"Impossible!"
"Absolutely impossible!"
"If Wang Shi and the Germa Legion were enemies, there was no way Wang Shi could know who I was."
"Even you don't know my identity. How could Wang Shi, the new emperor of East Blue, know?"
"Someone from Germa must have discovered where I was."
"Then Wang Shi must have found some way to steal information about me from Germa."
"In short, there's no way Wang Shi could have learned about me without going through Germa."
Sanji was drenched in cold sweat. Back when he had failed to show the powerful physique of a modified human, Judge had locked him away and even announced his death to the outside world.
Hardly anyone in the world knew he existed.
There was no way Wang Shi could have gotten word of him unless someone in Germa had let it slip.
"So you're saying Germa must have found out where you were first, and only then could Wang Shi have learned about you?"
"Exactly!"
Hearing the certainty in Sanji's voice, Zeff's expression grew grave.
That meant if Wang Shi knew about Sanji, then the Germa Evil Legion must also know where he was.
"Sanji, if the Flaws Kingdom hired the Germa Evil Legion, who are Wang Shi's enemies, why didn't he make a move against you?"
Zeff's thoughts were in turmoil too. How had they gotten caught up in a war between the Goa Empire in East Blue and the Germa Kingdom in North Blue?
"He seemed to ask whether I wanted to keep running or pledge myself to a powerful country..."
Sanji's eyes lit up. Was Wang Shi trying to give him a hint?
Now, his only choices were to be obediently taken back and forced into a political marriage, or to seek the protection of a powerful nation capable of standing up to the Germa Kingdom.
As for running away, that seemed difficult.
Unless they all went to sea as pirates and embarked on the dangerous path of being hunted by Germa and the Navy.
"Pledge yourself to a powerful country?"
"Heh, isn't that just a recruitment pitch?"
Zeff gave a wry smile. Somehow, they were back where they started.
But would Wang Shi really go to war with the mighty Germa Kingdom for a few cooks?
"He's trying to recruit us?"
Sanji's eyes widened. Wang Shi knew the Vinsmoke Family wanted to take him back and force him into a political marriage, yet he still wanted to recruit him.
Why?
Only a few months older than Zoro, Sanji was just seventeen. He wasn't yet as calm and perceptive as he would become in the future.
"If we can't get away, then I guess we'll have to go to the Goa Empire and do business."
Zeff puffed on his pipe. He didn't know whether Wang Shi was recruiting Sanji just to spite the Germa Legion, or whether he genuinely liked their food and had invited them again and again for that reason.
He certainly didn't believe Wang Shi was kindly offering Sanji protection.
"Old man..."
Sanji looked at Zeff, torn. He really had dragged this old man, who was like a father to him, into his troubles.
"Haha! Quit acting like a little girl and go talk things over with His Majesty Wang Shi."
"It's just moving the business somewhere else. It's not like we'll die!"
Zeff slapped Sanji on the head and laughed heartily, as if none of it mattered.
"What are you standing around for? Get back to cooking and serving His Majesty Wang Shi!"
Zeff led Sanji out, not forgetting to yell at Patty, Carne, and the other cooks who had been watching the show.
In the dining hall.
"His Majesty Wang Shi, let's get straight to the point. If we go to the Goa Empire to do business, will you protect us?"
Zeff wanted to know what Wang Shi was after. He knew there had to be more to it than that.
"By the way, does anyone here want to sail around the world and find the legendary All Blue? I hear it has every ingredient in the world."
Wang Shi didn't answer Zeff right away. Instead, he turned the question back on them.
The moment they heard the name All Blue, Zeff and Sanji's eyes lit up.
Sanji did have a dream: to find All Blue and become the greatest chef in the world.
"Ahem. Does Your Majesty intend to sail around the world and find the legendary All Blue?"
Zeff looked at Wang Shi in disbelief. Normally, setting out to sea in pursuit of a dream was something only pirates did.
Could an emperor like Wang Shi really leave his entire country behind and go adventuring around the world?
"I do plan to visit the nations of the Four Blues. Would you be interested in coming along as cooks?"
Wang Shi happily ate a piece of tender Elephant-Nose Fish, savoring its delicate flavor.
The fish really was delicious. Even the royal chefs of the Goa Empire couldn't make it taste like this.
"Sail around the world? Find All Blue?"
Sanji's eyes blazed. Even Patty and Carne, who had come out to serve the food, cried out in excitement.
Even Zeff was deeply tempted.
He had once formed the Cook Pirates to search for All Blue, but he'd spent only a year in the Grand Line before retreating to East Blue.
The reason was probably that they weren't strong enough.
A pirate crew made up of cooks simply wasn't strong enough to reach the New World.
Even sailing through Paradise in the Grand Line had been perilous, and they'd suffered heavy losses.
Knowing when to retreat had been Zeff's choice.
But after that desperate struggle to survive with Sanji on a deserted island, he had learned the true meaning of food and cooking.
It was to feed those who had none, and never to waste food.
Zeff looked at Sanji. He was old now, and he wanted to pass his dream of finding All Blue on to the young man.
"Sanji! Go with His Majesty on his journey through the Four Blues. Baratie doesn't need you anymore!"
Thinking of the threat the Vinsmoke Family posed to Sanji, Zeff decisively sent the boy away.
He was using Wang Shi's power to protect Sanji, while giving him a chance to pursue their shared dream and find All Blue.
It was better than Sanji going to sea alone as a pirate to escape Germa's pursuit.
Or should Baratie Restaurant form another Cook Pirates and set sail?
"You're kicking me out?"
Sanji stared at Zeff in disbelief, but he soon understood what the old man meant.
Still, he didn't want to leave Zeff, the "father" and "master" who had done so much for him.
"Of course I'm kicking you out. You're nothing but trouble. Get out of my sight."
Zeff waved him away like an annoying fly.
"If Wang Shi throws you off his ship, you can come back to Baratie and work as a kitchen hand."
Seeing Sanji's expression, Zeff added irritably.
"Old man..."
"I won't get thrown off the ship. I'll find All Blue and become the greatest chef!"
Sanji could feel that Zeff didn't want him to leave, but like Zeff, he was soft-hearted and stubborn. He answered him right back.
Wang Shi and Nami watched the two of them bicker with interest.
Their meal came to a leisurely end amid all the arguing and back-and-forth.
Meanwhile, the armies of the Flaws Kingdom and the Germa 66 Legion, joined by the Sasba Kingdom's fleet, were bearing down on the waters around the sea restaurant Baratie.
After finishing his meal, Van Augur returned to the top of the mainmast of the Exile Emperor and kept watch in every direction.
As several fleets came into view, Van Augur immediately warned Wang Shi and the others.
"They're finally here!"
Wang Shi looked at Sanji packing his belongings and wondered which of his brothers the Germa 66 Legion had sent this time.