Chapter 41: I Don’t Eat Beef**

With the two reincarnators gone, there was no one left to stop him.

Kiba ordered his men to put away their weapons and lightly tapped the table. “We’ve been here for quite a while, and yet no one has come to greet us?”

The server snapped back to reality and was about to step forward when Sanji stopped him.

“Let me handle this.”

Sanji knew these people were trouble, so he couldn’t let anyone else take the risk.

No matter what, Sanji, still young at this point, was already a skilled fighter, not inferior to old Zeff. Even if something happened, he would be able to handle it.

Step by step, he walked to the table, staring at this pirate with a bounty of five million. Maintaining a calm demeanor, he asked, “What would you like to eat?”

Kiba suddenly smiled, gesturing with his index finger for Sanji to come closer.

“What?” Sanji asked impatiently, but for the safety of the restaurant, he leaned in a bit.

Then he heard something that shocked him.

“I’d really like to know why a descendant of the Vinsmoke family would become a chef.”

Upon hearing his identity revealed, Sanji’s heart instantly raced with panic. However, he wouldn’t admit it. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“That’s fine.” Kiba turned and waved at a cook in the distance. “Hey, bring me a bowl of beef noodles, please.”

As the chef turned to the kitchen, Kiba smiled and suggested, “I don’t like scallions. If they’re in there, I’ll kill everyone on this ship. If they’re not, I’ll turn around and leave immediately.”

Hearing this, Sanji crushed his cigarette butt in his hand. He wanted to kick Kiba’s face hard, but considering everyone else’s safety, he restrained his impulse.

Time passed by slowly, and the atmosphere in the dining hall remained tense. The chefs seemed to sense something was wrong, and one by one, they picked up their weapons.

However, to the battle-hardened Black Cat Pirates, these people’s killing intent was far from intimidating.

If it came down to a fight, they could wipe out everyone here with minimal losses.

That’s the confidence that comes with strength.

Back in the day, even with Captain Kuro, the crew never felt such a strong sense of confidence. But ever since the brutal Jason became the first mate, it seemed the Black Cat Pirates had become invincible overnight.

It’s just that Kiba’s strength wasn’t quite there yet. If he got a bit stronger, he might replace Zango.

Holding a rope, Kiba gently swayed it, still practicing his hypnotism technique.

This skill can’t be used directly against enemies but can train mental control.

With stronger control, even if mental strength remains unchanged, the skill’s damage output will increase proportionally.

Whenever he had free time, Kiba would practice. After all, it’s just a matter of practice makes perfect.

Soon, the chef from earlier brought over the bowl of beef noodles.

Under normal circumstances, most beef noodles would come with the seasonings already added, but Sanji wasn’t particularly worried.

Because he knew the chef in front of him was one who preferred not to add extra seasoning.

When the bowl of beef noodles was placed on the table, Sanji looked down and saw there were indeed no scallions.

This meant that Kiba would have to keep his promise and leave.

Just as Sanji was about to tell him to go, the pirate looked up and gave him a sinister smile.

“I don’t eat beef.”

A flash of red light came from the barrel of the Dragon Lancer, and a flaming bullet exploded against the chef’s back. The blood sprayed out hadn’t even hit the ground before it was evaporated by the intense heat.

*[You activated the skill “Ammo Master,” consuming 2 points of mental energy. The next bullet will deal additional fire damage.]*

*[Your flaming bullet dealt 28+6 mixed damage to Chef Sam, triggering a burning effect that will continue to cause fire damage over the next ten seconds.]*

With the fire damage included, this shot dealt at least 40+ damage to the chef. That’s the power of an epic weapon.

“You bastard!” Sanji yelled, swearing to make sure this guy in front of him wouldn’t be able to live normally after this.

*Mutton Shoot!*

Sanji leaped into the air, focusing his strength on one leg, aiming to kick the pirate’s neck.

If this hit landed, it could definitely send the enemy flying; the power was not to be underestimated.

He did land the kick, but the one who went flying wasn’t the brute Jason; it was the poor giant, Tutu.

Sanji, somewhat stunned, hadn’t even landed before Big Head’s punch sent him rolling across the floor for seven or eight meters before he finally stopped.

There are still three years until Luffy sets sail, and the perverted chef’s combat strength is far from what it will be in the future. At most, he’s about on par with the aging Red-Leg Zeff, essentially just a big elite monster.

Given enough time, Sanji would have no problem dealing with the three giant brothers, but right now, time was the one thing he didn’t have.

“Ten seconds are up.” Kiba smiled as he raised the Dragon Lancer, aiming the barrel at Head Chef Zeff, who was currently fighting Paul.

Zeff had his back to him. Without mastering Haki, he wouldn’t be able to dodge this shot.

“Old man, get out of the way!!!”

Bang!

