https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-401-Beyond-the-End-There-is-Another-End/12559564/
Chapter 402: Banquet
Chapter 402: Banquet
In the evening, the setting sun left a lingering glow on the horizon, painting the sky with a fiery crimson hue.
Below a steep cliff on the shattered Toxic Cherry Blossom Island, there was a cleared area where the toxic cherry blossom petals didn't fall.
The island was mostly uninhabited, and the only livable spaces were similar to this small area below the cliffs.
In the center of the clearing, a huge bonfire blazed brightly.
Scattered across the surrounding beach were smaller torches, their flickering lights adding to the illumination and creating a heated atmosphere akin to the burning bonfire itself.
"Hey! Vista, that's my drink! You bastard!" Sakaski, the fourth division captain, balled his fists, ready to punch Vista beside him.
Taking a sip from his cup, Vista replied, "Oops, my bad. There's plenty more where that came from. Just get yourself another drink. It's not every day that Dad treats us like this."
"That's exactly why we should be more frugal when Dad's the one paying!" Sakaski exclaimed in dissatisfaction. "If it were you footing the bill, I'd drink you dry!"
Whitebeard, who was usually stingy and rarely treated his crew, had a reason for his generosity. He gave most of his money to the people of his hometown.
And for this reason, Sakaski and the others understood him perfectly.
Whitebeard noticed the bickering between Sakaski and Vista, and he grinned, showing his teeth. "You bunch of foolish sons, chattering away. Put today's drinks on my tab; no need to hold back!"
Marco, sitting nearby, smiled and took a sip from his drink before turning to Feng Ye, who was not far away. "Speaking of which, Captain Feng Ye, you were truly impressive when you destroyed the sacred ground of Mariejois. I've always disliked those Celestial Dragons, but I never had the chance to cause a ruckus like you did, without a care in the world."
Feng Ye smiled but remained silent, simply raising his cup towards Marco in acknowledgment.
Marco drained half his cup in one go and then turned to look behind him. "Hey, where's the booze? Bring some over quickly!"
Whitebeard glanced at Marco, cup in hand, and said, "Marco, you're certainly not one to hold back, are you?"
Marco knew Whitebeard was jesting, and he laughed heartily. "After all, it's not every day that you're this generous, old man."
Amidst the boisterous atmosphere of Whitebeard's pirate crew, there was a palpable sense of family, a bond stronger than blood.
In contrast, the Big Mom Pirates, comprised mostly of Big Mom's biological children as officers, lacked this familial feeling despite their shared blood ties.
Feng Ye looked at the liquid in his cup, his eyes glistening with a hint of emotion, before closing them gently and downing the drink in one swift motion.
Whitebeard's final question had stirred up many memories and contemplations, which was why he had requested this drinking session—to reminisce about the past and ponder the future he desired.
Scenes from his past flashed through his mind—the relentless pursuit of self-improvement, even during class, as he honed his control over chakra; the love letters from the girls in his class; the bento boxes they had given him during lunch breaks, all reminders of the beauty and joy of that time. Although he could now transform into a child again and relive those experiences, he knew that it would be difficult to recapture the sense of belonging he had felt then.
Just as he had never truly felt at home in this world, despite having lived here for so long.
Coming back to his senses, Feng Ye turned to Robin, who was sitting beside him, and asked, "Do you find it noisy here? Do you want me to take you back?"
Robin, sitting by his side, smiled at Feng Ye's words and replied, "It's nice to join in on a lively banquet like this once in a while."
In truth, what she felt inside was different. With Feng Ye around, she wanted to stay by his side. For reasons unknown to her, being with him brought a sense of happiness and peace to her heart. If she went too long without seeing him, she would feel restless and uneasy.
Today, Robin had turned twelve years old.
The twelve-year-old girl was experiencing the feeling of falling in love for the first time.
"Mhm."
Feng Ye nodded slightly at Robin.
Even though he was drinking, his eyes never left Robin, and the sight of the young girl was all too familiar to him.
"Tsk, tsk..."
Feng Ye murmured to himself.
He knew very well that with his charm and demeanor, it would be hard for any girl who interacted with him not to develop feelings for him. Nonetheless, he enjoyed this feeling.
After all, it was always better to be liked than disliked, and Robin was indeed adorable.
"So, what are your plans after this? Are you going to continue traveling to other places?" Whitebeard asked, holding a huge bowl of wine in his hand as he looked at Feng Ye.
Feng Ye turned to Whitebeard and nodded with a smile. "Yes, the second half of the Grand Line has been quite interesting so far. It seems there are many places worth visiting. By the way, do you have a map of the New World?"
"Yes, do you need one?"
Whitebeard drained the wine from his bowl and asked before turning to Marco beside him. "Make a copy of the New World map later."
While it was impossible to navigate the Grand Line with a map, relying instead on log poses and eternal poses, maps of the area did exist.
Whitebeard's pirate crew had sailed to almost every island in the New World, with the exception of Laugh Tale, and naturally, they had recorded most of the islands there, along with the directions from each island's log pose to the next.
"Then, thank you. Consider it a favor I owe you."
Feng Ye took a sip of his drink and smiled at Whitebeard.
Whitebeard grinned. "It's a small matter, nothing worth owing me a favor for."
Feng Ye smiled faintly, and a golden luster appeared in his eyes, reflecting a clock pattern deep within his pupils.
"As a token of my gratitude, I'll tell you about a future I've seen—a future that may threaten your family... Be cautious after you obtain a certain Devil Fruit. Pay attention to Blackbeard."
Feng Ye didn't directly mention Blackbeard's plans, as the current Blackbeard was still in a stage of biding his time within the Whitebeard Pirates, posing as an honest and simple fellow.
Feng Ye didn't care about Blackbeard's schemes, and he didn't want to ruin the banquet, so he simply gave a brief warning.
"I see..." Whitebeard fell into deep thought, his expression turning pensive.
He knew that Feng Ye wasn't one to speak without reason, and this warning about a potential threat to his family was definitely worth heeding.
(End of Chapter)
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