No money? Then come with me!
Pochi prepared to depart but was halted by Kahn's voice.
"Hold on!"
Pochi turned back, his gaze fixed on Kahn.
"What is it, Lieutenant General Kahn?"
Kahn's sharp eyes remained locked on the sea restaurant.
"What about the Straw Hat boy and his crew? Has their bounty changed?"
Pochi swiftly responded, "Reporting to Lieutenant General Kahn, the Straw Hat Boy has taken down the likes of Branch Colonel Mouse, the clown Buggy, and Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates. He's also a Devil Fruit user. As a result, the headquarters has updated their reward."
"How much is it now?" Kahn inquired.
"It's 30 million Berries!"
Kahn's surprise was evident.
"So, even without defeating Arlong, they've priced him at thirty million?"
Kahn noted that the headquarters continued to hold the Straw Hat boy in high regard.
"Understood. Thank you for the update. Proceed at maximum speed. Let's earn some extra cash."
"Of course, Lieutenant General Kahn!"
Kahn mulled over a new thought.
"That fellow Dragon is reportedly in Loguetown. Should we apprehend him and demand a ransom?"
However, he quickly discarded the idea.
Upon reflection, Kahn realized it wasn't a wise move.
The potential return didn't outweigh the risks. Besides, Dragon was known for his affiliation with the Revolutionary Army and his connections to Garp. The endeavor wasn't worth the gain.
"Should I capture the Celestial Dragon instead?" Kahn joked self-deprecatingly.
"Darn it, I'm getting desperate for money and it's messing with my head!"
He scolded himself inwardly for his momentary lapse in judgment.
"Honestly, am I losing it?"
Although his strength had surged significantly, Kahn remained grounded in reality.
He wasn't yet at the level where he could take on a Celestial Dragon. The recent bout with Hawkeye was a testament to that.
Moreover, in long run, Dragon as the leader of the Revolutionary Army, would likely prove a valuable asset in future business dealings.
Businessmen valued ongoing profitability over one-off gains.
Of course, the prime motivator was the lack of funds.
A hundred billion Berries might have made the capture of Dragon worth considering, but such an offer was implausible.
In the absence of the Dragon, the Straw Hat boy remained a more practical target. A thirty-million-Berry reward might seem small, but Kahn could certainly make do with it.
"Moving forward, I must plan more meticulously."
The warship's speed far exceeded that of typical pirate vessels. Within two hours, they reached Bharati Restaurant.
The Going Merry remained docked nearby, indicating that Luffy and company hadn't departed.
"Report to Lieutenant General Kahn: The sea restaurant Baratie is in sight, and the Straw Hat Pirates' ship is docked alongside. Please provide further orders."
Pochi's voice rang out, seeking Kahn's direction.
"Bring the vessel closer."
"Understood, Lieutenant General Kahn."
However, Pochi paused before proceeding.
"Is there anything else, Lieutenant General Kahn?"
"Is the file for the Red-Legged Zeff still available? Once he returned to the East Blue, did headquarters rescind his bounty?"
Boqi was taken aback by the sudden query.
"Reporting to Lieutenant General Kahn, I don't possess that information at the moment. I'll need to verify with headquarters."
"Very well, confirm it."
Pochi swiftly left to gather the information. Soon after, he returned with an update.
"Reporting to Lieutenant General Kahn, the information from headquarters has arrived."
"Go on."
"Lieutenant General Kahn, Red-Legged Zeff, the leader of the Cook Pirates, ventured into the Grand Line a year ago. He's garnered renown for his exceptional kicking skills and has risen to become a significant pirate. His bounty once soared to a hundred million Berries. However, after a year's voyage, he vanished from sight and is presumed dead."
Kahn's smile was one of satisfaction.
"Unexpected outcome."
"Lieutenant General Kahn, given Zeff's prolonged absence, may I inquire about the reason?"
Kahn's response intrigued Pochi.
