May i ask a question?
After informing the other members of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco also made his way to the deck. Just before stepping onto the deck, Marco paused and lightly tapped his own face with his hand, forcing a smile to appear.
"Hey, Pops, Thach and the others have already prepared the ingredients and fine wine for the banquet. We can start the feast anytime!"
"Gurararara, Marco, inform Thach and the others to begin," replied Whitebeard, chuckling.
Even though Nicholas was mentally prepared, he hadn't expected the banquet to last for three days and nights once it began.
"Gurararara, splendid! I didn't expect your drinking capacity to improve so much after not seeing you for a while," Whitebeard remarked as Nicholas took a hearty gulp of his drink.
"Burp!" Nicholas hiccuped, slamming his emptied cup on the deck heavily. Even with his exceptional physique, the smell of alcohol lingered in his breath.
"Oh, by the way, Nicholas, I heard from Roger that you're capable of concocting special beverages that unlock one's latent potential. Can you sell me a few?" Whitebeard inquired, showing genuine interest after Nicholas's earlier comments had made an impression on him. He was concerned about the future of the crew once he grew old or weakened.
"No problem," Nicholas replied, burping again.
"Marco, come over and toast Mr. Nicholas," Whitebeard called out to Marco nearby.
At that moment, two lookouts stationed on the crow's nest observed the horizon while enjoying roasted meat. Their relaxed demeanor shifted when they spotted a ship in the distance.
"Ship! A ship is appearing ahead of the port side!" one lookout exclaimed.
"Where?" the other lookout asked, immediately picking up a spyglass to confirm the sighting.
"It's one of those small boats again!!" The lookout's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the tiny vessel, a harbinger of trouble in the treacherous waters of the New World.
Onboard, there was one man who posed a significant threat, and his presence alone commanded respect: Roger.
"Roger is coming?" one crew member exclaimed in shock.
"Yes, Pops, Roger is here, but it's just him. The Roger Pirates aren't with him," another crew member reported nervously, feeling the weight of Roger's reputation.
"Gurararara, Call him on our deck" Whitebeard declared, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
…
"Is it safe for you to drink so much, Roger, considering your condition?" Whitebeard teased, observing Roger's hearty drinking.
"Burp! Don't forget, Whitebeard, I have the treasure Nicholas brought me. Drinking like this won't kill me," Roger joked, showcasing a conspicuous gold ring on his hand.
"Speaking of which, thank you, Nicholas," Roger said, acknowledging Nicholas's contribution to his prolonged revelry.
"No need to thank me, it's a small matter," Nicholas replied, hiccuping again.
"Nicholas, do you believe in fate?" Roger suddenly asked, catching Nicholas off guard.
"Fate?" Nicholas looked puzzled.
"Never mind. This isn't the place for such discussions. There's a nearby island; let's talk there!" Roger suggested, pointing in a direction away from the ship.
The Moby Dick set sail towards the island, and soon, three figures leaped onto the shore and ventured into the jungle. Eventually, they arrived at a spot beneath a waterfall, surrounded by a grove of cherry blossoms in full bloom.
"Gurararara, Joy Boy truly was an extraordinary figure," Whitebeard remarked, deeply moved by their conversation.
"So, I'm entrusting Fish-Man Island to you, Whitebeard, to incorporate it into your sphere of influence. We'll need the unparalleled power of the Sea Kings in the future!" Roger declared solemnly.
"Regarding Fish-Man Island, let me handle it. Besides, I made a pact with Neptune; I'm to be the godfather of that child," Nicholas interjected, unwilling to relinquish control over the power of the Sea Kings.
Upon hearing this, Roger regarded Nicholas with a serious expression before saying, "It seems you know quite a bit."
"I know only a little," Nicholas replied calmly, meeting Roger's friendly demeanor with his own stoicism.
"Nicholas, may I ask you a question?" Roger's smile was warm and inviting.
"Of course!"