Chapter 370: Warmth in the East Blue!
Totto Land · Jam Island · Meeting Room
Kaido and Linlin sat opposite each other, the atmosphere between them heavy enough to crush bone. Scattered across the table were the latest issues of the World Economic Journal.
Linlin's bloated fingers tapped rhythmically against the wood, cream dripping from her knuckles. Her voice was unusually low and dangerous. "Ever since Roy returned, the Marines have moved with absolute, iron-fisted ruthlessness... If this continues, piracy really will face total annihilation!"
Kaido, rare for him, was not drinking. A chilling, sharp light gleamed in his eyes, and his voice rolled through the room like a distant thunderclap. "Linlin, haven't you noticed?"
"The Marines are acting with such blatant arrogance, yet the World Government remains completely silent..."
Linlin froze. Her pupils shrank, her eyes widening in realization. "Kaido, are you trying to say...?!"
Kaido's face remained grim as he nodded slowly. "I suspect they are tacitly approving his actions—or perhaps Roy has already reached some sort of secret agreement with those old fossils at the top!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Kaido stood up. His Haki erupted like a sudden hurricane, his draconic pressure making the walls of the room vibrate and crack.
"Of the legends of the old era, only we are left, Linlin... We must unite!!"
A moment of silence followed.
Linlin's eyes turned predatory. She suddenly grabbed a cake from the table, shoving it into her mouth and chewing manically before letting out a terrifying, jagged laugh:
"MAMAMAMAMA!!! Fine!!!"
"We'll join forces first and tear the Marines and the World Government to shreds! Once the world is at our feet, we can fight to the death to see who truly rules!"
"BOOM—!!"
The massive fists of the two Emperors collided, the shockwave vibrating the air with a deafening roar.
A Yonko Alliance has been forged. A new storm is brewing.
The New World · A Small Seaport Bar
The bar was dim and gloomy, the air thick with the smell of cheap rum and sweat.
Yasopp sat huddled in a corner alone, several empty bottles piled beside him. A crumpled newspaper lay discarded at his feet. He stared with bleary, drunken eyes at the Marine proclamation board hanging on the wall.
His gaze finally settled on the corner of a photo—a long-nosed young man in a Marine uniform.
Yasopp murmured to himself, his voice thick with a bitterness that only a father could feel. "Usopp... you actually became a Marine..."
"And the pirate dream I spent my life chasing... has shattered so pathetically..."
After several more bottles, he stood up on unsteady legs, his footsteps staggering. He slammed his last few berries onto the table.
"Keep the change, barkeep."
Walking out of the bar, the night wind felt biting, carrying the salty, damp air of the sea. He stood there for a long time, looking out toward the direction of his home, and gave a weary, bittersweet smile.
"Freedom? Dreams? Even Shanks and Beckman were defeated... the road of piracy has reached its end."
With that, he stumbled toward the harbor and climbed into a small, rocking boat.
"It's time to go back and see her..."
The solitary boat slowly drifted away from the shore, gradually vanishing into the black sea mist of the night.
East Blue · Maritime Restaurant Baratie
The kitchen fires roared as the sound of spatulas clashing echoed through the air. Mingled with the salty sea breeze, the aroma of gourmet cooking made the entire atmosphere enticing.
Sanji's silhouette blurred as he danced between the stoves, his golden hair damp with sweat. His movements were fluid and graceful. As he tossed a wok, flames shot into the air.
"Seafood Fried Rice—Complete!"
The steam carried a fragrance so rich that even Zeff, standing by the door, couldn't help but twitch his nose. The old chef watched Sanji in silence, his sharp eyes now filled with a deep sense of pride. He saw the brat who had stubbornly chewed on bark on a deserted island, now grown into a Marine officer capable of standing on his own.
The atmosphere in the restaurant was incredibly lively.
Luffy was sweeping through the roast meat on the table like a localized storm, his cheeks bulging like a hamster's as he chewed and shouted through a mouthful of food:
"Mmm-mmm!! Sanji's cooking really is the best!!!"
Usopp lifted a spoonful of fish soup, his eyes turning red. "This is so good... it's been way too long since I've tasted the East Blue!"
