A massive bonfire blazed in the center of the square, and the sizzling of dripping barbecue fat made an enticing sound.
Barrels of alcohol were brought out, and the air was filled with the aroma of roasted malt and the strong scent of meat.
The members of the Beasts Pirates quickly switched from their earlier shock to a celebratory mood, with shouts, clinking cups, and boisterous laughter mixing together.
As the undisputed protagonist, Ruun was seated near Kaido's main seat.
In front of him, various roasted meats, giant fish steaks, and piles of fruit, all fragrant and dripping with oil, were heaped high.
He didn't hold back, eating with both hands, his mouth greasy, and his cheeks puffed out like a hamster.
“Ugh… I'm alive…” He took a big gulp of strong liquor, the spicy sensation burning from his throat all the way to his stomach, dispelling the fatigue after the fight.
“Fighting is really physically demanding. I have to make up for this occupational injury with food!”
The surroundings remained noisy, but the gazes directed at him were completely different from before.
Kaido sat in the main seat, guzzling from a huge sake gourd, letting out a satisfied sigh.
King stood beside him like a silent statue, while Queen wiggled his fat body, performing a comical dance in the center of the arena, drawing bursts of laughter.
Jack drank silently, occasionally glancing around the room.
Who's-Who, Sasaki, Ulti, and Page One also arrived.
All four were heavily bandaged and sat at slightly more distant seats.
They drank in silence, watching Ruun devour his food with complex expressions.
Especially Who's-Who, who gripped his wine glass tightly with his right hand, but ultimately made no move.
Ulti angrily tore at a piece of meat, as if it were Ruun's flesh, while Page One sat quietly beside his sister, occasionally offering soft words of comfort.
Ruun devoured his food while pricking up his ears to catch the surrounding conversations.
“...The New World hasn't been peaceful lately; there have been more conflicts in Whitebeard's territory...”
“Hey, do you guys think the Governor bringing back such a monster this time means he's planning something big again?”
“Who knows... but, there's a vacant spot in the Tobi Roppo now, and a lot of people are eyeing it...”
“Don't talk nonsense! Who can guess the Governor's thoughts? Drink, drink!”
As Ruun listened, he pondered in his mind: 'There are only five Tobi Roppo, so it seems Drake, the Marine spy, hasn't arrived yet. Whitebeard isn't dead yet, which means this is before the Marineford War?'
This discovery invigorated him, and he couldn't help but eat a few more bites of roasted meat.
In his previous life, when One Piece updated to the Marineford War arc, there was always debate about whether Kaido wanted to help Whitebeard or kill him.
However, with Red Hair stopping Kaido and Whitebeard ultimately dying at Marineford, the truth remained a mystery.
And now, as a core member of the Beasts Pirates, perhaps he truly has the chance to witness or even participate in this event firsthand?
'Holy crap...' The little person in Ruun's mind excitedly rubbed his hands.
'Close-up gossip, and it's about the top giants of the Pirate World! Why do I feel a little excited just thinking about it? Boss Kaido, you have to bring your little brother along when the time comes!'
An unconsciously silly smile appeared on his face, and he raised his wine glass, toasting Kaido, who was guzzling wine at the main table: “Boss Kaido! Good wine! Good meat! Thanks!”
Kaido put down his sake gourd, glanced at him, and seemed amused by his straightforwardness:
“Ugh-goh-goh-goh! Being able to eat is a blessing! Kid, eat more! Follow me, and there will be plenty of fights to be had!”
“No problem! As long as there's enough to eat after fighting!” Ruun replied with a grin, grabbing another large piece of meat and stuffing it into his mouth.
The atmosphere of the banquet was pushed to its peak by the alcohol.
Queen's dance became even more comical, and Jack, uncharacteristically, had a few more drinks.
Although Who's-Who and the others remained silent, they were gradually swept up in the pirate-style revelry.
Ulti's anger came and went quickly; she was now holding a wine glass larger than herself, her small face flushed red as she clinked glasses with Page One.
Ruun leaned back in his chair, let out a satisfied burp, and rubbed his slightly bulging stomach.
The warm bonfire dispelled the chill of the night, surrounded by deafening noise and the rich aroma of wine and meat.
He looked up at the dark night sky, where a few stars shone exceptionally bright.
'From inexplicably transmigrating, to fighting a Four Emperors, and then becoming a Lunar Calamity... This first day in the Pirate World has certainly been exciting.'
The noise continued, and the bonfire crackled.
The first day of his transmigration concluded, warmly and chaotically, amidst the Beasts Pirates' banquet, filled with the scent of roasted meat, the aroma of alcohol, and thunderous revelry.
---
Sunlight streamed through the Japanese-style window lattice, casting long shadows on the floor.
Ruun groggily opened his eyes, a slight headache from the hangover making him frown.
Last night's banquet... seemed to have gotten a bit too wild.
He instinctively reached to rub his temples, but his arm froze midway.
Two young women, dressed in elegant kimonos with delicate features, had silently stood by his futon at some point.
Seeing him awake, one immediately stepped forward, gently supporting his arm, while the other skillfully picked up a brand new set of clothes.
Ruun: “??? ”
He instantly sobered up eighty percent, almost springing out of bed.
“Stop! Wait! What are you doing?”
“My lord, please allow us to help you change.”
Ruun's old face uncharacteristically flushed.
In his previous life, let alone maids, even his girlfriends were paper characters!
This All-Star treatment... is too capitalistic!
“Ahem, well... I can do it myself, just leave the clothes.” He tried to put on a dignified air, waving his hand.
The maids exchanged glances, placed the clothes on the low cabinet by the bed, and respectfully withdrew.
“Phew...” Ruun sighed in relief, running his hand through his messy hair, “This decadent life... is not bad at all!”
After he slowly got dressed and finished washing up, he walked out of the bedroom and was slightly stunned again.
The All-Star treatment was truly top-notch!
His assigned residence wasn't a small room, but an entire Japanese-style mansion with its own private garden.
Spacious and impressive, it was a grand villa he couldn't even dream of in his previous life.
Sitting in the spacious tea room, watching the maids arrange a lavish breakfast on the low table, Ruun felt a little giddy.
How was this being a pirate? This was practically coming to Wano Country for a vacation and living like a lord!
He devoured his breakfast like a whirlwind, then let out a satisfied burp.
Ruun rubbed his stomach, beginning to ponder a serious question: What to do next?
His current situation was very peculiar.
He was outwardly declared an Animal-Type, Mythical Zoan, Tsukuyomi form ability user, but in reality, he had directly obtained the primordial power of the Moon Devil, Julan.
This meant he didn't need to painstakingly develop his abilities like ordinary ability users.
Julan's power, in itself, represented the authority of gravity.
What he needed to do, it seemed, was to familiarize himself with it, use it, and unlock more possibilities in battle or through imagination.
For example, yesterday's Moon Eclipse - Heavenly Fall was born from a fleeting image in his mind of a certain Uchiha Big Boss from Naruto dropping meteorites, and he subconsciously mimicked it by using gravity to pull down rocks.
Although the effect... well, it was quite far from the original, only producing a shower of small stones, its power was enough to clear the area.
This ability growth path seems quite effortless?
He could get stronger through fighting, or comprehend new moves by thinking outside the box.
