"That man is.."
"Don Krieg it's him!"
"He has come to kill all of us!"
The Krieg pirates started panicking and running like headless chickens on the remaining deck of the ship. Some even tried to get as far as possible by swimming to avoid the said man.
"It can't be... Is that Hawk-eyed man?!" Zoro asked in shock. But he knew deep within that he is.
"Damn it!" One of the Krieg pirates cursed at the sight of the man. "What did we do to you? Why the hell do you have to follow us out here?!"
"Just to kill some time," Mihawk said looking bored.
"That's bullshit!" The Krieg pirates roared firing the said man with their guns, only for their bullets to be deflected or sliced by the said swordsman.
"What?! I missed?!" A Krieg pirate asked in shock.
"He deflected it. It'll be the same no matter how many times you shoot." Zoro answered the pirates and took a step forward, ignoring the gasps of everyone. "He changes the bullet's trajectory with the tip of his sword."
"I've never seen such graceful movements," Zoro stated walking towards the swordsman, ignoring the other pirates who were cursing him .
"A sword without grace is no strong sword," Mihawk replied sheathing his sword back at its rightful place and eyeing Zoro curiously.
"Did you cut this ship with that sword?" Zoro asked standing before Mihawk on the broken deck of the Krieg's ship.
"Yes, indeed!" Mihawk replied nonchalantly.
"No wonder..." Zoro said looking at the man with a nervous smirk. "You really are one of the strongest."
That got a reaction from Mihawk, who raised his eyebrow at the said statement. There were few who knew about the said thing, specially he didn't think that someone from the weakest sea would know that.
"I set sail to meet you," Zoro continued, making his resolve. He felt wide eyes looking at him, most pirates recognizing him. He could feel his friends' eyes on his back.
"What do you aim for?" Mihawk asked, sitting cross-legged in his boat.
"To be the strongest," Zoro stated tying his bandana. "So let's have a duel!"
"Luffy!" Nami said instantly. "You gotta stop him!"
Luffy didn't reply. He only stared at Mihawk intensely.
"It's him! Zoro! Roronoa Zoro of the three sword style!" Some of the Krieg pirates yelled in the background, recognizing Zoro.
"The pirate hunter?" Don Krieg asked looking at the green-haired man with interest. If he survives he may bring that fool in his crew, Krieg thought.
"Pitiful, weakling," Mihawk said the words standing up from his little boat and walking to the broken wreck of the ship which was still floating and where Zoro stood. "If you're a competent swordsman by any means, then I can demonstrate the clear difference in strength between you and me, without needing to cross blades at all."
"But still you dare to challenge me. Does the bravery come from your conviction..." Mihawk asked Zoro with his hands crossed on his chest. "Or from ignorance?"
"It comes from my ambition and a promise to a friend," Zoro said holding his white sword in his mouth and the other two in each of his hands. "To be honest, I never thought I'd be able to meet you so early on."
"A waste, if you ask me," Mihawk replied nonchalantly.
"The World's one of the strongest swordsmen versus the pirate hunter Zoro!" Zeff announced standing on the railing of his ship and looking at the two men and then to one of the man's captain and crew mates.
The orange-haired girl was clearly looking with scared eyes at the two men while the others looked as if they thought that the pirate hunter would win.
But Zeff knew that the young captain knew that his swordsman wouldn't. The way he was glaring at Mihawk was enough to prove it, if not the way the railing of his deck was forming cracks under the teen's hands.
Luffy need not be told that Zoro wasn't prepared for this fight. At least not right now. The difference between him and Hawkeye was a lot if not less. He watched as Mihawk pulled out his necklace from his neck and took out the little knife from it. He wanted to fight the man himself, but he knew this was the fight that Zoro had to fight if he wants to achieve his dream.
He can't stand in the way of someone's dream ever, even if...
"Just what are you planning to do with that?" Zoro asked looking at the little knife which Hawkeye was holding.
"I don't kill a rabbit with a cannon," Mihawk answered simply as if he was not insulting and agitating Zoro. "Unfortunately, I do not have a blade smaller than this at the moment."
"There's a limit," Zoro said through his swords in anger. "To just how much you can underestimate me. You better not regret it when you die!" Zoro yelled the last part and rushed towards Mihawk who wasn't moving at all.
