"Gaban? Why are you here? Where are Roger and the others?"
Rayleigh asked in disbelief.
But Gaban did not answer.
He stared blankly at Ripley beside Rayleigh, momentarily unable to snap out of it.
That red hair was like a burning flame, gently fluttering in the Elbaf sea breeze.
The wedding dress was as white as snow, looking so beautiful.
Gaban's heart thumped violently.
It wasn't the feeling of looking for a prostitute on Pleasure Street.
It was a feeling he had never experienced before, as if struck by lightning.
"So beautiful..."
Gaban murmured softly.
Feeling his burning gaze, Ripley, a young woman over forty, shrank back behind her husband in fear.
"Hey, Gaban!"
Rayleigh scolded in annoyance.
'Why are you staring at my wife?!'
Hearing Rayleigh's scolding, Gaban suddenly snapped out of it.
His face flushed slightly, and he scratched his head to hide his embarrassment.
"Long time no see, Rayleigh. I don't know why Makoto called the World Government to release me, but congratulations on your wedding."
His voice tried hard to sound calm.
But only Gaban himself knew how fast his heart was beating.
He felt a bit envious of Rayleigh.
How wonderful it would be if he were the one standing beside Ripley?
Gaban shook his head, trying to banish this absurd thought from his mind.
Rayleigh was his good brother.
How could he...
The remnants of the Rocks Pirates who had followed Makoto to Elbaf also looked at the newlyweds, Rayleigh and Ripley, with considerable curiosity.
"Come to think of it, how do those two do it?"
Shiki muttered quietly.
He had thought the size difference between Newgate and Miss Bakkin was already huge, but he didn't expect there was another level.
Miss Bakkin commented: "I kind of sympathize with that female giant. Their sex life will definitely be incompatible."
Linlin responded without hesitation: "Just stick it in and let him stir, wouldn't that work?"
The others were speechless… they had forgotten that Linlin had also dated a boyfriend from the dwarf tribe in the past.
Makoto clapped his hands and said, "Alright, alright, let's send the newlyweds to the bridal chamber first. By the way, when does the feast start?"
Seeing Makoto's unceremonious attitude, Jarul and the other giants couldn't help but twitch their eyes.
'Good grief, you killed our king, and you still dare to come here?'
However, not to mention the earth-shattering deeds of Makoto published in the newspapers, even the remnants of the Rocks Pirates following behind him made Jarul and the others afraid to act rashly.
With no other choice, Jarul could only announce that the newlyweds should go to the bridal chamber, and then declare the feast open.
Gaban gazed at Ripley's departing figure as she left with Rayleigh, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
She turned her head to look at Rayleigh beside her, her eyes full of tenderness.
Gaban's heart was pricked with pain once more.
"How about it? Beautiful, isn't she?"
Makoto came to Gaban's side and smiled.
Gaban subconsciously nodded.
Then, he suddenly snapped out of it, stepped back two paces, and shouted, "What are you talking about? Rayleigh is my good brother!"
Makoto patted his shoulder with an 'I understand you' expression.
"So what? Doesn't everyone in the Roger Pirates know that Shakky has feelings for Rayleigh? Didn't Roger still try to steal Shakky? The captain can try to steal the vice-captain's woman, so why can't the third-in-command?"
Makoto continued:
"Oh no, actually I think you are the real second-in-command of the Roger Pirates. How could Rayleigh be worthy?"
At these words, Gaban's mood was very complicated.
He had always felt he was the second-in-command, but neither the outside world nor those within the Roger Pirates acknowledged it.
The first person to acknowledge him turned out to be an enemy of the Roger Pirates… and he had even called the World Government to release him first.
This left Gaban with a complex feeling, a sense that 'my enemy understands me best'.
"The essence of piracy is plunder. Didn't your Captain Roger say that?"
Makoto encouraged Gaban, pumping his fist.
"If you like her, go for it. Good luck!"
With that, Makoto turned and left.
The female players who witnessed this scene were speechless.
Now they understood why Makoto had gone to the trouble of releasing Gaban alone.
'Damn, he's too evil.'
…
The feast officially began.
However, the atmosphere was quite delicate.
After all, the giants present knew that Makoto was the murderer of their own king.
Even if many of them were dissatisfied with Harald's governance policies, they naturally had no good feelings towards the murderer of their king.
But fearing Makoto's power, they could only begin eating in silence.
The giants ate and drank with their heads down, occasionally sneaking a glance at Makoto's table before quickly looking down again.
Makoto, as if oblivious to this strange atmosphere, smiled and greeted the Kuja Pirates, whom he hadn't seen in a while.
"Yo, Gloriosa, why isn't Shakky here?"
Gloriosa, looking at the man who had taken her first time, rolled her eyes wildly.
'You know perfectly well why, so why ask?'
However, Makoto clearly wasn't going to let such excellent entertainment slide, and continued, "How can she not be present on such an important occasion as Rayleigh's wedding? That's so rude. Hurry up and call her out."
Gloriosa's eyes nearly rolled to the back of her head, but she didn't dare disobey Makoto's order.
With no other choice, she could only send her subordinates to fetch Shakky.
Gloriosa was about to ask Makoto how he knew about Rayleigh's wedding—
Just then, a 'big black rat' darted out from beside her and jumped into Makoto's arms.
It was Tritoma.
Seeing Tritoma jump into Makoto's arms, stand on tiptoe, and constantly shower him with kisses, Gloriosa understood everything at once.
'Good grief, it must have been this leaky little vest.'
Tritoma kissed him several times before letting go, her face flushed red with a smile, completely ignoring the strange looks from everyone around her.
"Makoto-kun, I missed you so much~"
"I missed you too."
Makoto ruffled her hair, then whispered something in her ear.
Tritoma's face turned even redder, and she lightly punched him.
Gloriosa covered her face.
Just then, Shakky was also brought out by the female pirates of the Kuja Pirates.
She was wearing a black long dress, her hair somewhat disheveled, her eyes slightly red and swollen, clearly having just been crying.
But even so, her innate charm still drew the attention of many present.
Especially the remnants of the Rocks Pirates.
Whitebeard, Shiki, Silver Axe, John, and the others who had been feasting heartily stopped their actions, raised their heads one after another, and their gazes uniformly fell on Shakky.
Their looks were like a pack of wolves who hadn't eaten for three days and nights spotting a plump lamb.
'The supreme great succubus, fearsome indeed.'
Makoto smiled and approached, asking Shakky what she was feeling now.
"Shakky, the groom is over there. Don't you want to go toast him?"
Shakky was furious.
She looked at Makoto's annoyingly smug face, and if she could beat him, she would have slapped him right then and there.
Gloriosa angrily questioned Tritoma: "Was it you who leaked the news of Rayleigh and Ripley's wedding to Makoto?"
Tritoma had a look of complete naturalness and said, "Yeah."
Seeing her self-righteous demeanor, everyone in the Kuja Pirates was dumbfounded.