Chapter 22: The First Crew Member?

Hiruma slowly opened his sleepy eyes and saw a big face pressed against his big milk bottle.

The exaggerated expression carried a slight flattery and anticipation.

"Is this a chef of theBaratie Restaurant? Am I in the restaurant now?" Hiruma instantly recognized Patty, mainly because this guy was too unique.

Wearing a sailor's hat and holding a smoking pipe, he looked like Popeye.

Seeing Hiruma opening his eyes, Patty became even more attentive: "Welcome to the Baratie Restaurant. Sir, please bring your milk bottle and follow me."

He had actually arrived at the sea restaurant, not too far from Loguetown.

But that was okay. Hiruma's original plan was to go to Water 7 to find Tom, and then he should be able to meet the Blackbeard Pirates on his way back.

He looked around and didn't see Sanji and Zeff.

Hiruma waved his hand, and the milk bottle disappeared.

Ignoring Patty's surprised expression, he walked confidently inside the restaurant and sat down on a table: "Just in time. I have been drinking milk for so long that I am about to vomit. Waiter, I will order now."

It had been so many days since he had encountered a customer, and Patty hurried over: "Dear customer, what would you like to eat? You can have anything you want. The most considerate Patty is here to serve you."

"Oh, by the way, may I ask if you have any money?"

Hiruma sneered in his heart. This guy was really the same as he remembered.

He looked up at him and said lightly: "I have no money."

The staff around him had already moved away, afraid of accidentally getting hurt.

"No money? Then the ring on your hand can be used to offset the meal."

"The ring is fake."

The people around moved even further away.

"Oh no, go call the boss and Sanji, or else someone will get hurt!"

"Patty the chef always does this. Hasn't the boss taught him many times not to do this?"

...

Patty's expression became fierce: "If you have no money, you are not a customer."

As soon as he finished speaking, his strong arm struck towards Hiruma.

The latter snorted and stretched out a finger to block it.

The people around him stared at him like he was crazy. They seemed to have foreseen his bones break.

Patty was once a fierce pirate on the East Blue.

But the next moment, everyone was shocked by what they saw.

Hiruma's finger blocked Patty's fist, which could knock out even a tiger. His body, including the chair he was sitting on, didn't move at all.

It seemed that Patty's punch was just a show and he didn't really use his strength.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining +1 strength by opening yellow-grade loot]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for breaking through 100 strength points. The level of Armament Haki has increased.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for breaking through 100 points in all attributes. The level of Conqueror's Haki has increased.]

"This bit of strength is not even enough to hold a knife, how do you cook?" Hiruma looked calmly at Patty, feeling enthusiastic and not planning to argue with the other party.

During this period of time, although he haven't encountered any people, he have occasionally encountered a few fierce sea beasts.

However, he was never able to increase his power attribute to one hundred, until now, he finally did it.

As expected, just like what he had thought before, the upgrade of Conqueror's Haki was tied to the overall attribute.

Patty watched in disbelief as Hiruma blocked his attack with just one finger.

It was not just a finger, but more like an extremely hard iron rod.

Although he had not used his full strength just now, it was still not something that one finger could block.

"How about now, can I order now?"

"Of course, anyone who comes here can order." With the sound of footsteps and the collision of a wooden stick on the deck, Zeff hobbled over.

And following him behind was the young Sanji.

"You brat, come over here and take my order. This big stupid guy is too ugly to look at and has ruined my appetite." When Hiruma encounters strangers, he can't even control his Taunt skill, which was maxed.

Although Sanji was young, he was much more mature than Luffy, who had no worries. Even Ace was not as mature as him.

His tragic childhood experiences made him grow up quickly.

Hiruma admired Sanji very much.

After growing up in such an environment, it was really not easy to remain so optimistic.

Of course, Zeff deserved the most credit for this.

If it weren't for Zeff, who acted like a lighthouse illuminating Sanji's path, it was really hard to say what he would have become in the end.

"What do you need?" Sanji came over and asked.

Hiruma put his foot on the table, revealing a cruel smile on his face. "I want shattered organs, coagulated blood, twisted limbs, withered body parts and crimson fruits."

The people around looked at Hiruma in horror. Is he a cannibalistic monster?

Sanji was also stunned by Shiego's request.

Cannibalism!

He had seen people eating human flesh before. When he and Zeff were trapped on that rocky island, Zeff survived by eating his own right leg.

But there was perfectly normal and delicious food available, why would anyone want to eat human flesh? This was simply perverse.

While everyone was surprised, only Zeff was able to react quickly.

He showed a barely noticeable smile on his face and looked at Hiruma with interest before instructing, "Sanji, you can make the order for this gentleman."

Zeff was a pirate who had spent a year on the Grand Line and was able to escape unscathed.

Of course, he could see that Hiruma had a strange fondness for Sanji, which was why he was playing with him on purpose.

Zeff sat down opposite Hiruma and after dispersing the crowd, he looked at Hiruma and asked, "Do you know Sanji?"

Zeff didn't know anything about Sanji's background except that his hometown was in the distant North Blue. He didn't know why Sanji came to the East Blue.

"Oh, that little guy? I don't know him. But I know you," Hiruma looked at Zeff intently and said word by word, "You are the former captain of the Cook Pirates, 'Red Leg' Zhepu."

Zeff's expression remained unchanged, but he subconsciously looked at his severed right leg. If his leg hadn't been severed, which resulted in a significant decrease in his strength, he should have continued to the Grand Line. Unfortunately, he probably wouldn't be able to see that fascinating sea in his lifetime anymore.

Seeing the sadness in Zeff's eyes, Hiruma sneered, "What, did your fighting spirit and dream break when your leg did?"

"Boom!"

Zeff suddenly stood up, slapped the table heavily with both hands. The force was so great that it shattered the hard wooden table. Wood chips pierced his palms and drops of blood fell, but Zeff seemed unaware.

Facing Zeff's seemingly murderous appearance, Hiruma was not angry, but instead smiled happily, "It seems like you're not old yet, and your body is still in good shape. But, is it really okay for a chef's hands to bleed like that?"

Zeff was stunned for a moment, then quickly pulled out the wooden splinters from his hands.

"What do you want to say, sir?" Zeff felt that Hiruma had an ulterior motive.

He looked directly into Zeff's eyes and said, "Do you want to come with me to find the All Blue?"