"Hear me, little frog in this small well," Mihawk said, not even preparing himself for the swordsman who was dashing towards him. "It's time for you to realize that the world is bigger than what it seems from your well."
"ONIGIRI!" Zoro roared attacking Mihawk, but got stopped by the tiny little blade.
"Zoro?" Usopp said in shock.
"Brother's onigiri was stopped!?" Johnny yelled in shock.
"His signature attack that sends his opponents flying 100% was stopped?!" Yosaku added to Johnny's shout.
"I told you so!" Nami yelled once more looking at Luffy. Zoro was one of her friends. She.. she couldn't, wouldn't want him to die! "He won't be able to win this fight! Call him back, Luffy! You are the captain!"
"I can't..!" Luffy said through his gritted teeth. He has been seeing the whole fight using his observation Haki. He knew how the match will end, he knew it damn well. And yet, he refused to move a single step to rescue Zoro. Mihawk is not someone he can underestimate so easily that's what he knows.
Zoro wasn't able to move a single step. There had been no men who had been able to see through his this move and yet he had been stopped by a stupid toy.
Zoro moved his swords in blind rage, not wanting to accept that he was so far behind one of the best. Each time, his sword ended up getting stopped by Mihawk, until he fell on his back. He stood up, not wanting to give up at all.
"ARGHHH!" He let out a battle cry as he dashed forward to the man, who was only getting more bored.
"Come on, bro! Show him what you've really got!" Johnny cheered for Zoro, along with Usopp and Yosaku.
All the while Nami kept on seeing the death match with horrified eyes and trembling lips. The moments she spent with Zoro were flashing in her mind, making her think if this is how she would end up losing her friends, which she made after several years.
"I trained to win!"
Zoro's mind was reminiscing the words from Kuina. Her want to be the greatest too... but her words of how women can't...
"I came to beat you!"
His words to Koshiro sensei when Kuina died. The want to become stronger for her and his sake. His oath to become the world's strongest swordsman whose name would be famous enough to reach even the heavens!
"What burdens do you carry? What do you still desire at the extent of your strength, weakling?" Mihawk asked nonchalantly.
"How dare you call our bro a weakling?!" Yosaku yelled, followed by Johnny who yelled at the same time, "We oughta teach you a lesson, you bastard!"
Luffy held them and threw them on the deck of the Baratie back before they could interfere in Zoro's fight. "Stay put!" He held them down with both of his hands, in the process holding himself from not trashing out and going after Mihawk.
"Luffy..." Nami said almost in a whisper as she felt the swirls of emotions flaring within the teen. She could see how he was restraining himself from interfering in the fight.
Zoro was tossed to the ground once again by Mihawk but he was not the one to stay put. He stood up and positioned his sword again.
"Tora.."
Luffy's words were ringing in his ears of how embarrassing it would be if wouldn't be able to become the Greatest Swordsman in the Pirate King's crew. All because he had faith that Luffy would be the King one day!
"..Gari!"
He was stopped once again, but this time he wasn't thrown. He wasn't stopped by the swords clanging to each other. He was stopped by the little blade piercing his chest, just above his heart. A little more and he will be dead. But death didn't scare him much than the thought of losing what he practically lives for.
"BRO!" "ZORO!"
CACKLE
A thunder cackled loudly in the sky, which was darkening at an alarming rate in the once tranquil blue sky, painting it as if it were night. As if it was protesting the death match that was going on. It looked as if the heavens itself didn't want the match but at the same time it didn't want to interrupt it, as none of the lightnings decided to fall too close to the broken wreck. But all of this was merely ignored by the two swordsman.
Zoro didn't step back, even if his own blood was soaking his own t-shirt. Even if blood was trickling down from his mouth.
"Do you wish for me to pierce your heart?" Mihawk asked, as Zoro didn't take a single step back, with a raised eyebrow. "Why do you refuse to step back?"
"Not really sure myself..." Zoro replied honestly leading to more blood trickle down his mouth. "But I get the feeling that if I were to take even one step back right now, I'd lose something important to me... a promise or oath... or whatever it would be irreversibly broken, and that I'd never be able to return back to where I'm standing right now."
"Yes," Mihawk agreed. "Such is defeat."
"Hahaha.. then that's why I can't step back," Zoro stated with a little laugh.
"Even if it means your death...?" Mihawk asked looking at Zoro's eyes and searching for any fear. Searching for any lies behind the words he had uttered.
