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In the kitchen, Rojen wielded a kitchen knife, chopping rhythmically with a steady "dong dong dong," transforming potatoes into chunks and slicing vegetables with precision. He swiftly tossed all the ingredients into a pot, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
"Just one person and one cat, truly."
Shaking his head with amusement, he soon had a pot of steaming food, the delicious aroma wafting through the air, tantalizing his senses.
Peering into the kitchen, he was pleasantly surprised to see several dishes being quickly steamed and cooked.
With the skill of a culinary master, cooking was indeed a breeze for him.
He wiped his hands, plated the food, and carried it out.
"Here we go, you glutton and little greedy cat." With a grin, Rojen set the food down on a square table on the deck.
At the corners of the table sat Jason, the little cat, and Rouge. As the food arrived, Jason's mouth watered, and Lordling stretched out a paw, eager to snatch a bite.
"Smack!" Rojen intercepted the paw, and Lordling shot him a fierce glare. Rojen wagged his finger playfully.
"Not until everyone and everything is here; you can't eat yet."
He returned to the kitchen, bringing out more dishes in quick succession. Before long, the table was filled to the brim with exquisite offerings.
After about five minutes, Rojen retrieved a bottle of red wine from the cabin, grabbed some cups, and sat down at the table with a smile.
"The crisis has passed; we can finally enjoy a good meal."
He noticed the relief etched on everyone's faces.
"Heh heh, Captain, your cooking smells amazing, but it's a bit too little," Jason remarked, his eyes glued to the spread before him.
The dishes were vibrant and fragrant, looking so appealing that it was hard to resist the urge to dive in.
Rojen chose not to respond to Jason's insatiable appetite; he simply couldn't afford to feed someone who ate like a bottomless pit.
"Sister-in-law, there is no need to worry. For now, we are safe," Rojen said earnestly to Rouge, his expression sincere.
He held deep respect for her; not every woman would go to such lengths for an unborn child.
"I should be thanking you," Rouge replied, her tone equally serious.
In the midst of the Marines' encirclement, this seemingly youthful man had managed to save her.
And this entire ship was just two people and a cat?! The reality was almost unbelievable to Rouge; even now, sitting here felt like a dream.
"Can we eat now?"
At that moment, Jason suddenly interjected, causing a black line to appear on Rojen's forehead.
This glutton!
"Then let's eat!"
Seeing the eager expressions of both Jason and Lordling, Rojen could only acquiesce with a sigh.
Rouge covered her mouth, stifling a laugh, and the table erupted into a flurry of activity as everyone began to eat.
Watching Jason and Lordling devour their food with unrestrained enthusiasm, Rojen couldn't help but smile.
"Thank you, Jason, Lordling."
"I really appreciate it!"
Without the cooperation of these two, his chances of rescuing Rouge would have been nearly impossible.
In this operation, both had played crucial roles.
The three people and one cat began to celebrate.
From the start of the battle to this moment, they had all experienced a rollercoaster of mental pressure, but thankfully, they had triumphed.
Rojen kept these thoughts to himself; some things were better left unspoken.
The meal was quickly devoured, and with Lordling by her side, Rouge wandered around the ship, fiddling with the orange tree that Jason had planted earlier. Jason, this rough man, had clearly lacked finesse, but after Rouge's adjustments, it had become much more visually appealing.
Jason was using a toothpick to clean his teeth, a satisfied grin plastered on his face as he enjoyed his time at the helm.
Seeing the relaxed smiles on everyone's faces, Rojen felt a wave of happiness wash over him.
He truly cherished this kind of life.
Isn't it wonderful? Enjoying the sea breeze, savoring hot pot, singing little tunes, and having these people around him.
In this moment, Rojen pushed thoughts of the Marines and any powerful forces aside; he simply relished the peace.
[The Logan] sailed steadily across the sea, cutting through the waves and leaving ripples in its wake.
Rojen stood at the bow of the ship, gazing out at the endless ocean, a faint smile gracing his lips.
Having left the waters near Baterilla Island, he no longer felt the weight of the Marines' pursuit. In the South Blue, during this period, the main military forces of the Marines were concentrated in that region, leaving other areas relatively unguarded.
For instance, Rojen and his crew had been sailing for about five to six hours since the battle, yet they hadn't encountered a single Marine warship on their journey.
The sea was vast, especially outside the pirate-infested Grand Line. In the four seas, merchant ships still outnumbered the military presence among civilians.
Once he calmed down, Rojen began to evaluate the spoils from this encounter.
Glancing at the system, a smile crept onto his face.
Compared to Dragon's previous experience, which the system had deemed a failure, this time's harvest could be described as immensely fruitful. It could even be said that it allowed him to upgrade significantly.
"Defeated Kizaru, obtained 120 Million Possession Coin."
"Defeated five Vice Admirals, obtained 85 Million Possession Coin."
"Defeated 3,628 Marines, obtained 35 Million Possession Coin."
"Total obtained: 240 Million Possession Coin."
Seeing this substantial amount of Possession Coins, Rojen's expression was one of delight, though he wasn't as exuberant as one might expect.
This amount of Possession Coins were enough for him to exchange for some exceptional skills or talents. For example, Uchiha Itachi's Sharingan, or methods for chakra refinement, ninjutsu, and more.
However, after examining the attributes of old man Yamamoto, he felt a twinge of helplessness.
"Looks powerful, but..."
Shaking his head, Rojen felt a mix of frustration and amusement.
"Zanpakutō, Ryūjin Jakka, Require 130 Million Possession Coin ! Note: Requires a Soul Reaper body to use."
"Hadō, Requires 60 Million Possession Coins, note: Requires a Soul Reaper body!"
"Bakudo, requires a Soul Reaper body."
And so forth.
Old man Yamamoto had many impressive abilities, undeniably powerful and very domineering, but the requirement of a Soul Reaper body left Rojen feeling despondent; it was a strict prerequisite that made him want to bang his head against a wall in frustration.
"Looks like only Shunpo can be exchanged."
It could be said that a Soul Reaper body was a very good spirit body, directly generated from a person's soul, and its strength depended entirely on the level of Reiatsu.
Moreover, it possessed various unique talents, such as the ability to stand in the skies.
And without the burden of a physical body, his speed of movement was even faster.
Unfortunately, Rojen didn't have that! This was something only the deceased could utilize!
(End Of This Chapter)