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The kitchen in Rennes became even more lively with the addition of new ingredients.

He discovered that the meat of the rainbow aurora shell not only allows people to taste sounds, but also recombines and elevates the flavors of different ingredients in a chord-like manner.

He used the most ordinary tomatoes and eggs, along with a small piece of aurora clam meat, to create a tomato and egg stir-fry that allows people to simultaneously taste the sweet and sour flavors of first love and the warmth of family—two completely different flavors.

Its flavor is so complex and layered that it's outrageous.

This amazed the scholars of O'Hara, and Dr. Clover even excitedly declared that Ryan's cooking method could be defined as a brand new discipline called taste semiotics.

While everyone on the ship was immersed in the joyful atmosphere brought by the food and music, the work of deciphering the huge stone tablet obtained from Zanpakuto, which carries the truth of history, finally made a breakthrough.

"Lord Rennes! Captain!"

That afternoon, Dr. Clover, holding a newly drawn star map, ran excitedly onto the deck, trembling with excitement.

"We...we succeeded! We successfully cross-referenced the information recorded on that historical text with the information in your ancient cookbook, and finally determined the exact location of the next historical text marker!"

This news was like a depth charge dropped into a calm lake, instantly silencing the commotion on deck.

All eyes were immediately drawn to the star map.

"Oh? Where?"

Newgate put down the barrel of liquor, and his hawk-like eyes, which always carried a hint of drunkenness, gleamed with an unprecedented sharpness.

"Elbaf!"

Dr. Clover pointed to a huge island marked with a special symbol on the star map, his voice becoming somewhat shrill with excitement.

"Elbaf, the land of giants! The legendary home of the world's strongest warriors!"

Elbaf!

The name struck like a thunderbolt, exploding in everyone's heart.

"Hahaha! Is that Elbaf?!"

Gatz was the first to roar with excitement, slamming the anchor onto the deck, which made Dorum's heart tremble as well.

"I've heard that the giants there are as tall as mountains and stronger than sea kings! I've always wanted to go and see who has the harder fist!"

"The land of giants..."

A flicker of nostalgia and fighting spirit also flashed in Newgate's eyes.

"Speaking of which, the last time I saw those two noisy guys was several years ago. I wonder how they are doing now."

With the new destination decided, the entire ship was once again filled with energy.

The ancestral giant tortoise let out a long cry, as if it too was filled with anticipation for that land full of battles and glory.

Its massive body slowly turned around, carrying the monsters who had found a new dream, and sped towards the legendary land of giants.

However, in another corner of the deck, the figure who was always ignored by everyone had a flicker of unfathomable darkness in his small eyes, hidden in the shadows, when he heard the name Elbaf. This darkness was completely out of place with the festivities.

Teach swallowed the last bite of the musical fish sashimi, his face still bearing that innocent and harmless smile.

But the seed of ambition in his heart took root and sprouted at an unprecedented speed after he heard the words "road sign history text".

Elbaf...Land of Giants...Road Poneglyphs...

These words swirled and rearranged in his mind, eventually forming a clearer and more insane blueprint for the plan.

He quietly approached Gatz, who was excitedly discussing how to challenge the Titans, and asked in a tone full of admiration and curiosity, "Brother Gatz, is Elbaf really that powerful? Can the Titans there eat an entire Sea King?"

"Of course!"

Gatz felt perfectly pleased by this flattery, and he patted his chest, then began to boast about the various legends he had heard about Elbaf.

Teach, like a most loyal listener, listened attentively while occasionally letting out a few well-timed exclamations of surprise, his small eyes flashing with calculating light.

He knew that the ship's course had begun to veer towards that ultimate treasure.

And he, Marshall D. Teach, should start preparing some...appetizers for his future grand feast.

He needs power, even greater power.

He knew that the power he craved most was hidden on this ship.

He needed an opportunity, a perfect opportunity that would allow him to obtain that power without leaving a trace.

And Elbaf, that land filled with battles and glory, was perhaps the best stage for him.

"Thief, hahahaha..."

Silent, maniacal laughter echoed wildly in his heart.

A huge shadow is quietly growing on this ship that was once filled with sunshine and laughter.

……

The ancestral giant tortoise's voyage was steady and unwavering. Its massive body was like a moving, unsinkable continent, ignoring the unpredictable weather and undercurrents of the new world.

After sailing for nearly two months, they finally arrived at the legendary sea.

Upon entering, everyone was awestruck by the sight before them.

The sea here is no longer a simple azure, but a heavy, steel-like gray-black.

There were no clouds in the sky, only countless enormous, inverted mountain-like vortexes slowly rotating, each rotation bringing with it a terrifying gravitational pull strong enough to tear steel apart.

Even more terrifying are the creatures swimming in the sea.

Those can no longer be called sea kings; they are a group of true ocean giants.

Giant sea serpents, comparable in size to islands, slither through the whirlpools, like mythical earthly serpents.

The giant deep-sea squid, with hundreds of eyes, causes the surrounding seawater to boil or freeze instantly with each blink.

