"You're the one who's going to lose!"
Laughter and shouting echoed across the deck of the Revenge.
Jar after jar disappeared.
Day turned to night.
Night turned back to day.
Another full cycle passed — and Rono's stockpile was nearly gone.
"You're still not drunk? You're really only seventeen?"
Roger's cheeks were slightly flushed as he stared at Rono, who remained clear-eyed.
When Roger was seventeen, he hadn't touched alcohol at all.
Yet this kid had been drinking for an entire day and night — and was still conscious.
Battle talent like a monster was one thing.
But this drinking tolerance?
Also monstrous?
And on top of that—
Rono could brew excellent liquor.
Roger beat his chest in regret.
What a waste that this guy wasn't joining his crew.
"Even if there were two of you, I wouldn't get drunk!"
Rono lifted another jar and drained it in one breath.
The system could acquire anything.
Naturally—
That included alcohol tolerance.
Otherwise, one jar alone would have knocked him out for three days straight.
"You're bragging too much."
Roger snorted.
"Don't believe me? I'll show you someday."
Rono tore into a roast chicken, then grabbed another jar and finished it.
"Damn it! It's almost gone!"
Seeing the dwindling supply, Roger threw aside the chicken leg and grabbed two jars at once, chugging wildly.
"You're sabotaging me! Shameless!"
Rono immediately followed suit.
This was a matter of a man's dignity.
Losing was not an option.
Glug. Glug. Glug.
Over a hundred jars vanished as if they were water.
Finally—
With the last drop gone, both men collapsed onto the deck.
"Hahaha… the sea is incredible…"
They fell asleep smiling, snoring under the open sky.
Three Days Later
A bubble of snot burst as Roger stirred awake.
"How long was I out?"
"Three days."
Rono stood at the helm, steering.
"Where are we heading?"
Roger noticed the ship was already in motion.
Rono smirked.
"Somewhere interesting. You'll like it."
Roger's eyes lit up.
He activated Observation Haki.
Not far ahead—
Several ships.
Marine warships.
World Government escort vessels.
And at the center—
A massive transport ship.
Overflowing with gold, jewels, and mountains of Beli.
Roger's grin widened.
"Heavenly Tribute?"
"Exactly. Interesting, isn't it?"
Rono had only recently gained Observation Haki.
With it, he sensed something amusing—
The World Government was collecting Heavenly Tribute.
Every allied nation was required to pay it.
A form of tax.
All of it went toward maintaining the Celestial Dragons' luxurious lifestyles.
In exchange, the World Government provided protection.
Refuse to pay—
And your nation was abandoned.
But the cost was staggering.
Many countries strained their entire economies to afford it.
Heavy taxes crushed civilians.
Some citizens turned to piracy just to survive.
Poorer nations collapsed entirely.
In the original era, Roger's final words may have sparked the Great Pirate Age—
But Heavenly Tribute had already driven countless desperate people to sea.
The era was inevitable.
Roger burst into laughter.
"Heavenly Tribute? That's perfect! Let's start the adventure!"
Normally, Roger wasn't the type to rob at random.
But if the target was the Celestial Dragons—
That was different.
"I wonder if any Celestial Dragons are aboard…"
At the thought, Rono's fists tightened.
He increased the ship's speed.
Soon, the tribute convoy came fully into view.
On the Tribute Fleet
"Report! A sailing vessel ahead. No pirate flag. Unknown purpose."
A Marine quickly relayed the information to East Blue's branch Vice Admiral — Hank.
He was the highest-ranking Marine officer in the East Blue.
"Prepare to sink—"
Before Hank could finish—
Several tall masked figures appeared beside him.
The leader spoke calmly.
"Destroy them."
Their attire was unmistakable.
CP0.
The intelligence agency directly under the Celestial Dragons.
The so-called strongest shield of the Celestial Dragons.
Some among them rivaled Emperor-level combatants.
"But… they're not flying a pirate flag. What if they're merchants? Or civilians?"
Hank hesitated.
As a Marine, justice still existed within him.
"Vice Admiral Hank."
The masked voice was cold.
"This is a Heavenly Tribute convoy. Anyone approaching is guilty."
"But—"
"Heavenly Tribute is sacred property of the gods. If it's lost… can you bear responsibility?"
The tone grew even colder.
Before Hank could respond—
Something shocking happened.
"Finger Pistol — Yellow Lotus!"
A blur.
Blood exploded.
Hank's left shoulder was pierced clean through.
He collapsed, screaming.
"Vice Admiral Hank!"
The surrounding Marines were stunned.
That was their highest-ranking officer.
CP0 had attacked him without hesitation.
They truly held the Marines in contempt.
"Damn it! You're just spies under the Celestial Dragons!"
"You have no authority over the Marines!"
"Are you not afraid of retaliation?!"
Young Marines, full of justice, shouted in anger.
Veterans tried to pull them back.
Too late.
The masked leader's voice turned icy.
"Oh?"
"Are you rebelling?"
Then—
"Finger Pistol — Ten-Finger Barrage!""Tempest Kick — Severing Ring!""Six Powers — Lotus Bloom!"
CP0 moved without mercy.
The young Marines were no match.
Within seconds—
Screams filled the deck.
In less than a minute—
Over a dozen lay dead.
Their bodies were tossed into the sea.
Silence fell.
The remaining Marines did not dare breathe loudly.
Even those within the same faction—
Were slaughtered without hesitation.
This—
Was the Celestial Dragons' strongest shield.