"I'd rather die," Zoro said without missing a beat.
Mihawk was intrigued now. The conviction which the boy possessed before him to rather choose death than defeat was something rare. Even New World Pirates feared death, except one reckless idiot who he has met.
"Kid," Mihawk said, taking out the knife from the boy's chest. "Tell me your name."
"Roronoa Zoro!" Zoro said positioning his sword for the final strike.
"I shall remember it," Mihawk stated reaching for his black blade, Yoru. "For your strength is not often seen in this world."
The thunder roared above them, and the sky was changing to an unusual color which made Mihawk glance at the sky once, but his attention snapped when someone's haki flared. And it was not some ordinary Haki. It was a control burst of Conqueror's Haki aimed at him. He looked to the side to look at a kid with a straw hat, recognizing him in an instant.
The kid was commanding him to not kill the boy before him. The straw hat made him pinpoint who exactly the boy was. The boy, the 17-year-old teen, who really really looked like a kid, was none other than the boy Shanks always tells him about.
The boy was none other than Monkey D. Luffy, a New World veteran. He saw the boy struggling to jump into the match and trying to keep himself from interfering. He can tell that the Haki which he felt was due to the anger and concern for his friend and not because the boy wanted to weaken him before the last strike, if he could that is.
Shanks did tell him that this Monkey D. Luffy was powerful but the fact he looks so young, and his brilliant control over conqueror's Haki was left unsaid. And that was not where the list ended! The boy clearly had a mysterious aura. The aura of someone too powerful, and not to be messed with. In his eyes, Monkey D. Luffy was clearly an enigma.
Luffy watched as Mihawk's gaze fell on him momentarily. He glared at the said man, not wanting him to kill his friend. He respects Zoro's decision, but he can't help the anger which was bubbling up. He couldn't stop the thunders from not clashing with each other and making a violent sound, which was making many Krieg pirates flinch.
He watched as Mihawk took out his black blade removing his gaze from him, clearly stating that he won't listen to him and do whatever the hell he wants.
"To pay my respect to you as a fellow swordsman, I shall end this duel with my black sword!" Mihawk said, making many pirates gawk at the beautiful sword.
"Die!" Mihawk said running forward to Zoro who started twisting his blades before him.
"BRO! THAT'S ENOUGH! STOP!" Johnny and Yosaku yelled getting the situation after all.
"ZORO! STOP IT! YOU'LL DIE!" Nami screamed, her tears leaking through her eyes as she watched death getting closer and closer to Zoro.
"Three swords style secret: 3000 worlds!" Zoro yelled as he and Mihawk crossed each other's paths.
Not even a second later, Zoro's swords broke, except Kuina's blade, making Zoro finally conclude that he was no match for Hawkeye. At least not now. He sheathed his white sword and turned towards Mihawk, who looked confused.
"Scars on a back are a swordsman's shame," Zoro said with a smirk, blood dripping from his mouth to the deck. The lightning cackled loudly in the sky illuminating Zoro's bloody figure standing with his arms spread, inviting the other swordsman to end him.
"Splendid," Mihawk said and without missing a beat slashed Zoro.
"ZORO!" Luffy shouted with the thunder and the clouds which roared in the sky making everyone's eardrums pain. The flashes of lightning danced in the inky blackness of the sky as if they were hurt, wounded or sad. Each strike was sending shock waves to the people who were watching it with eyes filled with horror.
Nami had already collapsed on her feet, with her shaky hands on her mouth to cover her sobs. She couldn't care about the again unexpected thunder which had marked its arrival. She couldn't muster her hands to leave her mouth to go and cover her eardrums. What the heck was she thinking when she thought of leaving the reckless fools, these reckless dreamy idiots! Who had warmed their place in her heart. But if she stays... she will bring them only trouble... But she can't leave them right now! What friend would she be if she leaves the crew right now?!
"BRO!" Yosaku and Johnny yelled, diving into the water to fish out Zoro who was already falling.
"Zoro.." Usopp whispered, finally deciding to move and bring up a little boat to the men.
"Why?" Sanji muttered under his breath, not understanding a thing. Why did ambition stood before death?! Why one must not throw away their ambitions if it meant they would live?! Why?! Sanji couldn't understand it at all!
"DAMN IT!" Luffy roared, rocketing himself to Mihawk and where Zoro had fallen to.
