Half a month later, Coral Hill.
The morning light bathed the bustling streets. Compared to half a month ago, the air seemed to carry far less of the invisible barrier that had once existed between the islanders and the pirate crew.
"Morning, Gade! How are your wounds healing?"
Behind a breakfast stall, a young merman vendor greeted him enthusiastically, slipping an especially well-wrapped seaweed rice ball into the hands of the burly man who had just approached.
Though Gade still had a few bandages wrapped around his body, his movements were no longer hindered.
Taking the rice ball, he smiled with his usual honest expression.
"Much better. Thanks for asking. As for the money—"
"Hey, none of that!"
The merman hurriedly waved his hands.
"You and Buck are the great benefactors of Fish-Man Island! What's a little food compared to that?"
"Not just for you. Nowadays, whenever anyone from the Jellyfish Pirates visits this street, every shop does its best to serve you."
"If it weren't for all of you..."
The vendor didn't finish the sentence, but his meaning was clear.
The bloody battle at the docks half a month ago and the horrifying truth hidden inside the Golden Dice's secret compartment had long since spread throughout Fish-Man Island.
Although the islanders had initially misunderstood what happened, everything changed after Ryugu Kingdom officially honored the Jellyfish Pirates for their righteous actions.
From Coral Hill to the other towns, the residents no longer looked upon the human pirates as outsiders.
They saw them as heroes.
"It was only right."
Gade scratched his head sheepishly but still placed the Berries on the counter.
"We appreciate everyone's kindness."
"Oh, and the usual breakfast for Buck. I'll bring it to him."
"Of course!"
"I already prepared Captain Buck's portion."
"I even added plenty of nourishing sea marrow jelly."
The vendor swiftly wrapped up another specially prepared meal, his smile growing even brighter.
"Miss Keliya stopped by earlier too."
"She picked up some freshly squeezed sea fruit juice."
"Said she wanted Captain Buck to have a change of taste."
"Their brother-and-sister relationship is really wonderful."
"Brother and sister..."
A complicated smile flickered across Gade's face as he accepted both breakfasts.
"Yeah..."
"I suppose that's nice too."
After bidding farewell to the enthusiastic vendor, Gade walked through the increasingly lively streets.
Along the way, residents who recognized him greeted him warmly.
Several Fish-Man children whom he had rescued from the Golden Dice even ran over, tugging at his pant legs while calling him "Uncle Big Gade."
Such wholehearted goodwill...
...was something utterly unimaginable when they had first arrived on Fish-Man Island half a month earlier.
Aboard the Blazing Fang, the infirmary had become noticeably more cheerful thanks to the gentle light streaming through the windows and several small glowing coral plants decorating the room.
Buck lay in bed.
Compared to the deathly pallor he had worn half a month ago, his complexion had improved considerably, though he still looked weak.
His upper body remained wrapped in layers of bandages, especially around his left chest and right arm, the thick wrappings testament to the severity of his injuries.
Back then, he had lost so much blood that he had nearly stepped through death's door.
Only because several crewmates aboard the ship happened to share his blood type—and eagerly volunteered to donate blood—had they managed to pull him back from the brink.
Without the extraordinary vitality granted by a Zoan Devil Fruit, his recovery was naturally much slower than Gade's.
The door opened softly.
Carrying breakfast, Gade walked in.
"Yo."
"Still lying there?"
"How're you feeling today?"
He set the tray on the cabinet beside the bed.
"How else?"
Buck grumbled.
"It still itches, it still hurts, and I still can't move."
But when his eyes landed on the breakfast tray, they noticeably brightened.
"Breakfast from that merman vendor again?"
"Smells better than Brio's cooking."
"Hey, don't let anyone hear you saying that."
Gade dragged over a chair and sat down, taking a bite of his rice ball.
"Besides, how can you compare them?"
"The vendor specially made yours."
"Everyone on the street's been asking about you."
Buck simply nodded.
Gade looked at him.
"Where's Keliya?"
"Didn't she come by today?"
"She already did."
Buck answered quietly, his gaze drifting toward the freshly squeezed sea fruit juice sitting on the cabinet.
"She brought me some juice."
"I guess she's back at the shop by now."
Looking at the man in bed, Gade couldn't help smiling mischievously.
"You really turned disaster into good fortune."
"Someone brings you food every day."
"Someone looks after you personally."
Buck actually blushed, a rare sight.
"What disaster into good fortune..."
"Quit talking nonsense."
"Keliya..."
"She's only taking care of me because she's grateful."
"We..."
"We're brother and sister now."
Indeed, no one had expected things to develop this way.
After Buck regained consciousness, Keliya came to thank him.
Overwhelmed by gratitude and guilt, and faced with Buck's unwavering sincerity, she unexpectedly suggested that they become sworn siblings.
Whether it was out of gratitude...
...or because she had genuinely been moved by his willingness to risk his life for her...
...no one knew.
What surprised everyone even more was that after standing there in stunned silence for a brief moment...
Buck had broken into a grin and agreed.
And so...
Before everyone's astonished eyes...
The relationship between pursuer and pursued had transformed into that of older brother and younger sister.
The crew had gone from initial disbelief and endless teasing...
...to eventually accepting the outcome after seeing that Buck genuinely seemed happy, while Keliya herself had visibly relaxed.
After all...
Compared to hopeless one-sided love and awkward avoidance...
Perhaps a relationship built on warmth and mutual respect suited them both far better.
"Brother and sister it is."
Gade swallowed another bite of his rice ball and sighed.
"It's still better than before."
"You used to mope around all day after getting rejected everywhere."
"Now you actually look pretty happy."
"Of course!"
Buck tried to shift his neck, immediately grimacing in pain.
"Having such a beautiful and kind little mermaid sister..."
"I bet countless people are jealous."
"Once I'm fully recovered, I'll take her out."
"We'll see who dares bully her then!"
At that moment, the infirmary door opened again.
Sammy and Marcus walked in one after the other.
"Captain!"
"Brother Marcus!"
Buck and Gade greeted them simultaneously.
Walking over to the bedside, Sammy examined Buck's complexion before nodding.
"You look much better than before."
"But don't rush things."
"I just came from Hiriluk."
"He said you still need some time to recover."
"I know, Captain."
Buck nodded obediently.
Marcus, meanwhile, walked over to Gade and poked at one of the scabs on his arm.
"You really are built like a tank."
"You're healing ridiculously fast."
"When I saw that sword sticking through your stomach..."
"...it scared the hell out of me."
"Gillian's swordsmanship was actually pretty impressive."
Gade snorted.
"But now..."
He left the sentence unfinished.
Sammy picked it up instead, his tone calm but decisive.
"I just came from Hiriluk as well."
"He says Buck still needs more time to recuperate."
"I've already made up my mind."
"As soon as Buck has completely recovered..."
"...we'll set sail for the New World."
After a brief pause, a smile appeared on his face.
"Oh, one more thing."
"Prince Neptune asked me to pass along a message."
"Once both of you are fully recovered..."
"...he wants to hold a banquet for all of us."
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