However, these terrifying creatures, which would normally deter any fleet, were terrified and sank into the deep sea after sensing the godlike aura of the ancestral giant tortoise, daring not to make the slightest move.

The ancestral giant tortoise, like a king surveying his territory, glided smoothly through this sea of ​​giant spirits, leaving a trail of utter silence in its wake.

Chapter 299 Elbaf, Arrived

"My goodness... the food here looks tough and awful."

Gatz lay on the edge of the island, watching the menacing black shadows flash by below, and felt a deep worry about the taste of the ingredients.

"The flesh fibers of creatures of this level have long been tempered to the extreme by enormous life energy, and every bite contains world-destroying power."

"Of course, with your current teeth, you really can't bite it," Ryan said calmly.

Just then, a muffled roar, as if it could shatter the sky, came from the distant horizon.

Boom!

The sound was so loud that even the moving continent beneath their feet trembled slightly.

"What's going on? Is it thundering?"

Gatz scratched his head in confusion.

"Do not."

Newgate's eyes sharpened, and his unfathomable Observation Haki clearly revealed that it was a clash of two incredibly powerful wills filled with pure strength.

"They are those giants."

As the giant tortoise drew closer, the source of the sound finally came into view.

It was an island of unimaginable size, filled with an aura of primitiveness and glory.

The trees on the island are not ordinary trees, but giant trees that tower into the clouds like skyscrapers, with independent cloud layers and ecosystems even formed on their canopies.

A massive waterfall cascades down from the mountainside, like a silver river falling from the heavens, creating a deafening roar.

In the center of the island, a magnificent castle built from huge stones and the bones of giant beasts, full of Viking style, stands quietly, exuding an ancient and unchanging aura of warrior's iron will.

Elbaf, we've arrived.

However, they were not greeted with flowers and applause.

The moment they approached the island, dozens of enormous, mountain-like figures appeared from all sides of the island and surrounded them.

They are warriors of Elbaf, descendants of the Giant Warrior Pirates.

Each of them was over twenty meters tall, clad in heavy armor, and wielded enormous battle axes and longswords powerful enough to smash a warship into a pancake.

Their eyes, as large as copper bells, were filled with vigilance against the invaders and an undisguised fighting spirit.

"Outsider! State your name!"

The leader, a giant with a thick golden beard and wearing a horned helmet, let out a thunderous roar, the shockwaves of which even caused ripples on the sea.

"Otherwise, we'll use your skulls to add new decorations to our wine glasses!"

"Gulalalalala..."

Looking at the group of warriors before him, brimming with power and a sense of honor, Newgate was not angry at all; instead, he burst into laughter.

"As expected of Elbaf, even the gatekeepers are so energetic!"

He stepped forward, and although his mountain-like figure appeared somewhat small in front of these giants, the domineering aura emanating from him sent a chill down the spines of all the giants present.

"I am Edward Newgate, the Whitebeard!"

"We're not here for war, but to visit two old friends, and incidentally... to find a red stone."

"Whitebeard?"

Upon hearing this, the golden-bearded giant's eyes flashed with surprise, which quickly turned into an even stronger fighting spirit.

"So it's you! That monster who's on par with Roger! Very well! We in Elbaf never refuse a challenge from the strong!"

He slammed his giant axe down on the ground, causing the entire island to tremble.

"Want to see our king? Want to find that stone? Fine! But defeat us first!"

The golden-bearded giant pointed at Newgate and issued the most direct challenge declaration belonging to a warrior.

"In Elbaf, the rule is that might makes right!"

"Oh oh oh!"

The giant warriors behind him roared in unison, raising their weapons. The terrifying fighting spirit they exuded was enough to make any naval fleet tremble in fear.

"Hahaha! Shall we fight? I love it!"

Gatz was the first to jump out excitedly; he felt his blood boiling.

However, just as this imminent battle was about to begin, a calm voice came from behind Newgate.

"Everyone, please wait a moment."

It's Rennes.

He carried his food box and walked slowly to the front.

He glanced at the giants, their fighting spirit high, and then at the massive, seemingly heavy weapons in their hands, and spoke calmly.

"Shouldn't we eat our fill before we fight?"

This suggestion, so full of life, surprised all the giants present.

"Have a meal?"

The golden-bearded giant looked at the human, who appeared tiny in their eyes, with a puzzled expression.

"Yes."

A confident smile appeared on Ryan's lips.

"A true battle requires the most stamina and the strongest fighting spirit, and only the finest cuisine can provide all of this."

“I propose we have a hunting competition.”

Raine pointed to the perilous primeval forest deep within the island.

“We will each send our men to hunt the most powerful beasts on this island, and then I will cook these spoils into the most delicious dishes.”

"Finally, let's hold a grand banquet to decide who the real winner is, shall we?"

This proposal silenced all the giants.

They looked into Ryan's calm yet confident eyes, and then inhaled the faint, yet irresistible, fragrance emanating from him that made their mouths water.