Chapter 36: As Long as You're Hungry, You're a Customer24 de octubre
BANG!
The Marine jolted before collapsing in the doorway. Blood began pooling between the gaps in the wooden floorboards, while those standing closest quickly backed away. The once-bustling restaurant fell silent in an instant. The clinking of cutlery and the chatter of diners ceased, leaving behind an oppressive silence.
A man stepped inside from behind the fallen Marine. His steps were heavy and unsteady, and he was breathing hard like someone who had been running for days. His tattered clothes clung to his emaciated body. His cheeks were sunken, and two dark circles hung beneath his eyes, making him look like a panda. He gripped a pistol tightly in one hand.
Despite looking more like a corpse that had somehow managed to keep walking, no one in the restaurant dared to underestimate him.
"That..."
"No way... That's Gin, the combat commander of the Krieg Pirates..."
Whispers spread among the tables, filled with fear. The mere mention of his name was enough to change the atmosphere of the restaurant. Gin was the combat commander of the pirate fleet most feared throughout the East Blue.
Fullbody forced himself to stand. His legs were still trembling from Zeff's kick, but he nevertheless made his way toward the main entrance with his head lowered, pretending not to see Gin at all. The two passed each other halfway along the way. However, the Marine lieutenant did nothing. He simply kept walking with his head down, holding his breath and pretending he didn't recognize anyone in the restaurant.
Gin paid Fullbody no attention either. With his vision blurred, he searched the restaurant for only one thing: an empty seat.
After finding one, he trudged over and collapsed into the chair. His fleshless body, little more than skin stretched over bones, slumped against the backrest, while he placed the hand holding his pistol on the table. Breathing unevenly, he rasped out a few words.
"Food... Anything... Bring me food..."
"This is a restaurant, not..."
Patty approached and stood beside his table. A friendly smile immediately spread across his face as he rubbed his hands together, ready to welcome a new customer.
"Welcome. You bas... Ah, my mistake. Welcome, esteemed customer."
"I'm only going to say this once..." Gin stared at him with sluggishly moving eyes. "Bring me food..."
Patty scratched the back of his head with one hand and chuckled awkwardly.
"Of course. But... do you have any money?"
Gin shot him a sharp look. His hand moved, raising the pistol until its barrel pointed directly at Patty's forehead.
"Do you want me to shoot you?"
Patty's friendly smile vanished instantly, replaced by a dark expression.
"So, you don't have any money."
Without another word, Patty raised both hands high above his head before swinging them down and smashing them into Gin with all his strength. The restaurant table shattered into pieces.
"If you don't have any money..."
"...then you're not a customer."
Patty didn't stop there. He continued beating Gin, who had collapsed on the floor and was completely incapable of fighting back.
"That's it!"
"Beat him up, Patty!"
"Don't give him a chance!"
The customers cheered enthusiastically. The floating restaurant Baratie was famous not only for its food but also for its fighting chefs. Its location near the Grand Line meant that many pirates stopped by to eat, or simply to cause trouble. Those who came looking for a fight were usually dealt with by the Baratie's chefs.
That was precisely why some visitors came for more than just a meal. Some deliberately showed up simply to watch the Baratie's chefs take on pirates.
Amid the customers' cheers, Sanji, who had been watching from the sidelines, finally turned his attention away from Gin as Patty continued beating him. He lit a cigarette and walked away without a word.
Luffy, who had been quietly watching him all along, caught his movement out of the corner of his eye.
After deciding he had beaten Gin enough, Patty grabbed the pirate by the back of his collar and dragged him out through the side door. Without showing the slightest mercy, he tossed Gin onto the outer deck as though he were throwing away a sack of garbage. After dusting off his hands, Patty turned to face the customers and bowed respectfully. His voice returned to its usual friendly tone.
"Dear customers, we apologize for the disturbance."
"Please, enjoy the rest of your meals."
Seeing that the problem had been dealt with, the customers returned to their tables. Gradually, the restaurant's atmosphere returned to normal. The clinking of spoons, the sounds of people slurping their soup, and quiet laughter once again filled the room.
At the same time, Sanji headed out through the side door, carrying a plate of steaming seafood fried rice.
Luffy rose from his seat.
"Where are you going?" Nami asked, looking at him suspiciously. "Our food should be here soon."
"I want to go check something out," Luffy replied casually before walking away.
Nami narrowed her eyes as she watched his retreating back.
"Where's he going?" Usopp asked.
Nami shrugged. "I don't know."
They returned to their earlier conversation while waiting for their food to arrive.
...
Outside the restaurant, Gin lay face down on the deck, completely exhausted. His stomach growled loudly, protesting the emptiness that had tormented him for days.
Grrrr.
Just then, a white plate of steaming hot seafood fried rice was placed in front of him.
"Eat."
Sanji sat back against the railing and lit a cigarette before taking a drag. The tip glowed red as a plume of white smoke drifted from his lips and was carried away by the sea breeze.
At the sight of the food before him, Gin's mouth immediately filled with saliva. He swallowed, but his stomach growled again.
Grrrr.
Even so, he turned his face away. His pride refused to accept another person's charity, and his voice sounded harsh as he replied.
"Keep your food. I don't need anyone's pity."
Sanji didn't turn around. He continued gazing at the sky while exhaling cigarette smoke that was quickly swept away by the wind.
"Quit talking and eat."
"As long as you're hungry, you're a customer."
"I'm not a customer!"
Hearing Gin stubbornly cling to his pride, Sanji fell silent for a moment. The tip of his cigarette glowed and dimmed with each drag. After a while, he began speaking in a flat tone, like someone recalling something long buried in the past.
"The sea is cruel and vast. The most terrifying thing about the sea isn't a storm or losing your treasure... It's being stranded somewhere without food or water."
He flicked his cigarette butt into the sea before lighting another cigarette.
"I know what it's like to starve. If you want to die just to protect your pride, go ahead. But if you still want to see tomorrow, eat."
Gin fell silent. For a while, the only sounds were the waves lapping against the restaurant's hull and the wind carrying the salty scent of the sea.
At last, he gritted his teeth, swallowed his pride, and reached for the plate before beginning to eat. Tears streamed from the corners of his eyes, beyond his control.
"It's delicious... So delicious... This is the best food I've ever eaten..."
He wept as he continued shoveling food into his mouth. His hoarse voice trembled with a gratitude he could no longer hide.
Hearing the praise, Sanji smiled faintly, the cigarette still hanging from his lips.
"Of course. I'm the one who cooked it."
Just then, a cheerful voice rang out from the second floor.
"I'm glad, Uncle! You finally got something to eat!"
Gin and Sanji turned toward the voice. On the ship's second floor, Luffy leaned against the railing with his trademark wide grin, showing off a row of teeth that gleamed in the midday sunlight.
1ComentariosCampo de comentarios1Publicaciones relacionadasChapter 37: I Refuse Your Refusal24 de octubre"I'm glad, Uncle! You finally got something to eat!"
Gin and Sanji looked up toward the voice. On the second floor of the Baratie, Luffy leaned against the railing overlooking the outer deck. A wide grin spread across his face, and his teeth gleamed in the midday sunlight.
"Who are you?" Sanji asked.
Luffy pushed himself away from the railing and jumped down to the outer deck. He landed steadily on the railing right beside Sanji. Ignoring the chef's bewildered stare, he sat cross-legged as casually as ever.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the man who's going to become the Pirate King. Hey, Chef! Join my pirate crew!"
"Huh?!" Gin and Sanji exclaimed in unison.
Sanji held his head, the lit cigarette still clamped between his lips. "Wait. Give me a moment to process this." He took a breath before looking at Luffy again. "Let me get this straight. You're a pirate?"
"Mm." Luffy nodded.
"And you're asking me to join your pirate crew as its cook?"
"Yeah."
"Then I refuse. I can't leave this place. I have my own reasons."
"Then I refuse your refusal."
"Huh?! What the hell does that mean?!" Sanji couldn't make sense of the kid's thought process at all.
Luffy straightened up and folded his arms across his chest as though the matter were already settled. "You're a great cook, so join me." He flashed a wide grin.
A vein bulged on Sanji's forehead. "You never listen to what other people say, do you?!"
"Then what's your reason?" Luffy asked casually.
Sanji fell silent for a moment before snorting in annoyance. "I'm not telling you."
"Weren't you the one who told me to listen?"
Luffy's tone was flat and innocent, but to Sanji, those words sounded like mockery. The vein on his forehead twitched. He gritted his teeth before answering, "I mean, accept my refusal! Otherwise, I'll cut you into three pieces, you Straw Hat bastard!"
Luffy's smile vanished. A vein bulged on his forehead as well. "Don't insult my straw hat, or I'll beat you up!"
The two glared at each other from barely an inch apart, as though bolts of lightning were clashing between them.
"Sorry to interrupt..." Gin's weak voice came from where he sat nearby.
Sanji and Luffy turned toward him at the same time. "What?!"
Gin had finished the seafood fried rice Sanji had given him. He sat there holding the empty plate. His face was still pale, but his eyes had regained the spark of life that had nearly disappeared before.
"I'm Gin, the combat commander of the Krieg Pirates." He stared intently at Luffy. "You're a pirate, right? What's your goal?"
"To find the One Piece and become the Pirate King," Luffy answered bluntly.
"So you're going to the Grand Line?"
"Yeah."
Gin fell silent for a moment before his eyes widened. "But you're still looking for a cook. Does that mean your crew isn't complete yet?"
Luffy nodded, then pointed at Sanji, who was still sitting beside him. "That's right. With him, we'll have five people."
"Oi, don't go counting people as members of your crew whenever you feel like it!" Sanji protested. Luffy completely ignored him.
Gin clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, as though trying to suppress the memories that had brought him to his current state. After a while, he spoke quietly.
"I'm telling you this because you seem like a good guy, Straw Hat. Don't go to the Grand Line. The sea is vast. There are still plenty of other places you can explore."
