One Piece: The True Codex

Charles found Zeff in the kitchen, where Zeff was harshly reprimanding Sanji. Upon seeing Charles's anxious expression, Zeff paused in his scolding.

"What's wrong?"

Despite being a former pirate who had ventured into the Grand Line, Charles's mental fortitude was strong. His current demeanor, however, was enough to pique Zeff's curiosity.

After glancing at Sanji, Charles said gravely to Zeff, "Captain, the Morgan Pirates are here."

Sanji watched the two with curiosity. In his memory, these people had always seemed fearless, never showing such solemn expressions just from hearing a name.

"So they've come after all...," Zeff's mustache twitched. "Is Stolt with them?"

"I haven't seen them board yet, I came straight to you," Charles replied, frowning. "But knowing his intellect, if he dares to come after knowing we've returned from the Grand Line, he's surely leading them himself."

"Go gather the old crew," Zeff said, wiping his hands with his apron before tossing it onto Sanji's face. "I'll go meet them first."

...

Meanwhile, the Morgan Pirates' warship had already docked beside the sea restaurant, Baratie. Leading the group, William disembarked with his cadre.

This time, William brought not only the newly developed chemical weapon M.H.1 from the laboratory but also most of his top officers and skilled fighters, unsure of what opportunities Zeff might have encountered in the Grand Line.

William glanced at the restaurant's sign with interest before entering. The previously noisy restaurant fell silent upon their arrival.

At the table where Charles had served earlier, the female customer peeked over, her gaze sweeping over William and Dampier. She murmured to herself, "He really is handsome..."

"What did you say?" her companion asked.

"Nothing, just that their leader isn't fierce-looking at all, quite the opposite of what the bards described," she replied.

When Zeff emerged from the kitchen, William was already seated. Despite having lost a leg, Zeff moved without hindrance, his wooden prosthetic tapping rhythmically as he approached William's table in the center of the restaurant.

Out of caution, Zeff surveyed his surroundings while walking. He first glanced at the entrance, where a tall man with thick lips and fluffy hair leaned lazily against the doorframe.

Zeff immediately noticed the two sleek silver revolvers tucked into the man's waist, with the holsters' straps already undone.

This man was Yasopp, the top marksman under William's command. Beside him lay a long bolt-action rifle, its position offering a clear view, allowing Yasopp's shooting skills to target anyone in the hall without fail.

A young man with a baby face, calloused hands, and a sword at his waist stood directly opposite the kitchen. He was the first to spot Zeff as he emerged, grinning and revealing two small canine teeth.

Zeff then looked toward the back door, where several tough-looking men stood.

Gritting his teeth, Zeff reached William's table. William, now wearing a gray high-collared coat, had his blond hair neatly combed back, looking vastly different from the young, inexperienced captain Zeff remembered. Zeff glanced at William's waist, where a simple white-sheathed katana was tucked.

Dampier, seated at the same table, also bore a sword. With every entrance guarded and armed, Zeff knew they weren't here just for a meal, even if he hadn't been a seasoned pirate with years of experience.

William was observing Zeff too, his gaze lingering on Zeff's wooden leg before assessing his physique. Despite having retired as a chef for less than a year, Zeff's body had changed, no longer as fit as William remembered. William noticed a slight paunch, causing him to frown.

This indicated that Zeff's desire to retire wasn't feigned. For someone of Zeff's caliber, the loss of a leg wasn't the most critical issue—it was the extinguished ambition that mattered.

"Your entourage has grown, Stolt," Zeff said, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "But I hear you're called William now?"

William didn't mind Zeff's tone, smiling as he replied, "Why didn't you inform an old friend when you returned from the Grand Line?"

William glanced around the restaurant. "If you wanted to open a restaurant, I could have helped."

"I heard you're quite the figure now, the uncrowned king of Navia Kingdom," Zeff snorted. "But we're hardly old friends, and I'm just a cook now. I don't want any ties with you. The treasure I brought back from the Grand Line is enough to keep my restaurant running."

In truth, Zeff wanted nothing to do with William. In his mind, William was cunning and domineering despite his outward affability. Zeff had no desire to return to piracy; he simply wished to be a chef, especially after hearing of William's growing influence in the East Blue over the past year.

As they spoke, Zeff's former pirate crew, now the restaurant's management, gathered behind him. Every one of them was disabled—some missing arms, others legs.

William scanned the group, puzzled. "What happened in the Grand Line? Why are so many of you missing, and those who returned so severely injured?"

Zeff glanced back at his crew, feeling nostalgic. "Sailing the Grand Line isn't easy. We fought fierce foes and battled unpredictable weather. Many of my comrades were lost forever in those waters. After my navigator passed away, I decided to bring the survivors back to the East Blue. At least if we die, we'll die in our home waters."

"And their arms and legs?" William asked, frowning.

Zeff turned back, his face expressionless. "After barely making it through the Calm Belt, the ship was badly damaged. We tried to hijack a passenger ship but got caught in a storm. Both pirates and passengers ended up stranded on a barren island without food."