"What's that?!" The pirates shrieked in terror as they saw Luffy's arms stretch. But that was the least they were scared of now. Mihawk was here and above it was the ear-numbing thunder which looked as if it had emanated from hell itself.
The air was filled with tension. Tension for what would happen next for the Krieg Pirates and the fear of the storm which was beginning to remind them of the Grand Line. Tension about what would happen to Zoro, whose body was falling deeper and deeper into the dark abyss of the ocean, which seemed as if she wanted to claim him as her own.
A chilling anger was in the atmosphere as Luffy landed just a few feet away from Mihawk. Anger would be a less word, he was pissed. Pissed to even check on Zoro's flickering Haki, which was worrying. He was so pissed that he couldn't even hear Nami shouting to not go before the man. He was pissed to not notice the flares of conqueror's haki surrounding him and providing some fearful pirates the abyss of escape from the horrifying sights.
If Mihawk was not intrigued enough by Shanks's story on the little menace of Monkey D. Luffy, then the situation right now sure piqued his curiosity. The kid did show a childish anger on his face, but deep down it was sending shivers in his spine. He wasn't sure if it was the work of his conqueror's Haki or not. But he knew, that the kid was blinded by rage right now. He wouldn't listen until his friend was alright.
And what was up with the thunders? They cackled at each step of the boys as if they were just a part of him, which showed their anger with him. Mihawk couldn't understand. He had been in the New World, in the Grand Line and yet had seen nothing like the boy. And was he sweating? But why? The air was chill and yet he could feel the scorching heat of the Sun just on him!
He acted nonchalant from outside, but every part of him wanted to unveil the mystery of the boy which stood before him and a part of him felt that the boy could see through his façade.
"You won't be able to remove your sight from him!" Shanks had said once, laughing as if he was stating a fact, not a perception.
This was the time Mihawk did agree with the drunken ass of the other man. His thoughts were halted, as the boy lifted his head, his eyes similar to the eyes of a predator, his blank face which was lit with the lightning that danced on the sky, looked as if it was straight from hell. This was the time that Mihawk felt that he had made a mistake, as he clearly saw the boy's irises change to reddish ones, which looked as if they were out for blood. For his blood.
The boy sure has a devil fruit, but what? The boy can stretch, he can change his irises. What kind of devil fruit works like this even?! Even Shanks always avoided breaching on this topic and as a Government sanctioned pirate, he could tell that it was for the safety of the boy.
The flickering eyes told him, how he was trying to control himself and Mihawk found the opportunity to calm the boy.
"Fear not. The man's still alive," He stated, wanting to remove his gaze from the raven-haired boy and look at the green-haired haired who was being pulled from the depths of the ocean by his friends.
"I know," The boy stated, his eyes piercing his eyes as if looking for something. After a few seconds, the boy removed his eyes from him to look at his comrade, as if he had found the thing which he had been looking in his eyes.
"BRO! ANSWER US, BRO!" Yosaku's desperate voice reached Luffy as he looked at the duo bringing Zoro to their little boat.
"Zoro.." Luffy whispered, wanting nothing more than to check up on his friend. The man was coughing blood, but Luffy knew that Zoro would live. It pains him to agree with his mother that this event couldn't have been ignored and that this was important for Zoro to strengthen his want to be the Greatest Swordsman of the World.
"I'm Dracule Mihawk," Hawkeye announced looking at the boat where some people were giving first aid to the wounded man. "It is too much early for you to die. Know your self!"
"Know your world!" Mihawk continued, knowing that man was hearing him even if he was just clinging to consciousness by a mere thread.
"And become strong Roronoa!" Mihawk's voice bellowed. "No matter how many months or years pass by, I shall stand here at the top of the World and wait for you! So forge on ahead with that fierce conviction and try to surpass my sword."
"SURPASS ME, RORONOA!" Mihawk shouted, wanting the boy to hear it clearly.
"To think that Mihawk would say such a thing," Zeff said with his arms crossed on his chest, and with a clear respect for the green-haired boy. He whispered something to a cook, who nodded and rushed inside the restaurant.
"Boy, what do you aim for?" Mihawk asked looking at Luffy, who looked back at him.
"The Pirate King, the freest man in the World!"
"A tough path, indeed. Even tougher than surpassing myself." Mihawk said with a smirk. But he felt that if someone could do it, then this boy would definitely.
