After dealing harshly with the former head chef of the Dark Bird Ship, Zeff glared with his hawk-like eyes and strode back into the restaurant.
Upon entering the house, Zeff looked around for Sanji's location. When he saw the brat skillfully preparing beef, he finally felt relieved.
Click, click.
The sound of Zeff's third leg striking the ground gradually moved closer to Sanji.
Wait, a third leg?
Zeff ate one of his legs, so wouldn't his wooden leg be his third leg?
Very reasonable.
Standing in front of the oven, listening to the sound of wooden legs hitting the ground, Sanji glanced at his watch and briefly paused his cooking.
He turned around and casually pulled a cigarette from his pocket.
Before he could even take a puff, Zeff quickly snatched his cigarette away.
"Hey kid, don't be smoking in the kitchen at a time like this!"
Although seeing you has calmed me down a bit, that doesn't mean you can smoke in the kitchen while cooking for the Celestial Dragon!
If some raiding party sees you, then I'm really not going to be able to save you!
At this point, Zeff cautiously glanced around; he had a feeling that quite a few members of the CP in black suits had sneaked into his kitchen.
Watching Zeff's cautious demeanor, Sanji elegantly shrugged.
"Okay, I won't smoke anymore, I..."
"What do you mean, you brat? Hurry up and grab your cigarettes and get out of the kitchen. Go sneak a smoke in the corner of the deck!"
I'll keep an eye on your steak for you. Come back as soon as you're done; you have too many things to do!
At this point, Zeff gave Sanji a shove, sending Sanji more than seven meters away.
After staggering to his feet, Sanji, holding a cigarette in his hand, smiled and nodded at Zeff.
"I'll head out now. You'll have to hold on by yourself for a bit. Don't worry, I'll come back and help you after I finish this cigarette."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sanji turned and left, completely ignoring Zeff's usual string of curses and profanities.
As Sanji walked, he gripped the cigarette case tightly; the old man's concern for him was always so unique.
And this always moved him deeply.
With a wistful look in his eyes, Sanji pushed open the kitchen door, went to a corner of the deck, and pulled out a lighter.
Just as he took the cigarette out of the pack, a steady voice suddenly rang out beside him.
"You're smoking? Can I have one?"
"Certainly."
Without even seeing who it was, Sanji casually pulled out a cigarette and handed it to the person who spoke.
But the moment that hand caught the cigarette, Sanji was stunned.
He assumed that the only people who would ask him for cigarettes in a place like this were the ship's original cooks and sailors.
But how could he have imagined that the person who asked him for a cigarette was actually Gawain?!
Although Sanji had never actually seen Gawain's face until now, he had been in the kitchen the whole time, so how could he possibly see it?
But Sanji had already flipped through the magazine many times before Gawain arrived!
Gawain's slicked-back hair is so distinctive, how could Sanji not recognize him!
He immediately panicked!
"Heaven... Celestial Dragon Lord!"
"Gao Gao Gao... Gawain... Saint?!!"
At this Sanji, even Sanji's voice began to tremble...
Just as Gawain was about to light a cigarette after taking it from the side, he noticed that the young man in front of him was about to kneel down.
So, while lighting a cigarette with Raiden, he lightly kicked Sanji's knee.
"You can speak standing up, no need to kneel."
As soon as she finished speaking, Gawain took a long, pleasant drag on her cigarette.
Across from him, watching the smoke Gawain exhaled and feeling the sole of his shoe against his knee, Sanji took a deep breath.
While acknowledging the significant contribution made to global warming, Sanji anxiously asked Gawain.
"How did you end up in this situation...?"
Sanji stopped mid-sentence, unsure of what to say next. There were some things he simply couldn't bring himself to say, even if he knew them.
He didn't want to call himself a lower-class person, nor did he want to refer to the old man's painstakingly built restaurant as a place frequented by lower-class people.
This is a restaurant, a chef's paradise, not a place for the lower classes!!!
Thinking this, Sanji nervously lowered his head.
Across from him, seeing the hint of rebellion on Sanji's face, Gawain chuckled and reached his hand into Sanji's arms.
Gawain casually picked up a cigarette, put it in Sanji's mouth, and then snapped his fingers, bringing the lightning swirling around his fingertips closer to the cigarette.
"Light it first, kid," he reminded him.
"Uh... Okay, sure."
Sanji was startled by Gawain's appearance. Hesitantly, he brought his cigarette closer to Thunder, and amidst the lingering smell of tobacco, Sanji cautiously looked at Gawain and asked softly.
Do you usually smoke this brand of cigarettes?
"Ha ha."
Gawain smiled as he saw Sanji gradually relax and start talking to him about his old Smoker habit.
He smiled and patted Sanji on the shoulder.
