On the sea restaurant, Baratie.
"Scrape—"
Zoro rowed his little boat right over without hesitation. He planned to go up and ask for directions to the 16th Branch.
The moment he stepped onto the restaurant's deck, he was instantly wrapped in a dense fragrance.
The charred aroma of roasted meat, the sweet creaminess of thick soups, and the rich scent of top-tier malt beer.
"Grumble—"
Right on cue, Zoro's stomach rumbled.
Before asking for directions, he'd better fill his belly.
He strode straight into the restaurant, found an empty seat, and with a grand wave of his hand at the chef who came to take his order—
"Bring food! Bring sake!!!"
...
Before long, he was stuffed and satisfied.
"Burp—"
Zoro leaned back contentedly in his chair, letting out a hearty belch.
"Comfortable!"
"Sir, thank you for dining with us. The total is 100,000 Belly."
A chef walked over and placed the bill on the table.
...
The comfort froze instantly on Zoro's face, and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.
His hand instinctively went to his pocket. Empty.
Damn it!
That bastard Dane still hadn't paid him his wages!
This was bad.
Skip out on the bill?
No way!
He was a Marine now—how could he do something so dishonorable?!
"Oi, kid."
Several burly chefs surrounded him, their expressions hostile.
"From the look of you… don't tell me you're planning to dine and dash?"
...
Zoro's hand brushed the hilt of Wado Ichimonji.
What if he… pawned the sword?
The thought surfaced, but he killed it immediately.
Impossible!
That sword was his vow with his dearest friend.
As he wavered between choices, something caught the corner of his eye.
An old man with a wooden leg, wearing two long golden braids like ropes for a beard.
"That face…!!!"
Zoro's pupils shrank violently.
Back when he scraped by for a living, he had memorized every bounty poster in the East Blue.
This face was unmistakable!
"Red-Leg" Zeff!
The pirate who returned from the Grand Line to the East Blue!
Pirates meant bounties. Bounties meant money. Money meant food!
A perfect idea instantly formed in Zoro's head.
"Clang—"
Wado Ichimonji flashed from its sheath, its gleaming blade catching the light in a cold gleam.
The noisy restaurant fell into dead silence.
Every eye locked onto Zoro.
He leveled the blade straight at Zeff, his voice cold.
"Pirate Zeff!"
"In the name of the Marines, I am placing you under arrest!"
Then, turning toward the chef who had asked for payment, he added,
"Once I take him down, his bounty will more than cover this meal."
...
The restaurant was as quiet as death.
The next second, the Baratie's entire crew exploded.
"What?!"
"Has this Marine lost his damn mind?!"
"He's going to arrest our captain for bounty money… just to pay for his food?!"
"Hey—!"
From the kitchen came a figure wreathed in smoke and heat.
A young, blond chef with curly brows and a cigarette dangling from his lips stepped forward, blocking Zoro's path.
His eyes brimmed with disdain and irritation.
The Baratie's sous-chef—Vinsmoke Sanji.
"You green-haired mosshead, trying to cause trouble here?"
...
The Grand Line.
A massive fleet cut its way through the waves.
At the center, atop the colossal flagship, stood Hawke at the prow.
The sea wind whipped his cloak with a "whoosh, whoosh" sound.
This trip to Marine Headquarters had yielded results beyond satisfying.
He glanced back at the mighty fleet trailing in his wake, then touched the small wooden box in his arms, a weapon capable of leveling the world.
These two things…
They represented the united recognition and support of the Headquarters' four great factions—the Hawk Faction, the Dove Faction, the Neutral Faction, and the Elders.
How could such heavy trust not warm his heart?
He was no longer just a transmigrator struggling to survive.
Now, he was a player who could tilt the world's balance.
He had to raise his power as quickly as possible.
Because as he was now—
It wasn't enough just to harvest heads and rack up Justice Points in the war at Marineford!
He would be the one to overturn the entire battle!
The Whitebeard Pirates must be annihilated at Marineford!