"Whatever!" Luffy said blowing a raspberry at the man. "I'm going to do it anyway!"
With that said, Luffy turned his attention to his comrades. "Usopp! Nami! Is Zoro alright?!"
"Like hell, he'll be!" Usopp said applying pressure to Zoro's wound to stop the blood flow. Zoro was getting paler and paler by each passing minute.
"He has lost a lot of blood!" Nami added, trying to help Zoro, while Johnny and Yosaku kept on crying. "We need to get him to a doc-"
Shocking them all, Zoro's white blade rose into the air.
"L-Luffy.." Zoro began. Nami who had been talking stopped. No one dared to interrupt the swordsman as he continued with one hand lifting his sword and the other covering his eyes, which were flowing with tears. "C..Can you hear me?"
"Yeah," Luffy said paying extra attention to his first mate.
"Sorry for worrying you..." Zoro continued, his voice wavering a little. "I know... that if I don't become... the world's strongest swordsman, it will only embarrass you...!"
Zoro spat out blood, making Yosaku and Johnny panic. Usopp and Nami didn't dare to interrupt Zoro as they knew what was happening.
"I SWEAR THAT I'M NEVER GOING TO LOSE AGAIN!" Zoro yelled through his blood, snot and tears. "UNTIL THE DAY I FIGHT HIM AND WIN!"
Mihawk smirked and Luffy's face had a wide D grin on his face, knowing Zoro would grow stronger and stronger.
"I SWEAR TO NEVER LOSE AGAIN!" Zoro shouted despite it was aggravating his wounds further. "Any problems? Pirate King!"
"Shishishishi! Nope!" Luffy laughed brightly, making Zoro feel at ease and drop his sword.
"You make a good team," Mihawk said walking away. "I'd like to see you two again, sometime in the future."
"Sure, Hawkey!" Luffy said giving the man his sunny grin, and making Mihawk smirk, not caring about the nickname. "Tell Shanks hi for me!" Luffy said looking at the man who turned his neck slightly to look at him over his shoulder, but why did Hawkey looked blurry? Luffy blinked his eyes trying to look at the man until he could see the man's slight twitching of lips.
Hawkeye had to literally control the slight upward twitch that his lips wanted him to make. But he could really see the picture which Shanks had painted in his mind, coming alive. But still, he won't say that the kid's smile made him want to protect him... But maybe he will look out for the teen as well as his new interest.
"Hey, brat bring that boy here!" Zeff shouted from where he stood.
"Sure, old man!" Luffy replied back and jumped to the little dinghy where his friends were. He was feeling hungry but that can be done after Zoro gets treatment.
"You'll be all better, Zoro!" Luffy said cheering up the little crew and their friends which he had gathered. No one said anything as they Johnny and Yosaku rowed the little boat to the Baratie to get Zoro treatment. They knew one thing, that if anyone can help then it is Zeff and the cooks in the Baratie. They have to keep medicines! Or at least a first aid kit to treat Zoro until they get to an actual doctor.
"Hawk-eyes!" Don Krieg's voice came, as he plopped on the broken wreck of his ship. "Did you come for the head of the infamous ruler of East Blue, Don Krieg?!"
"For a while, yes," Mihawk stated honestly, his eyes flickering from the pirate and then settling on the little group that was pulling Roronoa to the fish restaurant. "But I've already enjoyed myself here, so I'll return to my nap."
"No need to be so hasty." Don Krieg said, not giving a fuck about the Warlord, who had destroyed his ship with a single swing of his blade. "You may have your fun but I haven't."
"D-D-D-D-Don!" "W-why's he purposely trying to prevent that man from leaving..?!"
The Krieg Pirates stated with tears in their eyes. They didn't want to face the man at all and here Don was agitating the man.
"HOW ABOUT YOU DIE BEFORE LEAVING?!" Don Krieg roared as he pointed his gun, each on his hand and shoulder, to the swordsman and started shooting.
"You never learn, do you?" Mihawk asked taking about his sword and swirling it gracefully, making the water carry him and his boat away from the ruffians. "Farewell!"
Luffy plopped himself beside Zeff carrying a wounded Zoro in his arms. The sight was sure a bit comical of a kid like Luffy holding Zoro.
