Chapter 42 – [42] : [BONUS] – Go With Them!

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“Rowen? That name sounds familiar,” Sanji murmured upon hearing Rowen’s name, thinking aloud.

He seemed to recall some customers discussing that name recently.

But for Sanji, his interests lay solely in beautiful women and cooking. He hadn’t paid much attention at the time, and Rowen’s potential other identities held no interest for him now.

Compared to any other status Rowen might possess, what Sanji envied most was that Rowen had been chosen by that beautiful lady.

“I refuse,” Sanji stated flatly, rejecting Luffy’s invitation immediately.

“I refuse!” Luffy yelled back, surprisingly even more vehemently than Sanji.

“Refuse what?” Sanji looked utterly confused.

“I refuse your refusal! You’re a good cook, so come be a pirate with me!” Luffy declared seriously.

“Will you listen when someone’s talking?!” Sanji snapped, transforming into his sharp-toothed angry state again.

What is wrong with this straw-hatted kid’s brain?!

“You guys… you’re pirates too? Why are you gathering comrades?” Gin suddenly asked, painful memories seemingly surfacing as cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

“That’s right! We’re heading to the Grand Line!” Luffy announced proudly, head held high.

“…” Gin’s face turned deathly pale, even more so than when he was starving moments ago.

“Since you’re still looking for a cook… your crew probably isn’t large enough for the Grand Line yet,” Gin stated suddenly.

“He’s number six,” Luffy said, pointing at Sanji with a grin.

“Why are you including me?!” Sanji yelled, exasperated.

“I’m Gin, of the Krieg Pirates,” Gin introduced himself formally.

“You guys don’t seem like bad people. Let me give you some advice: it’s best not to go to the Grand Line. You’re still young; there’s no need to rush. The Grand Line is just another sea, after all. You can be pirates anywhere, right?” Gin looked earnestly at Luffy and Rowen.

“Went to the Grand Line and got your spirit broken, huh?” Rowen observed, looking at Gin.

It wasn’t mockery, just… pity.

The Krieg Pirates were incredibly unlucky. They had just entered the Grand Line only to immediately encounter one of the absolute pinnacles of combat strength in the world…

Warlord of the Sea, World’s Greatest Swordsman, ‘Hawk-Eyes’ Dracule Mihawk.

And for some unknown reason, a figure of Mihawk’s caliber had chased them all the way back to the East Blue.

“…” Gin couldn’t refute Rowen’s words.

He had been utterly terrified.

That man… wasn’t human.

“You’ve been to the Grand Line? Do you know anything about it?” Luffy asked Gin eagerly.

“No! We know nothing! We understand nothing! That’s why it’s so terrifying!” Gin clutched his head in anguish.

They hadn’t even truly experienced the Grand Line before their massive fleet was annihilated by that single man.

“Mah, whatever. I’m definitely going to the Grand Line anyway,” Luffy said, seeing Gin’s distress and deciding not to press further, offering a grin instead.

“Well, I just wanted to give you some advice,” Gin sighed resignedly, then stood up.

“Well then, goodbye, Mr. Sanji. Thank you so much. You saved my life. That fried rice was truly the best meal I’ve ever eaten in my life. Can I… come back again sometime?” Gin hopped onto the small raft he’d arrived on, looking back at Sanji with a grateful smile.

“Anyone who’s hungry is always welcome here,” Sanji replied with a smile.

“Hey! Chore boy!” Just then, a loud shout interrupted them.

“Old man!” Luffy tensed up, sweating nervously as Zeff appeared behind them.

Being indebted to someone made Luffy incredibly nervous around Zeff.

“I’m really sorry, Mr. Sanji. You’ll probably get yelled at for feeding someone like me for free,” Gin said apologetically to Sanji.

“What are you talking about?” Sanji calmly picked up Gin’s empty plate and spoon and tossed them into the sea.

“No evidence, no reason to get yelled at. Now get going, Gin,” Sanji said with a smirk.

“Shishishi,” Luffy grinned. He wanted Sanji on his ship more and more.

Zeff simply watched coldly. His relationship with Sanji was like father and son, and as chefs, they shared the same core principle. He wouldn’t get angry just because Sanji fed a starving pirate for free.

That damn brat Sanji… he’s just trying to ease the pirate’s conscience.

“Try not to get caught by the Marines again, Gin,” Sanji called out with a smile as Gin unfurled his sail, preparing to leave.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Sanji! I’ll never forget your kindness!” Gin knelt on his raft, performing a deep dogeza bow towards Sanji.

Then, his sail caught the wind, and he drifted away.

“Say… You got invited by them, right? Sanji. Why don’t you just go off and be a pirate with them? We don’t need you here anymore anyway,” Zeff suddenly stated gruffly.

“Huh?! What did you say, you damned old geezer?!” Sanji instantly bristled, frowning deeply.

“Alright! We got permission! Now you can come be a pirate with us!” Luffy exclaimed, overjoyed.

“I’ll say it again! I’m not becoming any damn pirate! And I’m the sous chef of this restaurant, you old fart!” Sanji yelled back, his eye twitching.

Zeff didn’t reply, merely glanced towards Rowen.

The moment Zeff saw Rowen, he hadn’t recognized him immediately—photos were just photos, after all. Recognizing someone instantly from a picture alone wasn’t always easy.

But the moment he heard Rowen’s name, Zeff knew.

The new super rookie emerging from the East Blue, the user of Conqueror’s Haki, ‘Sky Sovereign’ Rowen!

Although Zeff’s own strength and experience, even having sailed the Grand Line for a year, didn’t grant him full understanding of Conqueror’s Haki,

He remembered the era when he sailed. The seas were chaotic then, before the current balance of Marines, Warlords, and Emperors solidified. The older generation of powerhouses hadn’t fully faded yet, and news and rumors circulated widely.

The event that left the deepest impression on Zeff from that time was the legendary escape of the great pirate, Golden Lion Shiki.

Rumor had it that Shiki possessed the power of Conqueror’s Haki.

If that was true, then the World Economic News Agency’s assessment of this young man—that a future King of the seas was about to be born—made sense.

A captain acknowledged by such a man… this seemingly foolish kid named Luffy must be someone special too.

And although their interaction was brief, Zeff could tell Luffy was different from common thugs; he was a pirate with a dream.

Entrusting Sanji to someone like that… Zeff felt relieved.

Sanji shouldn’t be chained here by guilt and gratitude—guilt over Zeff sacrificing his leg to give Sanji the remaining food when they were stranded—spending his youth accompanying an old man like him.

Sanji should pursue his own dream.

Only the Grand Line held the key to fulfilling Sanji’s dream of finding the All Blue.

“No matter what you say, I’m staying at this restaurant as a cook! Until the day you die!” Sanji yelled after arguing heatedly with Zeff.

“I won’t die. I plan to live another hundred years,” Zeff retorted, turning and walking back into the restaurant.

Knowing Sanji’s stubborn personality, Zeff understood his words wouldn’t convince Sanji to leave.

His statement was merely signaling to Luffy and Rowen: He wouldn’t stand in the way of Sanji leaving.

Whether they could actually recruit Sanji… that depended on their own abilities.

Rowen watched Luffy relentlessly continue trying to persuade Sanji, then turned his gaze towards the sea.

Gin’s raft had gradually disappeared over the horizon.

But Rowen knew—soon, Gin would return, bringing his captain, Don Krieg.

And along with them—would come that man.

The World’s Greatest Swordsman, ‘Hawk-Eyes’ Dracule Mihawk.

Not only does Zoro want to find Mihawk… I have some business with him too.

Rowen’s lips curved into a knowing smile.

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