After handing over the Merry to Johnny and Joseph, Zoro jumped off the ship with his sword and walked toward the entrance of the Baratie restaurant.
"Hey! Wait for me!"Usopp hurried after him.
Zoro glanced back. "You're coming too?"
"W-Well… yeah!" Usopp stammered. After weighing everyone's strength, he felt it was safest to stick close to Zoro. If things went south, he could always run.
A true strategist.
Nami didn't say a word as she watched Zoro and Usopp leave the Merry.
This… was her chance.
Luffy was gone. Zoro was gone. And Kiana—whose true combat capability was still unknown—wasn't here either.
Perfect timing to steal the ship.
Johnny and Joseph? They didn't even count as obstacles in her eyes. Taking the Merry from them would be… simple.
Wait for me. Once I sell the ship and get the money… I'll come back for you.In Nami's mind, the faces of the villagers from Cocoyasi Village quietly surfaced. She didn't know how much the stolen treasure would sell for, but she knew—the Going Merry would be worth enough.
A hundred million Berrys.God knows what she had gone through just to scrape it together.
Meanwhile, inside the Baratie, a shocking scene unfolded before everyone's eyes.
"Please… give me something to eat."
A tall man with short gray-blue hair knelt before Chef Zeff and the Baratie cooks.
He was the owner of the massive sailboat outside—the infamous Admiral Don Krieg, allegedly the strongest pirate in the entire East Blue.
And now… the mighty Don Krieg was on his knees, begging for food.
Hunger had hollowed his cheeks and dulled his voice. His body swayed with weakness—he nearly collapsed just getting off the ship, saved only by the support of Gin, who had helped him walk inside.
Men say gold lies beneath their knees—kneeling is humiliation. Yet here was Don Krieg… bowing to cooks for food.
Gin, the man Sanji had saved just days ago, also dropped to his knees—his hands covering his face as he cried.
"I… we have money. We'll pay. Just… please. Give us something to eat."
Whispers spread through the restaurant like sparks through dry grass. The legendary pirate leader—starving to this point? Was this really that Don Krieg?
The fear in the air began to loosen.If he was this desperate… maybe he wasn't a threat at all.
Silently, Sanji turned and walked toward the kitchen.
No matter who it was—even the most ruthless pirate—as long as they were hungry, they were still a customer.
That was Sanji's code.
Watching Sanji's back, I couldn't help sighing. Sanji follows his own principles… and I follow mine.
Honestly? I didn't care if Krieg was hungry or not. If it were up to me, I'd just grab Raichel, slice his head off, and cash in the bounty.
But just as I reached for my sword—my chest suddenly bounced violently from the movement.
The gaggle of older customers who had been staring at me—immediately froze in place, eyes bulging.
"…"
Damn it—being stuck in Kiana's body had its complications!
Face burning, I quickly turned around and reached into my clothes to grab the real culprit.
"Ai-chan, seriously? I'm not shy—you're just distracting me! I'm working here!"
"Actually, Ai-chan wants to remind the captain—right now, defeating Krieg won't give you any experience points."
"…Huh?"
That made me pause.
What do you mean no experience?
"Captain, don't forget—the system only awards EXP when the enemy poses a direct threat to your life. In other words, the current Don Krieg… is too weak to kill you. Ai-chan doesn't want to see you wait days for the perfect chance to kill him, only to find he's worth zero EXP!"
"…!"
A cold sweat slid down my back.
Crap.If I waited this whole time just to find out I get nothing… that would be pure torture!
Quickly, I let go of Raichel and sat back down. Better to wait until Sanji fed him and his strength returned. Then I could kill him properly and claim EXP.
At last, Sanji emerged from the kitchen—carrying a steaming pot of fried rice and a bottle of red wine.
As he passed me, he lowered his voice.
"You're giving food to that guy?"
"Sorry. I know he's Don Krieg… but I still made it."