"I'm going to pack some of this to bring back to everyone in Syrup Village!!!"
Nami laughed as she wiped the grease from the corner of Luffy's mouth, her eyes teasing. "Usopp, you can finally stand tall and tell Miss Kaya that you are a true warrior of the sea!"
Usopp scratched his head and gave a goofy grin. His physique was no longer what it once was—he stood over six feet tall now, with lean muscle and a look of confidence that had long since replaced the cowardice of his youth.
"Haha, not yet~ I've still got a long way to go to catch up to Big Brother Roy and the others!"
It was a table filled with genuine joy.
At a nearby long table, however, the atmosphere was a bit more complicated.
The five members of the Vinsmoke Family sat rigidly, watching the laughter at the next table. For some reason, their hearts were filled with a strange, conflicting emotion.
Not long ago, Roy had presented Judge with a choice: either join the Marines and cooperate with Vegapunk's research, or be stripped of their status as a member nation for conspiring with pirates and war crimes. Judge hadn't hesitated; choosing to latch onto the strongest leg in the room was the survival wisdom of the "King of the North Blue."
Sanji walked over, carrying several plates of meticulously prepared dishes—pan-seared fish steaks, cream stew, and a roasted vegetable salad. The fragrance was intoxicating, and the tension at the table eased slightly.
Reiju was the first to pick up her utensils, elegantly slicing a piece of the fish and taking a bite. The tender meat melted in her mouth, the rich butter and sea salt dancing on her tongue. Her eyes widened slightly.
"This was... made by Sanji?"
Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji were far less poised. They abandoned their royal image and began to shovel the food in.
"This is amazing! This is ten thousand times better than military rations!!!"
"I thought my sense of taste had been completely numbed by the Raid Suit..."
Even Judge remained silent. He picked up his knife and fork, slowly cutting a corner of the steak. The moment it hit his tongue, the layers of spice and fat bloomed across his palate. Years of war and numbing liquor had made him forget the taste of real food.
His movements stalled for a fraction of a second, his fork making a light tink against the porcelain.
"Is this the taste... created by a 'failure'?"
There was no mockery, no belittling. The Vinsmoke family shared a rare moment of silence at the dinner table, the only sound being the light clinking of silverware.
By the kitchen door, Sanji leaned against the frame and lit a cigarette. The white smoke drifted into the air as a faint, almost invisible smile touched his lips.
"Seems like that old bastard's tongue hasn't completely rotted away yet."
Luffy and Nami accompanied Usopp as they packed a mountain of food, boarding a small boat with constant laughter as they set sail toward Syrup Village. They had agreed to visit Usopp's home first, then head to Dawn Island together to visit Garp's family.
Sanji untied his apron, leaning lazily against the door. "I think I'll stay behind and help out at the Baratie for a bit."
The Vinsmoke family also chose to stay. Though they didn't say it aloud, for the first time, they seemed to want to see more of Sanji's world.
Zeff walked up to Sanji, his braided beard twitching as he gave a sudden, mischievous grin. "Brat, your Big Brother Roy's tab is still under your name!"
Sanji chuckled, flicking his ash. "No big deal. Big Brother Roy's tab... I'll cover the whole thing!!"
Zeff narrowed his eyes, a wicked smirk on his face. "Is that so? Well then—hey! Bring out the bill!"
"YES, CHEF!!!"
A massive chef hauled out a scroll-like bill, which rolled across the floor with a loud thump. It unraveled for several meters, listed with an endless array of top-tier ingredients and expensive wines.
Sanji's mind went blank. The cigarette nearly fell from his mouth as he went completely rigid. "Wh-What is this?!"
Zeff stood with his hands on his hips, laughing so hard he nearly cried. "Did you forget just how much that Roy guy can eat?"
"Time to pay up, kid! Hahaha—!!!"
Sanji held his head in a total breakdown, screaming at the top of his lungs: "BIG BROTHER ROY!!! YOU SCAMMED MEEEEE—!"
The restaurant erupted into a roar of laughter. Even the other chefs couldn't help but double over. Nearby, Judge and Reiju watched in silence, their expressions complex.
For the first time, this cold-blooded family felt a flicker of the warmth known as "family."
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