Chapter 34: A Bountiful Harvest
"You old geezer! What nonsense are you spouting?!"
Before Zeff could finish speaking, Sanji suddenly struggled to his feet from the wreckage as if his hair had been bristled.
He covered his still-numb cheek, rushed to Zeff's side, his face filled with disbelief and urgency:
"I'm not going anywhere! I'm the sous chef at Barratier! This is my restaurant, my home!"
"Home?"
Zeff turned his head and glanced at him, his tone as flat as if stating a perfectly obvious fact.
"You brat, I was in charge of everything from building this restaurant to running it."
"You're here just to help me out and clean up my messes."
He paused, then his voice suddenly rose, carrying a stern tone of anger at their lack of ambition:
"Spending all your time chasing after women and showing off to a bunch of lowly weaklings from the East China Sea, is that your dream?! Huh?!"
"I..." Sanji was speechless for a moment, his face turning red.
"Look at that green algae head!"
Zeff suddenly raised his hand and pointed at Zoro.
Zoro: Green moss head? Me?
Zeff said, "You're about the same age, look at what he's facing today! And look at you!"
"You're holed up in the weakest, most desolate part of the East China Sea, cooking up plate after plate of lousy rice that you've never even tasted the flavor of the Grand Line's sea breeze!"
"Do you think that by staying here, you can make your dream come true?!"
Zeff's voice echoed in the restaurant, each word like a hammer blow to Sanji's heart.
"Don't forget, your dream is to find the 'Azure Sea'!"
"It's not about running around in this run-down restaurant while counting the Pele trophies in the East China Sea!"
After Zeff finished speaking, the entire restaurant fell into a brief silence.
until...
"Hey, I said..."
Zoro, entering Baratie for the first time, was bewildered and, holding his knife and fork, asked an inappropriate question:
"What's going on? Can I start now?"
Although V can supply an unlimited amount of nutrient solution, that can't replace the joy of delicious food exploding on the taste buds.
In the end, Sanji joined the Straw Hat crew.
It wasn't that Zeff's attitude was particularly resolute, nor that he was particularly disappointed in Barratier...
Just because of Nami's words:
"Speaking of which, our pirate crew does indeed need a cook!"
"If you're not coming, then let Grandpa Zeff come instead!"
Is it to rush into the sea and pursue one's dreams?
Or should we inherit this lousy restaurant and imagine Zeff constantly surrounded by beautiful girls like Nami?
For Sanji, this was a simple multiple-choice question.
And so, using this stepping stone, Sanji, as if guided by fate, boarded the Going Merry, this pirate ship.
...
...
The next day.
The Merry sailed smoothly on the azure sea, with a gentle sea breeze carrying a salty, damp scent.
On the deck of the Going Merry, Luffy raised his wine glass and shouted excitedly:
"To celebrate the addition of our new partner—cheers!"
"cheers--!!!"
The Straw Hat crew responded enthusiastically.
clang!
The wooden wine glasses clinked together with a crisp sound.
The aroma of fine wine and the fragrance of dishes blended together, permeating the vast sea.
The most genuine smiles bloomed on everyone's faces.
Everyone gained a lot from this trip to Balati.
Luffy gained a crewmate.
Zoro has entered the realm of cutting through iron.
Nami has her chance to get revenge.
Sanji successfully set sail and began to pursue his dreams and ambitions.
Even Usopp accumulated a lot of bragging material during this battle.
He had written several letters overnight, proclaiming how "the great Captain Usopp defeated the world's greatest swordsman," and gave them to the cooks of Baratie, asking them to deliver them to Syrup Village when they went shopping.
But the most rewarding...
V, who had the lowest profile but was busy all day, was the one with the least presence!
"Alright, we've eaten and drunk enough."
"I'd like to take this opportunity to ask for everyone's opinions..."
After a hearty meal and drinks, seeing that everyone was present, V suddenly clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
He stood on the deck, his gaze sweeping over Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji, his tone calm yet carrying a rare hint of formality:
"Now that we're all partners, I won't hold back—Sanji, you've probably heard about my abilities from Nami."
"Nami and Zoro have both had prosthetic bodies implanted. As for the results, you've both seen them."
He paused, his blue prosthetic eye gleaming in the sunlight.
"Transformation is no small matter, and it's a one-way street."
"If you are willing to accept the modification, I will design the most suitable plan based on each of your fighting styles and roles."
Before he could finish speaking, Luffy had already sprung up from his seat, waving his rubber arms:
"I want it! I want it!"
He grinned, his eyes gleaming, without the slightest hesitation:
"I've wanted to try this for ages! Zoro's gotten so strong, and Nami's gotten so much stronger too... V, you should get me a powerful prosthetic body too!"
"I really like that thing of yours that can turn your hand into a cannon!"
Golden Egg Crisis?
He had long forgotten about that kind of thing.
All he wants now is to become stronger and more handsome!
Usopp, standing to the side, shrank back, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards Nami's silver arms that gleamed with a cold light.
Metal...machinery...installed into the body?
Images of "scalpel," "electric drill," and "screwdriver" flashed through his mind, and his teeth began to chatter involuntarily.
"Um..." Usopp's voice trembled, "Won't this really harm my body?"
"It's not that I'm afraid of pain... I just want to ask if there's any painless way to increase sniping ability?"
"Of course, I'm really not afraid of pain."
As he spoke, he instinctively protected his arms, as if they would be torn off at any moment.
Sanji silently lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled.
Through the swirling smoke, he looked at Nami, and then...
His eyes instantly turned into a heart shape.
"Being able to become like Nami means we've become a better match?"
"Miss Nami, I am willing to offer my body to you!"
Sanji twisted his body into a seaweed shape, declaring his loyalty to Nami.
Upon seeing this, Zoro made a disgusted face and said, "What a disgusting remark."
However, it's unclear whether it's a matter of Zoro and Sanji's personal chemistry, or whether Zoro's voice has a unique "charm" for Sanji.
The instant Zoro finished speaking, Sanji instantly broke free from the "charm" state:
"You damn green algae-headed bastard, who are you calling the lower head?!"
"Whoever responds to me is the one I'm talking about, right?" Zoro replied flippantly.
"Do you want to fight, you green algae head?!"
"You?! You're 18,000 years too early!!!"
"Bastard!" "Idiot!"
Their heads collided.
Nami sighed, rubbing her forehead: "These idiots..."
V crossed his arms, a smile playing on his lips.
"It seems everyone is really looking forward to it, then I can rest assured."
He looked at the system's trading point reserves of 21,000 and silently recited in his mind:
"Thanks to all the members of the Krieg Pirates for risking their lives! The Straw Hat Pirates wouldn't have been able to do without your help on their journey!"
"So, who should we start with..."
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