Chapter 81 - CHAPTER 81 - Invitation and Banquet

"BOSS, I found something incredible. It might be difficult to divide... Hm? A Devil Fruit?" Robin approached the two men, holding an exquisitely crafted long sword. Her words immediately pulled Rosen and Urouge back from their thoughts. They had been absorbed in the letter—why was it that if no one bearing the name "D" remained in the Blue Sea, Skypieans were warned not to descend? Was there some hidden danger in consuming Devil Fruits? And who was Mansherry? From Urouge's expression and tone, it seemed like she was a figure from Skypiean folklore, almost like a fairy-tale character. It was as if someone had told Rosen that archaeologists had just unearthed Snow White's remains—something impossible, yet now backed by physical evidence. No wonder Urouge was so shaken. "What is it? What did you find?" Rosen asked. "Look at this sword. If I'm not mistaken, it should be one of the world's twelve Supreme Grade Swords—the Solar Wheel Blade! This sword has been absent from public records for centuries. I only recognized it from ancient archaeological texts." Robin's voice carried undisguised astonishment. Rosen was also stunned. A Supreme Grade Sword—on the same level as Mihawk's Black Blade? And it was hidden among this treasure. Who was the original owner of this hoard? Not only did they possess vast wealth, but they also stored a Devil Fruit, a Supreme Grade Sword, and numerous other priceless weapons. A rough estimate suggested that the combined value of everything here exceeded 5 billion Berries—an amount equivalent to the bounty of a Yonko. Rosen carefully examined the so-called Supreme Grade Sword. Its scabbard was simple and unadorned, but the blade itself was a long katana, approximately 160 cm in length. When drawn, the sword displayed two distinct hues—its thick spine bore a cloud-white luster, while the cutting edge shimmered with golden flame-like patterns, as if a burning sun resided within the blade. "A Supreme Grade Sword," Rosen murmured. The blade was heavy, indicating its high density and durability. It might not belong to the Black Blade category—Black Blades were renowned for their unparalleled hardness. Zoro once mentioned that even if a dinosaur stood on the Black Blade Shusui, the sword wouldn't bend a single millimeter. That alone proved how formidable the famed swords of this world were. Rosen gave the blade a casual swing, and the golden table was effortlessly cleaved in two. He wasn't a true swordsman and couldn't unleash the weapon's full potential, but he could tell—it was exceptionally sharp. "The Devil Fruit and weapons are all yours. We've already gained so much wealth—this is more than enough for us," Urouge said at the right moment. He could tell that Crocodile valued this sword greatly. And he was wise enough to know when to yield. He wasn't overly concerned about gold or treasure, but he understood that when interests became too great, conflicts inevitably arose. "No, the Devil Fruit is yours. I'll keep the sword, and you take 60% of the gold and treasure," Rosen decided after a moment of thought. Devil Fruits were abundant on the Grand Line, but legendary weapons like this were true rarities. Besides, if that Devil Fruit had been specifically preserved for centuries, it was likely best suited for a Skypiean's abilities. Additionally, Rosen had a plan to recruit Urouge. Now was the time to prove he was trustworthy. Even if that weren't the case, he would have honored his promise regardless. Urouge was genuinely surprised. A pirate—especially a Shichibukai, a so-called lapdog of the World Government and Marines—was actually keeping his word despite such enormous wealth. Not bad. "It's settled, then. If anything, I'm still getting the better end of the deal," Rosen said, puffing on his cigar, feeling quite pleased. He had barely exerted any effort and had stumbled upon a fortune. "Hahaha, in that case, I won't argue," Urouge chuckled, clearly in a good mood as well. "Let's get moving. Transporting all this treasure to our ships won't be easy. "By the way, take care of those pirate ships docked on the coast—there are probably some stragglers left." Rosen didn't care about the loot on the pirate ships. And Urouge likely didn't either. At this point, with more than enough wealth, there was no need to waste time on the leftovers. Cleaning up the remnants was a task Urouge would gladly handle himself. "No problem... Hmm, that pillar looks quite interesting..." In the end, Urouge still chose his signature weapon—a massive pencil. By the time they finished, the sun was setting. Both crews had finally moved their respective shares of the treasure onto their ships. Rosen might not have converted the hoard into liquid currency yet, but there was no denying it—he was now a very wealthy man. Even MR.5, upon seeing the sheer amount of treasure, couldn't keep his composure. --- As the sun began to set, at Robin's suggestion, Rosen hosted a grand beach banquet. With such a significant gain, it was certainly worth celebrating. Although missing out on the Devil Fruit was a