Defeat

"Hawkeye!"

Zoro was startled by the name, abruptly standing up, his gaze fixed on the man in the corner.

His hands instinctively went to his sword hilt, clenching it tightly.

"What's wrong, Zoro?" The others looked puzzled.

Seeing this, Reiner knew what he intended to do, but...

The power gap is too wide, should I stop him? Reiner couldn't help but think.

He couldn't guarantee that the story would unfold as before, especially if Zoro were to die right here.

However, when he looked up and saw the resolute look in Zoro's eyes, he abandoned the idea of interfering.

This was Zoro's own path, and besides, even if he tried to dissuade him, Zoro probably wouldn't listen.

Hawkeye walked straight for the door, not even sparing a glance for the intensely gazing Zoro.

"Wait!" Zoro shouted. "You're the World's Greatest Swordsman, aren't you?"

He drew his sword, pointing it at Hawkeye. "I challenge you!"

"I have no interest in the weak."

Hawkeye said flatly, continuing to walk out the door.

"Don't be so arrogant, you bastard!" Zoro gnashed his teeth and chased after him.

"Hey, Zoro!" Nami called out urgently, then looked at the others. "Go stop him! Didn't you hear? That guy cut a pirate ship in half with one stroke!"

"No, Nami." Luffy, too, put down his food, his expression serious. "I promised Zoro I wouldn't stand in his way."

"Sigh, let's go." Reiner sighed, getting up and heading for the door.

The chefs stood stunned for a moment, then immediately ran to the kitchen.

"Hey, everyone come out and see! Those customers are challenging Hawkeye!"

"Seriously?!"

"Wait a minute, isn't that guy a famous bounty hunter?"

"It really is him, Roronoa Zoro!"

The kitchen instantly became lively, and everyone poured out of the restaurant.

Sanji looked strange, putting down his cooking utensils and coming out. "Honestly, what's with these people? Do they love dueling that much?"

On the deck outside the restaurant, Zoro stopped Hawkeye, his Wado Ichimonji already clenched in his teeth.

His purpose in setting out to sea was to find this very man.

To defeat him, to make his name resound across the entire ocean, and to fulfill the promise he made all those years ago.

An unprecedented longing appeared in Zoro's eyes.

"I admire the look in your eyes. Since that's the case, consider this a post-meal workout."

Hawkeye said, taking off the cross pendant from his chest and drawing a small blade. "I don't have a smaller knife. Come on."

On the second-floor deck, besides Reiner and the others, the Baratie chefs, led by Sanji, were all gathered, watching the duel with expectant expressions.

"The World's Greatest Swordsman versus Roronoa Zoro!"

"I never thought I'd see a fight of this caliber."

"I can't imagine what it'll be like when they start fighting."

All the chefs stared intently at the scene below. They only knew that both sides were strong, but they had no concrete idea how strong.

Because their own strength was far from reaching the level of either of them, they could only rely on reputation to make judgments, and Zoro's fame in the East Blue was quite considerable.

However, Three minutes later...

"A wound on the back!"

"Is a swordsman's disgrace!!!"

"..."

Would it be impolite to laugh now?

Regarding this iconic scene, Reiner felt both annoyed and amused. While concern filled his eyes, he also couldn't help but feel a greater sense of admiration for Zoro.

Hawkeye drew his Black Blade Yoru, delivering the final blow to end the battle.

With his back to the fallen Zoro, Hawkeye strolled away casually, leaving only a faint remark:

"Become stronger, Roronoa. I'll be waiting for you on the throne of the World's Greatest Swordsman."

Lying on the deck, Zoro covered his face with one hand, raising Wado Ichimonji to the sky:

"Until I defeat him! I will never lose again!!!"

It was as if he was speaking to everyone present.

It was as if he was making a vow to someone nonexistent in the sky.

As soon as the duel ended, Reiner and Usopp immediately rushed over and helped Zoro, who had fallen to the ground.

A shocking gash, starting from his upper right chest and extending across his entire upper body, was clearly visible.

Reiner jumped back onto the ship to find medicine, and the two of them bandaged Zoro.

Meanwhile, at the restaurant entrance.

