After offering Smith a few words of comfort, Ye Chen said goodbye and parted ways with him.
Their Small Boat sailed on from Enies Lobby. They had gained another companion, but none of them could bring themselves to feel happy.
There were four people aboard, and three were injured. No one was left to row or cook. Lucci and the other two were tough enough that they did not need a doctor, but they would still need several days to recover. For now, every chore on the boat fell to Ye Chen.
"Hey, Captain... did you even put salt in this?"
Gin had barely taken a bite before his mouth twisted. His thick brows drew together in pain. The food was burnt, bland, and utterly tasteless. Gin was hardly a picky eater, but even he could barely stomach it.
"Shut up. Be glad there's food at all. Right, Lucci? When the two of us washed up on Deserted Island, we survived on raw meat and blood. I'm your captain, not your Chef. Quit complaining!"
Ye Chen glared at Gin and defended himself indignantly.
"Hmph..."
Lucci stared at the blackened food in his bowl, apparently wrestling with himself.
"This won't kill me, will it?" he muttered. Then he gritted his teeth, as though he had resigned himself to death.
"Hey, Lucci, what's with that face? You've got some nerve! I went to the trouble of cooking for you. Even if you're not moved to tears, you could at least thank me. Honestly... what an ungrateful bunch."
Ye Chen grumbled, but Lucci ignored him. He turned to Kuina instead. One glance, and he sprang to his feet. "Kuina, stop!"
He was too late. Kuina could not eat another bite and had tipped her food straight into the sea.
Ye Chen fumed, but