Facing the questions of the two men, Lucian didn't rush to answer.
Lucian lifted the wine glass to his nose and took a sniff. His demeanor wasn't that of someone drinking cheap pirate brew, but rather someone savoring a century-old vintage.
"It's nothing, really."
Lucian glanced up, his gaze sweeping over their two tense faces. The smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.
"As I was leaving God Valley, I thought to myself—since I've already come this far, I ought to show some manners."
"Manners?"
Rocks' brow furrowed into a deep knot.
"Yes, manners."
Lucian swirled the wooden cup in his hand.
"Lord Imu emptied his coffers just to host us. As a guest, it wouldn't be right to leave without leaving a return gift."
At the mention of the name "Imu," the pupils of the other two contracted.
"So..."
Roger leaned forward, asking tentatively.
"What did you leave?"
Lucian looked at him, the smile in his eyes becoming as sharp as a blade.
He raised his left hand, which wasn't holding the cup. His five fingers gripped the air in a phantom fist.
Then.
He suddenly snapped them open.
"Boom."
He made a gesture of an explosion.
"A modest little gift."
Lucian withdrew his hand and took a sip of wine to moisten his throat.
"Before I left, I left a highly compressed energy sphere in the skies above God Valley. I set the coordinates to something quite interesting: the Holy Land Mary Geoise, Pangaea Castle."
He paused, seemingly savoring the image he had just perceived. The smile on his face was so brilliant it was almost blinding.
"I just felt it. This 'modest gift' has already been delivered into the hands of Lord Imu."
Upon hearing this!
Rocks and Roger froze where they stood.
Their eyes widened like brass bells, staring intently at the nonchalant young man before them.
A long-range strike spanning half the globe?
Precise targeting of the Holy Land?
This was beyond absurd!
On the open seas, the powerful could split islands and shatter the atmosphere. But those were destructions that could be seen and touched.
Even for those with Devil Fruit abilities capable of heaven-shaking destruction, there was always a limit to the attack range.
But Lucian?
He was sitting on Beehive Island drinking wine, yet he could make the enemy's nest at the end of the world bloom!
Such an ability could no longer be described simply as "powerful."
This was just... cheating!
After a full ten seconds, Rocks finally snapped out of his shock and spoke.
"You mean..."
"You brat... from all the way over here... gave that bastard a taste?"
Lucian smiled and nodded, taking another sip of wine.
"Something like that."
"The power wasn't too great; I doubt it'll kill him."
"However, it should be enough to make him hurt for a while."
"After all, it's only polite to return a favor."
"He gave us a desperate experience that nearly wiped us out; I returned the favor with a massive firework. It's only fair, isn't it?"
"Pfft—"
Roger sprayed the mouthful of wine he had just taken directly out!
He didn't even bother to wipe his mouth, his eyes wide as brass bells as he stared at Lucian.
"Fair?!"
Roger's voice cracked, sounding sharp due to his sheer excitement.
"You call this fair?!"
"Haha... Hahahahaha!"
Suddenly.
A low laugh erupted from the depths of Rocks' throat.
At first, it was just a suppressed chuckle.
But only two seconds later.
The laughter exploded like a volcano, completely spiraling out of control!
"Good! Great! What a 'modest gift'! Zehahahaha!"
Rocks shook with laughter and bolted upright.
The look in his eyes as he gazed at Lucian was one of fervent admiration.
To a man like him, strength was everything.
Someone who dared to use strength to trample rules, to sit on the neck of a "God" and take a dump—that was the kind of strongman he truly acknowledged.
"You lunatic! A complete and utter lunatic!"
Rocks strode over, his palm, as large as a folding fan, slamming heavily onto Lucian's shoulder with a loud "bang."
The solid wood chair let out a miserable creak under the pressure, nearly collapsing on the spot.
Lucian remained seated steadily, not a single drop of wine spilling from his cup.
"I've never submitted to anyone in my life! But today, I'm impressed by you!"
