Kuroda Hayate dragged his battered body to the entrance of a lively restaurant, gripping the doorknob with one hand. As he glanced around, he saw that the spacious restaurant had only one occupied table. At that table sat a woman with her delicate legs propped up, rapidly shoveling food into her mouth from a table overflowing with dishes. Beside her slim frame were stacks of empty plates, and her ravenous, unapologetically messy eating left Hayate feeling a little speechless.
"More food! Bring me more food! This isn't even enough to get stuck between my teeth!" she shouted, her ample chest bouncing as she stomped her red leather shoes on the table. Biting into a massive turkey leg, she barked impatiently, "Hey, boss! Hurry it up! Last time it took forever! I want pizza now!"
In the kitchen, the flustered restaurant owner was drenched in sweat, frantically directing five chefs to keep cooking. He shouted back, "Joelle Bonney! It's almost ready!"
Hayate limped over to the woman and calmly sat across from her. Immediately, a few rugged men dressed in rough cowboy-style clothes glared at him, clearly irritated. One of them barked, "Hey! This restaurant is reserved by the Bonney Pirates. If you want to eat, go somewhere else—or else!"
Bonney paused mid-bite, flipped her long, straight pink hair, and looked up, her face puffed from the pizza in her mouth. She stared in mild surprise and said, "Kuroda Hayate? What are you doing here? I thought you were too proud to ask for my help."
Without a word, Hayate slid a napkin across the table to her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Heh. Have you eaten enough? I've got a few questions."
Bonney took the napkin without hesitation, wiped her mouth casually, and tossed it aside. Then she rubbed her still-flat stomach, kicked all the plates and food off the table, let out a burp, and sighed, "Whatever. I'm not totally full, but I'm done for now. Everyone out—I want to talk to this handsome guy."
Her crew stared at her in disbelief. Normally, Captain Bonney would eat nonstop for hours. But now she was cutting her feast short? Just because this man showed up?
Noticing their stunned expressions, Bonney's face darkened. "Out! Head back to the base and take the owner and chef with you. I want them to make me a proper meal later—this was just a warm-up."
The pirates nodded stiffly, still in disbelief, and dragged the restaurant staff out. Bonney turned her attention back to Hayate, smiling mischievously. "Alright, mysterious man. What do you want from me?"
Hayate met her gaze and asked bluntly, "What do you know about the Kid Pirates?"
Bonney blinked. "The Kid Pirates? Don't tell me… you already ran into those maniacs? You didn't mess with them, did you?"
A shadow crossed her face. "They're the most brutal pirate crew in the South Blue. Not the strongest—that title obviously belongs to me, Captain Bonney of the Bonney Pirates! Hahaha!"
Hayate chuckled softly. "Brutal, huh? Do you know their captain, Kid? He has some kind of strange ability… he can magnetize and absorb all metal around him, forming massive weapons out of it."
"That's because of his Devil Fruit power," Bonney explained. Then she suddenly froze, her face going pale as she stared at Hayate's wounds. "Wait… You fought Kid?!"
Hayate gave a slight nod. Bonney nearly jumped out of her seat. "WHAT?! And you're still alive? That's insane! You've got some serious luck! You're in big trouble now though… hey, join my crew. I'll protect you! You already turned me down once—do you know you're the only guy who's ever rejected my offer? If you weren't so good-looking, I wouldn't bother asking again!"
Hayate ignored the offer and asked, "Devil Fruit? What is that?"
Though Hayate lived in the 21st century and knew of "One Piece" as a classic manga, the real-world mechanics of Devil Fruits were still a mystery to him.
Bonney stared at him as if he had grown a second head. "You really aren't from this world, are you? You don't even know about Devil Fruits?!"
Sighing dramatically, she leaned back and explained, "Devil Fruits are called the Sea's Secret Treasure. Each one sells for at least 100 million Berries. Anyone who eats one gains unique powers… I'm a Devil Fruit user myself, but I'm not telling you what my ability is."
Hayate raised his eyebrows. "That valuable, huh? How can I get one? I need money—badly."
Bonney scoffed. "Hah! You think it's that easy? Devil Fruits are scattered across the world. But what, are you looking to become a fruit user yourself?"
"If it's powerful enough, maybe I'll consider it," Hayate mused. "Something like invisibility would be nice—great for sneaking peeks at girls in the bath. Or maybe a lust-inducing power, so women fall for me instantly…"
"Ugh, shut up!" Bonney smacked him on the head. Hayate winced and rubbed the sore spot while giving her a wounded look.
She yanked his face closer and growled, "Seriously?! You survived Kid's wrath just to go full pervert? You think you're some kind of hero? You're lucky to be breathing! Even his top fighter, Killer, could wipe the floor with you. And you… what good are you?"
But Hayate just smiled and stayed silent. The once-deadly assassin now looked and acted like an ordinary man, teasing the woman in front of him with a carefree ease, no trace of his killing intent left.
Bonney looked at him for a moment and then said more seriously, "Fine. Someone like you, without much strength, could really benefit from a Devil Fruit. But there's a heavy price."
Hayate tilted his head. "Huh?"
Bonney sighed, her tone more somber. "Once you eat a Devil Fruit, you lose the ability to swim. Forever. The ocean itself rejects you. You'll be what we call a 'hammer'—a dead weight in the sea for the rest of your life."