The next day, the skies were clear, not a cloud in sight.
On the endless blue sea, the Going Merry sailed peacefully.
On deck, Reiner, Luffy, and Usopp sat in a circle, their expressions serious. Nami and Zoro sat nearby, watching carefully.
"Testing your hand—got any threes?"
"Small bet—you got any fours?"
"Nope."
"You don't even have a four? Luffy, you're hopeless."
"Don't try to trick me into splitting my cards!"
Usopp gritted his teeth. Damn it, this guy was finally getting smarter.
Most of the time at sea was dull, especially since Reiner's undead minions handled all the chores.
So he taught them Dou Di Zhu (Fight the Landlord, a card game). While Luffy and Usopp usually fished, Reiner and Zoro lifted weights. When resting, everyone gathered for cards, with Nami and Zoro occasionally joining in.
Reiner's luck? Pure charity-player level. He didn't mind—he treated it as handing out pocket money.
It was worth noting: he was in charge of the crew's money.
Save? He didn't know how.
But robbing? That was his specialty. Meaning—no need to save.
Except when it came to Luffy.
Give him money, and he'd burn through it without blinking.
Suddenly, one of the undead eagles from the lookout swooped down.
It perched on Reiner's shoulder, pecking toward the bow.
These were the eagles Usopp had hunted for him back in Cocoyasi Village, which Reiner had turned undead to guard the ship when he wasn't paying attention—in other words, most of the time.
Reiner leapt up to the lookout and gazed in the eagle's direction. Sure enough, a green speck appeared on the horizon.
"The floating restaurant Baratie. Time for a good meal."
He jumped down. "We're not paying the check this round."
"Hehehe, I won fifty thousand Berries!" Luffy grinned.
Great. Another fifty thousand down the drain.
Soon, the crew arrived at Baratie—a massive, three-tiered floating restaurant, its bow carved into the shape of a fish's open mouth.
"Food time!" Luffy shouted, clutching his winnings as he dashed aboard.
"Wait! That's a pirate ship?"
Following Usopp's finger, Reiner saw the wreck of a massive pirate vessel, split cleanly in half and sinking. Only the bow and stern remained, drifting apart.
"That flag—that's the Krieg Pirates!"
Usopp had recognized it immediately.
Reiner frowned, an image forming in his mind.
"Hawkeye…"
His gaze shifted to the small boat tied beside Baratie.
At its center stood a tall-backed chair, surrounded by candles. It was moored to the restaurant with a rope.
"How could such a big ship sink?"
"No idea. Maybe someone cut it in half."
"Don't joke around, Reiner. No one could cut a ship like that," Usopp scoffed, waving it off.
They disembarked and entered the restaurant.
The vast dining hall held hundreds of tables—but not a single customer.
No, there were two.
In the corner, a man in a white shirt quietly ate. A black hat rested on the table, a black coat draped on his chair.
Every movement was precise, refined, and silent.
Reiner gave him one glance, then looked away. He shot Zoro a sidelong look—apparently, he hadn't noticed.
The silence didn't last.
Clang! Clang!
"Food! Hahaha, I wanna order! Order!"
"Coming, coming—you're so noisy."
A blond man emerged from the kitchen, frowning at Luffy's shouting.
He wore a black suit with a striped blue shirt, clearly dressed with care.
Reiner and the others joined Luffy at the table.
"What'll it be?" Sanji asked calmly, notepad in hand.
"Meat! Ten servings of meat!"
"Ten? Can you even finish that?" Sanji's eyes narrowed. "If you waste food in front of me, I won't forgive you!"
Luffy froze. He'd never met such an arrogant cook.
"Don't worry—his appetite's no joke." Reiner chuckled. "If anything, I'm more worried about you collapsing in the kitchen."
"Oh?" Sanji gave Luffy a curious glance.
"This is the first time anyone's challenged me like that. Go ahead and try."
"Luffy, eat to your heart's content today. I've got the bill."
"Really?!" Luffy shouted, eyes burning with excitement as he stared at Sanji.
"In eating, I've never lost."
"In cooking, I've never lost either."
Their gazes locked, sparks flying, both fired up.
"Now, what about the rest of you—"
Sanji turned to the others, but when his eyes landed on Nami, he froze mid-sentence.
His fiery expression melted into adoration. His eyes turned into pink hearts as he dropped to one knee before her.
"Eh?" Nami blinked, startled by the sudden gesture.
"An angel! An angel descended from heaven!" Sanji cried dramatically. "Please, let me be your prisoner of love!"
Before she could react—
Whack!
A wooden peg leg smacked him on the head.
"Arghhh!"
"You bastard! Harassing customers again!" Zeff stood with arms crossed, scolding.
"If you don't want to work, pack up and get lost. My restaurant doesn't need a cook like you!"
"You damn old man!" Sanji roared, glaring. "No matter how much you kick me out, I'll never leave! I'm staying until you die!"
"Bullshit! I'll live another hundred years!"
Zeff barked back, then returned to the kitchen.
"Tch." Sanji clicked his tongue, regaining composure. He turned to Nami with a charming smile.
"Forgive my rudeness, beautiful lady. As an apology, today's meal is on me."
Then, deadpan, he glanced at the rest. "You lot still have to pay."
"Perverted cook." ×4
Soon, the other chefs brought out the dishes.
"Sorry for the wait."
"Heard you're challenging Sanji? Bold move."
"He even forbade us from helping—says he'll make sure you crawl out stuffed today."
They laughed, setting food on the table, clearly excited.
A duel between chefs and customers was a rare spectacle, even here.
Reiner and the others ate, chatting with the cooks, learning the story behind the wreck outside.
That massive ship had belonged to Admiral Don Krieg of the Krieg Pirates.
Earlier that morning, one of his men, a pirate named Gin, had escaped the Marines, starving nearly to death—until Sanji saved him.
But Gin returned with the Krieg Pirates. Zeff still gave them food.
And once full, Krieg betrayed them, attempting to seize the restaurant.
"That Krieg's a bastard!"
"No wonder there aren't any other customers."
"So what happened then? You all seem fine."
The cooks exchanged wary glances before whispering:
"See that man in the corner? He cut Krieg's flagship in half—with one strike."
"He singlehandedly wiped out the Krieg Pirates."
They leaned closer.
"One… strike?"
"Split a ship that size!?"
Nami and Usopp gasped, covering their mouths.
"Look at his eyes. That's the world's greatest swordsman—Dracule Mihawk, Hawkeye."
At that moment, Mihawk slowly rose, setting his hat on his head, draping his black coat over his shoulders.
He picked up the massive black blade resting nearby, slinging it onto his back.
Check, please, he said softly.