"So you're Brother Reid? You really are young—and quite polite." Spencer grinned, eyeing Reid with interest.
MAX burst into laughter, looking at Reid. "Hahaha! Brother Reid looks much more handsome than in the portrait!"
"Hahahaha!"
The whole room erupted in laughter—the portrait of Reid had been hilariously unflattering.
"Uh… heh." Reid scratched his head awkwardly.
Brumarin wobbled over to Reid, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Reid, Captain Roger says your medical skills are incredible. Think you could treat me? Hehehe."
"This uncle looks so sleazy… I'd better call him 'brother'." Reid shuddered internally.
"Uh… what exactly is wrong with you, brother?"
"Hahahaha…" The room exploded in laughter again. Reid was being way too serious, and the question sounded oddly funny.
"Brother Reid, Brumarin wants to turn young again. With those skinny arms and legs, I'm afraid his bones might snap one day. Hahahaha!"
Momora tipped his tall hat back, laughing so hard tears streamed down his face.
"Hahahaha!" The crew roared once more at the jab.
"Hahaha, hahaha!" Roger laughed heartily, his muscular chest rising and falling with each chuckle.
"These guys are full of energy… a bunch of real troublemakers."
After silently grumbling, Reid smiled at Brumarin.
"Well, reversing aging is beyond me, but I can treat illnesses and injuries."
"Oh?" Brumarin's eyes lit up. "Brother Reid, can you really do that?"
"Hey, Brumarin, look how lively the captain is now. Without Reid, he'd already be dead."
Sanban's lips curled into a mischievous smirk.
"Hahahaha!" Roger wasn't offended—he laughed even harder.
"That's great, Brother Reid! I've been feeling awful these past few years. Can you help me?" Brumarin stared at Reid eagerly.
"Sure, I'll try."
Reid placed his hand on Brumarin's shoulder. "Heal."
In truth, Reid had no medical knowledge—he relied entirely on his system. How effective it would be was up to the system itself.
A moment later, Brumarin's eyes brightened, his excitement obvious.
"Well? Did it work?"
"Yeah, Brumarin, spit it out!"
Pancuro and Doringo pressed in, the latter tugging at Brumarin's sleeve impatiently.
Everyone waited for Brumarin's response, though outwardly, he looked unchanged.
"I don't feel much different… but my body does feel lighter." Brumarin tilted his head, puzzled.
"Hahaha! Brumarin, that just means you're healthy. You didn't need Brother Reid's help at all!"
Murasakimaru blew out a puff of smoke, his eyes teasing.
Just then, shouts came from outside.
"Come quick! Big news! Huge news!"
Rayleigh glanced toward the door. "What's the commotion now?"
"I'll check."
Doringo flew out and returned moments later with a newspaper.
"Captain, look." He handed it to Roger.
Roger took it, his lips quirked up. "Heh, the Marines are really stirring the pot. Must be Sengoku the Buddha's idea."
"Oh? Roger, what does it say?" Rayleigh asked.
"Here."
Rayleigh took the paper and nodded. "Yeah, definitely Sengoku. Morgans wouldn't publish something like this. He's really fixated on Reid."
"Rayleigh, what's in the paper?" Jabba asked.
"It says Reid holds a massive secret—one even greater than the One Piece treasure."
"Damn… they're painting me as a sheep for the wolves to devour." Reid's heart sank. If this spread, he'd become public enemy number one. How could he survive in this world?
"Tch. Sengoku's playing games, trying to shift attention away from One Piece. Probably the Celestial Dragons' orders too."
CB Goran took a swig of liquor, his tone dripping with disdain.
"Reid's amazing…" Shanks' admiration for Reid grew even stronger.
"To hell with the Celestial Dragons! Their schemes won't work. If they dare target Brother Reid, my hammer will have something to say!"
Mihawk Payne's beard bristled as he slammed the table angrily.
"Damn right! Those motherless bastards! How shameless can they be, using Brother Reid as a scapegoat? Watch out—in 20 years, Mary Geoise will be flattened!"
Jackson Banner's eyes burned with killing intent as he chugged his drink.
"20 years… so they mean Luffy. Wait, no—the Five Elders said Devil Fruits choose their users. Maybe Ace, as the 'D.' inheritor, will unite the Ancient Weapons with the 'Three Kings' to overthrow Imu…"
"So, Roger believes that in 20 years, he'll be the one to defeat Imu? After all, Roger is alive and well now, and his strength is immense—he could easily wait two decades. But a domineering man like Roger probably wouldn't eat the Nika Fruit..."
Reid's thoughts raced as he considered the possibility. He glanced at Roger, his mind tangled in the complexities of the future.
"Heh." Sensing Reid's gaze, Roger flashed a toothy grin.
"Haha." Reid chuckled in response.
"Enough worrying! We're all here now. If the Marines dare to come, we'll make sure they regret it!"
Langram growled, downing a huge gulp of liquor.
"Hmph, well said. The Celestial Dragons will fall to us."
The usually cold and silent Yoichi surprisingly spoke up, his expression as stern as ever, yet an invisible fire seemed to burn around him.
"Exactly! Right now, the most important thing is to enjoy ourselves. Heh, Roger—how about we throw a bonfire party tonight? Plenty of drinks, plenty of fun. This place is too cramped anyway."
Jabba grinned, making his suggestion.
"I'm in! A bonfire party sounds perfect!"