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"Even now, you're still gonna cook for those hundred people?"
Sanji didn't say a word. He just let Bai Ye pull him up and stood there, head down.
Of course, he understood. Bai Ye wasn't just asking about the food—he was questioning Sanji's entire belief system.
Sanji and Zeff, because of what they'd been through, had deep compassion for anyone who was starving. They cherished food and swore they'd never let anyone go hungry out at sea. That's why they started Baratie in the first place.
Bai Ye respected that. Giving food to the hungry for free—that kind of charity was admirable, and he had no right to criticize it.
But sometimes, cooking isn't the only way to solve a problem.
Bai Ye patted Sanji on the shoulder and said, "Watch carefully. Think hard."
Then he vanished.
In the blink of an eye, Bai Ye was in front of Krieg and Gin, cutting off Zeff just as he was about to hand over food for a hundred men.
"Giving all this good food to scumbags like you? What a waste."
Lifting the food, Bai Ye spoke with a mocking tone:
"Sell it to us, old man," he said, turning to Zeff and speaking like it was already decided.
"You bastard!!!"
Krieg instantly flew into a rage. He whipped out a flintlock and opened fire on Bai Ye, yelling:
"Where the hell do you think you're taking my food?!"
Bang bang bang!!!
A storm of gunfire followed. When the smoke cleared...
Bai Ye stood there, glowing gold, completely unscathed.
"What the—!!" Krieg froze, equal parts shocked and terrified. This guy... was totally bulletproof.
Suddenly, he remembered another man. The man with hawk-like eyes.
Before he could think too much about it, Bai Ye spoke again:
"I already called the Navy. So now we just have to wait."
He casually dusted off his shoulder—though there was no dust—and looked up with a bright smile:
"So, do you two lowlifes mind shutting up for a bit?"
"Prison might be tough, sure. But hey, at least you won't starve, right?"
He said it like it was the most normal, obvious thing in the world.
Of course, that just made Krieg even angrier. He couldn't care less about the difference in power now.
He pulled out his golden armor, and his fists sparkled with hard-as-diamond plating.
"Prison?"
"You little punk! Do you even know who I am?!"
Krieg charged at Bai Ye, roaring:
"I'm Don Krieg, the ruler of the East Blue!!!"
His diamond-covered fist flew toward Bai Ye's face.
[Gum-Gum… Pistol!!!]
A rubber arm suddenly shot out from a distance and smashed straight into Krieg's unprotected face—faster than anyone expected.
Boom!!!
Krieg was sent flying out of the restaurant and slammed onto the fighting platform outside.
Luffy didn't stop. He dashed out the door and shouted:
"You're not laying a hand on my friends or this restaurant! I'm gonna knock you into next week!!!"
"Captain!!!"
Gin's face turned pale. He pulled out his weapon, ready to go after Luffy—
—but Sanji stepped in and blocked him. They had no choice but to fight.
The whole battle happened so fast that most people were left stunned. By the time they got to the deck...
Luffy had already beaten Krieg to a pulp.
Sanji and Gin's fight was also wrapping up. Gotta admit, Sanji's kicks looked damn cool.
As for whether Sanji started fighting because he understood what Bai Ye meant—well, who knows?
Anyway, just like that, the crisis quietly came to an end.
Then, just like in every cliché TV drama—
It was only now that a few Navy warships finally showed up.
And leading the fleet, no less, was none other than "Iron Fist" Fullbody, the guy Sanji had beaten up earlier and who'd also had a run-in with Bai Ye.
The moment Luffy saw the Navy ships, his face changed:
"Nani?! The Navy's here! Bai Ye, we gotta run!!!"
As he spoke, Luffy got ready to tie everyone up again and make a break for it.
[Golden Light Spell – Forced Calm Punch!!!]
"Jeez, Luffy. Can you not freak out every time something happens? At least check the situation first!"
Bai Ye flexed his wrist a bit. After all, thanks to the trauma from being tied up by Luffy earlier, his reflexes just kicked in automatically.
Luffy held his head, looking a little wronged, and muttered, "Sumimasen~"
That surprised Sanji a bit. Something about this pirate crew felt… off.
Can just anyone hit the captain around here?
Zoro, though, had other suspicions. He looked over at Bai Ye and asked,
"Oi, you didn't call the Navy again, did you?"
Once Bai Ye gave a clear yes, Zoro facepalmed hard.
It was one thing when it was just Branch 153 before. But now this guy was working with a Headquarters Lieutenant too?
Zoro was starting to worry—at this rate, Bai Ye might even convince Luffy to join the Navy someday.
Nami and Usopp, having already seen Bai Ye team up with the Navy back in Syrup Village, quickly put two and two together and started explaining things to a very confused Sanji.
Meanwhile, Bai Ye was already strolling up like it was business as usual, striking up a friendly chat with Fullbody.
Fullbody, for his part, looked pretty happy. Sure, he was just a Headquarters Lieutenant, but catching a big pirate like Don Krieg? That would definitely earn him some serious credit.
As for pirates helping out?
Come on, man. Don't be ridiculous. That was just a couple of random do-gooders passing by. What pirates?
Just as Fullbody was dreaming about his bright future and ordering his men to take custody of the Krieg Pirates—
A breeze blew past.
It was soft, but carried the faint sound of a sword slicing through air.
The very next second, Don Krieg's flagship—already battered and hanging by a thread—split clean in two right before everyone's eyes!!!
And the craziest part? Judging by the perfectly smooth cut, it looked like someone had just sliced it in half with one clean strike!
Then everyone saw it.
Floating slowly from the split in the ship, a tiny coffin-shaped boat approached.
On either side of it were candles—burning with an eerie, ghostly green flame that somehow flickered even in broad daylight.
There was only one man on board. Short black hair, piercing hawk-like yellow eyes, a black top hat with white fur trim, a burgundy patterned shirt, a long black coat, white pants, and black boots.
One look at him and you could tell—this guy was the real deal.
A true powerhouse.
"W-What the hell?!" Fullbody's voice trembled next to Bai Ye.
"That guy—why is he here?!"
"That's the world's greatest swordsman—Dracule Mihawk!!!"
It was clear Fullbody was terrified.
Sure, the Seven Warlords and the Navy were technically on the same side, but everyone knew the truth: it was more complicated than that.
And for Navy officers like Fullbody, running into a Warlord was the last thing they ever wanted.
Meanwhile, in the water, the remnants of the Krieg Pirates—clinging to bits of broken wood—were in total despair.
Someone couldn't help but shout at Mihawk:
"Why?! Why are you still chasing us all the way out here?!"
But Mihawk just calmly replied:
"Just killing time~"
"....."