Luffy turned toward him. "Have you ever been there? To the Grand Line?"
The moment he heard the question, Gin's breathing grew ragged. His face grew even paler. He wrapped his arms around himself, his shoulders trembling and his gaze turning vacant, as though trying to forget something he had once witnessed.
"No... I don't know... I don't know anything about that place... That's why I'm afraid..."
The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. Sanji glanced at Gin from the side before commenting, "Even though you're a member of the Krieg Pirates, you look like a coward."
Luffy looked back at Gin. A gentle sea breeze swept across the deck. He pressed down on his straw hat to keep it from blowing away, then flashed a wide grin.
"Thanks for the warning. But my dream lies in the Grand Line. I'm not going to change my dream just because I know that place is dangerous."
His gaze remained steady, determination clearly visible on his face.
"I'm going there, and someday, I'll become the Pirate King!"
Gin and Sanji were stunned by his answer. Gin let out a long sigh. Slowly, the spirit he had once possessed seemed to rekindle.
"So that's how it is..."
Gin set down his empty plate and stood up. His body still swayed slightly, but he was in much better condition than before. After brushing off his trousers, he bowed deeply toward Sanji.
"Sanji-san, thank you. I owe you my life. The food you gave me was the most delicious meal I've ever had in my entire life."
Sanji casually waved his hand, the cigarette still tucked between his lips. "Don't worry about it."
Gin smiled faintly before leaving the outer deck. He climbed into a small boat kept beside the Baratie and began rowing away from the restaurant.
However, before he had gone very far, Gin stopped his boat. He turned toward the Baratie and bowed to Sanji once more.
"Sanji-san, I'll never forget this debt for as long as I live!"
Suddenly, Zeff's voice rang out from the second floor.
"Sanji! What are you doing over there?"
Gin looked up toward the voice. Zeff stood by the second-floor railing, looking down at Sanji, who was still on the outer deck. Worry appeared on Gin's face. If Zeff discovered that Sanji had fed a pirate, Sanji might get into trouble.
"Sanji-san..." Gin called out anxiously.
Sanji immediately understood what he meant. He picked up the empty glass and plate Gin had used earlier and threw them into the sea. After making sure no evidence remained, he turned toward Gin's boat.
"There. Now there's no evidence left." Sanji waved his hand, urging Gin to leave immediately. "What are you waiting for? Get going, Gin!"
Gin bowed once more from his boat. "Thank you, Sanji-san!"
After that, he resumed rowing and gradually disappeared into the distance.
Zeff watched Gin leave from the second floor. He said nothing about Sanji's actions, merely snorted before turning toward the restaurant entrance.
"Get back to work, Sanji."
"All right," Sanji replied.
After making sure Gin had left, Sanji put out his cigarette and headed back inside through the side door to resume his work in the restaurant. Zeff had already gone inside as well.
Luffy remained near the railing. He stared at the doorway through which Zeff and Sanji had disappeared, then shifted his gaze toward the sea, where Gin's boat was growing smaller in the distance.
The restaurant's owner hadn't seemed angry at all about Sanji's actions. On the contrary, he had actually seemed pleased, even though he always acted rough and cold in front of others.
That behavior reminded Luffy of a term he had once encountered in Kevin's memories.
Tsundere.
1Chapter 38: Special Service for the Goddess24 de octubreLuffy returned to the table where his friends were sitting inside the Baratie. Their food had arrived, and wisps of steam still rose from the freshly served dishes. As soon as he pulled out a chair beside Nami, she turned to him.
"Where have you been?"
Luffy leaned back in his chair with a carefree smile. "Found a cook for our ship."
He immediately dug into the food in front of him. Usopp, who was busy chewing, looked up. "Which one?"
"The guy who beat up that Marine lieutenant earlier," Luffy replied, his mouth stuffed with lobster. At the same time, his free hand quietly crept toward Usopp's plate.
Usopp didn't notice a thing. Resting a hand on his chin, he recalled Sanji's behavior earlier. "Him? Are you sure?"
"Mm-hmm." Luffy nodded, still chewing.
The others at the table exchanged amused looks, struggling to hold back their laughter. Usopp reached for another bite, only for his fork to scrape against an empty plate. He stared down at it, then slowly turned toward Luffy.
Luffy's cheeks were puffed out like a squirrel's, and a smear of sauce clung to the corner of his mouth.
"Luffy, you bastard! Give me back my food!"
Usopp planted one foot on the table and pointed his fork at him. Luffy hurriedly covered his mouth with both hands, shaking his head as if to deny everything. The sight was too much for Nami, Zoro, Yosaku, and Johnny, who burst out laughing. Nami covered half her face with one hand, but that did little to hide her amusement. Luffy caught her eye and grinned around his mouthful.
Their commotion drew the attention of several diners at nearby tables, including Sanji. The cook had been flirting with a woman while pouring wine into her glass, much to the annoyance of the man sitting with her.
"What a racket."
Sanji turned toward the noise. His eyebrows rose when he spotted Luffy, but then he noticed Nami sitting beside him, laughing at the scene.
He froze.
The wine stopped flowing from the bottle in his hand. Without a second thought, he handed it to the man in front of him.
"Here. Pour it yourself."
Before the man could protest, Sanji was already striding toward Luffy's table, leaving him staring after the departing cook in disbelief.
Luffy and Usopp were still bickering while the others laughed. Sanji stopped beside Nami, took her hand, and presented her with a rose before dropping to one knee.
"Oh, my goddess... I'm so grateful to have met you today. For the chance to be with you, I'd gladly become a demon, a slave, or even a pirate. But there's one obstacle standing between us..."
Before Sanji could finish, a voice interrupted him from behind.
"Oh? And who's this obstacle you're talking about?"
Sanji stiffened. Turning around, he found Zeff standing right behind him with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Geh! Old Man!"
Zeff fixed him with a cold stare. "If you want to leave this restaurant, go ahead. All you've done is cost me money. Keep this up, and you'll run my business into the ground."
Sanji sprang to his feet, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"You want to kick me out? Well, listen here, Old Man. I'm not leaving this restaurant until you're dead!"
Zeff snorted and turned away.
"I'm not dying for another hundred years, you stupid brat."
Sanji gritted his teeth as he watched Zeff walk off. He took a deep breath to calm himself, then turned back to Nami with a gentle smile, as though the argument had never happened.
"Please forgive me, beautiful lady. To make it up to you, your meal today is on the house."
Nami smiled sweetly. "Thank you."
"Ah~!"
Sanji clutched his chest, overwhelmed by her smile, then dropped to one knee again.
"If that's what you wish, this humble servant is at your beck and call!"
Usopp raised his hand eagerly. "Hey, does that go for us, too?"
Sanji looked at him. His lovestruck smile vanished at once.
"No. You guys still have to pay."
He turned back to Nami as if Usopp had never spoken.
"Please wait just a moment. As a special service, I'll bring you some juice."
With that, he hurried off to prepare her drink.
Usopp folded his arms and watched him go. "Tch. What a perverted cook." He then glanced at Luffy, who was still happily eating. "Hey, Luffy, are you sure you want to recruit that guy? He doesn't look like he's willing to leave this restaurant."
"Relax, Usopp. I'm sure I can convince him," Luffy replied, finishing the last bite of food on the table.
"Really?"
Usopp still looked unconvinced. Then he glanced down at the table and fell silent. Every plate that had been piled high with food was now completely empty.
He shot to his feet, bracing both hands against the table.
"What?! How did you eat everything already?!"
"Brother Usopp took too long. Brother Luffy ate it all," Yosaku explained, still chewing.
"That's right, Usopp. Never let your guard down at the dinner table," Zoro added, setting down his empty glass.
Usopp spun toward Luffy, scrambled onto the table, and grabbed him by the collar.
"Luffy, you bastard! Give me back my food!"
Chapter 39: No Buts24 de octubre
The moon shone brightly that night, its pale light reflecting off the water and making the sea shimmer beneath the night sky. The sound of waves lapping against the hull of the Going Merry drifted across the deck, mingling with the gentle sea breeze and the salty scent of the ocean.
Nami stood at the bow, leaning against the railing as she gazed blankly out at the sea. She held her hair down with one hand to keep it from blowing in the wind.
Footsteps approached from behind. Nami turned and saw Luffy walking toward her with a piece of meat in his hand. He was still busy chewing, as if nothing in the world mattered more than the food he was eating.
"What's wrong, Nami? I've noticed you've been spacing out for the past four days. Is something bothering you?"
Luffy stopped beside her and leaned against the railing. After finishing his meat, he even started gnawing on the bone.
Nami didn't answer right away. Her gaze drifted back to the sea as her fingers tightened around the railing. She had been thinking about this for days, but she still found it difficult to bring up. Their next destination was Conomi Island, her hometown, which was now under Arlong's control.
At last, Nami took a quiet breath.
"Luffy... can we avoid fighting the Arlong Pirates?"
She turned to face him. Her brown eyes met her captain's dark ones, carrying a plea she had kept buried inside for so long.
"I don't want my first real friends to die."
Luffy stopped gnawing on the bone and studied her for a moment. "You know them?"
Nami remained silent for a long while. She lowered her head, her fingers tightening around the railing as she hesitated to reveal what she had deliberately kept hidden.
"The truth is, I..."
She finally began to tell him everything, from the day the Arlong Pirates arrived at her village to how Arlong had single-handedly sunk five Marine warships. She also explained the deal she had made with Arlong. She had to gather one hundred million Berries to buy back her village and free its people from the fish-man's control.
For years, Nami had tried to handle everything on her own. She stole treasure from pirates, saved her money bit by bit, and swallowed her hatred for Arlong, all for one purpose: to free her village. She had never wanted to involve anyone else, especially not the friends she had only recently made.
