"Am I right? You're from Crick's crew, aren't you?"
Zhepu's voice cut through the tension as he stared directly at Akin. Akin, still kneeling on the ground and drowning in guilt over what happened to Sanji and the people of Baratie, snapped back to reality and quickly nodded.
"Y-Yes… it was hell. Our Crick Pirates—fifty ships, five thousand men—entered the Grand Line and were wiped out in less than seven days… Now, fewer than a hundred of us remain…"
"..."
The restaurant fell silent.
Everyone stared wide-eyed in disbelief. So Crick… really was a loser who fled from the Grand Line. But what shocked them even more—they were destroyed in less than a week? That was a fleet of five thousand. And after only seven days, barely a hundred remained?
Was the Grand Line truly that terrifying?
In truth, no—not always. From my corner seat, sipping red wine like I was binge-watching a live-action anime, I knew exactly what this was. They were just horribly unlucky. They ran straight into Mihawk—the world's number one swordsman. Dracule Mihawk. "Hawk-Eyes." The walking embodiment of "Game Over."
Also known as: Oda's personal plot device to hype up the Grand Line.
"Don't you guys have five thousand people? What could possibly reduce your numbers so fast?" Sanji asked, frowning.
"…A man… A man with eyes like an eagle… He was like a reaper. He harvested our crew's lives… one after another…"
"One man? You're telling me—he was alone?"
"Yes. Just one."
Akin shuddered as he spoke, arms tightening around himself like he was struggling to keep warm. Or sane.
"...Hawk-Eyes?"
From the spiral staircase, a voice drifted down. Everyone turned upward to see Zoro standing there, hand on the hilts of his three swords. Usopp stood behind him, legs shaking like he'd just seen death itself tap him on the shoulder.
"Zoro, when'd you get here?" Luffy asked casually.
"Just now. What happened? I saw a bunch of customers running out."
Luffy explained the situation, and Zoro quickly pieced everything together.
Meanwhile, Zhepu continued questioning Akin. "This man with hawk-like eyes… would his name happen to be Mihawk?"
The moment he said the name, a wave of shock rippled through the entire room.
Of course they'd heard it before. Mihawk — the greatest swordsman in the world.
"With the strength you described… and the fact he took down your entire fleet alone… there's no doubt. That was Mihawk." Zhepu sighed with genuine pity. "To encounter that monster right after entering the Grand Line… that's worse than any curse."
"Mihawk? I don't get it. We had no grudge against him—so why would he attack us?" Akin asked, fists clenched, grief welling in his eyes as if he could still see his crewmates dying before him.
"Did you disturb his nap?"
"How could we possibly do something so reckless?! He wouldn't kill us over something like that!"
"That's exactly why the Grand Line is terrifying."
"..."
Akin paused. He opened his mouth, then slowly shut it again. To his own surprise… what Zhepu said actually made sense.
"So it really was him…" Zoro murmured. And right then—his resolve hardened. His future path was clear. "If the number one swordsman in the world is out there… then the Grand Line is exactly where I'm going."
Because if Zoro wanted to be the world's greatest swordsman—he would one day need to defeat Mihawk.
"So that means," Usopp said with a shriek, "Crick's crew will definitely come attack us later?!"
"Probably," Luffy replied with a nod.
"That's terrifying! Eh?! Shouldn't we run now?!"
"We should escape now! Let's go already!"
Usopp ran in circles, clutching his head like he was trying to squeeze survival instincts back into his brain.
"If you want to leave, then leave. There'll be a fight soon—can't protect too many people in a mess like that. Oh, and errand boy—if you leave now, you don't have to pay for the roof."
Zhepu said this calmly, directing his words at Luffy and the other cooks.
"Wait, Boss—you're not leaving?"
The chefs caught on immediately. He wanted to stay.
"This restaurant is something I built with my own hands. I'm not handing it over so easily."
Zhepu's tone was firm—honest, without a trace of fear.