"I don't even know what I usually smoke. I used to smoke the Dragon Cigarettes, a limited edition from Mary Geoise, which were specially supplied to the Celestial Dragon."
Later, I smoked seaweed cigarettes from Fish-Man Island, which Shirahoshi rolled herself.
As for the last few days, I've been smoking the herbal cigarettes that Mr. Crocus gave me.
Honestly, the herbal cigarettes have an extremely strong taste and burn my throat; I really don't like smoking them.
But there's nothing we can do; he's the doctor, and who dares to disobey the doctor?
At this point, Gawain flicked his cigarette ash with a sigh and then waved the tobacco toward Sanji.
"After smoking that herbal cigarette for a few days, my breath almost lost its flavor. Now, when I smoke this kind of normal cigarette, I feel like I'm floating on air. Sigh..."
"Well..."
Gawain's answer made Sanji awkwardly purse his lips; this Celestial Dragon was truly ruthless and unconventional.
They actually started chatting about everyday things with me. Could someone of my status really have the right to chat about everyday things with Celestial Dragon?
While inwardly marveling, Sanji decisively handed the remaining half-pack of cigarettes towards Gawain.
"Sir, please keep this."
Although I can't understand how anyone in the world dares to interfere with the Celestial Dragon's affairs.
But since someone is checking, you'd better hide the cigarettes.
"Certainly."
Gawain smiled and took the cigarette, casually putting it in his pocket. Then he leaned over the gunwale, smoking and gazing at the distant sea.
At this very moment, there are over ten thousand people near the Dark Bird Ship, constantly fishing on the sea.
They used Conqueror's Haki quite a bit when they fought Garp before.
Add to that Garp's Overturn the River punches...
In short, at this time, there were hundreds or even thousands of tons of fish floating in the sea.
Meanwhile, Laboon was happily eating, while the crew members were trying to salvage some of the rarer and more delicious seafood from Laboon's mouth.
Given the sheer size of the Dark Bird Ship, although no one would cut costs because Gawain is Celestial Dragon.
But if it's open source, everyone on board knows the limits.
Gazing at the vibrant scene on the sea, Gawain's smile deepened, and at the same time, Sanji couldn't help but say something to Gawain.
"I was in the kitchen of the Baratie restaurant and looked out the window at the view outside."
Although it was not very clear, when Mr. Garp was defeated, what he was most deeply entangled with was a sea of lightning.
"Sir, is your power lightning? Have you eaten Devil Fruit?"
At this point, Sanji cautiously glanced at Gawain.
Beside Sanji, Gawain nodded slightly.
"That's right, I ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, I am lightning."
"Oh, that's really amazing."
Sanji narrowed his eyes and looked at Gawain with longing.
"If I had your status, I estimate my only achievement would be hiring ten thousand beautiful maids and then staying home every day cooking for them."
And you, even with your Celestial Dragon status, have honed terrifying strength!
As soon as he finished speaking, Sanji gently tapped his right heel.
"I know how tough the training is, so why are you pushing yourself to this extent?"
Moreover, you are Celestial Dragon, so you shouldn't be standing in front of me at all, and I shouldn't be qualified to stand in front of you either.
Therefore, Saint Gawain...
Why did you make a special trip to see me?
It's because of Jay behind me..."
"Speak less, smoke more."
Just as Sanji was getting to the crucial part, Gawain suddenly reached out and patted Sanji on the head.
"What 'Jay'? I'm taking your cigarettes, calling me 'Brother Jay' won't change anything."
At this point, Gawain took a deep drag, smoking the half-smoked cigarette down to just the butt.
After casually using plasma to melt the cigarette butt, Gawain said one last thing to Sanji.
Stop thinking about all that nonsense, kid. If you think too much, you won't be able to see the beautiful world.
The only reason I came here for a smoke was to have one. What do you think I wanted to do? Or even if I did want to do something, I wouldn't need to go out of my way to get close to you.
After speaking, Gawain released Sanji and turned to walk towards the gangway of the Baratie restaurant.
As he walked, he spoke to Sanji without turning his head.
"Anyway, we've officially met today, Sanji."
Besides, you and I are now considered smokers who have smoked the same brand of cigarettes.
Since we're friends, I should at least take care of you. You're a chef, right? Well then.
For tonight's dinner, at least half of the dishes on my table must have been cooked by you, so you can freely showcase your culinary skills to me.
It's settled then. See you tonight, kid.
I hope I'll be satisfied with your cooking.
At this point, Sanji suddenly noticed that the electric current that Gawain had transformed into, walking away from him, had vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye.
Even after Gawain left, Sanji still didn't understand what Gawain meant.
While pondering the possible deeper meaning behind it, Sanji walked towards the kitchen.
