Chapter 203 The Vast Ocean of Changing Situations
"Kuina, you...you're back?"
Zoro looked at the tall girl sitting on the steps in front of him, wiping her sword: "You, you just came back from the big city, did you hear about that news?"
Since Violet left, Kuina has been obedient to her, eating and training diligently. Several years have passed, and the once thin girl has grown taller. Kuina's exceptional swordsmanship talent allowed her to quickly master the sword techniques her father taught her, so six months ago she decided to become a pirate hunter and set sail to hone her skills in real combat.
Upon hearing Zoro's question, Kuina immediately thought of the news she had heard from other pirate hunters when she was exchanging pirate bounties, and she frowned in disgust.
"That news actually reached Shimotsuki Village?"
Kuina sighed: "I don't know if it's true or not, but there's definitely someone behind this pushing things along."
Having been a pirate hunter for half a year, Kuina is no longer the little girl who would go hungry because of other people's opinions and views. She has developed her own judgment on the situation on the high seas.
Those rumors, those stories about nobles and the world government, don't just spread for no reason.
Who did this, and what was the purpose of spreading these messages?
Kuina felt a surge of anxiety. If she were stronger, perhaps she could persuade her father to let her venture to the Grand Line and perhaps gain more information.
In this way, she might be able to make a better choice than rushing back to Shimotsuki Village and being wary of potential dangers.
Zoro, who was younger than Kuina and had not yet earned the right to sail alone, snorted unhappily, then picked up his weapon and looked at Kuina.
"Kuina, I challenge you!" Zoro's eyes blazed with fighting spirit. "In the six months you've been gone, I've become much stronger!"
"Oh, is this the hundredth time, or the thousandth time?"
"Whether it's a thousand times or ten thousand times, I will defeat you one day!"
Kuina nodded, put the tools for maintaining her weapons aside, stood up, and faced Zoro: "Alright."
I accept your challenge!
No matter what happens on this vast sea, as swordsmen, all they need to do is draw their swords and slash!
——
"Captain, why did you suddenly change suppliers?!"
"Yes, Captain, the quality of the R'lyeh Fruit and Vegetable Express has always been excellent, hasn't it? You often praise it!"
"No, Captain! Without their potatoes, I can't make delicious fish and chips!"
Zeff felt a headache coming on looking at the chefs in front of him, who were holding pots and pans and looking like they were about to force him out.
"It's not that I don't want to choose it, but the R'lyeh fruit and vegetable express line has temporarily stopped supplying them."
"What? How is that possible?"
"Why? Did you shortchange me, Captain?"
"I cannot accept using such inferior ingredients when I cook!"
"Enough!" Zeff roared, standing up and exhaling two thick breaths from his nostrils. "Our restaurant will never lower the quality of our food. Take a break until R'lyeh resumes supplying us!"
Take a break or vacation?
The chefs looked at each other, but it seemed that taking a vacation was more acceptable to them than using inferior ingredients to make food that did not meet their expectations.
"Then, Captain, you must have a good talk with Miss Vera. Even if the price goes up, it doesn't matter. You must restore the supply as soon as possible."
"Yeah yeah."
After those noisy guys left, Zeff couldn't help but rub his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
"captain!"
Sanji, who had been hiding behind the chef without saying a word, looked up at Zeff and asked, "Miss Violet... has something happened?"
Sanji's more nuanced emotions allowed him to think more deeply than the chefs.
Miss Violet's business is doing so well, why is she suddenly taking a break for a while? What happened?
Sanji asked worriedly, "Is it a conspiracy by our rivals, or have some pirates robbed the transport line?"
"Robbery? Kid, you haven't forgotten, have you? The R'lyeh transport line is protected by the Whitebeard Pirates on the Grand Line." As for the routes within the four seas, the staff hired by R'lyeh alone are enough to deal with any fools who don't know what's good for them.
Zeff couldn't help but gasp as he recalled the sight of that pirate with a bounty of nearly ten million Berries squatting on the deck, munching on a tomato, on that ordinary fleet.
R'lyeh must be rich to be able to hire guys like that as bodyguards.
"As for the speculation about competitors, with Tezzolo around, it's hard to imagine anyone being able to beat him in business."
Sanji, instead of feeling relieved upon hearing Zeff's words, became even more worried: "Then..."
"Perhaps it's related to those historical events that have recently surfaced at sea."
"History?!" Sanji gasped. Those rumors about how nobles oppressed ordinary people and how the World Government protected and indulged them were not just made up by some pirate to smear them, but were actually true historical events?
Although Sanji had been exposed to the dark side of the so-called nobility since childhood due to his father's ruthlessness, his gentle nature made him more inclined to think of people in a positive light. He believed that while there might be scoundrels like his father among the nobility and kings, the vast majority of them were still good people.
But the cruelty and ruthlessness described in those stories make Sanji tremble just thinking about them.
Because he had taken a fancy to the princess of a small country, he deliberately lured pirates ashore to break through their defenses and steal the kingdom's wealth. Then, he used the excuse that the heavenly gold could not be delivered on time to strip them of their noble status and sell all the royal family members into slavery.
Because he liked a certain color of mineral, he concealed the fact that the mineral was highly poisonous and would be passed down through his bloodline, until the kingdom was destroyed by disease.
Because he couldn't stand the Celestial Dragons' actions, he only complained once, but it was overheard, so not only he and his family, but the entire city was wiped out.
The sheer variety of atrocities, so many that they were unimaginable to humans, almost made Sanji vomit when he heard about them for the first time.
He found it hard to believe that these things had actually happened. If all of this was true, then what exactly did these constituent republics protect by paying such an expensive amount of "heavenly gold" every year in exchange for protection?
