"Please enjoy, sir! These are our restaurant's signature dishes!" Patty shouted with a wide grin.
Kennard scanned the dishes before picking up his chopsticks to sample each one.
"How is it, sir? Our signature dishes definitely won't disappoint. It's just that they're a bit pricey. I wonder if you've brought enough money?"
Patty said, his face full of smiles.
"Not bad. They are indeed high-quality delicacies."
Kennard set down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and gave an interested smile. "As for bringing money? Why would I bring money?"
Swish!!
In an instant, Patty's expression changed. It was as if he didn't care at all that the other party was a vicious pirate. He said viciously, "No money? What did you come here for if you don't have money? Don't you know this establishment refuses paupers!"
Toward the wealthy, he could be all smiles and provide the best service.
But toward paupers, he wouldn't show a good face. If the opponent hadn't been a notoriously fierce pirate, he would have picked up a broom and chased them out by now.
"How dare you speak to the Captain like that? Do you want to die!"
At that moment, the pirates who had been guarding the door swarmed in, staring at Patty with menacing faces, looking ready to kill him if another word was out of place.
Clatter!!
Seeing this, the chefs upstairs immediately grabbed their gear and rushed downstairs, standing by Patty's side to confront the pirates.
Throughout the entire process, Kennard sat calmly in his chair, looking perfectly composed.
Once the two sides began their standoff, he finally spoke at a leisurely pace. "The food you made suits my palate very well. Excellent."
"Since that's the case, I declare that from now on, your people, including this ship and everything on it, belong to me."
He scanned Patty and the others with a playful smile.
"What?! What the hell are you saying?!"
The chefs' expressions changed as they gripped their weapons tighter.
"Hey, hey, hey. Before you say something like that, shouldn't you ask for my opinion first?"
Just then, a voice came from the second floor. Kennard looked up nonchalantly, but his pupils suddenly constricted.
"You're... Red-Leg Zeff?"
He seemed somewhat surprised. For someone his age, Red-Leg Zeff was considered a senior predecessor, and it was rumored that he had once ventured into the Grand Line with quite formidable strength.
"I didn't expect anyone to still recognize me," Zeff admitted his identity.
"Since that's the case, put away your schemes and leave my restaurant. I'll consider this meal on the house."
Kennard narrowed his eyes, carefully scrutinizing the senior he had only heard about in rumors.
After a few seconds, he sneered. "I wondered why the famous Red-Leg Zeff would humble himself here as a restaurant owner. It turns out your pride and joy, your right leg, is gone."
"Without your right leg, are you still the Red-Leg who once struck terror into people's hearts?"
Zeff's face showed no emotion. Stroking his mustache, he said, "You can try me. But before that, I want to know, what is your purpose in wanting our ship and everyone on it?"
In the past, it wasn't unheard of for pirates to come here and cause trouble, but they either wanted to eat for free or steal money. No one had ever demanded the people themselves.
Kennard stood up, the corners of his mouth curling as he spread his arms. "The purpose? Naturally, it's to monopolize the best restaurant in the entire East Blue! I want all of you to cook only for the Blood Demon Pirates from now on. Other people aren't worthy of enjoying such gourmet food!"
He, Blood Demon, didn't have massive ambitions; he only wanted to dominate the East Blue and live like a local tyrant.
As such, whether it was women, gourmet food, or any other luxury, the Blood Demon Pirates demanded the best the East Blue had to offer!
"So that's your goal. But unfortunately, I won't agree to that idea," Zeff said, looking directly at him.
"As chefs, everyone is a potential guest. We won't cook only for a specific group."
Patty and the other chefs followed up with loud agreement. "That's right! We won't agree to that! Get lost already!"
"If you want to eat our food, pay up like everyone else, or there's no way!"
Kennard's face gradually darkened. "It seems I was too easy on you before, making you forget the might of the Blood Demon Pirates."
"Kalen!" he shouted.
"Captain, I'm here!" From among the pirate lackeys behind him, a burly giant stepped forward. He carried a short-handled hammer on his shoulder that was as wide as three human heads, a terrifying sight.
"Teach them a lesson. Let them know the power of the Blood Demon Pirates!"
"Yes! Captain!"
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
As Kalen walked onto the floor, everyone felt a slight vibration under their feet.
"Hey, hey, hey, can we even beat a guy like that?"
Looking at Kalen, who was the size of three or four of himself, and that exaggeratedly large hammer on his shoulder, one chef couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.
"What are you afraid of? How can we lose when there are so many of us?" Although Patty's heart was also trembling, he didn't show it on his face, instead looking ready to fight for his life.
Just as they were preparing to rush forward and battle the opponent, a black figure flipped down from the second floor.
"Leave this to me. As the sous chef, I won't allow outsiders to lay a finger on this place."
Sanji clicked his lighter and lit a cigarette, the smoke he exhaled gradually dispersing in front of him.
"Tagging in? No matter. I'll show anyone plenty of 'affection,' regardless of who they are."
Kalen walked up to Sanji with a cruel grin, looking down at him.
A second later, the massive hammer on his shoulder swung down without any warning.
Boom!!
The deafening sound rang in everyone's ears. Sanji, having jumped to the side, looked at the crater where he had just been standing, and his expression turned cold.
"Such massive power, but..."
A sharp glint flashed through his eyes. His long legs were like flying black iron whips as he kicked Kalen fiercely!
"But who gave you permission to wreck this place!!"
"Cuissot!"
"Poitrine!"
"Epaule!"
"Collier!!"
Thump, thump, thump!!
Within a few short seconds, Kalen suffered strikes to the knee, chest, shoulder, and neck. Under the skillful coordination of the attacks, he fell backward heavily.
"He seems pretty strong." Goku, who had long since finished eating, leaned over his chair like a spectator watching the show.
Nami, standing beside him, whispered, "Is that so? Then do you think he can beat that Kennard guy?"
"I wouldn't know. Kennard hasn't made a move yet, so I don't know how strong he is." Goku scratched his cheek.
At this stage, since he was still unable to judge an enemy's strength through Ki sensing, he could only judge based on his observation of their performance.
"You damn brat, you actually hurt me!"
While the two were talking, Kalen, who had been knocked down by Sanji, climbed back up from the ground, looking absolutely furious.
"Captain, can I smash him to smithereens?" He turned back to ask Kennard.
Kennard crossed his arms, the corners of his mouth turning up. "Of course. There are so many chefs here anyway; losing one or two isn't a problem."
"Hehe, thanks, Captain." Kalen turned back, a terrifying bloodlust erupting from his eyes, which were squeezed into narrow slits by his fat.
Sanji bit down on his cigarette, looked at the crater Kalen had made earlier, and said to Patty and the others, "Deploy the floating platforms. I don't want this place destroyed."
He then gestured to Kalen. "Hey! Big guy, if we're going to fight, we're doing it outside!"
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