Author's Note: Hello all! Before we begin, I wanted to apologize for the long wait. I wanted to write ahead 4 more chapters instead of posting one and then writing the other immediately after. Though it was long, I believe it was worth the wait and I hope you enjoy it.
Thank you to those that favorited and followed. And also thank you to those that left comments/reviews as I often enjoy reading them. Please continue to share your thoughts, questions and comments!
New Faces
As Luffy approached the table, Nami greeted him with a smile and a giggle. "Hey, it's the errand boy!" she said.
Usopp chimed in with a similar expression. "We heard you have to work here for a month!"
Luffy was shocked to see his three crewmates seated at the table. "It's you guys?!" he exclaimed, switching his gaze between them. "You leave me here to work and go and eat all the delicious food by yourselves!? Selfish!!!"
Ryuza recognized Luffy as the culprit who had fired a cannon ball at the restaurant and damaged it earlier. He couldn't help but shake his head in pity. It appeared that Luffy had to work off the damages for a year, according to what his friends had said.
The young samurai was grateful to have had enough money to pay back the cooks for their hospitality. He and Yamato could have easily ended up in a similar situation if not for the kindness of the restaurant staff. Ryuza watched on in silence as the group of four began to chat amongst themselves.
Zoro shrugged his shoulders at Luffy's complaint, his voice ringing out in the air. "It's a free world. We can do whatever we want. Doesn't make sense for us to wait out in the hot sun all day while our captain is busy cleaning tables."
Yamato looked puzzled, her eyes wandering around the group. "Captain?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion.
Ryuza turned to Usopp, his eyes filled with curiosity. "Hey, I thought you said that you were the captain." he said, seeking clarification.
Usopp sputtered and waved his hands in denial, fear creasing his face. "I didn't say that! I didn't say it!" he yelled, trying to distance himself from the situation.
Luffy's eyes flashed with anger as he ran over to Usopp, his fists clenched and ready. "You said what?!" he yelled, chasing Usopp in circles around the table.
Nami and Zoro both let out a burst of laughter at the scene. Yamato giggled as she watched on, a small smile on her face.
Ryuza fought to hold back his laughter, his smile growing at the humorous sight. Despite the chaos that had erupted, it was undeniable that the four of them were a crew. And yet, despite the fact that there were only four of them, they had managed to defeat fifty pirates and their deadly captain. Ryuza had so many questions.
How powerful were they exactly? How did they all meet up? They each seemed to have different personalities, but they talked and laughed as if they had known each other for many years. Perhaps they were childhood friends? It could have been anything.
Ryuza observed the commotion with mild confusion, watching as Luffy violently shook Usopp by his overalls. Despite the chaos, he mustered up the courage to ask, "So, you're really the captain?"
Luffy's face lit up with a wide grin as he answered, "Yeah! Me and my crew are setting sail for the grand line!"
Yamato's excitement was palpable as she interjected, "We heard from your crew member that you guys managed to defeat 50 pirates! That's amazing!"
Luffy's expression faltered as he tried to recall the exact number. "50? Errr, I'm not sure if it was 50? There was about..." He began counting on his fingers, hoping to remember the exact figure. "Uhhh...Zoro, how many were there?"
Zoro's irritation was evident as he retorted, "Don't put that on me!"
Luffy persisted, turning to Nami. "You're no help! Nami, How many--"
"50." Nami's exasperation was palpable as she cut him off. "Just say 50. Otherwise, you'll be in the same spot all day."
"Alright! 50! Yep! We blew away 50 pirates!" Luffy proudly declared.
Yamato's eyes shone with excitement as she squealed, "So cool! You guys must be tough!"
Ryuza couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy as he heard about Luffy's triumph over 50 pirates. He and Yamato had been sailing for a while now, but they had not yet accomplished anything close to that scale. The image of himself standing victorious over a crowd of cheering onlookers began to play in his mind.
