Free Web NovelChapter 200: Chapter 200
Chapter 200
"Hey, hey, King Neptune, don’t misunderstand."
"We’re not just pirates. We’re also chefs. It’s not easy satisfying this guy’s appetite every single day with different dishes."
"So we learn the specialty cuisines from every island we visit, so we can make even more delicious food." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
"Although most of the dishes in Ryugu Palace are vegetarian, I’m very interested in your cooking methods and sauces. So let us help prepare this banquet as well."
Nami explained with a smile.
She wasn’t lying. In reality, the girls really did learn the local specialty dishes on every island they visited. They even bought many recipe books just to satisfy Rorschach’s increasingly picky taste.
However, no matter what delicious food they made, Rorschach would eat it all — unless it was some dark cuisine they had already made before. Only then would he refuse.
"I see. So you want to learn the cooking techniques of the chefs in Ryugu Palace?"
"No problem. If you want to learn, just go ahead. Afterward, I’ll also have the chefs compile everything into a proper recipe book."
Hearing Nami’s explanation, Neptune no longer tried to stop them.
"Well, since King Neptune wants to entertain his honored guest, I’ll go get the alcohol first."
"If you need any help with anything later, just contact Pops through the Den Den Mushi."
Seeing that there was no trouble here and that he wasn’t needed anymore, Marco waved his hand and bid farewell to Neptune.
"Eh? You’re leaving so soon? Why don’t you come to Ryugu Palace and join the banquet?"
Neptune was stunned and quickly tried to persuade him to stay.
It was rare to meet someone from the Whitebeard Pirates. He still wanted to ask Marco about Whitebeard’s current condition. He didn’t expect Marco to leave so quickly.
"No. You’re entertaining your guests. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to join in."
"This..."
Neptune hesitated.
On one side was Rorschach’s crew, who had helped resolve the rebellion. On the other was the Whitebeard Pirates, who had protected Fish-Man Island for so many years.
For a moment, he didn’t know what to do and could only look at Rorschach for guidance.
"Isn’t this fine? I also want to chat with Little Marco about some things."
"Captain Shiki used to tell me about your Whitebeard Pirates — a crew formed with the goal of being a family. I’m quite interested in that."
"Coincidentally, most of my current crew members are also my ’family’."
"How about it? Give me some face and have a drink?"
Rorschach spread his hands with a carefree expression and smiled.
"Shiki, huh..."
Hearing Rorschach’s words, Marco’s expression also became slightly hesitant.
The information he had about this successor of the Golden Lion was limited to what was written in the newspapers.
He had thought Rorschach would be an arrogant and overbearing person, but he turned out to be quite casual.
If he could learn more about him in advance, it would be useful in case they ever became enemies with Pops in the future.
"...Alright."
After hesitating for a while, Marco eventually gave Rorschach some face and agreed.
Rorschach, who hadn’t eaten the Face-Face Fruit, still had some face value after all.
Everyone boarded the special transport vehicles together and returned to Ryugu Palace once again.
Little Silver also quickly returned, following Rorschach and the others’ auras. It brought back two massive sea beasts and handed them over to Nami and the others.
Marco looked at the group of beautiful women surrounding Rorschach and recalled what he had said earlier about "family."
The corner of his mouth twitched. These really were his genuine "family."
Rorschach kept asking Marco all kinds of questions along the way.
For example: Isn’t it boring having only men on the ship? Has Little Marco been a virgin all these years on the Whitebeard Pirates’ ship? Why did Whitey Bay, the only female captain in the Whitebeard Pirates, leave the main fleet and become a subordinate captain? Is Whitey Bay really already in her fifties or sixties? She only looks like she’s in her twenties or thirties — how does she maintain herself?
All kinds of questions made Marco’s face grow darker and darker.
It wasn’t until Neptune came out to smooth things over that Rorschach finally stopped his nonstop questioning.
Marco also let out a heavy sigh of relief.
I knew I shouldn’t have agreed...
Now he deeply regretted accepting Rorschach’s invitation to the banquet.
Rorschach’s personality was completely different from what he had imagined. He thought Rorschach would be arrogant and unruly like the Golden Lion.
He didn’t expect him to be a bit of a goofball and a gossip.
Then Marco remembered how Rorschach had asked about Whitey Bay’s age and appearance.
A chill ran down Marco’s spine.
Whitey Bay had been the big sister of the Whitebeard Pirates for many years. For some unknown reason, she had left the main fleet long ago and formed her own crew under Whitebeard’s flag.
She was one of Whitebeard’s few daughters and their big sister figure.
Marco had still been an apprentice when Whitey Bay already held the title of big sister. He didn’t dare gossip about her age. Women were very sensitive about that kind of thing. If Whitey Bay found out, he would definitely be in trouble.
But why was Rorschach asking so many questions about Whitey Bay?
Was he interested in the big sister?
Marco glanced at Rorschach with a suspicious look.
He looked like a teenager in his late teens or early twenties — very young and handsome.
Thinking about the women around Rorschach, all of them were in their teens or twenties. An older big sister clearly wasn’t his type.
Marco shook his head and threw the doubt out of his mind.
He simply assumed Rorschach was just curious about the few women in the Whitebeard Pirates.
What he didn’t know was that Rorschach’s taste wasn’t picky at all.
If those mother-in-laws hadn’t died early, he might have taken them onto the ship as well.
"Speaking of which, there’s a brother on our ship who went out to sea in the same year and same era as you."
"Back then, the newspapers even called you two the Twin Stars of the East Blue — supernovas of the same generation."
"He went out to the Grand Line some time ago. I wonder if you’ve met him."
Marco suddenly brought this up with a teasing tone, as if he had just remembered.
