantasized aloud about dinosaur meat until he nearly drooled.
Eventually, even Silver quietly moved farther away from him.
“Chef!” “Are dinosaurs really as big as mountains?” “Would one leg feed us for a whole year?” With his anchor resting on his shoulder, Gatz’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“I don’t know.” Ryne calmly maintained his chef’s knife.
“I’ve never prepared one.” “Until I see the ingredients…” “Size means nothing.” “If this old ship actually crashes into a dinosaur…” “The ship’s the one that’ll fall apart.” Dorum tapped another loose plank while muttering his usual pessimistic remarks.
Yet everyone could hear the excitement hidden beneath them.
Finally…
Silver’s voice rang out from the crow’s nest.
“Island ahead.” “Massive landmass.” “Vegetation…” “Primitive.” As the ship drew closer…
Everyone was stunned.
This wasn’t simply an island.
It was a forgotten prehistoric world.
Towering giant ferns formed an endless green canopy.
Ancient trees pierced the clouds.
The humid air carried the scent of earth, vegetation, and decay.
Occasionally…
Long, thunderous roars echoed from deep within the jungle.
None resembled any creature they had ever heard before.
Gulp.
Gatz swallowed hard.
Excitement mixed with nervousness.
“Now this…” “…is amazing.” Standing proudly at the bow, Rocks’ wild black hair danced in the humid wind.
There wasn’t the slightest hint of fear on his face.
Only the exhilaration of a hunter discovering extraordinary prey.
“So, boys…” “Ready for dinner?” The ship cautiously circled the island in search of a safe landing point.
Suddenly— BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted from the island’s center.
The ground itself trembled.
Smoke billowed high above the jungle.
“What was that?” “A volcano?” Dorum’s face changed.
“I don’t think so.” Silver narrowed his eyes.
“It felt more like…” “…two immense forces colliding.” Rocks licked his lips.
Excitement burned in his eyes.
“Interesting.” “Let’s go take a look.” Dorry and Brogy The ship finally anchored at a secluded river inlet.
The crew disembarked.
Ryne hung the frying pan he had confiscated at Whisky Peak from his belt.
It looked completely out of place.
Yet no one dared laugh anymore.
Following the sounds of battle…
They pushed through the prehistoric jungle.
Even the insects were enormous.
Dragonflies with wingspans over a meter buzzed overhead.
After nearly thirty minutes of walking…
The dense forest suddenly opened into a vast clearing.
At its center…
Two colossal figures were locked in an earth-shaking duel.
Giants.
One wore blue armor.
His massive red beard was braided into thick strands.
In his hands rested a gigantic sword nearly as tall as a hill.
The other giant wore crimson armor.
His wild green beard flowed down his chest.
He wielded an equally enormous battle axe.
At that very moment…
The giant sword and battle axe collided once again.
A blinding shower of sparks erupted.
The thunderous impact echoed across all of Little Garden.