Back at the Foosha Village.
"What a wonderful sleep!"
Luffy, who woke up just as the sun was about to set, walked into the bar.
Seeing Makino wiping a glass inside, he said with a grin, "Makino, is there anything to eat? I'm so hungry!"
"Did you just wake up?"
Looking at Luffy's face, Makino immediately guessed what was going on. With a helpless smile, she said, "I told you kids can't drink yet! And you slept until now."
She shook her head. "It's getting late, I'll prepare dinner now. Just wait a bit."
"Great, thank you, Makino."
Hearing Makino's words, Luffy, who was sitting expertly at the bar, danced with joy and said, "I want some meat!"
"Okay! I'll prepare a Grilled Beef Bowl tonight."
Makino smiled, put down the glass, wiped her hands, and poured Luffy a juice. "Drink some juice first!"
As she spoke, she seemed to remember something and glanced at the bar entrance, frowning.
"Where's Ace? Hasn't he gotten up yet?"
"Ace?"
Luffy asked while looking at Makino in confusion as he sipped his juice. "Ace, hasn't he gotten up yet?"
Makino: "..."
"Isn't that what I'm asking you?"
Hearing Luffy's words, Makino's face showed a hint of helplessness.
She looked at Luffy again and said, "I haven't seen Ace all day. Do you know where he went? Should I make dinner for him too?"
"Isn't Ace here?"
Luffy scratched his head, a frown forming on his face, then he said with a troubled look: "Come to think of it, I didn't see Ace when I got up. I thought he was already up. Could it be that he sneaked off to train?"
As he spoke, Luffy seemed to notice Makino's worried expression and said with a grin, "Don't worry, Makino. Ace is very strong. No matter where he goes, he will be fine."
"Indeed!"
Makino breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of Ace's strength.
Indeed, even the wild beasts in the mountains were no match for Ace. She's sure Ace will be fine.
She smiled and nodded. "Then I'll go prepare dinner. I'll also prepare a portion for Ace. If he doesn't show up later, I'll give it to you."
"Really? That's fantastic! Ace definitely won't show up!"
Good thing Ace wasn't there; if he had heard that, he'd beat you again.
Looking at Luffy, who happily raised his hands, Makino smiled helplessly, shook her head, and went to prepare dinner.
After hearing that he could have two portions tonight, Luffy also seemed delighted. He grinned, revealing his white teeth, and sat at the bar, grinning.
But after a moment, Luffy scratched his head in confusion, as if remembering something.
Last night, he seemed to see his grandpa pour another large bottle of wine into Ace's mouth.
Seriously, he had clearly said he wouldn't let him and Ace drink, yet he'd actually secretly poured wine into Ace's mouth!
"Did Ace secretly go drinking with grandpa? Never mind."
Luffy shook his wild thoughts away and grinned at the busy Makino. "Hehehe, I hope Ace doesn't show up tonight. That way, I can have two dinners."
...
At the same time, a series of bang bang bang bang sounds rang out, four limbs emerged, and a head emerged from the top of the wine barrel.
The familiar appearance made Ian silent.
Immediately afterward, a voice rang out. "I'm so hungry!"
After this voice fell, Ian's hand, gripping the axe, involuntarily stiffened as he looked at the familiar figure in the wine barrel.
"That bastard old man!!!"
…
"This is absolutely delicious, Mr. Ian! I never knew you could cook so well!"
Ian: "…"
Ian looked at Ace, who was devouring the dinner he had prepared, and after a moment of silence, he ate his own meal while asking, "Do you know what your situation is right now?"
"I know, I should be at sea!"
Hearing Ian's question, Ace, still eating heartily, puffed out his cheeks and grinned. "This is really troublesome! It's not my time to go to sea yet. What should I do?"
Ian: "…"
You ask me? Who am I supposed to ask?
Besides, you don't look troubled at all.
Ian watched speechlessly as Ace resumed his ravenous eating, showing no sign of distress, and asked, "Do you know how you got here? Or rather, do you know what happened last night?"
"Last night?"
Ace put down his chopsticks, frowning as if seriously pondering.
After a moment, as if remembering something, he said, "I remember last night Luffy and I secretly tasted some wine, and then, I think I was too sleepy, so I fell asleep on the table."
"That's called being drunk!"
"Ah, so this is being drunk? That's quite an interesting feeling."
Hearing that he was drunk, Ace didn't seem to mind but instead nodded with a grin.
Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Oh, right, I remember when I was about to fall asleep, I remember Gramps pouring a whole bottle of wine into my mouth, and after that, I don't know what happened."
"...I already know what happened."
Hearing Ace's words, Ian's face twitched involuntarily.
"Is Garp not afraid of getting his grandson drunk? He actually forced another huge bottle of wine down Ace's throat after he was already drunk. No wonder he only woke up now."
With a helpless sigh, Ian looked up at Ace, who, after finishing speaking, was now stuffing his cheeks full again.
"I have to say, your grandpa really gave me a headache!"
Ian rubbed his forehead while feeling a slight headache. "What are you planning to do now?"
"Could you please take me back?"
Ace swallowed his food and looked at Ian earnestly. "I'm not planning to go to sea yet! And I haven't said goodbye to everyone. Luffy will be very sad if he knows I'm gone."
"Sorry, this place isn't close to the Kingdom of Goa."
Ian pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Going back would probably take another day."
"Is that so?"
Hearing Ian's words, Ace scratched his head, then seemed to remember something and said with a grin, "Then could you prepare a ship for me? I can row back by myself."
"Do you know the direction of the Kingdom of Goa?"
"I don't know!"
Ian: "…"
Faced with Ace's answer, Ian felt speechless again.