"We actually took down a few pirates ourselves too," Ryuza spoke up, trying to sound confident.
Usopp interrupted, "Was that before or after they stole all your things?"
Ryuza's confidence shattered instantly. He turned away from the group and hugged his knees, feeling utterly defeated. Yamato knelt down beside him, patting his head in a comforting manner.
"Some samurai…," Zoro grumbled, shaking his head at the shameful sight.
Ryuza sighed, feeling a mixture of frustration and embarrassment. He knew that he and Yamato had a lot to learn, but he couldn't help feeling discouraged in the face of Luffy's accomplishments.
Nami raised an eyebrow, a hint of sarcasm in her voice as she spoke. "Apparently these two are heading to the Grand Line with no idea what they're getting themselves into. It sounds a lot like you guys, actually," she remarked.
Luffy's face lit up at the mention of the Grand Line. "Yeah! I heard what you guys said earlier! You two are headed for the Grand Line like us, right? You guys should join my crew! We can all travel together!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm contagious.
The shock of Luffy's sudden invitation caused a minor disaster at the table. Zoro and Nami both spewed their drinks all over the white tablecloth, while Usopp let out a loud exclamation of disbelief and covered his head with his hands.
Ryuza's depressive state dissipated as quickly as it had came. Did he hear Luffy correctly? Did he just invite him and Yamato to join his pirate crew?
Joining a pirate crew was no small matter. Under normal circumstances, one would be offered to join a crew because the captain deemed them trustworthy, powerful, or extremely smart. Each crew member would bring their own unique skills to the table, whether they were strong enough to fight alongside the captain, knowledgeable enough to navigate the treacherous seas, or simply trustworthy enough to have by their side.
But what would make Luffy want Ryuza and Yamato to be a part of his crew? They had only just met a few moments ago. Ryuza's mind raced with questions as he stared at Luffy with his mouth agape.
Is this guy serious? he thought to himself, unable to hide his bewilderment.
"W-Wait just a second!" Nami yelled, her voice filled with concern. "Are you just gonna recruit every person you come across into your little crew?"
Luffy turned to her with a puzzled look on his face. "Of course! The more friends we have, the more fun our adventure will be! Plus, these guys seem tough!" he replied, his smile widening.
"But we don't even know if we can trust these guys!" protested Usopp. "That samurai guy tried to fight Zoro outside just a few minutes ago!"
"Yeah! I saw it!" said Luffy with a mischievous grin.
"You...what do you mean you saw it?!" yelled Usopp, his frustration growing.
"I saw the fight from the top of the deck! It was just getting good too! Too bad that angry cook ended it!" explained Luffy. "Also, I found a cook to join our crew! So that makes 7 of us already! Grand line, here we come! Yeaaah!!"
"I already told you…" said Sanji, entering the conversation with a green bottle of wine in his hands. "I refuse to join your crew. I already have enough on my plate at this restaurant."
"And I already told you, I refuse your refusal!" Luffy yelled back, more determined than ever.
Ryuza's mind was racing. Joining a pirate crew was certainly not something he had considered when he set sail with Yamato. As he mulled over the offer, he couldn't help but wonder about the type of crew Luffy was running. They didn't seem like a violent bunch, but Ryuza knew better than to judge a book by its cover. After all, the last group he and Yamato encountered had put on innocent faces too.
While Ryuza was lost in thought, Sanji was pouring Nami another glass of wine and reciting poetry to her. Nami played along with an innocent smile, fully aware that this was the same cook who had given Yamato free food earlier.
Meanwhile, Yamato had taken a step towards Luffy, her eyes wide with shock. "Y-you're offering us to join your pirate crew?" she asked, still unable to believe it.
"Yeah! You two look pretty powerful!" Luffy replied, his grin growing even wider. "We can set sail towards the grand line together! It'll be one big adventure!"
Ryuza finally spoke up, unable to contain his curiosity. "And why are you guys sailing for the grand line?" he asked.