"After a month of starvation, some died, and the rest went mad, wanting to eat the elderly and children," Zeff explained. Behind him, Charles lowered his head uncomfortably. "Then, someone cut off their own leg to feed them. After that, all the surviving adults followed suit, allowing us to endure until rescue arrived."

Zeff exhaled, the brief recounting seeming to drain him. "Now you know. Is this answer satisfactory? If so, perhaps you can tell me why you're here?"

William didn't answer Zeff's question, instead looking at Zeff's feet. "Was it you who cut off your own leg?"

Zeff remained expressionless, neither confirming nor denying.

"'Red-Leg' Zeff," William sighed sincerely. "Was it worth it?"

"It's not about worth. After all we've been through, my crew and I don't want to be pirates anymore. As long as I have hands to cook, that's enough for me," Zeff said firmly. "Besides, I'm a chef and a captain. I couldn't let my crew become mindless beasts, so I had to find a way to feed them."

Behind Zeff, his crew looked complex, but none spoke.

After a moment of silence, William asked, "To be honest, I'm here for your ship's logbook."

"I figured as much," Zeff sneered. "Besides the logbook recording our year-long journey in the Grand Line, what else could we, fallen pirates, have that someone as prominent as you would want?"

"Do you still have the logbook?" William asked.

"I do," Zeff nodded, then countered, "But why should I give it to you? It's a shared memory with my comrades."

"I'll have someone copy it; I won't take the original," William said, signaling to Yasopp at the door, who gestured to the crew outside. "Additionally, I can invest a hundred million Beli in your restaurant to help expand your business."

As he spoke, several pirates from the Morgan Pirates hurried in, carrying briefcases which they placed on the table, revealing stacks of large-denomination Beli inside.

"Investment?" Zeff didn't even glance at the money, instead looking pointedly at Dampier. "I don't want my restaurant to become a puppet like Dampier's arms company."

William wasn't bothered by Zeff's dismissive attitude. Beside him, Dampier smirked and placed a sealed metal canister about a foot long on the table.

The canister bore a skull and the letters M.H.1.

Zeff looked at William, puzzled. William leaned forward, whispering something in Zeff's ear.

"You madman!" Zeff exclaimed, shocked.

William sat back, smiling. "This stuff, the World Government and Marines are developing it too, and theirs is surely more lethal and destructive. If they can research it, why can't our allied nations?"

"Captain Zeff, after hearing your story, I don't wish to trouble you. Personally, I respect your actions, but I must also be responsible for my crew. So I need that logbook, no matter what," William said, his smile fading. "Otherwise, why do you think I came on a pirate ship?"

Zeff's expression turned cold. "You mean, if I don't agree, you'll take it by force?"

The atmosphere grew tense, Zeff's crew slowly spreading out to encircle the table.

On William's side, Yasopp straightened from his lazy posture at the door, hands at his sides. Aramis, Edmond, Selkirk, Diego, and others accompanying William all placed their hands on their weapons, their expressions cold.

The customers who had been watching quickly retreated to the corners, fearing the confrontation. They couldn't escape as William's men controlled all exits of Baratie.

William remained calm, he and Dampier leisurely pulling gas masks from their coats and putting them on, causing Zeff's cheek to twitch involuntarily.

As Zeff hesitated, a young boy with golden hair, wearing a chef's uniform, suddenly ran from the kitchen. He clutched a kitchen knife tightly, standing by Zeff's side, asking nervously, "Old man, what are they doing? Are they robbing our restaurant?"

Charles, seeing the boy, grew tense. "Sanji, what are you doing? Go back to the kitchen!"

"No! I want to defend this restaurant too!" Sanji shouted.

Zeff looked deeply at Sanji before speaking to the indifferent William. "I can lend you the logbook to copy."

"Captain!" Charles and the others stared at Zeff, shocked that their usually steadfast captain would yield.

"The logbook is ultimately just a record. I don't want past memories to endanger my living comrades," Zeff said, locking eyes with William. "Besides, you're just copying it, right?"

William smiled, though with the gas mask on, Zeff couldn't see it. "Of course, I only need the contents."

"Charles, go to my room and fetch the logbook," Zeff ordered without turning.

Charles hesitated until Zeff repeated the order, reluctantly leaving the hall.

Zeff's crew, though displeased, obeyed their captain's command, returning to his side. William and Dampier removed their masks.

"I've agreed to lend you the logbook," Zeff said, glancing disdainfully at the metal canister. "You can take that thing away now."

William signaled for the gas canister to be temporarily taken back to the ship. Meanwhile, Charles returned with the logbook, handing it first to Zeff. Zeff affectionately touched the cover before carefully giving it to William.

Having served as both navigator and captain, William was familiar with logbooks. He took it, flipping through briefly while asking, "Did you visit Water 7 or see the sea train?"

"We didn't go to Water 7, but we saw the sea train in the culinary capital, Pucci," Zeff recalled.

William looked up from the logbook, intrigued. "How was it? Is it as good as the news says?"

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