A cook, vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates?

The landscape of the ocean is beginning to change dramatically at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The most direct manifestation of this is the surge in the number of pirates.

Inspired by Roger's legendary experiences, countless young people, driven by a thirst for wealth, fame, and power, raised the skull and crossbones flag and plunged into this perilous yet infinitely possible sea.

The first half of the Grand Line became more lively and chaotic than ever before.

The pressure on the navy suddenly increased dramatically. They had to send a large number of troops to wipe out these new generation pirates that were springing up like mushrooms after rain. For a time, they were stretched thin and exhausted.

The new world, however, became a true battleground.

Spurred on by Roger, those already famous pirates also accelerated their expansion.

Charlotte Linlin's Treasure Kingdom began to expand wildly, using marriage alliances and force to annex the surrounding islands, attempting to create a dessert empire that belonged only to her.

Meanwhile, Kaido of the Beasts has been making frequent moves in the waters near Wano Country. His Beasts Army, composed of countless Devil Fruit users, is like a locust swarm, leaving only destruction and despair in its wake.

Shiki the Golden Lion reappeared in the world's sight, his massive flying fleet like a deathly shadow hanging in the sky, chilling everyone to the bone.

The entire New World has been completely transformed into a giant meat grinder where the strong prey on the weak and heroes vie for supremacy, all because of the name One Piece.

In this turbulent era, the Whitebeard Pirates seemed somewhat out of place.

They continued to sail leisurely across the seas in their ancestral giant tortoise.

They didn't fight for territory or plunder treasure; their voyage had only one purpose—to find those unheard-of, dreamlike ingredients from the Raine recipe book.

This attitude of not wanting to fight with the world seemed somewhat ridiculous to other great pirates, and was even regarded as a sign of cowardice.

But only those who have actually fought them know the terrifying power hidden within this seemingly docile white whale, a power capable of tearing everything to shreds.

Chapter 278 is titled "The Prelude to the Great Pirate Era".

On this day, a special training was taking place in Raine's kitchen atop the back of the Primordial Giant Tortoise.

"No! No!"

Raine's voice took on a rare stern tone as he tapped a huge iron pot with his ladle.

"Gats, your Haki is still too weak! I told you to use Armament Haki to heat the inside of this Sea King's heart, not to roast it into a charcoal!"

"I...I understand, head chef."

Gatz scratched his head, looking aggrieved. He stared at the once-top-quality ingredient in the pot, now completely charred, and felt a pang of heartache.

This is a brand new training plan that Raine has devised for everyone.

He no longer simply cooked and fed them, but began to guide them, helping them to combine their individual abilities with the cooking process.

He had Gatz use Armament Haki to control the heat, training his precise control over his power.

Marco used the Phoenix Flame to purify the impurities in the ingredients, enhancing his understanding of life energy.

They even had Dorum use the shipwright's precise calculations to analyze the optimal structural ratio between different ingredients.

What Ryan needs to do is not just feed them, but also train each of them to become a master chef capable of working independently.

Only in this way can they possess the true power to protect themselves and their families in the coming, magnificent era of great piracy.

Just as everyone was being tortured to the point of ecstasy by Renn's devilish training, a piece of news arrived, once again causing this already turbulent sea to boil over completely.

The Roger Pirates... disbanded.

The news came so suddenly and without warning that everyone who heard it was immediately incredulous.

The man who had just arrived at the final island, the man recognized by the whole world as the Pirate King, actually chose to disband his invincible fleet at the height of his glory.

This is even more absurd and unbelievable than him becoming the Pirate King himself.

But just a few months later, another, even more significant piece of news arrived.

Gol D. Roger, alone in a small boat, surrendered to the Navy.

This news was like a nuclear bomb that detonated across the world, and its impact was far more terrifying than any previous one.

When the location and time of Roger's execution were made public, the whole world went crazy.

Countless people flocked to one place—the East China Sea, Rogge Town.

They wanted to witness the end of this legend firsthand, and they also wanted to get the final answer from him about the ultimate treasure.

At this moment, atop the Primordial Giant Tortoise, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates fell into a long silence.

Looking at the newspaper photo of Roger, imprisoned yet still smiling broadly, everyone felt a mix of emotions.

"What... exactly is that guy trying to do?"

Gatz's voice was full of confusion.

"Perhaps he wanted to use his death to usher in a new era."

Newgate's voice was low as he looked at the man in the newspaper with whom he had fought his entire life, his hawk-like eyes filled with an unyielding complexity.

He knew Roger better than anyone else; that man never did anything meaningless.

He has spent his whole life pursuing freedom, and now he seems to want to pass that freedom on to the world in the most intense and thorough way.

Only Ryan calmly looked at the newspaper, letting out a soft sigh.

coming.

That magnificent, star-studded era, that era that ignites the passion of countless people... the true Great Pirate Era is finally about to begin.