Luffy's smile widened even further as he placed his fists on his hips, raising his voice to a proud tone.
"I'm going to find the One Piece! That's why I'm sailing towards the grand line!" he declared.
The One Piece? Ryuza had to take a step back at that.
Even he wasn't foolish enough to not have heard of the legendary treasure left behind by the infamous King of the Pirates, Gold Roger. The One Piece was the stuff of legends, a treasure so great that it had brought about the great pirate era. The thought of untold riches that had made Gold Roger be called the 'King of Pirates' brought about an endless number of pirates to set sail to claim it. Each one wanted what Gold Roger had.
Wealth, fame, and power.
To have such a legacy left behind even long after his death amazed Ryuza.
"And you want us to set sail with you?" asked Yamato, her body trembling with excitement.
As Ryuza watched Yamato's expression, he knew that her mind was racing with thoughts. He remembered when she had read Oden's journal to him and how she had talked about wanting to be like him, traveling the seas and having adventures with legendary pirates like Whitebeard and Gold Roger. It was a dream she had put aside when she made a promise to free the Country of Gold from its tyrannical ruler.
But Ryuza could see the excitement in her eyes now, at the thought of joining a pirate crew and setting sail on the high seas. He didn't blame her - he too had dreamed of adventure as a child, but the reality of the pirate life was far from glamorous. Most pirate crews were ruthless and only interested in gold and power, raiding towns and attacking innocent people.
Yamato had always dreamed of sailing with a crew that had a code of honor, like the famous Whitebeard Pirates or the now disbanded Roger Pirates. But Ryuza was skeptical after their last encounter with pirates who had stolen their belongings. He wasn't sure if the life of a pirate, even with a code of honor, was for him.
As he watched Yamato's excitement, he couldn't help but wonder if there was a way for them to have adventures and fulfill their dreams without resorting to piracy. But as he thought about the possibilities of sailing the seas, facing off against powerful enemies and gaining fame in the process, he couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. Maybe there was more to life than just his current goal. No, he could not stray away from his current goal. He must stay on track.
Ryuza cleared his throat. "Listen, I don't think-"
The sound of shattering glass and wood caught Ryuza's attention, causing him to turn towards the commotion. It was the cook, Sanji, who was lying on the floor, and Zeff, the head chef, standing over him. Ryuza couldn't help but recall how Zeff had nearly taken his head off in the upstairs room.
"How dare you grab the collar of the head chef! Learn your place boy!" Zeff shouted before walking back to the kitchen.
Sanji got up from the debris of the broken table, shouting, "You can try to chase me out all you want, but I'll continue being a cook here until the day you die, at the very least!"
Zeff retorted, "I ain't dying. I'll live for another hundred years!"
The sight of the angry chefs made Ryuza grimace. He knew Zeff was the most intimidating of them all with his glare that would make anyone break into a cold sweat. The chef's outbursts usually ended with broken pieces of wood or glass, making the situation more threatening.
Sanji got up and dusted his clothes off. He was annoyed with what had just happened, but then he noticed Nami twiddling her empty glass, and his face changed. Like a quick flicker of light, he was back to his job of serving food and drink to the customers. However, it seemed that he was more eager to serve Nami than anyone else in that moment.
"Yamato, can we talk for a moment?" Ryuza asked, his voice low and serious.
It took Yamato a few seconds to shake off the excitement that was pulsing through her veins at Luffy's offer. But when she saw the concerned look on Ryuza's face, her own expression changed to one of worry. They walked away from Luffy and his crew, leaving them to squabble with Sanji over drinks.
"Is everything okay, Ryuza-san?" Yamato asked, leaning forward on the table.
"I'm fine," Ryuza replied, nodding his head. "I'm just thinking about that guy's offer."
