Chapter 56 Terrible Soup! Terrible Acting
night.
The sea breeze dispersed the smoke and stench of gunpowder, and the Baratie restaurant was once again filled with the aroma of food and lively chatter.
Although it had been through a major battle, the restaurant was now in a dilapidated state.
But to celebrate their survival and to express their gratitude to Luffy and his crew, a grand celebration banquet is being held on the deck.
"Delicious!! This meat is so delicious!!"
Luffy was clutching the meat with bones in his hands, his cheeks stuffed up like a hamster.
He chewed frantically while mumbling something to Sanji beside him, repeating it like a broken record:
"Hey! Chef! Your cooking is so delicious! Be my partner!!"
"Glug."
Sanji sat on the railing, holding a glass of red wine, gazing at the distant sea, looking somewhat dazed.
He exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes wavering slightly, but he still steeled himself and refused:
"Stop talking nonsense, Straw Hat Boy. I've already said I have a reason to stay here."
"The old man broke his leg because of me... I won't leave until I've repaid the debt I owe this shop."
"and..."
Sanji paused, a glimmer of longing for his dream flashing in his eyes, before quickly fading away.
"Searching for All Blue is just a foolish dream."
"How could a miraculous sea, filled with ingredients from every sea in the world, possibly exist? I'm not an idiot like you!"
"Yes, it exists."
A leisurely voice interrupted.
Viktor sat on a chair to the side, elegantly holding a cup of black tea, and gently blew on it to cool it down.
"Nothing in this world is absolutely nonexistent."
Viktor put down his teacup, and his black eyes instantly transformed into crimson Sharingan, giving Sanji a slight glare.
"Buzz!"
Sanji's vision suddenly blurred.
The next second, the once monotonous sea surface suddenly disappeared.
Instead, a colorful, bizarre, and fantastical ocean has emerged.
Transparent flying fish with wings, giant sea turtles carrying fruit on their backs, schools of deep-sea fish radiating rainbow light...
Countless exotic ingredients, unheard of and unseen before, floated before his eyes, seemingly within reach.
"This...this is?!"
Sanji nearly dropped the wine glass in his hand, his eyes widened, and his breathing became rapid.
His chef's instincts fueled his intense craving for these ingredients.
"This is just one part of the Grand Line."
Viktor snapped his fingers, the illusion shattered instantly, and Sanji returned to reality.
Viktor smiled as he looked at the dejected Sanji, and added insult to injury:
"What? You're satisfied with that? Just spending your whole life in this small East China Sea, taking care of an old man with a broken leg, is that what you call the 'way of the chef'?"
"If you don't dare to confirm whether that dream really exists, then it will forever remain just a dream."
Sanji gritted his teeth, squeezing the cigarette in his hand until it was deformed.
"But..."
"No buts! Sanji-kun!"
At this moment, Usopp, his mouth greasy, leaned over:
"Our ship is super fun! Not only do we have a brave sea warrior like myself, but we also have an absolutely stunningly beautiful navigator!"
"A beautiful woman?!" Sanji's ears perked up instantly.
"That's right!" Usopp gestured wildly, displaying his first-rate bragging skills:
"Miss Nami has an angelic face and a devilish figure!"
"She has a gentle and considerate personality; she's practically a goddess of the sea! If you don't come, it will be a huge loss for you!"
"Nami-san~~~?"
Sanji's eyes instantly turned into hearts, and his body twisted into a noodle shape, all his previous confusion and deep emotions vanishing.
"Tch, you perverted kappa."
Zoro, standing to the side, curled his lip, gulped down the strong liquor in his glass, and looked disdainful.
Upon hearing Usopp's description of Nami, Victor, who was drinking tea, couldn't help but twitch his lips violently.
Gentle and considerate?
and...
Hearing another man so openly praising that little thief cat, Viktor felt a strange sense of unease.
"Hey, Usopp."
Viktor put down his teacup and looked at Usopp with a smile, "Can't even eating shut you up?"
"Since you're so strong, we'll leave the hard work of finding Nami to you later."
"Huh?!" Usopp was taken aback.
...
late at night.
The noise subsided, and Baratie returned to tranquility.
Inside the kitchen, under dim lighting.
Sanji was holding a rag, wiping the stove, which was already sparkling clean, over and over again.
His movements were mechanical and repetitive, but his eyes remained fixed on the dark sea outside the window.
"Still confused... this brat."
In the shadows on the second floor, Zhefu leaned on his wooden leg and quietly watched this scene.
A complex emotion flashed in his sharp, old eyes.
It was a mix of reluctance, relief, and resolve.
"Hmph! Since you can't take that step yourself... then let this old man give you a push."
Zeff turned around and waved to Paddy, Carl, and the others who had been waiting in the darkness behind him.
"Hey, you guys, come here."
"Boss?" Paddy and Carl came over, looking puzzled.
Zhefu lowered his voice, his tone serious:
"Listen carefully, starting tomorrow, we're going to execute a plan..."
...
The next day at noon.
As usual, the restaurant was experiencing its lunch rush.
"That old geezer hasn't seemed to have much of an appetite these past few days..."
Sanji carried an exquisite tray with a bowl of steaming, fragrant seafood soup on it.
He got up early on purpose and spent several hours carefully simmering it; both the cooking time and the seasoning were perfect.
"Hmph, drink this bowl of soup, and let's see what you have to say then."
Sanji may have been arrogant, but there was a smile in his eyes.
He pushed open the door to the chef's office and placed the soup in front of Zhefu.
"Old man, dinner's ready. This is today's special thick soup."
Zeff sat behind the table, his face terribly gloomy beneath his tall chef's hat.
Without even glancing at Sanji, he picked up a spoon, scooped up a mouthful of soup, and put it in his mouth.
"..."
The next second.
"Smack!!"
Zhefu suddenly waved his hand and smashed the bowl of carefully prepared soup onto the ground.
