On Nicholas's pirate ship, as they parted ways with Roger and his crew, they set sail for their next destination.
While Nicholas and Vista were sparring, Stussy emerged from the laboratory with a tray filled with bottles and jars, carrying them onto the deck and setting them on the table before reclining comfortably on a chair.
For Nicholas and his crew, although this pirate ship wasn't as fully equipped as the Thousand Sunny, it was still far superior to makeshift ships, providing a comfortable environment, especially for the officers. Ordinary pirates, however, didn't enjoy such privileges, and for them, Nicholas's leniency in the division of plundered goods was already a significant favor.
In Nicholas's surprised gaze, Stussy's hand suddenly produced a wine glass, which was quickly filled with vibrant fruit juice. The appearance of this glass seemed like a work of art, sparkling in the sunlight.
"What's that delicious smell?" Simon, having completed his ten thousand shots from the deck, descended somewhat unsteadily. For Simon, firing ten thousand shots wasn't just a mental and spiritual challenge but also a tremendous physical one. It wasn't merely random shooting; Nicholas demanded that he use Observation Haki to focus his mind on targeting specific areas.
Even shooting at the sea spray demanded continuous concentration, as he had to capture the randomly generated sprays from the sea hundreds of meters away and hit them the moment they formed.
It was a kind of hellish training, but Simon never gave up. He knew that strength was crucial at sea, and firing ten thousand shots represented a significant expense; he couldn't afford it alone, especially not ten thousand shots every day.
Most importantly, he enjoyed the atmosphere with Nicholas and his love for shooting.
"This is a drink I specially prepared. It contains Dragonweed, Hundred-leaves, Roche fruit pulp, and Hishi flower honey... It strengthens the body, restores spirits, and enhances alertness. In short, it's good stuff," Stussy said while browsing through some books exchanged from Roger's ship. For crews like Roger's, in their long adventures, they collected many valuable books, representing intangible wealth.
"Simon, the drink Stussy concocted is quite precious. But since you're a newcomer, the opportunity is yours," Vista said with a hearty smile.
Hearing Vista's words, Nicholas glanced at the big guy beside him, his expression filled with surprise. "Vista's right."
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"Can I taste it, Stussy?" Katie, wearing a chef's uniform and hat, holding a cake she had just made, asked.
"Katie, this is a drink Stussy prepared for Simon and the others. But if you want to taste it, Stussy will make another one for you later," Nicholas said, smiling at Katie.
…
Upon hearing Nicholas's words, Simon decided to give the drink a try. He lifted the crystal glass like a piece of art and drank it in one gulp.
Soon, Simon felt the effects. A warm flow surged through his body, from the soles of his feet to his brain. His body filled with strength, and his depleted spirits quickly recovered. His entire being felt better than ever before.
"Wow, what is this? It's amazing! I feel so energized now," Simon exclaimed in surprise. With access to this drink in large quantities, he believed his strength would grow rapidly.
Seeing Simon's reaction and his improved state, Nicholas and Vista exchanged a glance, their eyes showing some confusion. This wasn't what they expected.
Just as Simon was feeling a surge of energy and planning to shoot a few thousand more shots, his expression suddenly changed. He assumed an awkward stance, and his legs turned inward as he began taking rapid, small steps toward the interior of the ship, disappearing quickly.
Nicholas watched Simon disappear into the cabin, realizing that the next fortunate (unfortunate) one was probably him.
"Well, it looks like there's still room for improvement. But the enhancement effects are evident. As for the adverse reactions, could they be due to inadequate physical conditioning?" Stussy asked, taking notes and looking towards Nicholas and Vista.
Vista, smiling innocently, suddenly noticed that Nicholas had disappeared. He wore a smile more miserable than tears.
As night fell, a banquet was underway on the deck. It wasn't that the crew didn't want to stay in the cabin, but since afternoon, an unknown foul odor had pervaded the air. Even entering the ship made people feel nauseous.
So, Nicholas ordered all the windows inside the cabin to be opened and sealed off the passage to the deck.
Despite this, the entire pirate ship emitted a yellowish, foul-smelling gas from the windows on both sides. Even where the ship passed, the sea was dotted with dead fish with their bellies turned white, and the seabirds that accidentally ingested these fish floated on the surface, their eyes lifeless.
"Captain, let me out!" accompanied by desperate cries and banging on the door, there were intermittent sounds of popping and bursting from behind the door.
The pirates looked at the door leading to the cabin, hearing ghostly sounds from behind it, feeling chills running down their spines.
Many even discreetly moved away from Stussy as if it could give them a sense of security, although Stussy, Nicholas, and the others didn't even approach them.
"Little Katie, didn't you say you wanted to drink earlier? Here, this is specially prepared for you by Sister Stussy," Stussy said, looking at Katie with a glass of murky green liquid in hand.
"Thank you, Sister Stussy," Katie said, taking the glass and drinking from it.
After drinking, Katie quickly fell asleep, a smile appearing on her face, as if she had dreamt of something wonderful.
But Inside her body, profound changes were taking place.