Sanji Makes His Entrance

Nami suddenly jolted all over, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

She hurriedly stuffed the wad of paper into her pocket, forcing out a smile uglier than crying as she struggled to steady her trembling voice.

"No... no. How could I have a grudge against anyone? I was just... just surprised that there was a pirate with such a high bounty in the East Blue."

Ronan looked at her evasive eyes and sighed inwardly.

The current Nami was like a frightened hedgehog, raising every one of her spines as she tried to fight the whole world alone.

She had not truly considered herself one of the Straw Hat Pirates yet—or rather, she did not dare to.

She was afraid that the warmth she had only just found would be shattered in an instant by that terrifying Fish-Man.

"Nami."

Ronan turned around, his gaze serious and sincere, his tone carrying an unquestionable resolve.

"If you have any difficulties, whether it's money or enemies, we can help you deal with them. Don't forget, we're companions, aren't we?"

"Companions..."

Those two words struck hard against Nami's emotional defenses.

Her eyes reddened, and she nearly burst into tears, but reason forced her to hold them back.

She turned away to avoid Ronan's gaze and forced a smile. "Oh, what nonsense are you talking about? What trouble could I possibly have? Really, there's nothing."

Seeing that she was still putting on a brave front, Ronan did not press her further.

He merely sighed softly, then raised his head, radiating powerful confidence and presence.

"Nami, remember this. In the East Blue, I dare say there isn't a single pirate crew that can defeat us."

"No matter who it is, even that so-called 'Arlong Pirates,' with their mere twenty-million-Belly bounty..."

Ronan paused, his eyes blazing. "We've never put them in our eyes."

"Luffy, Zoro, and I are far stronger now than you imagine."

Those words exploded beside Nami's ears like startling thunder.

She raised her head and looked at the confident profile of the man before her, her heart violently shaken.

That was right. Over the past week, she had personally witnessed these men's insane training.

Their inhuman physiques, their Haki that could foresee the future, their swordsmanship capable of cutting steel...

Maybe... they really could?

If she borrowed their strength, could they really save Cocoyasi Village from that demon?

But the next second, images of Arlong's terrifying brute strength and him tearing apart a Navy Warship surfaced in her mind again.

What if they did not succeed? What if they failed? Not only would the village remain unsaved, but these sincere companions she had finally found would lose their lives because of her.

For a moment, hope and fear fiercely intertwined in Nami's heart, leaving her mind in utter turmoil.

Just then, a terrified scream shattered the heaviness on the deck.

"Waaaah! We've been targeted!!"

Usopp, who had been keeping watch atop the mast, pointed at the nearby Navy Warship, so frightened that his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

A flash of fire burst from the cannons along the warship's side.

"Boom—!!"

Accompanied by an ear-splitting blast, a pitch-black solid cannonball tore through the air, carrying the whistling sound of death as it flew straight toward the Merry!

"Crap! We're going to get hit!" Usopp ran around with his head in his hands.

"Leave it to me!"

A red figure darted to the railing like lightning.

Luffy lowered his Straw Hat, a confident smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

After a week of "hell training," his control over his body had long since become incomparable to before.

"Gomu Gomu—"

Luffy abruptly stretched both arms outward, gripping the railings on either side of the Merry tightly. His body lay across the middle of the deck like a fully drawn bowstring.

"—Slingshot!!"

"Bang!"

The immensely powerful cannonball slammed solidly into Luffy's elastic belly.

It did not explode. Instead, it pushed his stomach inward to an astonishing depth.

"Hey!"

Luffy planted his feet and violently exerted force through his waist and abdomen. An enormous rebounding force erupted in an instant!

"Whoosh—!!"

The cannonball was forcibly bounced back at a speed even faster than before!

It drew a straight black line through the air and smashed precisely toward the deck of the Navy Warship!

"Boom!!"

Flames immediately shot into the sky from the distant warship, and splinters flew everywhere.

The Navy Soldiers who had been watching the show descended into chaos, screams and orders rising one after another.

"Hehe!"

Luffy lightly jumped onto the Merry's sheep head and patted his uninjured belly, looking immensely pleased with himself.

"Feels like my strength has grown a lot lately! Intercepting a cannonball or something is ridiculously easy!"

Ronan watched the scene with a faint smile.

This was the result of training. If it had been before, Luffy could have bounced it away too, but never with such precision.

Inside the Sea Restaurant, Baratie.

Ronan's Group ignored the chaotic warship and instead took the Merry's small shopping boat to board the Sea Restaurant from the side.

After pushing open the heavy fish-mouth doors, a rich aroma of food rushed toward them.

The restaurant's interior was spacious and luxurious. Enormous crystal chandeliers cast soft light over the deep red carpet covering the floor, while every table was draped in pristine white cloth.

Around them, bustling diners filled the room. The clinking of cutlery, the sound of glasses touching, and laughter intertwined into a lively sea of noise.

Through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, they could enjoy delicious food while admiring the azure ocean view.

"Wow—this place is so fancy!" Luffy's eyes sparkled.

The group found a window-side table and sat down. They had just ordered when Ronan's attention was drawn by a commotion in the center of the hall.

"That's..."

Ronan looked over and saw that navy captain Harpody from earlier was seated at a table not far away.

Apparently trying to show off in front of his female companion, he wore a gloomy expression as he picked a fight with a waiter.

The waiter wore a sharp black suit. Golden hair covered his left eye, leaving only his right eye visible.

Most eye-catching were his curled, spiral-like eyebrows, as well as the elegance and roguish air he could not conceal even while carrying dishes.

He was the Straw Hat Pirates' future cook—Sanji.

"What's with this bug!"

Harpody pointed at an exquisite bowl of soup before him, raising his voice as if he wanted everyone in the restaurant to hear.

A tiny bug floated in the milky-white broth, glaringly out of place.

Harpody had expected the waiter to panic and apologize, but he was wrong.

Sanji merely bent down slightly and leaned closer to inspect the bug, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather.

"My apologies, sir, but I'm not quite sure."

He straightened up, a faintly mocking smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. "After all, I haven't studied insects."

"Pfft—"

Sanji's dead-serious nonsense instantly set off laughter from the surrounding diners.