A cook, vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates?

Meanwhile, dozens of nautical miles away from Mary Geoise, almost all of the Navy Headquarters' top combat forces were deployed.

Three massive naval flagships formed a triangular formation, completely sealing off the area, with countless warships acting as loyal guards around them.

On the deck of the central flagship, Fleet Admiral Steelbone Sky, draped in a cloak of justice, gazed solemnly at the distant holy land shrouded in a sea of ​​clouds, his brows furrowed so deeply they could crush a seagull.

Still no news?

His voice was low and filled with suppressed anger.

"No, Marshal."

"Warring States" said in a deep voice, his usually confident face now showing a serious expression.

"The Five Elders only gave the order to wait here, without telling us what exactly happened."

"waiting?"

Steel Bones slammed its fist into the railing of the ship's side, and the railing, made of a special alloy, let out a mournful cry as it could not bear the weight.

"That's the Whitebeard Pirates! The remnants of Rocks! They're right here at the gates of the Holy Land! And we can only stand here and wait?!"

"Hey, Sora, don't get so worked up."

A lazy voice came from the side. Garp was sitting on a cannon shell box with his legs spread wide, crunching on a senbei (rice cracker), looking carefree and unrestrained.

"You know what those old guys are thinking. They're probably even more nervous than we are. Besides, with that kid named Ryan around, maybe they really are going to deliver takeout?"

Although Garp's words sounded like a joke, a subtle hint of seriousness flashed deep in his eyes.

He knew better than anyone what a terrifying sight it would be if the monsters on that ship went berserk.

"Delivering takeout? Garp! What's left in your head besides rice crackers and donuts?!"

Steel Bones Air almost drew his gun on the spot.

Just as the elite forces at the Navy Headquarters were becoming increasingly anxious due to a lack of communication, and were even on the verge of internal strife, the gates of Mary Geoise slowly opened.

Raine walked out calmly, followed by three kitchen utensils with very different styles.

Gatz, carrying the anchor, looked around curiously, muttering to himself, "This place doesn't smell appetizing at all, there's not even a hint of barbecue."

Joz transformed his arms into diamonds, their dazzling light reflecting the false sunlight of the holy land, like two moving diamond statues, warily scanning their surroundings.

Marco transformed into a half-human, half-bird form, with blue-green flame wings slowly flapping behind him, appearing ready to attack at any moment.

This incongruous group, under the watchful eyes of countless people filled with shock, vigilance, greed, and fear, walked slowly toward Pangu City, which represented the highest power in the world.

Chapter 233 Holy Land Mary Geoise: Ingredient Observation Report

The streets of Mary Geoise were less streets than a pilgrimage route paved with pure white marble leading to the abode of the gods.

The roadsides are lined with meticulously manicured gardens, where exotic flowers and plants vie for attention, but there is no trace of natural vitality. Instead, they resemble cold works of art carefully displayed in shop windows.

The air was filled with a faint, nauseatingly luxurious scent, a mixture of expensive fragrances and disinfectant.

As the four of them walked along this road, they seemed out of place amidst the hypocritical holiness around them.

They were like four drops of ink accidentally spilled into pure white milk, abrupt yet stubbornly proclaiming their existence.

"Tch, what a lousy place, there isn't even a takoyaki stall."

Gatz, carrying the anchor, looked around with disdain, his massive body a stark contrast to the slender Celestial Dragons in their ornate attire.

"Quiet down, Gatz."

Marco whispered a warning, sensing countless malicious glances cast from the ornate buildings lining the road.

Those gazes belonged to the noblest race in this world—the Celestial Dragons.

They hid behind their protective bubble hoods, as if visiting a zoo, and sized up these four inferior creatures who dared to set foot in the sacred land with a mixture of curiosity, disdain, and a hint of fear.

"Look! Pirates! What dirty country bumpkins!"

A Celestial Dragon with a spiky hairstyle pointed at Gatz and screamed at the slaves beside him.

"Saint Musgard, should we have the Knights of God capture them and make them our new pets?"

Another Celestial Dragon suggested.

Just then, an even more foolish figure rushed down the moving walkway next to them.

His name is Philminder Saint.

At this moment, pointing at Joz's dazzling diamond body, his eyes blazed with unprecedented greed.

"A diamond! A diamond that can walk! I want it! I want to buy it and make it the brightest lamppost in my palace!"

He screamed and actually pulled a jewel-encrusted gold pistol from his waist and pointed it at Joz.

"Inferior creature! Stop right there! Become my collectible!"

boom!

A gunshot rang out, and a bullet made of pure gold flew toward the back of Joz's head.

However, Joz didn't even turn his head.

The bullet, powerful enough to pierce steel plates, seemed to strike an invisible, absolutely hard wall just before hitting the back of his head, making a crisp clanging sound, then deformed and bounced off, falling to the ground powerlessly.

Joz did not pause for a moment, as if the fatal shot had only been a gentle breeze passing by him.

Philmund Saint was stunned. He stared in disbelief at the smoking muzzle of his gun, then at the unharmed figure, his mind blank.

"You...you dare to ignore my attack?!"

His spoiled pride was challenged like never before, and he screamed angrily, about to fire again.

“Saint Philminder, please stop.”

A cold voice sounded behind him.

Several CP0 members dressed in black suits had appeared behind him at some point. The leader grabbed his wrist, his eyes filled with an undeniable warning.

"They are guests of the Five Elders."

