"Sprouted potatoes are still being used. Are you trying to give the marines food poisoning?"
"The temperature control in the cold storage is a mess. This fish has been dead for at least three days. Its eyes are cloudy!"
"And this beef, the sinew hasn't been properly removed. If it's even slightly overcooked, it will be as tough as a rubber band. It's a disaster!"
With every problem Ren pointed out, the chefs' bodies trembled. They had never imagined that an eight-year-old child could have such a sharp and professional eye.
Finally, in a locked private cold storage specifically for officers of the Vice Admiral rank, Ren found some ingredients that made his eyes light up. It was a carefully prepared Iron-Armored Boar, a rare creature found only on specific islands. Because it fed on a special metallic ore year-round, its meat was firm and its fat layer was rich in minerals, giving it a unique flavor. Next to it were several barrels of high-quality rum from the South Blue, a treasured collection of the G-8 Branch. "Hmm, this is barely usable," Ren nodded in satisfaction.
When the crew returned to the cafeteria with their spoils of war, a rich, almost tyrannical meaty aroma had already enveloped the entire square. In the center of the cafeteria, Ren was directing several marine chefs to cook a brand-new dish in a captured iron pot large enough to stew a whole cow. The Iron-Armored Boar was cut into large chunks and was simmering with potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables. The golden lard was rendered out and mixed with the sweetness of the vegetables and the mellowness of the rum, creating an aggressively complex aroma. The broth was an alluring dark brown, bubbling away, each bubble making the scent even richer.
"Head Chef! What is this? It smells amazing!" Gatz was the first to approach, his drool nearly falling to the floor.
"Overlord's Stew," Ren replied succinctly. This was a dish he had improvised with the available ingredients, designed to bring out their energy in the most direct and domineering way, to replenish the strength of the crew who had just gone through a "warm-up."
When the first steaming bowl of Overlord's Stew was served, everyone gathered around. Rocks forked a piece of the tenderly stewed pork and put it in his mouth. His eyes instantly lit up. The skin was springy and soft, the fat was rich but not greasy, melting in his mouth. The lean meat had absorbed the broth, was tender and juicy, and had a hint of rum in the aftertaste. The potatoes and carrots were also stewed until soft and flavorful, perfectly balancing the richness of the meat.
Most importantly, as the food went down, an energy that was thicker and gentler than the pre-battle snack slowly spread through their bodies. This energy was no longer as wild as before, but like gentle streams, it nourished their bodies, which had become a little unstable from the sudden surge of power. It perfectly integrated the external power of the "soul" with their own physiques, solidifying it and making it truly their own.
Gatz felt the uncontrollable rage inside him subside. His power became more condensed and controlled. Silver felt his connection with his surroundings become even closer. The silence was no longer just about concealment, but a state of near-mastery.
"Gurararara! Exhilarating! A fight followed by a meal like this is one of life's greatest pleasures!" Newgate drained a large bowl of soup and let out a satisfied sigh.
Just as everyone was enjoying the victory feast, a News Coo flapped its wings, flew in through the blown-open skylight of the fortress, and dropped the latest newspaper on the table. Silver picked it up, glanced at it, and handed it to Rocks.
The front page was a tragic photo of the G-8 fortress billowing with thick smoke. Below the photo were several crooked, clearly hastily taken portraits: Rocks, Newgate, Gatz, Silver, Dolum, and... a small, expressionless child carrying a food box. The headline was written in the most eye-catching and sensational font:
[SHOCKING! ROOKIE PIRATE CREW "ROCKS" CONQUERS UNSINKABLE FORTRESS G-8 IN A SINGLE DAY! A DISGRACE TO THE MARINES!]
Rocks looked at the newspaper, then at the bounty of 150,000,000 Beli under his photo, a flamboyant smile spreading across his face. "Wahahaha! Well, boys, it looks like we're famous!"
The fall of the G-8 fortress was like a heavy bomb, creating a monstrous wave in the calm sea of the world. The news quickly reached Marine Headquarters, Marineford. In the Fleet Admiral's office, the atmosphere was so heavy you could almost squeeze water out of it. The current Fleet Admiral, an old man with a goatee and sharp eyes, slammed the report in his hand on the table with a loud BANG. "Damn it!" His roar made the entire office buzz. "G-8! The so-called unsinkable steel fortress! Stationed with tens of thousands of elites and over a hundred heavy cannons! And it was conquered in a single day by a never-before-heard-of rookie pirate crew? Where is that waste Gion?!"
Standing opposite him was a young figure in a white suit and a "Justice" coat, a playful look on his face. He was munching on a rice cracker. It was the future hero of the Marines, Monkey D. Garp.
"Reporting, Fleet Admiral," Garp said indistinctly. "According to the reports from the soldiers who escaped, Vice Admiral Gion was sent flying by a single finger and is still stuck in a wall. They say his life isn't in danger, but his self-esteem has suffered a devastating blow."
"A single finger?!" The Fleet Admiral's eyes widened even more. "Garp! Are you joking with me!"
"I'm not joking," Garp's expression also turned serious. He swallowed the cracker in his mouth. "That captain named Rocks, and the man named Edward Newgate, are both monsters among monsters. And their crew members are no pushovers either. According to the descriptions, their strength increased unbelievably during the assault, almost as if... as if they were possessed by something."
The Fleet Admiral fell silent. He looked at the newly updated bounty posters in the report, his brow tightly furrowed.
Rocks D. Xebec, 150,000,000 Beli.
Edward Newgate, 120,000,000 Beli.
"Giant Anchor" Gatz, 35,000,000 Beli.
"Phantom" Silver, 30,000,000 Beli.
"Iron Wall" Dolum, 15,000,000 Beli.
And there was one more that he couldn't figure out.
"Gourmet" Ren, bounty 5,000,000 Beli. Note: This person is extremely dangerous, suspected of possessing a Devil Fruit ability that can strengthen his comrades through cooking. The photo was of a small child carrying a food box.
"Strengthening comrades through cooking..." the Fleet Admiral muttered to himself. "Since when did such a bizarre ability appear on these seas?"
-------
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