The porcelain bowl shattered, and golden soup splattered all over the floor, steaming hot.
Sanji froze, staring incredulously at the mess on the ground.
"What...what are you doing, you old geezer?!"
"It tastes awful!!"
Zhefu suddenly stood up, veins bulging on his forehead, pointed at the soup on the ground, and roared like thunder:
"Is this what you made?! It's like pig swill! It's so disgusting it makes me want to vomit!!"
"Wh...what?!"
Sanji's eyes widened, and a surge of anger instantly rushed to his head.
As a chef, insulting his food is more unacceptable to him than insulting his character.
"Are you crazy?! I've tasted this countless times before serving it! How could it possibly taste bad?!"
Sanji squatted down, ignoring the mess on the ground, dipped his finger in the soup that had spilled on the ground, and put it in his mouth.
It has a rich and delicious flavor.
It's perfectly perfect!
"Are you looking for trouble?! You old geezer!" Sanji stood up, grabbed Zeff by the collar, and roared.
"Looking for trouble? Humph!"
Zeff shoved Sanji aside and stared at him coldly:
"You've regressed, Sanji!"
"You haven't been focused on cooking lately at all! This kind of food, made with such confusion and hesitation, is simply an insult to our guests!"
Just then, Paddy, Carl, and the others rushed in from outside.
"Oh dear, I knew it! This kid's skill level has dropped drastically lately."
Paddy crossed his arms, a mocking smile on his face, and said in a sarcastic tone:
"The food I make is getting worse and worse, and the customers are all complaining!"
"That's right!" Karl chimed in, his eyes darting around, but his voice was loud.
"Sanji, you'd better not stay in the kitchen. You're just getting in the way. Get out of here!"
"What...what did you say?!"
Sanji looked at his usually noisy but harmonious companions, who were now hurling insults at him.
"Do you want to fight?!"
"Fine, let's fight! Who's afraid of you! You're just hanging around, refusing to leave, and you can't produce anything good. You're nothing but a burden!"
Paddy yelled and even shoved Sanji.
Carl's lips twitched involuntarily. Was Paddy's acting really that convincing?
The true feelings were revealed...
"asshole!!"
Sanji completely lost it and started fighting with several chefs, causing chaos in the scene.
...
Hey! What are you doing?!
Luffy happened to be passing by and saw this scene, and immediately became anxious.
"Sanji's cooking is delicious! Why are you bullying him! Uncle! You've gone too far!"
Luffy rolled up his sleeves, ready to rush in and speak up for Sanji.
"Smack."
Suddenly, a hand reached out and grabbed Luffy by the back of his collar, forcefully pulling him back.
Immediately afterwards, a hand covered Luffy's mouth before he could shout any further.
"Ugh?!" Luffy struggled to look behind him.
Victor leaned against the doorframe, a smug smile on his face.
"Shh—Luffy."
Victor leaned close to Luffy's ear and whispered:
"Don't bother them. This isn't bullying."
"This is a poorly acted performance called 'fatherly love,' so let's just watch and see."
"Acting?" Luffy blinked, stopped struggling, and looked bewildered.
Victor did not explain.
His eyes, which seemed to see through everything, looked through the chaotic crowd to the old man standing in the eye of the storm, who was uttering the most offensive words, but whose hands, placed behind his back, were trembling slightly.
And the chefs who, though shoving Sanji, already had tears in their eyes.
"What terrible acting..."
Viktor took a small sip of tea, a gentle smile curving his lips.
"That stupid bird should be back soon..."
(Gentlemen! Please give me a good review... I'm begging you!)Chapter 57 So-called farewells just mean not catching a cold.
The night was as still as water, and the sea breeze carried a hint of coolness.
Sanji, who had been "driven" out of the kitchen by the chefs, was now lying sprawled out on the empty deck of Baratie.
He had an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth, his gaze piercing through the swirling clouds as he stared at the brilliant starry sky above.
It was very quiet around, with only the sound of waves lapping against the restaurant's base.
In this tranquility, long-forgotten memories surged into my mind like a tide.
That was ten years ago, on that desolate, rocky island.
Despair, hunger, thirst.
There was also an old man who left all the food for him, but ate the leg himself...
Sanji subconsciously reached out and touched his stomach, which was now full and brimming with energy.
"Did you stake that leg and the whole store on me...?"
Viktor and Zeff's words echoed in his ears during the day.
"Is this what you call the 'way of the chef'—just spending your whole life in this small East China Sea, taking care of an old man with a broken leg?"
"Get out! You're just a burden!"
Sanji slowly closed his eyes, a bittersweet smile playing on his lips.
"Seriously...a bunch of idiots with terrible acting skills."
Sanji pulled a lighter from his pocket, but his hand trembled slightly as he tried several times to light the cigarette in his mouth.
The rising smoke made his eyes sting.
He finally understood.
He had always believed that staying here, spending his life protecting this restaurant, and caring for that old man until his death was the best way to atone for his broken leg.
But he was wrong.
That old jerk gave up everything to save him back then.
Is it just to train a watchdog who only knows how to guard his small plot of land and cook the same dishes every day?
No.
What Zhefu wanted to see was that boy who shared the same dream, fulfilling his unfulfilled ambition.
"Aren't parents just a bunch of unreasonable creatures...?"
"If I just stay here and die, I'll be truly wasting the value of his leg."
Only by going to that legendary ocean...
Only by taking the place of that old man and finding the "ALL BLUE" that every chef dreams of...
Go and witness the world he has always dreamed of, and then bring back the scenery and flavors there to tell him.
That would be the greatest reward for that stinky old man!
Having figured this out, Sanji stubbed out his cigarette.
"Fluttering—"
Just as the atmosphere was heavy and melancholic, a series of rapid flapping wings broke the silence.
A black shadow swooped down from the night sky and landed steadily on Victor's shoulder on the deck.
