"I've long admired you." The young man said with a cheerful smile.
Sanji was speechless. What kind of answer was that? But when he glanced to the side, his eyes skipped right past Buggy's big red nose and landed on Qing You, who was sipping orange juice with a calm, aloof expression.
"Wow, such a cute loli-chan!"
His eyes instantly turned into heart shapes, and his whole demeanor seemed to melt.
Qin Yi gave a wry smile, he hadn't expected that in front of Qing You, his own charm would utterly lose out.
"Sanji, we came here specifically to find you."
"Find me? For what?" Sanji stared at Qing You, itching to leap at her and casually ask.
"For your dream," Qin Yi replied.
"Dream?" Sanji turned to look at Qin Yi with a hint of mockery. "You know what my dream is?"
Qin Yi smiled and spoke a single word.
"All Blue!"
Sanji's pupils contracted at the mention of the dream that had haunted him endlessly.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Someone who knows you and wants to help you," Qin Yi said calmly.
"You know me? Impossible!" Sanji scoffed and shook his head. His background had never been revealed to anyone. From the moment he left that place, he had become a different person.
"Are you sure you'll never run into your three brothers again someday? Or that heartless father of yours? If you want to take control of your own fate, then join me. You will realize your dream. You'll gain the power to ensure they can never hurt you again. Sanji, I hope you can trust me." Qin Yi's eyes grew serious as he spoke with a firm tone.
Just those few sentences made Sanji's face change dramatically. The man in front of him… actually knew him. Understood him!
"Who… exactly are you?" Sanji asked, stunned.
"I told you, someone who came to help."
"Think it over, Sanji. We sincerely hope you'll join us," Qin Yi said with a smile.
Sanji once again took a closer look at the three people at the table: a young man with extraordinary bearing, the loli girl he adored, and the red-nosed guy he'd mentally written off.
"Just the three of you?"
"Not just three. We're part of an organization," Qin Yi replied.
"Organization?" Sanji looked confused.
"Kingdom," Qin Yi said directly.
"A Kingdom in the making. We're looking for experts to join us. In my eyes, you are one such expert."
"I admire you!"
Sanji was stunned. A King was personally inviting him to join?
After a moment, a cold smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Who are you trying to fool?"
He turned and walked away briskly.
Watching Sanji's retreating figure, Qin Yi shook his head.
He wasn't bothered by Sanji's reaction. Anyone would question his motives in such a situation. Whether Sanji would join or not, this was just an invitation. As a key combatant aboard the One Piece ship, Sanji might not be strong enough yet, but his potential was undeniable.
Along the way, the Parliamentary Institute and the military had gone ahead to occupy Alabasta and set up their plans. Qin Yi's task was to recruit powerful individuals, or rather, partners.
As for Madara, Qin Yi knew that man couldn't sit still. The more he learned about this world, the more inevitable it was that he'd stir up big news. Qin Yi was happy to let him do so, it would serve as a great distraction. In a way, it was a deliberate decision to let Madara run free.
"Your Majesty, that man is hesitating," Qing You said coldly.
Qin Yi nodded.
Indeed, despite Sanji's outward expression before leaving, his heart had already begun to waver.
Back in the kitchen, Sanji seemed visibly distracted.
"Kid, what's wrong with you? Can't you tell you overdid the seasoning? Can you even do your job anymore?"
Zeff roared.
Normally, Sanji would have barked back at the old man, but this time, he remained silent.
Zeff found it strange but didn't press the matter.
After a while, Sanji suddenly spoke.
"Old man, if I said I wanted to leave… would you let me?"
"What did you say? Leave? Your wings haven't even hardened and you already want to fly?"
Zeff sneered.
"I want to go to the Grand Line… to find the All Blue." Sanji said seriously.
He had been moved. Young hearts are always full of dreams. Though Qin Yi's words were brief and not dressed up with fancy rhetoric, each sentence had struck Sanji's softest spot. Though he'd lived happily here all this time, Sanji knew deep down, his future wasn't in this place.
"Did someone put this idea in your head? What can you do on your own?"
Zeff asked coldly.
After hesitating for a moment, Sanji recounted the encounter with Qin Yi and his invitation.
"Hmph! And you believed the words of a bunch of slick talkers? They could sell you off and you'd probably help them count the money!"
Zeff plated the finished dish, wiped his hands on his apron, and walked out of the kitchen.
"Sanji, get your ass over here!"
He turned and shouted from the restaurant doorway.
Sanji snapped out of his daze and quickly ran after him.
Once in the restaurant, Zeff asked around and soon located Qin Yi's table.
"How's the food?"
His tone was icy.
Qin Yi looked up and saw the somewhat nervous Sanji standing behind Zeff. He immediately understood what had happened.
"Very tasty. Sanji's cooking skills are excellent!"
"Smooth talker. No wonder that brat's completely taken in by you."
Zeff sneered.
"Zeff San, do you think I'm deceiving Sanji?" Qin Yi countered calmly.
Before Zeff could respond, Qin Yi continued:
"No. With my status, position, and strength, I have no need to lie to a young man. I invited Sanji simply because I admire him."
"I believe we can walk this path together, to the peak of our respective journeys."
Zeff was momentarily stunned. This person's speech and demeanor were clearly not ordinary. But that didn't mean he would be easily swayed.
"The peak? What peak? Where to?" Zeff snorted coldly.
"The Grand Line? The East Blue?"
He cast a scornful glance at Buggy.
"With Buggy? That small-time pirate with no ambition, always looking to muddle through, weak as hell?"
Buggy exploded in rage upon hearing that and was about to slam the table, but Qin Yi gave him a look. Buggy grumbled in frustration and stayed seated.
Qing You remained cool and aloof, quietly sipping her juice.
Qin Yi didn't seem bothered by the harsh words. Instead, he smiled.
"In truth, the Grand Line is only our first stop. After that, we'll head to the New World. There's just… too much to do in this world."
He shook his head, sounding almost wistful.
Zeff was dumbfounded, he couldn't believe the audacity of this man.
"Brat, don't you worry about biting your tongue with all that bragging?"
Qin Yi's gaze sharpened as he stared directly at the golden-haired old man.
"Actually, I never brag, Zeff San."
"Just because you've felt the terror of the Grand Line doesn't mean the rest of the world must fear it too!"
"Since you question my strength, I'll let you see…"
He stood up and walked toward the restaurant's entrance.
"…a glimpse of the brilliance behind my boundless power!"
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon, and I've also activated a (date-to-date) subscription model on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395