33. The Appearance Of The World's Strongest Swordsman

"Pffftt." Izumi could only hold his laugh.

Zoro sighed.

"That idiot."

"Why is he always so reckless?" Nami facepalmed.

"What should we do? They definitely want compensation." While Usopp looked at everyone in worry.

Nami crossed her arms and said.

"I don't want to give my gold. This is his problem, he should be responsible!"

Then, Izumi looked at them.

"Shall we stop by first? Aren't you hungry?"

Everyone nodded and decided to eat at the restaurant first.

They saw that the marine ship that was already in front wasn't attacking anymore, they were a little relieved. Nami ordered everyone to dock at a place where the marine couldn't see. Otherwise, they will be in trouble again.

Izumi didn't see the event where Nami would see Arlong's wanted poster, so he calmed down a bit.

However, Izumi thought. How to gain Nami's trust if there was no event where she stole the ship? It was too hard unless she saw how Luffy wanted to save his friends even if it would cost his life. The impact could move Nami's heart if Luffy did that.

"Do I need to let her be?"

He was uncertain. He wasn't as smart as Tabane. So, he didn't know what to do. Furthermore, her hate toward pirates was too deep. If he did something unnecessary, it would make things even worse.

Izumi could only sigh and let everything go according to the canon.

— — — —

After anchoring the ship, Izumi, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp entered the Baratie restaurant. From there, Izumi could see the neat arrangement of round tables with 4 chairs at each table. There were also plant pots arranged at the entrance and also at each end inside the restaurant. In addition, the cleanliness of the restaurant was maintained to make any visitors feel comfortable.

Izumi and others sat at an empty table. After ordering their meals, they looked around and saw the marine lieutenant who had attacked them earlier.

That marine lieutenant called the waiter as if he wanted to order something. Instead, he complained that this restaurant served the dish with an insect within. The waiter who came to his table was a tall blonde-haired man with bangs covering his left eye, wearing a black suit, and had curly brows with spiral patterns at the end of his brows. He was none other than Sanji.

Sanji walked toward that lieutenant's table, however, he ignored that lieutenant and flirted with the lady beside him. What Sanji did was infuriating, so the fight broke. However, the fight instantly ended after Sanji's powerful kick landed on that lieutenant's face. The marine lieutenant got kicked out of the restaurant afterward.

Nami asked the waiter nearby.

"Is it alright to beat that guy? Isn't he a marine?"

"Heh, no problem at all. Our restaurant has a good reputation after all."

Then, Zoro asked.

"By the way. What about the idiot who destroyed the roof of this restaurant earlier?"

"Ah, you mean the straw hat kid? He'll be working at this restaurant for a year. Oh, excuse me. I have to get back to work."

After a moment, Zoro murmured.

"A year, huh?"

"That's impossible."

"I thought so."

"The thing is, this restaurant could go bankrupt in a year if he works here."

Nami, Usopp, and Izumi commented after Zoro one by one. After a while, their orders were served. But, they suddenly heard someone they knew.

"Eh, why are you guys here? How can you leave me here while you eat delicious food!??"

It was Luffy. He watched Izumi, Zoro, Usopp, and Nami with envy as they ate, and he was the one who worked.

"Isn't that also your fault? I heard you were forced to work here for a year. You really are unlucky."

"Maybe you can learn to cook some good meat."

"Nay, nay. It's impossible."

"What's worse, he probably stole some meat from the kitchen."

"Hahaha."

"That's Luffy for you."

Izumi's group laughed at Luffy's misfortune which made the other customers turn toward them including Sanji. When Sanji looked at the group, he was immediately mesmerized by Nami's beauty, then he ran toward her holding a flower in his hand.

Izumi could only shake his head when he saw him.

They spent time inside the restaurant watching how Luffy worked. But at that time, Izumi saw Nami who said she wanted to go out for fresh air.

"Has she seen Arlong's poster so she's in a hurry to leave?" Izumi said inwardly.

He knew very well that Nami was just giving a false excuse to get out since he had noticed Nami's dark expression.

"Sigh. Why am I so stupid? I can't even figure out how to make Nami's heart open yet."

After a few minutes, Nami came out of the restaurant, someone slammed the door. It was a man with armor adorning his entire body. From his appearance, it was clear that he was starving.

The man begged for food, but no one seemed to want to serve him because he was known as the ruthless pirate of the East Blue with Don Krieg as his name. Furthermore, he looked like he had no money.

But the restaurant owner, Zeff, actually gave Don Krieg food even though the others refused.

Don Krieg devoured it until there was nothing left. But as soon as he finished eating, Don Krieg didn't say thank you at all but instead wanted to take over the Baratie restaurant to make it his pirate ship. He even forced Zeff to give him a lot of food so he could give them to his crew.

Instantly, the workers in the Baratie restaurant took out their weapons and prepared to fight. Unfortunately, their intentions were blocked by Zeff who actually gave him a sack of food.

When Don Krieg came out of the restaurant. Izumi and the others also came out to see what Don Krieg wanted to do. Even Luffy wasn't an exception.

At that moment, unexpectedly Johnny emerged from the water. When he saw Zoro, he immediately said,

"Aniki, this is bad! Nami-san stole the ship and sailed somewhere! Hurry up, before she goes far!" Johnny pointed in a certain direction.

It was the Going Merry that had already set sail. And no doubt, since Nami was nowhere to be found, she must have been on that ship already.

Izumi glanced at Johnny.

"Did you see anything strange about Nami? Like looking at a wanted poster or something?"

"Not at all?" Johnny shook his head.

Izumi didn't change his expression. However, he thought that the wanted poster had nothing to do with it. Sooner or later, Nami would return to her village controlled by Arlong.

Since Luffy was still at the restaurant, there was no way he would be left alone. So there must be some chasing Nami, and some waiting for Luffy.

Luffy forced Zoro to chase after Nami using Johnny and Yosaku's boat.

But before they could do that...

*slash* *boom*

A huge pirate ship was suddenly split in two by a slash of the sword. It was Don Krieg's ship.

Everyone who saw it was stunned. This was the first time they had seen a single slash of a sword could split a ship in two so easily. Even Izumi was amazed by it.

"That energy slash is too strong. And he is just playing around. As expected of the number one swordsman in the world." Izumi commented after seeing the energy slash that could split a huge ship. It could be seen that the energy slash also split the water and created huge waves that made the Baratie restaurant sway as well.

Zoro, who heard what Izumi said, immediately glanced at him.

"What did you say? Don't tell me…"

"It's Dracule Mihawk." Izumi nodded.

"Taka no Me? To think I'd meet him here." Zoro's expression became excited with the grin he showed. Meeting and challenging the strongest swordsman in the world and taking over his title was Zoro's dream and promise to his dead friend. So, as soon as he saw Mihawk appear in front of him, with his right hand which was already shaking with excitement while holding his three swords, he was already impatient and wanted to challenge Mihawk right off the bat.

"Zoro? Who is he?" Luffy was confused about what Zoro wanted to do after hearing Mihawk.

"Sorry, Luffy. That man is Taka no Me no Mihawk. The strongest swordsman in the world that I want to surpass. He is the reason I sailed out to sea."