Yamato transformed the humiliation she had just experienced into determination, challenging Alpha once again with fire in her eyes.
Alpha showed no fear toward her defeated opponent, readily accepting the challenge with a confident smirk. Her frame tensed as she prepared for another round.
This time, however, Kalifa didn't stand by Alpha's side. Instead, she joined Kujaku in cheering enthusiastically for Yamato, which made Alpha so furious she nearly choked on her food, her face turning an interesting shade of purple.
Meanwhile, Luffy had almost finished eating, or perhaps he no longer had the appetite to continue. His attention kept drifting elsewhere. Across the table, Mansherry sat with flushed cheeks after sipping a few drops of wine. The Tontatta princess would steal occasional glances at him, her usually composed demeanor replaced with something shy and adorable.
Luffy couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. He immediately downed the cola in his cup, the bubbles tickling his throat. Just then, Robin spoke up with a playful glint in her eye:
"You guys continue eating. I'll take Sherry to pick a new room."
"Is it just picking a room?" Robin's tone was filled with amusement, her words carrying a suggestive undercurrent.
Koala and Violet exchanged knowing glances before turning to Sherry with equally ambiguous expressions, barely containing their smiles.
The tiny fairy's cheeks turned a deeper shade of red. She lowered her head in embarrassment, not daring to meet anyone's gaze, her blonde hair falling forward to hide her face.
Luffy rolled his eyes at them but said nothing. he stood up with purpose, gently pulled Sherry to her feet, and walked straight toward his bedroom.
Everyone present stopped their activities to watch the pair leave, a momentary hush falling over the room. Only after the couple disappeared from sight did they return to their normal activities, conversations resuming with renewed energy.
Robin observed the two competing groups with great interest, her analytical mind already at work. She casually took out money from her pocket and flicked them onto the table. The sound caught the attention of several people nearby.
"Would anyone like to place some bets?" she proposed with a sly smile. "I'll put my money on Hancock and Alpha in each group."
Hearing this proposition, Koala and Violet's eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. They each reached into their pockets and pulled out whatever change they had on them, placing it on the table with confident smiles.
Koala grinned. "Hehe, when it comes to eating, Yamato is definitely unbeatable. I bet on Gion and Yamato!"
Violet tapped her chin thoughtfully. "If we're competing in drinking, Vice Admiral Gion wouldn't lose easily. But for appetite, Alpha has mastered Life Return, so he's won many contests before." She nodded decisively. "I'll bet on Gion and Alpha!"
Nearby, Kujaku who had been cheering for Yamato noticed the betting activity. she quickly abandoned her posts and rushed over to join the impromptu gambling circle.
"Count me in!" Kujaku exclaimed, her ornate hairpins jingling as she hurried over. "I'll also back Vice Admiral Tsuru and Yamato!"
Kalifa adjusted her glasses with a smirk. "Hmm~ For the drinking contest, Hancock should excel at this. I'll bet on Hancock and Yamato."
Yamato, who was frantically devouring another plate of food, noticed this commotion from the corner of her eye. With her mouth still half-full, she called out excitedly:
"Don't worry about your money! Consider it already in your pocket!"
"Hmph! Kalifa, what do you mean by that? You're looking down on me, aren't you?" Alpha shot her sister a glare of dissatisfaction. "Fine, I'll bet on myself too—my entire month's salary!"
As several people began cheering for their chosen champions, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. The room filled with shouts of encouragement and playful taunts. Eventually, the three drinking contestants also joined the gambling game, each placing bets on themselves.
And the results...
In the drinking contest, Hina was the first to be eliminated. Her alcohol tolerance was merely average, making her no match for the other competitors. No one was particularly surprised when she slumped forward, her forehead hitting the table with a soft thud.
What shocked everyone, however, was that Vice Admiral Gion, who had been favored by most bettors, fell second. Koala, Violet, and Kujaku, who had bet on her victory, immediately let out wails of despair as their money vanished before their eyes.
Hancock, who was herself teetering on the edge of intoxication, looked at her two defeated opponents lying unconscious across the table. With great effort, she opened another bottle of wine and raised it triumphantly.
"The drinks from Amazon Lily... are the strongest in the world," she declared proudly, her words slightly slurred. "How could you possibly... hope to defeat me?"
Moments later, Hancock collapsed onto the table with a loud thump, falling into a deep sleep punctuated by soft, ladylike snores.
In the other competition, Yamato undoubtedly claimed the final victory in the battle of appetites. Even though Alpha had employed her newly acquired Life Return technique to expand her stomach capacity, she was still thoroughly defeated by Yamato's insatiable hunger.
Now Alpha could only lie slumped in her chair, groaning in pain with her distended belly, while Yamato stood tall and proud.
"Ahahahaha! That feels good!" Yamato exclaimed with satisfaction. "Now we've each defeated the other once. Let's see if you still have the right to make fun of me!"
After letting out a thunderous burp that seemed to shake the room, Alpha raised her head with considerable effort and looked at Yamato with a gleam of determination in her eyes.
"Don't get too cocky," she warned. "You may have won this round, but our war is far from over. I'll challenge you again."
"Bring it on! I won't lose next time either," Yamato replied confidently, slapping her massive hand against the table hard enough to make the dishes jump.
In that moment, as they locked eyes across the table, a mutual respect bloomed between them—the pleasure of finding a worthy opponent reflected in both their gazes.
"What a pity! I was only half right in my predictions," Robin's amused voice interrupted their moment of connection.
She collected her portion of the winnings, cradling the coins in her arms as she began counting them with a satisfied smile. Seeing this, Kalifa, Koala, and Kujaku also divided their spoils, their laughter filling the room as the night's festivities continued.
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