"No, Boss Zhepu, if you stay—you'll die!"
The cooks pleaded with growing panic.
"I'm staying too. This place is like my home. And I'm not letting anyone take it away."
Sanji pulled out a cigarette and lit it with a steady hand.
"Hey! Why are you siding with him?!"
"Then… I'll stay too. Not like I've got anywhere else to go."
Paddy spoke next. He used to be a pirate himself, until he shipwrecked—and Zhepu took him in. If he abandoned Zhepu now and just ran away… he wouldn't even be human anymore.
As he stood firm, others began to join. Many of the cooks had been pirates once. Or had followed Zhepu because they admired the legendary Red Foot. They'd been together for over ten years. Of course they had feelings for this place.
"As long as we stand together—we won't necessarily lose!"
"Right! Defend Baratie!"
"Defend Baratie!"
"Defend—!"
The chefs roared as one. But Akin's lips trembled as he watched. This was the very thing he feared most. A defense battle.
If they all just ran… Crick might only steal the ship—and that would ease Akin's guilt a little. At least Sanji and the others would be safe. But… if there was a battle… anything could happen.
And that—he couldn't bear.
"Are you insane?! You all saw Crick's power! He took a cannon blast straight to the face! If you stay, you'll all die—run while you still can!"
Akin's desperate shout halted the chants.
"Hey, Akin. Don't get me wrong—it's my duty as a cook to make sure the hungry eat until they're full."Sanji exhaled cigarette smoke with calm defiance. "But the next ones coming… aren't starving—they're plunderers. Even if I have to defeat your crewmates, don't complain. If they try to take this place away—then even if it's you… I won't hesitate. Got it?"
Akin froze. He had underestimated the resolve of the Baratie cooks. But he also understood it. The fight… was inevitable.
"Hmph! You save his life—only to fight him later! I swear, Sanji—you're unbelievable!" Paddy roared."If we were just gonna fight anyway, why'd we feed Crick at all?! Let him starve! Would've saved us a lot of trouble!"
"Quit whining, stinky cook," Sanji said flatly—despite being a cook himself.
"See? That's why I said he'd be great on our crew." Luffy grinned, pointing at Sanji. "We should recruit him."
Usopp nearly fainted. "WHAT?! I don't care what you plan, but if we don't run now—we'll die later!"
"Why are you so scared?" Zoro looked at him, disgusted. "You're pathetic."
"I'm being normal! The enemy is Crick! The East Blue Overlord! How are we supposed to beat someone like that?!"
"What's the problem?" Luffy blinked innocently. "We're still here, aren't we?"
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of!!"
Usopp was on the brink of a mental breakdown. Luffy's confidence had to be illegal somewhere.
"Relax," Zoro said, pointing a finger—and swiveling Usopp's head toward my direction."Even if we can't fight… she's still sitting over there."
"...Right. There's also… Kiana." Usopp exhaled heavily. "Yeah… yeah. In that case, we should discuss our battle strategy…"
"…"
Zoro and Luffy exchanged deadpan stares. Seriously—fox borrowing the tiger's might. But this was a new level.
"I'm sorry—did I just hear something outrageous? You idiots are planning to rely on a lady to fight for you?!"
Sanji glared at the trio like they were termites eating away at his honor. "Girls are meant to be cherished. You three disgust me."
"Hmph." Usopp puffed his chest. "If you knew her strength, you wouldn't say that. She annihilated the Black Horn Pirates in the West Blue. Their captain, Siegel, had a 300 million Berries bounty!"
Eyes widened across the room.
The cooks stared at me like I'd suddenly become their patron saint.
Even Zhepu looked stunned.He knew Siegel—had crossed blades with him back when he sailed the Grand Line. He never expected the guy to fall… and to her of all people.
"Huh? Kiana's that strong?" Luffy scratched his head, apparently just learning this.
"..."
I sipped my red wine slowly.
I was just enjoying the show.
Why did all eyes suddenly turn to me?