After Nojiko's challenge ended, Little Master's position as the chef of the outlaw crew was completely and officially set in stone.
No one objected.
At first, the ones who hadn't tasted his cooking—
strong fighters like Grimmjow, Lucci, Kokushibo, and Zabuza—
didn't take it seriously.
To powerhouses like them,
physical cravings and appetite held almost no allure.
So they didn't care who the chef was.
As for Nami—
She was torn between two anxieties:
★ worrying that Nojiko was beginning to fall for Adrian,
★ and waiting for the right chance to escape this outlaw crew.
Unfortunately, that "right chance"
had never appeared.
And she knew very well that her role as navigator
meant Adrian would never willingly let her go.
But all of that changed—
The very next morning.
When breakfast was served…
And the whole ship took their first bite of Little Master's congee—
They were shocked stiff.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS DIVINE FOOD?!"
Grimmjow froze on the spot.
As a Hollow, he had never tasted anything like this.
Hollows evolved by devouring each other.
In Hueco Mundo's brutal, survival-of-the-fittest wasteland,
"delicious food" wasn't even on the list of priorities.
Strength came first.
Everything else was irrelevant.
But today—
after tasting Little Master's cooking—
He felt like he had wasted his entire previous existence.
One bowl wasn't enough.
He ate bowl after bowl after bowl.
And he wasn't the only one.
Lucci, Kokushibo, Zabuza…
One by one,
every warrior on the ship was utterly conquered.
Little Master's cooking wasn't just tasty—
it carried the warmth and emotional power of his "chef's heart"…
making everyone feel real happiness as they ate.
"Kid, from today on—you're under my protection! No one touches a hair on your head!"
Grimmjow marched over and slapped a hand on Little Master's shoulder,
declaring with absolute seriousness.
The fact he said this
was proof enough of how deeply the food had won him over.
"I'll say the same," Lucci added gravely.
"As long as I'm here, no one will harm you."
Because to him, this culinary skill was beyond world-class.
Normal chefs?
Even top chefs?
None of them could make food that literally burst with golden light when served.
And the taste…
Lucci felt that after eating Little Master's cooking,
anything else would taste like wax.
"You need ingredients? Tell me anytime. I'll go buy them," Kokushibo said calmly.
"And me," Zabuza added.
"As long as you cook for us, I'll even haul a Sea King back for you."
They were all completely conquered.
Little Master's cooking was truly…
on another level.
Even Nami fell. Completely.
This was her first time tasting Little Master's food.
And the moment she took a bite—
She shattered.
She ate bowl after bowl with zero hesitation.
Thankfully Little Master made extra,
otherwise breakfast would've run out instantly.
But after the meal…
Nami sat in silent contemplation.
"…Should I… postpone the escape plan?"
"…I mean, if Sis really likes the boss, that's her freedom. It's not like my opinion will change anything…"
"And if Adrian becomes my brother-in-law…"
"…then Little Master, who works for him, would cook for me forever, right?"
Nami's thoughts spun rapidly.
She had always planned to escape.
But now?
Leave this crew?
Leave this food?
Suddenly that idea sounded like madness.
Escape?
Who?
Her?
Impossible.
"I, Nami… live as a member of the outlaw crew… die as a member of the outlaw crew."
"Run away? Leave my home?"
"What nonsense. This is home.
Why would I leave home?!"
Just like that—
Her determination to flee…
Collapsed. Completely.
Meanwhile, in the holding cabin
Inside the locked cabin,
Hachi, Usopp, and their newest roommate—Zoro—
had spent a day talking.
And they finally understood each other's fate.
The three of them were—
Comrades in misery.
Fellow victims of Adrian the Great Demon King.
All kidnapped.
All powerless.
Of course, just because they were prisoners
didn't mean Adrian neglected them.
A captive was only valuable…
if he stayed alive.
Especially since Adrian wanted to ransom certain people repeatedly.
If Hachi, Usopp, or Zoro starved to death—
What a waste of good hostages.
So—
Someone always came to deliver meals.
That "someone"
was naturally Grimmjow.
Because everyone else—
Lucci, Kokushibo, Zabuza—
was busy grinding strength, trying to catch up.
None of them wanted to waste time feeding prisoners.
And so, Grimmjow entered the cabin
with a tray of fragrant breakfast.
He placed the bowls down and said coldly:
"Feeding you ants with food this good…
feels like a damn waste."
But even so—
he still delivered it.
After tossing the bowls in,
Grimmjow turned and walked away.
Leaving the three captives
speechless…
and drooling at the smell of the porridge.
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