The ship drifted steadily across the calm waters after their wild descent from Reverse Mountain. The sea was peaceful for the first time in days, and the skies were wide and clear.

  “I see something up ahead!” Deuce shouted from the bow.

  Ace squinted into the distance. “A lighthouse?”

  Klien, leaning casually against the railing, smirked. “That’s Twin Cape.”

  Ace shot him a surprised look. “How the hell do you know that?”

  “Read about it in a book,” Klien responded smoothly, keeping his tone nonchalant.

  “Figures,” Ace muttered with a chuckle. “Only someone obsessed with cooking would memorize places like this.”

  “Hey, I wouldn’t mind finding something good to eat here,” Deuce chimed in, eager for a proper meal.

  Klien wasn’t paying attention to them anymore. He had already recognized the landmark. He’d seen this place before, though not in this world. Twin Cape. The home of Laboon.

  And just as he expected, the water erupted in front of them.

  A massive whale, its body black and scarred with age, leapt out of the water. Its immense size dwarfed their ship, and its sorrowful, intelligent eye fixed on them.

  “Holy—” Deuce froze in shock.

  Ace’s face lit up with excitement. “That’s… that’s a whale that big… Klien, can you cook it?”

  Klien’s face hardened as he stared at the giant creature. “No.”

  Ace blinked, clearly confused by the sharpness in his tone. “Huh? You’re not even going to consider it? It’s huge!”

  “That’s Laboon,” Klien explained, his voice unusually serious.

  Deuce looked from the whale to Klien. “You know this whale?”

  Klien nodded. “I do. And you’re not eating it. It’s not just any whale.”

  Before anyone could respond, a loud voice echoed from the cliffs above them.

  “Oi! Don’t even think about hurting Laboon!”

  They turned to see a stocky man standing on a rocky path, holding a harpoon. His head was bald on top, but thick locks of white hair shaped like petals hung around his face, with purple tips near the bottom. His beard split into two parts, and his lower lip was noticeably larger than his upper lip.

  “Who’s this guy?” Ace shouted.

  “I’m Crocus,” the man called back. “Lighthouse keeper of Twin Cape and Laboon’s caretaker.”

  Ace, not one to back down, grinned. “Relax, old man. We’re not gonna hurt the whale. I just wanted to know if it’s edible.”

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  Klien gave Ace a warning glare, but the older pirate seemed too eager to notice.

  “Don’t even joke about that,” Klien muttered, his gaze still on Laboon, who had come closer to the shore, its large eye full of quiet sadness.

  Crocus walked down the cliffs, approaching the whale with a soft expression. “He’s been waiting for over fifty years. For a pirate crew that promised to come back and take him along.”

  Klien’s voice softened. “He’s been waiting… for them to return.”

  Crocus looked over at Klien, a knowing glint in his eyes. “You seem to understand him.”

  Klien hesitated for a moment before speaking. “One day, Laboon will find the pirates who left him.”

  Crocus studied him closely, then nodded. “I hope you’re right.”

  Ace, who had been watching the exchange with mild interest, eventually broke the silence. “Alright, alright, I get it. No whale for dinner. But I’m starving! Can we eat something now?”

  Klien ignored him, his attention still on the giant whale. “No. Not this one.”

  Crocus let out a chuckle as he gestured toward the lighthouse. “Well, then come inside. I’ve got a proper kitchen and a good meal waiting for you.”

  Klien’s stomach growled as they made their way to the lighthouse. The smell of food wafted toward them, and even Ace couldn’t help but be drawn to the idea of a meal. They climbed the rocky path to the top, where Crocus led them into a modest kitchen.

  Crocus tossed a glance at Klien. “If you’re hungry, why don’t you try your hand at cooking? I’ve got all the ingredients you need.”

  Klien grinned. “Don’t mind if I do.”

  As the others settled around the table, Klien dug into their supplies. He gathered fish, seaweed, and a few spices he’d picked up from Loguetown. The lighthouse kitchen was simple but well-equipped, and he quickly set to work.

  The sounds of chopping and sizzling filled the air as Klien expertly prepared the meal. His knife moved with precision, his focus unwavering as he mixed, sliced, and sautéed. The savory aromas of fresh-cooked fish and seasoned vegetables soon filled the room.

  As Klien worked, a familiar sensation washed over him. His hands felt warm, a slight glow of energy emanating from his touch as the meal came together. He had gained experience through cooking before, but tonight was different. Tonight, it felt like his cooking was something more than just a means to fill their stomachs. It felt like he was making something important.

  Finally, he plated the dishes, placing a beautiful array of roasted fish with a citrus glaze, a seaweed salad, and honey-glazed root vegetables in front of them.

  As Klien set the last plate down, the familiar system window blinked into view.

  [You’ve cooked a meal using intermediate ingredients and advanced technique.] [+500 EXP] [Total EXP: 500 / 10000]

  Klien smirked inwardly as he placed the plates down. This meal had earned him more than just a full stomach — it had brought him closer to leveling up again.

  But more importantly, his new skill activated.

  [Gourmet’s Blessing (Lv. 1) Activated.] Effect: Food grants the eater +10% stamina recovery or +10% boost to one random attribute for 1 hour.

  The food shimmered lightly as the effects took hold. Ace dug into his plate immediately. “This is incredible! Man, I didn’t know you could cook like this, Klien.”

  Deuce wasn’t far behind, shoveling food into his mouth as he gave a muffled “Good stuff!”

  Crocus, taking a careful bite, smiled in surprise. “Huh, you’re not just some cooking maniac. There’s something special about this food.”

  Klien didn’t respond, watching with quiet satisfaction as Ace and Deuce dug in. His eyes briefly flickered to Crocus, who had finished his plate and was now savoring the aftertaste.

  [Ace has gained +10% Strength for 1 hour.]

  [Deuce has gained +10% Endurance for 1 hour.]

  [Crocus has gained +10% Stamina Recovery for 1 hour.]

  Klien leaned back against the counter, content. His skills were growing — in ways that weren’t just about cooking, but about shaping his role in this world.

  After dinner, they stepped outside the lighthouse to look at the night sky. The air was cooler now, the stars bright above them.

  “You’ve got something good, Klien,” Crocus remarked. “Not just the food, but the way you keep going.”

  Klien gave him a small smile. “I don’t stop until I’m done.”

  Crocus looked at Laboon, who was still resting by the shore, eyes half-closed. “Don’t forget that. Not everyone has the patience to see things through.”

  Klien’s gaze softened as he looked at the whale. “I won’t.”

  As the night passed on, Klien felt the weight of the Grand Line ahead of them. There would be more trials, more challenges. But one thing was clear: he was ready.