Chapter 40 – [40] : [BONUS] – You Better Treat Her Right!

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Sanji Traits: Black Leg Style (Deep Purple), Modified Exoskeleton (Adaptive) (Unawakened).

Black Leg Style (Deep Purple): As a chef, hands are considered sacred tools, so combat relies primarily on powerful kicking techniques developed through rigorous training.

Modified Exoskeleton (Adaptive) (Unawakened): A result of the Vinsmoke family’s ‘Lineage Factor’ modifications. Upon awakening the ‘Exoskeleton’, the body becomes incredibly durable, possessing superhuman ‘Resilience’, allowing even broken bones to heal rapidly. Physical hardness becomes astonishing, rendering the body impervious to blades and bullets. Simultaneously gains modified ‘Strength’, significantly boosting overall power.

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Sanji, despite being one of the Straw Hat crew’s main three combatants in the original story, wasn’t strictly a fighter by trade; his primary role was chef.

Zoro, in contrast, was purely a combatant.

And truthfully, before awakening his exoskeleton, Sanji’s combat strength had fallen slightly behind Zoro’s.

However, after awakening the exoskeleton, Sanji’s power received a massive boost.

The exoskeleton could even withstand a direct sword strike from Queen the Plague, one of the Beasts Pirates’ All-Stars, causing Queen’s blade to shatter. Its defensive and offensive capabilities surpassed even Sanji’s own Armament Haki.

Even if his bones were broken, he could instantly reset them just by striking his own body.

After awakening his exoskeleton, Sanji defeated Queen the Plague, reaching the level of a Yonko Commander.

The strength of the awakened exoskeleton depended on Sanji’s own power at the time of awakening, hence its ‘Adaptive’ status while unawakened. When Sanji eventually awakens it, the Trait tier displayed will reflect his strength at that moment.

Furthermore, this Modified Exoskeleton Trait encompassed all the Vinsmoke ‘Lineage Factor’ modifications.

Vinsmoke Judge subjected his children to four main modifications: ‘Strength’, ‘Resilience’, ‘Exoskeleton’, and ‘Cold Heart’.

Sanji’s modifications, however, only retained the first three; he didn’t lose his emotions.

‘Strength’ included comprehensive enhancements to both power and speed.

Once this Modified Exoskeleton Trait awakened, Sanji would gain not only the exoskeleton but also massive boosts to his strength, speed, and resilience.

Crucially, even the unawakenedModified Exoskeleton Trait could be equipped by Rowen.

And the System could potentially force its awakening, similar to how Rowen’s own Conqueror’s Haki was awakened.

Rowen’s eyes lit up.

The power displayed by the awakened exoskeleton surpassed even Sanji’s own Armament Haki.

Combined with my future physical potential ceiling… this exoskeleton… my future physique might rival Big Mom’s ‘Iron Balloon‘ body… maybe even surpass it!

And by awakening the Modified Exoskeleton Trait, Rowen could also gain the embedded ‘Strength’ and ‘Resilience’ modifications from Vinsmoke Judge’s experiments.

Based on its performance in the original story, this Trait was definitely Gold tier.

Its exact sub-level… he’d find out once Sanji joined the crew and the equipping process completed.

Sanji hadn’t yet learned nutritional enhancement cooking techniques, so his culinary skills, being purely a life skill at this point, didn’t manifest as a Trait.

Not that Rowen planned to become a chef anyway; he had no intention of equipping Sanji’s cooking skills.

He just wanted to taste Sanji’s cooking.

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Meanwhile, Fullbody, trying to show off in front of his female companion by picking on Sanji, had started a conflict.

After smashing the dishes on the table and arrogantly declaring he’d pay for everything, Fullbody had crossed Sanji’s line.

“On the sea… can money fill your stomach?” Sanji snarled, his face contorted with fury. He grabbed Fullbody’s face and lifted him bodily off the ground.

Having experienced starvation firsthand, Sanji knew its desperation all too well.

CRASH! Just then, the restaurant ceiling suddenly fractured.

