Chapter 6

The next day, Luffy, Usopp, and the new arrivals Sanji and Zeff were chatting near the ship's forward bow.

"You've had an adventure, Sanji," Usopp said curiously. "What was it like?"

"Crappy," Sanji responded. "Starving to death isn't fun."

"I know how you feel," Luffy said. "I'm hungry all the time."

"Starving and being a glutton are two different things," Sanji retorted.

Zeff said, "That's one reason I want to start a seagoing restaurant. We'll never send anyone away hungry."

"I'd like that," Sanji smiled. "Cooking's what I love."

"That's your dream, just to be a cook?" Luffy asked.

"My dream's to go to the Grand Line and find the All Blue, the legendary sea with the fishes of all the oceans. Imagine the recipes!"

"My dream's to be a great warrior of the sea," Usopp said.

"I'm gonna be the King of the Pirates!" Luffy exclaimed.

Just then Captain Shanks and Ben Beckman approached.

"Cap'n, where are we headed next?" Luffy asked.

"Shimoshiki Village," Shanks replied. "I'm planning to train at a kendo dojo there. I have a duel coming up in a week and I need to be prepared."

"Who are you fighting?" Zeff asked.

"Dracule Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman," Shanks answered.

"I wish you wouldn't risk your life dueling him," Beckman remonstrated.

"How else can I get better but by fighting a better swordsman than myself?" Shanks responded.

"You haven't fully recovered from the Sea King's teeth grazing your sword arm," said Ben. "The wound may be infected."

"The only way I would have backed out is if the Sea King had bitten my arm off," Shanks said.

"That duel sounds cool!" Luffy exclaimed. "Will I get to watch?"

"I don't see why not," Shanks said.

Zeff said, "Sanji, I'd like you to get some martial arts training, too. We'll have to be able to defend our restaurant against rough customers at sea. I'm planning to recruit all my cooks from fighting pirates."

"I wish I could get some training, too," Usopp sighed. "Even an invincible rubber man like me could use some new moves."

"I'll pay for lessons for you, and for your friend Luffy too," Zeff offered. "Sanji and I owe our lives to you for spotting us on your watch."

Shanks and Beckman walked away from their guests to check over the rest of the ship.

"Luffy should know that being a pirate isn't all fun and games," Beckman said. "So far he hasn't seen what pirates really do. Will we be pillaging on this trip? Our cash reserves are low."

"I don't know," Shanks responded. "Of course we couldn't raid Yasopp's home village, and I can't rob the place I'm training."

"But after that?"

"If we get into a fight I'm concerned Luffy will want to join in. He's not ready for that."

"I think he knows that after trying to fight Higuma the Bear. But he's so naive that I think it'd do him good to see the darker side of the pirate life."

"You may be right, Ben, We'll see."