"It was the Vinsmoke Family of Germa 66 in the North Blue."
Robin stroked her chin thoughtfully, beginning to piece together the scattered information in her mind.
"Hey, seriously, Sanji!?"
Franky immediately sprang up, staring wide-eyed as he pressed Sanji in shock.
"Germa 66, the powerful scientific military force that once ruled the entire North Blue—you've got quite the family background."
With his fanatical love for mechanical modifications, he had naturally heard of Germa 66. More importantly—
"Hey, Sanji! The story of the Evil Army and Hero Sora!"
"Was it real!?"
Franky clenched his fists excitedly. Chopper and Usopp beside him looked over just as eagerly, anticipation overflowing from all three of their eyes.
"It was fake," Sanji said speechlessly.
Rumble!
Those casual words were like a bolt from the blue, brutally shattering their fantasies.
The three clutched their faces and opened their mouths wide, as though they had heard some horrifying, unacceptable truth, turning to stone on the spot.
"Fake...?"
"There was no Hero Sora."
"There was no Evil Army."
"No, there was an Evil Army."
A shadow crossed Sanji's face as he said quietly, "That's why I left. Those people stopped being family a long time ago."
"Sanji."
"Are you okay?"
Seeing his expression, the others put aside their teasing and began to show concern.
"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it."
"Yeah, yeah, we're not that curious anyway."
For the usually gentle Sanji to describe his family that way, those memories were clearly a heavy burden.
"It's fine. I let go of the past long ago. Sorry for keeping it from everyone."
Sanji raised his head toward the sky as smoke drifted slowly from his lips.
"My only family is Old Man Zeff. That cold house isn't worth missing anymore. Sanji of the Vinsmoke