"Boss Zeff! I'm really grateful for all your care! I will never forget your kindness!" Sanji said as he knelt, bidding a tearful farewell to Zeff and the other chefs. Though reluctant to see him go, the chefs encouraged Sanji to pursue his dream.
As Clover returned, he saw Sanji saying his goodbyes. "Hey, Clover, you're back!" Luffy greeted as Clover leapt onto the ship.
"Yeah. What's going on? Were you planning to leave me behind?" Clover asked, looking at Luffy.
"Haha, no way!" Luffy laughed, patting Clover on the back.
"Something serious happened with Nami, and we need to get there quickly," said Johnny, standing nearby. He, along with Usopp, Zoro, and Joseph, had initially gone to investigate, but Joseph had returned to report back.
"I see." Clover nodded.
Joseph looked Clover up and down, surprised by his unscathed appearance. "Did you… win?"
"Eh, something happened, so we didn't really fight," Clover replied, nonchalant.
"Figured," Joseph muttered, nodding in agreement.
After saying goodbye to the Baratie, Luffy and his crew, now joined by Sanji, set off towards Nami's hometown, Cocoyashi Village. Sanji, always considerate, had prepared lunch for Clover, who hadn't eaten.
"Is the Grand Line over there?" Luffy shouted from the back of the ship, running excitedly to the front. "Or is it this way?!"
"You're so noisy," Sanji said, leaning against the boat's edge.
"Sorry, sorry! But now that we have a cook, once we rescue Nami, we can finally set sail for the Grand Line!" Luffy yelled excitedly.
"Miss Nami... just thinking about her beauty makes my heart race. I can't wait to see her again," Sanji swooned, his tone soft and dreamy.
"Why are you blushing? Nami is mine," Clover said, munching on his meal.
"What did you say!?" Sanji shouted, furious. "Don't eat my food anymore, you jerk!"
"Doesn't matter. I can cook just as well as you," Clover replied, although he continued eating Sanji's food with no shame.
"Joseph, are we almost there?" Luffy asked, sitting at the front of the boat.
"We're getting closer," Joseph said seriously. "We're approaching Arlong's territory step by step. Nami's been working hard against him."
"Nami's probably planning to kill Arlong and claim his 20 million beli bounty," Joseph speculated.
"You're overestimating her," Clover said, heading to the kitchen to wash his plate. "The most she's capable of is stealing things."
Luffy, ignoring the conversation, asked Sanji, "Isn't it time to eat?"
"You're hungry again?!" Sanji exclaimed, exasperated.
"Aren't you worried about Arlong?" Joseph asked, frustrated with their lack of concern.
"Who's Arlong?" Sanji asked, completely uninterested.
"I don't know," Luffy said casually.
Left with no choice, Joseph explained Arlong's identity as a Fishman and recounted the horrors of his rule. He also mentioned the Seven Warlords of the Sea, including Mihawk and Jinbei. Despite his efforts, neither Luffy nor Sanji paid attention.
Meanwhile, Nami had returned to Arlong Park. Zoro had been taken there by mistake, Usopp was with Nami's sister, Nojiko, and Johnny was still lurking in the shadows.
As for Clover's side, things were much more relaxed. Luffy, Joseph, and Sanji were eating, while Clover lounged on the deck, soaking up the sun.
But peace never lasted long.
While Luffy and Joseph were wrestling, the sea suddenly swelled, and a massive creature emerged from the water. It looked like a combination of a fish and a cow. It was Momoo, Arlong's pet.
"Ahhh!!!" Joseph screamed in terror.
"What is this?" Luffy asked, looking up at the enormous creature, which was many times larger than their ship.
"It's Leviathan!" Joseph shouted, petrified.
"It's a giant cow!" Luffy leaned closer, fascinated.
"A cow? That's a hippo," Sanji corrected.
"This thing shouldn't be in the East Blue! It's from the Grand Line!" Joseph cried in panic.
"What does it want?" Clover jumped down from the cabin, looking up at Momoo. The creature's eyes were locked on the food spread across the table.
"He's after the food!" Joseph yelled. "Give it to him, or he'll capsize the boat!"
"Nani? Gomu Gomu no… Pistol!" Without hesitation, Luffy punched Momoo, sending it flying. "Don't steal my food!"
"Well done, Luffy!" Joseph cheered, his attitude quickly shifting.
Enraged, Momoo charged back at the ship, intent on overturning it.
"I could use a towboat. You'll do the job," Clover said, leaping into the air and kicking Momoo on the head. A large bump swelled on Momoo's head as it tried to resist, but Clover gave it another beating.
Momoo finally surrendered. Clover tied it up with a rope, and the sea creature became their new boat-puller, speeding up their journey.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the New World…
A red ship pulled by two massive serpents sailed through the sea. Onboard, a pair of long white legs and an impossibly perfect figure stood at the forefront. It was the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock.
"Ah~ The more I think about him, the more I like him. I have to find him quickly~" she cooed, her beauty radiating even more as her eyes sparkled.
"Sister, we've been searching for him for a long time, but there's been no word at all," one of her sisters said.
"Yeah, after causing such a scene, he's probably gone into hiding," the other sister added, both of them completely different in stature compared to Hancock.