Chapter 1: Became a Wanted Criminal Right from the Start?Ben felt that this world was somewhat absurd.He, a tenth-degree scholar of 21st-century martial arts films, had transmigrated here with no system, no old master, and absolutely no cheat codes.He started as an orphan on an unknown island in the East Blue.His only consolation was that the people in this world seemed to have exceptionally good physical fitness.It was so good that he tried mimicking the high-flying, earth-shattering moves from the movies, and after practicing for a few years, he actually managed to make something of it.He called this set of skills the "Eagle Claw Technique."Because it sounded cool, and it relied mainly on the hands.Simple, brutal, and effective.Today, Ben just wanted to buy some black bread in town and then go home to continue his "martial arts research."But as it happened, some people just didn't want him to live in peace."Old man! Where is this month's protection money?!"An arrogant voice came, as grating as fingernails on a chalkboard.Ben's eye twitched; he didn't need to look to know who it was."Shark-Tooth" Bowler, a famous local thug who relied on his cousin, a Marine squad leader, to run amok and commit all kinds of evil.Ben's first reaction was: Time to slip away.His life motto was simple: It's better to avoid trouble than to cause it; being alive is more important than anything.He was just about to turn around and pretend he was a passing mushroom."Please, Master Bowler, business really hasn't been good today, could you give us two more days…" an old voice pleaded.Immediately after, there was the sound of a little girl crying.Ben's footsteps stopped.Damn it!The BGM of "A Man Should Be Self-Reliant" instantly started playing in his head!Wong Fei-hung! Ip Man! Chen Zhen! Their souls possessed him in that moment!Ben took a deep breath.Screw laying low and leveling up! Today, I'm going to uphold justice!He turned around, pushed through the crowd of onlookers, and walked over.He saw that guy named Bowler, tall and burly with a mouthful of jagged, rotten teeth, kicking over a fruit stand.Colorful fruits rolled all over the ground.The old vendor was kneeling on the ground picking them up, while a little girl with pigtails was crying her heart out nearby.Bowler looked impatient and lifted his foot to stomp on the old man's hand."Stop."Ben spoke up.He tried to lower his voice, mimicking the calm, unruffled tone of the heroes in movies.Internal monologue: "Cool! So cool! This atmosphere, these lines, I am the chosen protagonist!"Bowler and his two lackeys looked over when they heard him.Seeing Ben's washed-out old clothes and that handsome but clearly malnourished face, Bowler laughed."Where did this pretty boy come from, wanting to play the hero? Go look at yourself in a puddle!"The onlookers whispered, their eyes full of sympathy as they looked at Ben.Another hotheaded youngster looking for trouble."I'll say it again," Ben stepped forward, his eyes turning sharp, "take your foot off.""Oh? You dare talk back?"Bowler sneered, and instead of taking it off, he stomped down hard!"Ah!" The old man let out a cry of pain.Ben's eyes turned completely cold.He moved.Without any flashy opening stance, he moved like a hunting cheetah, instantly rushing in front of Bowler.Too fast!Bowler only felt a blur before his eyes, and the pretty boy had vanished.The next second, a piercing, agonizing pain shot from his wrist!"Ahhhhhh—!"Bowler let out a scream like a slaughtered pig.He looked down to see his wrist tightly gripped by a hand, those five fingers like iron pincers, almost embedding themselves into his bones.It was Ben's "Eagle Claw Technique"!"You... let go of me!" Bowler was sweating profusely from the pain, and he punched at Ben's face with his other hand.Ben tilted his head and easily dodged it.The five fingers gripping Bowler's wrist suddenly exerted force!"Snap!"A crisp sound of a bone breaking.Bowler's wrist bent at an eerie angle."My hand! My hand is broken!" Bowler's scream rang through the entire street.His two lackeys were stunned.What was going on?In one exchange, their boss had been taken down?Ben released his hand and shook it off with a look of disgust, as if he had touched something dirty.He looked coldly at Bowler, who was rolling on the ground: "Get lost."One word, concise and to the point.The two lackeys woke from their daze, scrambled to help Bowler up, and fled in a panic.Before leaving, Bowler looked back at Ben with venomous eyes."You just wait! My cousin won't let you off!"Ben gave a disdainful "tch."Internal ecstasy: "Holy crap! Am I this fierce?! The movies didn't lie to me! I am a once-in-a-century martial arts genius!"The old man and the little girl thanked him repeatedly.The onlookers also burst into cheers.Ben waved his hand, hiding his merits and fame, feeling that the red scarf on his chest... oh no, the sense of justice in his heart, was becoming even more vivid.However, he didn't even stay cool for three seconds.A sound of rhythmic footsteps approached.A squad of Marine soldiers in white uniforms ran over, led by a guy with a fleshy, mean face and a "Captain" insignia on his shoulder."Cousin! It's him! He broke my hand!" Bowler, as if having found his backing, pointed at Ben and cried out.The Marine captain glanced at Bowler's miserable state, then at the calm and indifferent Ben, and his expression instantly darkened."Did you do this?" He asked Ben, his tone unfriendly."He was the one bullying people first." Ben frowned; why were these Marines not asking about right and wrong?"I asked if you were the one who did it!" The Marinecaptain drew the sword from his waist, the tip pointing directly at Ben.The surrounding crowd backed away in fear.Ben's heart sank.Oh no, he had run into the classic scenario of "officials and bandits being in cahoots.""It was me," Ben admitted frankly, but his momentum didn't waver, "he was committing a crime in the street, and I was just upholding justice.""Upholding justice?" The Marine captain laughed, a laugh full of irony, "On this island, I am the law! Men, arrest him! The charge is... committing violence in the street and causing grievous bodily harm to a civilian!"Several Marine soldiers immediately surrounded him.Ben's pupils constricted.Damn! Is there no justice? Is there no law?He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking.Fight, or not fight?If he fought, it would be openly resisting the Marines and resisting the "Government" of this world.If he didn't fight, he would be thrown into jail by this group of people who couldn't tell right from wrong.Just as he hesitated, the Marine captain's expression suddenly changed, staring fixedly behind Ben, a flash of wariness in his eyes.Ben was stunned and subconsciously looked back.There was no one behind him.When he turned back, the Marine captain had already put away his sword and snorted coldly: "Kid, consider yourself lucky. Today, I'll give the person behind you some face. Get lost! Next time I see you, you won't be so lucky!"After saying that, he actually took his men, helped Johnny, and slunk away.Ben:???The person behind me?Who is behind me? Could it be... my guardian spirit?He rubbed his chin and fell into deep thought.Could it be that my damn, uncontainable aura of a hegemon has become strong enough to conjure up an peerless expert as a backer out of thin air?Wonderful!Regardless, the trouble was resolved.Ben happily bought bread and went home.The next day, a refreshed Ben hummed a little tune as he went out to buy some more food.He found the streets unusually lively today, with everyone gathered around the bulletin board in the town center, pointing and whispering."What big event happened?"Ben curiously squeezed in.On the bulletin board, a brand-new bounty poster was posted in the most prominent position.It depicted the portrait of a man.It was drawn quite vividly.Sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, a high nose bridge, and a hint of untamed arrogance at the corners of his mouth.Ben nodded: "Hmm, quite handsome."Wait.This face... why does it look so familiar?Isn't this me?!Ben's smile froze on his face.He widened his eyes and looked at the text below the portrait.