"I heard that back at the Baratie, this was the guy who beat you up pretty bad, right?" Zoro glanced at Gin and then at Sanji.

"Who told you that?!" Sanji’s face turned bright red as he shouted back. "Marimo, you looking for a fight?!"

"Shitty cook, if you’ve got the guts, bring it!" An ’anger vein’ popped on Zoro’s forehead as he leaned into Sanji’s face.

"Hahaha! Gin, I didn’t expect you to make it to the Grand Line too!" Luffy laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "It looks like you’ve gotten a lot stronger!"

"I’ve been here for a while now. I’ve joined the Chris Pirates and follow Captain Aeridar," Gin smiled. "I’ve learned a lot within the crew. Looking back at our time in the East Blue... I really knew so little back then."

"Hahahaha!" Luffy laughed heartily at Gin’s words.

Seeing so many people around, Shirahoshi was no longer afraid. Instead, she grew curious about the relationship between Gin and Luffy. "So, Gin-san and Luffy-san know each other!"

"Gin, if you’ve run into old friends, stay and chat for a bit. I’m heading down," Aeridar said, not minding their interaction. He added a quick instruction: "Just make sure you keep an eye on Caribou."

"Yes, Captain!" Gin’s expression turned solemn.

Aeridar waved at Shirahoshi and started to walk out. As he passed Luffy, he suddenly came to a halt. The movement caused Zoro and Sanji to tense up instantly.

"I’m also very interested in Nico Robin-san. You’d better protect her well, she’s worth a lot more now," Aeridar said casually, shrugging his shoulders. "Oh, and be sure to tell her: I have a few Poneglyphs myself. She’s welcome to visit the Clifford Kingdom to read them anytime."

Luffy put down his meat bone and looked at Aeridar seriously. "She’s my comrade. Of course I’ll protect her!"

Aeridar looked at Luffy and chuckled. "Well then, let’s see if you have what it takes."

With a wave, Aeridar left the Hard-Shell Tower. Once he was gone, Luffy and the others relaxed, and the atmosphere lightened considerably.

"Luffy-san, Captain Aeridar is right. It’s said that the location of Laugh Tale is related to the Poneglyphs. Many ambitious people, including the Yonko, will want to get their hands on Nico Robin-san," Gin revealed, sharing an important piece of information.

"Laugh Tale!"

Hearing the name, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji stared in shock. "Don’t people say you just have to reach the end of the Grand Line to find Laugh Tale?"

"It’s not that simple," Gin shook his head. "Luffy-san, the Yonko have ruled the New World for many years, and my Captain has been there for ten. If Laugh Tale was simply at the end of the Grand Line, why hasn’t anyone reached it yet?"

Sanji lit a cigarette and asked with a frown, "Are you saying... Laugh Tale is at the end, but the specific coordinates are recorded on the Poneglyphs?"

Gin nodded. "Precisely. But as for the specifics, I’m not sure. You’ll have to find those answers yourselves."

Suddenly, Sanji looked at Gin and asked, "Gin, you’re warning us like this... won’t that cause trouble for you?"

"Captain Aeridar won’t care about something like this," Gin shook his head. He knew his captain’s personality, and besides, this wasn’t exactly a secret among the top tiers of the world.

"By the way, Luffy-san, since you’re entering the New World, get ready for a challenge." Gin’s expression became grave. "That place is a paradise for the strong and hell for the weak. The strength and number of monsters there are far beyond your imagination. Do not underestimate the Yonko, and do not underestimate our Chris Pirates. Our foundation is deeper than you can possibly imagine!"

"A challenge, huh... I’ve been ready for a long time!" Luffy’s gaze was resolute as he pressed a hand to his straw hat. "I will never underestimate any opponent!"

"Good..." Gin hesitated for a moment, appearing to struggle with something internally. But a moment later, his expression became firm. "Luffy-san, Sanji-san... Jinbe-dono should have told you. The Chris Pirates and the Revolutionary Army are enemies. When we meet again in the New World, I won’t hold back!"

