"Dinner will be ready soon. Catch!"
Shirogai casually tossed a roasted piece of meat across the clearing.
"Meat! Shirogai is the best!"
Luffy bolted forward on two legs, leaping into the air and snatching it with his mouth.
"Gulp!"
He devoured it in seconds, then bounded back on all fours, bowing dramatically with clasped hands.
"So delicious! Shirogai, I want more!"
"Luffy, you idiot! You're human, not a dog!" Nami groaned, rubbing her temples at her captain's antics.
"Go!"
Shirogai smirked and flicked another bone-in cut through the air.
"Woof!"
Luffy's eyes gleamed as he lunged, only for another mouth to clamp onto the meat at the same time.
"Huh?"
Luffy glared at the Sky Island wolf, and the beast growled back with equal hostility.
"…"
Both bared their teeth.
"Woof woof woof!"
"Woof! Woof!"
In seconds, Luffy and the wolf were rolling in a ridiculous scuffle until Shirogai called out with a laugh:
"Dinner time!"
Both froze mid-brawl, still snarling, before stuffing their mouths full.
"Woof woof!"
Muffled by meat, Luffy barked at the wolf in protest.
"Speak human!" Sanji snapped, ladling rice into bowls.
"Why are they even eating with us?!" Luffy complained, pointing at the wolf pack gnawing their share.
"These wolves were beaten by Nami-swaan," Sanji explained, eyes sparkling at her. "Their leader pledged loyalty. It's only natural they follow." He set a steaming bowl before her with a flourish. "My dearest Nami-swaan, every day you grow more radiant! This is my love-filled meal!"
"Thank you."
Nami accepted with calm politeness, immediately spreading two maps before Robin.
"Robin, look. Just as Shirogai said—God's Island and Jaya once formed a single landmass."
Overlapping them revealed a skull.
"This is Jaya as it was over four hundred years ago. Which means…"
Robin began, but Sanji rushed over again with another offering.
"Robin-chwaaan, your meal~!"
"Thank you, Sanji." Robin smiled warmly, making Sanji spin in lovestruck circles.
"Oi, cook." Zoro's tone was sharp. "Where's mine?"
"Tch. Here." Sanji hurled a blistering hot stone bowl at him.
"Hot! You curly-browed bastard!" Zoro hissed, fumbling to keep it from burning him.
"Don't waste food."
Shirogai caught the bowl with ease, setting it safely aside.
Sanji scoffed. "Spill it and I'll never forgive you."
Zoro gripped his sword, eyes narrowing. "You're cocky since learning Observation Haki."
The rivals squared off again, ignored by Nami, who was fixated on the maps.
"Noland said the Gold City lay in the skull's right eye!" Nami exclaimed.
"Which means it must be here!"
Her excitement spread like wildfire.
"Nami's right," Shirogai said with a nod. "There'll be treasures beyond imagining."
"Treasure! Adventure!" Luffy cheered, bowl raised high.
"Gold!" Usopp echoed, saliva flying. "A whole city! We can repair the Going Merry, make her stronger than ever!"
The ship's mast had been broken by Shura, only crudely patched by Shirogai's Wax-Wax Fruit. She was still far from seaworthy.
"That's right, Merry can be fixed!" Chopper added through stuffed cheeks, his body still wrapped in bandages.
He felt guilty for failing to defend the ship, guilt eased only by Usopp's first concern for his wounds rather than the damage.
"Chopper, are you okay? That arsonist must have been tough. I'll find a way to repair the ship. Shirogai's wax is perfect for it."
Chopper teared up, already resolved. "I'll become stronger! Strong enough to protect everyone!"
He had begged Shirogai for training—an intense month designed to push him to new heights.
"…So, lightning strikes really strengthen the body?" Sanji asked skeptically, eyeing Zoro.
Zoro nodded firmly. "After Shirogai hit me with lightning, my endurance grew. In training, I'll use it again."
"Pfft…"
Luffy and Usopp barely contained their laughter.
"Is that true?" Sanji frowned, uncertain. He strode to Shirogai. "Hey, can your lightning really improve strength?"
"Zoro said that?" Shirogai chuckled. "Do you want to try?"
"Of course." Sanji lit his cigarette with determination. "Show me."
"You haven't mastered Armament Haki, so I'll hold back." Lightning danced across Shirogai's fingers. "Enel never imagined someone would ask to be struck."
Boom!
A jagged bolt tore through the air, hammering Sanji.
Crackle!
The shock left his body smoking, his cigarette lit and burning crookedly from the discharge.
"Cough, cough… What a hit!" Sanji wheezed, staggering.
"Pfft… hahahaha!"
Usopp and Luffy collapsed, rolling with laughter.
"Sanji got tricked by Zoro!"
"Never thought he'd fall for that, hahahaha!"
But Zoro's calm voice silenced them.
"I wasn't lying. The lightning made me stronger."
"…Huh?" Usopp and Luffy blinked in unison.
"Of course." Zoro adjusted his sword sheath. "When it comes to training, I don't joke."
"… …"
The two glanced at each other.
"Luffy," Usopp whispered. "Should we… try it too?"
Luffy's grin widened. "Oh oh oh! That sounds fun!"
---