"That idiot's your nakama, isn't he? Why didn't you stop him?" Sanji lit a cigarette and asked Luffy, who was standing nearby.

Luffy glanced at Sanji. "That's his dream. Zoro has his own path."

"Was it necessary to go that far?" Sanji looked up, exhaled a puff of smoke, and said faintly, "A dream... such an intangible thing. Is it worth gambling your life on?"

"Yeah, that's why it's called a dream," Luffy said calmly yet firmly. "Don't you have anything worth gambling your life on?"

Something worth gambling my life on...

Sanji leaned against the wall, closing his eyes. After a long moment, he said, "Have you heard of the All Blue?"

"The All Blue?"

"It's a legendary ocean, said to be where all the fish from the four seas gather."

"They say it's somewhere in the Grand Line. Once the old man dies, I'm going to the Grand Line. Even if it takes my whole life, I'll find that ocean."

Luffy couldn't help but glance at Sanji, then suddenly showed a strange expression. "Hehehe, we're going there too. We just happen to need a cook. Why don't you come with us?"

"No, I have a reason to stay here."

"What? Didn't you say you were going to the Grand Line?"

On the third-floor deck, Zeff leaned his hands on the railing, looking down at Sanji and Luffy. A slight smile played on his lips as he murmured, "Looks like you're having a good laugh, you brat. Perhaps you've finally found a ship worth joining."

After bandaging Zoro, Reiner helped him into the restaurant. Fortunately, his heart wasn't injured; Hawkeye had shown mercy.

Although the wound was deep, it was only superficial, and with Zoro's physique, he'd be fine after some rest.

Seeing that Zoro wasn't in serious danger, the others also relaxed.

Reiner, Nami, and Usopp slowly enjoyed their food, while Luffy and Sanji continued their duel.

It's worth mentioning that, due to Luffy's persistence, they placed a bet on the duel: if Luffy won, Sanji would join them; if he lost, they would never bother him at Baratie again—

—except for Nami.

"With Luffy's appetite, he's sure to win," Nami said confidently. She had just seen yesterday how Luffy had exhausted five villagers.

Reiner, however, was unconvinced. "It's hard to say with Sanji. I'm already thinking about how to cheat."

Yes, I'm despicable, that's right.

However, before Reiner could make a move, someone in the kitchen had already acted.

"Sanji, it's time for you to leave here," Zeff said calmly.

Sanji remained unmoved. He was busy with his match against Luffy, his attention fully focused on the cooking utensils in his hands.

"I said, you're fired, Sanji," Zeff continued.

Only then did Sanji slowly put down his cooking utensils, his expression gradually turning grim:

"You old geezer, what kind of joke are you playing?!"

"Do you want me to die with regret? Go out to sea, Sanji. I don't want to be your burden."

"What's this about burdens?! I want to stay here myself! It has nothing to do with you!"

"What about the All Blue?" Zeff's voice remained calm.

"I'll naturally go out to sea after you die!"

"Instead of seeing me to my grave, why don't you tell me the All Blue really exists while I still have a few years left to live?"

Zeff turned to look out the window, where the clear blue sky reflected the calm sea. "One of us has to go see it, don't they?"

The kitchen gradually grew quiet. Sanji lowered his head and removed the cigarette from his mouth. His blonde hair obscured his face, making it impossible to see his expression in the shadows.

Thump.

Until a single, large drop of water traced a path down his face and fell, he suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud, hands on the floor, and heavily bowed his head to Zeff.

"Thank you!" Sanji cried, tears streaming down his face:

"Thank you! Old man, I'll never forget your immense kindness!"

The kitchen was deathly quiet. All the cooks had voluntarily left when Zeff entered.

Zeff looked down at the man he had raised, and his eyes couldn't help but well up a little, but he quickly wiped them away. A man had awkwardly stumbled in.

"Uh, sorry, wrong way."

At the kitchen entrance, Reiner stood dumbfounded, his toes practically digging holes in the floor. The touching scene before him was somewhat awkward.

He looked down at the nest of ants he held in his hands, Undead he had just created from ants he found outside, planning to sneak in and cause some mischief.

He had just snuck in when he saw this scene.

"Sorry, I didn't see anything."

Sanji: "..."