Hawkeye!
Hearing the name, Zoro's eyes widened in shock. He suddenly stood, his hands instinctively gripping the hilts of his swords.
"What's wrong, Zoro?" the others asked in confusion.
Reiner, however, immediately understood.
He wants to fight… The difference in strength is too great. Should I stop him?
He hesitated. The story might not unfold like the original. What if Zoro actually died here…?
But when he raised his head and met Zoro's determined eyes, Reiner gave up the idea of stopping him.
This was Zoro's own path. Even if he tried to intervene, Zoro wouldn't listen.
Hawkeye Dracule Mihawk strode calmly toward the exit, not sparing the burning gaze behind him even a glance.
"Wait!" Zoro shouted. "You're the world's greatest swordsman, aren't you?"
He drew a blade, pointing it at Mihawk. "I challenge you!"
"I have no interest in the weak."
Mihawk's voice was calm as he continued toward the door.
"Don't look down on me, bastard!" Zoro gritted his teeth and chased after him.
"Zoro!" Nami cried anxiously. She turned to the others. "Quick, stop him! Didn't you hear? That man cut a pirate ship in half with a single slash!"
"No, Nami," Luffy said seriously, setting down his food. "I promised Zoro—I'd never stand in his way."
"Ahh… Let's go," Reiner sighed, rising to his feet.
The chefs froze, then suddenly panicked.
"Hey! Come see this! That guest is challenging Hawkeye!"
"You're kidding!"
"Wait—that's the famous bounty hunter, isn't it?"
"It's him! Roronoa Zoro!"
The kitchen erupted in chaos. Chefs rushed out, crowding around to watch.
Sanji frowned, putting down his utensils and walking out.
"Tch… what's with this group? Do they live for duels?"
On the outer deck, Zoro blocked Mihawk's path, Wado Ichimonji clenched between his teeth.
His purpose in setting out to sea had been to find this man.
Defeating him would make his name resound across the seas, fulfilling the vow he had made years ago.
A fierce longing burned in Zoro's eyes.
"I admire your gaze," Mihawk said softly. "Very well. Consider this some post-meal exercise."
He unclasped the golden cross hanging on his chest, pulling out a tiny dagger.
"I didn't bring a smaller blade. Come."
On the second-floor deck, Reiner and the others stood among the Baratie chefs led by Sanji, all watching with bated breath.
"The World's Greatest Swordsman vs. Roronoa Zoro!"
"Didn't think I'd ever witness a duel of this caliber."
"What'll it even look like when they fight?"
The chefs had no real sense of either fighter's strength. Both names carried weight, but to them, it was just reputation—they couldn't measure such power themselves.
And yet…
Three minutes later.
"A wound on the back…"
"…is the disgrace of a swordsman!!!"
"…"
Is it inappropriate if I laugh now?
Reiner's chest tightened. He wanted to laugh, but worry filled his eyes. At the same time, his respect for Zoro deepened.
Mihawk finally drew Yoru, his massive black blade, and with a final slash, ended the duel.
With his back to the fallen Zoro, Mihawk strolled away at a leisurely pace, leaving behind only words:
"Grow stronger, Roronoa. I will await you on the throne of the world's greatest swordsman."
Lying on the deck, Zoro covered his face with one hand, raising Wado Ichimonji toward the sky.
"Until I defeat him—I will never lose again!!!"
His words rang out for all to hear, as if proclaiming them not only to those present, but to someone unseen above.
When the duel ended, Reiner and Usopp rushed forward, lifting the collapsed Zoro.
A deep, gaping wound stretched across his chest from the right shoulder down.
Reiner sprinted back to the ship for medicine. Together, he and Usopp bandaged Zoro.
Meanwhile, at the restaurant's entrance—
"That idiot's your crewmate, isn't he? Why didn't you stop him?" Sanji lit a cigarette, asking Luffy.
Luffy shot him a glance. "That's his dream. Zoro has his own path."
"Does it really have to go that far?" Sanji exhaled smoke, his tone cold. "Dreams… Can something so vague be worth risking your life?"
"Yeah. That's exactly why it's called a dream." Luffy's voice was steady, resolute. "Don't you have something worth betting your life on?"
"Betting my life…"
Leaning against the wall, Sanji closed his eyes. After a long silence, he spoke:
"Have you heard of the All Blue?"
"All Blue?"
"They say it's a sea where fish from all four oceans gather.
Legend says it's somewhere in the Grand Line. When the old man dies, I'll set sail for it. Even if it takes my whole life, I'll find that ocean."
Luffy looked at Sanji curiously, then suddenly grinned.
"Hehehe. We're heading to the Grand Line too! And we're short a cook. Come with us!"
"No. I have reasons I must stay here."
"What? Didn't you just say you're going to the Grand Line?"
On the third deck, Zeff leaned against the railing, gazing down at them. A faint smile tugged his lips.
"You're smiling happily, brat. Maybe… the ship you've been waiting for has finally arrived."
Back inside, Reiner finished tending to Zoro, helping him back to the restaurant. Luckily, Mihawk hadn't aimed for his heart. He'd shown mercy.
Though the wound was deep, it was only flesh. With Zoro's endurance, he'd recover.
Seeing he was safe, the others breathed with relief.
Reiner, Nami, and Usopp leisurely enjoyed their meal, while Luffy and Sanji carried on their duel.
And this time, there was a wager:
If Luffy won, Sanji would join them.
If he lost, they would never return to Baratie—
—except for Nami.
"With Luffy's appetite, it's a guaranteed win." Nami declared confidently. She'd seen firsthand how Luffy had worn out five villagers just yesterday.
Reiner, however, wasn't so sure.
"With Sanji… It's not certain. I'm already considering how to cheat."
Yes, I'm shameless. So what?
But before he could act, someone else moved first.
"Sanji. It's about time you left this place," Zeff said calmly.
Sanji ignored him, completely focused on his culinary duel with Luffy.
"I said—you're fired, Sanji."
Sanji's hands stilled. He set his utensils down slowly, his face darkening.
"You damn old man. What kind of joke is that?!"
"Would you rather I die with regrets? Set sail, Sanji. I don't want to be your shackle."
"What shackle? I stay because I want to. It has nothing to do with you!"
"And the All Blue?" Zeff's voice remained steady.
"When you die, I'll head out to sea!"
"Instead of sending me off to my grave, show me it's real while I'm alive. Go prove the All Blue exists."
Zeff turned his eyes to the horizon—the endless blue sky meeting the calm sea.
"Between the two of us, one has to see it. Isn't that right?"
…
The kitchen fell silent. Sanji lowered his head, removing the cigarette from his lips. His blond hair fell forward, hiding his face in shadow.
Plink.
A tear hit the floor. Then, suddenly, Sanji dropped to his knees, hands pressed against the ground, forehead striking the floor hard.
"Thank you!" he sobbed, voice breaking.
"Thank you, old man! I'll never forget what you've done for me!"
The kitchen was silent. Every other cook had slipped out the moment Zeff entered.
Zeff looked down at the young man he had raised, tears welling in his own eyes. But he quickly wiped them away—
—because someone barged in at the worst possible moment.
"Uh—sorry. Wrong room."
At the door stood Reiner, frozen in place. His toes practically dug holes in the floor from embarrassment. In his hands squirmed a nest of undead ants—he'd just caught them outside, planning to use them to cause mischief.
And he'd walked right into this scene.
"Pretend I saw nothing."
Sanji