Hals hated wasting food.
This habit was something Hals developed, though it’s unclear when it started.
Hals didn’t follow Sanji’s rules, but he believed food should never be wasted.
Hals wasn’t that strong.
However, when Hals chose his own food and liked it, with room left in his stomach, he wouldn’t waste it.
Perhaps it was related to his childhood.
As a child, Hals ate very slowly.
You could say kids often eat slowly, which is normal.
But Hals was different.
Previously, Hals thought he ate slowly because of his own habits. Later, he realized it was due to the ingredients his parents chose. Despite many favorites at the market, his parents often picked things he disliked and frequently cooked those dishes.
Hals found it astonishing.
He thought, “Why don’t they buy the vegetables I like?”
Radishes, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes, potatoes, loofah, pumpkins, cabbages, greens, shiitake mushrooms, snap beans, water spinach…
Hals felt wronged.
But as he grew up and tried more dishes cooked by others, he understood.
It was simply that his parents didn’t cook well.
He wasn’t picky; he just disliked the poorly cooked food his parents made, which led him to detest those ingredients.
As a child, his mother often cooked with cremini mushrooms, which Hals disliked.
Not only did his mother’s cremini mushrooms lack freshness, but they also had a strange taste.
Hals couldn’t explain it.
He hated mushrooms back then, thinking only cremini mushrooms were edible, and nothing else was.
Later, in junior high, Hals encountered king oyster mushrooms.
“Oh, there’s another edible mushroom in the world.”
The taste was acceptable.
Then, Hals discovered shiitake mushrooms, which he liked.
Hals didn’t say much but wanted to be alone.
It was his parents who were picky, only buying what they liked, never what he liked.
Hals suddenly understood this truth.
Later, in a western restaurant, he had creamy mushroom soup and found it delicious. After finishing the soup, he realized it was made with cremini mushrooms.
Hals discovered the truth about the world.
His parents were just bad cooks.
As he ate more outside or at relatives’ homes, he felt more certain.
Kids weren’t picky; it was just that their parents couldn’t cook.
Look at kids enjoying meals outside but looking wronged at home.
Thus, Hals hated wasting food.
At the same time, he disapproved of using cream as a prank.
What was the fun in that?
Eating it was better.
Hals liked sweets.
“Shave.”
Hals suddenly disappeared and reappeared elsewhere, avoiding the old man’s cream cake.
He glanced at the old man with disdain.
Hals scanned everyone. The big box hadn’t been opened yet, its contents unknown.
He glanced at the old man and Ain.
“You two villains used cream to attack me.”
See, Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Admiral Aokiji wouldn’t do that.
“Where’s Teacher Zephyr?”
“Smack—”
Something stuck to the back of Hals’ head, cream.
He had just washed his hair that morning.
Hals couldn’t lash out at everyone, so he used [Purification Water] to clean the cream.
Turning back, he saw a purple figure.
Well, this person was really something.
Hals pouted. The remaining two also gave up using cream against him, as Hals used [Shave] to dodge it, clearly not wanting to be touched by cream.
Ain and the old man decided to eat the cream.
“Kappu—”
Sengoku covered his head, not wanting to say anything, pretending not to know Kappu.
This guy came over early, saying his grandson would return today, and they’d celebrate his birthday belatedly. Sengoku agreed, as there were fewer documents lately, and everything was nearly done. Besides, it was his old friend’s grandson, so he could join the celebration.
But why ask me to smear cream cake on his face?
Sengoku couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Admiral Aokiji just watched, no longer sleepy.
His hand trembled slightly, his usually indifferent expression showing a hint of excitement and restlessness.
He wanted to join in but decided against it.
He was an admiral and didn’t need to do such boring things.
Aokiji picked up a slice of cream cake from a nearby chair, took a fork, and started eating slowly.
Seeing Aokiji eating, Sengoku also grabbed a cream cake and started eating.
“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”
Hals looked at the three of them, who smiled awkwardly, likely trying to involve the others, but they didn’t participate.
“Smack—”
Hals covered his face, unsure of what to say.
“Cough, cough, let’s eat cake.”
Teacher Zephyr coughed, then opened the box. Inside was a small box with a chocolate cake.
Aokiji and Sengoku had nearly finished their cream cakes and set them aside.
Hals liked cake.
After singing the birthday song, and making a wish, they started sharing the cake.
After eating the cake…
“Hals, I have a question for you.”
“Teacher Zephyr, please ask.”
“Would you prefer working at Marine Headquarters in the future or becoming a base commander? I personally suggest the headquarters, where you can seek my guidance if needed, and there’s good potential for promotion.”
So, it was this.
Hals had already planned his future.
He intended to work as an Impel Down jailer for a while, leveraging his connections in the Navy, becoming a jailer with some influence, and reforming Impel Down.
Hals envisioned countless negative emotions surging toward him.
“Teacher Zephyr, I want to go to Impel Down.”
“Why?”
Teacher Zephyr and everyone else were puzzled. What was the appeal?
Hals had his reasoning ready.
“If you ask why, I can say it’s for justice.”
No, it’s for the negative emotions.
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