"It's fine," I replied calmly. "You did the right thing. Honestly… I'd have done the same."
Except I'd deliver his last meal—and then kill him.
Sanji looked at me, surprised. Maybe he really did understand what I experienced in my previous life. Hunger… was something only those who truly suffered could understand.
For a moment, his eyes softened—like he wanted to protect me.
"Alright," I said. "Go give it to him."
"Right." Sanji nodded. "If he causes trouble… I'll protect you, Kiana-chan."
I gave him a small smile. "Thanks in advance."
Just like in the anime, Sanji placed the food before Krieg.
The entire restaurant held its breath. Only Zeff and I were unfazed.
Gin was already in tears. His faith in Sanji's kindness had been proven once again.
And when Krieg saw the food—he devoured it like a starving wolf. Crude, savage—but proof that he truly had been starving.
Then, just as expected—that panicked extra rushed forward, screaming warnings about Krieg's vile nature, his tricks, his cunning, his treachery.Live-action One Piece suddenly had max realism.
I almost laughed.This is surreal… I'm rewatching the anime. Except I'm inside it.
But then a thought hit me.
If I kill Krieg right now… won't that change the plot?Sanji still needs to join Luffy's crew later. Krieg's role is essential.
I froze.Did I almost break the storyline?
Thankfully, Ai-chan had stopped me. Nothing had happened yet. The plot was intact.
I let out a secret sigh of relief.
Okay… I need a way to kill Krieg, earn EXP… and keep the story intact.
"Hmm… I've got nothing."
I scratched my head. Honestly, I'd forgotten most of the early story details. Why did Sanji eventually join the Straw Hats? I couldn't remember.
In the end… I decided to take things one step at a time.
Soon, Krieg finished eating—and like a beast reborn, he suddenly stood up and kicked Sanji to the ground.
"Sanji!"
The cooks shouted in alarm. The guests recoiled in fear.
"Commander Krieg! Why!? You promised not to harm the restaurant! I helped bring you here under that condition!"
Gin asked, horrified.
Krieg glanced sideways—
Then grabbed Gin by the shoulder and squeezed.
Crack.
Gin screamed as his bones audibly snapped.
"Ahh… that was delicious. I feel reborn. Thanks for the meal."
Just minutes ago he was begging for food—and now? The infamous commander of the East Blue's strongest pirate crew stood in full confidence.
A master of two-faced deceit. Kowtowing when weak, lethal the moment strength returned.
His reputation… was well earned.
Sanji pushed himself up, wiping blood from his mouth. He was injured—but not seriously.
Even so, I couldn't help but sigh.
Sanji was so weak in the early days… A background character did this to him?
Then again—the Straw Hat Pirates weren't the legendary crew yet. Their strength was still average.
Not to brag, but if Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji teamed up right now…I felt like I could still beat them.
Krieg spoke loudly, voice sharp as a sword:
"Listen up. I want food and water prepared for one hundred men—immediately. Then you will vacate this ship. From now on, this vessel belongs to the Krieg Pirates. Anyone who wishes to live—leave while you still can."
Fear spread immediately. The name Don Krieg alone was a storm.
But all I could think was—
You digested everything that fast? What are you, a Devil Fruit of perfect digestion?!
Of course, Krieg couldn't hear my internal swearing. He simply let his infamous name weigh on the crowd, waiting for the weak-willed to run.
Silently, Sanji stood and walked toward the kitchen.
The cooks panicked.
"Sanji, what are you doing!?"
"Didn't you hear him? I'm going to prepare food for a hundred people."
Krieg smirked. So the cook still feared him. Good.
"You idiot, that food is for his pirate crew!"
Sanji said nothing. As long as someone was hungry—he would feed them.
"Stop right there. Go one step further, and we'll cut you down. This time we won't let you have your way!"
The chefs held huge knives to his neck, blocking his path.
Sanji didn't flinch.
"Unless you kill me… I'm going to feed them."