The Navy Takes Notice

But when he saw that Kuta and Kuina did not seem particularly friendly toward Sanji, and even showed a hint of distaste,

he abandoned the idea of having Sanji set sail with them.

After all, dreams

were certainly important, but finding compatible companions to pursue those dreams with mattered even more.

Sanji stood up, his brow furrowing slightly, and shouted at Zeff, "Just because I'm not arguing doesn't mean you can push your luck, you shitty old man!"

"Say what you like about anything else, but I won't let you belittle my cooking!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Zeff looked at Sanji, his eyes full of contempt.

"Then you can handle the food for this table today. If you can satisfy them, I'll take back what I said."

Zeff still wanted to give it a try. What if Kuta and the others acknowledged Sanji's cooking and let go of that hint of distaste?

After all, he had finally met someone he thought highly enough of.

"Then just you wait!"

Sanji shouted at Kuta and the others, then turned and went into the kitchen.

Only after Sanji entered the kitchen did Zeff turn to Kuta and say, "How about it, kid? I'll have Sanji cook for you. If you're not satisfied, you don't have to pay."

"Hey, old man, you're not hoping we'll take him out to sea with us, are you?"

Kuta looked at Zeff suspiciously.

"I'm telling you, the only person my ship still needs is a doctor. There's no room for another cook."

"Of course, a musician would be fine too. Life at sea does get a little boring."

It was not that Kuta disliked Sanji all that much. It was just that Sanji could only reach his full potential with the Straw Hat Pirates.

He had not even brought Zoro along. Why would he take Sanji?

Though he knew that even if he invited Zoro, the guy would not sail with him.

Zoro knew that sailing with Kuta would be safe, and it was precisely because it would be too safe that he would refuse.

Without the trials of life and death, no matter how talented Zoro was, he would never become the strongest.

The Ahua Trio's current situation made that clear enough.

For now, they could still handle ordinary pirates. Once they reached the Grand Line, though, unless he found Devil Fruits for them, they would be reduced to dead weight and errand boys.

There were hardly any weaklings there.

Kuina had only remained so steadfast in her conviction because of the promise they had made as children.

On top of that, he had constantly used his overpowered abilities to help her train. She had long since surpassed ordinary swordmasters and was advancing toward becoming a great swordsman.

All things considered,

there really was no place for Sanji aboard his ship.

Yes! It definitely was not because Sanji's lechery had annoyed him and Kuina.

He was not that petty!

If he really had to pick someone from the Straw Hat Pirates, he would only choose Chopper.

The little guy fought hundred-million-Beli battles with a hundred-Beli bounty, could serve as both doctor and pet, and could even become emergency rations if they ran out of food.

He really was the perfect companion for home and travel.

But Kuta knew that was impossible.

In fact, he knew he probably could not even persuade Sanji.

He did not have King Luffy's charisma. Even if he was willing, Sanji might not agree to sail with him.

On that point, he knew his own limitations quite well.

The Marines took notice

Baratie.

As dishes gradually filled the entire table, Kuta and the others, who were already starving, eagerly dug in.

They had to admit that Sanji's cooking really was delicious.

At the very least, this was the best meal they had ever eaten.

A few hours earlier.

Not long after Kuta and the others wiped out the Krieg Pirates, something concerning them took place within the Marines.

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

In the world of One Piece, this was the nerve center of the entire Marine organization, as well as the home of its greatest fighting forces.

Every building here had been constructed for war.

From a distance, it looked like an enormous military fortress.

Up close, the whole fortress looked even more magnificent.

Countless navy warships of all sizes came and went through the enormous circular harbor at the front of the fortress.

These warships were packed with Marines, and aboard some of them, pirates bound in chains could also be seen.

Among these pirates, those with bounties of ten million were at the bottom of the pile.

There were even pirates with bounties of seventy or eighty million, or over a hundred million—the sort usually only seen in newspapers.

This was the daily work of the Marines, who maintained order across the world's oceans in the name of absolute justice.

Capturing pirates.

With so many people, and pirates who refused to behave even in chains, the harbor was exceptionally noisy.

Compared with the bustle of the harbor, however, the Fleet Admiral's Office in the largest building at the center of the fortress was almost excessively quiet.

Three people were seated inside the Fleet Admiral's Office.

In the center sat Marine Headquarters Fleet Admiral Sengoku, known as "Sengoku the Buddha" and "Sengoku the Strategist."

On the left sat Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Tsuru, known as the "Great Staff Officer."

On the right sat Marine Headquarters Lieutenant Commander Brannew, who was responsible for relaying intelligence.

At that moment, Sengoku, wearing round glasses, his long beard braided beneath his chin and a cap topped with a seagull model symbolizing the Marines,

was looking down at two photographs and the documents on the desk before him, deep in thought.

The photographs clearly showed Kuta and his group.

