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Outside, the sound of battle thundered across the sea deck clashing blades, gunfire, and battle cries echoing in the salty air.
Aero made his way calmly to the kitchen door.
There, a chef in black stood guard, fork held in trembling hands. "This is the kitchen no unauthorized entry!" he warned, his legs shaking.
Aero smiled faintly. He knew this guy, Patty, once a ruthless pirate before trading blood for broth. The one standing behind him, with the round sunglasses and thick beard, must be Carne, his longtime kitchen partner.
Aero didn't push past them. He simply called inside.
"Zeff! I'm here to talk."
There was no response.
He raised his voice slightly. "Red-Leg Zeff! You really not gonna come out for a chat?"
Only when his old moniker rang through the room did Zeff finally turn. With a grumble, he shoved Patty aside and stepped out.
"Follow me," he said curtly, heading up the stairs.
---
They stood together on the second-floor balcony, overlooking the battle erupting below.
From this angle, they could see Sanji leaning casually against the railing a floor down, watching the fight unfold alongside the crew's officers Dylan, Eddie, and Gin.
Zeff squinted toward them and broke the silence. "So… what does the 'Rising Storm of the East Blue' want with an old man like me?"
Aero chuckled. "You're too kind. When you were ruling the seas, I wasn't even born yet."
Zeff nodded thoughtfully. "Old age is dying out. You brats are the future now."
He looked down at Sanji, then at the chaos below, and finally back to Aero.
"I still remember when the world went crazy when Golden Lion escaped Impel Down. That was over twenty years ago… and now, silence. The old guard's fading. The new blood is rising."
Aero stayed quiet. He could tell this wasn't a history lesson. These were the musings of a pirate who had been forced to walk away, but whose heart still sailed.
Sanji was his legacy. The heir to his skills. Zeff hadn't passed his prized kicking techniques to just anyone.
"You're here for my logbook, aren't you?" Zeff asked suddenly, turning.
"Nope," Aero replied, shaking his head. "Not interested."
Zeff raised an eyebrow. "Even if you say that, it's not like I'd hand it over anyway. That book holds the memories of me and my crew."
"I figured as much," Aero said with a shrug. "But that's not why I'm here."
Zeff crossed his arms. "Then what do you want?"
"I want your experience… and your Log Pose."
Zeff paused. "I did sail the Grand Line for a year. Visited a lot of islands. My Log Pose is full it's already locked onto the next island I never reached. If you use it, you'll be following my path."
Aero frowned. Right, he hadn't considered that.
Would Ray be able to get another Log Pose in time?
Seeing his hesitation, Zeff added, "I do have a fresh one. Brand new."
Aero's eyes lit up. He raised a hand. "Then—"
Zeff didn't move. He just pointed down at Sanji.
"What do you think of that kid?"
Aero hesitated. "Aside from being a pervert, he's solid."
Zeff barked out a laugh. "Blunt, aren't you? So—interested in taking him with you?"
Aero shook his head immediately. "Nah. No women on my crew yet. Not really his ideal setup."
The chivalry thing? A dealbreaker. A crew member who couldn't fight women was a liability and Aero wasn't about to compromise on survival.
Zeff studied him for a moment. Then he nodded.
"Alright. Wait here."
---
Below, the clash between pirates and marines continued to rage.
When Zeff returned, he held a pristine Log Pose in his hand.
He handed it over. "Here. It's yours."
"Thank you," Aero said sincerely. He pocketed it without hesitation and shouted down toward his crew:
"Time to wrap it up! We're leaving!"
The moment his words rang out, the crew's movements below shifted. The battle pace quickened, clean, efficient, and with no wasted energy.
Zeff glanced back at Aero. "Still sure about not taking that brat with you?"
Aero didn't waver. "Yeah. Not this time."
"Alright then. One last piece of advice."
Aero nodded, waiting.
"Follow the Log Pose. But if you can, buy a couple of Eternal Poses too. They'll take you straight to fixed islands useful if the currents get wild. You might not find another chance later."
Zeff paused, then added, "It's been a long time since I left the Grand Line. The seas change fast. Don't rely on old wisdom too much it'll only weaken your sense of adventure."
Aero smiled. "Got it."
He gave a respectful nod, then vaulted from the balcony.
Landing lightly among the fallen marines, he offered an apologetic smile toward the staff peeking out from the restaurant.
"Sorry about the mess."
Turning to his crew, he called out:
"Set sail! We've got a course to chart!"
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