[ WANTED ][ DEAD OR ALIVE ][ Gonzalez Banchi ][ Bounty: 500,000 Berries ][ Crime: Maliciously attacking Marine soldiers, colluding with an unknown pirate crew, extremely dangerous! ]Ben's brain crashed.He read it again slowly, word by word.Attacking Marines? I didn't even touch them yesterday!Colluding with pirates? I don't even know what pirates look like!Extremely dangerous? I'm just a martial arts enthusiast who wants to live a stable life, hey!Also, what's with the nickname "Sharp Claw"? Who gave it to me? It's actually kind of cool... Phew! Is this the time to think about that!He felt the surrounding air change.The neighbors who were praising him yesterday were now looking at him as if they were looking at a walking bag of gold coins.There was fear, greed, and suspicion."He is that bounty criminal...""500,000 Berries...""Hurry and report to the Marines..."Ben's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.He turned abruptly, pushed through the crowd, and ran for his life in the direction of his home.He knew that he couldn't stay on this island, in this East Blue, for even one more second!Halfway through running, he slammed on the brakes, looked in the direction of the bounty poster, and went completely numb."No, man, just because I broke a thug's wrist, I became a wanted criminal with a 500,000 bounty?""Is there any justice?! Is there any law?!"Ben, filled with indignation towards the sky, slowly spat out two words."F...k!"
Chapter 2: I'm Seriously DoneBen stuffed all his belongings into a worn-out backpack.Two changes of clothes, a few pieces of dry rations, a canteen, and the savings he had accumulated over half a year—a total of 13,000 Berries.This was his entire net worth in this world.He stood at the door of the small shack he had lived in for half a year and looked back.The drafty wooden walls, the tattered straw mat mattress, and the pile of wooden stakes in the corner that he had shattered while practicing."Damn it, leaving just like that, without even anyone to say goodbye to."Ben smiled self-deprecatingly, shouldered his pack, and rushed out of the shack without looking back.On the street, a few scattered Marine soldiers had already begun to patrol.Ben pulled his hat low, trying his best not to look too conspicuous.He had to leave this island before being surrounded.The pier.It was the only way out.Ben dodged through several alleys and finally arrived at the harbor.He looked at the various boats docked at the pier and pondered what to do.Steal one?No, he was a hero, not a thief.Rent one?He took out his wallet and counted—13,000 Berries... On this island, that wasn't even enough to rent a decent fishing boat.Just as he was hesitating, a greasy voice came from the side."Hey, young man, you look troubled. Are you looking to head out to sea?"Ben turned his head and saw a bald middle-aged man grinning at him with a mouth full of yellow teeth, his face covered in smiles."I've got a boat right here, selling it cheap, honest business!"Ben glanced at the "boat" behind the middle-aged man.It was a... how should he put it, a small fishing boat that looked like it would fall apart at any moment.The hull was covered in patches, the mast was crooked, the sail had several holes in it, and the deck was covered in a thick layer of seaweed."This thing can sail?"Ben asked doubtfully."Of course it can sail!"The man patted his chest, guaranteeing it."This boat has been with me for ten years. Although it looks a bit old, it's absolutely sturdy!"Ben was silent for two seconds."How much?""Not expensive, not expensive at all, 100,000 Berries!"The man held up one finger."I only have 13,000."Ben took out his wallet with an expressionless face.The man's smile stiffened, but it quickly recovered."Deal!"He snatched Ben's wallet, didn't even count it, and shoved it directly into his pocket."Young man, I wish you smooth sailing!"After saying that, the man whistled and trotted away happily.Ben stood on the pier, looking at the broken boat, lost in thought."Did I just get ripped off?"Never mind, now is not the time to dwell on that.He jumped onto the boat, untied the mooring line, and clumsily hoisted the sail.The small boat slowly left the pier.Ben looked back at the island where he had stayed for half a year."Goodbye, Troya.""Goodbye to my short and melodramatic 'hero' career."He turned around, facing the boundless sea.The sea breeze blew against his face, carrying a salty, damp scent.Ben took a deep breath, trying hard to look confident."From now on, I, Gonzalez Banchi, am a free wanderer of the seas!""This ocean, here I come!"No sooner had he finished speaking.A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky.Immediately after, dark clouds gathered at a speed visible to the naked eye.Ben's smile froze on his face."You've got to be kidding me?"Rumble—A torrential downpour fell.The waves instantly became violent, one higher than the next, slamming mercilessly against the small boat.Ben gripped the mast tightly, his whole body being tossed to and fro."Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"That was all he could say.The small boat bobbed up and down in the giant waves, like a leaf that could be swallowed at any moment.Ben's face was pale, his stomach churning, and he had already thrown up three times."I'm going to die... I'm going to die here..."He lay over the gunwale, murmuring weakly.Suddenly, a giant wave hit.Ben felt everything go black.When he opened his eyes again, he was already in the water.The small boat was nowhere to be seen, and he struggled desperately in the seawater, choking on several mouthfuls.Just when he thought he was done for, a wooden plank drifted over.Ben clutched the plank tightly, as if it were a lifeline.He didn't know how much time had passed.The storm had stopped.Ben was soaked to the bone, lying on the plank like a dead fish, not moving.He felt like he was about to become dehydrated."I... I don't want to be transmigrated anymore...""Let me go back... please..."Just as he was about to give up, a reef appeared ahead.Ben's eyes lit up.He used his last bit of strength to paddle with his hands, swimming towards the reef.Finally, he climbed onto the reef.Ben lay on the reef, gasping for air.The sunlight shone on him, feeling warm."Survived... I survived..."He grinned.Although the boat was gone and the money was gone, at least he was still alive.As long as he was alive, there was still hope.Ben was just about to sit up and check his surroundings.Suddenly, he heard voices."Yosaku, hold on a little longer, I'll definitely find a way!"Ben paused, looking in the direction of the voices.On the other side of the reef lay two people.One of them looked relatively normal.The other one was in a bad way—his face was sallow, his lips were purple, and he was extremely weak."Big Brother Johnny... I... I might not make it..."The one called Yosaku said weakly."Don't