The young man in front had bandaged, thickly muscled arms showing, and upon closer inspection, his face was also bruised, clearly having suffered a beating not long ago.
"Who did you fight with this time? Was it that gang on the east side of the dock?"
Pike touched the bruises with concern, feeling indignant, "Those guys, after so many years, are they active again now? Not forgetting past grudges, coming to bully you?"
"Absolutely unforgivable!"
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, grabbing a shovel from behind the door, "Wait, Jack, I'll go get revenge for you now!"
"It's not them, Dad."
Jack hastily stopped him, "Uh, actually, I'm now a Devil Fruit Ability User. Combined with the power of an adult Fishman race, not only can those guys from years ago not match me, but even everyone on this island together isn't my opponent..."
"Huh?"
Pike was surprised, "Devil Fruit? Isn't that something extremely valuable? Where did you get..."
"This is a long story, Dad. Take a break, have some water, I'll explain slowly."
Jack helped Pike sit by the wooden table, poured a cup of hot tea and handed it over:
"Where should I start? Well, it was about two months ago. I was moving things at the dock when I saw a strange fruit floating over from a distance. Just happens I was hungry, so I washed it and ate it right away..."
"Ended up being extremely awful after one bite — almost threw up."
Jack scratched his head with a goofy smile:
"But it still worked. After taking a shower that day, I felt uncomfortable all over, went out for some sea breeze. Walking along, I tripped and fell on a rock, thinking of catching myself so as not to hit my forehead, and somehow just transformed into a particularly large Mammoth..."
"Is this a Zoan-type ability?" Pike was taken aback.
"Yeah, I found out later on too."
Jack nodded, "In short, later a guy named Boss Hanafuda, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, came to our island to resupply. He happened to see me in my Mammoth form, seemed really interested, and forcibly took me aboard to be his subordinate."
"Seven Warlords of the Sea? So, in the end, they are pirates, right? Why did you become a pirate?"
Pike was somewhat unhappy.
"Just forced into it, Dad. Boss Hanafuda has a group of worthless stingy minions, but he treated me quite well. So, I just stuck with him for a while."
Jack cheerfully remarked.
"Then why are you back now?" Pike frowned, "Who inflicted these injuries on your body?"
"The injuries on my body?"
Jack looked down, "Bitten by fish. I fell into the sea and floated for a long time, nearly couldn't come back up. Initially thought I was doomed, but then a Sea King species chased and bit me, not biting me to death but rather bumped me into shallow waters. By the time I woke up, I had drifted near this island."
Pike was stupefied: "You little rascal... You indeed have a charmed life!"
"Exactly!"
Jack laughed heartily, "But Dad, I'm completely free now. You know, I got into a fight following Boss Hanafuda with some guy named Shano."
"That fellow is really strong—heard he took down Boss Hanafuda in just a few moves, wiping out the pirate gang along with him. I just didn't bother to head out to sea again, decided to stay here and wait for you, thinking maybe you'd come back someday, and I didn't expect you really came back in just a few days..."
"Haha, I too managed to survive and return to this island. Let's start from the beginning... Wait!"
Pike suddenly reacted, his laughter stopping abruptly. He jumped up, eyes wide:
"Who did you just say you fought with?"
......
In the City of Gastronomy, within the town.
Everyone had already split up, either alone or in groups of two or three, leisurely strolling around this town.
Shano took Ah Yin and first went to the north dessert market.
He had received a flyer on the street, heard they were selling all sorts of strawberry products here, intended for a certain individual on the ship who drinks strawberry milk in portions to indulge.
"Hey, Ah Yin, don't run around."
Shano patted Silver Wolf on the head; ever since entering the dessert market area, the fellow had been overly excited, constantly sniffing the sweet scent in the air, wagging his tail like a propeller.
"Awoooo!"
Ah Yin growled softly, expressing protest, but was soon attracted by a store's window display, pressing his whole wolf face against the glass, drooling profusely.
Shano glanced at it.
"Signature Strawberry Chiffon Cake, Strawberry Ice Slush, Strawberry Boba Milk Tea..."
Awooo!
Ah Yin looked eagerly at Shano, eyes full of desire.
"Tch, you rascal..."
Shano helplessly chuckled, pushed the door, and entered the store.
This store shall do.
Ring—
A crisp bell echoed, warm golden lights inside the store spilled, and the whole air was steeped in rich aromas of cream and strawberries.
"Welcome!"
A girl behind the counter in a duckbill cap greeted warmly:
"What would the guest like? Our signature strawberry cake is the most popular on all of Puki Island!"
"Well then, give me the largest size of the signature strawberry cake, and also one of each drink and dessert made with strawberries."
After placing the order, Shano casually found a window seat to sit down.
Ah Yin obediently crouched by his feet, staring eagerly toward the counter, tail thumping against the floor.