"Bang—"
A gunshot rang out, and a mist of blood rose.
He never expected that even by taking on all the consequences himself, he couldn't prevent the situation from worsening. Zeff, kneeling on both knees, watched with rapidly contracting pupils and a look of disbelief as Sanji was decisively shot dead by Ian.
Contrary to his imagination, Sanji was not hit between the eyebrows.
With his powerful strength, the moment Ian pulled the trigger, Sanji swiftly turned his head, dodging like lightning.
But even so, the bullet still grazed his head, flying past. Because it was a close-range shot, the bullet, carrying scorching energy, directly created a mist of blood and embedded itself into the restaurant wall.
"You're asking for death!"
Sanji, having successfully dodged the fatal blow, didn't hesitate. Enduring the intense pain and burning sensation from his head, he quickly inverted himself from his kneeling position and, like lightning, kicked his right foot towards Ian's face.
"Cheek Shot—"
Bang—
As Sanji's cold shout rang out, he inverted himself into the air in a difficult posture. His right foot, carrying a terrifying force, then rapidly expanded in Ian's pupils.
However, just as he thought he had kicked Ian's cheek, Ian, holding a golden pistol, didn't dodge. In a flash, he raised his hand to protect his cheek and firmly caught the right foot that had kicked towards his face.
The next second.
Crack—
A crisp sound suddenly echoed. The right foot, held in Ian's hand, was crushed.
Immediately after, Sanji couldn't help but let out a scream.
Ian, who had brutally crushed Sanji's ankle, had a flash of killing intent in his eyes. He simultaneously raised his other hand, which was gripping the gun, and without any hesitation, he aimed at Sanji and fired three shots at his head and chest.
Two shots to the chest, one to the head—even Hua Tuo would shake his head.
The entire process finished in a flash. By the time Zeff, who was beside them, reacted, Sanji was already lying in a pool of blood, his eyes wide open in death.
"A mere chef dares to show off in front of This Young Master!"
Sweeping a glance at Sanji lying in the blood, Ian showed no sympathy in his eyes, and his expression was utterly cold. "Gunko, let's go!"
Before his words finished, Ian, without even looking at Zeff, whose eyes were red with rage because of Sanji's death, turned and walked away decisively.
As soon as he stepped out of the restaurant door, a tall figure approached him. It was Vice Admiral Gion, who had volunteered to secretly protect Ian.
Before Ian could react, Gion, with her famous sword at her waist and wearing a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral cape, led a group of Marine soldiers and respectfully bowed to him, "Saint Ian!"
"Oh?"
A trace of surprise flashed in Ian's eyes. "Vice Admiral Gion?"
"I greet Saint Ian." Gion bowed again, then glanced at the restaurant hall and cautiously asked, "What happened here?"
"Nothing major."
Ian waved his hand, speaking lightly, "I merely killed a few pirates who were lurking here!"
After speaking, Ian walked past Gion directly, taking Gunko and three maids back to the dark red luxury ship.
Only after Ian boarded the deck did Gion straighten up and wave to her adjutant beside her.
The adjutant didn't hesitate, immediately leading a few soldiers into the restaurant.
"Gion, this restaurant no longer needs to exist. Make it disappear!"
Just then, Ian, who had already returned to the ship's deck, suddenly turned back and made a gesture of eradication.
"Yes, Saint Ian!"
Gion dared not disobey and immediately bowed in response.
"Let's go!"
Ian no longer delayed and directly ordered to set sail.
Soon, the dark red ship, symbolizing absolute power, disappeared on the horizon.
At the same time, Gion, having received Ian's order to eliminate, decisively ordered its destruction after escorting Zeff back to the warship.
Accompanied by deafening explosions that echoed through the sky, the sea restaurant, which had been operating for over a decade, vanished forever.
Watching the sea restaurant quickly engulfed by flames amidst the explosions, Gion, standing on the deck, let out a sigh of relief.
When she heard the gunshots earlier, she was somewhat worried that innocent civilians in the restaurant might be affected.
The reality greatly surprised her. Apart from Zeff and other former pirates whose information they already had, no innocent civilians who came to dine were affected.
Clearly, after Ian entered the restaurant, he had cleared it out.
"This Lord Ian doesn't seem as bad as the rumors say."
