"Sandwich?"
After listening to Luffy, Zeff's expression clearly froze for a moment.
After thinking it over, realization suddenly struck him, and he slapped his palm.
"Ah! The person you're talking about… should be called Sanji, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah!!!"Luffy nodded repeatedly, shoving a whole steak into his mouth as he spoke unclearly,"That's the name!"
"So he really is in this restaurant. Old man, hurry up and call him out!"
"..."
Zeff suddenly fell silent.
He never imagined that the most terrifying pirate in the East Blue would come all the way here… just to invite Sanji to become a pirate!
"When did that brat become so famous…?"
Completely baffled, Zeff nevertheless revealed a relieved smile.
"So you're here for Sanji, huh?"
"Even though I don't know where you heard about that foul-mouthed, unbearably lustful little punk…"
"But your timing's perfect~ We've wanted to kick that troublesome guy out of this place for a long time now!"
Zeff spoke insincerely.
At that moment, Red followed up smoothly:
"Then we'll trouble you, Boss Zeff, to call Sanji over."
"And also…"
Knowing the relationship between Sanji and Zeff, Red smiled lightly and said seriously:
"Boss Zeff, I know you don't want Sanji to be confined to a tiny restaurant like this."
"But before he repays your kindness, Sanji wouldn't want to leave."
"So if you think we're worthy of being Sanji's companions, please cooperate with us a little."
"You—" Zeff's eyes suddenly widened.
He was completely unprepared for Red's words, and stood there in shock for a moment.
In the end, he only left behind one sentence:
"I'll go call that brat out for you."
Then he turned around and left.
His wooden prosthetic leg struck the floor with a thump, thump sound, making his footsteps unusually heavy.
Red's words had also stirred an inexplicable melancholy in Zeff's heart.
As if…
This time, he really was about to part ways with that damned kid.
"Young people these days… really are amazing…"
Recalling Red's deep eyes that seemed to see through everything, Zeff couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
...
...
Not long after, a blond man in a black suit with curly eyebrows rushed out from the kitchen, muttering nonstop:
"Cute girls… cute girls…"
Seeing his anxious, lovestruck expression, it was obvious without asking what kind of method Zeff had used to lure him out.
And perhaps Sanji truly possessed some sort of "beauty radar"…
In an instant, he noticed the Straw Hat group sitting near the entrance—more precisely, Nami among them.
In the next second, his eyes instantly turned into pink hearts. His legs spun like a whirlwind as he shot over to Nami, then knelt gallantly on one knee.
"O great sea~ thank you for blessing me with this fateful encounter today~"
A rose appeared in Sanji's hand from nowhere.
"O heavens! Is this your punishment for me?! To make me abandon everything and throw myself into love without regret—"
Just as Sanji was about to transform into the "King of Poetry" and unleash a greasy poetic recitation toward Nami—
A suddenly elongating arm shot out and grabbed the rose from his hand.
"Nom~"
Luffy chewed on the petals, frowning slightly.
"This dish tastes awful. It doesn't feel like this restaurant's usual level at all~!"
"..."
Sanji blinked, staring awkwardly at the lone green stem left in his hand, frozen on the spot.
"Pfft~"
Nami couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
She took the stem from Sanji's hand and said teasingly:
"Sir, don't tell me this was your prop for confessing your love?"
"Ah, well, uh…"Sanji found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
In the very next instant, he suddenly turned his gaze on Luffy, fury erupting in his eyes.
"Hey, you brat! How dare you—"
Before he could finish, a hand landed on Sanji's shoulder.
Red lowered his voice, revealing a mysterious smile as he whispered into Sanji's ear:
"Vinsmoke."
"!!!"
Just those four syllables were enough to make Sanji stiffen completely, the anger in his eyes instantly vanishing.
In its place emerged disbelief and terror deep within his gaze.
Red gently patted his shoulder again.
"If you don't want to make a scene, let's find somewhere quiet and talk properly."
"Hey, Luffy, stop eating. Time to get down to business."