talk nonsense!"Johnny held Yosaku's hand, his eyes red."You'll be fine! Absolutely fine!"Watching this scene, Ben felt a bit uncomfortable.He hesitated for a moment, then took out the remaining half-canteen of water and a few pieces of jerky from his backpack.This was his last ration.But looking at Yosaku, who was about to die, he still walked over."Here."Ben handed the canteen and the jerky to Johnny.Johnny looked up sharply, eyeing him warily."Who are you?""Just passing by."Ben replied curtly.He pointed at Yosaku."In his condition, he needs to replenish fluids and nutrition. This is all I have."Johnny was stunned.He took the canteen and jerky, looked at Ben, and then back at Yosaku."Th... thank you."Ben waved his hand and turned back to his own spot on the reef.He sat down, looking at the distant horizon, and sighed."Geez, I can barely take care of myself, and yet I'm looking after others.""Ben, oh Ben, when will you ever change this habit?"Just then.A ship appeared on the distant sea surface.It was a very cute ship, with a sheep-head figurehead that looked a bit silly.Ben squinted."A ship? Great! Maybe I can hitch a ride!"He was just about to stand up and wave.Suddenly, a wisp of smoke rose from the ship.Immediately after, a black cannonball, trailing a long streak of smoke, flew towards the reef where they were.Ben's pupils dilated sharply."What the hell?!"Boom—!The cannonball hit the reef precisely.The huge shockwave blew all three of them away.Ben did several somersaults in the air and crashed heavily into the seawater.He surfaced, spat out a mouthful of seawater, and was completely stunned."What's going on?!""I just escaped death, and now I've been blown up again?!""Is there no justice in this world?!"He turned to look at the ship.There were a few people standing on the ship.One of them, a boy wearing a Straw Hat, was shouting excitedly."Success! Usopp, your cannon is amazing!"A long-nosed guy next to him stood with his hands on his hips, looking proud."Of course it is! I am the Sniper King, Usopp!"Ben's face turned green.So you were using my reef as target practice?!He looked at the fragments of the reef sinking into the sea in the distance, and then at his soaked clothes."I'm seriously done."
Chapter 3: Just Boarded the Pirate Ship, and the Crew Is Full of ManiacsBen felt like a sock thrown into a washing machine.Spinning, dizzy, and disoriented.By the time he managed to poke his head out of the seawater and wipe his face, his brain was still buzzing.Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?Oh, I remember now.I just survived a shipwreck, crawled onto a reef, and before I could even warm my seat, I was blasted back into the sea by a cannonball.Ben: "..."He was truly grateful.He turned his head to look at that goat-headed ship that caused the trouble.On the ship, that boy with the Straw Hat was still jumping around, and the long-nosed guy next to him had an expression that said, "I'm so awesome."Ben's blood pressure skyrocketed.Fury burned through his reason.He cursed loudly, not caring how salty the seawater was, and swam towards the ship using both hands and feet."Are you guys blind?!""Using a living person as target practice?!""Is there no justice left?! Is there no law?!"Ben cursed as he swam, his voice booming, spit flying everywhere.He didn't look at all like someone who had just experienced a shipwreck and exhausted his energy.Perhaps this was the power of anger.The people on the ship seemed to have noticed this "living target" too.The silly goat-headed ship changed direction and sailed toward him."Hey! Are you okay?" The Straw Hat boy leaned over the side of the ship, looking at him curiously.Ben couldn't catch his breath and almost choked back into the water.Are you okay?You blasted me with a cannon and asked if I'm okay?This question is even less reliable than my deadbeat dad's promises!Ben wiped his face and put on what he thought was a fierce expression."What do you think?!""Oh! Then wait a second!"After the Straw Hat boy finished speaking, his arm suddenly stretched out with a "whoosh," curling toward him like a noodle.Ben's pupils shook.What the hell?!What is that?!Before he could even be shocked, he was firmly wrapped around the waist by that hand and yanked upward."Whoosh—"Ben felt like a cannonball being launched, drawing a graceful parabola in the air, and then "smack," he fell face-first onto the deck.Prostrate on the ground, his posture was so standard he could get a perfect score.Ben lay on the ground, motionless.It wasn't that he didn't want to move; he was stunned by the fall.He felt like his face might have become a 2D plane.He recalled the rumors he'd heard in the tavern—in this world, there exists something called a "Devil Fruit." After eating it, one can gain superpowers.But the price is that they will be loathed by the sea and become a hammer."So... is this guy a legendary ability user?""Look, he's been saved!" The Straw Hat boy retracted his arm and said to the person next to him, as if asking for credit.The long-nosed man walked over, squatted down, and poked Ben with his finger."Hey, are you still alive?"Ben struggled to lift his head and spat out a mouthful of blood."Al... alive...""Great!" The Straw Hat boy clapped his hands. "My name is Luffy! I'm the man who will become the Pirate King!"Ben: "..."What the hell kind of man who will become the Pirate King!Right now, you're the man who almost sent me to the afterlife!He struggled to stand up, soaked and disheveled, but he couldn't lose his momentum.He pointed at Luffy's nose, about to start spraying."You...""I am the great Sniper King, Lord Usopp! That cannon shot just now was my masterpiece!"The long-nosed guy next to him puffed out his chest, looking smug.Ben's anger instantly shifted.Good guy, the main culprit is right here!He glared at Usopp: "You still have the nerve to say that?!"Usopp was stunned by his roar, then retorted with his neck stiff: "I... how was I supposed to know there was someone on the reef! Besides, my target was the reef, not you! You getting blasted away can only be considered... considered collateral damage!"Ben was so angry his liver hurt.Collateral damage?That makes so much sense, I can't even refute it.I really thank your whole family!The orange-haired girl stepped out to smooth things over. "It's good that you're okay. I'm Nami, the navigator of this ship."She looked Ben up and down, her eyes assessing him like cargo."Did you also encounter a storm? Where's your ship? Do you have any treasure?"Ben's mouth twitched.Girl, your train of thought shifted a bit too fast.Less caring about my well-being, more caring about a huge sum of money, huh?He pointed to the ragged clothes on his body and the backpack that was as flat as could be."Do you think I look like someone with treasure?"Nami's gaze instantly turned from anticipation to disappointment, and finally, just disgust."Tch, just a poor wretch."Ben: "..."That hurts, buddy.Ben took a deep breath, feeling that if he kept talking to this group, he'd have a myocardial infarction sooner or later.Just as he was about to introduce himself, he suddenly remembered something."Holy shit! There are two more people!"He rushed to the side of the ship and looked towards the direction of the reef just now.On the sea surface, Johnny and Yosaku were bobbing up and down like two soggy pieces of kelp.Ben's heart skipped a beat.He almost forgot his "fellow patients.""Hey! There are two more people down there!" Benpointed at the sea and yelled at this bunch of heartless people on the