In the Water 7, inside a barbecue restaurant, the tantalizing sizzle of a golden lamb leg on an iron grill filled the air.
Purplish-red flames danced beneath it, and fat dripped onto the charcoal, creating an incredibly tempting aroma.
A middle-aged couple, the restaurant owners, meticulously brushed butter onto the lamb, occasionally glancing at their two rather unique customers.
"These three really have quite the appetite!" the middle-aged woman chuckled, sprinkling secret sauce.
"Those two are huge, so it's understandable they eat so much. But that frail-looking little guy, he's eating even more than them! It's really surprising! They must have gone through fifty or sixty plates already!"
Her husband beside her chuckled "Young people sure have a lot of energy!"
Their barbecue restaurant, famous for its excellent flavor and affordable prices, had been open for over twenty years. It was a place even pirates wouldn't dare cause trouble.
Perhaps overhearing the shopkeepers, Bob smiled and raised his right hand.
"Boss, another serving!"
"Coming right up!" the middle-aged woman replied with a smile.
For restaurant owners, there's nothing more satisfying than seeing customers thoroughly enjoy their food.
"Thanks!" Bob lowered his arm and continued devouring the lamb leg in front of him.
The three diners were Bob, Kaido, and Jolibaf.
After bidding farewell to Whitebeard, Bob had buried the Rocks Pirates' ship, the Rocks, on an unnamed island, leaving behind a lifeboat and the celestial tribute worth over six billion berries.
Then, they arrived here, a place known as the best in the pirate world for shipbuilding technology.
"Bob, do you really want me to form my own pirate crew?" Kaido, who had nearly finished his lamb leg, looked up at Bob and asked.
When they left Sakura Island, Bob had already discussed the idea of forming an alliance with him.
Upon hearing this, Kaido first reaction was to join and follow Bob, to which Bob had agreed.
After all, joining an organization that could stand up to the World Government—how cool was that?
Kaido had long been dissatisfied with the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, which was why he had become a pirate in the first place.
Now, Bob idea aligned perfectly with Kaido own desires.
"Yes, form your own pirate crew, but in secret, you'll still be a member of this alliance" Bob nodded and spoke slowly.
Having Kaido follow him all the time might be convenient for Bob, but it wasn't necessarily the best thing for Kaido.
Compared to growing under Bob protection, nothing could match the rapid progress that came from forging his own path.
After all, Kaido was destined to become one of the Four Emperors in the future.
"If that's what you say, then fine!" Kaido nodded heavily.
During their time together, Kaido had come to regard Bob as his leader. Unlike the superficial flattery of the past, this was genuine respect from the heart.
After the God Valley battle, Kaido had clearly realized that the gap in strength between him and Bob was far greater than he had imagined.
Catching up to Bob was almost impossible.
Rather than constantly dwelling on it, it would be better to take a more open-minded approach. Being the right hand man of the strongest person isn't a bad deal at all.
Moreover, forming his own pirate crew had been an idea Kaido had ever since joining the Rocks Pirates, fulfilling his initial wish.
"This place is the best in the world for shipbuilding. The pirate ship for our crew will be built right here!" Bob took the lamb leg handed to him by the middle-aged couple and spoke in a low voice.
The reason Bob came here was to custom-build Kaido pirate ship.
After all, in this world, the shipbuilding technology here was in a league of its own.
Hearing this, Kaido nodded and continued to focus on his meal.
*****
"Whew~" After a while, Bob let out a long breath.
Looking at the towering stack of empty meat plates in front of him, he patted his belly in satisfaction. Now that he was full, there were still some matters to discuss.
However, certain things couldn't be brought up here.
They'd talk about it after leaving.
After paying the bill, Bob and the other two left the barbecue restaurant.
On a secluded path, Bob walked leisurely at the front, with Kaido and Jolibaf following behind.
Suddenly, Bob stopped in his tracks.
The two behind him quickly halted, nearly bumping into him.
"Jolibaf, your current strength is too weak. Although you're one of my only two crew members, you're still not qualified to join the alliance" Bob turned to the giant crew member and spoke frankly.
Bob had saved Jolibaf from the Celestial Dragons and kept him by his side ever since.
Although his strength had improved under Bob guidance, and his fear of the Celestial Dragons had completely disappeared, he was still far from meeting the standards to join the alliance.
Hearing Bob words, Jolibaf scratched his head and chuckled,.
"Just being by your side is enough for me!"
Bob sighed.
In his view, everyone should have their own path to follow, rather than relying on someone else for their entire life.
"Here, take this" Bob pulled a fruit from his pocket and tossed it to Jolibaf.
The fruit was a dark gray color, covered in mysterious, twisted patterns.
At both ends of the fruit were zigzag-shaped protrusions, and the vine at the top was a pale yellow, wrapping around the entire fruit.
It was the Magnet-Magnet Fruit, one of the Devil Fruits in the original story, it was eaten by Kid, but now Bob had obtained it.
He had found it on Rocks' body during his burial.
If he wanted Jolibaf to grow stronger and stand among the world's elite, Bob couldn't think of a better way.
A Devil Fruit might be a good option.
Catching the Devil Fruit with both hands, Jolibaf face was filled with shock.
This legendary item from the seas and now Bob was giving it to him?
He was at a loss for words.
"This... this is too valuable! It'd be wasted in my hands" Jolibaf stammered.
Bob had saved him from the Celestial Dragons, taught him how to improve his strength, and now he was giving him a Devil Fruit worth billions of berries?
Jolibaf felt he didn't deserve it.
The weight of these favors was too much for him to bear.
"Take it. That's an order" Bob said sternly, his tone leaving no room for refusal.
Seeing this, Kaido, who was standing nearby, reached out and patted Jolibaf on the shoulder, indicating that there was no problem with taking it.
After struggling for a while, Jolibaf nodded firmly and accepted the Devil Fruit.
Bob, noticing this, smiled and then briefly explained the uses of the fruit and what would happen when it was awakened.
Under the gaze of the two, who were wondering how he knew so much, Bob continued.
"After eating this Devil Fruit, go find someone! This person must also be brought into the alliance!"
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