At first, she hadn't intended to bring Luffy and the others to Conomi Island at all. But circumstances had led them there, and the closer they came to her hometown, the harder it became for Nami to keep hiding the truth.
She tried to recount everything in a casual tone, but her voice occasionally grew heavy. She knew how cruel Arlong was and had seen firsthand what happened to anyone who dared to oppose him. She didn't want Luffy and the others to become his victims simply because they had accepted her as one of their crew.
Luffy's hand slowly curled into a tight fist against the railing. He held back his anger and let Nami finish without interrupting.
Up in the lookout, Zoro listened in silence while keeping watch. Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows beneath the stairs, Usopp sat frozen, too afraid to move.
When she finished, Nami took a deep breath and finally looked at Luffy.
"That's why, Luffy... can we please avoid fighting Arlong?"
She tried to keep her voice steady, but her eyes betrayed her feelings.
"I'm used to dealing with all of this on my own. I don't want any of you getting hurt because of my problems." She bit her lip before adding, "I don't want my first real friends to die."
Luffy fell silent. He knew exactly what someone like Arlong deserved. After hearing everything the fish-man had done, he had even more reasons to beat him to a pulp. But this time, he held back. Nami had asked him not to fight, and he didn't want to disregard his friend's wishes.
"...All right," Luffy finally replied, though the words were difficult for him to say. "We won't fight Arlong."
Nami's eyes widened, relief and happiness spreading across her face. She knew Luffy and the others were strong. She had seen them defeat the Black Cat Pirates with ease. But Arlong was a different matter. Besides Arlong himself, there were three officers who were just as powerful, not to mention dozens of fish-men under his command, each possessing ten times the strength of an ordinary human.
At least Luffy had promised not to attack them.
But before Nami could fully breathe a sigh of relief, Luffy spoke again.
"But we'll help you settle your deal with Arlong."
"But..."
"No buts! That's my final decision. Captain's orders!" Luffy declared firmly.
"Haaah... Fine."
Nami finally gave in. It wasn't the outcome she had wanted, but at least Luffy had promised not to attack Arlong. For now, she'd have to be satisfied with that.
"So, how much do you have left to save?" Luffy asked.
Nami tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"The money you're saving. How much more do you need?"
"Oh, that..." Nami quickly calculated the amount in her head. "I've made quite a bit on this trip, so I only need another four million Berries. I can earn that in a single trip."
"Here."
Luffy tossed something toward her. Nami caught it with both hands, then looked down at what she was holding. Her eyes widened.
A bundle of money.
"Where did you get this?"
She hurriedly counted it. There were ten million Berries in total!
Nami looked up at him in disbelief. "You had this much saved up?"
"Two hundred and fifty million Berries to start with. I've got 237 million left now." Luffy quickly calculated how much he had spent during their journey.
"Two hundred and fifty million?! What did you need all that money for?"
Luffy turned to look at the sheep figurehead at the bow of the Going Merry. A faint smile appeared on his face.
"To save a friend who's dying."
Luffy had been determined to save Merry even before setting sail. He had deliberately set aside that money to buy a Devil Fruit suitable for Merry to eat. He had even asked his grandfather about the cheapest price for a Devil Fruit and learned that it was one hundred million Berries. That was why he had decided to bring so much money with him.
Hearing his explanation, Nami immediately held the money out to him.
"Then you need to keep it. Take it back."
"What are you talking about? You're my friend too, aren't you?"
Luffy pushed the money back into her palm, making sure she accepted it.
"And I don't want you giving it back. We'll have plenty of chances to earn more money on our journey, right?"
He flashed a broad grin, as if giving away ten million Berries were no big deal.
Nami fell silent. She clutched the money tightly, unsure of what to say. Before she could think it through, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Luffy.
"Thank you, Luffy."
Luffy was startled for a moment, but soon returned the hug.
"Don't worry about it."
They stayed in each other's arms for a little while. When they finally let go, Nami realized what she had just done. Her face turned as red as a tomato.
"Th-then, I'm heading back inside!"
She hurried into the cabin, covering her burning face with both hands. As she went, one question kept repeating in her mind.
What did I just do?!
Luffy could only tilt his head as he watched Nami disappear inside.
"What's wrong with her?"
He shrugged and leaned against the railing again. His gaze swept across the shimmering sea before settling on the floating restaurant, Baratie.
"Looks like I'll have to hurry up and recruit Sanji."
1ComentariosCampo de comentarios1Publicaciones relacionadasChapter 40: The Fog Around Baratie24 de octubreThe sun was beginning to rise over the eastern horizon, but Baratie was still shrouded in a thick blanket of white fog. Amidships on the Going Merry, two figures were training. Sweat poured down Luffy's body as he looked up at the sun slowly climbing through the mist.
A moment later, the cabin door opened. Nami stepped out, stretching both arms overhead until her joints cracked. She then took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh morning air.
"Yo!" Luffy called, turning toward her.
Nami looked at Luffy and Zoro, both drenched in sweat from their training. "Morning, Luffy. Morning, Zoro."
But as soon as she greeted them, memories of the previous night's events came rushing back. Her face immediately flushed red. She hurriedly composed herself before finally gathering the courage to speak.
"L-Luffy... about last night..."
Luffy stopped lifting the dumbbell in his hand and tilted his head. "Last night? What about it?"
"N-No, it's nothing!" Nami panicked and quickly changed the subject. "So, we're eating at Baratie again soon?"
"Yeah. We're almost out of food, aren't we?" Luffy replied, resuming his workout.
"Whose fault do you think that is?" Zoro retorted. He swung the heavy dumbbell in his hand as if it were a sword.
"It's not my fault! When I'm hungry, I've gotta eat!" Luffy protested. He then hurriedly tried to shift the blame. "Besides, I'm not the only one sneaking food from our supplies. Usopp does it too, and he eats the most!"
Nami and Zoro gave him flat stares that made it clear neither of them believed a word he said. It was obvious that Luffy was the one who had eaten the most.
As if he'd been summoned at the perfect moment, Usopp emerged from the cabin, rubbing his eyes. A tear glistened at the corner of one eye as he stretched, extended both arms, and let out a wide yawn.
"What's going on? Were you calling me?"
He'd heard his name mentioned on his way out, though he had no idea what they were talking about. His eyes still felt heavy after a restless night. He'd barely slept because he'd accidentally overheard Nami and Luffy's conversation.
To be honest, after hearing Nami's story, Usopp had wanted to head straight to her hometown and beat the living daylights out of Arlong. But Nami had asked them not to fight, and Luffy had agreed. That meant they could only accompany her to settle her deal with Arlong, allowing the fish-man to walk away without a scratch.
Seeing Usopp arrive, Nami flashed a mischievous grin. She'd found the perfect opportunity to expose Luffy's lie.
"Usopp, Luffy says you're the one who's been sneaking the most food from our supplies. Is that true?"
Cold sweat immediately trickled down Luffy's body. He glanced sideways, pursed his lips, and began whistling awkwardly as he slowly lowered his dumbbells.
Usopp's eyes flew open. His sleepiness vanished instantly.
"That's a lie! Luffy's the one who eats the most!"
He pointed straight at Luffy, then chased him around the ship. Luffy took off running while Usopp shouted after him, demanding that he answer for the ridiculous accusation.
Watching the two of them, Zoro and Nami couldn't help laughing.
...
Inside Baratie, the clinking of plates and forks filled the dining room. Customers enjoyed their breakfast while the thick white fog continued to shroud the floating restaurant outside.
Luffy and his friends sat around a table, waiting for their orders. Before long, Sanji arrived with a menu and handed it to them. As he went around taking their orders, he once again heard Luffy trying to persuade him to join his pirate crew, something the captain had already done countless times.
"Sanji, join us! The sea is huge, you know! We can go on adventures together!" Luffy urged cheerfully.
"No. My answer hasn't changed," Sanji replied flatly, showing no sign of reconsidering.
He then turned his attention to Usopp. "What would you like to order?"
Usopp pointed out several dishes on the menu. Sanji jotted them down before moving on to serve other customers.
Luffy watched the cook leave, looking slightly dejected. Seeing this, Usopp leaned toward him.
"Hey, Luffy. Are you really sure you can recruit him?"
"Relax, Usopp. Leave it to me!" Luffy answered confidently, as though Sanji's repeated refusals were no big deal.
Meanwhile, far beyond the thick white fog blanketing the sea, a massive shadow was slowly approaching Baratie. Its shape remained indistinct, visible only as a dark silhouette appearing intermittently through the mist. With every passing moment, it grew larger.
Inside the restaurant, everything remained peaceful. Customers enjoyed their meals, chatted with one another, and occasionally called over a waiter to order more food. No one noticed that something was approaching through the fog.
Near one of the windows, a couple was enjoying their breakfast. The woman, who was seated facing the sea, happened to glance outside. At first, she saw nothing but a vast expanse of white mist covering the water. A few moments later, however, she furrowed her brow.
"What's that?"
"What is it?" her companion asked, looking up from his meal.
The woman pointed out the window. "Look over there. I think there's something in the fog."
The man followed her finger and narrowed his eyes, trying to make out the shape. A dark silhouette slowly emerged from the mist, revealing the massive hull of a badly damaged ship. The closer it came, the more clearly its horrifying condition could be seen. Its hull looked like the wreckage of a ship that had survived a catastrophe, yet it was still moving toward Baratie.
At first, the man merely frowned. But when his gaze shifted to the flag flying above the ship, his entire body suddenly froze.
He knew that Jolly Roger all too well.
His eyes widened. The color drained from his face, and the hand holding his wineglass began to tremble.
CRASH!
The glass slipped from his fingers and shattered against the floor. The sharp noise interrupted the conversations at nearby tables. Several customers turned toward him in annoyance, but the look on his face quickly made them realize that something was terribly wrong.
The man rose unsteadily to his feet and pointed toward the window.
"T-That's impossible..."