"Giggle! Grandpa! Grandpa! I'm exhausted!"
Clay was panting heavily, his small chest heaving, clearly exhausted.
Viktor was leaning against the railing, enjoying the night breeze, when he saw this and casually took out a piece of jerky and stuffed it into its mouth.
"So? Did you find it?"
"Gulp!"
Clay swallowed the jerky in one gulp, immediately regained his spirits, puffed out his chest, and reported loudly:
"Hehe! Found her! That woman with orange hair sailed northwest in her boat!"
"There...there's a strong fishy smell over there! It's the territory of the fish-men! There are so many strange people with gills!"
"Fishman?"
Luffy, standing nearby, adjusted his straw hat, his eyes instantly sharpening. "Where is that?"
Johnny and Joseph turned deathly pale and their teeth chattered when they heard the words "fishman" and "northwest."
"The northwest...could it be...A Long Paradise?!"
"That's the base of Arlong's crew, the most evil fishman pirate crew in the East Blue! Why would Nami go there?"
"Regardless of the reason."
Without any hesitation, Luffy clenched his fist. "Now that we know her location, let's go get her! And my Going Merry too!"
"But..."
Usopp glanced at the "Joseph" next to him, which could only seat two or three people, and looked troubled.
"Our ship is too small to fit so many people, and the Merry has been taken away."
"Squeak—"
Just as everyone was worrying about the boat, the restaurant door was pushed open.
Zhefu walked out with his arms crossed and his wooden legs supporting him, followed by several chefs pushing a strangely shaped boat.
That was the restaurant's spare boat, "Shhhhh," which they usually used to purchase ingredients.
Despite its strange name, the bow of the ship is shaped like a giant Psyduck, making it both comical and practical.
"Hmph, you pirates are still worrying about your ships? Kids."
Zeff snorted coldly and pointed at the ship:
"This ship is for you. It's not big, but it's enough for you to sail to the next island."
"If you're going to be at sea, you need a decent ship."
As he spoke, his gaze seemingly casually swept across a corner of the deck, and his voice rose a few decibels:
"Also, take that idiot chef who's been refusing to leave with you, so you don't have to see him and get annoyed."
Upon hearing this, Sanji, who was lying on the ground, trembled slightly.
He slowly stood up and dusted himself off.
Then, without saying a word, he turned and walked back to his room.
A moment later.
Sanji came out carrying a small blue backpack.
He approached Luffy and Victor, took out a lighter from his pocket, and lit the cigarette in his mouth with a "snap".
The firelight illuminated his slightly reddened eyes.
He took a deep breath, exhaled smoke, and tried to mask his inner turmoil with a calm tone:
"There's no other way... Since this place can no longer accommodate me, and I also want to see the outside world."
Sanji looked up at Luffy:
"Hey, Captain. Take me with you to the Grand Line."
"Then... I'll go find my own miracle."
After a brief silence.
"oh!!!!"
Luffy raised his hands and shouted excitedly, "Great!! Sanji!! You've finally agreed to join us!!"
"Yay! We have a chef now! We won't go hungry anymore!" Usopp cheered, hugging Luffy.
Viktor, watching this scene, clapped his hands with a smile.
"Ah, finally I can eat some human food. My poor stomach is finally saved."
Upon hearing this, Zoro's face darkened; he used to be the one who cooked all the meals!
What did he mean by that?
"Shut up! Red-eyed bastard!" Sanji glared at him irritably, but couldn't help but smile.
...
The moment of parting finally arrived.
The sea breeze howled.
Sanji threw his luggage onto the "Momo Momo" and prepared to board the ship.
The restaurant entrance was deserted; not a single person came out to see them off.
Paddy, Carl, and that stinky old man all seemed to have vanished in an instant.
"Heh... fine too."
Sanji lowered his eyebrows and chuckled self-deprecatingly, "It's a more decisive way to leave."
He jumped onto the boat and untied the mooring ropes.
The small boat began to slowly drift away from Baratie, carried by the waves.
Without turning around, Sanji stood with his back to the restaurant, but his ears were perked up, as if he were expecting something, or perhaps afraid of something.
Just as the ship was about to leave the range of hearing.
"Hey, Sanji."
A familiar yet rude voice drifted down from the second-floor balcony.
Sanji's body suddenly stiffened.
He stopped what he was doing, still with his back to the restaurant, without turning around.
On the second-floor balcony, Zhefu crossed his arms and watched the departing figure.
There were no lengthy instructions or sentimental farewells.
This stubborn old man, who had been defiant his entire life, simply uttered the simplest of words in an ordinary tone:
"Don't catch a cold."
boom--!
These four simple words were like a heavy hammer blow, instantly shattering all the defenses Sanji had built up in his heart.
Tears welled up in my eyes in an instant, gushing out like a flood bursting its banks.
He could no longer maintain that carefree demeanor.
I can no longer suppress my emotions.
"Waaah..."
Sanji suddenly turned around and knelt heavily on the deck.
Even though we were some distance apart, even though tears had blurred my vision.
He still kowtowed deeply to the old man who had raised him, saved him, and taught him everything.
"Daddy Zhefu!!!"
With all his might, Sanji cried out the words that had been hidden in his heart for so long:
"Thank you so much for taking care of me all this time!!!"
"I will never forget this kindness!!!"
With his cries.
"Sanji!!!"
"You bastard! Take good care of yourself!!"
We'll miss you!!!
The restaurant door was suddenly pushed open.
Paddy, Carl, and all the chefs rushed out, crying their eyes out.
They waved their spoons and spatulas, desperately waving at the departing ships, crying their hearts out.
"Waaaaah! You idiot Sanji!!"
"We absolutely must find ALL BLUE!!"
Zhefu stood on the balcony, watching this scene, and finally a tear welled up in his eye.
