Chapter 336: The Dragon Flag Pirates Give Chase

Meanwhile, two figures approached slowly from the distance: Drake and Weitian.

Because Weitian had been utterly exhausted and sleeping deeply, Drake had chosen to stay by her side and watch over her, leaving only after she had finally stirred awake moments ago.

Thus, the two of them walked over together to join the festivities.

"Yo! Drake! You're finally here!" Luffy bounded over to Drake with a boisterous laugh.

"There's tons of food over here! You've gotta eat a bunch!"

With the arrival of Drake and Weitian, the gazes of the entire assembly naturally gravitated toward the pair.

"Luffy..." Drake took a massive rack of meat from Luffy's hand and tore off a generous bite.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't just stand around staring, everyone—get up and dance! Follow my lead, just like this!" Usopp bellowed, chopsticks shoved up his nose as he broke into his signature side-to-side shuffle.

"Count me in!"

Chopper rushed over in high spirits, joining Usopp in an impromptu, ridiculous dance routine.

"Hehehe... hahaha...!"

Laughter rippled continuously through the crowd.

The atmosphere livened up immediately. The Marines, who had previously felt somewhat stiff and reserved, found their confidence the moment Weitian appeared.

After all, an indelible divide still lingered between them and the Revolutionary Army.

Especially when Weitian was absent, they had subconsciously felt awkward and hesitant to let their guard down.

The instant Weitian arrived, those lingering reservations vanished like smoke.

Before long, a dense crowd of Marine soldiers gathered around Weitian; since this was a celebration, their focal point was naturally their own Fleet Admiral.

Drake shared a knowing nod with Weitian.

Luffy promptly yanked Drake away by the arm. "Alright! Now the four of us brothers are truly gathered together. Let's drink!" With that, he practically forced a full cup of liquor into Drake's hand.

Just as they had done twelve years ago on that quiet mountain cliff, the four brothers clinked their cups together and drained them in one go.

They were the exact same four boys from all those years ago, yet their identities had undergone earth-shattering transformations.

The eldest, Ace: Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, one of the Four Emperors reigning supreme over the New World.

The second, Sabo: Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, the second-in-command of the global revolution.

The third, Drake: Captain of the Dragon Flag Pirates, one of the Four Emperors.

The youngest, Luffy: Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, one of the Four Emperors.

Following that climactic summit war, the Legendary Four Brothers had ascended into a brand-new myth.

Their names were being broadcast and whispered across every sea; the entire world knew that the coming era belonged unequivocally to the Legendary Four Brothers.

"Hey! Drake, you're only allowed to have this one cup, got it?" Ace cautioned hurriedly.

He knew all too well that Drake had virtually zero tolerance for alcohol—letting him drink was simply asking for trouble.

One cup was his absolute limit!

"Huh?!" Drake furrowed his brow, the rich flavor lingering on his palate.

The brew was actually surprisingly good; surely he could have at least two cups.

"How about... just one more?" Drake asked tentatively.

Sabo immediately brought a hand to his forehead in exasperation. Drake really hadn't changed a bit: in the past, he had merely been curious about the taste of booze, but now he seemed genuinely tempted. If they let him keep drinking, who knew what chaos might unfold.

"No way! Drake, you can't drink anymore!" Sabo cut in resolutely.

"Eh?!" Drake's expression twisted through several shades of agony, as if he were being subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.

Luffy couldn't bear to watch any longer. "Sabo, Ace, if Drake wants to drink, just let him drink! What's the big deal?"

"Well..." The two older brothers exchanged a glance. "Fine, but only one more cup."

"Drake, don't forget you still have to track down Im—you absolutely cannot get drunk!"

Having secured permission, Drake didn't hesitate for a second, tossing back another cup immediately.

[Stop drinking, you idiot!] the System screeched inside his mindscape. Knowing Drake's track record, alcohol was practically synonymous with disaster!

[This is your final quest! If you end up failing the ultimate mission all because you got hammered, you'll be the laughingstock of the multiverse!]