"Guests? A bunch of lowlifes..."

Philmund Saint wanted to say something, but when he saw the other's eyes, which were as calm as an abyss, all his words were instantly frozen in his throat.

A conflict that could have sparked massive unrest was thus nipped in the bud.

Ryan never looked back; he simply calmly made notes in his notebook.

[Marie Joaquín Food Observation Report (Draft)]

[Environmental Assessment: The air quality is extremely poor, with oxygen mixed with more than seventeen kinds of artificial fragrances and disinfectants. Long-term inhalation may lead to loss of smell and chronic poisoning, making it unsuitable for the growth and preservation of any top-quality ingredients.]

[Biological observation: A special humanoid creature called the Celestial Dragon has been discovered. It is obese, intellectually deficient, and extremely emotionally unstable. It exhibits strong aggression and a hoarding mentality. Its flesh is loose and has an excessively high fat content. Preliminary assessment suggests... it has no edible value and may even contain potent toxins.]

Overall assessment: A magnificent, enormous, and secluded junkyard.

Meanwhile, on the naval flagship outside the Holy Land.

"Reporting to the Fleet Admiral! According to the latest intelligence from CP0, Whitebeard Pirates' head chef, Rein, and three other core members have entered Pangaea City!"

"what?!"

Steel Bone Sky and Sengoku were both startled.

"Where's Whitebeard? Didn't Whitebeard himself go?"

"No, Whitebeard and the rest of the crew stayed on the Founding Tortoise, and even... even set up a grill at the entrance to the Holy Land, as if... as if they were preparing to hold a banquet..."

By the end of his report, the naval soldier's voice had taken on a dreamlike, dazed quality.

Steelbone Sky and Sengoku exchanged a glance, both seeing deep confusion and absurdity in each other's eyes.

Holding a banquet at the entrance to the Holy Land?

What's wrong with the brains of these guys?

"Hahaha! Interesting! Really interesting!"

Garp slapped his thigh and burst into laughter, laughing so hard that tears almost streamed down his face.

"I knew it! That kid really did go to deliver food! Now those old guys not only have to treat everyone to a meal, but they also have to smell the aroma of other people's food right outside their own door. This is even worse than just beating them up!"

Zhan Guo's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and he felt his stomach start to hurt again.

He had a premonition that, regardless of the final outcome, today's events would become one of the most bizarre and shameful chapters in the history of world governments and navies.

Pangu City, a place of power struggles.

The atmosphere was as heavy as ice that had stood for millennia.

Five elderly men, their auras as obscure as an abyss, sat silently in their respective places, their gazes fixed on the massive door in the center of the room that was about to be pushed open.

Finally, led by the CP0 members, the four of them, including Raine, slowly walked in.

"Long time no see, everyone."

Raine spoke calmly, as if he were not there to meet the world's highest authority, but rather to visit some long-lost neighbors.

"The God of Cooking, Raine."

The five elders holding the sword spoke slowly, their voices as cold as knives.

"You are bolder than we imagined."

"You flatter me."

Renn's gaze swept over the five people, finally landing on a huge, seemingly inconspicuous fireplace in the corner of the room.

Where is the kitchen?

Raine cut to the chase and asked, "My cooking utensils can't wait to taste the flames of the Holy Land."

This statement was like a stone thrown into a still, deep pool, creating a barely perceptible crack in the icy atmosphere of power struggles.

Five elderly men, who had lived for hundreds of years and were used to being in control of everything, had their rhythm disrupted for the first time on their home turf in such a direct, even rude, manner.

Chapter 234 Diagnosis Ended

The blond Five Elders frowned almost imperceptibly. He had intended to give this arrogant brat a warning with his words, but he found that the other party was not playing by the rules at all.

"Hmph, arrogant brat."

The tallest of the five elders snorted coldly, and an invisible, mountain-like pressure slammed down on the four of them, including Renn.

However, the terrifying aura that was enough to make even a naval admiral turn pale vanished without a trace the moment it approached the four.

Joz simply transformed his arms into diamonds, and the dazzling light refracted most of the oppressive force.

With a gentle flap of Marco's blue flame wings, the warm flames of life purified away the remaining pressure.

As for Gatz, he didn't even realize it; he was curiously examining the huge globe in the room, seemingly searching for the location of his hometown.

Raine didn't even lift his eyelids. He simply looked calmly at the five elders and repeated, "Where is the kitchen? I don't have much time."

These words caused the Five Elders' faces to darken completely.

"very good."

The Five Elders of the Sword slowly stood up. The first generation of the Ghost Blade in his hand emitted a slight hum, and a chilling killing intent instantly enveloped the entire room.

"Since you're so eager to get into the kitchen, I'll grant your wish."

He gestured to the CP0 member next to him.

The CP0 member immediately understood and walked to the wall on one side of the room, pressing a hidden switch.

Rumble...

The enormous wall slowly parted in the middle, revealing not a magnificent golden corridor, but an unimaginably vast, pure white space filled with futuristic technology.

That's the Five Elders' private kitchen.

It's less of a kitchen and more of a top-notch biochemical laboratory.

There are no flames; all cooking is done by an energy field that can precisely control the temperature to 0.01 degrees Celsius.

There is no water tank; all cleaning is done using ultrasound and high-pressure airflow.

Various uniquely shaped kitchen utensils, gleaming with metallic luster, are neatly arranged, each one looking as if it were prepared for the most delicate surgery.