To make the arrogant and condescending Rocks admit he was impressed.
On this sea, Lucian was the first, and perhaps the only one.
"To beat that rat who's been hiding for eight hundred years so badly he dares not show his face, and to tuck a bomb right up his backside from half a world away before leaving! You're the first on this sea to do it! Satisfying! This is fucking satisfying!"
"Hahahahaha! It really is a grand gift!"
Beside them, Roger also regained his composure and burst into laughter, doubling over with tears in his eyes.
He slapped his thigh repeatedly as he laughed.
"I can't even imagine the expression on that high-and-mighty fellow's face when he received the 'gift'! Hahaha! It must have been spectacular!"
Roger gasped for air, grabbing his own glass and hoisting it high.
"Hey, Lucian! You're one unpredictable guy! I thought causing that much chaos at God Valley was exaggerated enough, but I didn't expect the best part to come at the end!"
The smile on Roger's face carried the characteristic recklessness of the Clan of D.
"For this 'modest gift' sent to a 'God,' we must have a toast! This is absolutely the most exciting story I've heard in my entire life!"
Looking at these two legendary pirates who were laughing like overgrown children, the smile at the corner of Lucian's mouth became more genuine.
Their excitement was heartfelt.
"Since you both like it so much."
Lucian stood up, raising his glass with one hand.
"Then, for that lord's 'surprise,' cheers."
"Cheers!"
"Zehahaha! Cheers!"
Three rough wooden cups collided heavily under the night sky.
"Clink!"
Rocks downed his drink in one go and carelessly tossed the expensive cup aside, shattering it.
He wiped his mouth harshly with the back of his hand and turned to stare at Lucian.
This time, there was less of the overlord's arrogance in his eyes and more of a genuine kinship.
"Brother..."
Rocks' voice dropped, carrying a rasp that only those of the same kind could understand.
"You did the right thing. When dealing with those self-righteous 'Gods,' you have to ride them into the dirt. Let them know that no one on this sea can stay high and mighty forever!"
Everyone is equal!
Roger also sat back down cross-legged, a strange light glinting in his eyes.
"I get it now, why you said we 'hadn't made enough noise' before. Compared to you, we really were too conservative."
Lucian sat back in his chair, poured himself another glass, and swirled it slowly.
"Conservative? Perhaps."
He watched the wine rotate in the cup.
"This world has been asleep for too long. Eight hundred years of rotten rules are like a thick cocoon, binding everyone inside. You can't break it with just small skirmishes."
He looked up, his gaze sweeping over the two.
"Someone must use the most violent means to smash it from the outside, so that the people inside can finally see the true sky."
Neither Rocks nor Roger spoke.
They looked at the man who was far too young, and a feeling of inexplicable admiration welled up in their hearts.
Rocks wanted to become the King of the World, using absolute power to rule everything.
Roger wanted to pursue ultimate freedom and discover the ultimate secret of the world.
But Lucian.
His vision seemed broader than theirs, and purer.
He was like a high-and-mighty observer who had grown bored of this tedious play and decided to step onto the stage himself to tear the whole set down.
The night breeze blew past, and the bonfire dimmed.
Following the clamor, Beehive Island sank into a deeper silence.
The drunken pirates were still snoring loudly, completely unaware of the conversation the three men beside them had just concluded.
Lucian set down his glass.
He spoke to Roger and Rocks beside him.
"It seems we're the only three still awake."
Lucian withdrew his gaze and looked again at these two pioneers who would have a monumental impact on the future.
Rocks leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed, letting out a huff.
Roger absentmindedly poked the fire in front of him with a dry twig.
They both heard the subtext.
The revelry was over.
It was time to talk business.
Some things could only be said now.
The playfulness on Lucian's face slowly vanished.
In its place was a level of seriousness they had never seen before.
He leaned forward, crossing his hands on the table.
"In that case."
Lucian lowered his voice.
"Gentlemen, shall we discuss... something a bit different?"