"So it really is the Vinsmoke Family, the one from Germa 66 in the North Blue."
Robin rubbed her chin thoughtfully and began piecing together the bits of information in her mind.
"Hey, Sanji, is that for real!?"
Franky immediately sat bolt upright, eyes wide with shock as he pressed Sanji:
"Germa 66, the powerful scientific force that once ruled the entire North Blue—you come from a really powerful family."
Naturally, with his passionate love of mechanical modifications, he'd heard of Germa 66. More importantly—
"Hey, Sanji! The story of the Evil Army and Hero Sora!"
"Is it real?"
Franky clenched his fists excitedly. Chopper and Usopp beside him looked just as eager, anticipation brimming in all three pairs of eyes.
"It's fake," Sanji said, looking utterly exasperated.
Rumble!
His casual words struck like a bolt from a clear sky, shattering their fantasies.
The three clutched their faces and gaped, as if they'd just heard some horrifying truth they couldn't accept. They froze where they stood.
"F... Fake..."
"There's no Hero Sora..."
"No Evil Army..."
"No, there is an Evil Army."
A shadow crossed Sanji's face as he murmured, "That's why I left. Those people stopped being family a long time ago."
"Sanji..."
"Are you okay?"
Seeing his expression, the others stopped fooling around and grew concerned.
"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."
"Yeah, yeah. We're not curious at all, really."
Sanji was usually so gentle, yet he described his family that way. It was clear those memories weighed heavily on him.
"It's fine. I've already let go of the past. Sorry for keeping it from you all."
Sanji looked up at the sky as smoke drifted slowly from his lips.
"My only family is that old man Zeff. That cold home isn't worth