The adjutant, who had come to stand beside Gion at some point, looked in the direction where the dark red ship had disappeared, then said, "I thought he would go on a killing spree in the restaurant, but I didn't expect only a few pirates died! However, that young curly-browed boy was a bit unlucky. At least according to the intelligence we have, he doesn't seem to be a pirate! He's just an orphan Zeff saved on the sea back then!"
"An orphan?"
Gion's eyes narrowed slightly. "He's no orphan. Just now, I heard Lord Ian's voice through Observation Haki. That curly-browed boy is the third son of the Vinsmoke Family of North Blue! I have a bad feeling. Lord Ian's visit to the East Blue this time is not as simple as just sightseeing."
"What do you mean?" The adjutant looked confused.
"Lord Ian's reputation in the Holy Land isn't just 'evil'!" Gion patiently explained, "According to what I've learned, Lord Ian seems to possess a very powerful and very special Observation Haki. Unlike those Observation Haki users who can only see parts of the future, Lord Ian can see a much more distant future!"
"His visit to the East Blue this time is likely because he saw some future events that are detrimental to the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, and he wants to nip them in the bud."
...Holy Land, House of Flowers.
Imu, the master of the Empty Throne, sat in the pavilion, her dark red eyes looking at Saturn of the Gorosei, who was prostrate outside the pavilion. She said calmly, "Tell me, Im, Ian's current whereabouts."
"The Young Master has already arrived in the East Blue."
Saturn dared not conceal anything, then continued, "Two minutes ago, the latest intelligence came from the CP0 agents responsible for secretly protecting the Young Master's safety. After the Young Master entered the East Blue waters, he went to a sea restaurant called Baratie for a meal. During this time, the Young Master ordered a sea king donburi. The restaurant used inferior ingredients, substituting sea beasts for Sea Kings, which angered the Young Master, who immediately executed two chefs on the spot."
"Killing two chefs is not enough?"
Hearing that the restaurant actually used inferior ingredients to fob off her precious son, a chilling killing intent instantly flashed in Imu's eyes. "To dare to use inferior ingredients to fob off my son, they truly don't know what's good for them! Issue an order to eliminate everyone in that restaurant, leaving no one alive!"
Saturn cautiously said, "The Young Master has already ordered the destruction of this restaurant."
"Is that so."
Imu nodded with great satisfaction. "As expected of my son. Since the sea restaurant has already been destroyed, you go and instruct the House of Flowers kitchen to immediately prepare a sea king donburi and send it to my son!"
"Ah?"
Saturn instinctively looked up at Imu.
As one of the Gorosei in the Chamber of the Five Elders, from the moment Ian was born, they had witnessed Lord Imu's doting on him. As Imu's subordinates, they were naturally loyal to This Young Master.
But there had to be a limit to doting!
Now their Young Master was far away in the East Blue. Preparing a sea king donburi was not difficult; the difficulty was ensuring that the sea king donburi still maintained its original flavor when it was delivered to their Young Master.
If the taste changed, based on their understanding of the Young Master, the person who delivered the sea king donburi would definitely be executed on the spot, and even he would be implicated and repeatedly flogged by the Young Master.
Although he had an immortal body, the process of being flogged was very uncomfortable!
"What?"
Seeing Saturn's reaction, a trace of displeasure suddenly rose in Imu's eyes. "My son merely wants to eat a sea king donburi. Is that so difficult?"
Saturn dared not say it was difficult. After secretly wiping away a sweat, he nodded and said, "This subordinate will go and instruct the House of Flowers kitchen to prepare it immediately. I will ensure the sea king donburi is delivered to the Young Master on time."
After speaking, Saturn dared not delay in the slightest, immediately rising and heading straight for the House of Flowers kitchen, while simultaneously pulling out a den den mushi to contact the Fleet Admiral's office.
"Sengoku, I'm giving you ten minutes!"
As soon as the den den mushi connected, Saturn urgently said, "Immediately send Borsalino to the Calm Belt to catch a Sea King and send it to the Holy Land! In addition, after the Sea King is delivered to the Holy Land, have him wait there and deliver the prepared sea king donburi to Young Master of the Nerona Family Ian, who is currently in the East Blue, as quickly as possible."
Without waiting for Sengoku, who was in the Fleet Admiral's office, to react, Saturn added, "This is of great importance and cannot fail!"
—