He knew that from the moment Roger uttered those words on the execution platform, this sea would never have peace again.

And they, the Whitebeard Pirates, will be pushed by this unstoppable tide of the times to a broader and more dangerous stage.

East China Sea, Rogge Town.

This town, known as the beginning and the end, is currently enveloped in an unprecedented, frenzied, and oppressive atmosphere.

People from all over the world flocked to the small town like a tidal wave, crowding every street.

Pirates, bounty hunters, marines, civilians, reporters... all eyes were focused on the towering, cold execution platform in the center of town.

They were all waiting, waiting for the end of a legend.

Meanwhile, dozens of nautical miles away from Rogge Town, in a calm sea, a huge white whale was quietly anchored, like a silent funeral procession.

The members of the Whitebeard Pirates also silently gazed into the distance at the town that was faintly visible on the horizon.

They didn't approach. Newgate knew this was Roger's stage, and anyone else's presence would be a disturbance.

He was simply paying his final respects to his lifelong rival in his own way.

"Dad, are you really not going to see him one last time?"

Marco's voice carried a hint of reluctance.

"no need."

Newgate shook his head, picked up a huge barrel next to him, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp.

"No one can stop that guy from doing what he wants. All we can do is watch closely and... remember what he looked like at the end."

Time slowly passed as countless people waited.

When the midday sun shines directly on the earth, when the shadow on the execution platform shrinks to its shortest length.

The man, wearing a straw hat and shackles, yet still smiling brightly, slowly walked up the stairs leading to death under the watchful eyes of countless people.

His life was filled with adventure, battles, laughter, and freedom.

And now, he will use his life to draw the most magnificent end to this legendary life.

"Hey! Pirate King!"

In the crowd, an unknown pirate suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs, using all his strength to ask the question that everyone wanted to know.

"Your legendary treasure! Where did you hide it?!"

This question instantly silenced the entire square.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the final answer.

When Roger heard this question, he was taken aback at first, and then burst into his signature loud laughter, which was full of boldness and wildness.

"Do you want my treasure?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it was clearly transmitted to every corner of the world through the Den Den Mushi.

"If you want it, go look for it on the high seas!"

His eyes burned with an inextinguishable flame called a dream.

"I've left everything in the world there!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt, resounding in everyone's hearts.

It's like a key that unlocks the door to desire in the hearts of all the ambitious people in the world.

It was also like a torch, igniting a brand new, magnificent era known as the Great Pirate Era!

……

Chapter 279 The Great Pirate Era

When news of Roger's death spread throughout the world, and when his alluring last words were carried by newsbirds to every corner of the ocean, the whole world went completely mad.

Countless people abandoned their peaceful lives, raised the skull and crossbones flag, and flocked to that great sea route filled with unknowns and treasures.

An unprecedented, chaotic yet opportunity-filled era has officially begun, its grand and bloody curtain drawn.

The Whitebeard Pirates listened to the entire public execution, a moment worthy of being recorded in history, through a Den Den Mushi.

The deck was deathly silent.

Newgate silently downed the barrel of liquor in his hand, then crushed it into pieces.

He didn't shed a tear, but simply raised his head and looked at the sea, which had become even wider and more turbulent because of the death of a man. His hawk-like eyes held an unyielding complexity.

"Gulalalalala..."

After a long while, he slowly laughed, his laughter hoarse but full of power.

"Roger, you really are a troublemaker, even in death."

He knew that from this day forward, this sea would never have a peaceful day again.

And he, Edward Newgate, the white-bearded king, will be propelled by this tide of the times, stirred up by his nemesis, onto a new, more dangerous, and more challenging throne.

"Raine."

Newgate's voice was deep.

"I'm here, Captain."

Have we decided on our next destination?

Ryan didn't speak; he simply calmly unfolded a brand-new, hand-drawn nautical chart of ingredients in front of Newgate.

On it, in red ink, one name after another, filled with legend and danger, was circled.

"captain."

A flame, unlike anything ever seen before, burned in Raine's eyes—a flame called ambition.

"The era has begun, and the feast should start. Our goal is all the finest ingredients from this vast ocean, and..."

His gaze became incredibly deep, as if piercing through endless waves and looking towards that distant, legendary final island.

"...I've been curious for a long time about what the ultimate treasure called ONE PIECE, the truth of history, really tastes like. Why don't we officially begin this journey!"

"Goo la la la la!"

As Newgate gazed at the map filled with challenges and delicious flavors, and at this young chef who was more arrogant than anyone else, the last trace of confusion and sadness in his heart vanished, replaced by unparalleled pride and fighting spirit.

"Okay! It's settled then!"

He slammed his hand on the throne, his mountain-like figure exuding an undeniable aura of dominance.

"Men! Let's go!"

"Oh oh oh!"