The first showed the five of them standing on the railing of the Dreadnought Saber, facing off against the Krieg Pirates.

The second showed the Fake Merry charging through the gap between the severed halves of the Dreadnought Saber.

"Brannew, tell us what you've gathered from the intelligence."

Sengoku suddenly raised his head and addressed Brannew on his right.

"Yes, Mr. Sengoku."

Brannew, who had curly green hair, sunglasses, thick lips, and a white shirt with blue stripes beneath his Marine coat, quickly stood up.

He walked over to a blackboard, picked up a pointer, and indicated a photograph on the board as he said solemnly, "The Krieg Pirates. Their captain has a bounty of seventeen million, and they call themselves the strongest pirate crew in the East Blue."

"All right, Brannew. Get to the point."

Sengoku rested both hands on the desk, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes as he calmly interrupted Brannew.

He had no interest in some Krieg Pirates from the East Blue. He was only a little interested because he had heard that a ship which had just set sail apparently carried a great swordsman.

Otherwise, why would a fleet admiral like him need to personally deal with a bunch of rookies who had just gone to sea?

Did they really think a fleet admiral had nothing to do?

"Understood, Mr. Sengoku."

Brannew skipped straight past Krieg's wanted poster and pointed at the four photographs beside it. Aside from the two on the

desk, there were also close-up photographs of Kuta and Kuina.

However, none of the photographs were particularly clear. They seemed to have been taken from far overhead.

The Marines' intelligence network—or rather, the World Government's—was truly frightening.

Whether by coincidence or otherwise, a World Government intelligence seagull had happened to be near the stretch of sea where Kuta's group fought the Krieg Pirates.

After receiving the photographs from the World Government, the Marines had taken less than two hours to swiftly gather information on Kuta and his companions.

Brannew first pointed at Kuta's photograph. "Kuta, a student of Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village, near the Goa Kingdom in the East Blue. He set sail a few days ago. His objective is currently unknown."

Then he pointed at Kuina. "Kuina also came from Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village. However, she isn't a student, but the dojo master's daughter."

He paused and looked gravely at Sengoku and Tsuru. "Based on our analysis of the available intelligence, Kuina should be a swordmaster, while Kuta... is very likely a great swordsman."

He had no choice but to take this seriously. There were many swordmasters in the world, but only a handful of great swordsmen.

"Can we determine their destination?"

Staff Officer Tsuru, whose hair was entirely white, wore a pair of emerald-green earrings and two gold bracelets on her right wrist. Resting her hands on the desk, she looked calmly at the blackboard as she asked the question.

Hearing Tsuru's question, Brannew pointed at a map of the East Blue.

"Judging by their course, they haven't stopped at any islands. They've been heading straight for Loguetown. Unless something unexpected happens, their destination should be the Grand Line."

He paused, then pointed at a photograph showing the Fake Merry.

"Also, since their ship isn't flying a pirate flag, it's possible they're simply traveling for pleasure."

"Hmm."

Sengoku nodded, then looked at Tsuru. "Tsuru, what do you think?"

Tsuru lowered her head in thought for a moment, then looked up at Sengoku and replied, "From the intelligence we have, there's no indication that they've caused any harm. My recommendation is to observe them for now. Since their destination is the Grand Line, their objective should become clear once they arrive."

"And with their strength, they won't remain unknown even on the Grand Line."

"Hmm. Then that's what we'll do for now."

Sengoku turned to Brannew and instructed him, "Brannew, send their photographs to the branches in the East Blue. Tell them not to provoke this group without good reason, as long as they haven't done anything harmful."

"Yes, Mr. Sengoku."

Brannew saluted, turned, and left the office.

With only Sengoku and Tsuru left in the office, Sengoku's rather stern expression relaxed.

Leaning back in his chair, he sighed to Tsuru. "Tsuru, the number of pirates setting sail has noticeably increased over the past two years."

"Yes. It's not just the Four Blues. Large numbers of pirates have appeared on the Grand Line as well, and quite a few of them are very strong. The pressure on the Marines has been steadily increasing these past few years."

"All right, enough about that."

Sengoku frowned and rubbed his temples, saying with a headache, "The problem now is that old rascal Garp's grandson, Ace. I heard he's gone to challenge Whitebeard."

"Yes! That old rascal happens to be in the New World right now, too. Let's hope nothing happens!"

Tsuru had quite a headache over it as well.

The two of

them were fretting over Garp.

In the East Blue, aboard a navy warship outside Baratie, Captain Laster, the base commander of the 123rd Base, was fretting over the situation before him.

"What? What did you say?"

Laster shouted at the Marine soldiers standing before him.

"Mr. Zeff invited you to dine at the restaurant."

"The sentence before that, not that one."

One of the Marines said in confusion, "The sentence before that? Um...! Before that, I said..."