His voice was so faint that it was nearly drowned out by the din of the restaurant. He swallowed hard, but his eyes remained fixed on the approaching ship.
"That's the ship of the ruler of East Blue... the Don Krieg Pirates!"
The name spread through the restaurant like wildfire.
For a moment, several customers simply stared at one another, as though hoping they'd misheard. But when they saw the ship for themselves, the restaurant's peaceful atmosphere shattered.
"T-That's really Don Krieg's ship!"
"How is that possible?!"
"Didn't he go to the Grand Line?"
Chairs scraped noisily across the floor. Some customers rushed toward the windows, while others hurried away from the side of the restaurant facing the ship. The relaxed expressions on their faces had given way to fear. No one had expected to see that ship back in East Blue, especially in such a terrible state.
On the second floor of Baratie, Patty was also staring out the window. The moment he recognized the wrecked galleon bearing Krieg's Jolly Roger, his face went pale. Cold sweat trickled down his temples while Carne stood behind him, a cigar still hanging from his mouth.
"See? I told you not to beat that guy up so badly yesterday. He must've reported back to his boss, and now they've come here."
Patty turned toward Carne, trembling.
"This isn't my fault, right? How was I supposed to know that beating up one of his five thousand men would bring him here?"
Even as he defended himself, Patty didn't seem entirely convinced by his own argument.
Don Krieg's reputation for cruelty and cunning was well known throughout East Blue. He commanded a massive fleet and was notorious for using any means necessary to get what he wanted. For most people, crossing paths with him was practically a death sentence.
Now, the ship bearing that dreaded name was right outside Baratie.
The battered galleon continued to approach through the fog. No one knew what had happened to it in the Grand Line or how such a massive ship had returned in such a ruined state. But its condition alone was enough to make anyone wonder what had become of the people aboard.
Before long, the answer arrived.
The main door of Baratie swung open.
Two figures appeared in the doorway, staggering forward and supporting each other as they walked. One of them was Gin, the man who had left Baratie earlier after receiving food from Sanji. His face was exhausted, but he was still doing his best to support the large man beside him.
The second man was burly, but his face was now deathly pale, his cheeks sunken. The man once known as the ruler of East Blue looked so weak that he could barely stand on his own.
It was Don Krieg.
Gin dropped to his knees beside him, then raised his head toward the stunned cooks and customers watching their arrival.
"Please... anyone... give us some food. We have money."
1Chapter 41: Food from a Chef25 de octubre"Please... someone... give us some food. We have money."
The customers rose from their seats and watched Gin and Krieg from a distance. No one dared approach them. Fear and disbelief were plain on their faces as they witnessed the man known as the ruler of East Blue lying helplessly on the floor.
"Could that...?"
"Don't tell me that's Don Krieg."
"How did he end up like that?"
Amid the crowd, Sanji silently smoked his cigarette. The tip glowed red before he exhaled a stream of white smoke. After casting a brief glance at Gin and Krieg, he slipped both hands into his pockets, turned around, and walked away.
Meanwhile, Luffy, who was sitting not far away, had grown interested in the name he'd just heard.
Don Krieg? Didn't Zoro mention a famous pirate by that name before?
His curiosity was piqued. He got up and approached the crowd. Nami, Zoro, and Usopp exchanged glances before following him, curious about what was happening.
From behind the customers, Luffy finally caught sight of the large man lying weakly on the floor. He looked Krieg up and down, then furrowed his brow.
He doesn't look strong.
Judging by his current condition, Krieg might even be a little weaker than Kuro. However, Luffy quickly set aside his initial assessment. After all, this pirate had a higher bounty than Kuro. There had to be a reason for that.
Before Luffy could think about it any further, a group of Baratie's combat cooks appeared, carrying their weapons of choice, from oversized forks and spoons to enormous knives. They surrounded Gin and Krieg, making sure the two pirates couldn't try anything funny.
"Please... give us some food..."
"Don can't hold out much longer... We have money."
"That's why I'm begging you!"
Gin bowed his head again until his forehead touched the floor. He didn't care about the contemptuous looks or the weapons pointed at him. Right now, the only thing on his mind was getting food to save Don Krieg.
"Heh! Who'd want to feed you?!"
Patty stood on the stairs, gripping the railing with one hand while pointing at Krieg, who lay sprawled on the floor, with the other.
"If we let him recover, he'll definitely attack this place!"
"But we're customers this time. We have money. We'll pay whatever you ask. Please, give us some food," Gin pleaded, still prostrating himself.
Beside him, Krieg moved both hands as he tried to get up. However, his arms trembled violently, and he could barely lift his body off the floor.
"Don!"
Seeing his condition, Gin immediately supported him to keep him from collapsing again. With Gin's help, Krieg finally managed to sit up before pushing himself onto his knees. He took a heavy breath, then bowed his head to the floor.
"I'm begging you... please give me some food. I promise I'll leave immediately afterward and won't do anything."
His plea made several customers hesitate. It was difficult to imagine a notorious pirate like Don Krieg having to bow down just to get a plate of food. But the sight did nothing to change Patty's mind.
"Heh. Fine, I'll give you some food, but..." Patty grinned. "Behind prison bars!"
He then pointed toward one of the cooks and raised his voice so his order would carry.
"Hey, you! Contact the nearest Marine branch right now!"
At that moment, footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Sanji appeared, carrying a plate of seafood fried rice that was still steaming. He descended the stairs leisurely, seemingly unaffected by the commotion around him.
"Move, Patty."
Without waiting for a response, Sanji kicked Patty in the head as he blocked his way. Patty's body toppled backward down the stairs, his head hitting the steps first.
Sanji didn't even look at him again. He continued toward Gin and Krieg, then crouched down and placed the plate of fried rice on the floor in front of them.
"Here. Eat up."
Krieg wasted no time. The moment he saw the food before him, he snatched it up and devoured the fried rice with his bare hands. He ate so hurriedly that he barely chewed.
"Sanji-san..." Gin looked at the cook with profound gratitude.
Sanji took the cigarette from his lips and held it between his fingers.
"Don't worry about it, Gin. This is my choice."
However, the calm didn't last long.
Patty got back to his feet, clutching his head. "Ow, ow, ow!"
The moment he realized what Sanji was doing, his face turned red with anger. He pointed at Krieg as the pirate continued eating, then shouted at Sanji.
"Sanji, you bastard! What are you doing?!"
Sanji turned around nonchalantly. He now stood with his back to Gin and Krieg, showing no regret whatsoever for what he'd done.
"What?"
Patty nearly exploded at that response.
"You bastard! Don't you know who he is?!"
"A customer, right?" Sanji replied lightly before slipping his cigarette back between his lips.
"He's Don Krieg, the most cunning and ruthless pirate in all of East Blue!" Patty roared. "He's pretended to surrender just to let his enemies lower their guard, then launched a counterattack! He's even disguised himself as a Marine to get into a port before destroying it! And that's just the beginning of what he's done to achieve his goals!"
Patty pointed furiously at Krieg.
"Why are you feeding someone like him?! We should capture him and hand him over to the Marines!"
Sanji didn't budge. His gaze remained calm despite Patty's continued shouting.
"I'm just doing my job as a chef. Feeding people who are hungry."
His answer was firm and unwavering. To Sanji, anyone who came to him starving was still a customer who deserved a meal. A person's reputation as a pirate wouldn't change that principle.
Behind him, Krieg finally finished the seafood fried rice. He licked the remaining food from his fingers before slowly getting to his feet. Some color returned to his previously pale face, and a savage grin gradually spread across his lips.
Gin, standing beside him, glanced up but hadn't yet managed to say anything.
Krieg stood directly behind Sanji. He drew one arm back, clenched his fist tightly, then swung it with all his might into the cook's back.
THUD!
A dull impact echoed throughout the restaurant.
Sanji was sent flying forward, skidding several meters across the floor before finally stopping near Patty. The customers stared in shock at the sudden attack. A trickle of blood ran from the corner of Sanji's mouth.
Krieg pulled his fist back and looked down at the empty plate on the floor with satisfaction.
"That was a delicious meal," he declared proudly.
Chapter 42: One Hundred Portions25 de octubre
"That was a delicious meal," Krieg declared proudly.
Gin, who was still lying on the floor, stared in shock at Krieg's actions. He looked at the man in silence before raising his head and asking in a heavy voice, "This isn't what we agreed on, Don. You promised you wouldn't hurt anyone. Sanji saved our lives. Why would you...?"
Before Gin could finish, Krieg grabbed him by the shoulder and lifted him with one hand until both of his feet left the floor.
"That food was delicious, all right. And it restored my strength."
Krieg's fingers slowly tightened around Gin's shoulder, his grip growing stronger by the second. The muscles in Gin's arm tensed as he tried to endure the pain, but Krieg's strength far exceeded anything he could resist.
CRACK!
"AAARGH!"
Gin's scream shattered the silence in the restaurant. His body jerked violently, and his knees buckled as a sharp pain shot from his shoulder down his entire arm. He tried to grab Krieg's wrist to break free, but his fingers couldn't even loosen the man's grip.
Krieg finally let him go without a second thought.
Gin crashed to the floor. He curled up for a moment, clutching his injured shoulder as he struggled to catch his breath. His face had gone pale, and cold sweat began to trickle down his temples. Every time he tried to move his arm, another stab of pain shot through him, causing his body to tense.
Yet even as the pain left him barely able to stand, Gin still raised his gaze toward Krieg. He didn't dare fight back, but the disappointment in his eyes was impossible to hide.
Krieg stood in the middle of the restaurant, sweeping his arrogant gaze across the room. After looking at the cooks still standing guard around him, he grinned.
"This is a fine ship. I'll take it."
The restaurant fell silent. However, the silence lasted only a moment before panic erupted among the customers. They scrambled away from their seats and rushed outside, hurrying back to their own ships so they could sail away from Baratie as quickly as possible.
