One Piece: Starting by Refusing Red-Haired's Invitation

Sanji had never struck him as slow on the uptake.

He should understand soon enough.

Sanji looked at his hands, then at Lin Mo's retreating back. He couldn't help asking, "What were you trying to tell me just now?"

Without looking back, Lin Mo said calmly, "Figure it out yourself."

Sanji stared after him, then lowered his gaze to his hands again.

Scenes from the past flashed through his mind.

Come to think of it, he had never seen that stinking old man Zeff use his hands in a fight.

Whenever someone came looking for trouble, or a cook in the kitchen needed a lesson for messing up, the old man always used his feet!

Of course!

A chef's hands were his livelihood!

How could he use them to fight?

Sanji clenched his fists and said excitedly, "I've decided! From now on, I'm not fighting with my hands!"

Then he began pondering the other things Lin Mo had said.

Someone who did nothing but complain and couldn't even make an effort...

Was he really that pathetic?

He worked hard too, didn't he?

For months, he'd washed dishes and cleaned the Baratie every day without slacking off. How was that not working hard?

Uh...

Wait!

The realization hit him like a jolt.

Sweat poured down Sanji's forehead.

"Ah! What have I been doing these past few months?"

Floating Restaurant: A Familiar Question, a Familiar Recipe

Beep! Guided Sanji and earned his admiration. Check-in progress +20%. Current total progress: 40%. Reward: Flash Step level +1. Current Flash Step level: Lv. 2.

Lin Mo had barely walked away when the system notification sounded in his mind.

More detailed information about Flash Step flowed into his mind, and his whole body felt noticeably lighter.

"Looks like Sanji catches on pretty quickly," Lin Mo said, satisfied enough.

But what was this about admiration?

Why did that count toward his progress?

That part baffled Lin Mo.

Still, a good result was a good result.

He stretched.

Lin Mo had reached the deck by the Baratie's second-floor rear entrance.

Warm sunlight fell over him, making him drowsy.

"Time for a nap." Lin Mo took a lounge chair from System Space, settled into it, and closed his eyes for a doze.

He had only been asleep a few minutes.

Not far away...

A pirate ship flying an unfamiliar Pirate flag was slowly approaching.

Once the Baratie came within range of the Pirate ship...

Someone lit the fuses of the cannons mounted on its deck.

Several booms rang out.

Cannonballs hurtled toward the Baratie.

The Pirates were trying to catch it by surprise.

That was why they had attacked from behind.

The cannon fire woke Lin Mo, who had only just fallen asleep.

He opened his eyes with a slight frown.

The first thing he saw was a black cannonball closing in on him.

Without a word...

Lin Mo sprang from the lounge chair, leaped off the deck, and used Night Guy to kick every cannonball into the sea.

He landed back on the deck.

Expressionless, Lin Mo stared at the Pirate ship several hundred meters away. They had disturbed his sleep.

Without hesitation, he drew Toyako from his waist and slashed once toward the Pirate ship.

Then he returned the sword to his waist and lay back down. The instant he closed his eyes...

A clean cut suddenly split the Pirate ship down the middle. Its two halves slowly sank beneath the waves.

Cries and screams rose from the sea.

Soon, everything was quiet again.

"No way... That can't be real..." Sanji had come to thank Lin Mo. What Lin Mo had said earlier had finally eased the burden Sanji had carried for so long.

He had followed the direction Lin Mo had gone.

Instead, he saw Lin Mo kick cannonballs away and split a Pirate ship from a distance with a wooden sword.

Sanji was too frightened to go up to Lin Mo.

He swallowed and slowly edged backward.

After a few steps, he broke into a jog.

He couldn't stop thinking about Lin Mo kicking those cannonballs.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became.

He couldn't resist trying a few kicks himself.

“Lin Mo's incredible! And he's about my age... No. I can't waste any more time!”

With that, he went to Zeff's door.

Zeff saw Sanji had come back.

"Finished washing all the dishes?" he demanded angrily.

Sanji grinned. "Stinking old man, I've decided. I want you to teach me how to fight with my legs!"

Zeff froze, then burst out laughing. "Hahaha! You want to learn my leg techniques? Keep dreaming! Do your work properly first."

"I will!" Sanji said earnestly. "I'll learn to cook properly too. When there's time left over, you can teach me how to fight!"

Zeff stared at him.

What had happened to the boy since he'd come by half an hour ago?

Had he finally seen sense?

Zeff frowned slightly. "I never said I'd teach you to cook."

Sanji grinned. "That's fine. I work in the kitchen every day anyway. If you won't teach me, I'll learn by watching. I'm not the Sanji I used to be, stinking old man. Just you wait. I'll surpass you soon, at cooking and fighting both."

"Hahaha! You? You'll never surpass me in this lifetime. Now be a good boy and get back to your chores."

"Say whatever you want. Once I've made up my mind, nobody can change it!"

With that, Sanji dashed off.

The smile vanished from Zeff's face.

Did someone say something to that boy?

It couldn't have been Patty or the other roughnecks.

Aside from Patty and the others, and Zeff himself, only one person had permission to enter the kitchen—a privilege Zeff had just granted him.

Zeff narrowed his eyes.

Was it really that kid?

Elsewhere...

Lin Mo enjoyed another hour or so of sleep. When he woke, the first thing he did was pick up his Wine Gourd.

It was empty.

Before leaving Shimotsuki Village, he had gone to a tavern and stocked up on wine.

But he'd spent nearly eight days at sea.

He'd done little but drink and sleep, with the occasional foolish Sea King to fend off.

All he had left were the two jars of specially aged wine Koshiro had given him.

He thought about it.

Then he decided not to drink Koshiro's wine.

He stood.

After putting the lounge chair back into System Space...

Lin Mo yawned and followed the faint scent of wine to a second-floor storeroom reserved for alcohol.

Just then, Sanji came out carrying a bottle.

He opened the door.

And found Lin Mo standing outside.

Sanji paused.

"Uh, what are you doing here?" he asked hurriedly.

Lin Mo's gaze settled on the bottle in Sanji's arms. “How much is that?”

"This? Five Beli a glass. You're not thinking of drinking it, are you?" Sanji asked cautiously.

“Yeah,” Lin Mo said.

“Then take this bottle. I'll get another one.” Grinning, Sanji pressed the bottle into Lin Mo's hands.

Lin Mo: “?”

"It's fine," Sanji said, unconcerned. "Whenever you want a drink, just tell me. We'll come here together. You can drink inside while I keep watch."

Lin Mo smiled.

This kid knew how to do someone a favor.

He appreciated the offer.

But he wasn't the type to drink without paying.

Lin Mo felt around in his pocket.

He pulled out a pouch containing a hundred Beli and tossed it to Sanji.

Sanji caught it in a hurry. "Huh? What's this for?"

"The wine."

With that, Lin Mo pulled the stopper and drank straight from the bottle.

It tasted all right.