The chefs crowded around in awe, their faces full of admiration.
"Ron, I can't believe it! You're actually a sword genius— you even beat Dracule Mihawk!"
"You're the true world's number-one swordsman!"
Ron chuckled, waving his hand quickly.
"Don't say that. I didn't defeat him— it was just a match of technique."
Still, he couldn't deny the feeling of pride rising inside him. Praise had its charm.
"Sir, could you sign my notebook?" one of the chefs— the same man who had once been bullied by Don Krieg— asked shyly. His eyes glimmered with respect.
"To meet you here today is a blessing!"
"Please, give us your autograph too!" several others chimed in.
"Haha, no problem."
Ron signed each notebook neatly, then pulled a small stack of Berries from his pocket and walked toward Zoro, Johnny, and Yosaku.
"Sorry about your swords. They were ruined in the battle. Please, take this as compensation."
Before they could refuse, he had already pressed the money into Johnny's hands.
"Uh… we can't—" Johnny stammered.
But Ron just smiled and turned away.
The three of them stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened. Only when Ron and Nami stepped back into the restaurant did Zoro finally mutter bitterly,
"That swordsmanship… beyond even the world's greatest swordsman…"
He clenched his fists. He and Ron were roughly the same age— yet the distance between them felt like an entire ocean.
"Kuina… will our promise ever come true?" he whispered to himself.
Before he could sink deeper into frustration, a familiar voice came from behind.
"Hey, wait for me!"
It was Monkey D. Luffy— cheerful as ever.
Zoro stiffened. "Luffy, what are you doing?"
"Inviting them to join my crew, of course!" Luffy grinned, striding toward the restaurant.
Zoro sighed and rubbed his temples. Our captain never changes.
How could someone like Ron— who had just gone toe-to-toe with Mihawk— possibly join them?
Inside, Luffy found Ron laughing heartily.
"Everyone, eat to your heart's content! Today's meal is on me!" Ron declared.
"Really?!" Luffy's eyes sparkled. His stomach growled loudly in approval.
He ran up to Ron and Nami. "Hey, you two! Why don't you join the Straw Hat Pirates?"
"Join… the Straw Hats?"
Ron and Nami exchanged puzzled glances.
To them, Luffy was still a stranger— bold, but naïve.
Ron laughed softly. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm afraid we're not meant to be crewmates."
He leaned back in his chair, picking up his drink.
"You're pirates. That's not the life I'm after. I think being a bounty hunter suits me better."
Nami nodded in agreement.
"Pirates? Not my thing either," she said lightly, though her eyes wavered for a moment.
Inside, a shadow crossed her heart— the memory of Arlong, and the deal she still had to fulfill.
The thought of Ron's calm strength gave her comfort… yet she couldn't tell him the truth. Not yet.
When she paid Arlong one hundred million Berries, the Cocoyasi Village would finally be free.
Until then, she would play her role.
Luffy's face fell.
Seeing his disappointment, Ron smiled and said,
"Hey, even if we're not crewmates, we can still be friends."
He raised a cup toward him. "If you ever take on bounty work, I'll give you a twenty-percent discount. Pirate or Marine, it doesn't matter— as long as the pay's good!"
Luffy blinked, confused. "Bounty work?"
Ron coughed. "Ah— never mind. You'll understand when you're older."
"Oh… okay."
"Friends, then?" Ron asked.
Luffy thought for a moment, then grinned from ear to ear.
"Friends? Nah— brothers!"
He plopped down opposite Ron, laughing. "Let's eat! My treat this time!"
The chefs hurried over with trays of steaming food.
Soon, the two of them were devouring plate after plate like hungry beasts, laughter echoing across the Baratie.
Zoro and Usopp joined in, and for a while, the restaurant was filled with warmth and joy.
When the feast finally ended, Ron even packed a hundred servings of food to take along for the journey.
At the counter, owner Zeff tried to refuse Ron's payment.
"You've done us a great service," the old chef said. "Without you, Krieg would've destroyed this place."
Ron accepted the gesture with a polite nod.
Before departing, he asked everyone to keep quiet about his duel with Mihawk.
He preferred to stay low-key— at least for now.
So, with Nami at his side and crates of food in tow, Ron boarded a small sailboat.
He also carried a sealed box containing Krieg's severed head— the proof of his bounty.
The wind caught the sail.
As they drifted away, Nami turned from the helm and asked,
"Ron, where are we heading next?"
He smiled faintly, gazing toward the distant horizon.
"To find a sword worthy of me," he said. "A real blade for a real swordsman."
His eyes gleamed like steel under the sun.
He had already surpassed Mihawk in sword intent.
Now, he would find the weapon—and the power—to match it.