In a short while, O-Tama returned with a steaming bowl of white rice and placed it carefully on the tree-root table in front of everyone.
"Everyone, please eat. There might be a little less," she said, wiping her face with her hand. Two black smudges were left on her fair cheeks.
Ace activated his Devil Fruit ability, and six golden bowls instantly appeared in his hands. He distributed a small half-bowl of rice to each of them.
"Oh, this is really delicious!" Franky exclaimed as he poured the rice into his mouth, eyes wide with surprise.
"It's very tasty," Robin added, nodding appreciatively.
O-Tama's face lit up. She pushed her own bowl toward Franky. "Big Brother Franky, you eat it, I'm not hungry."
But her stomach grumbled loudly.
"Didn't you just say that? Look, your stomach is growling." Franky nudged the bowl back toward her.
O-Tama shook her head firmly. "No! A ninja never gets hungry!"
"A ninja?" Robin asked curiously.
O-Tama nodded, then shook her head. "Not yet. When I grow up, I want to become a glamorous ninja."
"A glamorous ninja?" Robin repeated, intrigued.
O-Tama's eyes sparkled with determination. "Yes, the most glamorous ninja."
Before she could strike a ninja's signature hand-seal pose, her stomach reminded her again, grumbling.
Rolan shook his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Even a ninja needs to eat, right?"
"A ninja doesn't get hungry!" she insisted, grumble echoing again.
Rolan said nothing more. With a wave of his hand, a table full of sumptuous food appeared before them.
O-Tama's eyes went wide. Someone in this world could create food from nothing. The aroma alone made her mouth water uncontrollably.
"Eat."
"C-Can I really?" she asked, unsure.
"Of course. Everything here is delicious," Ace encouraged.
O-Tama rolled her eyes at Ace, then glanced at Rolan. Tears began to form in her eyes. She carefully retrieved a tattered bowl and set aside some food.
"O-Tama, just eat directly," Rolan said quietly.
She paused, hand frozen. "I… I want to save some for Master."
Everyone felt a pang in their hearts. Was this little girl really only six years old? Despite her maturity and independence, she seemed older than her years.
Franky couldn't hold back, tears streaming down his face. "Wuwuwu… what a sensible little girl… what a touching scene."
Rolan reached out, patting her head. "Don't worry, I have plenty more."
O-Tama filled a large bowl and began to eat. "Oh, delicious! So good!" It was her first time tasting food this rich, and her joy was obvious.
Then she paused, looking at Rolan with a mix of curiosity and awe. "You… you're Big Brother Ace's Master, right?"
Rolan nodded lightly.
"Big Brother often talked about you when I was little."
Rolan tilted his head slightly. "Oh? And what did he say?"
Taking a bite of chicken, O-Tama replied, "He said you were like a demon, ruthless, and… impressive."
Ace's face darkened slightly. "Hey, O-Tama, I'm still here."
O-Tama waved a hand. "Mostly he praised you. By the way, can I call you Big Brother? Master feels… awkward."
"You can call me whatever you like," Rolan said, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
O-Tama glanced between Ace and Rolan. "You just… seem younger than Big Brother Ace."
Ace had no words, only a resigned expression.
---
Nearly a month had passed since the war at Marineford ended, yet its impact still rippled throughout the world.
Newspapers reporting the latest events were being distributed across the Pirate World, stirring unrest wherever they went.
"It's over! But what will this world become?"
"Evil pirates defeated the Marines! The world's order is upside down!"
"Who exactly is this Rolan? So young, yet already the most feared figure in the world."
"Will there be another war? Will his crew challenge the World Government?"
"The Fleet Admiral resigned… this world is being turned upside down!"
---
Sky Breaking Number Two.
Kuro reached into the chest pocket of a news pigeon and pulled out a stack of newspapers. As he opened one, several wanted posters slipped out.
"Oh, are these our wanted posters?" Enel bent down, picking them up.
"They really are!"
He spread them across the deck. Law, Issho, and Crocodile gathered around, observing.
God Slayer Rolan
ONLY DEAD
6,660,000,000 berries
Divine Roc Kuro
DEAD OR ALIVE
3,850,000,000 berries
Desert Crocodile
DEAD OR ALIVE
2,410,000,000 berries
God of Thunder Enel
DEAD OR ALIVE
2,400,000,000 berries
Issho
DEAD OR ALIVE
2,940,000,000 berries
Fire God Imella Lina
DEAD OR ALIVE
1,660,000,000 berries
White Fist Nami
DEAD OR ALIVE
1,650,000,000 berries
Pervert Franky
ONLY DEAD
1,080,000,000 berries
Devil Child Nico Robin
DEAD OR ALIVE
1,400,000,000 berries
Surgeon of Death Trafalgar Law
DEAD OR ALIVE
850,000,000 berries
Empress Boa Hancock
DEAD OR ALIVE
2,150,000,000 berries
Portgas D. Ace
DEAD OR ALIVE
1,350,000,000 berries
Monkey D. Luffy
DEAD OR ALIVE
1,050,000,000 berries
---
"Hey! Why is your bounty still higher than mine?" Enel snapped, grabbing Crocodile's collar.
Crocodile removed his hand casually. "I told you, we're not on the same level."
Enel's frustration boiled over. "The World Government must be blind!"
He turned to Issho. "And why is yours higher than mine?"
Issho smiled calmly. "A bounty doesn't measure strength. Only a few in the Pirate World can reach 2.4 billion."
Enel's eyes darted to Ace's poster. "And why is there one for Ace here too?"
Kuro, unfazed, simply unfolded the newspaper. To him, bounties were just numbers.
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