Kicking techniques were Zeff's pride, second only to his culinary skills. Back in his pirate days, countless opponents had fallen beneath his devastating kicks, their blood staining his feet red thus earning him the nickname Red-Leg Zeff.
"What's your name, kid?" Zeff asked, his voice low and gravelly.
"Lucas Moore."
"Alright. I'll accept the compensation you gave me, but in return, you'll work off your debt here at Baratie for at least a month."
"No."
"What?!" Zeff scowled. "It's just waiting tables and taking orders. No kitchen grunt work involved."
Just then, a familiar voice echoed from the spiral staircase in the corridor.
"How much does the kid still owe you?"
Lucas and Zeff turned at the same time to see Garp standing at the foot of the stairs.
Zeff's eyes widened. "You're... the Hero of the Marines, Garp?"
Garp grinned broadly. "Red-Leg Zeff, former head chef and captain of the Cook Pirates, now owner of Baratie. Just because you've retired from piracy doesn't mean your bounty's vanished. I could haul you in anytime."
Zeff narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew full well he wasn't a match for Garp.
Even so, he didn't plan to go down quietly. "If you knew Baratie was mine, you could've arrested me long ago. So why now?"
Still grinning, Garp said, "I'm a reasonable guy. Let the kid go, and I'll let you go too. Fair trade, don't you think?"
Zeff chuckled coldly. "A brat like him, and yet you, the great Hero of the Marines, show up personally to rescue him? His background must be anything but simple."
"Hahahaha!" Garp laughed heartily. "Don't be so tense. He's just an ordinary kid. I was just taking a walk after dessert when I happened to see a poor, helpless, innocent child being bullied by a crusty old man, and my sense of justice compelled me to intervene."
Zeff stared in silence.
Yeah, right. Like I'm buying that load of crap.
"What do you really want?" Zeff asked, clearly fed up.
Garp turned to Lucas, still smiling. "Kid, I saved your skin. Now you owe me. I'm not asking for much. Just join the Marines."
Lucas gave him a deadpan stare.
What is wrong with this guy?
Why was he so fixated on him?
In truth, Garp had noticed the commotion upstairs right after he finished his snack.
Driven by curiosity, he'd gone up and seen Lucas trading kicks with Zeff.
He knew who Red-Leg Zeff was. The man may not be in Garp's league, but he could easily stomp any upstart rookie.
Yet this kid had gone blow-for-blow with him.
And more importantly
From the wooden sword hanging at Lucas's waist, it was clear he was a swordsman.
But instead of using it, he'd chosen to face Zeff with his legs.
Garp immediately recognized what was happening.
This brat's trying to beat his opponent with their own specialty. Bold little punk.
The more Garp saw, the more he liked him.
And he was starting to understand why Red-Haired Shanks had taken a liking to this kid.
Zeff, meanwhile, was also picking up on something interesting.
He smirked. "Garp, you asked him to join the Marines before, didn't you? Got turned down, right?"
Garp scratched his head and laughed. "Heh. Yeah... guess I did. Bit embarrassing, huh?"
Zeff continued, "But from the look on the kid's face, he's not interested. If you force him to enlist, then how are you any different from those ruthless pirates who'll do anything to get their way?"
"Hahaha! You've got it all wrong. Who said I was forcing him?" Garp grinned at Lucas. "Kid, I bailed you out. In return, join the Marines and we're even."
Before Lucas could answer, Zeff jumped in, "Kid, I know you don't want to be a Marine. So how about this? Stay at Baratie as long as you like. You don't have to do chores. Go where you want, do what you want. Just don't cause trouble. Deal?"
It was clear Zeff was deliberately challenging Garp.
"Hey! Zeff!" Garp looked annoyed. "Do you have to be so difficult?"
Zeff laughed heartily. "I'm just giving the kid another option. It's up to him now. So, Lucas, what do you say?"
Lucas let out a faint chuckle. "Sounds good."
Zeff's offer basically meant he could hang around without lifting a finger.
Why hesitate?
Of course he'd take it.
Debts were a pain. He had no intention of letting anyone in this world hold leverage over him.
Zeff smirked. "Looks like I win. Didn't think I'd live to see the day when the mighty Garp got rejected."
Garp paused for a beat.
Then burst out laughing.
He didn't seem the least bit bothered that Lucas had turned him down.
"Hahahaha!" Garp roared. "Now this is one interesting brat. In that case, I've made up my mind. I'm staying here too. Whenever Lucas leaves, that's when I'll go."
"Huh?" Zeff blinked. "You're seriously staying for him? Don't forget your job. Aren't you supposed to be hunting pirates?"
Garp pointed at Zeff and grinned. "Of course I am. But I heard your restaurant's got a steady stream of pirate customers. If I can eat good desserts and catch pirates who walk right into my trap, why not kill two birds with one stone?"
Zeff: "..."
Lucas: "..."
Lucas didn't expect Garp to go this far.
His relentless push to get Lucas to join the Marines... it really reminded him of how Luffy would one day chase down Zoro, Sanji, and the rest to join his crew.
No wonder they're related...
Forget it. Let him do what he wants.
Lucas had no intention of lingering around.
Without saying more, he turned and started walking toward the kitchen.
Zeff called after him, "Where are you going?"
Lucas answered calmly, "The kitchen."
Zeff raised a brow. "You know how to cook?"
Lucas didn't miss a beat. "No."
Zeff: "..."
Garp burst out laughing. "Hahahaha!"
Once Lucas disappeared into the kitchen, Garp prepared to head back to the dining area.
Zeff stopped him. "Garp, are you really planning to stay here?"
Garp grinned. "Of course."
With that, he strolled down the spiral staircase and returned to the main hall.
Zeff's eyes lingered on the kitchen doors. "Just who is this kid...?"
In the kitchen, Lucas barely spared a glance at the dozen or so busy chefs. His eyes landed on Sanji, who was standing at the sink, scrubbing dishes with focused precision.
Based on what he'd gathered from his time in Shimotsuki Village, Sanji was going to be an important piece of the puzzle for completing his system tasks.
Without hesitation, Lucas walked toward him.
Sensing someone approaching, Sanji looked over.
It was that kid who had fought Zeff to a standstill.
Surprised, Sanji fumbled the dish in his hands.
Clatter!
The plate hit the floor and shattered.
Sanji's face went pale. "Ah! Damn it... That old geezer's gonna kill me..."