Yamato's eyes lit up at the mention of Luffy. "He wants us to join his crew! Can you imagine? It would be amazing!" She leaned back in her chair and began to bounce up and down in excitement. "And did you hear what he said? He's going to find the One Piece, just like Kozuki Oden did with Gold Roger and his crew!!"
But Ryuza's expression didn't change. He was lost in thought, tapping his fingers anxiously on the table.
"Oh, sorry," Yamato said, deflating a little. "I guess I got ahead of myself. We can't really afford to join a pirate crew, can we?"
Ryuza saw the disappointed look and smiled at her. "You can join them if you want to."
Yamato's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Are you serious? What about you?"
Ryuza shook his head. "I don't plan on joining them. It's not part of my goal. But it could be yours. You could sail the seas with them and have your own adventure, just like Kozuki Oden."
He expected her to be overjoyed at the idea, but instead, she looked down at the table with a sad expression.
"I... I would very much like to join their crew," began Yamato, suddenly looking up with a serious expression. "But if you won't join, then I won't join."
"Yamato... you don't have to-" Ryuza started, until Yamato cut him off.
"No. If you don't want to sail with them, then I will continue to stick by you," said Yamato, her gaze hardened with sheer will. "As much as I want to set sail, our goal is more important. We must continue to get stronger together, so we can both sail to the Country of Gold. Remember, I promised-"
"Yes, I remember," interrupted Ryuza, gazing at the table with a slightly saddened expression.
He remembered Yamato's promise. The vow that she made to his mentor and her savior. Before he passed on, she promised him that she would be by Ryuza's side to defend him and help him get stronger so that he could one day journey to the great island of Wano and, one day, take part in the great battle that had been foretold and help free it from the rule of a tyrannical monster.
The Sword God will one day return to the land of Wano.
Ryuza recalled the words of his mentor clearly in his head. His master put all of his faith into him. He would not let him down and stray from his path. No matter what tried to stay in his way.
"But, I do have a request." began Yamato.
Yamato started fidgeting with her fingers, avoiding Ryuza's gaze as she voiced her request. He was taken aback by her sudden nervousness, expecting her usual confidence.
"Could you think more about joining their crew?" she asked, biting her lip. "Maybe we can spend more time with them and see if they are trustworthy or not….you know?"
Ryuza hesitated, torn between his reluctance to join a pirate crew and his loyalty to his friend. The memory of his mistake with the previous group of pirates weighed heavily on his mind, and he didn't want to make the same mistake again.
After a moment of contemplation, he finally relented. "Okay," he said. "We can stick around and get a better sense of them. If they prove trustworthy, then I'll consider joining them with you."
Yamato's eyes widened and she let out an excited sound. Her cheeks turned red in excitement and she could not resist the urge to let out a laugh of happiness. Ryuza didn't have enough time to stop her arms from pulling him over the table and into a bone crushing hug.
※
Two days had passed since Ryuza and Yamato's agreement. Much to Ryuza's surprise, the experience wasn't as troublesome as he thought it would be. The crew of four were very pleasant to be around. For the most part.
The captain of the crew, Luffy, was the most interesting of the bunch. Despite being forced to clean tables and hand out plates of food; and eating it much to the anger of the other cooks, he always seemed to be in a cheerful and excited mood. Ryuza listened to him along with Yamato when he would go on to say how he was going to find the One Piece and how he would blow away every enemy that tried to stop him. Ryuza found him a bit strange in an endearing sort of way.
And then there was Usopp. Normally, after lying about how he was the captain of the crew, people would have stopped believing every word that came from his mouth. This wasn't the case for Ryuza and Yamato however. They stared at him in amazement when he recalled his heroic deeds back in his village.
His favorite seemed to be his most recent one. It involved him saving his entire village from a deadly pirate captain and his crew of fifty men. His insisted it was a tough fight, but the pirate captain was no match for him in the end.
Both Ryuza and Yamato stared at him in admiration and disbelief. That is until Nami corrected him in the form of scolding. Though Usopp appeared to have a habit of selling tall tales, he was very skilled in card games.