But he still held back, turning his head away and muttering a curse under his breath:
"Stupid men... stop making a fool of yourselves."
...
On the small boat.
Viktor watched this deeply moving scene in silence.
"Ah, so this is what they call... the farewell of men of the sea."
He sighed, then took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Luffy and Usopp, who were crying even more bitterly than Sanji.
"Hey! Why are you crying so hard? Wipe your noses, the snot is dripping into your mouths."
"Waaaaah! Victor! Sanji! This is so touching!" Luffy cried while blowing his nose.
Although Zoro was lying in the cabin covered in bandages, a smile appeared on his lips when he heard the commotion outside.
"Ugh, so noisy."
The wind is blowing.
The sails billowed.
The shopping ship, named "Shhhhh," carrying the Straw Hat Pirates, sailed northwestward through the waves.
Usopp stood at the bow of the ship, pointing ahead with great pride.
He was just about to offer some words of encouragement as "captain" when Luffy, who had anticipated this, punched him down on the deck.
At the bow of the ship, Luffy wiped away his tears and pointed ahead with high spirits:
"Men! All assemble!!"
"Target—Alon Amusement Park!!"
"Bring Nami back!!"
"oh!!!!"Chapter 58 Great Power Boost! Lightning Release: Chidori Appears!
The "Shhhh" slowly sailed northwestward on the azure sea, rising and falling with the waves.
Although the ship is shaped like a comical duck, the atmosphere on board is unusually noisy and full of tension.
"Ah... my Nami-san..."
Sanji leaned against the edge of the duck boat, holding a heart-shaped fruit platter that he had carefully prepared for Nami.
He looked at the group of sweaty, smelly men around him, his face full of disgust.
"Why! Why do I have to squeeze in with all of you guys?!"
Sanji shouted in grief and indignation:
"It's one thing that the beautiful Nami is gone, but why is there another half-dead, green-haired creature covered in bandages?!"
"Who are you calling 'green algae head'? Curly eyebrows."
Zoro, who was recuperating in the shadows of the cabin, was physically weak, but he was not at all inferior in his verbal sparring.
He opened one eye and gave Sanji a cold glance.
"If you want to fight, I don't mind kicking you down to feed the fish."
"Huh? What nonsense are you spouting, you seriously injured soldier!"
Sanji's forehead veins bulged. "Believe it or not, I'll turn you into a seaweed salad right now!"
"Sanji! I want to eat that!"
Completely ignoring the tense atmosphere, Luffy stretched out his arm and snatched the fruit plate from Sanji's hand. He opened his mouth wide and took a big bite, almost swallowing the plate whole.
"Mmm! Delicious! Delicious! Sanji, your cooking is amazing!"
"Damn it!...Never mind, it's such a waste to feed you beasts." Sanji covered his face with heartache.
"Gah gah! It's so noisy!"
Just then, a dissatisfied shout rang out.
Clay the raven, who was sleeping on Victor's chest, was woken up.
It flapped its wings and flew to the ship's side, tilting its head and looking at Zoro and Sanji, who were arguing, with disdain in its beady green eyes:
"You two idiots! You're noisier than crows in heat! Can't you let me get a good night's sleep?!"
"ha?!!"
Sanji and Zoro moved in unison, turning their heads at the same time to glare fiercely at Clay.
"What did you say, you fat bird? Believe me or not, I'll roast you!"
"I'm really hungry, roasted bird meat sounds good." Zoro's hand also rested on the hilt of his sword.
Despite the threat posed by the two main players, Clay remained completely calm.
It puffed out its chest, pointed at the two of them with its wings, and started its mocking mode:
"Come on! Come on! You're a lecherous cook who only knows how to fawn over women, and a green-haired, directionally challenged guy who can't even walk properly! Do you think I'm afraid of you?!"
"Pfft—Hahaha!"
Usopp and Luffy, whose mouth was full of fruit, burst out laughing when they heard this, and rolled around on the deck clutching their stomachs.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"Damn crow!!"
Zoro and Sanji instantly broke down and surprisingly united, rushing towards Clay from the left and right.
"Gah gah! Can't catch you! Idiot! Nya ne ne ne!"
The small cabin was instantly thrown into chaos, with chickens running wild and feathers flying everywhere.
At the stern, Johnny and Joseph were sweating profusely and laboriously rowing the boat.
The two looked at each other, tears welling up in their eyes.
"Guys... can you stop messing around... the boat's going to capsize..."
...
Amidst the commotion, Victor remained remarkably quiet.
He crossed his arms, leaned against the bow of the boat, and closed his eyes to rest, as if the noise around him had nothing to do with him.
In reality, his mind had already sunk into the system space in his mind.
[Current available Ninja Points: 3700.]
Looking at that string of numbers, Viktor felt a surge of satisfaction.
In addition to the rewards for defeating Forpody and Creek.
With the huge reward that just changed the plot and Ah Jin's fate, his assets have finally reached an unprecedented level.
"Our next destination is Arlong Paradise, and our opponent will be a fishman."
The fish-men are born with ten times the strength of humans, and they are even more powerful in the water.
Fighting fish-men at sea is a huge disadvantage for ability users.
Viktor scrolled quickly through the extensive list of ninjutsu techniques.
Soon, his gaze settled on a ninjutsu he had long admired.
[Lightning Release: Chidori]: Rank A Ninjutsu. Price: 2000 Ninjutsu Points.
By concentrating a large amount of lightning-attribute chakra in the palm, a high-intensity electric current is formed, which has extremely strong penetrating power and paralyzing effect.
Victor's lips curled slightly, and without the slightest hesitation, he said, "Exchange!"
[Ding! 2000 Ninja Points consumed. Congratulations, host, you have learned an A-rank ninjutsu: Lightning Release: Chidori.]
Viktor didn't plan to save the remaining 1500 points for the New Year.
With the Grand Line about to be entered, the more methods the better.