"Lay him there," Zeff said as he guided Luffy to one of the tables in the Baratie. Luffy listened to him, knowing that he would be able to save Zoro. Nami, Usopp, Johnny and Yosaku followed the duo with Sanji, who was looking conflicted in his own thoughts regarding Zoro's ambitions and his recklessness. Moreover, what was up with the kid, who without a thought jumped before one of the best to avenge his crew?
"Give the old man a hand, will ya?" Zeff asked looking at Usopp, who nodded quickly. Zeff didn't ask Luffy to do it because he had a feeling the boy would mess up, even if he didn't want to. And Sanji... he was gathering his thoughts so Zeff let him do that.
"Alcohol," Zeff said as he tore Zoro's shirt with a knife carefully. Usopp ran to the kitchen to bring one.
"H-He'll be ok, right?" Nami asked in a low voice, taking the bloody clothes that Zeff was tearing carefully from Zoro's chest.
"I won't lie. The lad lost a lot of blood." Zeff said taking the bottle of alcohol from the hands of the long-nosed teen.
"Needle, Sanji!" Zeff asked, making Sanji move fast. He started sterilizing the wound. He was not sure why he was doing this, but he knew that he shouldn't let the green-haired teen die. After all, he was recognized by Mihawk. Moreover, the pirates outside would be tackled soon and he had time till they plan their next move, which was barely 5 minutes.
"Here," Sanji passed him the needle.
"Cut a fish," Zeff stated, making Sanji follow it without a question.
"Why fish?" Usopp asked curiously, looking at Zeff's hands as they pierced Zoro's chest, in the process closing and stitching the wound.
"Fish skin is good for stomach wounds, an old seaman technique," Zeff said not looking at the others. He could feel the eyes of the mysterious kid on him, watching his each step carefully. He ignored it and started layering the fish skin on the green-haired man's chest. Mihawk sure has spared the life of the boy by an inch.
"Bandages," Zeff announced making Johnny and Yosaku who had disappeared when Usopp went to get alcohol come back with bandages.
Luffy watched everything as Zeff bandaged Zoro. He could feel Zoro's aura stabilizing from before, meaning that he indeed was out of the danger zone. He felt a smile grow up on his face as he saw Zoro breathing softly, as if he was never hurt.
"When will he be up?" Luffy asked, not averting his eyes from Zoro. The World seemed to spin around him, yet Luffy held his ground.
"I don't know but let's hope it's soon," Zeff replied honestly.
"It's Zoro we are taking about," Usopp said in a low voice.
"That dumbass is gonna be fine," Nami said half heartedly. She didn't want Luffy to look sad and Zoro wouldn't like it either. Nami saw Luffy give her a small smile, but the thing which was worrying Nami was that Luffy was paling. The slight concern in the eyes of Usopp showed that he had seen it too.
"We need to get him some sake and he'll be up as new!" Luffy said, making Zeff instatnly reply, "That is not how these work."
"We won't know until we tr-" Luffy stumbled and fell forward directly on Usopp who was standing ahead of him.
"Luffy!" Nami and Usopp yelled at once, seeing Luffy's condition.
"You ok, brat?" Zeff asked with a raised eyebrow. The brat was not looking any well.
"I'm fine, old man!" Luffy said snapping himself out of the dizziness he was feeling. He shouldn't have used the lightnings. But for fuck's sake he can't control it any well yet. He gritted his teeth and stood on his legs.
"Owner Zeff!" A cook came rushing in. "They are starting!'
"So, they are finally ready," Sanji said, pushing his hands in his pockets. "Stay here and rest," Sanji said particularly to Luffy, who looked ready to fight.
"No way!" Luffy said cracking his muscles. "I'm all in for it."
"But Luffy-"
Nami and Usopp got cut off when Luffy interrupted them.
"Nami, Usopp," Luffy said walking towards Sanji. "Take care of Zoro for me."
He gave them a small smile, leaving no arguments from both of them. He knew Nami wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. But he needs to finish this fight even if it's not his. Zoro needs rest, which he can either get here or on his ship when it sets sail, which will only happen when Sanji joins them. And Merry needs to be protected, he can't let the pirates have their home.
Luffy turned towards the old man and said, "Hey old man! If I chase them away, can I have Sanji as my cook?"
"I am not a bargaining chip, you damn brat!" Sanji yelled at the kid, who just gave him a sheepish smile. He didn't look pale or weak at all as he had felt just a moment ago.
"Do whatever you want," Zeff grumbled, but Luffy could tell that the man was happy with that.