Red signaled Zoro and Usopp.
The two immediately stepped forward, forcefully grabbing Luffy by the shoulders and dragging him away from the table.
"Who are you people—"
Startled, Sanji was about to question them, but when he thought of the diners present and Red's earlier words, he fell silent.
Click.
After a moment, he took out a lighter, lit a cigarette, and forced himself to calm down.
After exhaling a long stream of smoke, he finally spoke:
"Follow me."
Though Red's words had already thrown his heart into turmoil, just as Red said, there were things he didn't want too many people to know…
Including Boss Zeff.
And so, under Red's lead, the Straw Hat crew followed Sanji up to the second floor of the Baratie.
Johnny and Yosaku were left behind to watch over the Going Merry.
The diners watched as Luffy—still reaching pitifully for food while being forcibly dragged away by Zoro and Usopp—and finally let out a long sigh of relief.
At the very least, these pirates didn't seem as evil and terrifying as the rumors claimed… and they weren't targeting them.
...
...
On the balcony of the Baratie's second floor.
Sanji removed the cigarette from his mouth with one hand and flicked it lightly.
Ashes scattered, sparks flashing faintly.
But his expression grew increasingly somber.
"So many years have passed, and you still found me here…"
"Talk. What do you actually want?!"
He spoke abruptly, clearly forcing himself to suppress the resentment in his heart.
Yet upon closer inspection, a trace of fear could still be seen hidden deep in his eyes.
Ever since escaping the Vinsmoke family with the help of his sister Reiju, Sanji had believed he'd completely severed ties with his past.
But hearing that family's name again from Red's mouth made him realize—
His fear had never truly disappeared.
At that moment, Luffy tilted his head, showing a completely innocent expression.
"Huh? What are you even talking about?"
"But whatever!"
He waved his hand casually, instantly assuming the posture of a captain, raising his thumb as he introduced himself:
"You're Sanji, right?!"
"My name is Monkey D. Luffy! I'm currently gathering like-minded companions to become the Pirate King!"
"Red says you're an amazing cook, so come join my pirate crew."
Luffy's tone was utterly flat, as if he were simply stating an unquestionable fact.
Leaving Sanji no room whatsoever to refuse.
This sudden turn, however, made the already tense Sanji freeze in confusion.
After a moment, he took a deep drag from his cigarette and frowned.
"A pirate crew?!"
"You're not with the Vinsmoke family?!"
"The Vinsmoke family? What's that?"
Luffy tilted his head again, equally confused.
At that moment, Red patted Luffy on the shoulder from behind, stepped forward, and smiled.
"I'll explain the rest, Luffy."
He looked up, his dark eyes meeting Sanji's directly.
"You've misunderstood, Sanji. We have nothing to do with the Vinsmoke family."
"What I said earlier was only to create an opportunity to talk with you."
As he spoke, Red gestured to his eyes.
"The reason I could say that family's name is because I can see your past—and your future."
Red was completely straightforward, hiding nothing from Sanji.
But Sanji clearly wasn't ready to accept this so easily.
"What kind of joke is that?"He frowned, his distinctive curly eyebrows knitting together.
"What would make you believe us, then?"Red didn't find it strange at all and calmly asked.
But Sanji clearly had no interest in playing along any further.
He exhaled a puff of smoke.
"I don't know where you got that information, but my time's limited. I don't have the leisure to play pirate games with you."
As he spoke, he turned to head back inside.
At that moment, however, Red—already prepared—softened his voice and said gently:
"Sanji, you are not a failure."
Step.
Sanji stopped dead in his tracks.
Red's words struck the mark with perfect accuracy.
Red continued:
"Vinsmoke Sora gave everything she had to protect your emotions. That's why you're gentler than anyone else."
"Because you were born carrying all of your mother's blessings."
"You are the greatest masterpiece of her life!!!"
Clatter~
The cigarette in Sanji's hand—still not fully burned—fell onto the deck, rolling forward a few times.
And on his face, two clear trails of tears had already appeared…
(End of Chapter)