ship."Huh? Really!" Luffy leaned over to look and had a sudden realization.Usopp also leaned over to look: "Wow, his face is so pale, he isn't dead, is he?"Ben: "..."Shut up! If you don't know how to talk, you can donate your mouth to someone who needs it!Just then, a roar came from the sea."You bastards—!"Johnny emerged from the water like an angry sailfish, the knife in his hand glinting in the sunlight. He grabbed the edge of the ship with one hand and flipped onto the deck, his movements so agile he didn't look like someone who had just been shelled.He landed, stood firm, and pointed his long sword at Luffy's nose, two flames burning in his eyes."Pirates! How dare you attack us! Give me an explanation!"Ben subconsciously took a half step back.Here it comes, the classic revenge segment.Luffy looked at the blade pointing at his nose, tilted his head, his face wearing that kind of clear and stupid confusion."Explanation? What explanation?"Johnny was shaking with anger: "Stop playing dumb with me! It was you guys! You used cannons to blast the reef we were on! You almost killed my brother!""Oh, that," Luffy scratched his head, looking apologetic, but his tone was light. "Sorry, sorry, we were testing the power of the cannon."Testing the power?Using a living person as a target to test the power?Johnny's reason completely snapped."Screw your testing the power!" He roared, swung his sword, and slashed at Luffy!Ben's pupils shrank.It's over! Someone's going to die!He could almost foresee the scene of blood splattering on the spot.However, the scream he expected didn't happen.Luffy just casually dodged to the side, easily avoiding that powerful slash.Then, he raised his hand and flicked Johnny's forehead lightly."Dong!"A dull thud.Johnny's eyes instantly turned into mosquito coils, and he fell straight backward, "thump," hitting the deck, unconscious.One move.Just a light flick like that.Ben looked down at the unconscious Johnny, then at the innocent-looking Luffy, who seemed to have just flicked away a fly, and his brain completely shut down.This kid... what kind of monster is he?!That guy named Johnny looked like he knew martial arts, yet in front of this Straw Hat boy, he was as vulnerable as a three-year-old child?And that arm that can stretch...Ben felt a profound doubt about his own hard-practiced "Eagle Claw Technique" for the first time.This doesn't seem like the world he thought it was!"Alright, pull his brother up too." Nami wasn't surprised by the result and directed Usopp to fish up Yosaku, who was still floating in the water.As soon as Yosaku was dragged onto the deck, he completely passed out, his face as pale as moldy cheese.Just then, a man with moss-green hair and three swords at his waist walked out of the cabin, yawning."What's the noise? Can't a guy get some sleep?"He looked around with sleepy eyes, his gaze landing on Ben."Hm? A new partner?""No!" Ben immediately denied. "I'm just an unlucky passerby!"Who wants to be partners with you bunch of maniacs!He didn't want to be sleeping one day and get blasted away, bed and all, because the Captainwanted to try a new move.When his gaze landed on Johnny and Yosaku lying on the deck, he froze instantly."You guys are Johnny? Yosaku?"Zoro's voice was full of disbelief.He walked over quickly, squatted down, and pushed the unconscious Johnny."Hey! Johnny! Wake up!"Shaken by him like this, Johnny slowly came to, opened his eyes in a daze, and saw the person in front of him."Big... Big Brother?!"Johnny's tears came down instantly, he sat up abruptly, grabbed Zoro's thigh, and cried like a three-hundred-pound child."Big Brother! You were caught by pirates too! Wuu wuu wuu..."Ben: "???"Big Brother?This Moss-head, is their Big Brother?Isn't this relationship a bit too chaotic?Zoro looked disgusted and tried to peel Johnny off his leg, but failed."Why are you guys here?" Zoro asked."Yosaku suddenly fell unconscious for some reason." Johnny said while crying, not forgetting to point at Luffy. "Then we hit a storm halfway, the ship was gone, and after finally crawling onto a reef, we were blasted by that bastard's cannon!"Zoro: "..."He turned his head to look at Luffy, who had an "I don't know who I am or where I am" expression.Luffy pointed at himself: "Me?"The atmosphere gradually became awkward.A thrilling shelling incident ended up with a dramatic misunderstanding.Ben stood on the side, watching this group of people explaining the misunderstanding in a chaotic mess, feeling that his worldview was being repeatedly crushed.Nami stepped forward to check on Yosaku's condition and concluded, "He has scurvy, a severe lack of vitamins. It'll be really dangerous if he isn't treated.""Scurvy?" Luffy and Usopp leaned in, full of curiosity."It's a disease you get from drifting at sea for a long time without eating fresh fruits and vegetables." After Nami explained, she turned and went into the cabin, quickly coming out with a few lemons."Just squeeze some lemon juice for him.""Oh, oh! I'll do it!" Luffy volunteered.However, the next second, he and Usopp looked at each other and suddenly showed expressions of extreme grief."Yosaku! You died so miserably!" Usopp began to wail."Brother! Rest in peace! I'll eat your share too!" Luffysaid, actually pulling out a whole crate of oranges from a box nearby.The two of them, one on the left and one on the right, pried open Yosaku's mouth and started stuffing oranges in."Eat! Hurry up and eat! You'll come back to life if you eat!""This is our last crate of oranges! You have to finish them!"Ben watched helplessly as a whole orange was forcibly stuffed into Yosaku's mouth, puffing his cheeks out like a hamster.Ben: I don't understand, but I am greatly shocked.You call this first aid? You're trying to send him on his way!"Stop it! You two idiots!" Nami punched Luffy and Usopp, leaving them with lumps all over their heads.In the midst of this chaos, Yosaku, who had been force-fed a mouthful of orange juice (and almost choked to death), miraculously opened his eyes.He "pfft" spat out the whole orange, then did a carp leap, jumping up from the deck."I... I'm alive!!!"Yosaku felt the strength surging back into his body, his face returning to a rosy color at a speed visible to the naked eye. He excitedly danced a strange dance on the deck, dancing and thanking them."Thank you! Thank you so much! You are our lifesavers!"Johnny also wiped away his tears and, together with Yosaku, bowed deeply to the Straw Hat Pirates."Big Brother's partners are our benefactors!"After a formal introduction, Ben finally understood.This pair of clowns, Johnny and Yosaku, were two underlings Zoro had taken in when he was a bounty hunter, purely die-hard fans.When they heard that the Straw Hat Pirates were missing a cook, Johnny immediately proposed excitedly."I know a place! The floating restaurant Baratie! The chefs there have amazing skills! And it's right near here!"As soon as Luffy heard there was food, his eyes instantly lit up like two 100-watt light bulbs."Okay! Go to the restaurant! Eat!""Also..." Johnny paused, leaned over to Zoromysteriously, and lowered his voice, "Big Brother! We also heard some news... that world's greatest swordsman, 'Hawkeye' Mihawk, is rumored to be active in the waters near Baratie recently!""Hawkeye" Mihawk.When these words came out of Johnny's mouth, Ben clearly felt the air on the ship change.Zoro, who had been lazy and sleepy, instantly became as sharp as a blade.It was a kind of oppressive feeling that couldn't be described in words, as if a sleeping