All the cooks, including Zeff, were driving Sanji away.
Cook A said, "Get out of this restaurant, Sanji. Stop getting in the way."
Cook B said, "That's right. Just looking at you gets on my nerves. Every day, you're either chasing women or causing trouble. Hurry up and leave."
Cook C said, "Exactly! Your cooking tastes awful. How do you even have the nerve to stay here? Just leave. Don't these pirates want you to join them? Go with them."
Zeff walked over as well. "Join them, Sanji. Don't worry about an old man like me. I may be getting on in years, but I can still live a few more decades. Head out to sea. Go find All Blue, and help fulfill my dream while you're at it."
Sanji looked at everyone. Of course he knew Zeff didn't really want to drive him away. He only wanted him to set sail with Luffy and the others.
Suddenly, Sanji dropped to his knees before Zeff, his eyes brimming with tears. Bowing his head to the ground, he said, "All this time... thank you for taking care of me... I'll never forget your kindness."
Seeing Sanji like this, Zeff couldn't hold back his own tears at their parting.
"Goodbye, Sanji!" The cooks behind Zeff waved their hands and shouted too.
Sanji turned to Luffy and the others and agreed. "My name is Sanji. I look forward to sailing with you, Captain Luffy."
Luffy clapped Sanji wildly on the shoulder and roared with laughter. "Hahaha! We finally found our cook! From now on, we're leaving all our meals to you, Sanji."
"Yes, Captain. No problem, Captain." Sanji nodded too.
Sanji looked at Nami, and his whole demeanor suddenly changed as he turned into a noodle-like Sanji. "Nami-chan, don't worry. I'll definitely help you defeat the bad guys bullying your village."
Liu Qing draped an arm around Sanji and said to Luffy, "Let's go, Captain. Our crewmate's hometown is still waiting for us to save it."
On the long journey to Nami's hometown, Johnny and Yosaku traveled with Luffy, Zoro, and the rest of the crew. Along the way, they shared many stories and legends about the Grand Line, the most captivating of which were their accounts of the Shichibukai, the Marines, and the Four Emperors.
Johnny and Yosaku described the members of the Shichibukai in detail. They were seven great pirates officially recognized by the World Government, possessing tremendous strength and influence. Each member had a distinct personality and abilities. Some were renowned for their swordsmanship, while others excelled in using Devil Fruit powers.
Next, they talked about the Marines, the armed force directly under the World Government, responsible for maintaining order and safety on the seas. The Marines had many powerful officers and soldiers.
Finally, the subject turned to the Four Emperors, the four most powerful pirates on the Grand Line. Each ruled over different seas and possessed unparalleled strength and wealth. Their very existence made the whole world tremble.
Seeing that everyone had a basic understanding of the world, Liu Qing had Luffy take out the Haki training instructions Dracule Mihawk had given him. He had Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and the others read them together, then begin working out how to train on their own.
As for Liu Qing, after reading the training instructions, he could coat his entire body in Armament Haki by that very night and use Observation Haki proficiently. Most importantly, his Conqueror's Haki was also awakened that night.
It knocked Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku unconscious on the spot. Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were so shocked that they stood stunned for quite a while before coming to their senses. After finding out what had happened from Liu Qing, they left him alone.
When they learned that Liu Qing had awakened all three forms of Haki in a single afternoon and could already use them proficiently, the fighters of the Straw Hat Pirates began training like mad, all wanting to develop Haki as soon as possible.
They sailed like this for two days.
On the morning of the third day, everyone could finally see a little black dot. That dot was Cocoyasi Village.
Nami called out to everyone, her face full of excitement. "Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Liu Qing, come here! Look, that's my hometown up ahead-Cocoyasi Village!"
Hearing Nami's call, everyone rushed out of the cabin, each looking eager.
"Wahaha! We're finally getting there! Those rotten Fish-Men actually dared to bully our lovely Nami-chan. Just watch how I deal with them!" Sanji's face was filled with anger, and he looked ready to jump into action, even striking a dashing kicking pose.
Holding his swords, Zoro said with a relaxed expression, "Oh? Then I'll handle slicing them into sashimi."
Usopp planted his hands on his hips in excitement and laughed heartily. "I've prepared two whole backpacks of chili bombs! I'll turn all those Fish-Men into spicy fish balls!"
Just as everyone was cheerfully discussing how to deal with the Fish-Man Pirates, an enormous figure suddenly appeared in front of the Going Merry.
They took a closer look and found that it was an incredibly cute little sea cow! This little sea cow had an enormous, round body, skin patterned like a dairy cow's, and two big eyes that made him look very gentle and adorable.
Nami stared in surprise at Momoo the sea cow, who had suddenly appeared before them. In disbelief, she said, "Momoo, what are you doing here?"
Meanwhile, Luffy was completely captivated by Momoo's massive body and shouted excitedly, "Haha! What a huge piece of meat!" It was as if he could already see a lavish feast before his eyes.
Momoo heard Luffy and the others talking about taking on Arlong, so he decided to eat everyone aboard the ship.
Momoo immediately flew into a rage. He opened his enormous maw, let out a low roar, and charged straight at the Going Merry.
Faced with this sudden attack, no one aboard panicked. Luffy shouted excitedly, "Sanji, that's our lunch! Hurry and catch him!"
In a flash, Sanji reacted. "Diable Jambe: Collier!" His foot blazed like fire as he kicked Momoo hard.
At the same time, Luffy activated his Gum-Gum Fruit powers and unleashed "Gum-Gum Rocket!", driving his fists hard at Momoo.
Zoro drew Wado Ichimonji and unleashed "One Sword Style: Yakkodori!" A fierce blade of sword energy shot straight toward Momoo.
The three powerful attacks struck Momoo almost simultaneously. With a tremendous crash, the sea cow was sent flying backward and fell into the sea.
An hour later, aboard the Going Merry.
After a one-sided beating, everyone had finally succeeded in capturing Momoo. An enticing aroma now filled the Going Merry as Sanji bustled around the kitchen, cooking Momoo into one delicious dish after another.
Everyone sat in a circle on the deck and began a lavish feast. Luffy shouted as he ate, "Ah! Delicious, delicious!" His mouth was stuffed full of food, yet he kept shoving more into it.
Zoro, Nami, Liu Qing, and Usopp all ate with relish too, praising Sanji's cooking endlessly and declaring it the most delicious food they had ever eaten.
Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Cocoyasi Village, which had originally looked like nothing more than a little black dot, had grown very large. It looked as though they would reach the village in half an hour at most.
Meanwhile, inside Arlong Park.
Arlong was calling someone on a Den Den Mushi.
Arlong said arrogantly, "Hey, Captain Nezumi, do you have time right now? Come do me a favor. You know that crewmate of mine in Cocoyasi Village? He wants to buy the whole village and should be back in the next few days. I checked the place where she keeps her Beli. By the time he gets back, he should have gathered a hundred million Beli. Come find an excuse to confiscate the money. I'll give you twenty percent of it."
"Heeheeheehee! I happen to be free right now. Wait for me. I'll head over right away and reach you in half a day. Don't forget my twenty percent," Captain Nezumi said with a sleazy grin.
"Don't worry, Captain Nezumi. Money is the most valuable thing in this world. We're going to be working together for a long time. You'll get your share," Arlong replied carelessly to Nezumi.
In truth, Arlong really had no interest in money. He simply enjoyed the thrill of deciding whether others lived or died, of being able to enslave these weak people of the East Blue without restraint.
At the same time, today was also the day the Arlong Pirates went to the village to collect the money people paid to stay alive. Arlong had sent two Fish-Men to collect the Beli not long before.
Before you continue