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"When did I say I was going with you guys?! Everyone around here, one unreliable idiot after another, How can I possibly leave this place?" Sanji muttered, lighting a cigarette as he gazed out at the sea.
"But someday I will go to the Grand Line," Sanji added quietly to himself.
"Then come with us now!" Luffy popped up beside Sanji, grinning broadly.
"The time isn't right," Sanji murmured, then a genuine, heartfelt smile spread across his face.
"Hey! Have you ever heard of the All Blue?" Sanji asked excitedly, launching into a passionate explanation of his dream to Luffy.
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Rowen glanced over at Nami, noticing her troubled expression.
'Looks like Nami's ready to talk to me.' Sensing the emotional turmoil through his Observation Haki, Rowen's lips curved slightly.
Up on the second-floor railing, Zeff watched Sanji talking animatedly about his dream, his eyes softening almost imperceptibly.
The captured Krieg Pirate grunts were left for the Baratie chefs to handle; none possessed Traits above Purple tier, making them useless to Rowen.
However, from Pearl, the Krieg Pirates' 2nd Unit Commander (whom Sanji fought in the original story before Gin finished him), Rowen did manage to plunder and convert one Pale Purple Trait.
Adding that to Gin's six Pale Purple combat Traits and the three from Jango, Rowen now possessed a total of ten Pale Purple Strength-type Upgrade Materials.
Since Rowen's Armament Haki strength was now directly linked to his physique.
Without hesitation, Rowen used all ten materials to enhance his Superhuman Demonic Physique (Deep Purple). Now, only three more base Deep Purple materials were needed to reach the Apex Purple tier!
Consequently, Rowen's Armament Haki intensity grew even stronger.
After enhancing the Superhuman Demonic Physique (Deep Purple) Trait again, Rowen, under the stunned gazes of Zeff and the others, proceeded to devour a massive amount of food to digest and refill the newly expanded stamina reserves.
"Hey! Who made this soup?!" Patty suddenly yelled while eating, pointing accusingly at a bowl of soup.
Rowen, having mostly finished his own meal, watched the scene unfold with an amused smile.
What a bunch of awkward idiots, Still, Rowen didn't dislike this kind of clumsy affection.
"That was me! Pretty good, huh? I was feeling particularly inspired today!" Sanji laughed boastfully.
"This stuff tastes awful! Who could drink this?! Is this pig slop?!" Patty retorted with disgust.
"Is there something wrong with your tongue?! Today's soup is my masterpiece!" Sanji snapped back, veins popping on his forehead. He would never compromise when it came to his cooking.
"Awful! Truly awful!"
"What is this garbage?"
More chefs came over, tasted Sanji's soup, and echoed Patty's disgust.
Sanji's expression grew increasingly thunderous until he finally exploded.
"What the hell is wrong with you guys?!" Sanji roared, glaring around at the other chefs.
"You're just a fake sous chef anyway! Only know how to solve problems with violence!"
"Yeah! Never liked you from the start!"
The chefs shot Sanji hostile glares.
"We are chefs of the sea! We cannot waste a single scrap of food!" Zeff suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.
Under Sanji's watchful eye, Zeff picked up the bowl of soup and finished it. Then—
CRASH!
To Sanji's utter disbelief, Zeff violently smashed the empty soup bowl.
"What is this mud-like soup?! If I served this to customers, my restaurant would go bankrupt!" Zeff sneered coldly.
"Hey! You damn old geezer! Take that back! What's the difference between my soup and yours?!" Having his cooking insulted by the person he respected most was unbearable. Sanji lunged forward, grabbing Zeff's collar, yelling furiously.
"Talk cooking with me? You've got another billion years to go, brat! I'm a man who's cooked on seas all over the world!" Zeff retorted, punching Sanji hard and knocking him down.
Sanji clutched his cheek, stunned. After a moment, he slowly pushed himself back up.
"Damn it!" Sanji roared in frustration, then stormed out of the restaurant.
Even after being insulted like that, he wouldn't lay a hand on Zeff.
Zeff was like a father to him.
"This soup is actually super delicious though," Luffy commented, helping himself to another bowl after Sanji left.
Usopp nodded vigorously in agreement.
Even Zoro, who seemed inexplicably predisposed to dislike Sanji, didn't deny it.
Nami quietly ladled another bowl for Rowen and herself.
Rowen looked at Nami and smiled. Sanji's cooking truly was excellent.
"Of course it's delicious. Everyone here recognizes Sanji's skill," Zeff stated calmly.
"But if we didn't say those things... how else would that idiot Sanji ever agree to leave?" Zeff looked towards Luffy and Rowen.
"Your ship still needs a cook, right? This isn't a request—but could you take that brat with you? You've seen his skills... His dream—lies on the Grand Line," Zeff said, his voice softening slightly with emotion.
"No thanks," Luffy replied simply, looking up.
"Eh?!" The other chefs stared, bewildered.
"Didn't you say your ship needed a cook?" Zeff was equally confused.
"I really want him to come with us! But he said he wants to stay here and be a cook! Even if you guys say it's okay, I can't just drag him along!" Luffy explained, then held up his empty plate.
"Another bowl!"
"So you want him to come with you willingly, is that it?" Zeff chuckled, understanding.
"That's right," Luffy mumbled around a mouthful of food.
"But will that brat actually leave willingly?" Zeff stroked his braided beard thoughtfully.
"Probably not. He's a super stubborn idiot," the chefs murmured amongst themselves.
"I heard all of that you bastards," Sanji's voice drifted in from outside. He had returned, leaning against the doorframe, lighting a cigarette and gazing up at the sky.
"Well, we're heading out now! Thanks for the hospitality!" Having finished eating, Rowen's group prepared to leave. Luffy grinned broadly.
"Hey. Wait up." Just then, Sanji approached them, carrying his packed bags.
"For the sake of my dream, I guess I'll tag along with you guys," Sanji announced, looking up with determination.
"Shishishi! We got a cook!" Luffy cheered loudly.
"Welcome aboard, Sanji," Rowen smiled.
"Yeah. Leave the cooking to me from now on," Sanji replied, walking towards the Going Merry.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to them?" Luffy asked, pointing back towards the group of chefs and Zeff watching from the Baratie deck.
"No need," Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke.
"Hey! Sanji!" Just as Sanji was about to board the ship, Zeff's voice called out.
Sanji paused but didn't turn around.
Damn old geezer... what does he want now? Does he expect a hug? A tearful farewell?
That's not how men say goodbye.
Sanji resolved not to look back, no matter what the old geezer said. He would depart with dignity, like a true man of the sea...
"...Don't catch a cold." Zeff said, a rare, genuine smile gracing his features.
Sanji bit down hard on his cigarette. His nose stung sharply. Tears welled up, blurring his vision.
"Uwaaaaahhh"
He spun around, dropping to his knees on the deck, bowing deeply towards Zeff.
"OWNER ZEFF! For all these long years—thank you for everything! I'll never forget your kindness for as long as I live!" Sanji choked out, tears streaming freely down his face.
"....."
Rowen watched this iconic scene unfold, a smile playing on his lips.
'Don't catch a cold.' Such simple words... hitting right at the heart.
"Damn brat," Zeff muttered, his own eyes misting over.
"We'll miss you!"
"Take care of yourself, Sanji, you bastard!"
The other chefs were now openly bawling as well.
"You bastards! See you again!" Sanji yelled back from the deck of the Merry, laughing through his tears.
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—[Sanji has joined the Straw Hat Pirates. Equipable Trait list updated.]—
—[Modified Exoskeleton.]—
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