Outside the restaurant, Johnny and Yosaku were waiting aboard the Going Merry. They watched as the ships that had been anchored around Baratie began leaving one by one.
Yosaku immediately jumped down onto the outer deck and stopped a customer who was about to leave.
"What's going on? Why is everyone running away?"
"It's Don Krieg! He's going to attack this place!" the customer answered in a panic.
He broke free of Yosaku's grip and ran toward his ship without looking back.
After hearing the explanation, Yosaku hurried back to Johnny. The two decided to move the Going Merry farther away from the restaurant for the time being, just in case things took a turn for the worse.
Meanwhile, inside Baratie, the cooks remained frozen in disbelief at Krieg's declaration.
"W-What?!"
Krieg exhaled through clenched teeth. "My ship has been destroyed, and I need a new one."
He glanced at the cooks surrounding him with forks, spoons, and enormous knives. The restaurant, which had once been bustling with customers, was now almost empty, but that didn't bother him in the slightest. Instead, Krieg smiled arrogantly, as though everyone before him simply had to obey his orders.
"Once you've done what I tell you, I'll let you go."
"Don, this isn't what we agreed on..." Gin said, still clutching his aching shoulder.
Krieg ignored him. To him, a promise was nothing more than something he could break whenever it suited his interests.
He pointed his thumb toward the battered galleon anchored outside the restaurant. The ship was so badly damaged that it was barely usable anymore.
"I still need you to prepare food for one hundred of my men."
The cooks' faces immediately flushed with anger. They had just witnessed Sanji being attacked for feeding a pirate. Now the pirate's captain was ordering them to cook for his entire crew.
"Are you kidding me?! You're asking us to feed the pirates who are about to attack this place?!"
"We refuse!"
"Refuse?" Krieg repeated in a deep, heavy voice. His smile slowly faded. "It seems you've misunderstood something. I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm giving you an order."
The atmosphere in the restaurant instantly turned oppressive. Krieg's presence made the cooks tense up. His voice grew louder until he finally bellowed at them.
"Whoever you are, never dare to disobey my orders!"
His voice echoed throughout the restaurant. The cooks flinched, but no one dared to answer.
Gin was still clutching his injured shoulder. He turned toward Sanji, his face filled with regret.
"Sanji-san, I'm sorry. I never expected things to end up like this."
Sanji didn't answer. He was still half-lying on the floor, propped up on both elbows as he stared at Gin.
"Damn it! Look what you've done!" Patty shouted at him.
Sanji remained silent. Slowly, he got back to his feet and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. After lighting the cigarette between his lips, he walked past several of the cooks.
However, before he could go any farther, Patty stopped him.
"Hey, Sanji! Where do you think you're going?!"
Sanji stopped without turning around.
"To the kitchen," he answered briefly. "I'm going to prepare one hundred portions of food."
"What?!"
The cooks cried out in disbelief.
"Have you gone crazy, Sanji?!"
Krieg grinned with satisfaction once again. "Good. That's exactly how it should be."
Patty gritted his teeth before turning to the other cooks.
"What are you waiting for?! Stop him! Don't let him into the kitchen!"
The cooks immediately snapped out of their stupor. They moved to surround Sanji, pointing their forks, knives, and enormous spoons at him.
"Sanji, you bastard! Are you working for Don Krieg?!"
"We won't let you into the kitchen!"
"We're sick of your nonsense!"
Sanji glanced at the weapons pointed at him. He raised both hands in surrender, but his expression remained calm.
"Go ahead."
His gaze shifted from one cook to another.
"I know he's a devil, too. But I'm just doing my job as a cook. That's all."
Sanji lowered his hands slightly, then looked at them without the slightest trace of fear.
"If you want to stop me, then kill me right here."
The cooks fell silent. Not one of them moved to attack him. Sanji stood calmly before them, unwilling to abandon his principles even with their weapons pointed at him.
For a moment, no one knew what to do. Patty gritted his teeth, while the other cooks hesitated, torn between stopping Sanji and respecting the principles he refused to abandon. Meanwhile, Krieg watched the commotion with an amused grin, as though the entire situation were nothing more than a spectacle for his entertainment.
Then, footsteps sounded from behind the crowd.
A large sack landed heavily on the floor in front of Krieg.
"Here. The one hundred portions you asked for. Take them and get out of my restaurant."
Zeff stood before the pirate, his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze remained fixed on Krieg, without the slightest hint of fear.
He had been watching everything unfold from the second floor. Yet he didn't blame Sanji for feeding Krieg. Sanji had simply stood by his principles, the same principles Zeff himself lived by. Both of them had experienced hunger, and Zeff knew all too well what it felt like to be on the verge of death because there was no food to eat.
If Sanji hadn't fed Krieg earlier, Zeff would have done it himself.
"Chef Zeff! What are you doing?!" the cooks protested. "Once they recover, he'll kill us all with his men and take this ship!"
"That's possible," Zeff replied calmly.
His answer left the cooks staring at him in confusion. Zeff glanced at Krieg before continuing in an even tone.
"But that will only happen if they still have the will to fight."
He looked directly at the pirate.
"Isn't that right? The pirate who was defeated in the Grand Line."
The cooks were stunned by his words. They had never imagined that Don Krieg, the pirate known as the ruler of East Blue, with fifty ships and five thousand men under his command, had actually been defeated in the Grand Line.
1ComentariosCampo de comentarios1Publicaciones relacionadasChapter 43: Red-Leg Zeff and the Coffin Ship25 de octubreThe cooks gasped. None of them had ever imagined that Don Krieg, the pirate known as the ruler of East Blue with fifty ships and five thousand men under his command, had actually been defeated in the Grand Line.
Krieg was just as shocked. Apparently, someone knew about his defeat. Memories of the man standing before him resurfaced. He looked Zeff up and down, and his eyes slowly widened. He raised a finger and pointed at the old man in disbelief.
"Y-You... Red-Leg Zeff! So you're still alive..."
"So what if I am?" Zeff replied indifferently. "As you can see, I'm a chef now."
"More accurately, you had no other choice, did you?" Krieg sneered, glancing at Zeff's wooden leg. "After losing one of your legs, all you could do was become a chef to survive."
Sanji lowered his head. He knew Zeff had lost his leg because of him. Krieg's taunt struck an old wound that had never truly healed, even though Sanji showed nothing of what he felt.
"Cut the crap and tell me what you want," Zeff said impatiently. He was sick of listening to Krieg's nonsense.
Krieg gave him a sinister grin. "You're the captain and chef who once sailed to the Grand Line and returned alive. That means you must have a logbook of your journey, right?"
"I do have something like that," Zeff replied casually. However, his expression soon hardened. "But I'm not giving it to you. That logbook is the pride of my crew. It's far too precious to hand over to someone like you."
"Is that so? Then I'll just have to take it by force."
Krieg clenched his fist, the sinister smile still on his face.
"I admit I lost in the Grand Line. But that was because I knew nothing about that place. Everything will be different once I have your logbook."
He removed his cloak, revealing the golden armor covering his body. Puffing out his chest, he proudly displayed his combat equipment.
"With this Wootz steel armor, my body is stronger than anyone else's! My fists are as hard as diamonds, and with all the weapons built into my body, I'm the strongest! I'll return to the Grand Line, conquer it, and become the Pirate King!"
Krieg's arrogance left everyone stunned. But amid the silence, a loud voice cut through his declaration.
"What are you talking about? I'm the one who's going to become the Pirate King!"
Luffy said it casually, as though he were stating something that was already certain to happen. He hadn't cared about Krieg's boasting, but the moment he heard someone else declare their ambition to become the Pirate King, he immediately made his own position clear.
Krieg's face twisted with rage. He couldn't stand anyone daring to contradict him.
"Who said that?! Show yourself!"
The line of cooks parted. A young man wearing a red vest, blue shorts, and a straw hat stepped forward until he stood directly in front of Krieg.
"So it was you?"
"Yeah," Luffy replied casually.
Krieg looked the young man up and down. All he saw was an unknown brat who wasn't worthy of being considered his rival.
"Hahaha! That's a good joke, kid. Get lost while I'm still in a good mood."
"I'm not joking. I'm going to become the Pirate King," Luffy answered seriously. "And I have a score to settle with you, too."
Krieg assumed Luffy was just some brat looking to defeat him and make a name for himself. He snorted, then raised one arm and aimed the shoulder guard at Luffy.
"So that's how it is. Then die here, brat!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
A barrage of pointed bullets burst from Krieg's shoulder guard, shooting straight toward Luffy.
But Luffy reacted before the bullets could reach him. A blue screen visible only to him appeared in front of the incoming projectiles. One after another, the bullets vanished into the empty space beyond the screen, as though they had disappeared into thin air.
"What?!"
Krieg stared in disbelief. He had fired directly at Luffy, yet not a single bullet had hit its target. Before he could figure out what had happened, Luffy had already begun his counterattack.
"Dismantle!"
Luffy swung his arm toward Krieg. A blade of wind shot from his swing, slicing through the air at high speed before slamming into the Wootz steel armor covering Krieg's body.
BANG!
The impact forced Krieg backward several steps. The sound of metal scraping against metal echoed through the restaurant as he struggled to regain his balance.
"What the hell was that?!"
Krieg quickly looked down at his armor. A deep gash had appeared across its surface, with fine cracks spreading from the point of impact. The blade hadn't cut through the armor completely, but the damage was far more severe than he had expected.
His Wootz steel armor was supposed to withstand powerful attacks. Yet a single swing from this straw-hatted brat had left such a deep mark.
Luffy glanced at the damaged armor and grinned.
"Your armor's pretty tough. But let's see how it handles this!"
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"
Luffy's fist shot forward, his arm stretching rapidly toward Krieg. The punch struck the very spot where Dismantle had left its mark.
BOOM!
