One Piece: I am the Empress, and the more sycophants I have, the stronger I become.

While Nami was still deeply moved by the Empress's words and secretly making plans,

A commotion suddenly broke out outside the restaurant.

A man dressed in tattered clothes, pale as a ghost, looking like he was on the verge of death.

Leaning on a strange weapon, he staggered into Barati.

It was none other than "Ghost Man" Akin.

With his last ounce of strength, he surveyed the diverse expressions on the faces of the people in the restaurant.

His voice was hoarse, yet carried a forced pride as he announced:

"Listen up...we...we are the Krieg Pirates! The strongest pirate crew in the East Blue! We...have just returned from the Grand Line!"

The terrified screams, the panicked fleeing, or at least the tense vigilance that Akin had anticipated did not materialize.

An eerie silence fell over the restaurant.

The ordinary guests looked at each other, somewhat bewildered.

"Krik? Who's that?"

"The strongest in the East Blue? Never heard of that..."

Paddy, the chef of Baratie, picked at his ear with a disdainful look.

"Huh? Just got back from the Grand Line? With your attitude, you should at least think before you brag!"

Even the Straw Hat crew, who had just experienced a chaotic situation, reacted with surprising calmness.

Luffy tilted his head.

"The Grand Line? Oh! That's where we're headed!"

He completely missed the point about being the strongest.

Zoro crossed his arms and yawned.

"The strongest in the East China Sea? What's so great about that title?"

Having witnessed the Empress's unfathomable aura, he found no interest in this self-proclaimed "strongest."

Although Usopp was a little scared, he still forced himself to keep bragging.

"W-what?! I'm Captain Usopp, with eight thousand men under my command! I'm not afraid of you!"

Nami's heart is still with the Empress.

He glanced at Ah Jin and muttered, "Another troublesome guy..."

Akin was completely dumbfounded.

This was completely different from what he had imagined!

In the past, in the East China Sea, as long as Admiral Krieg's name and his experience of "returning from the Grand Line" were mentioned, everyone would be terrified.

But why are these people so indifferent?

It even carried a hint of...disdain and indifference?

He even noticed the woman standing in the second-floor corridor, surrounded by a group of female soldiers, whose beauty seemed otherworldly.

She merely glanced at him indifferently, her gaze calm and unwavering, as if his declaration had been nothing more than the buzzing of a mosquito.

It wasn't even worth getting her attention for a second longer.

This feeling of being completely ignored, without even a shred of fear, was more unsettling and filled Akin with a strange sense of panic than direct hostility.

When did the East China Sea become like this?

Or is there some monster he can't understand hiding in this restaurant?

Just then, Sanji came over with a glass of water and a piece of food and handed it to the weak Gin.

Here, eat.

His actions were entirely based on the chef's principles, and he didn't even glance at Ah Jin.

Her gaze involuntarily drifted towards the Empress's private room, and a blush of infatuation returned to her face.

Ajin took the food and water, looking at the almost indifferent attitude of the people around him.

Especially that woman who was excessively beautiful and whose aura was so powerful that it made his soul tremble.

His declaration of being "the strongest in the East China Sea" now seems so pale and laughable.

He felt like a clown showing off his strength in front of a giant.

He ate his food silently and wolfed it down, his heart filled with shock and confusion like surging waves.

This floating restaurant, and its seemingly ordinary guests and crew, are far more complex and terrifying than he imagined.

The title of "strongest in the East Blue" held by the Krieg Pirates seems to have become a joke that no one cares about here.

Hancock took in the little incident downstairs without feeling anything.

Kleek?

One that is about to be captured by Hawkeye.

Or perhaps she's just some nobody she might crush if she's in a bad mood.

What interested her more was how the clever little thief cat would "perform".

And what kind of trouble will that Straw Hat boy, who is completely immune to beauty, cause next?

Her gaze returned to the center of the restaurant, where the Straw Hat boy was already arguing with Sanji about food.