Luffy, how can you become the Pirate King if you don't work hard!

Brooke found a violin somewhere, and although it was a little out of tune, perhaps because it hadn't been played in a long time, the cheerful melody still resounded throughout the banquet.

Franky also disembarked from the Thousand Sunny at this time, just in time for the tail end of the banquet, and began to use the wood from the ruins to build a makeshift table and campfire. The members of the Rolling Pirates also joined in to help with the preparations.

It would be quite a challenge for Sanji to prepare a banquet for hundreds of people all by himself, but fortunately, the Victims' Association also had many chefs to help out.

"Huh? What's going on? It's so noisy."

Nika rubbed his sleepy eyes and staggered out from a corner of a pile of ruins, a few bits of grass still stuck to his head. He had fainted after his shadow was taken away, and should have woken up long ago, but Nika was drunk and had been unconscious ever since.

"Oh, it's not important anymore."

Little Merry happily ran over, picked her up, and led her into the increasingly lively crowd of celebration.

Zoro, meanwhile, leaned to one side with his arms crossed, examining the black sword Shusui he had just acquired and the battle-damaged Yubashiri.

Nami and Vivi sat on a sofa made of broken wooden planks, both of them looking tired and relaxed after the battle, yawning.

Vivi's gaze would occasionally drift towards Nami's wedding dress.

Suspicious, very suspicious.

The atmosphere at the banquet was lively and cheerful.

After the Rolling Pirates regained their shadows, they were overwhelmed with joy at regaining their freedom, laughing, crying, jumping, and leaping.

"Waaaaah, this is great! I can finally see the sunlight again!"

"Thank you, Straw Hat Boy! Thank you everyone!"

"We are free!!"

They surrounded the Straw Hat crew, expressing their sincerest gratitude.

"It seems Moria has been taken away?"

Someone belatedly asked.

"Ah, he was taken away by that big guy behind him." Luffy tore into the grilled meat Sanji handed him and answered vaguely, "Don't worry, he's given up on the elimination thing."

"So that's how it is. I thought Lord Luffy had defeated that Shichibukai as well!"

"No matter what, this is too exaggerated! After defeating Gecko Moria, he also forced another Shichibukai to retreat."

"Is this the pirate known as the fifth Emperor of the Sea? It's only natural that he has such strength!"

The crowd cheered.

Lola listened to her companions' discussion and looked at Luffy, her heart filled with shock.

In her memory, perhaps only that mother from the Kingdom of Wan possessed such terrifying power.

And it seems that I am witnessing the rise of a sea emperor?

This feeling is too unreal.

Luffy just smiled and continued to eat heartily, without mentioning a word about the deal with Kuma.

Everyone was so overwhelmed by the euphoria of victory and freedom that no one bothered to delve into the details.

"Gentlemen, please listen to me!"

Spoel, the former president of the Victims Association of the Rolling Pirates, stood on a high rock and shouted.

Once the crowd's excited clamor had subsided somewhat, he continued, his voice slightly choked: "The purpose of our Victims Association is to reclaim our own shadows!"

Thank you all for your hard work and mutual support during this time!

Now that all the shadows have returned, I hereby declare the Victims' Association disbanded!

"President!"

"Thank you, President!"

"You are our best president!"

These people, who had relied on each other for so long on the terror dart, burst into tears at the thought of going their separate ways, embracing each other and expressing their reluctance to part and their blessings.

Lola and her pirate crew tearfully bid farewell to their fellow sufferers.

Luffy didn't participate much in this sad yet heartwarming farewell ceremony; he just quietly ate his meat.

On the contrary, the emotionally rich Usopp, Franky, and Chopper were moved to tears, hugging each other and sobbing.

"I'm so touched."

"A real man wouldn't shed tears at parting!"

Here, take a tissue and wipe yourself first.

Just then, Robin quietly sat down next to Luffy, carrying a cup of hot tea.

"What did you and Kuma talk about earlier?" Robin's voice was gentle, her beautiful eyes fixed on Luffy.

"And what happened to you?"

"It's okay."

Luffy paused in his chewing motion and moved to the side. Robin took the opportunity to sit down and shifted her body over to him.

“But you look like you have something on your mind.” Robin looked up, put down the hot tea in his hand, and said very seriously, “You said we’re partners.”

"nothing,"

Luffy swallowed the meat in his mouth, thought for a moment, and decided that he could say about the Shichibukai invitation: "That Kuma, on behalf of the World Government, invited me to succeed Moria as one of the Shichibukai."

"Shichibukai?"

Robin frowned slightly, carefully scrutinizing Luffy's expression. "Is that all?"

She always felt that things weren't that simple.

Luffy's reaction was not as simple as just rejecting an invitation.

Chapter 274 is strong, but not strong enough.

"Yeah, what else could have happened? Anyway, I refused."

Luffy has come to understand Robin's feelings from back then.

Faced with the World Government's terrifying threats, Robin didn't want to implicate them.

Luffy didn't want to drag them down because of Ace's situation.

They had previously turned Enies Lobby upside down with their passion, and if it weren't for Garp and Aokiji, they almost wouldn't have made it back.

Now that Ace is imprisoned in Impel Down, a place on par with Enies Lobby and even more terrifying, good fortune will not smile upon him again.

Luffy agrees with what Kuma said.

His strength might not be inferior to that of a general.

But what about your friends?

They need strength.

What's needed most is time.

Keep in mind that only a little over two months have passed since they set sail from the East Blue, but Luffy has used those two months as if they were two years, unlike Zoro and the others.

He felt this was something he needed to consider to become a mature captain.

"Ok."

Robin didn't press further, but the doubt in her eyes didn't disappear.

She reached out and gently pulled Luffy's head to rest on her soft, warm thigh. "If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. But what you need right now isn't meat, but rest."

"Huh? I want more food."

Luffy struggled to sit up, "And I'm really okay."

"You don't want to eat,"

Robin's tone carried an undeniable gentleness as she lightly touched Luffy's cheek, her hand carrying a hint of coolness that strangely soothed his restless nerves. "You need to rest. No matter what happens, I'll be here."

Robin pressed him down.

Robin has extremely keen observation skills.

Although she didn't know exactly what had happened, she could sense that Luffy was under tremendous mental pressure.

Luffy was silent for a moment, but Robin's hand gently comforted him.

My constantly tense nerves finally found a safe haven to rest in.

The faint scent of books and flowers emanating from Robin lingered in his nostrils, and his eyelids gradually grew heavy.

The effects of days of fierce fighting, the side effects of the shadow, and the shock of the news of Ace's arrest all surged up like a tidal wave.

His struggles lessened, and finally, in that reassuring touch and breath, he closed his eyes.

Her breathing became even and deep, and she fell into a deep sleep.

Robin looked down at the sleeping boy's profile on his lap, a few strands of black hair falling down.

Her hand continued to gently stroke Luffy's cheek, smoothing out the wrinkles between his brows, and she spoke softly:

"Sleep well, Captain."

No matter what happens, we will stand with you.

Her life was already intertwined with Luffy's back in Alabasta.

While Luffy was asleep, Sanji and Zoro quietly left the banquet venue and came to the vicinity of the remains where Luffy had talked with Kuma earlier.

"If there was no battle, then something must have happened."

"Besides, there must be something wrong with how quickly Luffy's injuries disappeared."

Sanji and Zoro arrived here at the same time, seemingly by coincidence.

Sanji and Zoro were walking side by side, but that wasn't the case at first. Sanji was leading the way, but after a short while, he turned around and found that Zoro was gone.