The impact drove Krieg's body backward. For a brief moment, the damaged armor held together, groaning under the force of the blow.
Then the cracks spread.
A sharp series of metallic snaps rang out as the weakened steel gave way. The armor shattered, sending fragments flying in every direction.
Krieg barely had time to react before the full force of Luffy's punch sent him hurtling out of the restaurant.
BOOM!
His body slammed into the bow of his own battered galleon. The impact shook the wrecked vessel, crushing wooden planks beneath him as white smoke billowed around the point of collision.
For a moment, everything went still.
As the smoke gradually cleared, Krieg lay embedded in the wreckage, his eyes rolled back and his body completely limp. Long cracks stretched across the already-damaged bow, radiating outward from the spot where he had landed.
The entire fight had ended in just a few exchanges. The man who had swaggered into Baratie, boasting that he would conquer the Grand Line and become the Pirate King, had been defeated before he could carry out a single one of his threats.
Luffy pulled his arm back and tilted his straw hat.
"He wasn't as strong as I thought."
Only then did the people inside Baratie begin to grasp what had happened. Don Krieg, the man known as the ruler of East Blue, whose name alone was enough to frighten countless pirates, had been taken down by a young man wearing a straw hat.
Cheers erupted throughout the restaurant.
"Oooh!"
"Way to go, Straw Hat!"
The cooks rushed over, hoisted Luffy into the air, and cheered wildly. Just moments earlier, they had been prepared to risk their lives defending Baratie, the place they considered their home. None of them had underestimated Krieg's strength. That was why the relief they felt now that the threat had been defeated was so overwhelming.
Amid the celebration, Gin could only stare in disbelief at Krieg, who was embedded in the wreckage of the ship.
"Don..."
However, before the celebrations could continue much longer, a shadow emerged from the thick fog covering the sea.
A small ship shaped like a coffin glided slowly across the water. Several candles were mounted on it, their green flames looking eerie amid the white fog blanketing the sea.
A man sat aboard the vessel with his legs crossed and his hands clasped over his knee. He wore a large black hat adorned with long white feathers and a purplish-black coat with floral patterns on the sleeves. A cross-shaped necklace hung around his neck, though it was actually a small knife.
A pair of sharp yellow eyes, resembling those of a hawk, gazed at Baratie from a distance. An intimidating aura emanated from the man as he sat perfectly still, as though the waves and fog surrounding him meant nothing at all.
Strapped to his back was an enormous black sword shaped like a cross.
Yoru, one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades.
The man reached out and grasped its hilt.
SWISH!
He swung the sword in a single motion. There was no excessive noise, yet the energy of the slash cleaved through the air and raced across the sea toward Krieg's wrecked galleon.
A moment later, the massive ship lifted slightly above the surface of the water.
Then the vessel split into three sections, the cuts so clean they seemed almost unreal. Cracks spread outward from the slash lines, and the separated sections soon crumbled apart.
Wreckage rained into the sea. The enormous waves created by the ship's destruction crashed against Baratie, shaking the entire floating restaurant.
1Chapter 44: Mihawk on the Coffin Ship25 de octubreDebris from the ship rained into the sea. The massive waves created by the destruction of Krieg's galleon crashed against Baratie, causing the entire floating restaurant to shake violently.
Inside the restaurant, Luffy, who had been lifted into the air by the cooks, lost his balance and fell to the floor. Plates and glasses tumbled from the tables and shattered across the floor, while chairs slid around from the force of the shaking. The cooks and customers grabbed onto tables and anything else within reach to keep themselves from falling.
Zeff, an experienced seafarer, immediately recognized the danger they were in. He turned toward a cook standing nearby.
"Raise the anchor! Hurry! Otherwise, we could get swept away by the waves!"
"Right!"
The cook immediately ran off to carry out his order.
Amid the shaking, Zoro spread his legs to maintain his balance, then drew two of his swords and drove their tips into the wooden floor. Usopp, who had lost his footing, immediately grabbed Zoro's leg and clung to it tightly.
"Don't let go, Zoro!"
"Hey! Let go of my leg!"
Not far away, Nami was also staggering. She tried to grab something to hold on to, but she'd already lost her balance.
"Ah!"
Nami squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the impact with the floor. But instead of a hard landing, she found herself falling onto something soft. When she opened her eyes, she realized she had landed on top of Luffy, who was still sprawled on the floor.
"Luffy?!"
"Yo!" Luffy greeted her casually.
"Why are you on the floor?"
"I fell."
Before long, the massive waves subsided. Baratie gradually stopped shaking, although several objects remained scattered across the floor. Once they were sure it was safe enough, the cooks and customers hurried toward the exit to see what had happened out at sea.
When they reached the outer deck, they discovered that the white fog that had previously shrouded Baratie had vanished. A clear blue sky stretched overhead, illuminated by the bright sun. However, the sight before them was anything but reassuring.
Don Krieg's galleon, which had been right in front of Baratie, had been completely destroyed. The massive ship was now little more than floating wreckage, with the surviving members of Krieg's crew struggling to stay afloat on the scattered debris.
Most of the pirates were too weak to stand. Their bodies were thin, their cheeks sunken from days without food, and their breathing ragged. Some lay across the largest pieces of wreckage, while others clung to wooden planks to keep from drowning.
"W-What happened?" one of them asked in confusion.
He was still struggling to understand what had just occurred. Moments earlier, they had been aboard a galleon they could barely keep afloat. Yet in the blink of an eye, the ship had been split into three sections by cuts so clean that it had seemed impossible, before crumbling apart.
Suddenly, a member of Krieg's crew who was leaning against a wooden railing on one of the floating wreckage pieces widened his eyes. His gaze had fallen on a small boat near the remains of their ship. Its shape was all too familiar. He had seen it in the Grand Line, on the day their fleet was destroyed.
"N-No way... It's him! He's followed us all the way here!"
Fear and anger spread among the pirates who heard him. They were terrified because that man was the nightmare who had destroyed their fleet. Yet they were also furious that he was still pursuing them, even after they'd fled so far.
On Baratie's outer deck, the cooks stared at the wrecked ship in a mixture of awe and horror.
"What on earth happened here?!"
"How could Krieg's ship have been destroyed like that?!"
Their attention then shifted to the small coffin-shaped boat floating near the wreckage. A man sat casually aboard it, his head slightly lowered and a massive sword strapped to his back.
"That's... Taka no Me, Dracule Mihawk," Zeff said, surprised to recognize him. "The world's strongest swordsman and one of the Ouka Shichibukai. What is he doing here?"
"The world's strongest swordsman?!" the cooks exclaimed.
"So he's the one who did all this?" Patty scratched his head, still confused. "But I didn't see any weapon capable of destroying a ship that big."
"His weapon is right there," Zeff replied, pointing at the sword strapped to Mihawk's back.
"Impossible!"
"How could he do that?!"
"It's possible because he's the world's strongest swordsman."
At the mention of Dracule Mihawk, Zoro's eyes immediately lit up. He turned toward Luffy, who was standing nearby.
"Luffy."
"Yeah, I understand," Luffy replied.
Zoro immediately ran toward the side of the deck facing the wreckage. Without hesitation, he jumped down from Baratie and landed on a nearby piece of floating wood. From there, he continued forward, leaping from one piece of debris to another as he approached Mihawk's boat.
"Oi, Zoro! Where are you going?!" Usopp shouted from Baratie's deck.
Nami turned toward Luffy, who was still watching Zoro from where he stood.
"Luffy, what is Zoro planning to do?"
"He wants to fight him," Luffy answered without taking his eyes off Zoro.
More than two weeks together had been enough for Luffy to get to know Zoro. He knew Zoro dreamed of becoming the world's strongest swordsman. He also knew that, with his current strength, Zoro had almost no chance of defeating Mihawk.
However, Luffy had promised not to stand in Zoro's way as he pursued his dream. Stopping him now would be no different from trampling on Zoro's pride as a fighter. To Zoro, living with his dream crushed beneath his feet was far worse than dying on the battlefield.
"What?!" Nami exclaimed. "Stop him! He could die fighting that man!"
"Exactly! You heard what that old man said, didn't you? He can destroy a ship that big with a single sword!" Usopp cried anxiously.
"No. I'm not going to stop him. That's Zoro's dream, and I respect his decision," Luffy declared firmly.
Nami and Usopp fell silent.
"Are you crazy?!" Sanji shouted. "He could die!"
Sanji himself had sacrificed his dream to repay the debt he owed the man who had saved his life. That was why he found it difficult to understand why anyone would risk their life for a dream.
Luffy looked at Sanji seriously.
"This is Zoro's decision. No one is allowed to interfere."
His hand gripped the railing tightly. Although his words sounded firm, Luffy himself was worried.
Watching him, Nami finally understood. Luffy wanted to stop Zoro, too, but he had chosen to respect his friend's decision. It was just as he had respected Nami's wish that he not fight Arlong.
Before long, Johnny and Yosaku came over to ask what was happening. After Usopp explained the situation, however, the two seemed surprisingly calm.
"There's no need to worry! Big Brother Zoro can't possibly lose!" they declared confidently.
...
Amid the floating wreckage, one of Krieg's pirates forced himself to his feet. His body was still weak from starvation, but his anger gave him enough strength to raise his voice. He glared at Mihawk, who remained seated casually aboard his coffin-shaped boat.
"You bastard! What grudge do you have against us that you'd chase us this far?!"
Mihawk's yellow eyes flicked toward him for a moment. His expression remained calm, as though the question held no interest for him whatsoever.
"To relieve my boredom."
Chapter 45: A Promise That Must Never Be Broken26 de octubre
Mihawk's golden eyes glanced at him briefly. His expression remained calm, as though the question held no interest for him whatsoever.
"To relieve my boredom."
The pirate trembled with rage. He drew both pistols and aimed them at Mihawk, who sat leisurely aboard his coffin-shaped boat. "You bastard!"
