Sanji's Chef's Way, Victor's "Arrogance"?

Inside Baratie's restaurant, a "food war" was underway.

"Wow, wow, wow!! Delicious, delicious!!"

Luffy went all out, his hands turning into afterimages as he frantically stuffed all kinds of food into his seemingly bottomless mouth.

Across from him, Clay stood atop the table, refusing to be outdone.

As a reserve "emergency food supply" personally certified by Victor, it seemed determined to prove its worth through its appetite.

"Cluck, cluck, caw!!"

Clay clamped its beak around an octopus tentacle thicker than its own body and swallowed it wildly like a lion tearing into its prey, tears of happiness glimmering in its eyes.

"Waaah! It's so delicious! Even dying from overeating would be worth it!!"

Nami, Zoro, and Usopp were used to this sight, eating and drinking as usual.

But Johnny and Joseph, beside them, were dumbfounded, their forks dropping to the floor.

Johnny swallowed as he watched stacks of plates rapidly pile up. "Were they reincarnated hungry ghosts or something?"

The chefs constantly bringing out dishes were drenched in sweat as well. Wiping their foreheads, they complained:

"Th-These guys... what kind of monsters are they..."

"Forget it. They paid, and they paid eight times the price... Let's just pretend we're feeding pigs."

"Gulp."

With one final massive swallow, Luffy finally stopped moving.

He patted his round belly and let out a satisfied burp.

"Ahh! I'm so full, so full! I feel alive again!"

"Huh? So you actually have a limit?"

Zoro set down his wineglass and drained the last mouthful of red wine.

He smacked his lips and frowned. "Yeah, it's sour. Doesn't taste good. Strong liquor really suits me better."

"Mm."

Luffy ignored Zoro's complaint. His gaze was suddenly drawn to a figure.

The blond, curly-browed sous-chef, Sanji, was carrying a steaming plate of seafood fried rice.

Instead of heading toward a customer's table, he walked straight toward the restaurant entrance.

Luffy adjusted his Straw Hat, his eyes shifting slightly.

"He's the guy that old man mentioned, right?"

Thinking that, Luffy immediately jumped off his chair and curiously followed after him like a little tagalong.

Victor was wiping grease from the corner of his mouth with a napkin. Seeing Luffy move, he turned to take a look as well.

He seemed to guess what was happening. Then he stood, slipped both hands into his pockets, and leisurely followed.

Nami watched the two of them leave and muttered in confusion:

"What are those two going off to do? Haven't they eaten enough yet?"

"Whatever. Forget it."

She sighed, her gaze darkening...

On the deck, the sea breeze was slightly cool.

Gin was curled up in a dark corner, clutching his spasming stomach and gasping for breath.

"Hah... hah..."

He could clearly feel his life slipping away bit by bit along with his body heat.

The overwhelming hunger, as though his internal organs were devouring themselves, tortured him beyond endurance.

At this moment, he would rather that hateful chef had simply killed him with one slash than make him suffer this living hell.

Just then.

An enticing aroma drifted into his nostrils, instantly awakening his dying nerves.

Tap.

A plate piled high with seafood fried rice was gently placed before him.

Gin struggled to lift his heavy eyelids. Through his blurry vision, he saw the figure in a black suit.

Sanji crouched down with his back against the railing, lighting a cigarette with a lighter.

He took a deep drag, then exhaled a cloud of pale blue smoke.

"Eat." Sanji's voice was calm.

Gin stared at the fried rice, his throat bobbing frantically. But the last shred of pride he had as a pirate officer made him grit his teeth.

"Shut up... Don't look down on me..."

He roared hoarsely:

"No matter how hungry I am... I won't accept anyone's charity... Take it away!!"

"Stop talking nonsense and eat."

Sanji did not even look at him. He merely gazed out at the distant sea and said indifferently:

"To me, anyone with an empty stomach is a customer."

"Sorry... I'm not a customer..." Gin stubbornly turned his head away.

"Grrrrumble—"

Yet at that very moment, his stomach let out an exceptionally loud, dissatisfied protest, completely betraying him.

Sanji glanced at him from the corner of his eye, a mocking curve appearing on his lips.

"See? Your body is much more honest than your mouth."

Then his gaze deepened, as if he had recalled some unbearable past.

"The sea is vast and cruel. On these waters, losing food and water is terrifying. That despair... I understand it better than anyone."

"So eat. Staying alive is what matters most."

Gin's body trembled after hearing those words.

He looked at the plate of fried rice and could no longer endure it.

"Ugh..."

He suddenly pounced on it, no longer hesitating.

Using his last bit of strength to hold himself up, he grabbed a Spoon and even scooped up the fried rice with his hands, cramming it frantically into his mouth.