[Ding! 800 Ninja Points consumed to exchange for the Ninjutsu: Shadow Clone Technique (Rank B).]
[Ding! Consumed 700 Ninja Points to exchange for Ninjutsu: Illusionary Shackles Technique (Rank B).]
This is a powerful control technique that can pull enemies into a genjutsu space using the Sharingan, and deprive them of their ability to move by creating the illusion that their limbs are driven into wedges.
It is one of Itachi's signature genjutsu (albeit a low-powered version).
[Ding! Exchange successful. Current Ninja Way Value: 200.]
Viktor felt a pang of heartache as he watched his balance vanish instantly.
Consciousness returns to reality.
Viktor slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing you see is Clay's magnified bird face.
The fat crow, having just won a decisive victory in the "verbal battle," was now standing triumphantly on Victor's chest, its beak wide open, cawing wickedly.
"..."
Viktor's eye twitched.
He reached out expressionlessly and grabbed Clay's feet.
"Huh?" Clay's laughter stopped abruptly, and he looked down at Victor. "Grandpa? What's wrong?"
"That laugh was awful."
Victor said something indifferently, then with a flick of his arm, he lifted Clay upside down and shoved him into the seawater beside the boat.
"Gurgle gurgle!!"
"...Help!! Grandpa...glug...we're on the same side!!"
...
Several hours later.
The sea breeze carried a hint of the land.
"I see it! There's an island ahead!"
Luffy, sitting on the duck's head, shouted excitedly.
Just then.
"Splash—!!"
Suddenly, the sea ahead exploded, creating huge waves.
A massive sea monster, as large as a small mountain, suddenly emerged from the sea, blocking everyone's path.
It had a head like a cow, but a body like a giant sea serpent, and it was roaring deafeningly at the small boat with its gaping maw open.
"Moo—!!!"
This is MooMoo, a combat sea beast kept by the Arlong Pirates.
"Wow!! What a huge cow!!" Luffy's eyes instantly turned into the shape of meat, and his mouth watered. "It looks so delicious!!"
"Oh? That's a good ingredient."
Sanji rolled up his sleeves, his eyes gleaming with the brilliance of a chef. "With a size this big, we could make enough grilled meat patties to last a month."
"Meat!! Let me have it!" Luffy rolled up his sleeves and was about to charge forward.
"etc."
A hand blocked Luffy's path.
Viktor stood up from his seat, stretched his wrists, and a look of eager anticipation spread across his face.
"Luffy, Sanji, don't eat this big guy yet."
He looked at the enormous sea monster, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes:
"I just bought a nice new knife and I was worried about where to practice it."
"A new sword?" Zoro glanced instinctively at the sword at Viktor's waist upon hearing this.
He did not draw his sword.
Victor walked to the bow of the ship, facing the enormous sea monster that was about to pounce, and slowly took a deep breath.
His left hand gripped his right wrist, with his right palm facing down.
The newly acquired lightning-attribute chakra within his body began to surge wildly, gathering in his palm along the meridians.
"Sizzle... sizzle..."
Blue and white arcs of electricity began to dance at his fingertips, the violent energy compressing and condensing.
Immediately afterwards.
"Squeak squeak squeak squeak—!!!"
A sharp and dense bird call suddenly rang out on the sea. At first, it was just a few calls, but in an instant, it turned into a roar of thousands of birds calling at the same time!
The piercing high-frequency noise made everyone on the ship cover their ears.
"What...what is that sound?!" Usopp cried out in terror.
Lightning Release: Chidori.
Victor murmured.
At this moment, his right hand was already enveloped in a dazzling blue-white lightning, as if he were holding a restless bolt of lightning!
"Moo?!"
The enormous sea beast Moo Moo was startled by the light and sound, and hesitated for a moment.
But it was in that very moment.
"Instantaneous Movement Technique".
"Whoosh!"
Viktor's figure vanished from the spot in an instant.
The next second, he appeared on the sea surface, right below Moo Moo's enormous body.
With chakra erupting beneath his feet, Viktor shot forward like an arrow, his right hand carrying a raging bolt of lightning, plunging fiercely into the seawater beneath MooMoo!
"Go."
"boom--!!!"
Lightning strikes the water and explodes instantly.
The blue current spread instantly at an alarming speed along the natural conductor of seawater, completely enveloping Moo's enormous body.
"Moooooooo!!!"
The sea monster let out an extremely shrill scream.
A powerful electric current instantly coursed through its entire body, numbing its nerves and scorching its skin.
Amidst the crackling and popping sounds, the enormous sea monster convulsed violently on the surface of the sea a few times.
Then, it rolled its eyes, exhaled a puff of black smoke, and floated straight up on the water with its eyes rolled back.
"Done."
Viktor flicked away the remaining arcs of electricity from his hands, stood on the sea surface using his chakra, and nodded in satisfaction.
"It seems to be working well. This is what we call electrofishing."
On the small boat.
A deathly silence.
Johnny and Joseph dislocated their jaws and didn't even realize their oars had fallen into the sea.
Sanji dropped the cigarette from his mouth, staring dumbfounded at the lingering spark of lightning, muttering to himself:
"That red-eyed bastard... he can actually unleash lightning?"
Meanwhile, inside the cabin, Zoro stared intently at Viktor's retreating figure, his heart filled with turbulent emotions.
"That sound...that penetrating power..."
"And that lightning..."
Zoro gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, a smirk playing on his lips.
"This guy... is a truly unfathomable monsterChapter 59 Uchiha's Beast Taming Technique, Flying Duck!
On the sea, a faint aroma of roasted meat filled the air.
"Sizzle..."
The enormous sea monster rolled its eyes and floated on the water like a floating island, its body still twitching slightly from time to time due to the residual electric current.
"Meat!! Such a huge piece of roasted meat!!"
Luffy lay on the bow of the ship, his eyes fixed on the huge lump of protein in front of him, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth, like a wolf that hadn't eaten for three days.
