"I'm a paying customer—what kind of joke is this?! Just change the soup when I tell you to!"
Hobodi slammed the bowl onto the floor, sending soup splashing as porcelain shattered.
"…"
Nice going, genius… Kiana silently turned away, unable to watch the stupidity unfold.
"Paying customers, huh?" Sanji's voice was icy. He stepped forward, cigarette between his fingers. "Let me ask you—can money fill your stomach?"
The sudden wave of killing intent made Hobodi instinctively back up—but then he remembered Kiana was here. No way I'll show weakness in front of her!
"Bastard! Are you looking to fight?!"
—One minute later —
"I told you. I won't change it." Sanji leaned casually against the table, half seated, cigarette raised to his lips. "Wasting food… is absolutely unforgivable."
Meanwhile, Hobodi lay sprawled across the floor. His nose was bleeding, both cheeks were swollen—his face no longer recognizable. The so-called "captain" looked more like a battered sack of flour.
"…You've gotta be kidding me…"His rage simmered. How dare this restaurant treat me like this?! I'll smash this place to pieces!
Just then—
"Sanji! What are you doing?!" A muscular cook in uniform rushed out of the kitchen. "You can't just treat a guest like that!"
"Stay out of it, Paddy," Sanji said flatly. "This guy disrespected the food—and the chefs who made it. I simply taught him a lesson."
"The man paid—he's a customer! How could you do this?"Paddy hurried to help Hobodi up, but just as Hobodi opened his mouth to demand justice—
CRASH!
The ceiling shattered. Luffy and Zeff literally fell from the sky, crashing directly onto Hobodi.
He was flattened once again—fresh blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"…"
There was a brief, sacred three-second silence.
Kiana calmly sipped her red wine, deeply satisfied.
From then on, Hobodi didn't dare make another sound. This "restaurant"… felt way too much like a pirate hideout.
Suddenly, one of Hobodi's subordinates burst into the restaurant, panicked.
"C-Captain Hobodi! It's bad—Crick's men escaped! I don't know where they've gone!"
"…"
Everyone froze.
Then the realization hit them all at once.
Crick.The Overlord of the East Blue.A name everyone recognized—and feared.
"Crick's men…?"
BANG!
A gunshot echoed through the restaurant. The marine who had just entered jerked forward and collapsed—blood spraying across the floor. The female guests screamed in horror.
Kiana looked toward the entrance. A hooded man with gaunt cheeks and stubble walked in. His movements were slow, his expression exhausted—like someone who hadn't eaten in days. Smoke rose from the barrel of his gun; he'd clearly fired the shot just now.
As he entered, the restaurant fell completely silent. He sat at a nearby table, put his foot up on it, and said in a dry, hoarse voice:
"I don't care how. Just bring me some food. Now."
"…"
That face… I think I remember him. Ajin… right?Kiana rested her chin on her hand, recalling the events of the anime she'd watched in her previous life.
Nobody dared speak. The fear in the air was thick.
"Sir," Paddy stepped forward with an obsequious smile, "if I may ask—do you… have money to pay for your meal?"
Ajin raised his head—eyes cold and lifeless.
Did this idiot… want to die?
He slowly raised his pistol—pointing it directly at Paddy's forehead.
"…Bring. The. Food."
"No money, huh?" Paddy clenched his fist. "Then you're no guest of ours."
BAM!!Paddy slammed Ajin into the wooden floor with a giant hammer like it was nothing.
"Nice one, Paddy!""Kill that pirate!"
The diners began cheering. Fueled by their approval, Paddy continued the beating, fueled by his personal philosophy: Those who can pay are guests. Those who can't… are trash.
He'd thrown out countless freeloaders—Ajin was just another one.
Sanji silently turned around and headed toward the kitchen.
Kiana watched him leave. She knew exactly what he was going to do.
He can't just stand by and watch someone starve.That guy—just like in the anime—couldn't ignore hunger.
Soon after, Paddy dragged Ajin outside and dumped him at the back door like garbage.
"I sincerely apologize everyone!" Paddy announced loudly to the diners. "Please continue your meals!"
But Kiana had already lost her appetite.
Hobodi was gone too—clearly frightened by this "restaurant" that felt more like a pirate ship. And honestly? There were rogues everywhere here. No wonder he ran.
"You really thought you could get with me? With those nerves? Hmph… you're not bold enough."Kiana snorted softly to herself—then suddenly froze.…Wait! What did I just say?!
She cleared her throat and quickly shook off that dangerous train of thought.
Right. Time to focus.Her mission: collect the Dragon Balls. Restore her manhood. Find her body again.
Kiana stood up and walked straight toward Zeff.
"Hey, old man. You're Zeff, right?"
"…Something you need, little lady?"
"Do you sell your kitchen knife? I want to buy it."
"…"
Zeff blinked. Buy… my kitchen knife? There were dozens of blades aboard this ship—why ask him?
"Fine. Twenty Berries. Go fetch one from the back kitchen."
"That won't do." Kiana leaned against the table, eyes sharp. "I want your knife. The one you always use."
"…I like that one. It feels good in my hand. I use it often."
"Money isn't a problem. Ten thousand Berries works for me."
"…"
Zeff stared at her. Ten… thousand?This beauty—is she out of her mind?
He'd used it for months and never found anything special about it.
"…Forget ten thousand. If you truly want it… I'll just give it to you."
"Really? Thank you!"
Kiana's smile was radiant.
…And somewhere in his mind, Zeff had the sudden, ridiculous thought—
—Is this girl going to propose to me?