On the Red Force, the sound of barrels colliding echoed across the deck.
Bang!
Small wooden barrels filled with alcohol clinked together as Shanks laughed loudly. He tilted his head back and drained his drink in one motion.
Sitting across from him, Katakuri did the same. After finishing, he slammed the barrel down heavily onto the table.
Compared to his time on Whole Cake Island, Katakuri now appeared far more unrestrained. He was bare-chested, his usual scarf long discarded somewhere on the ship. His face was slightly flushed from drinking as he grabbed a stack of donuts and devoured them in large bites, his sharp teeth visible under the sunlight.
Beside him, Brulee refilled his drink, smiling as she watched him eat without restraint.
Since boarding Shanks' ship, the siblings had come to understand that not every pirate crew lived under constant pressure.
On this ship, there was no need to revere a father figure like on Whitebeard's crew, nor did they have to live in fear of linlin's unpredictable outbursts like before.
Life here was simple.
Relaxed.
Brulee lifted her gaze toward Shanks, who was still laughing freely. Noticing her, Shanks grinned.
"Brulee, pull your brother back a bit, at this rate he might start chewing on the plate too."
Startled, Brulee turned back and realized Katakuri was already lifting the plate, dumping the remaining donuts straight into his mouth.
Katakuri spoke through his chewing.
"Do not mind me, Captain Shanks. Being able to eat donuts like this is pure bliss."
Lucky Roux tore into a chunk of roasted meat, grease dripping from his mouth as he gave Katakuri a thumbs up.
"Exactly! I get it! Eating what you love is the best thing in the world!"
Benn Beckman rubbed his forehead, his expression helpless.
"You two really found each other."
Shanks watched the scene with a satisfied smile. He had taken a liking to Katakuri ever since Lloyd sent him over.
Thinking of Lloyd, Shanks muttered to himself,
"I wonder what my brother is doing right now."
At that moment, a streak of black light cut across the sky above the Red Force.
The drunken atmosphere vanished instantly.
Everyone on deck lifted their heads in unison.
Shanks had already noticed. The moment he saw the figure hovering in midair, his face lit up with excitement.
"Brother!"
The others did not even need to look twice. That title alone was enough.
Fleet Admiral Saint Lloyd.
Katakuri immediately stood up.
Above them, black wings extended behind Lloyd, gently moving as he floated in the air with his arms crossed. His gaze swept over the deck before settling on Katakuri.
"It seems you have adapted well."
His tone was casual, yet carried a natural pressure.
As he finished speaking, the wings behind him retracted into his body, and he descended steadily onto the deck.
The moment he landed, Shanks rushed over and grabbed his arm.
"Come on, Brother, the banquet is still going. Sit down and drink with us."
Lloyd allowed himself to be pulled over, his expression indifferent.
Katakuri and Brulee watched the scene in stunned silence. Even though they knew about the relationship between the two, witnessing a Yonko casually dragging the Fleet Admiral into a drinking session still felt unreal.
Shanks poured another drink and spoke eagerly.
"Brother, is Newgate dead or not? Katakuri said Teach ate him."
"Not dead. He should still be inside Teach's body."
Shanks clicked his tongue.
"Teach… I knew he was trouble. Back then, I beat him up properly."
Lloyd glanced sideways at him, a faint smirk forming.
"Is that so? I heard it was you and Buggy together against him."
Shanks froze.
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"You even know about that…"
Lloyd ignored him and turned his gaze toward Katakuri, who was still standing.
"Why are you standing there? Ate too many donuts? Sit down. You are blocking the light."
Katakuri immediately sat down.
Beside him, Brulee crouched slightly, hiding behind his large frame.
They could not help it. The memory of Lloyd tearing through Whole Cake Island still lingered in their minds. In front of him, their bodies reacted instinctively.
Lloyd noticed and gave a faint smile.
"Relax. Let your sister come out. Squatting like that must be uncomfortable."
Katakuri nodded and glanced back.
Brulee slowly stood up, keeping her head lowered as she sat beside him, clinging tightly to his arm without saying a word.
Seeing this, Shanks sighed.
"Brother, I can already imagine what you were like back there."
Lloyd shrugged.
"I was already holding back. Otherwise, do you think they would still be here?"
Shanks laughed.
"That is true. With your usual methods, the entire Dessert Islands would have sunk by now."
Lloyd said nothing. He picked up a barrel and took a long drink.
Shanks leaned forward the moment he finished.
"Brother, there is something I want to ask you."
Lloyd glanced at him.
"Since when did you start hesitating? Just say it, Or are you getting married?"
Shanks blinked.
"Married? Of course not… wait, what do you mean by that? Are you getting married?"
Lloyd snorted.
"Marriage is not the issue. I am being pressured into it."
The moment those words left his mouth, everyone on deck froze.
Then their eyes lit up.
Even Katakuri and Brulee could not hide their curiosity.
However, Lloyd said nothing further and simply continued drinking.
Shanks could not hold himself back.
"Brother, who would dare pressure you? Could it be…"
Lloyd shot him an annoyed look.
"What do you think? Your face alone is already irritating me."
Shanks laughed awkwardly.
"To be fair, we do look alike."
Lloyd paused and turned to stare at him, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Shanks stiffened, but still pressed on.
"Brother, is it Admiral Nightingale?"
Lloyd raised an eyebrow.
"And why would you think that?"
Shanks crossed his arms, looking confident.
"Everyone is talking about it. The rumors about you and her have spread across the seas. Who else could it be?"
Lloyd fell silent for a moment.
Then, the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
"You are not wrong."
The moment he said it, the entire deck erupted into suppressed excitement.
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