After sharing a toast with Buggy, Sandy noticed Alvida standing beside them, glaring at him with clear dissatisfaction.
Sandy smiled and said, "Beautiful lady, shall we have a drink too?"
"Heh heh heh," Alvida sneered. "You finally noticed me. Where's that Luffy? That punch back then was truly unforgettable."
Thinking of the pre-Devil Fruit Alvida and her… size, Sandy silently thanked the heavens he hadn't made a move on her back then.
At this moment, he said, "Let's go. You haven't eaten yet, right? I'll treat you to a meal."
Buggy laughed. "How can we trouble you like that?"
"This is a meal to apologize," Sandy replied casually. "Nothing to be embarrassed about."
"Ah ha ha ha!" Buggy roared. "You're a pretty good guy!"
Alvida folded her arms. "I won't go. I'm going to look for that man."
Sandy smiled inwardly. "Then I wish you success, hehe…"
In the Restaurant
Sandy generously ordered a full table of dishes and several bottles of wine.
He raised his glass and asked, "Why is it just Mochji with you? What about the guy with the sword?"
Mochji replied, "Ah, you mean Kabaji? He's tracking the Straw Hats."
Buggy laughed loudly. "Don't talk about that. Let's drink! Ah ha ha ha! Today is really a happy day. Didn't expect you, Sandy—you're quite an interesting person."
Sandy grinned and patted Buggy's shoulder. "You're not bad yourself. By the way, that Alvida is really beautiful. You interested in marrying her?"
Buggy thought for a moment. "Well, what Pirates pursue is wealth. What's the use of a wife?"
Sandy sighed dramatically. "What do you mean, what use? You and her actually make a good pair! Think about it—you, Buggy the Clown, marrying the most beautiful woman in the East Blue! Doesn't that make you even more legendary? And besides, getting married doesn't stop you from chasing treasure, right?"
Buggy sat there, slowly getting more tempted by every word.
Suddenly, he slammed the table and laughed loudly. "Then it's decided! I'll work hard and make Alvida my wife! Ya ha ha ha! Today really is a great day!"
Just as the few of them downed a few gulps of wine, Luffy and Zoro walked into the restaurant.
Because Buggy and Mochji were wearing cloaks, Luffy and Zoro didn't recognize them.
As soon as Luffy saw Sandy, he exclaimed, "Yo, Sandy! You're actually eating such delicious food!"
Before Sandy could say anything, Luffy had already rushed to the table and started devouring the food like a starving beast.
Buggy blinked in surprise. "Sandy, are they your companions? Since you know each other, eat freely! Oh wait—haha, you're the host, you should be the one saying that!"
Sandy smiled awkwardly. "We're free and unrestrained Pirates. No need to be so formal."
He leaned toward Zoro and whispered, "Eat quickly, don't ask."
As they ate, Buggy suddenly froze, realizing something.
Wait a minute… that Straw Hat Bastard was sitting right in front of him!
Buggy tore off his cloak and pointed dramatically. "Straw Hat Bastard! I finally found you!"
Luffy looked up mid-bite, confused. "Who are you?"
Buggy's vein popped. "Stop eating! Don't tell me you forgot who I am?!"
Luffy chewed and said with honest amazement, "Wow, your nose is so red and round."
"Damn Straw Hat Bastard! Still so rude!" Buggy snarled, pulling out his dagger.
Before things escalated, Sandy quickly stepped in. "Buggy, Luffy is my Captain. I can't let you hurt him. But you're my friend, too—I don't want to fight you either. So, I'm taking them and leaving."
Buggy blinked, then tears welled up. "Sandy! You're truly a loyal and righteous man! It's my honor to be your friend, woo woo woo…"
Mochji tugged his sleeve. "Captain Buggy… they've already run off."
Buggy froze, then exploded. "CHASE THEM! No matter what, we can't let that Straw Hat Bastard escape!"
"Yes, Captain Buggy!"
Just as they stood up, the restaurant owner appeared, blocking the way. "Gentlemen, you haven't paid the bill yet!"
Buggy and Mochji exchanged dumbfounded looks.
Didn't Sandy say he was treating?
Now it looked like they were paying—and that Straw Hat Bastard ate the most!
And wait—Sandy and that swordsman even ran off with the wine!
That greedy Straw Hat even dragged half the food off the table on his way out!!
Outside the Restaurant
Sandy, Luffy, and Zoro finally escaped to a safe distance.
Luffy grumbled, "I'm still not full…"
Before he could finish, a gust of wind suddenly blew, snatching the Straw Hat from his head. Luffy dashed after it, with Zoro chasing after him.
That wind was… strange.
Sandy narrowed his eyes and released his Observation Haki. As expected, he sensed a powerful presence nearby.
Following the source, he saw a figure in a green cloak standing silently ahead.
Sandy immediately realized—it was Dragon, Luffy's father.
Since Dragon didn't bother to hide, Sandy approached. "That gust of wind just now—was that your doing?"
Dragon turned, his calm gaze meeting Sandy's. "Yes. Hello, Luffy's friend."
"Hello," Sandy replied. "Where are you leading him?"
Dragon looked toward the distant square. "Luffy wants to become the Pirate King. So, I'll let him see the place where Gol D. Roger was executed. That's where everything began—and where it ended. Letting him experience it may not be a bad thing."
"This is where everything began?" Sandy frowned. "I don't think so. The true beginning was when the Celestial Dragons started calling themselves gods."
Dragon's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Ever since the Celestial Dragons took power," Sandy continued, "everything's gone off track. Freedom and human life mean nothing now. Chaos grows—and ambitious men start searching for answers."
Dragon stared at him, visibly intrigued. After a pause, he said, "You know quite a lot."
Sandy shrugged. "Just rumors I've heard. By the way, your Observation Haki is incredible. And that ability of yours—Logia type, Hurricane Fruit, right?"
Dragon didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "What do you think of this world?"
"Me?" Sandy smirked. "What can I think? I just do what I want."
"Oh?" Dragon's lips curved into a faint smile. "And what do you want to do the most?"
Sandy scratched his head. "Go out to sea with Luffy, have adventures, pick up girls, and have a few drinks!"
Dragon laughed quietly. "Your aspirations shouldn't end there."
Sandy waved him off. "Please don't try to recruit me. I'm not hero material—I don't have the patience for it. That's just who I am."
Dragon sighed softly. "Is that so? Then I wish you a pleasant journey."
He moved like the wind itself—his feet barely shifting as his body blurred between positions.
Sandy watched in awe. "That footwork… damn, it's so cool! I have to learn that someday. It's a perfect flex!"