"That's exactly what I was thinking too."
Sanji had somehow already produced a sharpening stick and a knife, elegantly rolled up his sleeves, and his eyes gleamed with the cold light characteristic of a chef:
"Although it was charred a bit, once you cut off the skin, the meat inside should be just right."
"But it's top-quality sea monster meat; it would be absolutely delicious made into steaks."
"Alright! Let's dig in!"
Luffy cheered, stretched out his rubber arms, and was about to pounce on the food.
"Smack."
Suddenly, a hand reached out and firmly grabbed Luffy by the back of his collar.
"Wait, you two gluttons."
Viktor smiled and pulled Luffy back, then looked at the still-breathing sea monster and shook his head:
"It would be such a waste to eat it. Our 'What What What' boat is only rowed by manpower, it's too slow."
He pointed to Moo Moo, who was still convulsing, a shrewd glint in his eyes:
"Isn't this a ready-made 'motor'?"
"A motor?" Luffy and Sanji were both taken aback.
Just then, the moo on the sea surface let out a painful groan and slowly opened its big, bell-like eyes.
It shook its drowsy head; the terrifying electric shock still left it with lingering fear.
When it saw the few humans on the small boat in front of it, especially the black-haired boy who had just given it "electrotherapy".
His enormous pupils instantly shrank to the size of pinpoints, and fear filled his entire body.
"Moo!!"
It let out a terrified roar and turned to dive into the deep sea to escape.
"Trying to run?"
Viktor sneered, took a step, and floated down like a wisp of smoke onto Moo's huge nose.
"Buzz—"
Those jet-black eyes instantly transformed into crimson Sharingan, the two tomoe slowly rotating, eerie and cold.
A terrifying sense of oppression from the mental level instantly enveloped Moo's not-so-developed brain.
"Flutter!"
Clay, who had been poised to fly over, landed steadily on Victor's shoulder.
It spread its black wings and, feigning power, cried out:
"Hey! Big guy! Look me in the eyes!"
As a user of the "Echo Fruit," Clay is fluent in animal languages and is a perfect translator.
Its beady green eyes widened, and it translated Victor's meaning in a hoarse voice:
"My husband said we want to go to the island over there!"
"I'm giving you two choices!"
"First, obediently pull the boat forward at full speed!"
"second..."
Sizzle!
Viktor readily raised his hand, and the blue-white arc of electricity that drove the bull to despair once again lit up his palm.
Clay added ominously:
"Secondly, we'll roast you right now so we can have dinner! Hehehe!"
Looking at the red-eyed boy in front of him who exuded a demonic aura.
Then look at the blond chef next to him who wants to make it into sashimi, and the straw-hatted boy who's drooling and wants to swallow it whole.
MooMoo's psychological defenses completely collapsed.
"Moo moo moo moo..."
This ferocious sea beast, which once roamed the ocean, now resembled a wronged puppy, its eyes brimming with tears as it let out a mournful cry and nodded frantically.
It doesn't want to become a whole roasted cow!
"That's right, good boy."
Viktor put away his Sharingan and lightning, and patted its huge bull head with satisfaction.
Then he retrieved the thick rope that was originally used to secure the anchor from the ship, skillfully tied a knot, and put it around Moo's neck.
The other end was tightly tied to the neck of the duck at the bow of the "Shhhh" ship.
"Alright, guys, hurry up!"
Victor jumped back onto the boat, sat at the bow, and tightened the rope like a seasoned coachman.
"Full speed ahead! Destination—Northwest!"
"Moo!!!"
In order to save its life, Moo Moo unleashed an unprecedented potential.
It roared, its huge tail slammed against the sea, and its entire body shot out like a torpedo.
"collapse!"
The cable taut instantly.
The duck boats, which were originally moving slowly, seemed to have been equipped with propulsion systems in that instant.
"boom--!!"
The immense inertia caused the bow of the ship to rise high, almost perpendicular to the sea surface.
Immediately afterwards, the small shopping boat accelerated wildly on the sea, and because it was going so fast, the bottom of the boat lifted off the water and began to skip across the waves!
"Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!"
The duck boat bounced wildly on the sea like a stone thrown with great force.
"Waaaaaah!!"
Johnny and Joseph instantly hugged each other, tears and snot streaming down their faces, their screams shattered by the wind.
"It's too fast!! It's going to fly!!"
"This isn't a boat at all!!!"
Usopp clung tightly to the mast, his eyes bulging out of their sockets from the wind, his entire face distorted by the gale.
"Victor!! Slow it down!! I'm falling apart!!"
"Yahoo—!!!"
Only Luffy, the fearless captain, rode directly on the duck's head at the bow of the ship.
He held the duck's beak in one hand and waved his straw hat in the other, shouting excitedly:
"Wow, amazing! Wow, even faster! I'm flying! Hehehe!"
The most miserable one was Zoro, who was lying in the cabin.
"Bang! Crash! Thud!"
As the ship rocked violently, the heavily injured Zoro bounced around like a marble in the cramped cabin.
"Ouch...it hurts..."
Zoro clutched the newly stitched wound on his chest, wincing in pain, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
He struggled to stick his head out and roared at the leisurely figure at the bow of the boat:
"Victor!! You're a madman!!"
"Are you trying to kill me?! My wound... it's reopened, you bastard!!"
When Victor heard Zoro's complaint, he remembered that there was a sick person, so he quickly went over to help Zoro steady himself.
He then glanced back at the screaming crowd and said with a smile:
"Stop complaining, isn't this much faster than rowing? At this speed, we'll catch up with Nami soon."
"This isn't about speed!! You red-eyed bastard!!"
Sanji was also tossed around so much that he was completely disoriented, and he clung tightly to the side of the ship to avoid being thrown off.
...
With Moo Moo's desperate pulling, the journey that originally took half a day was shortened to half an hour.
