One Piece: The Strongest Trait System novel Chapter 48

Chapter 48 - [48] : The Cook Sets Sail!

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"When did I say I was going with you guys?! Everyone around here, one unreliable idiot after another, How can I possibly leave this place?" Sanji muttered, lighting a cigarette as he gazed out at the sea.

"But someday I will go to the Grand Line," Sanji added quietly to himself.

"Then come with us now!" Luffy popped up beside Sanji, grinning broadly.

"The time isn't right," Sanji murmured, then a genuine, heartfelt smile spread across his face.

"Hey! Have you ever heard of the All Blue?" Sanji asked excitedly, launching into a passionate explanation of his dream to Luffy.

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Rowen glanced over at Nami, noticing her troubled expression.

'Looks like Nami's ready to talk to me.' Sensing the emotional turmoil through his Observation Haki, Rowen's lips curved slightly.

Up on the second-floor railing, Zeff watched Sanji talking animatedly about his dream, his eyes softening almost imperceptibly.

The captured Krieg Pirate grunts were left for the Baratie chefs to handle; none possessed Traits above Purple tier, making them useless to Rowen.

However, from Pearl, the Krieg Pirates' 2nd Unit Commander (whom Sanji fought in the original story before Gin finished him), Rowen did manage to plunder and convert one Pale Purple Trait.

Adding that to Gin's six Pale Purple combat Traits and the three from Jango, Rowen now possessed a total of ten Pale Purple Strength-type Upgrade Materials.

Since Rowen's Armament Haki strength was now directly linked to his physique.

Without hesitation, Rowen used all ten materials to enhance his Superhuman Demonic Physique (Deep Purple). Now, only three more base Deep Purple materials were needed to reach the Apex Purple tier!

Consequently, Rowen's Armament Haki intensity grew even stronger.

After enhancing the Superhuman Demonic Physique (Deep Purple) Trait again, Rowen, under the stunned gazes of Zeff and the others, proceeded to devour a massive amount of food to digest and refill the newly expanded stamina reserves.

"Hey! Who made this soup?!" Patty suddenly yelled while eating, pointing accusingly at a bowl of soup.

Rowen, having mostly finished his own meal, watched the scene unfold with an amused smile.

What a bunch of awkward idiots, Still, Rowen didn't dislike this kind of clumsy affection.

"That was me! Pretty good, huh? I was feeling particularly inspired today!" Sanji laughed boastfully.

"This stuff tastes awful! Who could drink this?! Is this pig slop?!" Patty retorted with disgust.

"Is there something wrong with your tongue?! Today's soup is my masterpiece!" Sanji snapped back, veins popping on his forehead. He would never compromise when it came to his cooking.

"Awful! Truly awful!"

"What is this garbage?"

More chefs came over, tasted Sanji's soup, and echoed Patty's disgust.

Sanji's expression grew increasingly thunderous until he finally exploded.

"What the hell is wrong with you guys?!" Sanji roared, glaring around at the other chefs.

"You're just a fake sous chef anyway! Only know how to solve problems with violence!"

"Yeah! Never liked you from the start!"

The chefs shot Sanji hostile glares.

"We are chefs of the sea! We cannot waste a single scrap of food!" Zeff suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.

Under Sanji's watchful eye, Zeff picked up the bowl of soup and finished it. Then—

CRASH!

To Sanji's utter disbelief, Zeff violently smashed the empty soup bowl.

"What is this mud-like soup?! If I served this to customers, my restaurant would go bankrupt!" Zeff sneered coldly.

"Hey! You damn old geezer! Take that back! What's the difference between my soup and yours?!" Having his cooking insulted by the person he respected most was unbearable. Sanji lunged forward, grabbing Zeff's collar, yelling furiously.

"Talk cooking with me? You've got another billion years to go, brat! I'm a man who's cooked on seas all over the world!" Zeff retorted, punching Sanji hard and knocking him down.

Sanji clutched his cheek, stunned. After a moment, he slowly pushed himself back up.

"Damn it!" Sanji roared in frustration, then stormed out of the restaurant.

Even after being insulted like that, he wouldn't lay a hand on Zeff.

Zeff was like a father to him.

"This soup is actually super delicious though," Luffy commented, helping himself to another bowl after Sanji left.

Usopp nodded vigorously in agreement.

Even Zoro, who seemed inexplicably predisposed to dislike Sanji, didn't deny it.

Nami quietly ladled another bowl for Rowen and herself.

Damn old geezer... what does he want now? Does he expect a hug? A tearful farewell?

That's not how men say goodbye.