https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-14-It-s-Not-Me-I-Mean-Yes-It-s-Me/13535719/
Chapter 15: The Man Challenging the Title of World's Greatest Swordsman
Chapter 15: The Man Challenging the Title of World's Greatest Swordsman
"Oho? Recognize me, huh? Hahaha, don't worry, I won't let you guys starve." Zeff chuckled heartily.
He'd been working here for over a decade. Getting recognized wasn't surprising, though he'd long retired from his previous life. It didn't matter anymore.
"What do you mean?" Lida whispered as they followed Zeff into the dining hall.
"Old pirate", Kuro muttered, lips curling. "Used to be a big shot, but after retiring all these years, even the Government stopped chasing him. We Navy don't care either. Just enjoy the meal - if he doesn't offer free food, I'll arrest him."
Arresting a retired pirate meant nothing. He wasn't the Golden Lion Shi.
Zeff smirked inwardly. These kids took meals too seriously. Just eat - how much damage could she possibly do?
...
The clatter of stacked plates echoed through the dining hall.
Navy officers occupied other tables, but the central table held three figures.
Klah sat rigidly, adjusting his glasses occasionally as he sipped wine and cut into steak.
Kuro slouched lazily, cigarette dangling from his lips as he glanced toward the white-haired girl devouring food beside him.
Lida hunched over a mountain of empty plates, scarfing down her meal with relentless efficiency.
The attending chefs looked increasingly pale.
Initially, the cooks had scoffed at Kuro. Lida's ravenous eating made them think she'd been starved and mistreated.
But soon they realized their mistake.
She was simply too good at eating.
This was already the third round of dishes stacked precariously high.
Many Navy officers had finished, but kitchen staff couldn't leave because this girl ate like eighty Navy combined, an endless black hole.
Dishes vanished the moment they touched the table. Chefs had to serve nonstop just to keep her chewing.
Kuro exhaled smoke, not to appear aloof but to silently convey: Lida's appetite knew no bounds.
Watching the chefs' expressions shift from indulgent to bewildered to furious was entertainment enough.
Sigh. Raising a gluttonous girl meant endless tension and boredom.
"Head chef! Ingredients are running out!"
Panic erupted from the kitchen.
Zeff emerged looking grim, watching Lida still eating. He forced a smile. "Kid, enjoying the meal?"
"Sixty percent full!" Lida declared, nodding vigorously between bites. "Baratie truly lives up to its reputation! Beats Branch cafeteria food by miles!"
"Sixty..." Zeff blinked, then roared with laughter. "Not full yet? Good! As a chef, I won't lose to any customer!"
He stormed back into the kitchen, voice booming. "Send someone for more supplies! Every guest must be satisfied! This is Baratie's purpose - this is war!"
Chefs immediately left Baratie, boarding boats for emergency ingredient runs.
"Kuro, is this too excessive?" Lida asked after polishing off another plate, lips smudged with grease.
"Excessive? You're a glutton with heart. These chefs have fighting spirits too. Eating is battle. They won't rest until they've fed you properly."
Kuro replied casually.
Baratie had a nearby town. Supply boats returned quickly. The battle continued in the kitchen while Lida happily feasted.
The feast lasted until deep into the night.
"Finally full! Haven't eaten this well in ages. Sooo comfortable~" Lida slumped back, patting her round belly with satisfaction.
"Kuro, this place's amazing! After Headquarters, let's return to East Blue. I need another feast here."
Kuro glanced at the collapsed chefs, lips twitching.
Have mercy on these poor souls.
"Feeding guests is Baratie's greatest principle", Zeff declared, emerging obviously exhausted but still smiling through gritted teeth.
This was a blood loss.
He silently cursed his decision to offer free food. Why did this girl eat like a bottomless pit?
Kuro wouldn't let the old man suffer completely. Before departing, he left the 80 million Beri bounty prisoner - sharing the credit for capturing such a notorious pirate.
Navy officers boarded ships. Some rested while others navigated toward Loguetown.
...
"Loguetown", Klah sighed, watching the approaching town.
"Hmm? Been here before?" Kuro asked.
"No, I never planned to enter the Grand Line. This is my first time." Klah explained. "Besides, Commander Smoker stationed here makes Loguetown impossible for pirates to land."
Loguetown used to be chaotic, a gathering spot for pirates attempting the Grand Line.
But since Smoker's arrival, peace reigned.
After all, he's a Logia-type Devil Fruit user.
What? You think he's weak?
Depends who you compare him with.
Kuro felt a chill. Two years later, Smoker would become an Admiral heading to the New World. Just thinking about facing monsters like Donquixote Doflamingo - the Seven Warlords of the Sea with Conqueror's Haki, or Vergo with full-body Armament Haki, or Law with his fully developed Devil Fruit abilities...
Even Kuro admitted his skills fell short of Mihawk's. If he drew too much attention and got dispatched to the New World to fight Yonko, would he survive?
"Stay low. Absolutely stay low!" Kuro clenched his fists.
The warship docked. Navy escorted the Krieg Pirate Crew toward the base.
Meanwhile, inside the Navy headquarters...
"Commander Smoker, Ensign Lucius Kro from Base 153 has arrived as reported!"
A Navy officer reported to the shadowy figure in the smoke-filled room.
"Silence. Just another Branch Ensign. So he arrived. What's the big deal?" A deep voice replied.
"Reportedly, Ensign Kuro stopped his former Branch Commander Mongar's tyranny and captured a 6 million Beri Devil Fruit user, qualifying for training at Headquarters."
"Oh? A capable officer. So what?"
"They also captured the Krieg Pirate Crew!"
Clack!
A pile of stones scattered across the desk.
The figure stood, pushing open the window to let smoke dissipate. Smoker, chewing two cigars, asked in surprise. "The Krieg Pirate Crew? A Branch Ensign?"
Thud-thud-thud.
Footsteps echoed outside. Smoker glanced out, seeing Navy officers escorting pirates.
Leading them was a man in a fur-trimmed coat with "Justice" emblazoned on his back, looking extremely relaxed. Beside him, a white-haired kid munched snacks. Behind stood a tall man in black suit and glasses.
"That man..." Smoker's gaze lingered on the suited figure. "Looks familiar."
"Commander Smoker! Commander Smoker!" A woman's voice rushed down the hall. A bespectacled woman carrying a sword burst in, panting. "Big news!"
"Tashigi, how many times have I told you to stop rushing in like this?" Smoker frowned. "What's this 'big news'?"
Tashigi beamed. "Mihawk! The Hawk-Eye Mihawk has arrived in East Blue! He challenged a Navy officer there to a duel, claiming that officer has the potential to claim the World's Greatest Swordsman title! The World's Greatest Swordsman! Can you believe it?"
"Hmph. Mihawk actually said that?" Smoker raised his eyebrows. "Which Navy officer?"
"Reportedly a Branch officer named Klah! Yes, Klah!"
Smoker looked down at the suited man below. "Now that's familiar. Interesting."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