Soon, an island covered in green forest appeared on the horizon.
That's the island where Cocoyasi Village is located.
"We're here! I see it!" Luffy pointed excitedly ahead.
However, Victor soon discovered a serious problem.
This duck boat... has no brakes.
With Moo Moo's terrifying strength accelerating the boat, its speed has reached an absurd level, making it impossible to stop.
It was about to crash into the nearshore reef area.
"Moo??"
The moo ahead also noticed something was wrong, turned around and showed a frightened look, as if asking: How do we stop?
There's no other way.
Viktor stood up, his eyes narrowed, and he decisively gave the order:
"Moo! With all your might! Throw the boat onto the shore!!"
"Moo?!"
Although the sea monster was confused, it still subconsciously complied under Victor's tyranny.
It braked suddenly, its huge body coming to a stop in the seawater, and then, using inertia, it swung its thick neck upwards!
"collapse--!!"
The cable around its neck snapped instantly.
Having lost its traction, the "What What What" surged straight out of the sea with its terrifying inertia!
"Waaaaaah!!"
"It's flying...it really is flying!!!"
Amidst screams from everyone on the ship (except for Luffy's cheers).
This little boat with its comical duck-shaped head, like a cannonball fired from its barrel, traced a perfect parabola and flew directly over the coastline and beach.
"Boom—!!!"
A deafening roar erupted.
The "What What What" crashed into the dense forest near the village, leaving billowing dust and knocking down a large number of trees and startling countless birds.
Smoke and dust filled the air.
Viktor smiled and put Zoro down from the princess's arms.
"Ah, I thought I was going to die. You've got some conscience after all." Zoro landed and tightened his grip on his sword.
"Cough cough... cough cough..."
Sanji struggled to push away the wooden plank pressing down on him, "I absolutely... I absolutely have to kill that red-eyed bastard..."
And deep in the woods not far away.
The commotion instantly alerted several fishmen patrolling nearby, as well as the villagers who lived cautiously in the village.
"What was that sound?!"
"Has a shell been fired at us?"
"I think I saw... a duck?"Chapter 60 Terrible acting, the most wicked witch?
The woods near Cocoyasi Village looked as if they had just experienced a small meteorite impact.
Smoke and dust filled the air, and many trees collapsed.
In the center of the ruins, the "What What What" ship with its comical duck-head design was stuck upside down on a huge broken tree.
The duck had a twig in its beak, making it look both pitiful and funny.
"Cough cough... What exactly fell down..."
A figure with short blue hair and healthy tanned skin parted the bushes and cautiously peeked out.
It was Nami's older sister, Nojiko.
She was working in the orange grove when she heard the loud noise and rushed over immediately.
However, when she saw what was in front of her, she was completely stunned.
Beside that strange duck boat, a group of oddly shaped people were lying haphazardly.
A boy wearing a straw hat is hanging from a tree branch, laughing heartily;
A long-nosed creature was lying on the ground, foaming at the mouth and convulsing.
There were also two people dressed in the same clothes hugging each other and crying their eyes out.
The two were also shouting nonsense like "We survived!" and "Thank God!"
And in the very center of the ruins.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch... That red-eyed bastard, he definitely did it on purpose..."
Sanji pushed away the wooden plank that was pressing down on him and struggled to his feet, clutching his aching back.
That fall almost made him throw up his dinner from the night before.
However, the moment he looked up, his gaze met that of Nojiko, who was not far away.
At this moment, Nojiko was running so fast that fine beads of sweat hung on her forehead, and a few strands of blue hair clung to her cheeks. Her wild beauty instantly pierced Sanji's heart.
"Buzz—"
The pain in Sanji's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by two enormous red hearts.
He twisted his body into a pretzel shape in an instant, sliding down to his knees in a posture that defied the laws of the human body.
"Oh!! Where is this? Is this heaven?!"
Sanji pulled a wildflower from somewhere and handed it to him with deep affection:
"Beautiful sister! Did you save me? Ah, to repay your kindness, I am willing to dedicate my life to you!"
"I'm Sanji, may I ask your name...?"
"idiot."
A cold voice came from the side.
Zoro leaned against a tree trunk, looking at Sanji with an expression that suggested he was looking at trash:
"You can't resist women? You perverted kappa."
"What did you say?! Green algae head!"
Sanji turned around instantly, his face contorted with rage. "This is basic etiquette for a gentleman towards a lady! What do you know, you muscle-bound creature!"
"Caw caw caw! It's like a crow in heat! Caw caw caw!"
Clay emerged from the tangled branches, shook his feathers, and flew onto Viktor's shoulder, loudly mocking Sanji:
"Uncle Clay, I'm embarrassed for you! Hahaha!"
"A...talking crow?!"
Nojiko was so frightened by what she saw that she took a step back and covered her mouth. Just who were these people?
"Hey! What happened, Nojiko!"
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached.
Hearing the commotion, Nami, who was nearby, rushed over in a panic.
When she parted the bushes and saw the group of disheveled yet incredibly familiar figures before her, she froze on the spot.
His pupils contracted violently, and he stopped breathing.
Luffy, Usopp, Zoro... and even that chef Sanji.
They... actually caught up with us?
Nami's gaze swept over everyone.
Finally, when her gaze fell upon the black-haired boy standing in the shade of a tree, brushing the dust off his clothes, her heart felt as if it had been violently clenched.
Victor.
At that moment, Viktor also raised his head, his deep black eyes calmly looking at her.
A slight smile played on his lips, as if to say, "Got you."
Guilt, gratitude, fear... countless emotions surged within Nami's heart.
'Why...why did you chase after us...you idiots...'
'If it's these guys... maybe they really can...'
But the next second, reason extinguished the flame that had just ignited in her heart like ice water.
No...no.
The opponent here is Ah Long!
