The Whitebeard Pirates, led by Edward Newgate, also known as "Whitebeard," were recognized as the most powerful pirate crew in the world. Whitebeard himself wielded the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, making him one of the most feared pirates alive.
At this point in time, the Whitebeard Pirates were considered the strongest in the world. Takumi recalled that their flagship was a massive ship with a whale figurehead. But the vessel currently approaching the Baratie was much smaller, a light sailing ship. This meant that only a part of Whitebeard's crew had arrived—likely one of his commanders.
The question was, which commander had shown up?
Takumi didn't dwell on it and quickly headed downstairs to the restaurant.
When he arrived, the place was eerily silent. The customers who had been dining moments ago had all fled in a panic. Zeff stood with a few of his chefs, facing off against Don Krieg and his gang.
Behind Krieg were his lackeys, along with the woman who had threatened Sanji the day before. Just as Takumi had expected, Krieg recognized Zeff immediately, his eyes widening in shock.
"It's you! You're the legendary pirate captain-turned-chef, 'Red-Leg' Zeff! I heard you died in a shipwreck, but it looks like you're still alive!"
Zeff narrowed his eyes and sneered, "And what if I am? It doesn't concern you. I'm just a cook now, trying to make a living."
Krieg was momentarily taken aback, then burst into laughter. With his already monkey-like face, his laughter made him look even more ridiculous.
"Ha! You say you're just a cook, but it's more like you have no other choice now," Krieg mocked, his eyes locking onto Zeff's prosthetic leg. "If you were still whole, I might have worried, but now that you're missing a leg, you're no threat to me."
"And what of it?" Zeff retorted calmly. "I'm no longer a pirate. Besides, I still have these hands. Just say what you came here to say."
Krieg grinned wickedly. "Red-Leg Zeff, you're a man who sailed the Grand Line and returned alive. You must have kept a log of your entire voyage. Hand it over, and I'll let you all go."
"Hmph!" Zeff snorted. "I do have a log, but I can't give it to you. That log is a testament to the pride of all my former crewmates. Giving it to you would dishonor their memory."
Krieg's expression darkened as he clenched his fist. "If that's how it is, then I'll just take it by force!"
Just as he finished speaking, a relaxed voice came from the entrance of the restaurant.
"Well, well, I was hoping to have dinner at this sea restaurant, but it seems we've come at a bad time."
A tall, lean man with spiky blonde hair, a dagger at his waist, and a tattoo of the Whitebeard Pirates on his chest stepped through the door with a few crewmates.
Takumi instantly recognized him. It was Marco the Phoenix.
In the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco was the undisputed second-in-command.
Krieg turned around, annoyed by the interruption, but his expression froze when he saw the tattoo on Marco's chest. That symbol... it looked familiar...
"Hey! Can't you see our boss is here?" One of Krieg's henchmen barked at Marco and his group. "Forget about dinner and get lost!"
"Watch your mouth! Do you even know who our captain is?" one of Marco's crewmates snapped back, ready to argue, but Marco raised a hand to stop him.
"Easy, No need to waste your breath on people who don't know better," Marco said, rubbing his chin with a smirk. "I don't think anyone's told me to get lost in over a decade."
"You're too kind, Captain. Let us handle these punks," one of Krieg's men sneered as he rallied his companions to surround Marco and his crew.
At that moment, Zeff chuckled softly.
Krieg, frowning, demanded, "What are you laughing at?"
Zeff replied with a mocking tone, "I'm just impressed that the most notorious pirate crew in the East Blue is foolish enough to pick a fight with the Whitebeard Pirates."
"What? Whitebeard?" Krieg finally recognized the tattoo—Whitebeard's emblem.
This was bad. He wasn't in any position to provoke Whitebeard's crew right now!
"Everyone, stop!" Krieg shouted at his men.
But it was too late.
Krieg's crew had already brandished their weapons and charged at Marco and his comrades.
"You lot are really something, bullying folks on empty stomachs," Marco said, unflustered. His men, all smirking, cracked their knuckles, eager for a fight.
Marco turned to Zeff and said casually, "Our guys are hungry. Could you prepare dinner for fifteen, please?"
Zeff smiled and nodded. "Of course, no problem. Just don't wreck my restaurant during the brawl."
"Got it. We'll take them outside," Marco replied with a grin.
Zeff nodded again and headed for the kitchen.
One of the chefs, worried, asked, "Boss, are you sure it's okay? Krieg has fifteen ships under his command."
"No worries. The Whitebeard Pirates are incredibly strong, and this time, the second-in-command himself is here—Marco the Phoenix. Taking down Don Krieg will be a breeze."
With that, Zeff made his way up the spiral staircase.
When he spotted Takumi standing nearby, he chuckled again, "Hey, kid, you haven't had dinner yet, have you?"
Takumi glanced at him and nodded.
"Keep an eye on things here, and dinner's on me," Zeff offered.
"I can pay for my meal," Takumi replied.
"I'll throw in a bottle of good wine," Zeff countered.
"Deal," Takumi agreed.
"Haha," Zeff laughed as he continued up the stairs.
Outside, Marco and his crew had allowed Krieg's men to push them back until they were outside the restaurant. Only then did they start fighting back, sending Krieg's underlings flying into the sea one by one.
Krieg, unable to stop his men in time, arrived just as they were all defeated, trembling with rage.
The woman at his side was shaking uncontrollably. "Honey, what do we do? They seem really strong."
"Shut up!" Krieg snarled at her, making her shrink back in fear.
Marco smiled calmly. "Scaring women? Really? So, you're the captain of that big ship outside. How about this: why don't you take your men and leave peacefully?"
As soon as Marco finished speaking, his men burst into laughter.
Krieg, seething, ripped off his coat to reveal golden armor underneath. "Don't think just because you're with the Whitebeard Pirates that I'm scared of you. You've only been to the Grand Line before me. I'm loaded with weapons, and I'll wipe you out with ease!"
"Ha, so you haven't been to the Grand Line yet," Marco mused with a grin. "Let's see if your bite is as big as your bark. Come on, show me what you've got."
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