"Sanji-san!"
Gin stared at Sanji in shock. He couldn't believe Sanji had done that, especially since everyone else was against them.
"Thanks!"
Krieg's eyes lit up. He didn't even use a spoon, instead grabbing the fried rice with his bare hands and devouring it ravenously.
"Tch, what a spineless guy." Aeridar glanced at Krieg, who was eating on the floor. He felt a deep sense of contempt. "He may be a pirate, but that's just pathetic."
"Sanji! Get that food away from him right now! Don't you know what he is?! The East Blue's ruler, the devious and cunning Krieg! That's him!" At that moment, Carne rushed down the stairs, roaring at Sanji.
Carne looked at the crazed Krieg and said, a cold sweat on his brow, "He started in a prison and disguised himself as a Marine, killing his superior on a Marine ship to steal it. After that, he declared himself a pirate. He'll fly a Marine flag into a harbor to attack a town or passenger ship, or he'll pretend to surrender to ambush an enemy ship. He's the kind of guy who'll do anything to win, and that's how he got to where he is today!"
"What?! So he's a total scumbag!" Luffy exclaimed, suddenly understanding.
"This man is already terrifyingly strong. You can't trust a word he says. It's for the good of the world to let a villain like him die!" Carne yelled at Sanji, pointing at him angrily.
Thud!
After finishing the last drop of wine, Krieg slammed the bottle down on the floor.
"Huh?!"
Hearing the sound, everyone looked over, shocked that Krieg had finished so quickly.
Krieg stood up with his head lowered. Before anyone could react, he stretched out his arm and hit Sanji hard in the neck.
Thump!
With a dull thud, Sanji fell backward onto the floor. Gin's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Tch, what a piece of work."
Aeridar, who was facing away from the group and feasting, scoffed but didn't pay any mind. There were all kinds of people in the world, and there was no shortage of ungrateful scoundrels.
"San... Sanji!" The chefs and Luffy were stunned.
"Ahhh!"
A female customer screamed in terror, and all the customers fled the restaurant, leaving it empty.
Gin stared at Krieg in a daze, then came to his senses and glared at him. "This isn't what we agreed on, Captain Krieg! The only reason I brought you here was under the condition that you wouldn't harm this place! And that man, he's our savior..."
"Ah, that was delicious! I feel reborn!"
Before Gin could finish, Krieg grabbed his arm and lifted him up, squeezing Gin's arm until it crackled.
"Ahhh!" Gin cried out in pain.
Outside, on the Going Merry, Zoro and Usopp frowned as they watched the terrified people pouring out of the restaurant.
Usopp sweat dropped, confused. "What's going on in there?"
Zoro leaned on the ship's figurehead and said calmly, "Let's go and see."
"What?! Are you serious?" Usopp's eyes bulged.
"What's wrong, are you scared?" Zoro taunted, a smirk on his face.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Usopp said, his eye twitching.
"Hmph." Zoro chuckled softly, then his eyes narrowed as he looked at the ruined pirate ship next to them. "That's strange. I can barely sense anyone on that ship."
Inside the restaurant, Krieg stood in the center, his eyes sharp and menacing. Many of the chefs broke out in a cold sweat.
"Hm?!"
When Krieg saw the back of Aeridar's head as he ate near the window, he frowned. The silhouette seemed familiar.
"This restaurant is pretty nice!"
But Krieg remembered his starving, injured crew and immediately announced, "This ship is mine!"
"I knew it!" Sanji said, a trace of a smile on his bloodied lips.
Krieg let out a sigh of relief. He then said with a vicious grin, "Our ship is wrecked, and we need a new one. Once you've finished your work, I'll ask you to get off this ship!"
"Wha... what?" Carne asked, his voice shaking.
"Captain Krieg, this isn't what we agreed on!" Gin, who was still on the floor, said with difficulty, clutching his arm.
"I still have about a hundred men alive on my ship right now. They're all starving and badly injured. First, prepare food and water for a hundred people, and deliver it immediately! Some men have already starved to death!" Krieg ignored them and spoke in a commanding tone.
Aeridar, of course, ignored the confrontation and continued to fight his way through the delicious food on his table. The Baratie chefs were indeed very good. The curry was excellent, and the seafood was all cooked to perfection.
"How boring!" a loud voice boomed.
Bang bang bang bang...
The sound of a machine gun rang out, and countless bullets rained down on the chefs, instantly injuring six or seven of them.
Boom!
A loud explosion followed, and smoke billowed into the air.
"Dammit! What's with all the noise?" Aeridar just finished a scallop when he heard the explosions. He reached into his ear and pulled out a Q-tip.
Thump!
Soon after, Zeff placed a large bag on the floor. "This should be enough for a hundred men. Get it to your ship!"
"You're... Zeff!" Krieg's eyes widened in terror when he saw the old man with the golden braided beard.
The chefs were all confused and protested Zeff's actions.
After a moment, Krieg confirmed Zeff's identity. "You're 'Red-Leg' Zeff! You're still alive!" Krieg's face turned grim. "The incomparable pirate who was a chef and a captain."
"What if I am? It's none of your business! As you can see, I'm just a chef now," Zeff said expressionlessly.
"Heh... Hahahahaha!" Krieg's face returned to normal as he burst out laughing.
After realizing Zeff was the legendary Red-Leg, Krieg gave a long-winded explanation of his past, then mocked him with a look of disdain. Then, knowing that Zeff had sailed the Grand Line for a year, Krieg demanded that he hand over his sailing log. However, the log was Zeff's pride and joy. He would never give it to a scumbag like Krieg. He'd only give it to someone he liked.
———————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over here ——— pa-tre-on.c-om/AlexandrusTL [remove the hyphen for normal access]