Ryuza recalled on a particular rainy night, where it was quiet inside the restaurant, Usopp had invited him and Yamato over to play a game of cards with him, Nami and Zoro. Ryuza had never played a card game, and neither did Yamato. Usopp was kind enough to teach them the rules of the game. He decided to start with something as simple as Go Fish in an attempt to ease the two into being comfortable with cards.
"Alright, so the game is called 'Go Fish'," Usopp began, "you each get five cards and you take turns asking each other for a specific card. If the person has the card, they have to give it to you. If they don't have it, you have to 'go fish' and pick up a card from the deck."
Ryuza and Yamato looked at each other in confusion, and Usopp could see the puzzled expressions on their faces. He decided to try and explain it in a different way.
"It's like...when you go hunting for food," Usopp said, trying to relate to Ryuza's background. "You're looking for something specific, and if you find it, you keep it. If not, you have to keep looking."
Ryuza's eyes lit up in understanding. "Oh, I get it now! It's like searching for the right kind of fish! And we have to catch it!"
Yamato still looked puzzled. "But what happens if we don't find it?"
Usopp blinked at their bone headed understanding and sighed. "You...you don't catch the card. You have to pick up a new one from the deck."
Ryuza and Yamato still seemed lost, but they decided to give it a try anyway. They took turns asking each other for cards, with Ryuza asking for things like "the big fish" or "the green one" and Yamato asking for things like "the pretty one" or "the one with the picture."
Usopp tried his best to guide them, but it quickly turned into a chaotic mess. Ryuza kept accidentally dropping his cards and Yamato kept giggling uncontrollably.
At one point, Ryuza even asked for "the one with the sword," causing Usopp to do a double-take.
"You can't ask for specific cards like that!" he exclaimed.
"Why not?" asked Ryuza, tilting his head.
"Because that's not how the game works!" said Usopp, exasperated.
Yamato snorted with laughter, which made Ryuza blink in confusion.
"This is truly a challenging game!" he said, shuffling his cards.
Usopp looked at the two of them, both clueless but having the time of their lives, and couldn't help but smile.
"Okay, you guys are hopeless," he said, but couldn't hide the amusement in his voice. "Let's try something else."
The game continued throughout the night with both Ryuza and Yamato slowly getting the hang of the game. Eventually they moved on from Gold Fish to something even more professional. At one point, even others began to join in, including random customers or cooks inside the restaurant. Ryuza and Yamato were unable to win a single round. In fact, at one point not even Usopp himself could win anymore. Neither could the random customers or cooks. The victor for many rounds belonged to the orange-haired girl, Nami.
Nami was particularly normal. At least amongst the other members of the crew. Ryuza made sure to be very careful around her. It was not because he didn't trust her or found her suspicious. It was because she was very intelligent when it came to card games. Ryuza found himself under her thumb for multiple rounds, much to his dismay.
She displayed a variety of looks within her brown eyes. All it took her was a few seconds to switch expressions which made Ryuza lower his guard, and within a few seconds, he'd find himself in the loser circle along with the others.
Furthermore, Nami seemed to be very interested in the story of the treasure he and Yamato found along with the lying pirates that stole their things. She asked on multiple occasions if the treasure had gold, diamond, or gemstones. And asked Ryuza if he was very certain it was safe. Ryuza assured her it was safely tucked away under the seats of their boat. She smiled innocently after that and left the topic alone.
Then there was Zoro, the green-haired swordsman, or so Ryuza called him. Out of the entire crew, Zoro was the quietest. It wasn't because he was nervous or scared, he simply didn't care about the trivial things going on around him. Oftentimes, he would appear serious and focused, but he would express frustration when he was tricked, especially when he lost at card games, thanks to Nami's intelligence and cunning.
