Chapter 33: Changes

As Koa's ship continued to sail through the islands of the South Blue, the number of bounty hunters, pirates, and marines pursuing them steadily increased. Almost every island they visited had someone attempting to collect on their bounties. Most were small-time bounty hunters—fools chasing quick cash, thinking they could easily take down a crew of only three.

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When they arrived at a random island to restock supplies, Kuzan was assigned to guard the ship while Koa and Greenbull went ashore. Kuzan, who didn't like leaving the boat anyway, volunteered for the job on one condition: Koa had to bring him back some booze. He was the only one who drank on the ship, as Koa abstained entirely, and Greenbull was prohibited from drinking until his seventeenth birthday.

While lounging lazily on the deck, Kuzan suddenly sensed multiple people attempting to board the ship. It seemed a group of opportunistic pirates was planning to ambush the Koa Pirates and rob them blind.

Kuzan stood up slowly and peered over the deck. His voice was calm but laced with a warning.

"Hoi, stop what you're doing before you get hurt."

The pirates below ignored him, assuming Koa was the only dangerous one in the crew. They believed Kuzan was just a lazy guard—an easy obstacle to bypass. Big mistake.

Kuzan sighed, a frosty mist escaping his lips.

"Guess I warned you."

In an instant, a wave of cold swept across the docks. The pirates trying to climb the ship were flash-frozen mid-motion, their limbs stuck to the ropes or hull. Those waiting below on the docks were also caught in the sudden frost, encased in ice before they could react. The freezing mist spread unnaturally fast, coating the nearby ground and freezing over thirty would-be attackers in mere seconds.

Though deadly, Kuzan had held back just enough to leave most of them alive, barely. But he didn't care much either way. After a year under Koa's command, he understood the captain's philosophy well: if someone came at you with the intent to harm, you didn't hesitate to respond with full force. Mercy was reserved for the innocent, not the aggressors.

And it was this trait—Koa's absolute clarity in battle and unwavering loyalty to his crew—that made Kuzan stay. In a world where many captains were reckless or self-serving, Koa stood apart. His strength wasn't just power—it was principle.

Meanwhile, everything had been witnessed by the residents near the port. When they first noticed the group of pirates sneaking toward the ship, most of them assumed it would be a typical robbery. After all, it was just a small pirate crew with an unfamiliar flag, and only one man was left behind to guard the ship, one who looked like he hadn't moved in hours.

"They're going to get robbed for sure," one of the dockworkers had muttered.

But now, they all stood frozen in place—not from ice, but from shock—as they stared at the aftermath. The once-bustling docks had turned eerily silent, save for the creaking of ice as it spread over the wooden planks. Over thirty pirates had been flash-frozen, some mid-leap, others still clutching their weapons. They were now nothing more than ice statues, caught in a moment of their failure.

No one dared to move.

The residents didn't know who the man on the deck was. They didn't even know the name of the crew. But now they understood one thing with absolute certainty:

This was not a ship to be trifled with.

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While all of this was happening back at the ship, Koa and Greenbull were strolling through the island's market, looking for supplies they needed to restock. As they walked, Koa's mind wandered—he was growing tired of bland cooking. No matter how much effort he or Greenbull put into preparing meals, it was never quite satisfying. He realized it was time to find a proper cook for their crew. Even if they couldn't find someone at Sanji's level, having a real chef would still be a major improvement.

As they walked down a side street, a savory aroma caught their attention. It came from a small diner tucked between two shops. The smell was rich and inviting. Without hesitation, Koa stepped inside, Greenbull following behind him.

To their surprise, the diner was completely empty. Not a single customer sat at the tables. Behind the counter, the owner—gruff-looking man with a cigarette dangling from his lips—barely looked up. He seemed more surprised they walked in at all, assuming they'd entered by mistake.

"Owner," Koa said as he sat down at the counter, "what's the specialty of your shop?"

The chef raised an eyebrow, surprised someone was actually interested in ordering. It was the first time anyone had asked that question since he opened. Without a word, he handed over the menu.

Koa opened it—and immediately understood why the place was deserted. Every dish was outrageously overpriced. Some items even reached at hundreds of thousands of berries. Greenbull leaned over to take a look, and his reaction was immediate.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! ARE YOU TRYING TO ROB US?!" Greenbull yelled, almost falling backward in shock. "One dish costs more than my entire wardrobe!"

"Greenbull, enough," Koa said calmly, stopping his first mate before he launched into a full rant. "If the prices are that high, then the taste must match, right, chef?"

The chef gave a cocky smirk, clearly unfazed. "Of course. I'd bet my life on it."

Koa's eyes gleamed with interest. "Really?" he said, leaning in slightly. "You're that confident, huh?"

"Of course," the chef said confidently. "Cooking is my craft. I may not be the strongest fighter, but when it comes to food—I'm the number one in the world."

"Then let's see what the world's best has to offer," Koa replied, a slight grin forming on his face. He motioned to the menu. "We'll take one of everything."

Greenbull, who was still fuming from the ridiculous prices, now found his curiosity overtaking his frustration. He narrowed his eyes at the chef, wondering where all that confidence came from.

A few minutes later, the first dish arrived—a simple omurice. It was the easiest item on the menu, yet it looked anything but ordinary. The aroma alone was enough to silence both pirates. The egg glistened with a golden sheen, as though lit from within.

The chef placed it down and returned to the kitchen without another word.

Koa and Greenbull exchanged a glance, then dug in. The moment they took their first bite, their eyes widened. The flavor was otherworldly—savory, rich, perfectly balanced. It was as if a god of cuisine had blessed the dish. Neither of them spoke as they devoured the meal, overwhelmed by how something so simple could taste so divine.

Before they could even complain about the portion size, a second dish arrived. Then a third. And a fourth.

For the next two hours, dish after dish was served, each one somehow more delicious than the last. By the end of it, the restaurant's entire stock had been wiped clean. Koa and Greenbull leaned back in their chairs, their stomachs full to the brim—but even then, they found themselves wishing for just one more bite.

"Haaahhh… it seems the prices are too low for food of this quality," Koa said with a satisfied sigh as he reached for his pouch to pay.

Even Greenbull—who was normally a cheapskate—nodded in agreement. Despite the bill easily running into the millions of berries, he looked completely content, patting his stomach with a rare, satisfied grin.

But just as they were about to place the money on the counter, the chef raised his hand and spoke.

"No. I don't need your money," he said calmly.

Both Koa and Greenbull froze, surprised.

"May I ask why?" Koa asked, still composed but clearly curious.

"No reason," the chef replied with a shrug. "I just feel like it."

Koa's expression didn't change, but something in his eyes sharpened. "We can't just leave without offering something in return. What can we do for you?" he asked. His pride—and more importantly, the values Roger had passed down to him—wouldn't allow him to accept a favor without repayment. That, along with the principles he'd carried from his previous life, made him firm on this.

The chef didn't hesitate.

"Take me on your journey."

Koa blinked, momentarily caught off-guard. He stared at the man in front of him, trying to read him. Greenbull also raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"You know we're pirates, right? You understand the danger that comes with that?" Koa asked, giving him a chance to back out.

"Of course," the chef said without a hint of doubt.

"Then why risk it?"

The chef looked Koa dead in the eye.

"My dream has always been to travel the world and create a dish using every single ingredient found in the sea. That's my motivation. I may not be strong, but if I'm going to live, I want to live chasing my dream."

Koa was silent for a moment, then smiled. A dreamer, just like him.