The journey to the Baratie was uneventful, except for the numerous parties Kaya's parents threw for her in a single day. However, they had toned it down by the time the restaurant came into view. Carina, smirking, pointed out that the ship resembled a giant fish.
"Wow... Nami-chan, is that restaurant any good? Are the chefs skilled, or is it just famous for being a place that serves everyone? Aren't they scared of pirates?"
Carina inquired with curiosity as Pearl approached the port.
"The chefs are renowned for fending off troublemakers. They also uphold a high standard of cooking. I haven't visited, but from what I've heard, they take their cooking very seriously."
Nami responded.
"They're not afraid of pirates because they were once pirates themselves."
Hector interjected, surprising the girls with this revelation.
"Some things never change,"
he remarked as Pearl docked beside the restaurant. He noticed Lion disembarking with the 13 orphans he had adopted as his pets since their time in Syrup Village. Leo was ecstatic about the Baratie, like a child hyped on sugar.
Hector proceeded calmly, with the girls following in silence. Inside, on the lower deck where the main dining area was, the ambiance was vibrant. Tables overflowed with food, drinks, and seafood, as patrons joyfully dined and engaged in various conversations.
"Did you hear about the new pirate?"
"Hector, wasn't it? I can't believe he defeated Arlong! What kind of monster is he?"
A nobleman's voice trembled with fear and urgency.
"The seas are more perilous than ever; I must return to my kingdom as soon as possible."
The man reassured his noble-looking companion
"Don't worry, master. According to the newspaper, that vile pirate is heading to Loguetown. It's impossible for us to cross paths with him here, hahaha."
His words seemed to alleviate the master's stress.
"You're right, yet other pirates still roam these perilous seas."
The lesser nobleman's eyes gleamed with resolve. Seizing the moment to boast, he declared.
"Fear not, Master Hues! Should Hector the Black himself appear, I shall slay him with a single shot and safeguard you!"
His proclamation, loud and clear, earned him the admiration of onlookers. His attire marked him as a noble from a prosperous land. Master Hues, however, regarded him with a cool detachment, poised to chide him for his bravado.
At that moment, the creak of the restaurant door heralded the entrance of several figures and a colossal lion, their steps silent yet commanding.
"Hahaha!"
"So, you claim you'd fell me in one strike?"
Hector's laughter filled the room as he eyed the nobleman, whose complexion paled at the sight of Hector's towering 3.5-meter stature.
His lover smirked; to them, the man was as good as dead. Even if Hector spared him, they would ensure his demise.
"Boasting to impress a lady is your affair, but leave my name out of your attempts to dazzle a man,"
Hector intoned with a threatening edge.
"T-this... He's Hector the Black!"
A patron's voice trembled with fear as he uttered the name, inciting panic and screams. Yet, with a simple gesture, Hector quelled the chaos.
"Please everyone act as if I'm not here. Continue your meal. As for you two, you have until the count of one hundred to vanish from my sight!"
He commanded, his voice carrying an enigmatic allure that left no room for disobedience. The commotion died down as swiftly as it had arisen.
"One."
Hector initiated the countdown. Zeff the owner, sported an impressive mustache that was accompanied by a beard. On his head rested a chef's hat that almost reached all the way to the ceiling of the room, as though to make a point that the person wearing it was a chef. The most noticeable feature was that his right leg ended in a stump just below the knee and a wooden peg leg was attached to it.
He made his way to the lower deck, eyes narrowing in suspicion as he murmured to himself.
"What monstrosity has entered here!"
"Two!"
"It was a mere misunderstanding, sir! I assure you, it wasn't about you!"
The lesser nobleman stammered, suddenly kneeling and pressing his forehead to the ground, pleading for mercy.
"Three!"
Hues stood petrified and shaking, Hector's piercing gaze seeming to wring his very soul, his breathing rapid with the onset of panic.
"Four!"
"We must depart at once, you imbecile; you've imperiled us both."
Declared the high nobleman, exiting the restaurant hastily.
"W-What?"
The lesser nobleman uttered, trailing behind his superior.
"Six!"
A hush fell over the restaurant hall, Hectors commanded to remain seated and dine, were motionless. Outside, he continued his ominous countdown, eyeing the departing ship from the Baratie.
"Twenty-three!"
Hector unsheathed Yubashiri, examining the blade carefully.
"Sixty-five!"
As his count neared its end, he noticed the ship hadn't made much distance.
"Eighty-nine!"
Grasping Yubashiri firmly with both hands, he lifted it skyward.
"Ninety-nine!"
"One hundred."
