He said he needed to think about it, but his body was far more honest.
The moment Sanji saw Luffy wailing as he was sent flying, he instinctively shouted, "Luffy!"
Without hesitation, he placed one hand on the railing, leaped from the second floor, and swung his leg down in a tomahawk-style axe kick aimed at Lucci's head.
Lucci didn't sense any Haki in the attack, so he didn't take it seriously. Raising his arm casually, he blocked Sanji's heavy blow with ease.
Then, moving with astonishing speed, Lucci grabbed Sanji's ankle before he could land. With a fluid motion, he spun Sanji around like a windmill and sent him flying straight into the bar.
Sanji crashed into the counter, knocking over drinks as bottles shattered around him.
"Are you also his accomplice?" Lucci asked as he straightened his collar.
Sanji staggered to his feet, visibly frustrated.
"Bastard," Sanji cursed under his breath.
Just as he was about to retaliate, Lucci furrowed his brows slightly as if something had just occurred to him. His expression shifted to mild surprise as he asked, "Vinsmoke… Sanji?"
Sanji's movements froze for a brief moment at the mention of the name "Vinsmoke." His expression darkened.
"Judging by that look on your face, it really is you," Lucci remarked with a smirk. "I thought so—outside of the Vinsmoke family, it's rare to see such distinct eyebrows."
Sanji didn't respond. Instead, he vaulted over the bar and charged at Lucci again. At the same time, Luffy had already recovered and was rushing forward as well. The two attacked in unison, attempting to corner Lucci.
"Collier Shoot!"
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"
Despite being attacked from both sides, Lucci remained composed, moving effortlessly like paper on the wind. He slipped through the gaps in their attacks with flawless agility, dodging smoothly while extending both hands.
With one hand grabbing Sanji's ankle and the other catching Luffy's arm, he suddenly twisted his body—slamming both of them into each other in midair before hurling them straight into the ground!
After releasing them, Lucci extended his finger and jabbed it straight into Sanji's shoulder, piercing a bloody hole through it like a bullet.
He had been holding back against Luffy, out of respect for both his father and grandfather. But when it came to Sanji?
The Vinsmoke family might be powerful, but compared to CP-X, they were insignificant. Lucci had no reason to show Vinsmoke Judge—or Sanji—any mercy.
"Aghhh!!" Sanji cried out in pain.
"Stop! Sanji is just a cook—he's not a pirate!" Zeff shouted urgently.
Zeff could turn a blind eye to Luffy's situation, but there was no way he could sit back and watch Sanji get beaten like this.
Lucci slowly withdrew his bloodstained finger, shook it off, then turned his gaze to Zeff.
"The moment he dared to attack me, he became a criminal, pirate or not."
Lucci didn't recognize Zeff as a former pirate. After all, he wasn't some nobody. He had more important things to do than concern himself with a long-retired pirate.
As far as he was concerned, Zeff was nothing more than a restaurant owner.
Zeff was momentarily speechless. He had no idea how to respond.
At that moment, a powerful presence entered the restaurant.
A broad-shouldered, imposing figure strode inside, draped in a Marine "Cloak of Justice." He wore a gray suit, his hair streaked with gray, and a hook-shaped scar curved around the corner of his eye.
His aura alone was overwhelming.
And then, the man bellowed, "LUFFY!!! You little bastard! You've finally gone and become a pirate, huh?! This time, your grandpa is gonna knock some sense into you! Just you wait!"
There was no mistaking him—this was Vice Admiral Garp.
Lucci smirked at the sight of him, nodded, and greeted him, "Vice Admiral Garp, you're here."
"Oh? If it isn't Lucci!" Garp replied, looking at him with a grin. "Damn, this whole mess even managed to get your attention, huh? Now I'm embarrassed!"
Lucci chuckled. "Since you're here, Vice Admiral, I'll leave this matter in your hands."
"Oh?" Garp raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "You're letting this one go just like that?"
Lucci simply nodded without elaborating.
In reality, he had arrived long before Garp but hadn't taken any real action. He had only been waiting for the Vice Admiral to show up.
After all, Luffy might be called a pirate, but he hadn't committed any real crimes. The only thing he'd done so far was defeat a bunch of actual pirates. He hadn't caused any harm to innocent people.
Because of that, Lucci didn't mind letting Garp handle him.
Let this old man drag his grandson back home and discipline him properly. That would be the end of it.
"Grandpa?!" Luffy's face twisted in panic.
Garp didn't waste any words. He grabbed Luffy by the collar, hoisted him off the ground, and slammed a fist straight into his head.
"You little bastard! You're even more of a headache than your old man! I'm a Marine hero! Your father is a high-ranking official in the World Government! And YOU have the audacity to run off and become a pirate?! Have you even considered how that makes us feel?!"
Luffy clutched his head, struggling. "Let go! I'm going to be the Pirate King! I made a promise to Shanks!"
"Pirate King, my ass!" Garp roared. "I'm throwing your sorry hide into Impel Down to cool off! And as for Shanks? I'll make sure he joins you soon!"
Without hesitation, Garp coated his head in Haki and delivered a devastating headbutt, knocking Luffy out cold.
Then, as if picking up a sack of garbage, he lifted the unconscious Luffy with one hand. Turning to Lucci, he declared, "I won't make things difficult for CP-X. I'll personally escort this brat to Impel Down."
This time, Garp was serious.
If he let Luffy go, who knew what kind of trouble he'd cause?
Maybe Claudius had tolerated him so far out of respect for both Garp and Dragon. But if Luffy actually became a major problem, Claudius wouldn't be so forgiving.
So it was better to just lock Luffy up for a few years before things escalated further.
Lucci had no objections. He smiled and said, "You handle it, Vice Admiral. His Highness isn't particularly concerned about this kid."
Then, taking a step closer to Garp, Lucci leaned in and whispered, "His Highness suggested that if you really can't keep him under control, maybe you should send him to young Master Ace."
Garp's eyes gleamed at the idea.
That… actually wasn't a bad option.
Still, he quickly dismissed the thought for now.
"The big battle is coming soon. I don't have time to deal with this brat. For now, he's going to Impel Down. Once things settle, I'll reconsider."
Lucci simply nodded. His message had been delivered.
Then, turning back to the crowd, Lucci yanked Usopp out, knocked him unconscious with a swift hand chop, and grabbed Sanji.
Sanji struggled frantically. "I HAVEN'T EVEN JOINED THE CREW YET! I'M NOT A PIRATE!!!"
"You can explain that to the judge at Enies Lobby," Lucci replied coldly.
And just like that, the Straw Hat Pirates, who had only been at sea for two months, were completely dismantled.
(To be continued.)
***
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