Chương 14: As a pirate! Are you not ashamed?
"Old man, what are you implying?" Sanji's tone held a note of dissatisfaction.
"Do you know his rank in the Navy?" Zeff's impatience was palpable.
"I do, he's a Vice Admiral," Luffy's voice chimed in.
Everyone's expressions instantly froze.
"Yes, he's not just a regular Vice Admiral, but a Vice Admiral from Headquarters. His strength is far beyond your league."
"Are you getting it now?" Kahn spoke calmly.
Zeff's expression turned serious.
"I'll pay up for them, please don't take them!" Zeff suddenly declared.
"Old man, what are you talking about?" Sanji retorted immediately, his dissatisfaction evident.
Zeff glanced at him, his gaze carrying a silent message.
"Sanji, you and I co-founded this restaurant, so in a way, you have a stake in it. And now that you're leaving, consider it as if you're selling your share to me," Zeff explained.
Sanji fell silent, understanding the old man's intentions. He knew this was a way for the old man to bid him farewell.
"Very well, I appreciate people who can talk money with me. The Straw Hat Pirates have a bounty of 30 million Berries also they have nice ship, and if we add that, it becomes 60 million." Kahn's voice held an air of finality.
Everyone was left speechless. Was the person before them truly a member of the Navy?
"Can you change your mind?"
"Are you joking?"
Zeff's smile faded into a wry expression. He felt a hint of regret.
"Why does our ship count?" Luffy inquired.
"Think about it! If I catch you, the pirate ship will be confiscated too, won't it?"
"That's right! That's right!"
Zoro and Sanji exchanged looks, both feeling dumbfounded.
Zoro took it more or less in stride, while Sanji began questioning his decision.
"Hurry up, my patience has its limits."
"And how could we just hand it over?" Sanji's voice resounded.
Simultaneously, his attack followed.
"Over my dead body."
Zeff's attempt to intervene was futile.
Sanji's signature kicking prowess didn't seem to faze Kahn, who effortlessly gripped Sanji's leg.
Sanji's expression changed as he realized his formidable power was having no effect.
Kahn's eyes gleamed coldly.
"You really don't know how to show respect to your elders!"
In the next moment, Sanji felt an immense force.
He was lifted and then thrown backward, crashing onto the floor and creating a human-shaped dent.
The lower deck was visible through the hole.
Sanji's body absorbed a critical hit, leading him to cough up a mouthful of blood. He winced in pain.
"Release my cook!"
"Luffy, GOMU-GOMU Pistol!"
Luffy's anger was palpable.
"One-Sword Style: Lion's Song!"
Given that two of Zoro's swords had been shattered by Hawkeye, Sauron unleashed his most potent single-sword strike yet.
"Shave!"
Even as Kahn held Sanji, he evaded Zoro's attack and swiftly closed the distance to Luffy.
Having encountered this move before, Luffy was prepared.
"Rubber Rubber Machine Gun!"
A barrage of punches rained down like a torrential downpour.
Yet, it wasn't enough to phase Kahn, who easily sidestepped the assault.
Sanji was weaponized as Kahn swept him through the air, using him to knock Luffy down.
Kahn promptly followed up.
He planted one foot on Luffy while supporting Sanji with his other hand. The two were immobilized and defenseless.
"Ding!"
Kahn's left hand turned dark as he seized Zoro's Hedao cut from behind.
"A sneak attack from behind isn't something a swordsman should resort to," Kahn chided calmly.
Behind Kahn stood Zoro, who appeared pale, exhausted, and panting heavily.
Although his injuries had been tended to, the intense exertion had caused fresh blood to trickle.
Kahn exerted pressure and, with a formidable effort, flung Zoro into the wall of the restaurant ship.
In a mere instant, all three Straw Hat Pirates members were incapacitated.
Their current power levels were clearly insufficient to contend with someone of Kahn's caliber.
"Since you don't have money, come with me," Kahn stated simply.
"Wait, I'll pay!" Zeff's voice sounded.
His expression was a mixture of shock and dread.
The Navy officer before him was overwhelmingly powerful and didn't belong to the same league as the Navy he had encountered on the Grand Line.
He couldn't stand by and watch Sanji being taken away before he had even set sail.
A smile formed on Kahn's face.
"As the price has gone up, so has my consulting fee. Besides, I'm growing old, and selling myself isn't easy!"
"Fine, I'm in!"
"I appreciate your cleverness and quick thinking. Let's do the math. The initial price was 60 million Berries, and my consultation fee is relatively low—let's say 40 million. That makes it a total of 100 million. And for you, it'll cost 200 million Berries."
Stunned silence swept through the group.
Was this how financial negotiations worked?
Zeff stood flabbergasted, realizing this was just the starting point.
"Isn't it supposed to be 100 million Berries? Why 200 million?" Usopp questioned.
"Because he's including me, isn't he? The Vice Admiral!" Zeff exclaimed, his realization dawning.
"Smart move!"
Kahn regarded Zeff with a hint of admiration.
Zeff managed a wry smile in response. His own bounty hadn't been retracted, and given the Navy officer's evident money-mindedness, there was no chance he'd be allowed to escape.
"The head chef is no longer a pirate, how can he be held accountable?"
"Exactly!"
"Silence! Does confessing your guilt after committing a crime absolve you of the crime itself?" Kahn's sneer cut through the air.
For someone to declare they weren't a pirate after committing piratical acts, did that erase their prior misdeeds?
Despite Zeff's present demeanor, his past as Redfoot Zeff—his kicks having been drenched in the blood of others—could not be denied.
A heavy silence followed Kahn's words.
"All right, I agree. Can you release them now?"
"Very well, go fetch the money!"
Kahn released the trio, allowing them to stand freely.
Despite their anger, even the typically impulsive Luffy didn't attempt further action.
The disparity in strength between them and Kahn was overwhelming.
Unfazed, Kahn continued with a smile, "Zoro and Sanji, take note. You both need to put in more effort. With your current strength, you're simply not enough."
Both Zoro and Sanji listened intently, their focus sharpened.
"Look at Luffy, his bounty is at least 30 million Berries. And you? Alas, you're not even worthy of being apprehended by me. It's quite disgraceful for pirates, don't you think?"
Kahn's words struck a nerve.
Both Zoro and Sanji felt their faces burn red with embarrassment.
"Does that anger you? That's good. It means you're coming to terms with your own inadequacy, and there's hope in that realization."
"Aspirants, ahem, pirates, should be mindful of their personal growth. I'm not suggesting you engage in wrongdoing, but I am cautioning you. You're still young and have much to learn. If I miss this time, catching you next time will be even more justifiable."
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