beast had suddenly opened its eyes.Ben saw that the corner of Zoro's mouth actually curled into a grin that could be called fanatical.The thing burning in those eyes was called ambition.Ben's heart sank.This Moss-head wants to challenge that kind of legendary figure?Is he crazy?!The people on this ship... how many are actually normal?!"Okay! It's decided!" Luffy raised his arm high and announced loudly in his usual unquestionable tone, "Our next target, the floating restaurant Baratie! Set sail!"Johnny and Yosaku volunteered to take on the role of "guides."Luffy then patted Ben's shoulder carelessly, saying with his signature smile: "Sorry! Your rock got blown away! You have nowhere to go, right? Then come on my ship!"Ben felt a bitterness in his heart. There hadn't been a single good thing since he was driven out to sea by the Marine. Forget it, there was nowhere else to go in the vast sea, so he might as well stay on this ship for now.The going merry turned its bow, riding the wind and waves, heading towards the new destination.The ship was full of joy.Luffy and Usopp were singing self-composed terrible songs.Nami was counting her small treasury.Zoro was wiping his three swords, his gaze focused and dangerous.Only Ben stood by the ship's rail, facing the sea breeze, completely disheveled.He looked at this group of jubilant "partners" and only felt a chill running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.And this ship was now carrying him, heading at full speed towards a dangerous area where he might encounter the "World's Greatest."Ben slowly raised his hand and covered his face."Is it... is it too late for me to get off the ship now?
Chapter 4: The First Lesson of Baratie: Don't Waste FoodThe journey was smooth sailing. The going merrytraveled steadily across the vast ocean and soon arrived in the waters near Baratie."That's Baratie up ahead!" Johnny pointed at a massive ship-shaped structure in the distance.Ben leaned over the railing, squinting to get a better look. It was a large ship converted into a restaurant, shaped like a giant fish with a fish head at the bow and a fish tail at the stern, painted in alternating blue and white colors."Wow! What a huge fish!" Luffy's eyes lit up."That's a restaurant, not a fish." Nami sighed, clutching her forehead in frustration.Just then, a Marine warship sailed past them. On the deck, a man wearing a Marine uniform eyed them up and down."Hey, what pirate crew are you?" the man shouted."We are the Straw Hat Pirates!" Luffy pointed excitedly at the Jolly Roger on the mast.Ben almost choked on his own spit. Can you not be so honest? That's a Marine!"Straw Hat Pirates?" Marine Lieutenant Fullbody lowered his binoculars. "Never heard of them. Such an ugly flag; you can tell at a glance they're just country bumpkins.""What did you say?!" Usopp jumped up. "I drew that with my own hands!""Exactly!" Luffy chimed in, unconvinced. "Our flag is super cool!"Fullbody scoffed, "What a bunch of hicks. Men, teach these rubes a lesson! Fire!""Holy crap!" Ben shivered in fright. "Duck!""Boom!" A cannonball came whistling toward them.Luffy grinned, swung his arms, and instantly inflated into a human balloon."Rubber Balloon!"The cannonball hit Luffy, and it looked like it was going to bounce right back."Nice!" Usopp cheered.However, in the next second, everyone was dumbfounded.Because of the recoil from the bounce, Luffy lost his balance, and he and the cannonball crashed straight into the roof of Baratie!"Boom!"A loud explosion.Ben stood on the ship, completely stunned."What... what kind of move was that?""Luffy!"Nami screamed and rushed to the side of the ship."That idiot!"Zoro frowned, his hand already resting on the hilt of his sword."Will he be okay?""Probably... not, right?"Usopp laughed dryly, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead."Well, it is Luffy after all..."Ben clutched his forehead.It is Luffy after all?You guys are just that unconcerned?He just blew up someone's restaurant roof!Luffy smashed into a room.The dust cleared.Luffy climbed out of the rubble, shook the dust off his body, and looked up.An old man with a long braided beard was sitting in front of the bed, staring at him expressionlessly.The old man was wearing a chef's uniform and a tall chef's hat, exuding an aura of authority.Luffy scratched his head and grinned."Hehe, hello there, mister!""Your roof quality isn't very good; it collapsed with just one hit."The old man's face instantly turned dark."Kid, do you have any idea what you've done?"His voice was calm, but the pressure made Luffy's smile stiffen."Uh... broke your roof?""Not just the roof."The old man stood up, walked to the window, and pointed outside.Luffy leaned over to look.A huge hole had been blown into the restaurant's roof.Luffy's smile froze completely."Ah, this..."Just then, his gaze fell on the old man's legs.The old man's right leg, from the knee down, was a wooden prosthetic.Luffy's pupils dilated.His face turned deathly pale, and his whole body began to tremble.His left leg, from the knee down, was a wooden prosthetic."Your leg!"He clutched his head, tears and snot streaming down his face."I'm sorry! It's all my fault! I'm the one who blew your leg off! Waaaaah—"The old man, who was the owner and head chef of Baratie, "Red Leg Zeff," was stunned for a moment, and his face instantly turned dark."What kind of nonsense are you spouting, you brat?!"He raised his prosthetic leg and kicked Luffy hard."My leg was gone many years ago! What does that have to do with you?!"Luffy rubbed his head."Eh? I didn't blow it off?""Obviously!"The old man was so angry his mustache curled up."But!"He pointed to the roof and walls that had been blown open."You blew up my restaurant like this, how are we going to settle this score?!"Luffy scratched his head: "Um... sorry?""You think'sorry' is enough?!"The old man grabbed Luffy by the collar."Kid, from today on, you're working here for one year! You'll work like a dog to pay off your debt!""One year?!"Luffy's eyes nearly popped out."One year?! That's too long!" Luffy jumped up. "No way! I still have to go to the Grand Line! Can one week do?""Six months!""One week?"Old man Zeff wouldn't budge an inch.Luffy's face fell, and he slumped."Chef Zeff!"A chef ran up in a panic."There's a customer causing trouble downstairs!""What?"Zeff frowned."Let's go down and see."He dragged his prosthetic leg and went downstairs with a thud, thud, thud.Luffy followed him up.