Everyone, whether ordinary civilians or vicious pirates, whether they belong to a republic or not, is nothing more than something that can be bullied, manipulated, tortured, and killed at will in the eyes of that group.
Having spent some time adventuring on the Grand Line, and having seen more of the World Government's less-than-ideal side, Zeff sighed and placed his hand on Sanji's head, giving it a couple of firm rubs.
“Whether it’s true or false, the fact that this kind of news can circulate and hasn’t been shut down by the World Government for so long…” Zeff was a little worried. “Something’s about to get out of hand. It’s good for Baratie to lay low for a while.”
In the midst of storms, the best option for small boats like the Barrati is to dock and wait for the storm to subside.
“Perfect timing, we can also use this time to develop some new dishes.”
As the reputation of Barradi Restaurant grows, in order not to disappoint customers who have been waiting in line for a long time, the chefs at Barradi keep wielding their spatulas from morning till night.
If it weren't for this unexpected food supply disruption, Zeff wouldn't have realized this.
Ensuring consistent food quality and providing diners with the best dining experience whenever they visit the restaurant is their responsibility. Continuously innovating and introducing more delicious dishes is also their responsibility.
The menu at Barradi restaurant hasn't featured a new wildly popular dish in a long time.
“Luckily, we still have quite a bit in stock.” Zeff looked at Sanji. “How about it? Do you want to try developing your own dish?”
"Can I...?"
"Hmph! This isn't a matter of whether it's possible or not, it's a necessity, a mission, kid! If you want to become a proper chef, this is the only way!"
"Okay, it's decided then. While the floating restaurant is closed, all the chefs must develop a new dish!"
——
"Miss Sakura, you've worked hard on today's recording!" As soon as Sakura came out of the recording studio, the staff member with her hair in a ponytail immediately stepped forward to help her tidy her clothes and jewelry.
Sakura waved her hand, refusing the hot water offered. She looked up at her lover, who stood shyly at the door, unsure whether to come in.
Sakura waved to him, and he first pointed to himself in surprise, then walked to her side under Sakura's smiling gaze.
"You've worked hard. This is... this is a gift for you..."
As he spoke, he handed a delicate little plush doll holding a microphone and singing to Sakura.
"Wow, so cute! Your cooking skills are getting better and better!"
"Miss Sakura, someone is looking for you outside."
Sakura, who was kneading the face of her plush toy, tilted her head in confusion upon hearing this: "Looking for me? Is it...?"
"It's me, Sakura."
Before she could finish speaking, a tall figure dressed in a kimono and wooden clogs pushed open the door and appeared in front of Sakura and the staff.
Employees of large celebrity studios like theirs see countless handsome men and beautiful women every day, raising their aesthetic threshold to an alarming level. It's extremely rare for them to be stunned by someone's appearance alone.
But when they saw the newcomer's elegant figure and flawless, beautiful face, even their breathing became much lighter for a moment.
Wow, what a beautiful woman.
"Sakura".
When the other person spoke, their voice was clearly that of an adult male.
Wait a minute, so this stunningly beautiful woman in front of me is actually a man?!
Amidst the shocked gazes of the crowd, Sakura nodded gently to him: "Mr. Izou, I didn't expect it to be you who came to see me... Is there something you need?"
Although Sakura tried every means to break through the country's isolation to pursue her dreams in Wano Country, she still had a deep affection for the country. Over the years, Sakura gave part of the money she earned as a star to the Whitebeard Pirates to thank them for their protection, saved part for herself and her lover, and sent the rest to Wano Country to help those in need in her hometown.
Mr. Izo, who also hails from Wano Country, is the one who helped Sakura transfer those money and supplies.
Yi Zang smiled faintly: "Everyone on the ship has been listening to your new song lately and thinks it's really good. Vista listens to it every morning when he practices his sword."
"Halta also asked me to ask when the new album will be released."
"It should be this month."
Sakura told the staff to leave first, and after the room door was closed and all the irrelevant people had disappeared, Izo explained his purpose.
"The seas are going to be turbulent from now on. Violet hopes that you will temporarily stop working and go to the Whitebeard Pirates' territory."
Sakura's smile gradually froze. She grasped the hand of the man beside her and asked nervously, "Lady Violet... what happened to her?"
"Will she be alright?"
“Heh, that little one.” Izo shook his head helplessly. “You should be worried about the group of people she sees as enemies.”
"Those guys are about to be in big trouble."
Meanwhile, the Sword of Giebeck.
Rocks sat in the captain's cabin, looking at the dark-haired young girl in front of him.
"You're saying I should repay two favors I owe you?" How come Lockes had no idea when he owed this little guy any favors?
Lox wanted to tell her to stop talking nonsense in broad daylight, but for some reason, he had a strange feeling—he shouldn't question her words; he should listen to the purpose of this woman's visit.
Lox nodded slightly: "Interesting. What do you want to ask me to do?"
"It's very simple. First, I hope you can take action to deter those eight warlords who might be recruited by the World Government."
Even if the fleet is disbanded, Rocks alone is enough to keep those guys who might side with the World Government in check.
"Secondly, I plan to go to the final island and kill Im there!" Violet said, looking into Rocks' eyes. "I know that many of your former crew members hope to be the second person after Roger to set foot on the final island for the title of Pirate King."
"Don't let them cause me trouble."
Kill, Im?
Interesting. Is it really possible to kill that immortal monster?
“If what you say is true, then your greatest enemies are not the pirates who dream of becoming the Pirate King, but the Marines and World Government agents who will intercept you on the road to the final island,” Rocks said slowly. “If you try to break through their encirclement by yourself, even if you succeed, you will only be exhausted and barely make it to the island.”
"How can you possibly fight against a fully-fledged Im in that state?"
Violet chuckled softly, then looked up with a sly smile.
"Who said I was going to leave by sea?"
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