And after that…
The other Yonko… the World Government itself…
Purge them. Purge them all!
Just then, a soft, sticky voice broke his thoughts.
"Hawke-san."
Turning, Hawke saw Hibari running over with her bulging little backpack clutched in her arms.
"Hm? What is it, Hibari?"
"I was worried you'd run out of cigars, so I brought some from home for you."
"Don't complain it's not enough~"
"My backpack couldn't fit them all, or else I'd have brought every last one."
With the excitement of someone presenting treasure, Hibari unzipped her little backpack and began pulling things out.
Beautifully packaged cigars.
One box. Another.
In the end, she produced twenty boxes, and her backpack deflated into a limp sack.
...
Hawke fell silent.
He stared at the small mountain of cigar boxes piled high on the deck, the corner of his eye twitching.
That packaging…
That mark…
These were the cigars only Admirals had a quota to receive.
If Hibari had taken them from "home"…
Then weren't these Admiral Akainu's personal stockpile?!
"Burururu~"
Right then, the Den Den Mushi on his belt shrilled sharply.
...
Hawke looked down.
The snail's face had shifted into the furious scowl of Akainu.
He was done for.
He'd been found out.
Akainu was definitely calling to settle the score…
Hawke looked at Hibari's innocent face, still beaming with a "praise me" expression, then braced himself and picked up the call.
"Haaawkeeee!!!"
"You bastard brat!!!"
Akainu's roar seared through the line like molten lava.
He'd gone to his study to handle paperwork, only to find half his cigar stash had vanished.
Who else in all Marineford could swipe that many cigars under his nose?
No one but his own daughter—Hibari!
And who would be the beneficiary? No question—it was Hawke!
Akainu had immediately snatched up the Den Den Mushi.
"Admiral Akainu."
Hawke decided to play dumb.
"What seems to be the problem?"
"What seems to be the problem? Where the hell are my cigars?!"
"Cigars? What cigars?"
"Don't act dumb—you're staring at them right now, aren't you?!"
...
Hawke looked at the mountain before him, then started spouting nonsense with a straight face.
"Admiral, you don't understand."
"I've switched to cigarettes lately—much more down-to-earth."
"Cigars don't appeal to me anymore."
"Heh. Is that so?"
"I'm on my way right now!"
"You want a Meteor Volcano, or a Great Eruption?!"
"Uh…"
Hawke cleared his throat, his tone suddenly earnest.
"Admiral Akainu, you may not believe this, but actually… I'm a victim too."
"Hahaha—!"
Akainu was so furious he laughed, the Den Den Mushi's face twisting.
"You ungrateful brat—you benefit and still claim to be a victim?!"
"Return my cigars, now!"
"Admiral."
Hawke straightened his neck, his voice resolute.
"That's impossible. This was Hibari's heartfelt gift."
"If I returned them, wouldn't I betray her feelings?"
"I can't be that kind of heartless man!"
"Heh—"
Akainu sneered. He understood now—this brat had no intention of giving them back.
"Hawke…"
"My cigars aren't taken so easily!"
"Within one year, you'll purge Paradise for me!"
"Then this matter is settled!"
...
Hawke's mind raced.
Purge Paradise—the entire first half of the Grand Line—within one year?
That task lined up perfectly with his own plan.
He had already meant to sweep Paradise before Marineford, harvesting Justice Points to boost his strength.
Though a year was a bit tight, it was manageable.
He answered in a deep voice, "Yes. I'll complete the mission!"
"Hmph!"
Akainu slammed the line shut.
Hawke pocketed the Den Den Mushi, then reached out to ruffle Hibari's hair.
Heh—he'd secured cigar freedom too!
"Well done, Hibari."
"Your gift is very much appreciated."
"Mm-hm!"
Hibari puffed out her chest proudly, promising that next time she had leave, she'd bring the rest of the stockpile from home.
...!
The smile froze on Hawke's face.
Again?
Next time would mean purging the New World itself.
His body wasn't ready for that kind of punishment yet!