---First floor of the restaurant.Ben followed Zoro and the others into Baratie.The restaurant was decorated luxuriously, with gold ornaments everywhere and crystal chandeliers sparkling overhead."Wow, so posh!" Usopp exclaimed."It must be expensive." Nami's eyes became alert.Ben looked around, muttering to himself: This place doesn't look cheap. Can our group of penniless people afford a meal here?Restaurant lobby.A man in a Marine uniform was sitting at a table, with a woman dressed in a flashy, alluring outfit sitting next to him.It was Fullbody, the one who fired the cannon earlier.He was currently putting on an "I'm rich" act, gesturing and bossing around a blonde chef."Hey, waiter, bring me a bottle of '82 Lafite."The blonde chef looked to be in his early twenties, wearing a black suit and tie, with his right eyebrow curled into a small swirl at the end.He nodded politely: "Very well, sir."Then he turned to get the wine.Fullbody looked proudly at the woman beside him: "My dear, today I'm treating you to the best."The woman giggled: "Master Fullbody is so generous."The blonde chef returned with the wine.He was about to pour the wine when he suddenly stopped and turned to look at the woman.The woman was indeed attractive, with wavy hair, bright red lips, and a curvaceous figure.The blonde chef's eyes instantly turned into hearts."Miss, you are truly beautiful."He leaned in, a lecherous smile on his face."It is my honor to meet you."Fullbody's face went dark on the spot."Hey! What are you doing, you bastard?!"The blonde chef snapped out of it, gave a light cough, and resumed a serious expression."Sorry, my apologies."He began to pour the wine.Fullbody picked up the wine glass, swirled it a few times, and pretended to sniff it."Hmm... the aroma of this wine..."He paused and looked at the blonde chef."The vintage is wrong."The blonde chef raised an eyebrow: "Sir, this is indeed '82 Lafite.""I said it's wrong, so it's wrong!"Fullbody slammed the table."Are you trying to fool me?!"The blonde chef's smile vanished."Sir, please don't make unreasonable trouble.""Unreasonable trouble?"Fullbody sneered."Then how do you explain this?"He took a bug out of his pocket and threw it into the soup."There's a bug in your soup!"The restaurant went silent instantly.Everyone looked over.The blonde chef's expression turned completely cold.He stared at Fullbody and said word by word:"This soup took three days and three nights to carefully remove the astringency."His voice was low, but every word was as sharp as a knife.Fullbody was unconcerned: "So what? A bug is a bug.""Is that so?"The blonde chef suddenly smiled.But that smile didn't look friendly at all.The next second—"Bang!"The blonde chef slammed his sole into Fullbody's face.Fullbody was sent flying, knocking over several tables.The restaurant was in an uproar.The blonde chef walked over, grabbed Fullbody by the collar, and threw a few more punches."Bang! Bang! Bang!"Fullbody's face swelled up like a pig's head.The blonde chef grabbed Fullbody's hair, frowning with a look of disgust."Don't waste food on me."His voice was as cold as ice."Picking a fight with a chef at sea is tantamount to seeking your own death."With that, he tossed Fullbody aside like trash.Fullbody fell to the ground, unable to even crawl up.The restaurant was deathly silent.Ben stood to the side, completely dumbfounded.Good grief.This chef has a really hot temper!
Chapter 5: Just had a hot bite, and the East Blueoverlord is already blocking the door?Watching that Marine officer named Fullbody get tossed out like a sack of trash, the entire place fell into an eerie silence.This restaurant... has got some substance.A cook, executing a standard combo kick, crisp and clean, without a hint of hesitation.Those few strikes beat Fullbody so badly even his mother wouldn't recognize him.Ben rubbed his chin.He looked down at his own hands.This "Eagle Claw Technique"... shouldn't it be upgraded? Otherwise, I feel like I can't even beat a cook on this vast ocean."You... you just wait for me!"Fullbody lay shakily on the ground, pointing at the blond cook, delivering the most classic threat.Ben felt no ripples in his heart, he even wanted to laugh a little.Ah, yes, yes, that's the one. The #1 standard line for a defeated villain, truly the soul of post-battle summaries.The blond cook, who was Sanji, just let out a cold snort and adjusted his suit tie, as if he had only swatted a fly just now.At this moment, a Marine soldier stumbled in, his face full of terror."Captain Fullbody! It's bad! That... that 'Demon' Gin from the Don Krieg Pirates... he escaped!"Demon?Ben raised an eyebrow. What kind of new monster is this?Fullbody's expression changed: "What?! You bunch of trash, you can't even keep an eye on a half-dead prisoner!"Before the Marine soldier could finish speaking, a muffled "bang" sounded from behind him, and he fell forward, a bloody hole appearing in his back.At the restaurant entrance, backlit, stood a figure as thin as a bamboo pole.The man was holding an old-fashioned flintlock, the muzzle still smoking.He looked like nothing more than a skeleton covered in a layer of skin, his eye sockets deeply sunken, and his complexion was the gray of long-term starvation.But those eyes, like a hungry wolf, flashed with a terrifying green light."Food..."He spoke, his voice as raspy as sandpaper rubbing together."Give me... some food..."He held the gun and walked into the restaurant step by step, the diners' faces full of terror.Ben's nerves tightened instantly.This guy... is that "Demon" Gin?He looked like a gust of wind could blow him over, but that killing intent, crawled out from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, couldn't be fake.A chubby cook, named Patty, actually went up to meet him with a grin."Welcome! Customer, did you bring money?"Ben:?Buddy, are you blind? The guy is pointing a gun at you, and you're asking if he brought money?Gin slowly raised the gun, the pitch-black muzzle pressed directly against Patty's forehead."Is this... enough to pay the bill?"Ben's heart jumped to his throat.It's over, blood is going to be spilled right here.As it turned out, the smile on Patty's face didn't change, and then he suddenly punched Gin in the stomach!"Bang!"Gin's already weak body was kicked away like a broken shrimp, landing heavily on the deck outside the restaurant.Patty clapped his hands, looking disgusted."Guys without money aren't customers! Get out!"The cooks in the restaurant seemed used to it, continuing with whatever they were doing.Ben was completely numb.Is knowing how to fight a requirement for joining this restaurant?Also, is your service philosophy a bit too hardcore? No money and you just go for physical transcendence?No one moved, except for that blond cook Sanji, who quietly tied his apron and walked into the restaurant kitchen.Ben followed instinctively, hiding behind the door to peek.On the deck, Gin lay on the ground like a dying fish, without the strength to even move.Sanji came out with a plate of steaming fried rice and placed it in front of him."Eat."Gin looked up, his eyes full of vigilance and humiliation."...I won't accept this favor from you!"Sanji lit a cigarette, slowly exhaling a smoke ring, without even looking at him."As long as someone is hungry, they are a customer to me."His voice was very calm, yet it struck Ben's heart like a hammer."No one understands the feeling of hunger better than I do.""Eat this meal, and you'll be able to see tomorrow's sun. Isn't that good?"Gin's body began to tremble.He looked at the plate of golden fried rice, and tears could no longer be held back, bursting forth like a dam.He lunged forward like a beast, grabbing the fried rice with his hands, stuffing it into his mouth desperately, wailing while he ate, his face covered in rice grains and tears."Delicious... so delicious...""Wuwuwu... I've never eaten anything so delicious..."Ben stood behind the door, watching this scene, his heart filled with mixed emotions.This blond cook who looked like a slacker and couldn't move his legs when he saw a beautiful woman...Actually had a side like this.Not asking about status, not counting grievances, just to fill a hungry stomach.Luffy, that idiot, appeared from somewhere and was also squatting nearby watching.He looked at Sanji, his eyes shining astonishingly bright."Hey! Curly Brows! Come be my crewmate and be the cook on my ship!"Ben:...Here it comes, the Captain's "kidnap anyone who catches my eye" special skill has been activated again.Sanji was stunned for a moment, then crushed his cigarette butt and flatly refused."I refuse. I