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CHAPTER 34

Lex and Kreegan had been working as waiters at Baratie for a week. For the last week at the loading dock behind Baratie, they have been doing their physical training in the mornings before the lunch service and sparring in the evenings after the dinner service. This ordinary stillness had been a restful change for them. During this time, they had developed a rapport with Zeff, Sanji, and other members of Baratie.

It was after the evening service, and the cleaning was done. Everyone got up to the loading dock and watched the fight between Lex and Kreegan. Zeff forbade them to do full-force sparring because they had done a lot of damage around here three days ago. That's why Kreegan and Lex weren't allowed to use their powers. Usually, Lex used his staff, and Kreegan used his swords, but today they decided to have a hand-to-hand combat training.

In hand-to-hand combat Lex was better than Kreegan, so today, it was his win. After the fight, they joined the staff to have some fun. At this moment, Sanji lit a cigarette and was just about to take a puff, but Kreegan slapped him hard right on the back of the neck.

"What the hell, Kreegan! Why are you hitting me again? This is child abuse!"

"Don't be a baby. There is only four years difference between us, and weren't you a man? You should decide if you are a child or a man?"

"I am a man."

Kreegan took the cigarette from Sanji's hand, broke it and held it up to Sanji's face; he said;

"How many times do I have to tell you? Smoking this shit doesn't make someone a man!"

"What is it to you?"

"Don't you always claim you are going to become the greatest chef in the world?"

"Yes, what about it?"

"How are you going to become one with a ruined tongue? In time smoking is going to destroy your taste palates."

This was one of the biggest contradictions that plagued Kreegan while reading the manga. Someone that doesn't use his hands to fight, even if it kills him because they belong to the kitchen, would ruin his mouth with smoking. Someone wanting to be the world's biggest chef would become a chain smoker. This was ridiculous.

"After ruining your tongue, how are you going to cook? Are you going to cook like a machine without being able to differentiate the subtle tastes in your food?"

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"Old man! Why didn't you tell me?"

Zeff got up from where he was sitting, came close to Sanji without saying anything, and smacked Sanji right on his head. I could almost see the smoke and bulging forming on his head.

"You stupid brat, I told you before you would ruin your tongue, and you said 'you were man now' and started acting cool."

He was rubbing the top of his head, and with tearing eyes, he said,

"You brute old man, can't you use your words! You didn't explain what that means; how should I now?"

"Hmph, if you are a man, you should own up to your actions. A man is responsible for his own actions. If you have become a man, you will suffer the consequences of your actions. That is what it means to be a man. You are the only one to blame if you lose your sensitive taste palates."

...

Tribute time had passed a week ago, and none of Krieg's men were in sight. Time was good in Baratie, but Kreegan couldn't wait to take on the Krieg Pirates. After two more days, a ship with Krieg Pirates Jolly Roger anchored next to Baratie from it came out around 20 men.

One at the front was a lanky, average-sized man with short, scruffy hair and slight stubble, but one thing was different about him his eyes didn't have big dark rings around them. So, the theory about him getting those dark rings because of the terrors they faced in the Grand Line was true. Gin came in and sat down at one of the tables, and as soon as she sat, she put her feet on the table and started shouting.

"Why the hell is the service so slow! Are you waiting for us to take root here!"

Kreegan wanted to rip them apart right away, but he was holding himself back. While they were acting like animals, he exited the restaurant and started climbing to the ship silently. If they tried to follow them directly in the open sea, they would surely be caught immediately because there was no place to hide in the flat sea, but Kreegan had thought of a solution.

His swords were basically homing beacons in a few km radius; he could sense their general direction. There were no sentries around the ship, as they didn't think anyone would try to sneak onto the ship, and the crew was playing cards among themselves.

Kreegan opened one of the barrels fixed to the side, put Yubashiri inside one of them, and immediately left the ship. Meanwhile, Zeff came out of the kitchen with 3 million bellies and came over to Gin. Gin counted the money and said with a confused expression.

"Where is the late fee?"

This time it was Zeff's turn to be surprised.

"What are you talking about? I paid you right away?"

Gin held up her finger and waved it in rejection.

"No, no, no, you are late nine days. You have to pay the interest."

It was clear that Zeff was raging with anger. He might be old, but I am sure he could kill Gin in one kick. He was level 3, but the color of the number was gray and not white. This meant he was barely level 3, but his head worthed 22 million bellies. Zeff banged his fist on the table and said

"You're the one who came late. Why should I pay the price?"

"Zeff, Zeff, Zeff, we never said we would come and take the money, and we said you have to pay us the protection money on the first day of every month. We were doing you a favor by coming and taking the money every month, but you cannot blame us for your irresponsible actions."

If Zeff clenched a little harder, his teeth would break for sure. At that moment, Kreegan approached them, tapped Zeff on the shoulder, and said.

"Just pay him."

"I don't know you, but I love a man of reason."

"Don't worry; we will get to know each other in time. Would you like something to drink? This might be your last day on earth. You only live once, right?"

Gin wasn't quite sure if this guy was cursing him or being friendly, but he wouldn't turn down anything that was free.

"Then I would take two bottles of your most expensive whiskey. As for you, Zeff, the price is 5 million."

Kreegan never understood why people cheered for Gin in the Baratie arc. Just because he was used and thrown to the side like garbage doesn't change the fact that he is a garbage. When Don Krieg gassed towns, raided villages, and sold people as slaves, this piece of shit was his second in command.

This means he is as evil as Don Krieg, and he just acts like a victim when he is at the receiving end of Don Krieg's cruelty. After receiving their money, they left, and right after them, Kreegan and Lex got ready to leave.