"I understand. But for now, we’re still friends! Shishishi!" Luffy grinned.

"Next time, don’t expect me to go easy on my kicks either!" Sanji’s lips curled into a smile around his cigarette.

"Luffy-san! Sanji-san!" Gin looked at the two of them, visibly moved.

...

The Candy Factory.

The Big Mom Pirates’ flag flew high over the factory building as a crowd of Fish-Men and Merfolk gathered at the entrance.

"So... Minister of the Left..."

Pekoms looked at the elderly catfish mermaid, who wore a top hat, a monocle over his left eye, and held a cane in his right hand, with a sour tone.

"Can’t you overlook it just this once?" The Minister of the Left was dripping with cold sweat as he explained, "Due to the sudden uprising, the factory was attacked by Hody’s group..."

"Your internal strife has nothing to do with us! Gao!" Pekoms interrupted rudely. "I was starving and hoping to snag a few snacks myself. The agreement was that you give us sweets every month, and we lend you Mama’s name in return. Isn’t that right? Gao!"

"We have a signed contract. While I don’t like saying this, you should know how terrifying Mama is. If you provoke her, you will face... destruction!"

Pekoms removed his sunglasses, glaring fiercely at the Minister. However, with his tiny "beady eyes" under the shades, the "fierce" look came off as somewhat comical, even cute. "Now find a way to hand over those sweets!" Pekoms roared.

"But... but..." The Minister was in a state of extreme distress. "The massive cooking equipment in the factory is damaged. It will take time to repair, at least two weeks!"

At that moment, Baron Tamago, who had been sitting on a rock sipping tea, looked up and said calmly, "Fish-Man Island’s sweets are Mama’s favorite. So, we will wait... until tomorrow morning, bon!"

"Tomorrow morning?!" The Minister cried out in shock, sweating profusely. "Baron, there is absolutely no way we can produce ten tons of sweets by tomorrow morning!"

Clink.

Baron Tamago placed his teacup back on his head and stood up. He walked over to the Minister, looking down at him. "If there are no sweets, the agreement is void. In the future, the warriors of the Big Mom Pirates will come here to destroy Fish-Man Island, bon!"

"That’s enough, Baron Tamago."

A voice suddenly drifted down from above. Hearing it, Baron Tamago and Pekoms immediately tensed their muscles, their faces turning pale as they instinctively looked up at the sky.

The Minister and the others also looked up in shock.

Thud.

Aeridar, who had been standing in mid-air, slowly descended to the ground under their bewildered gazes.

"It would be a pity to destroy such a beautiful place," Aeridar said, smiling at the two. "Baron Tamago, Pekoms... for my sake, how about you wait a little longer?"

"Ae-Aeridar-sama... the Tea Party is in four days. If we don’t bring back the sweets, we can’t account to Mama!" Baron Tamago said cautiously, his arrogant demeanor from a moment ago completely gone.

"No matter! I will take responsibility for Fish-Man Island’s oversight this time." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Aeridar waved his hand dismissively. "I have many excellent pastry chefs from Fish-Man Island in my territory. It’s just ten tons of sweets, I’ll have my people deliver them to Big Mom myself!"

Hearing this, Baron Tamago and Pekoms’s eyes lit up. They exchanged a look and nodded in agreement.

Pere-pere-pere... Pere-pere-pere...

Just as they were about to reply, the Den Den Mushi sitting on a nearby stone pillar began to ring.

"It must be Mama! Gao!" Pekoms gasped. "I just reported the situation!"

"Ah—!"

"Is it Big Mom herself calling?!"

Not only were Pekoms and Tamago terrified, but the surrounding Fish-Men were also thrown into a panic. The name of the Yonko Big Mom was simply too terrifying for ordinary people.

Click.

"Hello, Big Mom? It’s Aeridar." Aeridar stepped forward and picked up the receiver.

———————

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