In a tense standoff, Gin points his gun at Zeff, threateningly breaking his peg leg, and demands that Sanji and the other cooks leave the ship. However, Sanji firmly refuses to back down, determined to protect the Baratie. As the situation intensifies, Luffy attempts to intervene, but Sanji stops him, urging him not to interfere.
Amid the heated argument, enough time passes for Pearl to recover and rejoin the fight. Holding Zeff at gunpoint, Pearl resorts to dirty tactics, assaulting him with his Iron Shield abilities. He strikes Sanji with a powerful punch using the Ultra-Natural Pearl attack, and then follows up with another brutal blow to the head, a technique known as “Pearl Close.”
Sanji is sent flying and crashes into the walls, enduring the pain bravely. He explains that he cannot abandon the ship because the Baratie is Zeff’s cherished treasure, and he does not want Zeff to lose anything else. However, Pearl’s assault shows no signs of stopping. He jumps high into the sky and comes crashing down with his shield, mercilessly crushing Sanji.
In the midst of this painful ordeal, Sanji recalls a significant event from his past. At the age of 9, he worked as a cook on a passenger ship, and he dreamed of discovering the All Blue—a legendary sea where fish and sea creatures from all four seas gather, creating a paradise for cooks. Despite being a mere trainee at the time, Sanji’s life took a pivotal turn when the ship was attacked by Cook Pirates, led by their captain, Zeff.