Startled by the System's sudden outburst, Drake snapped back to his senses, mentally cursing his own stupidity.

He knew full well he couldn't hold his liquor, so why the hell was he indulging right now?

Even he didn't quite understand what had come over him—it was like being possessed by an inexplicable urge to drink his fill the moment alcohol touched his lips.

Jarred awake by the System's shouting, he cleared his head and looked around, noticing the scene before him had shifted.

Virtually everyone across the Holy Land had risen to their feet; singing, dancing, and roaring laughter echoed across the entire plateau.

"Hahaha! That's it! Shake your hips more on this side!" Luffy's hearty laughter rang out louder than anyone else's.

"Come on, everybody follow me!"

With that, Luffy gave another demonstration of his absurd, eccentric dance moves for the entire crowd.

Gradually, pirates, Marines, and revolutionaries mingled together, dancing, singing, and laughing without a shred of hostility or division.

"SUUUUPER!"

Franky's outrageous routine was met with thunderous applause; behind him, over a thousand soldiers and pirates danced along in uproarious delight.

Throughout the night, the laughter never ceased.

Off in a secluded, quiet corner on the edge of the ruins, Whitebeard and Dragon sat facing each other, exchanging drinks cup for cup.

"I think I understand now... They have been suppressed for far too long."

"Gurararara! In this world, pirates aren't the only ones who yearn for freedom—every living soul shares that desire... Gulp, gulp, gulp..." Whitebeard bellowed with laughter, draining his cup in one clean swallow.

Dragon smiled faintly, taking a hearty swig of his own brew. "You're right about that."

And so, the two men continued drinking late into the night.

Shanks, Ace, and several others dropped by to join them as time slipped away until the first light of dawn broke across the horizon.

Down below the Red Line, the Straw Hat Grand Fleet had already assembled. Led by Luffy, the Straw Hat crew prepared to set sail once more.

"Alright!" Luffy raised both arms high, his laughter bright and clear. "Men, we set sail!"

"First stop: Elbaph, to reclaim the Thousand Sunny!"

"Leave the navigation to us—the New Giant Warrior Pirates will lead the way!" Hajrudin, wrapped from head to toe in bandages, boomed with sheer joy.

"We're counting on you!" the Straw Hats chimed in unison.

As the morning sun climbed into the eastern sky, the Red Hair Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates departed one after another.

Notably, Buggy had boarded Shanks's ship—though his sole motive was merely hitching a free ride across the seas.

Inside the Demon Warder, Drake slowly opened his eyes, met immediately by a throbbing, pounding headache.

What happened to me...?

Right... I remember being at the banquet...

Wait, WHAT?!!

Drake sat bolt upright, discovering the cabin flooded with bright, radiant morning sunlight beneath a clear blue sky.

Did I just...

[You passed out drunk!] the System's voice echoed in his mind, dripping with pure exasperation and disdain.

Drake: "..."

Damn it all, this is completely humiliating.

His alcohol tolerance was truly pathetic; he could have sworn he had only taken two cups.

"By the way, Luffy and the others..."

[They left hours ago,] the System stated flatly.

Drake froze stiff. At this moment, the timeless lesson that alcohol ruins crucial business was thoroughly hammered into his soul.

Ignoring the System's scornful glare inside his mindscape, Drake stepped out of the cabin with measured strides.

"The Dragon Flag Pirates are assembled and ready for deployment!"

In the main hall, Kenshin and the crew stood fully geared and waiting. They knew that the moment Drake woke, their immediate priority would be hunting down Im!

Seeing his crew standing at the ready brought a warm wave of reassurance to Drake's chest; at the very least, his crewmates supported him unconditionally.

Wait...

Not quite everyone.

Glancing at Kuzan lounging lazily across the sofa, Drake's cheek twitched slightly.

This lazy bastard!

"We... set sail!"

Drake swept his arm wide, and the Demon Warder materialized upon the open sea below.