Ace grinned as he picked up a forkful of fried noodles, thoroughly enjoying his meal. Upon hearing the unexpected offer from the restaurant owner, his face lit up with delight.
"Free? Boss, you're such a generous person! Then I will—"
Before he could finish his sentence, there was a sudden thud! Ace's head dropped straight into the plate of noodles, and in an instant, he was fast asleep, snoring loudly.
The restaurant fell into dead silence.
The boss: "..."
The other diners: "..."
Sabo let out a long sigh. "Alas~"
On the second floor, Kujaku, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, couldn't help but twitch at the corners of her mouth.
"Where did this guy come from? Does Luffy really have such a ridiculous friend?"
From her elevated vantage point, she couldn't get a clear look at the two young men's faces. However, their contrasting hair colors—one with jet-black locks and the other with striking blond—stirred something deep in her memory. It felt as though she had forgotten someone important.
Still, with the two right in front of her, she decided it wasn't worth the effort to think too deeply about it.
Meanwhile, the restaurant owner was at his wit's end.
"Guest, if this keeps up, should I just pack your meal for takeout? If you fall asleep again, I don't think my heart can take it!"
The boss was genuinely nervous. Every time Ace woke up, it was as if he was on edge, afraid that history would repeat itself.
When Ace finally lifted his head, his face was a mess of noodles and sauce. Blinking in confusion, he wiped himself clean, utterly unaware of what had just transpired.
Sabo, on the other hand, was already used to this by now. Ever since they had set sail together, he had lost count of how many times Ace had caused such scenes.
Everywhere they went, Ace would somehow showcase his special talent—dozing off mid-meal.
And Sabo? Well, he had long since resigned himself to the role of Ace's unofficial babysitter, always cleaning up after his mess.
Of course, out in the world, Sabo allowed Ace to act however he pleased.
But once they got back to their ship? Oh, that was a different story. Sabo made sure to discipline him properly.
Originally, Sabo had planned to get Ace out of the restaurant first and deal with him later.
But before he could even make a move, a sudden commotion erupted among the crowd.
The murmurs of customers grew louder, and the sea of people gradually parted to clear a path.
Then, a striking woman, dressed in an impeccable Marine uniform, stepped forward with an air of authority, gracefully making her way toward them.
Ace and Sabo instinctively turned to face the approaching officer. Despite being confronted by a Marine, neither of them showed the slightest sign of nervousness. Instead, they watched her with open curiosity, wondering what she wanted.
The restaurant owner, on the other hand, immediately recognized the high-ranking officer and hurried forward with an ingratiating smile.
"Miss Kujaku! What brings you here?" he asked anxiously. "Apologies for the little commotion just now. I hope it didn't cause any trouble!"
He knew all too well that having a Marine officer of her caliber visiting could mean trouble—or, at the very least, a major change in the restaurant's usual peaceful atmosphere.
However, Kujaku merely smiled politely at him and gave a slight nod, offering no verbal response.
Instead, her gaze remained fixed on the two young men in front of her. A flicker of recognition crossed her face as she took a closer look.
"So, it is you," she mused. "I didn't expect to run into you here on Onigashima."
"Hmm? You know us?"
Ace, still holding his fork, momentarily stopped eating and raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
Beside him, Sabo's expression shifted slightly, his guard going up.
If she recognized them, it could only mean one thing—she had seen their bounty posters.
If things escalated, they might have to move the fight elsewhere. The last thing Sabo wanted was to cause unnecessary trouble for the restaurant owner.
However, Kujaku remained composed. She seemed entirely unfazed by their wary reactions, as if their bounties didn't concern her in the slightest.
Turning to the restaurant owner, she spoke in a calm, authoritative voice.
"Put their meal on our tab. Also, have the kitchen bring out a few more bottles of wine—quickly."
"Yes, right away!" The boss nodded repeatedly, eager to comply. He hurried off, disappearing into the kitchen to ensure the orders were carried out without delay.
Meanwhile, Kujaku turned her attention back to the two brothers and said,
"You two, come with me. Someone wants to meet you."
With that, she turned on her heel and began walking away.
Ace and Sabo exchanged puzzled glances.
"Who is this woman?" Ace asked, scratching his head. "Do you know her?"
Sabo shook his head slightly. "No, never seen her before. Should we follow her?"
Ace smirked. "Well, she did pay for our meal. Would be kinda rude to refuse, don't you think?"
After a brief silent conversation through exchanged looks, the two brothers reached a tacit agreement.
Ace quickly stuffed the rest of his meal into his mouth, then stood up with a satisfied sigh.
Sabo adjusted his military cap, pulling it lower to hide his conspicuous blond hair.
By then, Kujaku had already walked some distance ahead. Without further hesitation, the two brothers followed.
They ascended a grand staircase made of finely polished mahogany, walking in silence behind their mysterious guide. The rich scent of wood lingered in the air, mixing with the distant aroma of freshly prepared food from below.
Ace and Sabo remained casual, appearing completely unfazed by the situation, as though they had no concerns about walking into a potential trap.
But was it due to sheer confidence?
Or was it ignorance of how brutal the New World could be?
From the corner of her eye, Kujaku glanced back at them, finding their nonchalant demeanor intriguing.
"You two," she finally spoke, breaking the silence, "if I remember correctly, you just set sail this year. Instead of staying in the relative safety of the first half of the Grand Line, you're already impatient to break into the New World?"
She paused slightly, then turned her head just enough to gauge their reactions.
"What exactly is your purpose?"
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