bit regrettable, one couldn't be too greedy. Besides, if Urouge eventually decided to join him as a crewmate, then both the man and the fruit would ultimately become his gain. Sometimes, looking at the bigger picture could lead to even greater rewards. Even if Urouge never joined, this journey had already been immensely fruitful for Rosen. Urouge also participated in the banquet. A feast was always livelier with more people. "Bring out all the best liquor we have," Rosen said, feeling a rare rush of excitement as he saw everyone enjoying themselves around the bonfire. Bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun, the flames flickered, the aroma of roasted meat filled the air, and the clinking of bottles echoed amidst the festivities. The pirates engaged in various activities—some participated in bullfighting, a friendly contest of strength without the use of any abilities, while others with good voices sang classic seafaring songs, including the legendary Bink's Sake. Life at sea could be dull and repetitive, so sea shanties were something every sailor knew a few lines of, serving as a great way to pass the time. Some gathered around for card games and gambling, creating an atmosphere that felt less like a gathering of pirates and more like a band of adventurers celebrating on an unexplored island. "You handle your liquor that well?" Rosen, feeling a bit tipsy, was surprised to see that Robin remained completely unaffected. Was it just because her skin was darker, so the redness wasn't visible? Come to think of it, she had been spending a lot of time reading indoors lately—had she gotten fairer? Or was he just imagining it? Ah, whatever, it didn't really matter. "I'm alright, but BOSS, it seems your tolerance is a bit lacking," Robin chuckled, crouching by the fire and gazing at the slowly sinking sun. It was a rare day of leisure—one where she didn't have to think too much, just enjoy the moment. "Urouge, how about joining us?" Rosen suddenly asked, taking advantage of the lively atmosphere. The moment the words left his mouth, the surroundings fell silent. Urouge's crew, to be honest, had no objections to joining a Shichibukai's crew—after all, it was like standing under the shade of a great tree. Urouge himself was caught off guard. He had assumed that with his current strength, Crocodile wouldn't be interested in him. And truthfully, at the moment, Rosen didn't see him as a major asset. But Urouge had immense potential. And now, with the Devil Fruit in his possession—perhaps the very one that had been destined for him—his future growth would be even greater. Crocodile's invitation stirred something within Urouge. However, he had his own thoughts. "My apologies, but I cannot give you an answer just yet," Urouge said sincerely. "I haven't been in the Blue Sea for long. I want to see more of this world before making a decision. That said, I do believe that following you would lead to a very interesting journey." His words were honest—not a mere excuse to decline, but the truth. He simply wasn't ready to decide, not without understanding the vastness of the sea. "That's fine," Rosen replied calmly. "We'll likely cross paths again at Sabaody Archipelago. By then, I hope you'll have a clear answer for me." "Alright," Urouge nodded, his smile carrying both excitement and sincerity. He hadn't outright refused. No—he was still considering. And that was enough. Rosen never thought of himself as someone particularly charismatic. He didn't expect Urouge to agree immediately just because he asked. But the fact that he was tempted meant that there was still a chance. Even if he ultimately chose a different path, Rosen wouldn't be too bothered. Some things just weren't meant to be forced. "Alright, back to drinking!" Rosen declared. "MR.5, go blow up a few big fish for us to roast—this isn't enough to eat!" "Got it, BOSS!" MR.5 dashed off on his errand. "We'll help too!" And so, the banquet continued, filled with laughter and cheer deep into the night. By the next day, both crews parted ways, setting sail on their respective journeys. "Crocodile, huh?" As Rosen's ship disappeared into the horizon, Urouge couldn't shake off the lingering thoughts of last night's invitation. It didn't seem like a bad idea. Strong, trustworthy, and not an extreme pirate—perhaps he truly would consider joining. Coming down from Skypiea had been the right decision. The Blue Sea was vast beyond imagination, filled with all sorts of people. He needed to push himself even harder—to grow even stronger. "Prepare to set sail! No one is allowed to slack off! The faster you improve, the bigger the rewards this time!" Urouge turned to his surviving crew members and commanded. "Yes, Captain!" His men howled against the wind, their spirits soaring. After all, it wasn't just Rosen who had struck gold on this trip—they had made a fortune as well. (End of Chapter) ========================================================= DROP THEM POWER STONES PLEASE SUPPORT ME ON P@TREON IF YOU'D LIKE ACCESS ON ADVANCED CHAPTERS PAT REON . COM / TurdTranslations (Just remove the space).