One Piece: Voyager of the Sea

By the time dinner came around, the storm had calmed significantly, and everyone gathered in the dining hall, bustling with lively chatter. After some time together, Jialai had managed to match everyone's names to their faces. She didn't engage in many conversations, perhaps because she didn't think she'd stay on the ship for long, and everyone was always preoccupied with their own tasks.

Because Jialai often stayed close behind Jebaru and Bepo, she ended up sitting near Luo.

Luo had already seated himself at the table with everyone, where large platters of meat and vegetables were laid out—courtesy of Jebaru's hunt of a Sea King yesterday. Each person had a glass of wine in front of them. When Bepo and Jialai had taken their seats, Luo raised his glass and, in his usual calm voice, said, "Let's celebrate surviving today's storm."

"Cheers!"

"To our survival!"

As soon as Luo finished speaking, everyone became excited, and Luo's eyes also carried a genuine smile.

Since coming aboard this pirate ship, Jialai realized that, like the people on the Sunny, they also loved gatherings. No, maybe pirates just loved to feast, drink, and revel.

Jialai nibbled at her food, watching everyone scramble for food and challenge each other to drink. Gradually, she became swept up in the mood, and she dragged Jebaru and Bepo into a drinking contest. Bepo, poor drinker that he was, turned bright red after just two cups, and Jialai "accidentally" pushed him into the cabin, where he tumbled around. Jebaru, on the other hand, had a strong tolerance; after several cups, Jialai felt her head spin, while Jebaru shouted that he wanted to drink straight from a barrel.

Having drunk too much, Jialai grabbed anyone she could find for a drinking challenge, forgetting that Luo was sitting next to her.

"Lady, you've had enough," Luo's voice was calm, though he had drunk quite a bit himself, but his tolerance was evident.

Jialai giggled drunkenly, daring to stare directly at him through her hazy eyes.

Beneath the woolen hat, his chiseled features appeared. His thick brows always gave off a cold, sharp glint, and his confident yet aloof eyes seemed to shimmer with a quiet light. His trademark dark circles beneath his eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips perpetually curled into an enigmatic smile. His chin had a small patch of stubble. Though he wasn't the most handsome man, every time Jialai saw him, her heart would race uncontrollably.

Luo… His name always lingered on the tip of her tongue, but she had never had the chance to call it out. Perhaps she would never get the chance again. Jialai remembered what Bepo had said: it wouldn't be long now… It was time for her to leave. After all, the New World was dangerous, and for someone like her—completely useless—it was incredibly perilous.

Jialai grabbed Luo's arm with one hand, holding her wine glass with the other. She swung the glass with too much force, spilling some wine, but no one paid attention. With a silly grin, she clung to Luo. "Come, drink one with me. Thank you for taking care of me during this time, Captain."

Luo's forehead twitched with a faint vein as he looked at this woman, who wouldn't relent until she had her drink. With a helpless sigh, he drank a cup. Then, she immediately latched onto him again, demanding a second… and a third…

This person… seemed to have no issue with relentless persistence. Jialai seemed to have figured it out and clung tightly to Luo, making the drinking contest even more chaotic. But the first one to collapse was none other than herself.

The banquet continued on, but Jialai was too drunk to participate, eventually slumping on the floor. Luo, unable to watch any longer, used his abilities to send her back to her room.

He placed her gently on the bed. As he turned to leave, he unexpectedly overheard her muttering in her sleep…

The next day, Jialai lay in her room recovering all day. When she finally dragged herself out, she noticed that everyone else seemed full of energy.

It seemed she really wasn't cut out for life at sea. Having had her first drink in this world, Jialai lay on the ship's railing, gazing at the night sky, her breath still carrying a faint trace of alcohol.

"Jialai, you're up! Want to have dinner?" Jebaru greeted her cheerfully.

Jialai weakly shook her head. Her stomach and head were still in discomfort.

"Are you alright?" Jebaru asked, noticing her pale face. "Maybe we should ask the Captain to take a look." After all, their captain was known as the 'Death Surgeon.'

The mention of this made Jialai freeze momentarily before shaking her head. Why not someone else? Was her reputation really that bad?

She refused to see him. She had drunk just a little, and now she had made such a fool of herself—how could she face him again?

"Oh, Jialai needs to see a doctor? Captain…" Bepo, having overheard Jebaru, raised his voice in a panic.

Bepo's shout was effective, and Luo's faint voice floated over, "What's going on?"

Turning around, Jialai could only make out a tall silhouette in the dim light of the cabin, unable to clearly see his features.

"Bepo said Jialai's not feeling well," Bepo now stood before her, noting her pale face illuminated by the ship's lantern.

Luo stood silent for a moment, before saying, "Bring her over." Then the shadow disappeared again.

Bepo excitedly grabbed Jialai by the arm and dragged her upstairs. Though Jialai was reluctant, she couldn't help the corner of her mouth from curving upward.

Note: Jebalu and Jebaru and the same person