After talking for so long, he had also come to understand Rorschach’s personality. He was quite casual and seemed like a decent guy.
So he had lowered his guard and started chatting with Rorschach more freely.
"Twin Stars of the East Blue? A supernova from the same era as me?"
Rorschach was stunned for a moment, though he quickly understood who Marco was talking about.
"That’s right. It’s our Second Division Commander — Ace."
"He went out to sea in the same batch as you, right? The newspapers even called you two the Twin Stars of the East Blue and said you were among the strongest pirates to come out of the East Blue in recent years."
"But Ace came to the New World much earlier, while you took a full two years longer to arrive here."
"Yet the moment you reached the New World, you made such a big name for yourself. Now a lot of people are putting you on the same level as Pops and the other Emperors."
Marco picked up his sake bowl and took a few sips. A slight tipsy feeling rose in him.
However, it was only on the surface. His eyes remained clear.
"But that’s just Morgan’s nonsense."
"I have great respect for Whitebeard and those ’seniors’!"
"Still, I have heard some things about your Second Division Commander, Ace. It’s a pity I never got the chance to meet him."
Rorschach smiled slightly, looking quite modest.
Ace had already gone to Paradise some time ago.
It seemed the story was approaching the Summit War period.
In the near future, Whitebeard would also die in that war.
What a pity. He probably wouldn’t get the chance to fight Whitebeard anymore.
However, Rorschach didn’t have the hobby of bullying the old, weak, sick, or disabled. Whitebeard was clearly already at his limit, plagued with illnesses.
Even if he hadn’t participated in the Summit War, he probably wouldn’t have lasted much longer. For these great pirates, going out in a blaze of glory during battle was probably the best ending.
"Hmm... Lord Rorschach is being modest. I might not have believed it before, but after meeting you in person, I’m starting to believe the things Morgan wrote."
"Even your pet has this much strength. As the captain, you definitely aren’t weaker than that, right?"
Marco looked at him meaningfully and said in a calm tone, "Besides... haven’t you already declared war on the ’Four Emperors’?"
"Hehe. Since I’ve already set out to sea, I need some goals. Unfortunately, one of my goals is to become the strongest in the world."
"And while I’m at it, I’ll fulfill Captain Shiki’s final wish — to overthrow the Celestial Dragons and rule this world. For that, I need to go to Laugh Tale to confirm some things."
"All the red Poneglyphs are in the hands of you ’seniors.’ In order to achieve my goal, I have no choice but to obtain what I want through other means."
Rorschach smiled as he picked up his sake bowl, took a sip, and spoke slowly.
"So in other words... we’re enemies?"
Marco’s gaze suddenly sharpened as he stared intently at Rorschach, waiting for his next words.
"Maybe. But at least for now, we’re not. Right now, I’m only here as a guest of Ryugu Palace. I don’t want to make things difficult for Jinbe."
Rorschach replied with a smile.
"However, a new era will eventually arrive. And I... will lead the next era."
Rorschach spoke with absolute confidence.
Marco looked at him deeply.
Rorschach was only twenty years old and had already reached the top. He didn’t dare imagine how strong he would become in a few more years.
Although his father was the strongest, Marco understood his physical condition better than anyone.
With Rorschach’s youth and stamina, combined with his rumored special physique and defense, if it turned into a battle of attrition, even Whitebeard might not be able to win.
The longer it dragged on, the more certain Whitebeard’s defeat would become.
"That’s something you’ll have to say after you defeat Pops."
"Right now, the strongest man in the world is still Pops!"
Marco curled his lips and spoke in a flat tone.
This topic was dropped for the time being.
Coincidentally, the banquet at Ryugu Palace was also ready. Countless delicacies and fine wines were brought out.
Jinbe and Neptune also appeared at this moment. Earlier, they had gone to arrange various matters for the banquet.
Only the maids of Ryugu Palace were left to entertain Rorschach and Marco.
Their original intention was also not to disturb the two men’s conversation.
Judging by their current expressions, they didn’t seem to have argued. The atmosphere was quite normal.
This made Jinbe let out a sigh of relief. If Rorschach and the Whitebeard Pirates had started fighting, he would have been in real trouble.
Both sides were his friends. He wouldn’t know whose side to take.
With Neptune’s signal, the banquet officially began.
With Jinbe and Neptune joining, Rorschach and Marco’s conversation became much more normal.
Most of it was casual talk, but Marco was clearly more wary of Rorschach now.
He no longer believed in the "goofball" impression he had gotten during their first interaction.
The girls were sitting at a separate table, chatting and playing around.
At one point, Robin called Neptune out and asked him some questions.
Rorschach guessed it was probably about Joy Boy.
After all, the Poneglyph mentioned Joy Boy and the mermaid princess. Combined with the location of Poseidon written on the Sky Island Poneglyph, Robin had probably already guessed most of it. However, she still wanted concrete confirmation from Neptune.
As for Little Marco, he left the banquet midway.
His reason was that he couldn’t afford to get drunk, or he wouldn’t be able to deliver the alcohol to Whitebeard.
Neptune didn’t try to keep him any longer and personally escorted Marco out of Ryugu Palace.
By the time he returned, the banquet was almost over.
The girls were all drunk, especially Kaya, Vivi, and Perona.
They usually didn’t drink and rarely touched alcohol. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
But this time, they got too excited during the banquet and drank quite a lot. In the end, several of them were completely drunk and started talking nonsense.
They even tried to drag Rorschach back to the room to "play cards."
Of course, Rorschach wasn’t going to spoil them. After settling everyone else, he returned to his room.
Tonight, he was going to teach these three drunk little kittens a lesson and make them understand the consequences of provoking him!
Before leaving, Nami reminded Rorschach not to go too far.
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