Hearing Reid's words, the two crabs felt insulted, raising their claws menacingly as they charged again.
"Tch, they still don't believe me. Fine, I'll humor them—might as well use this to consolidate my training." Reid's mood relaxed, and an unconscious, confident grin spread across his face.
"Damn you, stupid crabs! Your Lord Buggy will steam you alive! No—grill you! Ahh, grilled crab… what a delicacy~" Buggy drooled, lost in his fantasy.
"Clack clack clack!! Clack clack clack!!"
The crabs grew even angrier at his words, exchanging a glance before nodding in unison. Then, they launched into a frenzied pursuit of Buggy's body parts.
"GYAHHH!"
Buggy's lower half couldn't levitate, leaving his legs scrambling helplessly on the ground as the crabs pincer-attacked from both sides.
"HELP! Damn crabs, you think Lord Buggy is scared of you?! Buggy Flying Fist!"
His detached fist shot through the air toward the crabs.
The crabs' eyes swiveled, their expressions almost mocking.
"Die! I'm eating grilled crab tonight! …Huh? WAAAH!"
The crabs' claws clamped down hard on Buggy's flying fist.
Rayleigh returned just then, carrying a pot and a large bag.
"Buggy and Shanks still haven't adapted to the Whirlwind Leaping Crabs' attacks. Heh, this'll probably take them weeks."
His gaze shifted to Reid's training circle, and his eyes gleamed with surprise.
"Oh? Reid's already dodging this effortlessly? Truly natural."
Reid's movements were crisp and economical, devoid of any waste. There was even a hint of a seasoned fighter's grace in his footwork.
"Seems I'll have to start training Reid separately. Keeping him with Buggy and Shanks is just holding him back now. Time for blindfolded training—this step is about sensing with the heart."
Rayleigh smirked, gathering fallen branches from the crab-toppled trees nearby. He set up the pot and began preparing ingredients.
"Hey, Whirlwind Leapers, face it—you can't catch me. Why don't we take a break and chat? There's an old saying: 'Harmony breeds wealth,' 'Peace is precious,' 'We're bound to cross paths again.'"
The crabs exchanged glances, clacking their claws as if debating.
"Clack clack."
"Clack clack."
"You're seriously discussing this? Hilarious."
Reid shook his head, amused, and plopped down on the ground.
The crabs turned toward Rayleigh.
Without even looking up, as if he'd already sensed their question, Rayleigh grinned and nodded, tossing ingredients into the pot.
The crabs' eyes lit up in triangular joy, breaking into an impromptu dance that left Reid torn between laughter and exasperation.
"Clack clack!"
"Clack clack!"
"Heh, amusing."
Reid glanced at Shanks and Buggy, still being chased around.
"Reid."
"Yeah, Rayleigh? What's up?"
"Come eat. This is Oden's specialty—figured I'd try making it today." Rayleigh waves chopsticks at him.
"Sure, coming." Reid walked over, the crabs trailing behind like obedient pets.
"Wait—Reid! Where are you going?!"
Buggy noticed something was off. Why had Reid left the circle? And why were those crabs acting so friendly all of a sudden?!
"Buggy, I passed this training round. I'm a bit hungry, so I'm grabbing a bite."
"WHAT?! Reid, you can't leave us behind! We're supposed to train together! …Wait, that smell—is that oden?!" Buggy's red nose twitched, his tone shifting rapidly between outrage and greed.
"Focus on your training, Buggy. I'll save some for you," Reid reassured.
"Reid, brothers share blessings and hardships alike! You can't abandon me!"
"You just want the oden. Don't worry, I'll leave you a portion."
Reid chuckled Buggy was such a glutton.
"You promise? No tricks!"
"Yeah, yeah." Reid waved him off and joined Rayleigh.
"That's oden… No, I can't get distracted. I need to focus on the crabs' movements."
Shanks' stomach growled, but every time he remembered parting with Roger, his heart ached. Even though Roger was alive and well, he refused to slack off.
"I will get stronger! No one will hurt Captain Roger ever again—and I will stand by his side when we take down the Celestial Dragons!"
His eyes sharpened with resolve, a faint ripple of energy flickering around him.
"Hm?"
Rayleigh glanced up at Shanks.
"Something wrong, Rayleigh?"
"Nothing. Here, try the oden."
Rayleigh handed Reid a brimming bowl.
"Mmm~ Smells amazing. It's been ages since I've had oden."
Reid's face was full of satisfaction as the aroma and steam wafted over, whetting his appetite even more.
"Oh? Brother Reid, you've had oden before? Have you been to Wano Country?"
"Ah, no, I haven't been to Wano. I've eaten it in Ja… uh, in Little Japan. The taste was pretty good."
"Little Japan?" Riley looked puzzled, never having heard of such a place.
"Uh, that's what people from my hometown call it. I'm not even sure if that place still exists now."
"Hahaha, that's interesting. Come on, try it and see how it tastes!" Riley grinned, eyes full of anticipation.
"Alright." Reid picked up a golden fish ball and took a small bite.
"Ah… this flavor… I can taste the rainbow. It's like bamboo shoots breaking through the soil after rain, the earth reviving, little birds soaring freely…"
Reid wore an expression of pure bliss.
"Ah~ Yes, yes! That's exactly how I felt the first time I tried it! Hahahaha!"
Riley grinned widely and picked up a piece of fish cake to eat as well.
"Mr. Riley… I want some too…" Buggy pleaded pitifully, his legs still firmly clamped by two crabs' pincers on the ground.
"This is my meal and has nothing to do with you. If you want to eat, then feel it with your heart. When you…"