Despite his reserved nature, Ryuza was most fascinated by Zoro's three-sword style, which he was about to demonstrate during their duel. When Ryuza expressed his interest, Zoro promised to show him in a rematch and in return, Ryuza would explain the story of where he had received his blade from. The thought of battling Zoro once again filled Ryuza with excitement and anticipation.
However, their plans were disrupted by the angry cooks, who were keeping a close eye on the two of them after they had damaged parts of the ship during their previous duel. Undeterred, Ryuza and Zoro attempted to sneak outside at night to finish their duel, only to be caught by Nami, who berated them for their reckless behavior.
Despite the scolding, Ryuza found himself enjoying the company of the crew and sharing some laughs with them. He was surprised by how much fun he was having and even more surprised to see Yamato having a blast just by being around them. Despite his growing fondness for the crew, Ryuza was still unsure whether joining them was the right path for him. But he also didn't want to hold Yamato back from her dreams of traveling with a pirate crew, just like her idol.
Unfortunately, the third day was the final day he and Yamato could stay at the Baratie. It was all that they could afford. Though they had fun with the people they had just met, they would have to sail back out into the ocean to continue on their path.
※
Ryuza felt a pang of sadness, but he didn't let it show. On that day, he sat at the table quietly, deep in thought. Having decided to change into his other outfit, he donned the only other set of clothes he had left. The ensemble consisted of a white samurai kimono, adorned with intricate patterns that seemed to tell a tale of swordsmanship and bravery. The kimono featured a wide, dark-colored obi wrapped securely around his waist, and around his neck and shoulders was a long blue scarf.
"Hey, samurai guy! Are you gonna finish that?" Luffy asked, snapping Ryuza out of his thoughts.
Ryuza looked to his side to see Luffy pointing toward his plate. There were scraps of meat, bone, and one untouched piece of meat left on his plate. This wasn't the first time Luffy had tried to "ask" for some of the food that Ryuza had been eating. He sighed, but could not fight the urge to smile.
"Help yourself." Ryuza said, gesturing to the plate.
It only took a few seconds for Luffy to drop the entire slab of meat into his mouth. Ryuza swore that he saw Luffy's eyes watering due to the delicious taste in his mouth.
He swallowed the meat and patted his stomach, his eyes shining like stars. "So goooood!"
Without warning, the piercing sound of shattering glass cut through the air, followed by a blood-curdling scream from a woman. The once tranquil atmosphere of the restaurant shattered along with the cup as the other patrons looked up in alarm, their eyes darting around to locate the source of the commotion.
A woman was staring out of the window. Her eyes were wide and her body trembled with terror. There were other patrons that gazed out the window as well. Each of them started to be effected with the same fear.
Outside, floating on the endless ocean was a large ship withholding a black pirate flag. The Jolly Roger that was meant to signify what pirate crew they were, was a skull with two hourglasses to the right and to the left of it. The ominous symbol made even more restaurant patrons shriek, dive under tables, and bolt towards the exit in a state of panic.
"It's Don Krieg's pirate ship!" a man shouted, packing his belongings.
Many of the other customers started to follow suit. The restaurant turned into a madhouse as patrons scrambled for safety, and even the cooks were shouting on what they should do as the ship was on approach toward the restaurant.
"Look what you did, Patty! They actually came here!" screamed Carnie. "So go chase them off, tough guy! That's what you said you'd do!"
"I-it can't be! The fleet admiral who commands over 5000 pirates?!" Patty said to himself, clenching his head. "They are coming all the way out here just to avenge his underlings?!"
A cook that stood to Patty's right seemed to grow even more furious at the question with an obvious answer. "Yeah! And it's all your fault!"
Luffy tilted his head, his face scrunched up with curiosity. "Huh? Why's everyone freaking out?"
Ryuza narrowed his eyes and gazed out the window. He saw the ship that was approaching, and it was big. It was probably the biggest pirate ship he had ever seen in his life. The ship's black hull and ominous flag instilled a sense of dread in him. His hand found its way to the hilt of his blade, and he prepared for the worst.
For better or worse, something was about to happen that would make his day a whole lot more interesting.
"Woah! Talk about a big ship!" Luffy said while gazing out the window, his voice filled with excitement instead of dread.
Yamato, who was sitting at a nearby table, rushed over and saw the approaching ship. "Huh, interesting. A ship that size definitely belongs to a pirate captain."
"I have a feeling they are here for trouble." added Ryuza, getting an ominous feeling.
"It could be Gin coming to repay his debt to Sanji!" said Luffy, still lighthearted on the situation.
Ryuza looked over at Luffy with a confused expression. "Gin?"
"Yeah! He was here 2 days ago! The guy was on the verge of starving to death but Sanji saved him!" explained Luffy. "Hey, Sanji! Gin is coming back to say thanks!"
Sanji approached the window and gazed out at the intimidating ship. A cigarette hung from his mouth and his expression was a mixture of worry and uncertainty.
"I dunno. Somehow I don't think that's the case here….but it's strange…." he muttered. "This ship….it's in shambles. It doesn't even look like it should be floating right now."
Ryuza took a closer look at the ship as it had finally came into the boarding range of the restaurant.
The ship was greatly damaged. It's sails were ripped asunder, as if a giant animal had cut into it with its claws. One of the masts that the ship had leaned to the side, threatening to fall off the ship entirely. The hull of the ship looked as if it had been carved into by a blade the size of a whale.
"You're right…." Ryuza agreed. "It's completely damaged. Did they get caught in a storm or something?"
"Maybe. It looks like they've been in a few fights too," Sanji chimed in, noticing the various marks and scuffs on the ship's exterior. "It's not every day you see a ship in this condition."
The answers would have to wait. Two figures from the damaged pirate ship had boarded the restaurant and walked toward the entrance. The patrons in the restaurant held their breaths in silence. The sound of heavy boots could be heard just beyond the doors. The cooks were silent as well. The head chef, Zeff, fixed his gaze on the door with narrowed and unfearful eyes.
Ryuza kept his hand gripped tightly on the hilt of his sword. For all he knew, the two that were approaching could barge in and start shooting the place with weapons. He needed to be ready for anything. After his last encounter with pirates, he was going to make sure not to lower his guard.
The doors to the restaurant swung open and the two figures were in full view. Ryuza saw one tall man with gray sideburns and a captain's coat lined with fur. His eyes were weak and his face was pale. Beside him, there was another man who was much shorter than him. A man with a strange headband and a white coat with a symbol of a snake on the right side. He supported the taller man by his arm, helping him walk into the restaurant.
Ryuza was surprised to see the taller man looked as if he was on the verge of collapsing. His body was constantly trembling and his eyes were sunken in as if he hadn't eaten or drank in weeks.
"Sorry for intruding…but…" The tall man's voice was weak and dry. "Could I have some food and water? If it's money you want…I got plenty ..."
The atmosphere in the restaurant shifted. The cooks and chef's expressions twisted in confusion. The tall man took a step forward, then collapsed on his face. The shorter man panicked and rushed to his side to assist him to his feet.
"That's him…that's Don Krieg?" asked Patty out loud. "This weak worn out looking guy?"
"Please! Save my captain! Give him food, water or anything!" The shorter man wearing the headband begged. "He'll die at this rate!"
The restaurant had a few seconds of silence before Patty laughed. "Hahahah! This is the infamous Don Krieg!? That's perfect! And here we were so worried!"
"Please! We have money this time! We're paying customers!" The shorter man begged again.
"As if! Hey! One of you contact the marines immediately!" Patty announced. "This is the perfect chance for the government to arrest him. He won't get a single morsel of food from us!"
Yamato, who watched the event unfold from the side, raised an eyebrow with a hint of confusion. "He's the captain of 5000 pirates? He doesn't exactly look the part, does he?"
"Yeah, I kind of expected him to look more intimidating." said Ryuza with a slight hint of disappointment in his voice.
It's not that Ryuza wanted there to be trouble and for people to come into harm's way of a dangerous pirate. But he had a small desire to see a notorious pirate captain in all his menacing glory. A possible battle could have begun but it appeared as if this captain was simply going to be thrown in jail by the marines soon enough.
To make Ryuza's disappointment even greater, the self proclaimed pirate captain began begging for even the scraps while on his knees in front of Patty. The shorter man begged his captain not to beg and tears had begun to roll down his eyes.
Ryuza had even started to feel sympathy for them both.
Patty sneered at their pleas. "Trying to earn sympathy points, huh? Well, that won't work on-"
"Hey, move it, Patty," Sanji interrupted, slamming his heel into Patty's cheek and sending him flying.
Ryuza watched in surprise as Sanji handed a bottle of wine and warm food to the shorter man, Gin. "Give this to him," Sanji instructed.
"S-Sanji!?" exclaimed Gin in disbelief.
Don Krieg wasted no time and snatched the plate of food with trembling hands. Tears streamed down his face as he devoured the food, thanking Sanji between bites. Ryuza couldn't help feeling another pang of sympathy for them both.
"Sanji! What the hell is wrong with you!" One of the chefs yelled in outrage. "Take that food back immediately! Do you have any idea what kind of man that is!?"
"Don Krieg is the ruler of the east blue in deceptions you idiot!" Carne added. "He started out by disguising himself as a marine and after escaping from prison! He killed the marine officer in charge of the ship and took it over! That's how he became a pirate! Since then, he's been wreaking havoc on the seas by attacking towns, villages, and ports by hanging a marine flag on his ship! He's a man that will stop at nothing to win!"
Carne's words hit Ryuza like a punch to the gut. Don Krieg, the self-proclaimed pirate captain, was not just any ordinary criminal. He had risen to power by disguising himself as a marine and killing the officer in charge of the ship. From then on, he had been attacking innocent towns, villages, and ports under the guise of a marine ship, wreaking havoc and leaving destruction in his wake. Ryuza's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword as he realized the full extent of Krieg's villainy.
"What kind of man uses deception to murder innocent people?" Ryuza muttered, disgust and anger boiling inside him. "Only the lowest of scum would stoop so low. It's not just theft anymore, it's outright murder. How could anyone justify that?"
His sympathy for Krieg and his crew evaporated, replaced by a fierce determination to stop them at any cost.
"His strength ain't no exaggeration either! He won't leave here after eating! He'll attack us all!" Carne continued shouting, his eyes bloodshot behind his black sunglasses. "Letting a demon like him starve to death is for the good of this world!"
Sanji opened his mouth to retort, but before he could speak, Don Krieg's expression changed. His eyes glinted with fury, and he shot to his feet with a speed that startled Ryuza. In the next instant, he lashed out at Sanji with a clothesline that shook the entire restaurant. Blood spurted from Sanji's mouth as he slammed into a nearby table, the impact sending vases and plates flying in all directions.
Luffy's grin faded into an expression of shock and anger. "Sanji!"
Sanji crashed into a group of tables, the glass vases tumbling off and shattering on the floor around him. Don Krieg rose to his feet, his face no longer showing that of starvation, but of full and violent energy.
"D-Don Krieg!" Gin shouted in alarm. "What are you doing?! You promised not to harm the restaurant! That man is our savior-"
His pleas were silenced when Don Krieg had grabbed his shoulder and squeezed with force. Ryuza could have sworn he heard the shattering of bone amongst the screams of agony that Gin released.
"Ahh, that was great. I feel back to my normal self at last." said the treacherous pirate captain. His gaze shifted around the room, and to the many patrons, cooks and strangers that stared at him with mixed expressions. "This is a nice restaurant you got here. I think I'll take it."