An older man with a peg leg and a tall chef’s hat fell through, along with Luffy.

“My ceiling! It’s all your fault, brat!” Zeff, the owner of the Baratie, glared furiously at Luffy.

This damn kid had not only smashed a hole in his kitchen and nearly crushed him, but now he’d destroyed the dining room ceiling too!

“It was you who broke it, old man!” Luffy yelled back indignantly.

“Treating customers like this?! I’ll contact the government! I’ll have this place shut down!” Fullbody shrieked, his face twisted with rage.

“Then I’ll just deal with you right here!” Sanji’s expression turned dark as he advanced towards Fullbody.

“Boss! Stop Sanji before he causes more trouble!” The other chefs rushed forward, trying to restrain Sanji while yelling at Zeff.

“Hey! Sanji! Causing trouble again?!” Zeff turned, glaring at Sanji.

“Shut up, old geezer,” Sanji retorted, calming down slightly upon seeing Zeff, though his words remained disrespectful.

“Who are you talking to?! Trying to destroy my restaurant?!” Zeff roared, striking Sanji hard across the face with his peg leg.

“Hmph.” Fullbody smirked, feeling vindicated.

But then—

WHAM!

“And you! Get the hell out of here!” Zeff’s peg leg struck again, knocking Fullbody to the ground.

“W-What the…? Even the owner’s like this?! Are these guys really chefs? They act more like pirates!” Fullbody stammered from the floor, cold sweat dripping down his face.

“Hey! Before you leave… remember to settle your bill,” a calm voice added, making Fullbody break out in even more cold sweat.

What kind of rotten luck did I have today?!

“Rowen? You guys are here?” Luffy looked over at Rowen and the others, overjoyed.

“Pay my bill too, okay? I smashed up the kitchen and hit the old man… He says I have to work here for a year to pay it off!” Luffy ran over to Rowen, pleading with clasped hands.

“Wasn’t that entirely your own fault, you idiot?!” Nami snapped, instantly defensive when money was involved.

“!!!” The commotion attracted Sanji’s attention. The moment he saw Nami, he instantly dashed over.

“Ah! Fate must have brought us together, my beautiful Mademoiselle!” Sanji produced a rose seemingly from nowhere, but then froze.

The beautiful lady before him had linked her arm with the handsome man standing beside her, smiling sweetly up at him.

CRACK! Sanji felt his heart shatter.

He was heartbroken. Again.

“Hey, you okay?” Usopp asked, seeing Sanji’s utterly devastated expression.

“I’m fine… I just regret not meeting this lady sooner… You! You better treat this beautiful lady right!” Sanji declared, tears streaming down his face as he looked earnestly at Rowen.

He might be a flirt, but under Zeff’s tutelage, Sanji held absolute respect for women.

Since this beautiful lady had clearly chosen this man, all he could do was offer his blessing.

Causing a scene wouldn’t be manly.

“Of course, I’ll treat her well. Right, Nami?” Rowen smiled, looking down at Nami who was clinging to his arm.

Rowen could sense Nami’s feelings.

“…” The moment Sanji produced the rose, Nami had instinctively reacted.

Now, her face flushed slightly, she didn’t let go of Rowen’s arm; instead, she subconsciously held on even tighter.

BANG! Just as the restaurant descended into chaos, a Marine soldier burst through the doors.

“Lieutenant Fullbody! Sir! It’s terrible! We let one of Don Krieg’s men escape!” the soldier reported frantically, drenched in cold sweat.

“What did you say?! Impossible! When we captured him three days ago, he was starving to death! We haven’t given him any food since!” Fullbody stared in disbelief.

“‘Krieg’s crew?'”

“‘The strongest pirate fleet in the East Blue!'”

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Hearing the name, the other restaurant patrons instantly erupted in panicked murmurs.

“Strongest pirate fleet in the East Blue?” Luffy looked intrigued.

“We are terribly sorry, sir! We…”

BANG! A gunshot rang out, silencing the Marine soldier, who collapsed to the floor.

Behind him, a figure holding a pistol slowly entered the restaurant.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep