Watching the chef version of Su Yue, who had one hand turned pitch-black with Armament Haki while manipulating the Ito Ito no Mi with the other, the Doflamingo version of Su Yue—being the same person—could understand the other's excitement.
After all, when he had first obtained the supernatural power of the Ito Ito no Mi, he too had played with it to his heart's content.
The Doflamingo version of Su Yue used the Ito Ito no Mi to create a sofa and plopped himself down onto it.
"You've already become quite strong now. Not to brag about myself, but as someone with transmigration memories, I'm not the Doflamingo from the original story who's better than the worst but worse than the best. I've been working hard all along to defeat a Four Emperor-level combatant head-on!"
He stroked his chin, looking at the chef version of Su Yue, truly talking to himself.
"I originally planned to make a move in the Paramount War—whether it's Whitebeard, Shanks, or Kaido, I'd try to take down one of them, cast off my identity as a Seven Warlord of the Sea, and become a Four Emperor myself. What do you plan to do? You're not really thinking of staying as a chef at Marine Headquarters, are you?"
"The Paramount War, huh."
The chef version of Su Yue stopped his novel experimentation with the Ito Ito no Mi and Haki, scratching his head.
"You know I was saved by Garp. Everything else doesn't matter, but the main thing is to protect Ace and Luffy during the Paramount War, so Grandpa Garp won't be heartbroken."
But before the Doflamingo version of Su Yue could respond, a somewhat puzzled voice came from the surrounding darkness.
"I think I heard someone calling this handsome man?"
Disheveled black hair, freckles on both cheeks.
Upper body bare, lower body wearing jacket-style shorts, a string of red beads hanging around his neck.
On this man's left arm was a tattoo reading "ASCE," with the S crossed out.
Portgas D. Ace emerged from the darkness!
Should I say "again"?
Chef version of Su Yue: …
Doflamingo version of Su Yue: …
"Donquixote Doflamingo, the Heavenly Yaksha?!"
After clearly seeing the Doflamingo version of Su Yue, Ace was startled and uncertain, assuming a defensive stance.
"Why are you here?"
The chef version of Su Yue and the Doflamingo version of Su Yue exchanged glances, then both smiled at Ace in unison.
"We're on the same side—we're both Su Yue!"
Ace: ??
Completely bewildered, he had his hand grasped by the chef version of Su Yue, who walked up cheerfully.
The next moment, he became the Ace version of Su Yue.
"Ah, so that's how it is!"
The Ace version of Su Yue, having received the memories and power of the other two Su Yues, turned his head and gave the chef version of Su Yue a sympathetic look, patting his shoulder in consolation.
"Condolences."
Chef version of Su Yue: …
He had a premonition that as "Su Yue after transmigration," their existence definitely wouldn't stop at just the three of them.
Would every Su Yue who joined in the future have to console him once each time?
But looking at the Ace version of Su Yue, both the chef version and the Doflamingo version of Su Yue felt a bit speechless.
Well, there it was—Ace had become one of their own, so the Paramount War was definitely off the table now.
Who knew how wildly the plot of One Piece would veer off course from here.
Abruptly, from beside the three of them, another voice sounded.
"Finally found the organization!"
From the darkness, another man emerged laughing heartily.
He was tall, with amaranth-red short hair, muscular and strong, with long, well-proportioned legs.
His attire had a heavy metallic style. Skull tattoos, spiked armbands, spurred cowboy boots, and a white scarf shaped like a flower wrapped around his neck.
This man's name was Charlotte Katakuri, the foremost of the BIGMOM Pirates' 'Sweet Commanders,' hailed as the greatest masterpiece of the Charlotte family!
He extended both hands, pulling Ace-version Su Yue with one and Chef-version Su Yue with the other, revealing demonic fangs hidden beneath his scarf—a ferocious grin he normally kept concealed so as not to frighten his beloved younger siblings.
"Our crew has already infiltrated the ranks of the Four Emperors!"
Ding-dong, cheat code +1.
Chef-version Su Yue lowered his head, hiding a smile that was about to spiral out of control from joy that had come crashing down, only to surge back up again.
His left hand manipulated threads, his right hand wielded Armament Haki, his left leg transformed into flames, and his right leg turned into mochi.
One person simultaneously using three Devil Fruit abilities—he dared anyone to match that!
Then, from the darkness, another proud, cold, and calm voice rang out.
"Your appearance has finally sparked some interest in me for this boring world."
The first thing the three saw was a tall, narrow black top hat, a black cape trailing slightly behind.
And—crimson, ringed eyes.
"Mortals, you may call me Lord Imu."
The figure beneath the hat spoke with his chin held high, his tone and posture as insufferable as could be.
Looking at the finally-appeared Imu-version Su Yue, the other Su Yues all wore ridiculous expressions.
Did this mean the pirate dungeon had already been cleared by them?
…
The next morning, when he woke up.
I'm already invincible!
Screw that 'Greatest Chef of All Time' system—get lost!
Never see you again!
Goodbye!
Even while brushing his teeth, Su Yue couldn't keep the corners of his mouth down, grinning like a two-hundred-pound kid!
Ten-Yasha Doflamingo + Fire Fist Ace + Katakuri + Devil Fruit Tree incarnation Imu—the pirate world now belonged to the Su family!
Hahahaha, with me this powerful now, who cares about life safety! Pretty ladies of the pirate world, here I come!
Though, from Doflamingo-version Su Yue's memories, he learned that the Demon Child Nico Robin had already been taken in by him as his secretary.
Fire Fist Ace was a proper man, though he had stolen his own brother's girl, taken down Arlong, and gained an excellent navigator—a little thief cat; Katakuri was also working hard to woo Boa Hancock, visiting Amazon Lily for a few days each month.
However, the two could barely count as half a friend at this point, let alone anything more.
As for Imu, over eight hundred years of experiences were simply too many—skimming through them like a blur, it all felt rather plain instead.
Just as he was thinking this, somewhat distracted, Su Yue heard beside his ear…
"Little brother Su Yue, give me a serving of golden egg fried rice!"
"Coming right up!"
Su Yue flashed the navy lady outside the counter a youthful, innocent business smile, and with his right hand gripping the ladle, he scooped up the leftover rice prepared yesterday and tossed it in—
Wait, what am I doing?
Looking at the familiar stove around him, and the familiar long line stretching ahead, Su Yue's expression froze as he roared inwardly.
Hadn't I already become one of the world's strongest? Hadn't I already reached the pinnacle of the pirate world?
Hadn't I already decided to never pay attention to the 'Strongest Chef of All Time System' again?
So why was I still here making egg fried rice?
But looking at the expectant gaze of the round-faced, fair-skinned young Navy lady in front of him, Su Yue lowered his head and silently sighed in his heart.
There was nothing he could do about it—he was just that kind of soft-hearted boy, and the thing he could least stand was the anticipation in young ladies' eyes.
Forget it. He was about to shed his identity as a chef anyway and become 'a man who lives on the sea,' so he might as well stand his final shift today.
…
Two hours later, Su Yue, now changed into a different set of clothes, stood blankly at the door of the Fleet Admiral's office with a bewildered expression.
What on earth had happened to bring me—a Navy temp worker without even an official posting—to the highest commander of the Navy?
He turned his head to look at the older Navy lady he had encountered at Vice Admiral Garp's office.
She was a woman of great renown within the Navy: her features were gentle, with a beauty mark just below the right corner of her lips, and a figure that was explosive as gunpowder.
A long blade hung at her waist, a coat of justice draped over her shoulders, and she wore a pink short-sleeved jacket with black ultra-short shorts, showcasing her utterly alluring form to splendid effect.
On the left side of her long, slender thigh was tattooed a dark cyan eight-legged spider.
Vice Admiral Momousagi—a Navy Admiral candidate and current Vice Admiral!
Having once tasted Su Yue's 'Golden Egg Fried Rice,' she clearly knew the relationship between Garp and Su Yue.
Seeing Su Yue standing dazedly at the door of Garp's empty office, she smiled as she walked over, reaching out to ruffle his hair.
"Little brother Su Yue, are you here looking for Vice Admiral Garp?"
"Yes, Vice Admiral Momousagi."
Due to the height difference, Su Yue's line of sight happened to land on something unfathomably deep.
Sensing his own precarious state, he instinctively took a step back, his face flushing as he hurriedly lowered his head.
This reaction, evidently, earned him some favor in Momousagi's eyes.
Heh, these kids these days.
Smiling, she took Su Yue's hand and led him toward the office on another floor.
"Today there's a high-level Navy meeting, so Vice Admiral Garp isn't in his office. I'll take you there."
A hand that had gripped a sword for years could hardly be soft.
Feeling the not-insubstantial calluses on her palm, a certain unspoken thought in Su Yue's mind quickly faded.
When Momousagi brought Su Yue to the door of Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office, she rather unkindly released his hand and said to him,
"Alright, little brother Su Yue, Vice Admiral Garp is inside. You can knock on the door yourself."
Her eyes carried an encouraging smile.
Su Yue: …
Was she avoiding disturbing the Navy's highest meeting by using him as a shield?
Sure enough, Zhang Wuji's mother never lied: the more beautiful a woman, the more she deceives.
He looked up at the office with no signage, yet his world-class Observation Haki had already sensed the presences within.
Besides Vice Admiral Garp and Fleet Admiral Sengoku, all three Navy Admirals were present inside.
Moreover, there was also Zephyr—the former Navy Admiral and current head of the Pirate Rangers—along with Vice Admiral and Chief of Staff Tsuru.
Every one of them was a formidable expert, and they had all long since sensed Momousagi and Su Yue outside the door through their Observation Haki.
As a Navy Admiral candidate, Momousagi naturally had the right to enter.
Though she didn't know why she had brought Su Yue along, opening the door would reveal the answer.
Vice Admiral Garp stood up and, before Su Yue could even raise his hand to knock, flung the door open with lightning speed. Then he suddenly shouted right at him.
"Waaaaaah! Su Yue, you little brat! Scary, huh? Did I scare you? Hahahahaha!"
"Aaaaaah!!"
Although Su Yue had already foreseen Garp's move using the future-sight of Observation Haki, he still played along, putting on a startled expression and letting out a terrified scream loud enough to be heard even outside the Marine Headquarters building.
"Garp!"
Watching Garp's antics, Aokiji was dumbfounded, Kizaru looked amused, and Akainu frowned.
Zephyr and Tsuru looked somewhat helpless, while Sengoku was covered in exasperated black lines.
"At your age, why do you still act like a child!"