have my reasons for staying here."He glanced at the restaurant, his eyes becoming complex and gentle."This restaurant is that old geezer's treasure... and it's my treasure too."Having eaten his fill, Gin regained some strength. When he heard Luffy was heading to the Grand Line, his expression changed instantly."Don't go! That place is hell! You still look young, the four seas are vast, you can go anywhere!"He shook his head, his eyes filled with an inescapable fear.After saying that, he gratefully borrowed a small boat from Sanji and left without looking back.Gin piloted the small boat and finally found the flagship of his pirate crew—the Dreadnaught Sabre.However, the once majestic giant ship was now dilapidated, its sails torn, and its hull covered in scars.The deck was covered in dying pirates.A man wearing huge golden armor, his figure like an iron tower, sat on the Captain's throne, his face also written full of hunger.He was none other than the self-proclaimed East Blue overlord, Don Krieg."Gin... you've returned..." Don Krieg's voice was incredibly weak."Captain!" Gin knelt on the ground, "I found it... I found a place where we can eat until we're full!"His eyes flashed with fanatical light."There... is endless food!"In Don Krieg's eyes, which were clouded by hunger, a terrifying gleam erupted instantly, like a dying wolf that had spotted its prey.He slowly stood up, his massive figure casting a suffocating shadow.He licked his cracked lips, revealing a cruel smile."Then... let's go take it!"...Luffy eventually began his life as a chore boy at the Baratie.It turned out that making him work was harder than making him not eat meat.In the kitchen, he was either breaking plates or stealing ingredients, and in the end, he was kicked out to the main hall by the cooks to work as a waiter.Ben, Zoro, Usopp, and Nami were sitting at a table enjoying a meal.This was the first time they had sat down for a proper meal since getting on the ship.Although Nami had to grit her teeth to pay for it."Hey! Why are you guys here!"Luffy, holding a tray, saw them and immediately threw his work to the back of his mind, running over to make a racket."Luffy! You actually look pretty decent in that!" Usopp pointed at his waiter uniform and laughed loudly."I heard you have to work here for a year, are we going to have to re-elect a Captain on our ship!" Zoro said gloatingly.Luffy was so angry he wanted to prank Zoro, but ended up being countered by Zoro.The few of them instantly started arguing in a mess.Ben held his forehead, feeling his blood pressure rising again....Can you guys let me finish this meal in peace?!The commotion here made Sanji look over."Hey! You bunch of guys, no arguing in the restaurant..."His words stopped halfway, stuck.Because he saw Nami.The next second, Sanji's eyes turned into two huge hearts, his body twisted like a snake, and he instantly transformed from a cool cook into a pervert."Ah—! Beautiful lady! You are like the morning sun, illuminating my gray life! It is my great honor to serve you!"He knelt on one knee, holding Nami's hand, looking deeply affectionate.Ben's mouth opened into an "O" shape.Holy crap!This guy's face-changing speed is way too fast, right?!One second a cool master chef, the next a fanatical fan?This isn't face-changing, this is a head transplant!"For you, I am willing to go up a mountain of blades and down a sea of fire, even if it means sacrificing my life!" Sanji was still confessing affectionately.He completely ignored everyone else, walked straight to Nami, knelt on one knee, with two huge hearts popping out of his eyes.Nami was quite pleased, smiling as she took the juice.Sanji became even more excited, singing and dancing around Nami, almost performing a backflip on the spot.Upstairs, the old geezer Zeff, who had been silently observing, spoke up suddenly."Since you want to die for a woman so much, you might as well go out to sea and be a pirate."Sanji's movements froze, and he turned back to shout: "Mind your own business! You old geezer!"Ben looked at this pair of clowns, shook his head, and continued burying his head in his food.These people are all sick.However, he had only taken two bites.Suddenly, the light in the entire restaurant dimmed sharply.As if some huge shadow had blocked the sun."Hmm?"Ben looked up in confusion, looking out the window.The next second, his pupils shrank to the size of pinpricks.He saw that on the distant sea, a massive, menacing warship, like a fortress on the sea, was slowly sailing over.The ship was dilapidated, its main mast broken, and its hull covered in shocking holes, like a dying beast crawling out of the abyss of hell.Their target was none other than the Baratie.The fork in Ben's hand fell into his plate with a "clatter".His mouth opened slightly, and he froze completely."What the... f*ck..."
Chapter 6: Slicing the Overlord of the East Blue with a Single Blade? Moss-head: Coach, I want to fight this guy!The fork dropped onto the plate with a crisp "clang."Ben stared at that dilapidated yet ridiculously huge warship outside the window, his entire being going numb."No way..."He gulped."I'm just trying to eat a meal; can you not be so intense?"The other diners in the restaurant also noticed the anomaly.Someone pointed outside, their voice trembling."That... that's the flag of the Don Krieg Pirates!""Don Krieg?! The Overlord of the East Blue, Don Krieg?!""It's over, it's over! We're going to die here!"In an instant, the entire restaurant erupted into chaos.Diners screamed, tables and chairs were overturned, and dishes were smashed all over the floor.Everyone was scrambling toward the exit, the scene in total disarray.Is that thing a ship? This is a moving sea fortress, isn't it?!The diners in the restaurant were instantly in a state of panic, screaming and fleeing in all directions.Usopp was so scared his face turned pale, hiding under a table and shivering.Nami, on the other hand, was staring intently at a certain wanted poster in the corner of the restaurant, as if she had made some kind of decision.Only Zoro continued to drink his wine in a leisurely manner, as if the giant warship outside was just passing scenery.Ben looked at Zoro, roaring internally: This guy is so chill! If that thing fires a cannon, we'll all be fish food!The restaurant door was slowly pushed open.Gin walked in, supporting a tall man.The man was wearing golden armor, but it was covered in scratches and damage. He himself was weak to the extreme, leaning entirely on Gin as if he could collapse at any moment.He was the Captain of this giant warship, the Overlord of the East Blue, Don Krieg."Food..."Don Krieg's voice was as thin as a thread. He looked at the chefs in the restaurant, his murky eyes filled with undisguised pleading.In the next second, his knees gave way, and he fell to the ground with a "thud.""Please... give me a bowl of food... anything will do..."Ben was completely stunned.This... what is the situation here?The Overlord of the East Blue? Just like this?Begging for mercy on his knees right off the bat?Is this the wrong script?The chefs in the restaurant looked at each other, their faces full of disgust and vigilance."It's Don Krieg! This guy is a notorious bastard on the sea!""Don't give him food! Who knows what he's planning!""That's right! Kick him out!"Patty, the fat chef, stepped forward directly: "Get out! We don't welcome trash like you here!"However, Don Krieg was too hungry to even have the strength to resist; he just lay on the ground, gasping with difficulty.Ben