Baratie, the floating sea restaurant.
The small boat slid up against the hull, and Zoro wasted no time climbing aboard. He had planned to ask for directions to the 16th branch, but the moment his boots hit the deck, a wave of fragrance wrapped around him.
The rich char of roasted meat, the sweetness of creamy soups, and the warm bite of fine ale all drifted through the air.
Grrr—
Right on cue, his stomach growled.
"Forget asking directions. Food first."
He strode into the dining hall, found an empty seat, and with a wave of his hand ordered boldly.
"Bring me food! And sake!"
Before long, his hunger was satisfied. Zoro leaned back in his chair, let out a satisfied burp, and sighed.
"Perfect."
A chef walked up, dropped the bill on the table, and said politely, "Thank you for your patronage, sir. That will be one hundred thousand Berries."
Zoro froze, the ease on his face vanishing in an instant. Sweat began to bead on his forehead. He reached for his pockets empty.
Damn it… Dane hasn't paid me my salary yet.
Now he was in trouble.
Run out without paying? Impossible! He was a Marine now. How could he stoop to that?
"Hey, kid."
Several burly chefs surrounded him, eyes hard.
"Don't tell me you're planning to eat for free."
Zoro's hand drifted toward the hilt of Wado Ichimonji. Maybe he could pawn it?
The thought barely formed before he crushed it. Never! That blade carried the promise he made to his dearest friend.
While he struggled, his eye caught sight of an old man with a wooden leg and long golden mustaches braided into twin ropes.
"That face—!"
Zoro's pupils shrank. He had memorized every wanted poster in East Blue to scrape together a living.
There was no mistake.
"Red-Leg Zeff."
A pirate who had returned from the Grand Line to East Blue.
Pirate meant bounty. Bounty meant money. And money meant a free meal.
An idea snapped into place.
Shing!
The Wado Ichimonji flashed from its scabbard, its steel gleaming under the lamps.
The restaurant went dead silent. Every eye turned to Zoro.
He leveled the blade at Zeff, his voice cold and sharp.
"Pirate Zeff! By the authority of the Marines, you are under arrest!"
He jerked his chin toward the chef with the bill. "When I take him down, his bounty will cover my tab. More than enough."
The hall erupted.
"What?!"
"Is this Marine insane?!"
"He wants to take our captain for bounty money to pay for his dinner?!"
"Hey—!"
From the kitchen, a figure stepped out, the smell of smoke clinging to him. A blond young man with curly eyebrows and a cigarette dangling from his lips blocked Zoro's path, glaring with contempt.
Baratie's sous-chef Vinsmoke Sanji.
"You moss-head. You trying to cause trouble in my restaurant?"
Grand Line.
A massive fleet split through the waves.
On the flagship, Renn Hawk stood at the bow, the sea wind whipping his cloak like a banner.
The trip to Marineford had been more than worthwhile.
He glanced back at the fleet trailing behind him, then rested his hand against the wooden box tucked into his coat. Within lay enough power to shake the world itself.
Those two things the fleet and the box represented the support of every faction within the Marines: the Hawks, the Doves, the Neutralists, and even the Elders. All had placed their trust in him.
How could that not warm him?
Once, he had fought only to survive. Now he had become a player on the world's chessboard.
But survival wasn't enough anymore.
He wouldn't just be a scavenger reaping lives in Marineford for "justice points."
He would be the one to turn the tide of the war.
The Whitebeard Pirates had to be annihilated.
And after that… the other Yonko. Even the World Government itself.
All would be purged.
A soft, muffled voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Big Brother Hawk."
He turned to see Yunzhu, clutching her overstuffed little backpack, running toward him.
"What is it, Yunzhu?"
"I was worried you might run out of cigars, so I brought some from home. Don't think it's too few. My bag couldn't hold them all otherwise I'd have brought everything!"
Like a child showing off treasure, she unzipped the pack and began pulling out box after box.
Exquisite cigars, packed neatly.
One box. Another. And another.
By the end, twenty boxes sat piled on the deck, the bag now limp and empty.
"…"
Hawk fell silent, the corner of his eye twitching as he stared at the small mountain of cigar boxes.
That packaging. That seal.
These were Navy Admiral-exclusive cigars. Which meant if Yunzhu took them from home they could only have come from Admiral Akainu's private stash.
Buru buru buru!
At that moment, the den-den mushi at his waist shrilled.
He glanced down. The snail's face had morphed into Akainu's furious glare.
Perfect. Just perfect.
Hawk picked it up anyway.
"Haaawk!!"
The roar blasted through the line like molten fire.
Back at his study, Akainu had returned to find half his cigar stockpile missing. And in all of Marineford, who could steal that much under his nose?
No one but his daughter, Yunzhu.
And the only one who would benefit Renn Hawk.
"Admiral Akainu," Hawk said smoothly. "What seems to be the problem?"
"What seems to be the ? Where are my cigars?!"
"Cigars? You must be mistaken. I've switched to cigarettes lately. More… approachable, you know?"
"Is that so?"
Akainu's voice dripped with molten rage. "Then why are you staring at them right now?!"
Hawk looked at the heap before him and forced a serious expression.
"Admiral, you misunderstand. I too… am a victim."
The line went quiet, then Akainu laughed a dangerous, burning laugh.
"You little brat. Steal from me and call yourself the victim?"
"Return my cigars!"
"Impossible." Hawk's tone hardened. "These are a gift from Yunzhu. If I returned them, wouldn't that make me a heartless man? That, I cannot be."
A cold snort came through the line.
"So that's how it is. Very well, Hawk… my cigars don't come cheap. One year. You clear the entire first half of the Grand Line. Do that, and I'll let this slide."
Hawk's mind spun.
One year to purge "Paradise"?
It fit perfectly with his own plan. He had already intended to sweep through before the war, harvesting justice to strengthen himself.
A year was tight, but manageable.
He answered firmly. "Understood. I'll see it done."
"Hmph!"
The line clicked dead.
Hawk tucked the den-den mushi away and ruffled Yunzhu's hair with a wry smile.
"Well done. Your gift means a lot."
"Mm-hmm!" She puffed her chest proudly. "Next time I'll bring the rest!"
Hawk's smile froze.
The rest?
Next time, it wouldn't be Paradise on the line it would be the New World itself.
And right now, he wasn't sure his body could withstand that storm.
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