Then everything unraveled fast.
The massive, battered ship finally drifted close enough to Baratie that everyone could clearly see the figures on its deck.
They weren't standing proud.
They were collapsing.
Men in torn armor slumped against railings, some crawling, some barely conscious. Their once-feared weapons lay abandoned at their feet. The terror of Don Krieg's name clashed violently with the pitiful sight before everyone's eyes.
A plank was lowered.
From it staggered a tall man in cracked golden armor—Don Krieg himself.
The "Man of a Thousand Weapons" looked nothing like the monster of rumors. His face was sunken, lips dry and trembling, eyes bloodshot and hollow. Every step looked like it might be his last.
Beside him stood Gin—his most loyal commander.
Gin was worse.
His bandana was soaked with sweat, his body shaking uncontrollably. He supported Krieg with one arm, though he himself looked ready to collapse. His usual calm, ruthless expression was gone, replaced with desperation.
They reached the edge of Baratie's deck.
And then—
Don Krieg fell to his knees.
The sound echoed like a gunshot.
"F… food…" Krieg croaked, his voice hoarse and broken.
"Just… give us food…"
Gin followed, kneeling as well, his head pressed to the floor.
"Please," Gin said, teeth clenched, pride shredded. "We haven't eaten in days. If you don't help him… Captain Krieg will die."
Silence.
The diners, the cooks, the pirates—everyone froze.
This was Don Krieg.
A man who slaughtered crews without mercy.
And now he was begging.
Fear surged immediately.
"DON'T DO IT!" "THEY'RE LYING!" "IT'S A TRAP—!" "They'll kill us once they recover!"
Cooks shouted. Diners backed away. Some reached for weapons. Panic spread like wildfire.
Even Zeff's crew tensed.
But then—
A chair scraped against the floor.
Sanji stood up.
He walked past the shouting, past the fear, past the hatred, carrying a plate.
Steam rose from it.
He knelt down in front of Krieg and Gin and placed the food between them.
"Eat," Sanji said calmly.
Everyone exploded.
"ARE YOU INSANE?!" "SANJI—!" "THEY'RE PIRATES!" "THEY'LL BETRAY US!"
Zeff turned sharply. "SANJI!"
But Sanji didn't look back.
His eyes were steady.
"A starving man is the same anywhere," Sanji said quietly. "On land or at sea. Pirate or not."
Gin stared at the plate like it was a miracle.
His hands trembled violently as he reached for the food. He hesitated—then grabbed it, shoving it into his mouth, tears spilling down his face as he chewed.
Krieg followed, devouring the meal with shaking hands, pride completely gone.
The deck was silent again—but this time, it wasn't fear.
It was disbelief.
And among those watching…
Luffy.
He had stopped eating.
Stopped talking.
Stopped laughing.
He watched Sanji carefully—how he didn't hesitate, how he didn't flinch, how he fed enemies without a second thought.
Luffy's eyes slowly widened.
Then his mouth stretched into a huge grin.
This guy…
He's amazing.
Sanji wasn't strong like Zoro.
He wasn't weird like Usopp.
He wasn't greedy like Nami.
But right then—
Sanji looked more like a pirate than anyone else on that ship.
Luffy crossed his arms, nodding to himself.
Yeah…
I want this guy.
Right there, watching Sanji feed starving enemies while the world screamed at him not to—
Luffy made up his mind.
No matter what happened next…
Sanji was going to be part of his crew.
Then, after Krieg and Gin had finally eaten their fill, the atmosphere shifted again.
Gin slammed his fist onto the deck and turned sharply toward Sanji.
"DON'T DO THIS!" Gin shouted, his voice cracking. "Captain Krieg—he's not the kind of man you should save! We'll only bring trouble to this place!"
Sanji looked down at him, cigarette trembling slightly between his fingers. "I didn't save you because you deserved it," he said quietly. "I fed you because you were starving. That's all."
Gin clenched his teeth, shaking. "You don't understand—"
But Don Krieg laughed.
A low, hoarse laugh that slowly grew louder.
"Hah… hahahaha…"
Everyone stiffened.
Krieg slowly rose to his feet, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. The pitiful, broken man from moments ago seemed to vanish, replaced by something cold and calculating.
"Enough, Gin," Krieg said. "Begging time is over."
Gin froze. "Captain…?"
Krieg turned toward the cooks of Baratie, his eyes sharp now, filled with greed instead of hunger.
"I want food," Krieg said plainly. "For my entire crew."
The deck erupted again.
"WHAT?!" "NO WAY!" "GET OUT OF HERE!" "YOU'VE GOT SOME NERVE!"
The chefs shouted, anger and fear mixing together. Some grabbed knives. Others backed away.
Zeff stepped forward.
The sound of his peg leg hitting the deck was heavy and deliberate.
"So," Zeff said calmly, locking eyes with Krieg, "you're Don Krieg."
Krieg's eyes narrowed. Then he smiled.
"Red-Leg Zeff," Krieg said, recognizing him instantly. "The legendary cook who survived the Grand Line."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Krieg spread his arms slightly. "How about it, old man? You know better than anyone—starving men don't survive the sea."
The chefs looked at Zeff, waiting.
Zeff stood silent for a long moment.
Then he turned around.
"Prepare food," Zeff said firmly.
"What?!" several chefs shouted in unison.
"Zeff!" Sanji snapped. "You can't—!"
"I said prepare food," Zeff repeated, his voice leaving no room for argument.
The kitchen moved.
Plates were filled. Bread, soup, meat—everything Baratie could spare was packed quickly into large bags. No one spoke, but tension hung thick in the air.
Krieg watched with a wide grin.
Once the bags were ready, Krieg hoisted them onto his shoulder, laughing.
"Hah! You really are a soft-hearted idiot, Red-Leg."
He turned to leave, then stopped.
"Oh," Krieg added casually, glancing back over his shoulder, "one more thing."
The deck fell silent.
"Give me your log pose," Krieg said. "And this ship."
Zeff's eyes darkened.
Krieg's grin twisted into something cruel. "Or I'll come back and slaughter every last one of you."
"Hahahahaha!"
Gin—still kneeling—looked up in horror. "Captain, stop—!"
But Krieg was already walking away, laughing loudly, his voice echoing across the sea as his crew applauded weakly from their ruined ship.
"Hahahaha! The sea belongs to the strong!"
The plank slammed shut behind him.
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Sanji stared at the horizon, fists shaking.
Zeff exhaled slowly, his jaw tight.
And Luffy—
Luffy's grin faded.
For the first time since arriving at Baratie, his eyes sharpened.
"That guy…" Luffy muttered.
The storm hadn't passed.
It had only just begun.
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To be continued