The tension inside the restaurant peaked as the countdown concluded. Slashing Yubashiri downward, Hector unleashed a colossal energy slash that cleaved the sea itself in two, bisecting the fleeing ship. As the divided ocean waters crashed back together, they swallowed the vessel whole, leaving no trace.
As Hector performed Moses' final miracle, he re-entered the Baratie seeing the frightened faces of everyone except his crew.
"Cough."
"Does Mr. Hector have any requests?"
Zeff, drawing on his experience, perceived no malice in Hector's visit and thus chose to treat him as a regular patron.
"Oh... look who we have here, Black Leg Zeff."
Zeff was taken aback that Hector recognized him, but he composed himself, considering his own strength and bounty.
"It appears Mr. Hector knows of me... But I'm merely an old man now, having chosen to spend my remaining days in this tranquil sea."
Ren nodded in agreement with Zeff's words.
"A wise choice, indeed; the seas are tumultuous lately."
"Has Mr. Hector ventured to the Grand Line before?"
Zeff posed a daring question. Upon hearing this, the onlookers perked up, and even the women of his crew leaned in, eager for his response.
"Indeed, I have; I hail from the New World. Come to think of it, it's been some time since I last called Pops."
"This..."
The crowd was befuddled by his reply, but Zeff, judiciously, refrained from probing further to avoid agitating Hector. What followed was Hector extracting a Den Den Mushi and initiating a video call.
Puru puru puru puru puru...Puru puru puru puru puru
The Den Den Mushi's ringtone echoed until it was answered.
"Hello, who's this yoi?"
Marco's distinctive voice and visage broadened Hector's grin.
"Is that your greeting after such a long absence?"
Hector inquired, his voice quivering slightly, more from exhilaration than sentiment. A pause ensued on the line as the snail's gaze widened in recognition of Hector.
"Little Hector, that you where's Leo yoi?"
Marco inquired, just to be certain, and Leo responded with his characteristic lazy roar.
"Where's Pops?"
He questioned his brother, who chuckled in response.
"What am I, not good enough for you, you brat yoi?"
Marco teased, eliciting a mock pout from Luffy.
"Of course you are; I just need to speak with him, that's all."
There was a rustling sound on the other end, indicating to Hector that Marco was hastily searching for Whitebeard and anyone else available for a chat.
"Why didn't you call sooner? We were worried when your Vivre card almost burned out yoi."
Marco chided, sounding a bit upset.
"Hehehe! I forgot. But I'm all healed up and healthy now, I even grew a few meters."
Hector boasted, laughing at Marco's irritation and showing off his new stature and physique.
"Where are you, and what happened?"
Thatch interjected, pushing Marco aside.
"I'm at the Baratie; I might have stirred up some chaos in the East Blue."
Hector admitted with a giggle, causing his brothers to sigh.
"So you're at Zeff's place. He probably reminded you to call, didn't he yoi?"
Marco speculated, making Hector appear uneasy.
"So, you aren't trying to keep tabs on me?"
Hector queried, and Thatch burst into laughter.
"Nope, this time it was me. What kind of trouble have you gotten into this time?"
Thatch inquired, to which Hector responded with a chuckle.
"I'm not in trouble!"
He wasn't in trouble, at least not currently, since the Rear Admirals were involved.
"Yet, brat, you're not in trouble yet."
Someone called out in the background.
"Hey Pops, you didn't send anyone to surprise me with a visit, did you?"
Hector inquired, aware that they were near Whitebeard's chair.
"No, my son, we respect your wish to undertake this alone."
Came the reply.
He nodded, understanding that Pops valued freedom as much as he did.
"There's someone familiar approaching me, but I can't identify who it is."
Hector had a knack for discerning his feelings about people. Growing up in the New World, he learned to view anyone not family as a potential foe. This intuition had kept him relatively safe during his upbringing, despite his frailty.
"Stay safe and make sure to eat well, Hector."
Thatch advised, with Marco expressing his agreement with a nod.
RACE: Human■■■■■■
NAME: Hector Barbossa■■■■■■
Level: 48
Health Points: 30,200
Mana Points: 26,520
Stamina Points: 15,100
Attunement: 1,327
Vitality: 756
Endurance: 756
Strength: 1,256
Dexterity: 1,361
Perception: 756
Skill: 756
Safe Rewards From Daily Quest:
+Stat Points: 50
+Skill Points: 9
+Status Recovery: 1
Skill Tree:
+Haki:
-Observation Haki: A Rank
-Armament Haki: A Rank
-Conquers Haki: EX Rank
+Rokushiki
-Moon Step: S- Rank
-Iron Body: S Rank
-Tempest Kick: S+ Rank
-Shave: S+ Rank
-Finger Pistol: S Rank
-Kami-e: S- Rank