It's that incredibly cruel fish-man monster that ruled the entire Cocoyasi Village!
Even the Navy is helpless against this; no matter how strong these guys are, they can't possibly be a match for the fishmen.
If we let them stay, they will be killed!
Just like Bellemere back then...
They must be driven away!
Nami took a deep breath, her nails digging deep into her palms. She bit her lip tightly, forcibly suppressing the stinging in her eyes.
When she looked up again, her face was now adorned with a cold, mocking expression.
"Ha...you bunch of idiots, you're like a persistent ghost."
Nami crossed her arms, raised her chin slightly, and looked at the crowd with a disdainful gaze:
"They actually tracked us all the way here... Don't you guys understand the situation yet?"
"Nami!!"
Usopp, oblivious to anything amiss, excitedly got up from the ground.
"Great! We've finally found you! Come back with us! Where's the Going Merry?"
"go back?"
Nami sneered and interrupted him:
"Don't joke around. Why would I go back with a bunch of poor pirates like you?"
She pointed to the surrounding land, her tone icy:
"Look carefully, this is Arlong Paradise territory, and I am an officer of the Arlong Pirates."
"I joined you before only to use you to make money for me. Now I've returned to my territory with the money and the ship..."
Nami couldn't bear it any longer, so she turned around and faced away from everyone.
"You are no longer of any use to me. If you know what's good for you, get out of here! Leave the Going Merry to me as payment for your lives."
"Wh...what?! That was a gift from Kaya!!"
Usopp's smile froze instantly as he stared in disbelief at Nami's retreating figure.
"Nami... what are you talking about... aren't we partners?"
"Partners? Don't make me laugh." Nami scoffed. "Pirates don't have partners; they just use each other."
"You woman!!"
Johnny and Joseph, enraged, drew their knives, their faces contorted with fury. "We've been so good to you! And you really are that kind of treacherous witch?!"
Zoro didn't speak, but simply rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, his sharp eyes fixed on Nami's back.
Luffy didn't say anything either.
He just stood there, holding his straw hat, his eyes fixed on Nami, without saying a word.
The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point.
Nojiko stood to the side, looking at her sister's slightly trembling shoulders. She opened her mouth, but didn't know how to explain.
"Oh..."
In the midst of this deathly silence, a soft laugh suddenly rang out.
Viktor dusted himself off and walked towards Nami step by step.
"Hey! What are you doing! Don't come any closer!"
Hearing footsteps, Nami turned around in a panic, trying to maintain her fierce expression. "I told you to get lost..."
However, she hadn't finished speaking.
A hand was then extended in front of her.
Viktor didn't attack her. Instead, he reached out and unceremoniously pinched Nami's delicate cheeks, pulling them apart with a little force.
"Huh?!"
Nami's originally cold and ruthless expression instantly crumbled, and she was pinched into a comical duck beak.
"Let...let go..."
Nami blushed slightly and grabbed Victor's wrists with both hands, trying to break free, but Victor's hands were as firm as iron clamps.
"What do you want to do, you red-eyed bastard! I'm not a member of your pirate crew anymore..." Nami protested indistinctly.
Viktor bent down slightly, his smiling eyes fixed closely on Nami's eyes.
"Miss Navigator".
Viktor said softly, with a hint of mockery in his voice:
"I have to say, your acting skills... are absolutely terrible."
"Not even as good as an old man with a broken leg."
"What…" Nami's pupils contracted.
Viktor released his grip, ignoring Nami's explanation, and slowly pulled a blank "ledger" from his pocket, flipping through it with an air of importance.
"Come on, let's settle the accounts."
"They stole the Going Merry, a priceless treasure given to them by Miss Kaya. If we convert it to Berries... well, let's say one hundred million."
"In addition to the hurtful words you just said, which caused enormous psychological damage to our captain's young mind, the compensation for emotional distress... should be at least one hundred million."
"And the 310 million you owed me before, plus the interest from this period..."
Viktor closed the "ledger," smiled at the dumbfounded Nami, and held up five fingers:
"Congratulations, Miss Nami. You now owe me approximately 600 million Berries."
"Trying to renege on our debt and kick us out? No way!"
Victor stepped forward, getting closer to Nami again, and said with a smile:
"You'll have to work for us for the rest of your life until you pay this debt back. No matter where you run off to, I'll bring you back to pay it back."
Upon hearing this, Noki, who was watching the scene unfold, raised an eyebrow and squinted as he looked between the two men.
"you..."
Nami was left speechless by his retort.
Looking at the man in front of her, who was all talk about money but refused to let her go, the high wall she had built in her heart began to shake violently, and tears welled up in her eyes.
These idiots... why can't they understand human language?!
Those fishmen... they're monsters!
"Hahaha! Is it over there?!"
Just then, a loud and unpleasant laugh came from deep in the woods, breaking the delicate atmosphere.
Nami's face turned deathly pale instantly.
From the other end of the woods, a dozen tall, menacing-looking fishmen swaggered over.
The leader was a minor fishman leader in the Arlong Pirates.
"Huh? Is that Nami?"
The leader spotted Nami, then his gaze fell on Luffy and the others, and his eyes turned fierce.
"There are humans too? Could they be invaders?"
"Oh no! We've been discovered!"
Nami was terrified, and the fear in her heart erupted instantly.
If Arlong finds out that she brought outsiders back, not only this group, but also Nojiko and the village will suffer!
"Run!!"
Nami could no longer maintain her act; she slapped Viktor's hand away and pushed him frantically, her voice trembling with tears:
"Please! Run! Hide! Those guys are fishmen! They'll kill you!!"
However.
No matter how she pushed, Viktor in front of her was like a tree that had taken root, not moving an inch.
She even fell into Victor's arms because of her exertion and her cunning in her anxiety.
Luffy stood still, watching the fishmen approach, calmly picking his nose with his little finger, his tone indifferent:
"No way. Baka."