A World Tour by Ship?

"Impossible!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

"If Wang Shi and the Germa Evil Legion were enemies, there is no way Wang Shi could possibly know my identity."

"Even you didn't know my identity, so how could Wang Shi, the new emperor of the East Blue, possibly know?"

"It must be that someone from Germa discovered my whereabouts."

"And then, through some method, Wang Shi stole that information from Germa."

"In short, it is absolutely impossible for Wang Shi to have obtained news of me while bypassing Germa."

Sanji was covered in cold sweat at this moment; back then, after he failed to display the powerful physique of a modified human, Judge had locked him away and even announced his death to the outside world.

There were very few people in this world who even knew of his existence.

For Wang Shi to have obtained information about him, there was no other possibility than it having been leaked from the Germa side.

"You mean to say, it must be that Germa discovered your information first, and only then could Wang Shi have obtained it?"

"Yes!"

Hearing Sanji's absolute tone, Zeff's eyes were filled with gravity.

That meant if Wang Shi knew about Sanji, then the Germa Evil Legion must also know Sanji's whereabouts.

"Sanji, since the Flaws Kingdom hired the Germa Evil Legion, who are enemies of Wang Shi, why hasn't he made a move against you?"

Zeff's heart was in turmoil; how did they end up caught in the middle of a war between the Goa Empire of the East Blue and the Germa Kingdom of the North Blue?

"He seemed to ask me whether I would continue to run away or defect to a powerful nation..."

Sanji's eyes lit up; was Wang Shi reminding him of something?

Right now, other than being obediently dragged back for a political marriage, his only other option was to defect to a powerful nation capable of contending with the Germa Kingdom.

As for running away, that seemed a bit difficult.

Unless they all went out to sea as pirates, embarking on a dangerous path of being hunted by both Germa and the Navy.

"Defect to a powerful nation?"

"Heh, isn't this just recruiting us?"

Zeff gave a bitter smile; how did they end up back at the original problem?

However, would Wang Shi really go to war with the powerful Germa Kingdom just for a few cooks like them?

"He is recruiting us?"

Sanji's eyes widened; Wang Shi knew full well that the Vinsmoke family wanted to drag him back for a marriage, yet he still wanted to recruit him.

Why?

Sanji, who was only a few months older than Zoro, was only 17 years old this year and lacked the calmness and wisdom he would possess in the future.

"If we can't run, then it seems we have no choice but to head to the Goa Empire to do business."

Zeff lit his pipe; he didn't know if Wang Shi was recruiting Sanji just to spite the Germa Evil Legion, or if he truly liked their food so much that he kept inviting them.

He certainly didn't believe Wang Shi was doing it out of the kindness of his heart to provide Sanji with sanctuary.

"Old man..."

Sanji looked at Zeff with inner conflict; he had truly dragged this man, who was like a father to him, into his mess.

"Haha, stop acting like a girl, go out and have a good talk with His Majesty Wang Shi."

"It's just changing the place where we do business, we won't die!"

Zeff slapped Sanji on the head and laughed dismissively.

"What are you all standing there for? Keep cooking and serving dishes to His Majesty Wang Shi!"

Zeff walked out with Sanji, not forgetting to scold Patty and Carne, the chefs who were watching the spectacle.

Inside the dining hall.

"Your Majesty Wang Shi, let's get straight to the point. As long as we go to the Goa Empire to do business, will you provide us with sanctuary?"

Zeff really wanted to know Wang Shi's purpose in doing this; he knew deep down that it couldn't be that simple.

"Tell me, do any of you want to travel around the world and find the legendary ALL BLUE? I hear that all the ingredients in the world can be found there."

Wang Shi didn't answer Zeff's question immediately, but instead asked the two of them.

Sure enough, upon hearing the name ALL BLUE, the eyes of both Zeff and Sanji lit up.

Sanji did indeed have a dream: to find the ALL BLUE and become the greatest chef in the world.

"Cough, does Your Majesty intend to travel around the world to find the legendary ALL BLUE?"

Zeff looked at Wang Shi with disbelief; logically, chasing dreams out at sea was the exclusive domain of pirates.

Could it be that Wang Shi, an imperial emperor, would abandon his entire country to go on an adventure around the world?

"I am indeed preparing to embark on a diplomatic mission to the nations of the Four Blues. Are you interested in joining the ship as chefs?"

Wang Shi ate a piece of the tender Elephant-Nose Fish with satisfaction, a look of pure enjoyment on his face.

The fish was truly delicious; even the royal chefs of the Goa Empire could not replicate this flavor.

"Travel the world by ship? To search for the All Blue?"

It wasn't just Sanji whose eyes were flashing with excitement; even Patty and Carne, who had come out to serve the dishes, cried out in shock.

Even Zeff was incredibly moved.

Back in the day, he had formed the Cook Pirates and set sail specifically to find the All Blue, but he had only ventured through the Grand Line for a year before retreating back to the East Blue.

As for the reason, it was likely due to a lack of strength.

A crew of chefs simply didn't have the power to head into the New World.

Even sailing through the Paradise half of the Grand Line had been perilous, resulting in heavy losses.

Retreating while he still could was Zeff's choice.

However, after that desperate survival experience on the isolated island with Sanji, he had learned the true meaning of food and being a chef.

That is, to provide food for those who have none, and to never waste it.

Zeff glanced at Sanji; he was old now, and he wanted to entrust the dream of finding the All Blue to this little guy.

"Sanji! You should follow His Majesty on his mission to the Four Blues. Baratie doesn't need you anymore!"

Thinking of the threat the Vinsmoke family posed to Sanji, Zeff decisively drove the boy away.

He was using Wang Shi's influence to protect Sanji, while simultaneously allowing him to pursue their shared dream of finding the All Blue.

He couldn't just let Sanji set sail alone as a pirate, constantly fleeing from the pursuit of Germa 66.

Or should the Baratie restaurant form a new crew of chefs and set sail again?

"You're kicking me out?"

Sanji looked at Zeff in disbelief, though he quickly understood what Zeff meant.

But he didn't want to leave Zeff, the man who was both his benefactor and his "father" and "master."

"That's right, I'm kicking you out. You're nothing but trouble, don't be an eyesore here."

Zeff acted as if he were shooing away a fly, waving his hands to drive Sanji off.

"If you ever get kicked off Wang Shi's ship, you can always come back to Baratie and work as a busboy."

Seeing the look in Sanji's eyes, Zeff added impatiently.

"Old man..."

"I won't get kicked off the ship! I'll definitely find the All Blue and become the greatest chef!"

Sanji felt Zeff's reluctance to let him go, but like Zeff, he was someone with a soft heart and a sharp tongue, so he retorted immediately.

Wang Shi, Nami, and the others watched the bickering between Sanji and Zeff with great interest.

Amidst their tug-of-war and arguing, the meal slowly came to an end.

Meanwhile, the army of the Flaws Kingdom and the mercenary forces of Germa 66, joined by the national fleet of the Sasba Kingdom, were steaming aggressively toward the waters of the floating restaurant Baratie.

Having finished his meal, Van Augur had returned to the top of the mainmast of the Exile Emperor to observe the surroundings.

As several fleets appeared, Van Augur immediately issued a warning to Wang Shi and the others.

"So, they've finally arrived!"

Wang Shi watched Sanji packing his bags, wondering which of Sanji's brothers had come with the Germa 66 legion this time.