With the effort he put into his appearance, Fang Bo looked like a pirate with a bounty of at least five million.
The chefs at the sea restaurant were no slouches in combat, with Red-Leg Zeff having once ventured into the Grand Line as a pirate.
But so what? Zeff was over sixty, had lost a leg, and his fighting strength was likely less than a third of his peak.
Standing behind Fang Bo was the Black Cat Pirates, a force that wouldn’t take a mere sea restaurant seriously.
With a sharp gaze scanning the surroundings, Jason the Marauder’s low voice sent a shiver down the spine of every dining guest.
“Get out.”
At his command, the guests hurriedly fled outside.
Many recognized the Black Cat Pirates’ flag. Few dared to cross paths with this notorious group in the East Blue.
The bustling restaurant hall was nearly empty within moments, leaving just a few stragglers.
Among the remaining guests, Fang Bo finally noticed a member of the Silver Fox Squad.
When he first entered the story world, he witnessed the man engaging in a fierce battle with Olsen. The sharp swordsmanship left a lasting impression on him.
He hadn’t expected to encounter the man at the sea restaurant.
Fang Bo had a hunch that the man was there for a specific purpose. Some reincarnators might have stumbled upon something significant without knowing the story.
Selling such information would naturally allow other reincarnators to follow suit. Otherwise, who would come here just for a meal?
“Wait here for me,” Fang Bo said, then walked towards the Silver Fox Squad members.
With the Black Cat’s ship docked nearby and a group of pirates on alert, no one in the sea restaurant dared to make a move against him.
Pulling out a chair, Fang Bo sat before the two men, his gaze lingering on Yamada’s weapon. “Your swordsmanship is impressive. Haven’t you thought about visiting dojos on the islands?”
Yamada and his companion were taken aback. They had expected many responses, but not one suggesting they become dojo apprentices.
With a hand on his holstered gun, Vincenzo spoke in a deep voice, “The captain’s skills are unparalleled. He doesn’t need to study at any dojo.”
“Doesn’t need to?” Fang Bo smiled but said nothing. These guys underestimated the power ceiling of the One Piece world and needed help understanding the hidden dangers of East Blue.
Shifting his attention to the young man, Fang Bo raised an eyebrow, recognizing the man as a rare dual-wielding gunslinger.
Typically, gunslingers carried life-saving tools in their off-hand slot, like maneuver gear, small shields, or smoke bombs for confusion.
Carrying two guns meant he was either a fool or an expert supremely confident in his abilities.
“Unfortunately, overconfidence often leads to an early death,” Fang Bo said bluntly.
He didn’t care if they went to dojos, but they couldn’t interfere with his upcoming plans. He would have attacked upon recognizing them if not for their shared faction.
Vincenzo was about to react when Yamada stopped him. “Don’t be impulsive. He’s not our enemy yet,” he said, turning to Fang Bo. “I know you repelled the Sound Nest Squad. I don’t know the details, but I’m sure you understand their strength.”
Of course, Fang Bo knew how strong the opponents were.
He and Captain Kuro had the advantage of planning and location in that battle, yet they barely prevented a decapitation strike.
The powerful sniper could have wiped out their most vital members if it had been a fair fight.
Nodding slightly, Fang Bo was curious about Yamada’s following words.
“No matter the process, you’re now the main target of Sound Nest’s hunt. Are you sure your story characters can handle a navy fleet?”
With a few words, Fang Bo realized they didn’t fully understand the Black Cat Pirates, at least not in their current form.
Since that battle, the Black Cats had transformed. The addition of Alvida’s crew significantly boosted their base strength.
The onmyoji filled the gap in high-end combat power, ensuring Fang Bo wouldn’t have to face enemy squads alone.
When he was weaker, he dared to scheme against them, even claiming the sniper’s life. Why would he fear now that he was stronger?
“If they dare, let them come,” Fang Bo said, glancing at the silent chefs. “Instead of worrying about me, you should consider your own situation.”
It didn’t matter if they were famous. With his pirate crew surrounding the place, their priority should be survival.
Paul had already drawn his cursed sword beside him, ready to strike at Fang Bo’s command. The sword’s eerie glow caught Yamada’s attention.
“Nice blade,” Yamada said, slowly drawing his sword. “But it doesn’t compare to mine.”
Seeing his captain’s pride, Vincenzo sighed and turned to Fang Bo with a sly smile. “Aren’t you curious how we got here?”
During their conversation, the remaining guests had fled the sea restaurant. Only the massive ship and the Black Cat’s vessel remained.
Now noticing the duo had no ship, Fang Bo realized they could leave anytime.
Gripping the Dragoon’s hilt, Fang Bo weighed the pros and cons. He wanted to eliminate them but worried it might disrupt his plans.
A fight could escalate unpredictably, especially since the Silver Fox Squad had three members, and one might be on watch.
Raising a hand to stop Paul, Fang Bo said, “Ten seconds. Disappear from my sight, or I will kill you.”
His gaze fixed on Vincenzo. At this distance, summoning the giants could catch him off guard.
Stopping his furious comrade, Yamada looked deeply at Fang Bo. “We’ll leave, but don’t misunderstand. This is a compromise to deal with the navy.”
In other words, they were fearless but unwilling to jeopardize their primary mission.
Ignoring his attitude, Yamada approached the sea restaurant’s entrance, facing the calm sea.
All eyes were on him, curious how he’d leave without a ship.
“Is he going to swim away?” a chef sneered, mocking the duo for backing down.
Most chefs were former pirates, familiar with brawls. They expected an exciting fight and were disappointed by the anticlimactic end.
Unperturbed, Yamada raised his sword, his expression solemn. “Against the current, ride the waves!”
As the blade vibrated gently, the surrounding sea surged violently. When the waters calmed, the reincarnators were gone.
“What was that?!” Zan Gao was stunned. He sensed a mysterious power from the sword, as if it had a soul, with Yamada’s chant as the key.
Even Fang Bo, knowledgeable as he was, was surprised.
“If I’m not mistaken, that was a zanpakuto’s release, a water-type blade. Deadly for Devil Fruit users.”
He had inquired about the Silver Fox Squad’s movements, fearing they’d join the pirate admiral’s fleet.
Surprisingly, they were kept from knowing their whereabouts, not even on the navy’s wanted lists.
Ryuno speculated they had a specific goal, different from those following the main quest.
Seeing Yamada’s power, Fang Bo guessed they might target a specific ability user.
With the suitable terrain, even powerful abilities could be neutralized.
“Everyone has their tricks,” Fang Bo thought, ignoring the Silver Fox Squad unless they became a threat.
Knowing more than necessary wouldn’t help. Who would guess the smoking boy in the corner was a fugitive prince of the Vinsmoke family?
For years, the Vinsmokes searched for Sanji, offering a hefty reward.
Capturing Sanji would give Fang Bo leverage with Germa 66.
Despite his distaste, Sanji was still a Vinsmoke. The judge wouldn’t let his son roam freely.
Even marrying him off would be better, as would gaining support from a Yonko.
Understanding this, Fang Bo chose the sea restaurant, hoping to contact the Vinsmokes through Sanji.
In addition to other reasons, he needed his damaged goggles repaired, a trivial task for a family capable of creating exoskeletons.
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