On another part of the battlefield, the clash between Newgate and Rayleigh was just as spectacular. Rayleigh's swordsmanship was as fast as lightning, exquisite and perfect. Every slash was aimed at Newgate's vital points, but it was always parried by Newgate's huge naginata in a way that seemed to lift a heavy weight as if it were light. Newgate didn't use the world-destroying power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, but purely used his physical skills and Haki to fight with Rayleigh. He could feel that the swordsmanship of the man before him had already reached an extremely high level; he was the best kind of whetstone.
"Your sword is not bad," Newgate said, knocking Rayleigh's sword back with a slash and laughing heartily.
"Your Haki is impressive as well," Rayleigh said, sheathing his sword, his aura calm. "But it looks like your dinnertime has really arrived." He could feel that the other's fighting spirit was fading.
Just then, an indescribable, domineering aroma, a mixture of ultimate meaty fragrance and deep-sea umami, drifted out of the chimney of the Azure Dragon's kitchen. The aroma seemed to have a life of its own, ignoring the sea breeze and accurately drilling into the nostrils of everyone on the battlefield. Gatz, who was about to continue fighting, heard the smell and his anchor fell to the deck with a clang. Even the fiercely fighting Rocks and Roger's movements couldn't help but slow down.
"Gulp..." Roger's Adam's apple bobbed. He looked at Rocks, a strange expression on his face. "Hey, Rocks, your chef's cooking... it actually smells pretty good."
A hint of a proud smile also appeared on Rocks's face. He retracted his fist, crossed his arms, and said from above, "Now you know why I said you were inexperienced, right?"
The battle of kings, which should have been a fight to the death, took a dramatic turn because of the smell of dinner. "Wahahaha! No more fighting! No more fighting!" Roger suddenly sheathed his sword and burst out laughing. He pointed at Rocks, his face filled with an undisguised frankness and heroism. "Let's call it a draw for today! If we continue fighting, the wine on my ship will be shattered by your Haki! And... smelling the food from your kitchen, I'm getting hungry too!"
This decision stunned everyone. "Roger!" Rayleigh called out helplessly.
"What are you afraid of!" Roger waved his hand, a carefree smile on his face. "We can fight anytime, but food has to be eaten while it's hot! Besides, a chef who can make this group of monsters behave, I'm very curious about his cooking!" He actually shouted directly at Ren on the Azure Dragon, "Hey! Little chef over there! Got any extra food? How about sharing some with us? I'll trade you my treasured secret brew from Loguetown for it!"
This move left the members of the Rocks Pirates dumbfounded. How on earth does this guy's brain work? One second they were fighting to the death, the next he wants to come aboard to mooch a meal?
Rocks's face darkened. He looked at Roger's smiling face and said coldly, "The food for my crew is not for any random cat or dog to eat."
"Don't be so stingy!" Roger actually jumped onto the railing of the Azure Dragon and winked at Rocks. "What's wrong with sharing a bite? We'll be friends from now on!"
"Who's friends with you!"
Just as Rocks was about to punch this shameless guy away, Ren's calm voice sounded again. "It's fine." Ren walked out of the kitchen. He looked at Roger, then at Rocks. "There are still ingredients left. It's no trouble to make a few more portions." He turned to Rocks and explained calmly, "Captain, Mr. Dolum just told me via telepathy that if you and Captain Roger clash one more time, there is a ninety-three percent chance that the Azure Dragon's keel will break on the spot. I think it would be better to have a peaceful dinner to celebrate the launch of our new ship."
Rocks: "..."
Behind the helm, Dolum nodded frantically, tears streaming down his face.
In the end, under Ren's mediation and Roger's shameless persistence, a peak duel that should have shaken the world turned into a bizarre joint dinner party at sea in a way that no one had expected. The members of the Roger Pirates, at the enthusiastic invitation of their own captain, boarded the Azure Dragon half-willingly.
When Ren brought the fragrant Dragon King fish head hot pot and the sizzling, golden-ratio roasted pork steak to the table, the two groups of pirates who had just been fighting to the death instantly became friends, turning into gluttons who fought over food at the dinner table. "Wahahaha! Delicious! This fish soup is more potent than any wine I've ever had!" Roger praised indistinctly while gulping down the soup. "And this meat! It's roasted to perfection! Little Chef Bro! Come join my crew! I'll make you my vice-captain!"
Although Rayleigh ate more elegantly, the speed of his chopsticks was not slow at all. He looked at Ren with admiration in his eyes. "Little brother, your understanding of heat control has surpassed that of most great swordsmen."
Rocks and Newgate sat at the head of the table with dark faces. They looked at their own crew members mingling with these uninvited guests, and then at Ren, who was being enthusiastically engaged by Roger, his arm around his shoulder, discussing how to roast a Sea King with a wine flavor. They felt that their authority had been challenged as never before.
The dinner party, filled with laughter and fights over food, lasted late into the night. In the end, the Roger Pirates, satisfied, returned to their own ship with a few barrels of leftovers packed by Ren, completely drunk. Before leaving, Roger slapped Rocks's shoulder hard and laughed. "Rocks! You're an annoying bastard, but your chef is pretty good! The next time we meet, let's have another good fight! And then we'll have a party after!"
Watching the Roger Pirates' ship disappear into the thick fog, the deck of the Azure Dragon returned to calm. Dolum was with his small notebook, painfully calculating the dozens of new scratches and dents from that night. Gatz was clutching his stomach, happily savoring the taste of the barbecue.
Rocks walked to the bow, looking in the direction Roger had left. He was silent for a long time before snorting. "An idiot-like man." He paused, but the corner of his mouth couldn't help but curve up slightly. "But, his strength is passable."
He knew that from this day on, he had one more fated rival on this sea that he must surpass, and also... an opponent he could occasionally eat with. And all of this was just the beginning. The winds of the New World had only just begun to blow.
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