"Reporting to Lieutenant General Kahn, due to the perceived demise of Zeff, his bounty has decreased annually. Presently, it's set at fifty million Berries."
The news pleased Kahn.
"Excellent."
Boqi was perplexed by Kahn's sudden interest in a long-lost pirate.
"Lieutenant General Kahn, Red-Legged Zeff has been out of the picture for quite some time. Why the sudden interest?"
Kahn smiled.
"He's the owner of this sea restaurant."
Pochi was taken aback.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, now let's go. This establishment is quite well-known, and we're famished. Time for a meal."
"Understood, Lieutenant General Kahn!"
Once on shore, Kahn took the lead, heading towards the restaurant. Despite the approach of the naval warship, the commotion went unnoticed by the restaurant's occupants.
Only as Kahn and his team neared the entrance did they encounter a hindrance.
"I'm sorry, but we're closed."
Kahn peered inside and grasped the situation at a glance.
Tables and chairs lay overturned, with seawater splattered about. Clearly, dining wasn't in the case.
The turmoil appeared to be a consequence of the earlier skirmish between the Straw Hat Pirates and Krieg, compounded by the residual effects of Kahn's encounter with Hawkeye.
"Aren't you responsible for feeding the hungry?" Kahn queried.
His comment drew the gaze of everyone within.
"It's him!" Luffy's expression turned serious.
Zoro, despite his injuries, poised for action.
"Who's that, Luffy?" Zoro inquired immediately.
"A strong old man from the navy." Luffy responded promptly.
He recalled the thrashing he'd received.
Zoro's curiosity was piqued.
"Why haven't you introduced us earlier?" Zoro demanded.
Usopp's voice chimed in, laden with fear.
"Everybody, hide! He's a navy officer!"
He cowered behind a table, avoiding direct eye contact with Kahn.
However, Kahn's next words stunned them.
"No worries, my friend. I won't eat your rice. It's not quite to my taste, and besides, it might not agree with my appetite. Let's move on to more important matters."
The crew eyed him warily.
"Luffy," Kahn called out.
"Navy grandpa, what do you want?" Luffy queried.
"Got any money?"
His question rendered the crew speechless.
Luffy answered solemnly, "No. If I had money, I wouldn't need to work."
Kahn's question raised eyebrows, yet Luffy's earnest response was unexpected.
"Why's he answering a navy officer so seriously?" Usopp wondered aloud.
"Regrettably, without money, you're coming with me."
Luffy, puzzled, responded, "Coming where?"
"You idiot, can't you see he's arresting us?" Usopp admonished.
Zoro, poised to strike, interjected, "Let's get out of here, he's from the navy!"
"But my chef hasn't given me his answer yet. So, we won't leave just yet."
Kahn's declaration garnered attention from all corners.
"Huh? Why should I go with you?" Luffy was still grappling with the situation.
"Do you realize that your bounty is now thirty million Berries? If you could come up with sixty million, I might turn a blind eye to your presence. But alas, you're penniless. I regret to inform you that there's only one course of action left—surrender!"
Kahn's words reverberated like a heartfelt bargain.
"I don't have money, and I don't want to go with you." Luffy's resolve was unwavering.
"Is that so? Well, going against my wishes is seldom a good idea."
"Hey, Navy guy over there!" Kahn's attention shifted by a shout.
"Yes?" Kahn looked in the direction of the voice.
"Even though I think that guy's an idiot, I've made up my mind to set sail with him. Please don't take him away!"
"Sanji, you agreed to sail with me? Awesome!" Luffy's excitement was palpable.
Sanji's grin in response hinted at his contentment.
"Idiot, stop provoking him," a mature voice cautioned.
The attention shifted again, this time to a middle-aged man.
"Old man!"
"Head chef!"
Kahn's smile widened at the familiar figure.
"Fifty million Berries just walked in."
"Unfortunately, you don't have money. So, I'm here to offer you a different choice."
The crew exchanged puzzled glances.
"It's your grandfather's special 'friendship' offer," Kahn quipped, spreading his arms wide.