By the time he reached the kitchen doorway, he had finally composed himself.
"I don't want to think about it too much. How can someone like me, a passive subordinate, possibly understand the thoughts of someone in a superior position, especially one who is exceptionally proactive?"
In short, I now know at least that the Celestial Dragon knew my identity!
Now that he knows even my biggest secret, what else do I need to care about?
No matter what he plans to do, I've already lost the will to struggle.
After muttering to himself for a moment, Sanji relaxed, pushed open the kitchen door, and walked towards Zeff with a smile.
"Hey, old man, the Celestial Dragon just saw how handsome I am and wants me to cook at least half a table of dishes for him!"
See? I told you that besides you old codger, there must be others who could discover my talent!
So, I'm now a head chef on par with you, old man!!!
About four hours later, on the Dark Bird Ship at dusk.
The training ground was surrounded by a tense crowd of onlookers.
Right there in the center of the crowd, on the training field, Grandpa Zephyr was swinging his fists fiercely, repeatedly punching Gawain.
Gawain, with his eyes closed, floated in the air, his body as soft as paper, dodging all of Zephyr's attacks.
Among the spectators, Hancock's face was flushed, as if she had been drinking.
She spoke with great anticipation.
"Originally, my Gawain only had the Kami-e move left, which would have completed all six of the Six Powers."
Unexpectedly, Gawain actually mastered the skills of Kami-e today!!!
If that's the case, Gawain, who has fully mastered the Rokushiki, shouldn't be able to advance to the Seimei Kikan stage soon~~.
"I'm so looking forward to it!"
"Uh, Hancock."
Jinbe had Hancock finished speaking than Jinbe, who was not far away, said something that spoiled the mood.
"After the adult ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, although he gained an all-round improvement, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit also deprived him of the opportunity to gradually hone his skills from the bottom up."
Although you have now mastered the Rokushiki, if you want to advance to the Seimei Kikan, you must fight several real life-or-death battles.
But do you think an adult would have that kind of opportunity? Could the Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability really put him in such a desperate situation?
At this point, Jinbe, completely ignoring Hancock's increasingly dark expression, continued confidently.
"Hancock, I doubt that you, sir, will ever be able to master the Seimei Kikan!"
Bang!!!
Suddenly, Hancock's little fist landed hard on Jinbe's head.
Hancock roared viciously as she added a huge bag to Jinbe.
"You suspect I'll never get married, Jinbe!!!"
"You're asking for a beating, aren't you?!"
At this point, Jinbe was beaten so badly by Hancock that he had to run away, and the matter was dropped only after Jinbe hid in the sea.
Meanwhile, Gawain on the training field finally stopped what he was doing.
"Mr. Zephyr, that's enough for today."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain pointed to the hospital in the distance, where Crocus and Kureha were leading Garp out, along with Chopper who was perched on Garp's head.
On the training field, Zephyr glanced in the direction of Gawain's finger, and after seeing the old scoundrel Garp, Zephyr nodded slightly.
That's enough for now!
After saying that, he rushed towards Garp's position without Gawain's response.
While Zephyr went to find Garp, Hancock also abandoned her pursuit of Jinbe and instead walked towards Gawain.
As they walked, Hancock spoke to Gawain.
"Gawain, a blond man with curly eyebrows once sent you a message through Kaku."
He said he had already prepared his portion, but he didn't know if you could tell which one he made!
As soon as she finished speaking, Hancock snuggled into Gawain's arms and said to Gawain with a mysterious look on her face.
"My lord, I suspect that blond, curly-browed young man that Kaku described to us is the chef you really want to recruit?"
Otherwise, why did you specifically agree to something with him?
At this point, Hancock looked expectantly at Gawain's expression, while at the same time, many of the officers watching the battle suddenly tensed up!
Faced with such a group of subordinates full of hidden meanings, Gawain was slightly taken aback, then nodded.
"I guess so. After all, that kid is younger, and youth means more potential."
"Very good!!!"
The instant Gawain finished speaking, Hancock suddenly raised her fist.
Like Hancock, there are also Shirahoshi, Nami, and Uta.
As for Vivi, Gion, and Nojiko, their faces suddenly fell.
"Ah, you made the wrong bet. Why would an adult be interested in a young person?"
Mingming's favorite thing is recruiting elderly people onto the ship...
"Oh, what a crushing defeat!"
She pursed her lips sadly, then sadly rummaged through her wallet, resolving to learn more about Lord Gawain in the future.
Nami, who was standing not far away, was completely dumbfounded.
"I... I just won a hundred million???"
With an incredulous mutter, Nami suddenly raised her hands.
"I absolutely love this ship! Gawain is the best! The Dark Bird Ship is the best!!!"