watched this scene, feeling a bit uneasy.Although he knew this guy wasn't a good person, seeing a former "Overlord" reduced to this state...It was still Sanji who silently walked into the kitchen."Hey! Sanji! What are you doing?!" Patty yelled at him.Sanji ignored him.Soon, he walked out carrying a steaming plate of fried rice and placed it directly in front of Don Krieg."Eat.""Sanji, are you crazy?! Have you forgotten the rumors about what kind of person this guy is?!""Exactly! You're inviting a wolf into the house!"The chefs accused Sanji one after another, their faces full of dissatisfaction.Sanji just lit a cigarette and said calmly: "I'm just a chef. When I see someone hungry, I can't ignore it."Don Krieg raised his head, looking at Sanji in disbelief, and then looked at the plate of fried rice.He grabbed the fried rice with trembling hands and stuffed it into his mouth frantically.The scene was as pathetic as it could be.Ben watched this scene in silence.This curly-browed chef... he's actually a pretty good guy.Luffy squatted to the side, watching Don Kriegwolfing down the food, a smile on his face.However, in the next second, a sudden change occurred!Don Krieg, who had just been on the verge of death, stood up abruptly after finishing the fried rice!The weakness on his body was swept away, replaced by an incredibly brutal aura!"Bang!"He punched Sanji in the face, sending him flying!"Sanji!"The chefs exclaimed.Ben's pupils constricted.Truly a notorious great pirate.This is the real-life version of the farmer and the snake!A grim smile appeared on Don Krieg's face: "The taste is not bad. Now, go and make food for one hundred people immediately! My crew is still starving!""You bastard!" Patty roared and charged up."Get lost!"Don Krieg didn't even look back, hitting Patty with his elbow, sending him flying while spitting blood.The entire restaurant was instantly enveloped by his aura.Old man Zeff, who had been silent, spoke up."Don Krieg, you guy, you're still so despicable."Don Krieg looked over upon hearing the voice. When he saw Zeff's face, especially that wooden prosthetic leg, his expression changed instantly."'Red Leg' Zeff?! You... you're still alive?!"Red Leg?Ben was stunned.This old man has a nickname? Sounds pretty fierce."You actually returned from the Grand Line!" Don Krieg's voice was full of shock.Zeff scoffed: "Thanks to you, I'm still alive."Don Krieg stared intently at Zeff, his eyes becoming incredibly greedy and fanatical."The logbook! Your logbook must still be here!""You were the only great pirate to sail the Grand Line for a year and return safely!""Hand over your logbook! I don't lack subordinates or ambition; what I lack is information! As long as I have your logbook, I can conquer that sea again!"Ben listened, completely dumbfounded.A great pirate?This old man?The one with the fake leg?There was too much information; his brain was starting to fry."Want the logbook?" Zeff laughed. "That will depend on your ability."Suddenly, dozens of chefs rushed out from behind the kitchen with kitchen knives and frying pans, surrounding Don Krieg."Don't cause trouble here!"As soon as Zeff finished speaking, he pulled a huge sack from the kitchen and threw it at Don Krieg's feet."Here is food for one hundred people. Take it and leave quickly."Don Krieg was stunned, then laughed wildly: "Hahaha! Old man, you're scared! But food alone isn't enough... I want this restaurant too!"He wanted to seize Baratie and use it as his new flagship!Ben felt like ten thousand alpacas were galloping through his heart.This madman is really pushing his luck!Just then, an extremely serious voice rang out."Hey, I'm talking to you."Everyone looked toward the source of the voice.They saw Luffy, the waiter who was still doing chores, looking at Don Krieg with annoyance."The Grand Line is the place I'm going to conquer."Luffy pointed at himself, revealing his signature idiotic smile."Because, I am the man who will become the Pirate King!"The whole place was dead silent.Ben slapped his forehead.You're still on the clock, man! Why are you getting involved in this?!Why are you acting so cool?!Don Krieg was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage: "Brat! What did you say?!"A terrifying killing intent instantly locked onto Luffy.But he glanced at the food at his feet, then remembered his hundred men who were about to starve to death.He scoffed and hoisted the huge food bag onto his back."Hmph, when my crew recovers their strength, I'll come back to deal with you all."He walked to the restaurant entrance, looked back and scanned the room, his eyes looking as if he were looking at a group of dead people."Those who don't want to die, you'd better clear out before I come back."After saying that, Don Krieg took the 100 portions of food and left the restaurant.Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere was suffocating to the extreme.Luffy, however, acted like nothing had happened, ran to the seat where Gin had just been sitting, and asked curiously: "Hey, is that Grand Line really so scary?"Ben also pricked up his ears.He saw an unprecedented fear appear on Gin's face, his body trembling uncontrollably."We... we had a fleet of fifty ships, and on the seventh day after entering the Grand Line..."His voice was hoarse and desperate."A man... just one man suddenly appeared, and in the blink of an eye, he destroyed almost all of our ships...""If it hadn't been for a sudden storm at that time, even our main ship wouldn't have escaped...""Even until now, I don't want to recall that scene... That simply wasn't something a human could do..."Ben felt his scalp tingle as he listened.One man destroyed a fleet?Is there something wrong with the power scaling here?!Old man Zeff's expression became incredibly grave."If I'm not mistaken, that man must be 'Hawkeye' Mihawk."Hawkeye!That name again!The world's greatest swordsman!Ben's heart gave a violent jolt.However, Zoro, who was beside him, upon hearing this name, not only didn't show fear but revealed a smile that could be called fanatical!"Hawkeye..."Zoro stood up, gripped the hilt of his sword, and fighting spirit boiled in his eyes."I'm looking for him.""My purpose for going to sea is to challenge him!"Ben:!!!Ben looked at Zoro, feeling like he was watching a lunatic who was actively applying to feed kills in a high-level match.This Moss-head is crazy!Totally crazy!That's the world's best! You're going to find him? Are you going to fight him with your head?!How many people on this ship are actually normal?!Just then!"Boom—!"A deafening sound came from outside the window!Everyone turned back in horror.They saw that Don Krieg's main ship—the huge "Dreadnought" which had just been resupplied and was arrogantly preparing to turn around and attack Baratie...Was neatly sliced in two from the middle!The smooth cut looked like butter sliced by a hot knife.The huge hull was slowly sinking into the sea.Ben's eyes were about to pop out.The ship...Split open?He stared blankly out the window.On the sea, it was a mess.Beside the wreckage of the giant ship that was sinking, a boat as small as a coffin was floating quietly.On the boat sat a man.He wore a gorgeous black and red outfit, a wide-brimmed hat decorated with huge feathers, and on his back, he carried a cross-shaped black blade about as tall as he was.The man slowly raised his head, those sharp golden eyes like a hawk's, seeming to pierce through the distance of space and time, coldly scanning over.Ben's brain crashed.This...What the hell is this again?!