"Ugh... Damn it... Damn it..."

Tears mixed with grains of rice slid down his face.

"It's so delicious... It's really so delicious!!"

This was the most delicious thing he had ever eaten in his life.

Watching Gin wolf down the food, Sanji's lips curled into an imperceptible smile as he took another drag from his cigarette.

"Hahaha! We found a great chef!!"

At that moment, Luffy's hearty laughter came from the stairs above.

He and Victor stood there, having witnessed everything that had just happened.

Luffy leaned over the railing and shouted down at Sanji:

"Hey! Chef! Join us! Become the cook of our pirate crew! We need you!"

The two below froze.

Gin stopped swallowing, stunned.

Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke, looked up at Luffy, and said irritably:

"Don't joke around. I'm not becoming some pirate. I won't leave this place. I have something I must accomplish here."

"Why not? Come with us! It'll be fun!" Luffy refused to give up.

Just then.

Victor, who had remained silent, slowly stepped forward.

With both hands in his pockets, his red eyes looked down at Sanji and Gin.

His face still wore that smiling expression, but there was not the slightest trace of amusement in his voice.

"Ah, what kindness, Chef."

"But forgive me for saying so, your actions are not merely kind. They're also—childish."

Sanji's gaze sharpened as he looked at Victor.

Victor continued:

"On this cruel sea, people going hungry are certainly pitiful. But have you ever considered this..."

He pointed at Gin, who was wolfing down the food.

"When a wolf is starving to death, perhaps it will wag its tail and beg for food.

"But once it fills its belly and regains its strength, its wild nature will return. Its fangs may mercilessly tear open its benefactor's throat."

"Putting this ship in danger just to indulge your own self-satisfaction... Is that what you call Chef's Way?"

Luffy stopped swaying. He looked at Victor as if considering his words.

Gin, who was eating, stiffened as well. Then he abruptly looked up and loudly retorted:

"D-Don't joke around! You bastard! I would never—"

"Shut up and eat your food."

Sanji suddenly cut Gin off.

He slowly stood up with his back to Victor, pulled out a fresh cigarette, and lit it.

Sizzle—

The flame flickered in the sea breeze, illuminating his one visible, profound eye.

He took a deep breath and exhaled a ring of smoke. His tone was calm yet firm, without the slightest hesitation:

"...So what?"

Victor raised a brow, somewhat surprised. "Oh?"

Sanji turned around and raised his head. Through the curling smoke, his eyes met Victor's eerie gaze.

"Hey, red-eyed brat."

"Do you know what the most terrifying fear on these seas is?"

"It's not vicious pirates, powerful Marines, or some unknown monster..."

"It's hunger."

A trace of painful memory flashed through Sanji's eyes.

"The kind of pain where you can throw away even your dignity, where your stomach feels as though it's being corroded by strong acid, where every second makes you long for death...

"A guy like you, looking so calm and superior with that irritating smile plastered across your face, has definitely never experienced it, right?"

Victor froze.

Sanji flicked away some ash and continued:

"For me, as a chef, anyone who appears before me hungry is my customer."

"Whether he's a good person or an evil one, a big shot or human trash, even a wolf that bites... as long as he wants to eat, I'll make sure he eats his fill."

At that, Sanji's gaze suddenly sharpened like a blade, and a powerful aura burst from his body.

"As for whether he'll repay the favor after he's full or bare his fangs and bite someone... that's something to consider after he's eaten!"

"If this wolf really doesn't know what's good for him and dares bare its claws at my restaurant..."

Sanji suddenly threw his cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it beneath his polished leather shoe, radiating chilling killing intent.

"Then I'll personally kick every last one of its teeth out!!"

"That's how I do things. Got it, you red-eyed bastard?"

The sea breeze swept across the deck, carrying a faint salty tang.

Luffy looked at Sanji, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

Victor looked at the blond man and remained silent for a long time.

After a moment, the coldness on his face faded, and his usual smiling expression returned.

But this time, there was a genuine respect in that smile.

"Ah... I've learned something."

Victor spoke softly.

He smiled and raised his head, looking toward where the sea met the sky in the distance.

Yeah...

This might be the original anime world, but everyone here was flesh and blood, with their own beliefs and convictions.

They were not NPCs that merely followed a script, nor were they game data.

Judging others from his own "omniscient and omnipotent" god's-eye view, forcing his own "correctness" onto them...

Was I... being a little too arrogant?

Victor mocked himself inwardly.

But...

He glanced at Gin, who was still eating with his head lowered.

Since you chose to feed the wolf, then I hope your kicks really are hard enough.