Sanji Joins the Crew

"Compared to the soup I made?"

Whoosh—Bam!!!

Without any warning, Zeff's fist, carrying the force of a thousand pounds, smashed viciously into Sanji's face!

Sanji felt as if he had been struck by lightning. That single punch sent him sprawling across the floor, where he slid several meters and knocked over several chairs.

"You want to lecture me about cooking...? You're a hundred years too early for that, you brat!"

Zeff looked down at Sanji, who was sprawled on the ground.

"I'm a man who's cooked across the Great Sea all over the world! Your little tricks aren't even worthy of carrying my shoes!"

"Damn it... Damn it!!!"

Sanji clutched his swollen cheek, tears welling in his eyes.

Humiliation, anger, and grievance intertwined, leaving him unable to remain there any longer.

He scrambled to his feet and rushed out of the restaurant.

As Sanji's back disappeared through the door, the tense atmosphere in the restaurant instantly vanished.

In the dead silence, only the sound of Luffy chewing remained.

Luffy walked over to the pot of soup everyone had despised, ladled himself a huge bowl, and gulped it down.

"Ha—"

Luffy wiped his mouth, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. "This soup is obviously super delicious! It's the best soup I've ever had!"

Zeff looked at Luffy, and his gaze finally softened. He sighed.

"I know that too. Everyone here recognizes Sanji's cooking skills..."

The surrounding chefs finally dropped their act as well, guilt and reluctance appearing on their faces.

"It's not bad at all..."

"It really is amazing. Way better than anything I can make."

"Did I go too far just now? Sanji seems like he was really angry..."

"Yeah, yeah. It really doesn't feel good."

Zeff turned around and looked at the door that was still swaying, his voice low.

"But if we didn't do this, that stubborn idiot would never obediently leave!"

He turned to Luffy, the youth with bright eyes.

"Hey, kid."

Zeff's tone was no longer an elder's command, but a request between men.

"I heard your ship needs a cook, right? Well, it's not exactly a request... Could you take that brat with you too? To the Grand Line!"

Zeff looked out at the vast sea beyond the window, his eyes profound. "The Grand Line... That's that idiot's dream!"

The chefs began shouting too. "My acting wasn't bad, right?"

"Get me a bowl of soup! I was so busy acting that I didn't get any!"

"Me too! Me too! Such delicious soup will get cold if we don't drink it now!"

Outside the door, by the wall.

Sanji leaned against the wall, trembling as he lit a cigarette.

Amid the curling smoke, tears were already streaming down his face.

"I heard everything... you damn lads."

He took a deep drag, trying to suppress the sob in his throat.

So he hadn't been abandoned. He had been deeply loved.

Those crude bastards had given him a push in the clumsiest way possible.

Just then, the door was pushed open.

Sanji stubbed out his cigarette and straightened his slightly rumpled suit. Looking at Luffy, there was no longer any confusion in his eyes, only the free-spirited resolve to risk everything.

"We all have foolish dreams..."

"For my destination, for All Blue!"

"Luffy..."

Luffy looked at him.

A handsome smile curled at the corner of Sanji's mouth. "Yeah, let me take a shot at it with you! That so-called... dream of becoming the Pirate King!"

Luffy froze for a moment. Then a smile bloomed across his face like the midday sun.

"I'll be the cook on your ship! So, is that okay or not?!" Sanji shouted.

"Sure!!"

Luffy jumped up excitedly and threw both hands into the air. "That's great!!"

Sanji turned around, his back facing the restaurant entrance, and shouted loudly.

"Then that's it, everyone! I've caused you a lot of trouble!!"

Dusk, aboard the Merry.

The setting sun dyed the sea orange-red. The Merry had already untied its moorings and was ready to set sail at any moment.

Ronan, Luffy, Nami, Zoro, and Usopp stood on deck, watching the blond man carrying a simple bundle as he walked toward the Merry one step at a time.

He walked slowly, as though every step landed on cotton.

But he did not look back. He kept his back to the Sea Restaurant that had carried his childhood, his growth, and all his memories.

"Don't you need to say goodbye again?" Luffy asked, leaning over the railing.

Sanji stepped onto the Merry's deck and lowered his voice, trying to maintain his last shred of coolness. "No need! What kind of man would drag things out like that?"

Just as he was about to enter the cabin and completely bid farewell to the past,

a familiar, aged yet vigorous voice pierced through the sea breeze and the distance, stabbing straight into his ears.

"Sanji."

Sanji's body suddenly stiffened.

Zeff stood on the second-floor terrace with his arms folded. He did not speak any grand words, nor did he offer any sentimental plea for Sanji to stay.

Like he was simply telling his son something before he went out, he said lightly,

"Don't catch a cold."

Boom—!

Those simple words instantly shattered all of Sanji's psychological defenses.

Every disguise, every bit of strength, every trace of "coolness" crumbled away in that instant.

Tears burst from his eyes like floodwaters breaching a dam.

Snot and tears mixed together, making his handsome face a complete mess.

He could not hold back any longer.

Sanji suddenly turned around to face Zeff, that damned old man who had sacrificed a leg to save him.

Thud!

He dropped heavily to his knees on the hard wooden planks, braced his hands against the ground, and slammed his forehead down!

"Boss Zeff!!!"

Sanji cried out heart-rendingly, his voice echoing through the sky.

"For all these years... thank you so much for taking care of me!!!"

"I will never forget your great kindness for as long as I live!!!"

Every word and every sentence landed on the deck along with scorching tears.

On the terrace, Zeff looked at the child below who was crying his heart out, at the fledgling eagle that had finally grown wings and flown toward the sky.

The tears he had been holding back finally burst into tears.

"Bastard..."

Zeff gritted his teeth, tears running through his beard. "A man... should part in silence!"

Patty and all the other chefs were crying too, each of them leaning over the railing and shouting.

"Sanji! You bastard! Give it your all!"

"Don't disgrace our Baratie!"

"We'll miss you, Sanji!"

Ronan quietly watched the scene, warmth rising in his heart.

This was the charm of Pirate King. Between these crude men flowed the most delicate emotions in the world.

"What a bunch of... lovable idiots," Ronan said softly.

Luffy tugged at his straw hat, then took a deep breath and shouted.

"Set sail—!!!"

The Merry raised its sails and, carried by the wind of the setting sun, sailed into the distance.

Sanji stood up and wiped away his tears.

Standing at the stern, he waved his arm forcefully one last time at the Sea Restaurant gradually receding into the distance.

"Goodbye!!! You damn lads!!!"

"I'll definitely find All Blue!!!"