"Mr. Zeff."
"Thank you."
Zeff accepted the cake but didn't take a bite.
Lucien smiled faintly, cutting a slice for himself. He clinked his fork against Sanji's and began eating.
When Lucien finally finished his portion, Zeff took his first spoonful.
He was cautious... always cautious.
But the waves of the new generation inevitably crash upon the old, and the front waves always die upon the shore.
Lucien had already taken an antidote before the meal.
The cake, however, contained something special—an extremely spicy laxative. Just one drop could completely drain a person's strength. To make certain there were no mistakes, Lucien had poured the entire bottle in when Sanji wasn't looking. The laxative was colorless, odorless, and completely undetectable—about 500 milliliters in total.
Zeff's single spoonful contained at least two drops.
The old man, ever vigilant, unknowingly ate the whole thing.
"Oh… excuse me, I think I need to use the restroom."
Slowly, a few of the guests began to fidget, clutching their stomachs and limping toward the lavatory.
Then—
"Pfft…"
A foul stench filled the air. The previously cheerful dining hall fell silent as every eye turned toward a waiter.
"Pfft… Pfft…"
It became unstoppable, like a string of fireworks igniting one after another.
The entire restaurant was soon filled with a nauseating odor.
"What's happening!?"
Paddy collapsed to the ground, his trousers soiled and his face contorted in pain. His stomach burned, his body trembling as if hollowed out from within.
"Paddy!"
"Carne! What's wrong with everyone!?"
Sanji's face went pale. He covered his nose, trying not to faint from the overwhelming stench. But before he could take two steps, he grabbed his stomach and fell to his knees, overcome by pain and weakness.
"The cake… it's poisoned."
Zeff's voice came out strained as he collapsed too, his body devoid of strength. He turned to Lucien—the only one still standing in the hall.
Calmly setting his plate aside, Lucien pinched his nose with a tissue. A sleek Type 92 pistol appeared in his hand.
"Lucien…?" Sanji's voice trembled.
Bang!
Lucien's expression didn't change. He fired at Zeff first—the greatest threat in the room.
Zeff, though weakened, managed to twist his body, taking the bullet to the shoulder.
"Damn it…"
A fierce aura burst from him like a caged beast's roar.
Lucien didn't approach. He kept his distance, wary that the laxative might not have fully taken effect. If the old man counterattacked, one blow would be fatal.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three more shots fired—each aimed for Zeff's vital points.
"Head Chef…"
"Old man!"
Sanji and the other chefs could only stare in horror as bullet holes opened across Zeff's body.
Lucien approached slowly, his gaze cold and unflinching.
He'd learned from Luffy's case—never underestimate anyone. The fifth shot was delivered at point-blank range, straight to Zeff's head.
Blood splattered across his hand. Zeff's body went limp. There was no life left in his eyes.
"Why?"
Sanji wasn't afraid—just furious. His voice trembled as he glared up at Lucien, who placed the gun against his forehead.
"Why…?"
Bang!
The gun roared again.
As his consciousness faded, Sanji's mind replayed Lucien's earlier words:
"This is the most delicious dessert I've ever eaten, Sanji. You're a genius—you'll be the world's greatest chef someday."
Why would the man who said that… kill him?
Another shot echoed.
Bang!
The back of Sanji's head burst open.
Lucien exhaled quietly. Only one bullet remained in the chamber.
Without hesitation, he picked up a cake knife and turned toward the others.
Eradicate the roots. Leave no witnesses. That was Lucien Graves's creed.
Minutes later, the restaurant was silent except for the crackling of flames and the stench of blood and waste. From beginning to end, he hadn't said a word.
He'd seen it too many times—villains defeated because they talked too much, giving the protagonist time to recover and strike back. He would never make that mistake.
Kill the protagonist first. Then do whatever you want.
Why invite death?
Ten minutes later, a small supply ship slipped away from Baratie.
Lucien had loaded it with treasure and food, charted the nearby islands, and memorized the restaurant's supply routes. Every step had been planned.
Behind him, the floating restaurant burned like a funeral pyre, its flames reflected across the sea.
Kill. Burn. Leave nothing behind. Never look back. Never hesitate.
That was how a true villain survived.
Lucien sat cross-legged on the deck and called out to the system interface.
[Successfully hunted Vinsmoke Sanji, a significant supporting character in the One Piece world. Dice chances will be rewarded based on the situation. Congratulations, you have received three opportunities. Luck +1.]
Lucien smirked.
Exactly the same as the last two rewards—just with a different name.
[Dice reward based on situation]? What a joke. It was clearly fixed at three rolls.
And Zeff didn't even count? A man who shaped Sanji's entire life story? How insulting.
He picked up the glowing dice and rolled. It landed on two.
Lucien didn't use his Luck stat.
A small model airplane appeared, zipped through the light, and dropped a glowing vial into his hand.
[One bottle of Ymir's Bloodline Potion.]
[Description: Drinking it grants half the bloodline of Ymir, the Founder of the Eldians, from Attack on Titan. No side effects.]
Lucien frowned.
Attack on Titan? In this world? What use could that possibly have here?
Still, he knew the lore. With Ymir's bloodline, one could become a mindless Titan, consume one of the Nine Titans, and gain their power—maybe even extend life by thirteen years.
But in the One Piece world, what could he possibly do with it?
He rolled again. The dice landed on three.
[One pair of black stretchable boxer briefs.]
[Description: A man's last stubborn pride. Extremely durable, self-repairing, and perfectly breathable.]
Lucien's expression twitched. He tossed the dice again, unwilling to even look at that ridiculous reward.
The dice landed on six.
He used his Luck this time.
Light flared—and when it faded, a small green bean rested in his palm.
[A Senzu Bean.]
[Description: A miraculous item from Dragon Ball. Restores full strength and stamina, heals wounds, and can regrow limbs. Keeps the user nourished for ten days. Ineffective against diseases.]
Lucien finally allowed a faint smile.
A priceless treasure—practically a second life.
Though he did note one annoyance: no effect on illnesses.
But then again, even Goku, who could destroy a planet, once died from heart disease.
The system really had a twisted sense of humor.
Lucien pocketed the Senzu Bean and looked back at the blazing sea restaurant disappearing behind him.
The night wind carried the scent of smoke and salt.
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