🂴 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐀 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

037 ❘❘ Memory 6 (Part 4)

Jessica hesitated, eyes fixed on the spectacle. Hand to her chest, she watched, wide-eyed, as Luffy shoveled in more food, completely unfazed.

"...Ninety-three! Ninety-four! Ninety-five! Ninety-six!..."

For a brief moment, the shame and frustration that had gripped the chefs were forgotten. Instead, they stared in awe, unable to comprehend how anyone could eat so much so quickly.

"Incredible..." one of them muttered, his voice full of disbelief.

"Has anyone ever eaten our food this brilliantly before?" another whispered, too stunned to even feel insulted.】

Ace smirked, watching his younger brother inhale food like a starving beast. He bit into a chunk of roasted meat, letting the juices drip down his chin, unbothered. "Leave it to Luffy to eat everything up while everyone's busy," he mused, voice laced with amusement and pride.

Across the table, Sabo chuckled, eyes flicking to Luffy as he tore into the head of a roasted rose octopus. The pale tentacles flopped comically from his mouth, but he devoured them without hesitation. "Man, he sure has no consideration for others," Sabo added between chews, savoring the briny taste of seafood.

"YOU TWO ARE ONES TO TALK!" The Whitebeard crew's collective roar shook the deck, rattling plates as their furious glares locked onto Ace and Sabo. The once-overflowing platter before them was now a wasteland of crumbs and bones.

Ace, unfazed, grinned through his bite, while Sabo's lips twitched in quiet mischief. This was routine—claim food first, deal with outrage later.

Before the crew could explode further, the empty plate shimmered, then reappeared, piled high with steaming meats, fresh bread, and glistening fruit.

This time, the crew didn't hesitate. They lunged, arms outstretched, swiping at the feast before Ace and Sabo could blink. Triumph gleamed in their eyes as they hoarded their shares, determined not to be outmatched again.

Ace arched a brow, hand hovering over his half-eaten meal. He exchanged a glance with Sabo, both watching the chaos unfold with quiet amusement. No rush. There was always more food.

【Luffy, oblivious to the stares, reached the last two plates. His grin stretched wider. "...Ninety-nine! One hundred!" His voice boomed through the room.

He chewed, swallowed, then froze. His wide eyes dulled for a split second, his body stiffening as if something had gone terribly wrong. Tension snapped through the air. The cooks stiffened, their faces draining of color.

Jessica's heart lurched. "What's wrong!?" she cried, rushing toward him.

"Are you alright?!" a cook echoed, kneeling beside him, hands hovering.

Luffy trembled, arms clamped around his bloated stomach. Jessica leaned closer, desperation creeping into her voice. "Hang in there!"】

"Hm? What's wrong with him?" Shanks lowered his sake cup, amber liquid swirling inside. He'd been delighted to try the rare western drink, but now his gaze lingered on Luffy, who slouched nearby, hand on his stomach.

The ship's wooden floor creaked as Shanks shifted, fingers tapping the cup's rim. The salty breeze tousled his fiery hair, carrying the scent of the feast they'd just devoured. His usual easy smile remained, but concern flickered in his eyes.

Lucky Roux, tearing into his meat, let out a hearty laugh. "Probably ate too fast," he said between bites, waving off Shanks' worry. "C'mon, boss, it's Luffy. He's never gotten a stomachache from food."

His confidence was as steady as the waves, a truth built from years of watching Luffy devour meals unscathed. The crew chuckled, the tension melting away.

Sure enough, Luffy sat up, rubbing his belly as a familiar grin stretched across his face.

Roux was right.

【Luffy's face turned bright red, his head lowering as he trembled, breath ragged. For a moment, it seemed like something had gone horribly wrong.

Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he flung his arms up and bellowed, "Y...Y...Yummy!!!" His eyes sparkled, a massive grin splitting his face.

The cooks, frozen in fear, collapsed in shock, mouths agape.

Luffy just laughed, patting his stuffed belly. "I'm stuffed! I'm so satisfied!"

Jessica blinked at the whiplash, then let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head in disbelief.】

The mirror hummed, a low, guttural sound, its surface rippling like disturbed water before turning pitch black. With a faint hiss, the memory orb burst forth, as if torn from the void. It arced through the air, gleaming under the dim light, before landing effortlessly in Milly's waiting hand, drawn as if by instinct. Cool glass met her palm, familiar, routine.

The demon rabbit blinked, crimson eyes reflecting the orb's glow. It studied the swirling contents in silence, ears twitching, curious, yet detached.

"Next."

The word cut through the air, smothering the easy conversation in an instant. Silence settled thick and heavy, pressing down like an unseen weight.

Garp's sharp gaze flicked to Ace and Sabo. He didn't speak, but he didn't need to. Experience had already told him what was coming.

Across from him, his grandsons met his stare head-on, their expressions unreadable but brimming with unspoken fire. Ace's jaw tightened, dark eyes sparking with defiance. Beside him, Sabo sat still, his sharp gaze measuring, calculating. Neither flinched, but the tension coiled between them, crackling like a storm gathering strength.

Around them, the spectators exchanged weary glances. Some pinched the bridges of their noses, others rubbed their temples, already bracing for the inevitable. A collective sigh rippled through the crowd.

Trouble was brewing.

In this family, power and tempers ran in their very blood. Peace was fleeting, if it had ever existed at all. Every glance, every shift in posture, was a spark waiting to catch. And now, the air was thick with the promise of fire.

───── · ·End of Chapter 37· · ─────
──────────────────────────
••──────••──────────••──────••
Follow for more stories and update announcements✧˖°.