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*A thunder bullet exploded on Zeff’s back, causing less damage than the fire bullet, but it had a powerful paralysis effect.*

Because of his momentary hesitation, Zeff couldn’t dodge Paul’s deadly strike.

As the saying goes, "Youth fears strength." Being over sixty years old is already considered elderly in the pirate world, not to mention that Zeff was also a disabled old man. If Paul hadn’t held back, that strike might have been more than just a heavy injury that knocked Zeff to the ground.

“Are you still thinking of resisting?” Kiba smiled faintly, waving his hand, and a demon blade was placed right in front of Zeff’s neck.

At this, Sanji’s temper completely dissipated.

“You see, it’s much better like this.”

Step by step, Kiba walked behind Sanji, carefully observing him before aiming the gun at his knee.

With a bang, the gun fired. Sanji screamed in pain and collapsed to the ground, clutching his knee as he howled in agony.

“Sorry, sorry. Your strength is impressive, but I think it’s best to temporarily disable your legs.”

At this moment, Kiba looked like a demon; his faint smile sent chills down everyone’s spine.

Seeing that the chefs were still ready to fight, he said something that immediately quieted the room: “Don’t be rash, or you’ll waste Sanji’s sacrifice.”

With that, Kiba ordered his men to take Sanji to the ship and lock him up. Then the Black Cat Pirates left the floating restaurant.

“Did the message get sent?”

“Yes, the Navy has already received it.”

“That’s good. I’m sure the Vinsmoke family will send someone soon.”

Using Sanji as bait to complete the transaction with the Vinsmoke family—that was Kiba’s real plan.

To prevent anyone from raiding his base, he even set up a decoy, secretly hiding the severely injured Sanji in a specific location.

Even if the other side wanted to turn against him, without him leading the way, by the time they found Sanji, they might only find a corpse.

At first, Kiba was worried they would take too long to arrive. But at noon the next day, the mobile fortress of Germa 66 appeared on the horizon.

Slowly lifting his head, Kiba looked at the pink-haired girl and thought to himself, “Just as I expected.”

She was a beautiful woman with a slender, sexy figure, wearing a short skirt. Her butterfly-wing-shaped cape was very eye-catching, and her delicate features were unforgettable at first glance.

She was the eldest daughter of the Vinsmoke family, a princess of the Germa Kingdom, and was nicknamed “Poison Pink” Vinsmoke Reiju.

She was also Sanji’s most doting sister.

Through their father’s “lineage factor” modifications, she and her brothers’ genes mutated, giving them superhuman bodies and a special immunity to poisons, allowing them to absorb and release toxins.

Among the five siblings, only Reiju and Sanji retained basic human emotions, but she could not defy her father’s orders.

So upon hearing the news about her brother, Reiju immediately rushed over overnight, intending to free Sanji as soon as possible.

Otherwise, he would be forced back into that heartless family, becoming a political tool for their father to use in alliances with the Four Emperors.

Looking at the Black Cat Pirates’ ship below, Reiju lightly leaped, floating down like a feather onto their deck.

She silently looked around and finally fixed her gaze on the man in the black cloak. “Are you the brute Jason?”

Kiba didn’t answer her question, not wanting her to control the pace.

Others might not understand, but he knew very well that Vinsmoke Reiju had no intention of taking Sanji back to the Germa Kingdom.

If he handed him over, they might not get far before she let him go.

“Where is he?” Reiju’s emotions inevitably wavered when she saw he wasn’t answering.

Seeing this, Kiba opened his palm to reveal a lock of Sanji’s hair.

“He’s in my hands, but I won’t release him until I see some benefits.”

Taking a deep breath, Reiju asked in a deep voice, “Alright, how do you want to make the deal?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the long-awaited system notification finally sounded.

*[User 14552 has triggered a hidden quest: The Fugitive Sanji.]*

*[Quest Description: You have exposed Sanji’s hidden identity; unknown challenges are about to arise.]*

*[Quest Objective: Complete your transaction with the Vinsmoke family.]*

*[Warning: Ensure the safety of the hostage; otherwise, you will face an unstoppable, terrifying assault.]*

There were no specific requirements; simply completing the deal would be considered a success.

It seemed simple, but in reality, it was fraught with hidden dangers.

If one didn’t understand the Vinsmoke family’s situation and handed Sanji over to Reiju carelessly, the mission would likely be deemed a failure soon after.

If one insisted on completing the deal with the Germa Kingdom, Reiju, who cared deeply for her brother, would most likely take action.

No matter what choice was made, potential dangers couldn’t be avoided. It all depended on which side he chose to support.

“I have a little gadget that needs fixing.” Kiba held up a pair of goggles and began negotiating. “Once it’s fixed, maybe I can do you a big favor.”

“I can sense it—you don’t really want Sanji to return to the family, do you?”

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