"Are both of you really Devil Fruit users?" Kuina suddenly asked, looking very doubtful.
Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine exchanged a confused glance, then turned to Kuina and slowly nodded.
Kuina stayed silent for a moment, then sneered and said, "You ate a Devil Fruit and you're still this weak? What a joke~~~"
In an instant, both Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine's faces turned bright red, like monkeys' butts!
"Ha ha ha ha~~~"
Ryuen couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing. Kuina's ability to roast people was clearly learned from him!
The others couldn't help but snicker as well.
"We… we just haven't developed our powers well yet!" Mr. 5, the Bomb-Bomb Fruit user, retorted, somewhat unwilling to accept this.
Ryuen shook his head.
One had the Bomb-Bomb Fruit, the other the Ton-Ton Fruit. If their abilities were fully developed, they wouldn't be weak. But these two were terrible at hand-to-hand combat, their physical strength was lacking, and no matter how much they developed, they wouldn't get far with their weak skills.
"Alright, weren't you two preparing to welcome us?
Let's get started now, we're starving! Bring out whatever food you have!" Ryuen said loudly.
A meal saved is a meal earned!
When Nami and the others heard this, their eyes lit up. While Nami's spatial ability could store plenty of food, it would still be tiring for Anya, the cook, if they wanted to eat a lot.
And besides, isn't free food the best?
Miss Valentine, a bit confused, soon hesitantly asked, "You mean start the banquet?"
"Of course~~~" Ryuen crossed his arms and urged with a tone full of pressure, "We have big appetites, hurry up!"
"Okay, we'll get started right away!" Miss Valentine, hearing Ryuen's words, didn't dare to delay and quickly responded.
She grabbed Mr. 5 and the two hurried out of the room, which had been sliced in half by a sword, to gather the Million-Year Elders and Billion-Year Elders.
"Everyone out, the banquet is about to begin!" Miss Valentine shouted as she walked.
The people who had been hiding in the house cautiously peeked out, confused about why the banquet was starting already.
Seeing that the Million-Year Elders and Billion-Year Elders were not moving, Miss Valentine's face darkened and she shouted loudly, "Idiots! Get moving and prepare for the guests, get the food and wine ready!"
"Yes!"
"We're on it!"
"Miss Sunday!"
The Million-Year Elders responded nervously, then immediately sprang into action, bringing out various dishes and wines from their rooms to prepare for a grand banquet.
Half an hour later, Ryuen and his group were happily enjoying the feast with the people there.
Of course, Ryuen didn't know whether the people of Whiskey Peak were happy or not, but at least they were having a good time.
The next day, before the banquet had even ended, Mr. 1 arrived at Whiskey Peak on the Baroque Works' transport turtle.
However, when Mr. 1 saw the quiet dock, a strange look flashed in his eyes.
Normally, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine would know that someone would come to handle things here today, but now, no one was there to greet him, which felt off to him.
Mr. 1 raised his alertness and quietly boarded the island alone. He needed to figure out what was going on.
"Hmm?"
As he approached the town of Whiskey Peak, Mr. 1 faintly heard some noise.
It sounded like a banquet was happening?
His expression darkened, and he hurried towards the noise. Mr. 5 and the others were still partying here while he had rushed all the way here!
With anger in his steps, he reached the liveliest house, burst through the door, and shouted, "Mr. 5, Miss Valentine! What are you doing?!"
"Mr. 1?"
"How did you get here?" Mr.5 and Miss Valentine's Day were startled by Mr.1's sudden appearance!
Mr.1 ignored Mr.5 and Miss Valentine's Day and stared directly at Ryuen and his group. He had a feeling that these people might be the ones Mr.0 had asked him to investigate.
Ryuen, feeling a bit confused, thought, *Wasn't Robin supposed to handle this? Where's my big Robin?*
"Ryuen, is this big bald guy your surprise?" Hog asked, clearly puzzled.
Ryuen fell silent. The surprise he had imagined was supposed to be the tanned, mature-looking Robin, not this Mr.1!
"You guys aren't pirates. Can you tell me who you are?" Mr.1 asked Ryuen calmly.
Ryuen didn't answer right away. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Fight one of my companions. If you win, I'll tell you. If you lose… we'll talk after that."
"Okay," Mr.1 agreed without hesitation.
According to Miss Valentine's Day's report, these people were strong, so he was eager to see just how strong they really were.
"Then I'll do it!" Hog stood up.
Looking at Hog, who was twice as tall as him, Mr.1 immediately felt a strong sense of pressure.
But he still had confidence in his abilities. As a user of the Quick Slash fruit, he didn't believe anyone could cut through steel.
However, when he saw the huge axe Hog was holding, his instincts started to scream at him. That axe was dangerous!
"Hog, if you use that axe, one swing might be enough to end the fight," Ryuen warned him.
Mr.1 felt uncomfortable after hearing this.
However, being a former assassin, he didn't mind if the opponent didn't use a weapon.
Hog, unaware of Mr.1's abilities, felt that Ryuen was probably right. His axe could slice through iron like butter. He wasn't about to end the fight too quickly when he finally had a chance to battle.
After a moment of thought, he put down the axe and walked outside with Mr.1 to an open area.
"You go first. I'm worried if I go first, you won't be able to get up," Mr.1 said calmly, eyeing Hog.
Seeing that Hog wasn't using the axe made the pressure feel much less intense, and Mr.1 felt more confident.
"Are you sure?" Hog asked, a little surprised.
He hadn't sensed any real threat from Mr.1 and didn't think he was all that strong.
Mr.1 nodded seriously.
"Alright, I'll hold back a bit then." Hog wasn't going to hold back now that it was said.
"Soru!"
"Iron Fist!"
Mr.1 was shocked. He watched Hog disappear, and in the blink of an eye, Hog reappeared.
But by the time he did, Hog's fist had already turned black.
*Boom!*
Hog's punch landed heavily on Mr.1's chin.
Mr.1 felt as if he had been hit by a massive object. He was sent flying, and by the time he hit the ground, he had lost consciousness.
"Damn, I used too much force~~~"
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