Chapter 33 - CHAPTER 33 - Attending the Banquet

"Yes, I wasn't sure if you planned to decline or attend, so I kept it for now." Robin smiled. For a moment, Rosen thought it might have been his imagination, but her smile didn't have the usual formality he was accustomed to seeing. Rosen pondered briefly. A banquet—should he go? If Balm intended to cause trouble, it didn't really matter whether he attended or not; sooner or later, a confrontation would be inevitable. That said, if the invitation had come from someone else, he might have gone just to experience something new. After all, broadening his horizons could only be beneficial. But since it was Balm who had sent the invitation... A trap? Unlikely. If Balm wanted revenge, a covert attack would be far more effective than a direct confrontation. "What do you know about this banquet?" Rosen asked. He hadn't yet looked at the intelligence report, so he decided to hear Robin's perspective. Robin thought for a moment before answering. "A manor banquet, hosted at Bordeaux Winery. Officially, it's organized by all three major wineries, and most of the attendees are merchants from around the world who have gathered in Sake Town this quarter. The main focus of the event is business networking and trade agreements, though there are also some... interesting activities." "What kind of interesting activities?" Rosen found himself intrigued. "I've heard that each quarter, a Devil Fruit is presented as the opening highlight of the banquet," Robin explained. "Well, I've got nothing better to do. Sounds interesting—let's check it out." He had yet to see a Devil Fruit in person, and they were exclusive to this world. If the fruit turned out to be a valuable one, he could find a way to acquire it. Even if he had no immediate use for it, it might come in handy later. "I'll go make some preparations." Robin nodded. "You're coming too?" Rosen asked, slightly surprised. "Ara, does the boss not know? Attending such a banquet without a female companion would only invite mockery—people would say you lack charm. Of course, if you have someone else in mind, I can stay on the ship." Robin had little personal interest in the event, but it was an opportunity to gather useful intelligence. "That won't be necessary. You and Daz Bones will come with me. Mr. 5 and Valentine, you'll stay behind to handle the ship's security. Keep an eye on the children until I return. If anything happens, contact me via Den Den Mushi." Rosen gave his orders. He couldn't let his guard down. The pirate Anlin could be lurking anywhere. While he likely had no interest in the children, Rosen himself had certainly disrupted his plans. Bringing Daz Bones along was a precaution—minor nuisances could be left to him. "Understood." The crew stood on deck, listening to Rosen's instructions without objection. Robin returned to her quarters to change. Blending in was essential, so dressing appropriately for the occasion was necessary. Rosen, as a formidable individual, could get away with wearing whatever he pleased, but as his companion, Robin had to fit the setting. That said, those with great strength and strong personalities could always choose to ignore such customs. Rosen took the intelligence report back to his room. He wasn't planning to dress formally—he wasn't there to conduct business, just to observe. But as he read through Robin's report, his brows furrowed deeper. "The Fortress Pirates' captain, Anlin, has had dealings with the owner of Medoc Winery... and with Balm as well. Could they be working together or engaging in some kind of trade?" "Rear Admiral Harry is a local of Sake Town. His parents were killed by pirates, and he despises them. Captain Luca, on the other hand, is a privileged bureaucrat's son, assigned here for 'experience'..." "This means the likelihood of Harry collaborating with Anlin is low. But Robin described Luca as a 'fox'... which suggests he might have some sort of agreement with Anlin. Given his previous interactions, he doesn't seem particularly opposed to pirates." "The head of Medoc, originally from the New World, is a famous bounty hunter named Moris. He has successfully captured multiple pirates with bounties exceeding 300 million berries. He rarely appears in public and spends most of his time in his estate." "But Balm... he's tricky." "A former New World pirate, once a top lieutenant of the 'Ghostly Drunkard' before later joining Doflamingo's ranks. A Devil Fruit user—ability unknown. Publicly engaged in battle and single-handedly split a Marine warship in half." "His background is complicated. But since he never fought on Doflamingo's behalf in the original timeline, he's likely not a true subordinate. Perhaps he only leveraged the Shichibukai system for convenience." "Surrounded by strong opponents... Balm's bounty is 275 million berries. Reward: Vitality x2." Rosen chuckled, a dangerous glint in his eyes. His overall strength had improved significantly since Alabasta. While he wasn't sure what "Vitality x2" would do for him, any enhancement was better than none. If Balm caused trouble, Rosen wasn't going to back down—even if he wasn't certain of victory, he might still complete the mission. Robin's report was far more detailed than what the tavern owner had provided. He had previously only known the names, bounties, and general activities of a few key figures on the island. But he lacked deeper background knowledge. The tavern owner simply didn't have access to such information. The Manor District, where the banquet would be held, was full of pristine, well-arranged buildings, predominantly white in color. Gold trimmings outlined the edges of the architecture, giving the entire district a lavish, aristocratic feel. Most of the structures were hotels, designed to accommodate wealthy merchants from around the world. Commoners and port dwellers rarely set foot in this district. There were no explicit restrictions, but the three major wineries ruled Sake Town, and unspoken rules were enforced. Anyone deemed a potential threat to the wineries' interests—like suspected spies or thieves—could be punished without question. Bordeaux Winery was located in the eastern part of the district. Medoc Winerylay to the west. Louis Winery controlled by the Marines, was positioned to the south, effectively making it an extension of the Marine base in the port district. As the sun dipped below the horizon, golden light bathed the land. Carriages began arriving at Bordeaux Winery's entrance. Affluent and well-dressed merchants stepped out, accompanied by their bodyguards, and were led inside a grand eight-story building. Most guests had arrived early, but Rosen and Robin arrived just in time, having taken a leisurely stroll through the city. "Warlord of the Sea!" The event staff didn't even bother checking Rosen's invitation before letting him through. For them, the title alone held immense weight. Aside from the three winery leaders, no guest present could compare in status to Rosen. "Crocodile, what a coincidence." Before Rosen could step inside, a familiar, teasing voice called out from behind him. The tone was instantly recognizable. Rosen turned his head. His eyes turned ice-cold. "Yes, quite the coincidence." "Since we're here, why don't you leave your life behind?" Without hesitation, Rosen attacked. (End of Chapter)