One Piece: Failure’s Road to the Pirate King

Smoker suddenly woke up, seeing a strange ceiling.

Not entirely unfamiliar, it seemed to be from the Warship. "You're awake, Colonel Smoker."

Smoker glanced at Dazki, who was standing nearby, sat up halfway, and looked down at the bandages wrapped around him. "How did I end up on the Warship?"

In his last memory, he should have been fighting Sage before losing consciousness.

"The doctor from the Straw Hat crew saved you and handed you over to us," Dazki said, pursing her lips.

Smoker fell silent for a moment, reaching out to touch his body, then found a cigar on the bedside table. After lighting it, he took a deep puff, letting the smoke swirl in his mouth before slowly exhaling.

"The Straw Hat crew, huh?"

He got out of bed, opened the door, and walked down the stairs to the deck. The first thing he saw was the twinkling stars, the bright moon like a lamp, the moonlight reflecting on the sea, draping Port City Naruhara in a layer of silver.

"The Straw Hat crew has evacuated, but the Natural Disaster Pirate Crew is still in the city. We found their pirate ship, but there are quite a few personnel stationed there. Should we attack?" Dazki followed behind, her tone hesitant.

Not hesitating out of fear of the Natural Disaster, but rather, "Did you not manage to stop them before?" Smoker said in a deep voice.

"Yes."

Dazki lowered her head, her hair falling down to cover her eyes.

She clenched her fist and said, "We tried to stop them before, but we failed."

The Navy unit she led to pursue the Straw Hat crew was defeated by the Straw Hat crew along with 'Ghost Man' Akin and 'Iron Wall' Paru. Yet, strangely enough, they were saved by the Straw Hat crew, at least Colonel Smoker was saved.

"Then let's not waste our subordinates' lives. Attacking the vessel won't help us capture that 'Natural Disaster.'"

Smoker bit down on his cigar, gazing at the row of circular spires in the city ahead, especially at a particularly tall building that was brightly lit, sparkling with brilliant light. If he looked long enough, he could faintly hear the lively cheers coming from there.

"That guy is not someone we can handle with just over a hundred men, and..."

Compared to the Natural Disaster, he had more important matters to attend to.

In a daze, he seemed to have been treated by someone while also hearing some words. "What do you think?" Smoker asked.

"Colonel Smoker, the Natural Disaster is indeed very powerful. We should call for reinforcements," Dazki said.

"Not that kind of thing, and we are absent without leave, so there's no call for reinforcements."

Smoker shook his head. "You should have heard it too. I have a memory of Princess Vivi and the matter of Alabasta."

"Yes!"

Dazki suddenly stood still. "I heard it!"

She understood Alabasta, Dancing Powder, and Crocodile better than Smoker did!...

In a certain entertainment venue in Naruhara, it was a scene of drums and firecrackers. There was none of that.

In the huge hall, over a hundred people were indulging, holding wine glasses and laughing heartily, occasionally challenging those next to them to drink, or opening their mouths waiting for the dancers serving them to feed them.

Each of them had a table filled with Alabasta's unique food, and beside them was a dancer dressed lightly serving them.

In the center of the hall, a group of dancers rose with the rhythm of the music, performing a dance full of Alabasta style.

At the head of the table, there was a Giant Dining Table, not only filled with Alabasta's food but also delicacies made by Marika using the kitchen.

Sage sat at the head, not moving, surrounded by a row of dancers who were quite attractive, serving him one by one.

He picked up a wooden wine cup, had a dancer pour him a glass of wine, and raised it to the hall, laughing loudly, "Everyone, let's liven things up!"

"Oh!!"

The subordinates all raised their wine glasses, cheering for Sage.

Sage's subordinates found a good place, so he generously booked the entire venue, sending someone to fetch the wine he had previously reserved, and the banquet began.

Whatever delicious food, drinks, and entertainment there were, they all came out, emphasizing that money was no object!

With money, one should enjoy life. As the local wealthy man, Sage was there to enjoy, not to bury his money in the ground.

Alabasta certainly had dancers, and there were even shops selling dancer costumes. Sage was willing to spend money, so even if a shop didn't have enough dancers, he would make the owner find others to gather them.

The spectacle had to be grand! It was truly endless extravagance, unending displays, endless delicacies, and money that couldn't be spent!

Endless songs and dances, unending wealth, and a life of luxury that never seemed to end! "This is what I want!"

Sage drank another cup of wine, devouring the food in front of him like a whale, digesting it instantly.

After two consecutive battles, especially using Life Return to heal against Ace, he was indeed hungry. This technique required energy to use recklessly.

Since mastering Life Return, his appetite had noticeably increased. Besides the training factor, he was also deliberately storing some for healing during battles.

Life Return and Life Return were not the same. He didn't know about others, but he could use this technique precisely until he broke through the realm he had always envisioned.

"Still too early."

Sage shook his hand, not caring, and laughed heartily at everyone, "Listen up, everyone, even if you get drunk tonight, you must keep drinking! No one is allowed to leave until they fall down, ha ha ha ha!"

"Captain, we won't fall down!" several pirates below laughed heartily.

Lily was also sitting at the Giant Dining Table, elegantly cutting a piece of steak and putting it in her mouth, then taking a sip of the drink beside her. She turned to Sage and asked, "Sage, what happens after we stay here for two days?"

"Lily, you are not allowed to talk business during the banquet. What could be more important than the banquet? We'll talk after the banquet!"

Sage waved his hand at Lily, wrapping his arm around a dancer to have her pour him more wine, appearing reckless and extravagant.

Pirates are like that, and Sage was very dedicated.

Except for certain principles, he would do what a pirate should do! "Ah, this noodle tastes great."

Marika exclaimed after taking a bite of the noodles from the other side of the table.

Nearby, Renetia kept grabbing food with her small hands, while focusing on eating, she also stared at Lily and Marika's ample chests and slender waists, gritting her teeth and saying:

"I'll eat! I'll eat! Once I finish, I'll grow big teeth!"

Although the dancers had good figures, they still couldn't compare to these two, especially Lily. How infuriating! She didn't know how they grew to this proportion! She was determined to use these two as her motivation to eat like crazy! "Hey, the wine is finished, pour me another cup!"

After finishing a cup of wine, Sage noticed that the dancers around him were still unmoving. He slammed the wine cup on the table and shouted, "Don't slack off!"

The dancers remained still, all looking at the center with astonished and somewhat fearful expressions.

In that instant, Lily suddenly stood up, gripping the hilt of her sword.

Marika's hand paused in grabbing noodles, and she reflexively grabbed the chair next to her.

Renetia, still eating, turned her head to look behind Sage, annoyed, "Who are you?!"

"Very happy to meet you, Norton Sage." A voice came from behind Sage.

Sage didn't stop his movements, picking up a fork and stabbing a piece of meat, taking a big bite, even crunching the bones.

"Don't ruin my fun, Crocodile."