Morning came too soon.
The Baratie was still a mess — broken wood, holes in the walls, and chefs arguing about who had to fix what.
Kai yawned, stepping out onto the deck. "You guys ever sleep?"
Patti, one of the cooks, glared. "We cook, we fight, we fix. Repeat."
Kai smirked. "Sounds like my kind of routine."
Inside, Sanji was cooking like nothing happened, cigarette dangling from his lips.
Luffy was watching him with stars in his eyes.
"That's amazing!" Luffy said. "You can cook and fight! You gotta join my crew!"
Sanji didn't even look up. "I told you. I'm not leaving this place."
Kai leaned against the counter. "You sure? Seems like you've got a dream bigger than this kitchen."
Sanji shot him a glance. "You talk too much for someone who doesn't cook."
"True," Kai said, smiling. "But I listen well. I know you want to see the All Blue."
Sanji froze for just a second. "How do you—?"
Kai winked. "Let's just say I've got good instincts."
Before Sanji could reply, a loud explosion shook the entire restaurant again.
Patti ran in, panicking. "Krieg's ship is still out there! They're loading cannons!"
Sanji's cigarette fell from his mouth. "Those bastards."
Luffy cracked his knuckles. "Guess it's round two!"
Zoro smiled. "About time."
Kai sighed, pulling his hoodie tighter. "Here we go again."
They ran out onto the deck. Don Krieg's massive ship loomed close now, cannons glowing as they aimed directly at the Baratie.
Krieg stood tall at the bow, golden armor gleaming. "I, Don Krieg, claim this restaurant! You all will serve me!"
Luffy shouted, "No way! We're here for lunch!"
Kai facepalmed. "That's… technically true."
Krieg sneered. "Then you'll die hungry!"
He raised his hand, and the cannons roared.
Kai's system pinged to life instantly.
[Emergency Stream Event Detected!]
[Viewer Surge: +500,000]
[Reward Multiplier Active ×3]
Kai's grin widened. "Now this… is good content."
He leapt across the deck, hands glowing faintly as he used Momentum Burst, deflecting shrapnel and redirecting falling debris.
Sanji was already mid-air, kicking a cannonball back into Krieg's ship.
It exploded, scattering smoke and screams across the enemy deck.
Luffy stretched his arm back. "Gomu Gomu no… Pistol!"
His punch smashed through Krieg's armor, sending him crashing into the railing.
The viewers went wild.
[Viewers: 1,200,000]
[Tips: 800,000 berries]
[Reward: Skill Unlocked — "Stream Overlay" (Display stats to viewers mid-battle)]
Kai's vision flickered for a moment, showing his HP and stamina in the corner of his eye.
"Oh, this is sick."
He dodged a blade, countered with a spinning kick, and kicked another pirate into the sea.
Sanji shouted over the noise, "You fight better than you look!"
Kai laughed. "You flirt better than you fight!"
"WHAT?!"
As the fight raged, Luffy stood facing Krieg.
"You don't scare me!" Luffy said, blood running down his cheek but smiling like a maniac.
Krieg growled, pulling out a giant spiked spear. "You should!"
Kai ran over. "Luffy, let me—"
But Luffy was already gone, stretching his leg high into the air.
"Gomu Gomu no… Axe!"
The leg came down hard.
The deck cracked. Krieg went down.
Silence filled the air.
The sea was still again, except for drifting smoke and broken wood.
Sanji stood beside them, staring at Luffy like he couldn't believe what he'd just seen.
"That idiot…" he muttered, then smiled. "He really did it."
Kai crossed his arms. "Told you he's the real deal."
Sanji chuckled, lighting another cigarette. "And you're just as crazy, dreamer."
Later that night, when the restaurant had quieted down again, Zeff sat across from Luffy and Sanji.
"You've got guts, kid," Zeff said. "And you…" He turned to Sanji. "You've got a dream. Stop wasting it here."
Sanji clenched his fists. "Old man…"
Zeff smiled faintly. "Go. Find your All Blue. You'll never get there washing dishes."
Sanji's eyes softened. "I… I owe you everything."
"Then pay me back by living."
As the morning sun rose, Sanji stood at the dock with his small bag.
Luffy was grinning ear to ear. "You're joining us, right?!"
Sanji exhaled smoke. "Yeah. I'm joining."
Kai grinned. "Welcome to the crew, Mr. Prince."
Sanji gave him a look. "Don't call me that."
"Sure thing, Prince."
Sanji sighed. "This ship's already a headache."
Kai's system pinged again.
[Crew Member Joined — Sanji]
[New Stream Bonus: "Cooking with the Crew" unlocked!]
He smiled to himself as they set sail again.
The Straw Hats had a new cook.
The sea was wide and wild ahead of them.
And for Kai — the adventure had only just started to heat up.