"Sanji, what are you doing? Don't hit the guests!"
An old chef with a pink scarf around his neck came out of the bathroom, shouting at Sanji.
The man glanced at the Marine officer Sanji was holding up and frowned. "Wait a minute—isn't that a Marine lieutenant?"
Sanji turned his head, glaring. "What are you doing, you stinky cook?! Don't call my name so casually…"
The old chef stepped closer with a scowl. "You, a stinky cook, don't get to call me a stinky cook!"
He jabbed a finger toward Sanji. "A restaurant only exists because of its guests. How dare you lay a hand on one of them? What's wrong with you?"
Sanji sneered. "So what if he's a guest? This bastard wasted precious food and insulted the chef!"
Thump—
Sanji dropped Lieutenant Fullbody to the floor with disgust. "That's why I gave him a taste of his own medicine."
"W-what kind of place is this…? Treating customers like this… I'll destroy it. I'll destroy this whole restaurant!" Fullbody growled, clutching his bruised body.
"Contact the government immediately!" he barked at his men.
Sanji's eyebrow twitched, fury flaring. "Then I'll just finish you off right here!"
Fullbody paled, sweat dripping down his forehead. He stumbled back, stammering, "W-what… what are you going to do? Don't… don't come any closer!"
"Sous-chef! Calm down!" the other chefs rushed forward, holding Sanji back.
"Let me go! This guy's too abominable—I'll—"
BOOM!
Before Sanji could finish, the ceiling suddenly collapsed. Zeff and Luffy crashed down from above in a cloud of dust.
"Boss, what are you doing?!" the chefs cried in confusion.
Zeff ignored them, yanking Luffy up by the collar. "Look what you've done, brat! You even put a hole in my ceiling!"
"Eh? What does this have to do with me? Weren't you the one who fell through, old man?!" Luffy shouted back.
"You little—!"
"Boss, stop Sanji!" the chefs interrupted.
Zeff turned, his mustache bristling. "You again, causing trouble, Sanji!"
Sanji froze at his voice. "Zeff—!"
BANG!
Zeff's peg leg slammed into Sanji's side, sending him staggering. "Stop wrecking my restaurant! Do you want the place I built with my own hands to go bankrupt?!"
Sanji gritted his teeth. "Old man, I—"
Fullbody, smirking through his pain, muttered, "Heh… so arrogant before, now he's the one getting beaten. Pathetic…"
But his grin faded instantly.
"And you, get out of here!" Zeff barked.
"Eh—?"
CRACK!
One swift kick sent Fullbody flying across the room, blood spraying from his mouth.
"W-what's with these chefs…? They're like pirates themselves…" Fullbody groaned, clutching his ribs.
Suddenly, a Marine burst in, panicked. "Lieutenant Fullbody! Bad news—one of Don Krieg's men we captured has escaped!"
"What?!" Fullbody shouted. "But he hadn't eaten for three or four days… how could he—?"
The thought hit him hard. He wasn't scared of a starving man. He was scared of the pirate crew behind him.
"Don't tell me… the Kriegs Pirates?"
Gasps rippled through the restaurant.
BANG!
The Marine who brought the news collapsed in a pool of blood, shot through the chest.
A gaunt pirate with hollow eyes staggered inside, pistol still smoking. He slumped into a chair, tossing his boots onto the table.
"Anything's fine… just bring me food. This is a restaurant, isn't it?" he rasped.
"Welcome, sir~" one of the chefs greeted him stiffly, forcing a smile.
"I'll only say this once—bring the food, now!" the pirate barked.
The chef scratched his head, frowning. "Sorry, sir. We don't serve people with empty pockets. Do you have money?"
Fullbody smirked from the floor. That idiot chef's going to get himself killed…
"You dare…?" the pirate snarled, raising his gun to the chef's forehead.
But before he could fire—
CRACK!
The chef's fist smashed into his face, dropping him flat on the floor.
"Bastard! How dare you break my restaurant's chairs!" Paddy snapped, dusting off his knuckles.
"Well done, Chef!" the guests cheered.
"If you don't have money, you're not a customer!" Paddy declared. He hoisted the pirate like a sack of flour and hurled him out the front door.
The onlookers whispered nervously. "What kind of chefs are these? They're not even afraid of pirates…"
Fullbody scrambled away with his surviving men. "I'm never coming here again!"
Later…
Sanji stood outside, silently watching the starving pirate he'd just cooked for scarf down a plate of fried rice.
"To me…" Sanji said softly, lighting a cigarette, "…anyone who's hungry is a guest."
The pirate wept as he finished the meal. "Mr. Sanji… I'll never forget your kindness!"
He stumbled into a small boat, sailing away with tears in his eyes.
Meanwhile, inside the restaurant
"You guys ate without me?!" Luffy yelled, eyes wide with betrayal.
At Lock's suggestion, the crew had ordered a feast while waiting for Sanji and Luffy to return—six dishes, one soup, a dessert, and two fruit platters.
"This is our freedom," Zoro said calmly, smirking.
"Hahahaha!" He leaned back, laughing.
"Eat this!" Luffy grinned wickedly. He flicked a booger into Zoro's cup.
"Yes… Zoro's right," Usopp muttered, trying hard not to laugh.
Lock and Nami exchanged a look and chuckled softly.
"But the food here really is delicious," Nami admitted. "Though… I do feel a little sorry for Luffy."
Zoro picked up the cup. Luffy's grin spread ear to ear, ready for the big laugh.
But Zoro suddenly poured the whole cup—booger and all—straight into Luffy's open mouth.
Bang! Bang!
The table rattled as Lock slammed his hand on it, howling with laughter. "Hahahaha! I can't take it!"
"Hahaha!" Nami was doubled over, too, clutching her stomach.
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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