BANG! BANG!
Two bullets shot toward Mihawk. He merely moved his sword slightly. In an instant, the bullets changed direction, missing him and splashing into the sea.
The pirate flinched in shock. "What?! How is that possible?! I aimed right at him!"
Just then, Zoro arrived at the wreckage of a ship not far from Mihawk's boat. Standing behind the pirate, he answered the question.
"He changed the direction of the bullets you fired in an instant."
Zoro had witnessed everything clearly. The pirate immediately turned toward him. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Zoro ignored him. His eyes, brimming with fighting spirit, remained fixed on Mihawk.
"I've never seen a sword swing this smooth before..."
"Not every sword technique relies on strength," Mihawk replied casually. His sharp, hawk-like golden eyes glanced at Zoro.
Zoro walked past the pirate and stopped a short distance from Mihawk. "Were you the one who cut that ship apart?"
"Yes," Mihawk answered briefly.
An excited smile spread across Zoro's face. "You really are the world's strongest swordsman."
He untied the bandana wrapped around his arm and tied it around his head. His gaze immediately sharpened.
"I've sailed these seas for one reason alone: to meet you."
"For what purpose?" Mihawk asked disinterestedly. As far as he was concerned, Zoro was not yet worthy of being considered an opponent.
"To become the strongest," Zoro answered seriously. He then issued his challenge. "You're free right now, aren't you? Let's duel!"
"A duel?"
Mihawk wasn't particularly interested, but since he was bored, he decided to humor Zoro and pass the time. He rose from his boat and leaped onto the wreckage where Zoro stood. After landing steadily, he spoke calmly.
"If you're truly a great swordsman, you should be able to sense the difference in our strength without having to cross swords."
Zoro fell silent. Mihawk continued, "Is it courage or foolishness that makes you dare to draw your sword against me?"
Zoro's gaze grew even sharper. "It's my ambition, and a promise I made to a friend."
He drew all three of his swords, clenched Wado Ichimonji between his teeth, and gripped the other two, preparing to fight.
Mihawk showed no interest at all. He reached for the cross-shaped pendant hanging around his neck and drew a small dagger from it.
Seeing this, Zoro felt insulted.
"...Hey. What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm not some foolhardy monster who uses all his strength to hunt a rabbit." Mihawk raised the small dagger and regarded Zoro with a hint of disdain. "Unfortunately, I don't have a smaller knife than this. You may be a famous swordsman here, but this is the East Blue, the weakest of the four seas."
A vein bulged on Zoro's forehead. His teeth ground together as he struggled to contain his anger.
"Don't blame me if you die here."
Zoro lowered his body and lunged at Mihawk. All three of his swords came slashing down with every ounce of strength he could muster. He wanted to prove that he wasn't someone who could be dismissed so easily.
CLANG!
The clash of metal rang out loudly. However, when Zoro tried to force his blades down, he discovered that all three were being held back by a single small dagger. Mihawk didn't even appear to be struggling.
Zoro was stunned. He increased the pressure, pouring all the strength in his arms into the attack. The muscles in his arms tensed, but his swords didn't move even an inch.
Why won't they budge? This can't be happening. The gap between us shouldn't be this enormous.
He had spent years honing his swordsmanship. He had faced countless opponents and defeated numerous pirates. Yet now, all his strength seemed meaningless against the man standing casually before him.
"The world's strongest swordsman... The gap between us can't possibly be this wide!"
Zoro leaped backward and attacked again. He unleashed slash after slash without giving himself a chance to catch his breath. He employed every technique he had learned, trying to break through Mihawk's defense from every direction.
Yet that little dagger was always in the right place.
Every one of Zoro's attacks was effortlessly deflected. No matter how quickly he swung his swords or how much strength he put into each strike, Mihawk seemed capable of reading every move.
The pirates watching the duel gaped in astonishment. One of them finally realized something.
"Green hair, three swords... Could he be the pirate hunter, Roronoa Zoro?!"
Everyone was shocked. No one had expected Mihawk's challenger to be the pirate hunter who had recently begun making a name for himself.
"So it really is him," remarked one of the chefs, who had been suspicious of Zoro's appearance since the previous day.
Amid the crowd, which had grown busy discussing the challenger's identity, Luffy watched the duel intently. His hands clenched into fists. However, the longer he watched, the clearer the outcome became. Slowly, his fists relaxed, and he let out a resigned sigh.
Just as he had suspected, Zoro was no match for that man.
Zoro continued attacking. His breathing grew ragged, but he refused to stop. He swung his swords again and again, forcing his body to keep moving even though every attack ended in failure.
Mihawk remained calm. His little dagger moved only as much as necessary to parry each slash, as though Zoro's attacks were nothing more than a minor annoyance.
Then, during the next exchange, the dagger pierced Zoro's chest.
Zoro's movements came to a halt.
Mihawk raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Why won't you retreat? Why won't you take a step back?"
Zoro could still have avoided the attack if he had chosen to retreat. Yet from the very beginning, he had continued moving forward, even when his own body had already realized how impossible it was to match his opponent. That attitude was what had finally caught Mihawk's attention.
Zoro gasped for breath. Blood flowed from his mouth as two of his swords slipped from his grasp and stuck into the wooden planks. His gaze began to lose focus as memories from the past flashed through his mind.
From a distance, Johnny, Yosaku, Nami, and Usopp shouted in alarm.
"Zoro!"
"Aniki!"
"I don't even know myself..." Zoro answered, struggling to breathe. "But I feel that if I take even a single step back now... all the promises, vows, and dreams I've held onto until now will be shattered. I'll never be able to return to this place."
"Yes. That's what we call defeat."
"Then I'd rather die!"
Zoro's determination impressed Mihawk. A faint smile appeared on his face, replacing the bored expression he had worn until now. He pulled the dagger from Zoro's chest, flicked the blood from its blade, and returned it to his pendant.
"Boy... Tell me your name."
"Roronoa Zoro!"
"I'll remember it. It's been a long time since I've seen someone with determination as strong as yours. As a mark of respect, I'll finish you off with my strongest black sword, Kokuto Yoru."
Mihawk drew Yoru, one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Swords.
"I'm honored," Zoro said with a smile, his mouth full of blood.
He retrieved his other two swords and gripped them tightly. He clenched Wado Ichimonji firmly between his teeth once more. Despite his grievous injuries, Zoro kept his eyes fixed on Mihawk and prepared to face the decisive attack.
"Santoryu: Sanzen Sekai!"
Zoro spun all three swords at high speed before charging at Mihawk. He poured every last ounce of strength he had left into the attack. He knew the difference in their strength, but he still pressed forward, risking everything on one final strike.
Mihawk countered with a single powerful slash.
CRACK!
Zoro's two ordinary swords shattered.
His attack had failed. His ambition to defeat Mihawk that day came to an end before the eyes of everyone present.
However, Zoro neither tried to flee nor attempted to hide his back. He sheathed the only sword he had left, Wado Ichimonji, then turned to face Mihawk and spread both arms wide.
Mihawk raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"
"A wound on the back is a disgrace to a swordsman!"
Mihawk smiled approvingly.
"Magnificent."
He swung Yoru and slashed diagonally across Zoro's chest. The black blade left a massive wound, making Zoro stagger before finally falling into the sea.
Sanji gritted his teeth. His brows furrowed as he stared at Zoro, unable to comprehend the man's actions.
Why? The outcome is already obvious. That guy has lost his mind. He's challenging the world's strongest swordsman when he should know just how enormous the gap between them is. He should surrender instead of dying like this!
Sanji clenched his fists.
"Why go this far?! Wouldn't it be easier to just throw away your ambition?!"
Seeing Sanji's anger, Zeff looked pleased instead. Apparently, Sanji still hadn't abandoned his own dream.
Nami watched Zoro's grievous injuries before turning anxiously toward Luffy. She was about to ask Luffy to save Zoro now that the duel was over.
However, before she could even open her mouth, steam began rising from Luffy's body. A moment later, his figure vanished from where he had been standing.
Before Zoro could fall into the sea, Luffy caught him. Using Soru, he appeared near Mihawk and laid Zoro down on the wreckage, waiting for the others to arrive and treat his injuries.
ComentariosCampo de comentariosPublicaciones relacionadasChapter 46: Know Yourself, Roronoa28 de octubreBefore Zoro could fall into the sea, Luffy caught him. Using Soru, he appeared near Mihawk and laid Zoro down on the wreckage, then waited for the others to arrive and treat his injuries.
Mihawk wasn't surprised by Luffy's sudden appearance at all. He had been watching his movements from the very beginning.
"Are you his friend?" Mihawk asked curiously.
"Yeah," Luffy replied casually.
His gaze shifted toward the Baratie, where Nami was ordering Johnny, Yosaku, and Usopp to find a boat so they could retrieve Zoro and treat his injuries. Mihawk followed his gaze and realized that this boy was Zoro's captain.
"So you're the leader of this group? What are you after in this world, young man?"
Luffy straightened up and met Mihawk's gaze seriously.
"I'm going to become the Pirate King!"
The chefs and the remaining members of the Krieg Pirates immediately burst into laughter. They thought Luffy was a crazy kid because his dream sounded impossible. Mihawk, however, looked at him differently. He was impressed by the young man's courage.
"The Pirate King? That's a far more difficult and cruel path than the one your friend has chosen to surpass me."
Luffy paid no attention to the laughter around him. He adjusted his straw hat and replied nonchalantly, "I don't care. I'm definitely going to do it!"
Mihawk smiled faintly. "I see... We'll see about that."
He then turned toward Zoro, who lay covered in blood, and called out loudly.
"It's not your time to die yet, Roronoa Zoro! Know yourself! Know the vast world beyond these seas! And become stronger! No matter how many years it takes, I'll be waiting for you at the top! Surpass this sword of mine! Surpass me, Roronoa Zoro!"
