As Dante finished speaking, the crowd fell silent.
Aside from the outsiders, everyone on the Conomi Archipelago already knew who their true boss was, and they gazed at Dante with reverence.
Facing the scene before him...
"Another year has come to an end." Dante held the Megaphone Den Den Mushi, a smile on his face, speaking with practiced ease. "First, I offer my sincere gratitude and thanks to everyone here. This year has been a crucial year for us. In this year..."
As Dante spoke, smiles instinctively spread across the faces of the crowd.
They had witnessed the changes here with their own eyes, the changes in their own lives.
Especially the scavengers, refugees, and civilians from the member nations who had been driven out and nearly sold into slavery, they had watched their lives transform, bit by bit.
From fear, hunger, dread, and anxiety about the future, to gritting their teeth and following the ships out to work, until now.
Everything had changed.
At the thought, many eyes grew red.
Of course.
Some were different.
"Didn't he say just a few words?" Garp happily snacked on treats, tilting his head up with a grin. "He can really ramble! Even more than Sengoku."
"He may ramble," Kuzan said, taking a large swig of beer as he looked up with a smile, "but this place really has changed a lot!"
"A lot?" Zephyr laughed and nodded, sighing. "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it."
"Truly incredible." Smoker flicked his cigar, his eyes betraying conflicted thoughts. "Is this your idea of justice?"
"Just wait until Marine HQ has a massive headache on their hands." Mihawk sneered. "He isn't some righteous Marine. He's going to give the World Government plenty of trouble in the future!"
At those words...
Zephyr, Garp and Smoker fell silent.
Especially Zephyr... he knew some secrets, and he understood that the Admiral's words were true.
But moments later...
"Doesn't matter." Smoker scoffed. "This is my justice!"
"True, who cares?" Zephyr laughed heartily. "We'll deal with that when the time comes!"
"Exactly." Garp nodded, grinning just as happily, and said without a shred of shame, "When that happens, I'll definitely pretend I don't know him!"
"Same here!"
The group burst into laughter once more.
At that moment, Dante was nearing the end of his brief speech. He raised his right hand and shouted, "Let's grow bigger, grow stronger, and create more glory! Now..."
He waved his hand. "The banquet continues! Eat if you want to eat, drink if you want to drink!"
As Dante's words fell, the crowd, momentarily quiet, as if lost in memory, erupted into cheers once more.
The banquet continued!
This moment was even livelier and more spirited than the beginning. Some, drunk, even jumped onto tables and started dancing.
The real revelry had begun.
"Everyone, cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Even Baratie chefs, having finished their preparations and finally able to rest, joined the year-end banquet.
"So?" Zeff stood with arms crossed, watching Sanji who crouched by the floating platform, silently observing the scene. "I told you those were just rumors. A man who commands such respect... how could a Marine Captain be that kind of person?"
"You old man really guessed wrong this time." Sanji chuckled twice, his eyes showing a mix of envy... and anger. He threw his cigarette to the ground and stomped on it hard. "Those rumors are true! That bastard doesn't just fool around with female pirates, he even goes after female Marines."
"The rumors have gotten this ridiculous?" Zeff's expression turned peculiar. "Now he's playing with female Marines? If that's not a rumor, what is?"
"I've got solid proof!"
"Solid proof? From where? Romance Dawn?" Zeff's eyes flickered slightly. He crossed his arms again, continuing to look ahead, speaking in a leisurely tone. "By the way, what kind of place is Romance Dawn? It sounds interesting. Heard you ran off there for a foot massage?"
"Romance Dawn... that's a fine establishment!" At Zeff's question, Sanji seemed to recall something, a lecherous smile spreading across his face. But moments later, he seemed to realize something and quickly adopted a righteous expression. "Foot massage? No! That never happened. I never went. I only went there to gather intel on that Corrupt Marine Captain. Let me tell you, old man, even though that Captain is a bit degenerate, he... hey, hey, old man, what are you doing?"
"What am I doing? We're here working our butts off, and you run off to a place like that for a foot massage? Even I haven't been there!"
"Want me to take you later?"
"You bastard, is this about whether you take me or not?"
"Ow, stop kicking!"
--**--**
Some cheered, some applauded, some got kicked for secretly going to Romance Dawn, some happily danced on tables with chopsticks stuck up their noses, pulling friends to join them, some stood with old friends, talking about retiring here in the future, some shouted while adding ice to their already cold beer, some started with cold expressions but soon smiled as they smoked cigars and drank, and some could only huddle inside the experimental base, eating delivered delicacies with their metal-synthesizing assistant (Wapol) and important power sources and blood packs (Enel), happily watching the monitors, wondering if they should create a clone to join the festivities the following year. Everyone happily enjoyed this rare banquet.
The year's end wasn't just the end of the year in East Blue, out on the seas, others were enjoying this year's end as well.
Someone, seeming to sense something, temporarily set aside heavy work, picked up a teacup, and walked to the window, gazing toward East Blue. A faint smile appeared on his face, as if guessing that a troublesome old friend was currently suffering, trying to persuade another friend walking an extreme path.
Later, he would definitely find time to drink with them, and visit that Romance Dawn place to see what the fuss was about.
Someone huddled behind iron bars, reading the newspaper with deep significance, occasionally looking up to discuss a certain name with another fellow similarly imprisoned behind iron bars.
And others...
Under the moonlight, a whole family happily soaked their feet with their father, marveling at how comfortable this smart foot spa tub was, occasionally arguing about whose turn it was, wanting to soak with their father too, enjoying their happy family time.
Until a certain gap-toothed, rugged, brute plunged his dirty foot into the water, instantly turning the entire tub black. Everyone scrambled to pull their feet out, loudly denouncing him.
That happy family scene made the old father laugh heartily, declaring... this foot spa tub was worth every penny!
And so.
The year came to an end amidst laughter.
===============
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