Lying there with his vision blurred, Zoro could still make out those words. He knew Luffy was nearby. Slowly, with a trembling hand, he raised Wado Ichimonji into the air. His other hand covered his eyes as tears began to trickle from beneath it.
The boat carrying Nami and the others finally found its way to the wreckage and sailed closer.
"Lu... Luffy... can you hear me?"
"Yeah! I can hear you!" Luffy answered.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry for making you worry... If I can't become the world's strongest swordsman... you'll have a hard time, won't you?!"
The boat finally arrived. Yosaku and Johnny immediately climbed down and rushed toward Zoro, their faces filled with worry.
"Aniki, don't push yourself any further!"
"That's right, Aniki! That's enough!"
Zoro ignored them. Tears continued streaming down his face out of frustration, but his voice remained loud and firm.
"I... I'LL NEVER LOSE AGAIN! Until the day I can defeat him and claim that title, I won't lose to anyone! DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, PIRATE KING?!"
Luffy grinned widely.
"Shishishi! Not at all!"
Johnny and Yosaku lifted Zoro onto the boat so his injuries could be treated. Mihawk watched their interaction with a faint smile before returning to his coffin boat. His journey had been quite satisfying. He had witnessed the immense potential of the new generation rising from the East Blue.
Luffy kept watching the coffin boat until it sailed farther away, eventually becoming nothing more than a tiny speck on the horizon. Only then did he realize that he had forgotten to copy Mihawk into the Simulation Room.
He let out a resigned sigh but quickly regained his enthusiasm. At least he had copied Don Krieg and could use him as a training opponent. Krieg wasn't particularly strong, but he would still be useful, wouldn't he?
...
The sun shone brightly, its light reflecting off the surface of the sea. On the Baratie's outer deck, Sanji and Luffy once again saw Gin off, along with Krieg and the remnants of his crew.
"Sanji-san, thank you once again. Even after everything we've done, you still gave us food."
Gin bowed deeply. Sanji had allowed the Krieg Pirates to eat despite knowing that they had intended to attack his restaurant.
After eating and regaining their strength, they had actually considered taking over the Baratie. However, once they learned that their captain had been defeated with ease, they abandoned the idea and chose to leave obediently.
"Don't worry about it, Gin," Sanji said casually as he smoked.
Gin then turned toward Luffy. "Straw Hat, let's meet again on the Grand Line."
Luffy grinned widely, showing his teeth. "Yeah, see you again!"
Gin boarded the boat Sanji had given him and began sailing away. Luffy and Sanji continued watching until the boat disappeared over the horizon.
After Gin left, Luffy once again invited Sanji to join him.
"Sanji, join my pirate crew. Let's set sail!"
Sanji took a drag from his cigarette. Its tip glowed red before he exhaled a cloud of white smoke. Once again, he turned down the invitation.
"I refuse. I'm not leaving this place until that old man dies."
In truth, Sanji desperately wanted to join, but he still had unfinished business at the Baratie. He then continued, "Hey, do you know about All Blue?"
"No. What's that?" Luffy tilted his head.
"You don't know? All Blue is..."
Sanji began explaining enthusiastically while Luffy listened attentively.
"Sugee! I had no idea a place like that existed!" Luffy exclaimed, his eyes shining with amazement.
"Pretty amazing, right? Finding that place is my dream. Even though a lot of people say it doesn't exist, I believe it's real, and one day, I'll go there," Sanji said confidently.
Inside the restaurant, Zeff leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. A faint smile appeared on his face before he turned and walked away.
Chapter 47: Until That Old Man Dies30 de octubreIn the Baratie's kitchen, Luffy sat cross-legged on a table, watching two chefs transfer food from the refrigerator into a large sack. As a token of gratitude, the chefs had told him he could ask for anything he wanted. Since the Going Merry's food supplies were running low, Luffy had asked for provisions. Now, he was busy pointing at various items inside the refrigerator from atop the table. As requested, the sack ended up containing far more meat than vegetables.
While Luffy was still busy picking out food, Zeff approached him with a worn-out book in his hand.
"Kid, want my travel journal? It might make your voyage through the Grand Line a little easier."
The chefs in the kitchen were stunned. Zeff had refused to hand over that precious book even when Krieg had threatened him.
Luffy answered without a second thought. "No, I don't need a book like that. I'll sail through the Grand Line and become the Pirate King my own way. That'll make everything more fun, right? Shishishi."
Zeff wasn't surprised. Instead, he smiled faintly. "I figured you'd refuse. Any other pirate would've accepted it without a second thought. You're certainly an unusual kid." He paused briefly before continuing, "How about this, then? Your ship is still short a cook, isn't it? Take Sanji with you."
Luffy scratched his cheek with one finger. "I want Sanji to join, too, but he's stubbornly insisting on staying here until you die, Old Man."
Zeff sighed. "That stupid brat is deliberately staying here because he feels indebted to me for what happened in the past. But the dream he truly wants to pursue lies on the Grand Line, just like yours."
"Then stop being such a tsundere, Old Man. If you tell him what you really want, Sanji will listen," Luffy suggested. "He's just like me, stubborn and stupid. If you don't tell him directly, he won't understand."
"Tsundere? What's that?" Zeff asked. It was the first time he'd heard the term.
"Ah!" Luffy suddenly realized that people in this world had never heard the term before, unlike the world Kevin had come from. With a mischievous grin, he explained, "A tsundere is someone who acts harsh on the outside but actually cares about others."
The chefs fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha, that sounds exactly like Boss Zeff!"
"Hahaha, it really does!"
Zeff snorted, flatly rejecting the accusation. "Who's acting like that? I always say exactly what I mean!"
"Hahahaha!"
"Oh, add some meat sausages in there, too. Those look delicious," Luffy interjected, pointing into the refrigerator as he struggled to keep himself from drooling.
"Hey, how long is this kid planning to stay?" one of the chefs complained.
"Who knows?"
Behind the kitchen's wooden wall, Sanji had heard the entire conversation. He sat leaning against the wall with his knees bent and both hands resting on them. A lit cigarette was pinched between his fingers. Exhaling a stream of smoke, he gazed at the ceiling, lost in thought.
"My dream, huh..." he murmured.
A short while later, he stood up and walked away, still immersed in his thoughts.
Meanwhile, the sack of provisions in the kitchen was finally full. Luffy stored it in his Inventory, leaving the chefs gaping as the sack suddenly vanished. They couldn't help imagining how convenient it would be to carry things around with an ability like that.
"That's a pretty useful power, Straw Hat," one of the chefs remarked.
"Right?" Luffy replied proudly.
"Is that the power of a Devil Fruit?" another chef asked curiously. Since the Baratie wasn't far from the Grand Line, they often heard rumors about Devil Fruits from their customers. However, this was the first time they'd witnessed such a power firsthand.
"You could say that," Luffy replied briefly after thinking for a moment.
"Well, I'm heading out, then." Luffy started walking away but stopped after a few steps. "Ah, almost forgot something."
He turned to face Zeff. "Hey, Old Man, take care of Sanji for me. I'll come back and recruit him again."
"I'll do my best. Where are you going, anyway?"
"I've got something to take care of before we set sail. I'll come back once I'm done." Luffy answered casually, as though it were nothing to worry about.
After saying goodbye, he left the kitchen and headed toward the Going Merry.
Outside, the Going Merry was already anchored in front of the Baratie. Nami and the others were waiting aboard.
"Oi, Luffy! We're ready to leave!" Usopp shouted.
"Yeah, I know," Luffy replied casually as he walked toward the ship.
However, before he could board, a familiar voice came from the Baratie's second floor.
"Hey, your ship is still short a cook, isn't it?"
Luffy immediately looked toward the source of the voice. Sanji was leaning against the railing on the second floor, a cigarette hanging from his mouth. Luffy's eyes lit up at once.
"Yeah! Do you want to join us, Sanji?"
"Yeah. Now you've got a cook aboard your ship."
After giving it careful thought, Sanji had finally decided to sail with Luffy and pursue his dream.
Luffy jumped with excitement. "Yatta! I finally got a cook!"
"Wait a minute. I need to pack my things first." Sanji turned and went back inside the restaurant.
"He actually managed to recruit him," Usopp muttered in disbelief. He hadn't expected Luffy to succeed after all of Sanji's previous refusals.
...
Outside the restaurant, the chefs gathered on the Baratie's fish-shaped fin, where the Krieg Pirates had eaten earlier. After hearing that Sanji had finally decided to leave, they wanted to see him off.
Before long, Sanji emerged carrying his belongings. Patty and Carne suddenly leaped at him from behind, but Sanji easily defeated them both.
"I told you that wouldn't work," one of the chefs remarked.
Sanji continued walking toward the Going Merry without looking back. The chefs could only watch him leave, their expressions hardening as they tried to maintain their composure until the very end.
Then Zeff's voice came from the second floor. This time, his voice was gentle and affectionate, like a father sending his son off on a journey, a stark contrast to his usual manner of speaking.
"Sanji, take good care of yourself... Don't catch a cold."
Hearing those words shattered Sanji's composure. Tears immediately spilled from his eyes. He dropped his backpack, turned around, and prostrated himself with his forehead touching the ground.
"OWNER ZEFF!!! All these years... thank you so much for all your countless acts of kindness!!! I'll never forget everything you've done to save my life!!! Thank you so much!!!" he shouted at the top of his lungs through his tears.
Zeff immediately turned his face away, hiding it inside the restaurant so no one could see his tears. His hat concealed his eyes as they began to grow wet.
"Idiot. A man's farewell shouldn't be accompanied by tears."
The chefs, who had been struggling to hold themselves together, could no longer maintain their act. One by one, they began to cry as well.
After saying their goodbyes, Sanji boarded the Going Merry. The ship began sailing away from the Baratie as Sanji waved to the people who had been his family for so many years.