Seeing how Ace didn't use the log pose to fing the island, Sanji guessed that he purchased something really unnecessary.

He still kept the thing on his wrist and went to help his friend moor their ship on the dock and get the raft inside our of curious eyes. Just in case. With that, he was ready to visit Mystoria island and get to know their specialities.

Unfortunately, before he got the chance, Ace went to greet a friend.

Which wasn't possible since he was supposed to be dead, you know.

"Wait, Ace! Sabo, you can't just go running without a warning!"

Ace gave him an amused look.

"It's OK, Sanji, Jinbei knows."

Sanji then properly looked at the friend, who was a whale-shark fishman rather a human in a jinbei kimono. And he's almost disappointed that's the first person he meet in the New World. Though, to be fair, Jinbei wouldn't actually count as he's citizen of Fishman Island that was more under Red Line than in any part of the Grand Line.

"Ah, and would you have perchance thought about telling who were in the secret before you go greeting all your acquaintances and giving me a heartache?"

"Right, all of father's allies are aware and Jinbei who's the one who helped Luffy get out of Marineford."

Nevermind that Sanji didn't know all of the allies it existed besides sweet Whitey Bay that Sanji once possessed the wanted poster. Once upon a time that seemed so long ago.

"Yeah, I did hear something like that from Ivankov. Thank you for you effort, then."

"No worry, even though I didn't know the whole story by then, I couldn't possibly let Ace's brother to die." 

"I'm glad we agree on that, but I'm not done with you, you shitty warlord! You better have a good explanation for being the reason Arlong was roaming free in the East Blue and terrorizing a human town from Conomi Island! Because of you, Nami-san suffered eight long years under the fish's clutches!"

"Huh? Nami, the red hair from Luffy's crew?"

"Yes, the beautiful Nami-san who worked as navigator for the Strawhats and who disappeared along the rest of the crew nine months ago. Wahh, Nami-san, I hope you're ok!!"

Suddenly really worried for the lady, he forgot momentarily his grudge against the fishman. 

"Wait, what you said, Sanji-kun, is that true? Did Arlong really terrorized a human town?"

"Of course, it's true! Why would I lie about that? And he chose the East Blue of all sea, knowing very well that it was the weaskest of all just so he could install his empire! Sucks for him, Luffy beat his pitiful ass and we managed to free Nami-san's town."

"Well, all's well, then!" 

"Don't intervene, Ace! This is between your friend and me!"

"Well, technically, it would be between Jinbei and Nami, since she's the one who had suffered Jinbei's decision. You do not get to intervene either."

Sanji glared hotly at the supposedly dead man who didn't look a bit impressed, being used since the time they knew each other.

"Fine, maybe, still! When Nami-san and the other got to Fishman Island, you shitty fish better apologize properly! In dogeza because it's everything Nami-san deserves!"

"You're right, that was a huge mistake from my part. Since Hatchan had returned to Fishman Island after protecting the Thousand Sunny, I didn't think they had such history, he didn't even say a word about his time with Arlong."

"Of course, he wouldn't! That damn octopus, because it's him right?, he must have escaped the marine's observation. He may have been one of the protector of their ship, it's not enough to forgive him for what he did to Nami-san for all those years!"

"Again, not your place to feel so offended."

"Well, that's such a mess, I guess it didn't help you humans to not have prejudices against our kind."

"To be fair, after I defeated the officer who was a level 40 black-belt and learned some new martial arts in between, you lot doedn't scare me one bit. And it's not like I will hate all of your race just because a group of dumbass thought so highly of themselves messed up."

"And Wallace's a cool guy!"

Remembering him to be one of Ace's crewmate that looked for him to Momoiro island, so a crewmate since Spades' time, Sanji agreed to the addition. He was a cool guy, also known to be the one to always fish Ace out of water.

"Thank you both for being open-mind, I wish everyone could be accepting and not discriminating like you. Unfortunately, the world nobles are the worst scums it existed and they would keep perpetuating the hate and discrimination against all races besides humans."

"And on human too, They're known for owning human slaves though I never actually witness it."

Jinbei nodded painfully as if remembering an unbearable memory.

"OK, I don't want to be a party pooper but why are you here, on the surface and on this side of the sea? Shouldn't you be doing some warlord work?" Sanji chewed out again, though not with actual bite.

"My duty is to protect my people from harm's way, mostly from human's mistreatment, like punishing pirates that try to kidnap mermaids or fishmen to sell them as slave. I just caught a bunch who passed by Fishman Island and dropped them at the surface so the marine could take them away as per our agreement upon putting me as warlord."

They all glanced at the of pirate ship docked, not that far from the Shimashima, and stared at the group of man tied by the prow. Each one supporting traces of beatings. Sanji didn't feel any empathy for shitty bastards like them.

"They do not have a huge bounty, but they're still wanted. G5 send the division 01 and would be there at any moment, now. They do not have the best reputation, but the leader of division 01 Smoker is really good at capturing guiltless pirates."

"Smoker is heading this way?! Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Why? What's wrong? It's not like he knows about you," Sanji was surprised by the spark of nervousness Ace's feeling.

"There's one person outside of the old man and the fleet admiral that wouldn't be fooled by the fraud and it would be Smoker! There's a reason he's called the white hunter! Besides, his devil fruit is smoke and I'm not sure I wouldn't be tempted to use mine to fight him off."

That explained the nervousness. If Ace used his power, their cover would be blown.

"But what's he gonna do even if he knew it's you? Tell his superiors there was a mistake nine months ago and the real one is still alive?"

"He might. He's tenacious like that. Let's just leave before they're here."

Jinbei looked apologeticly at him. "I'm sorry, Ace, it's too late, they're here."

Tough luck.

They stood as casual as possible when the rough looking marines get out of their vessel and head immediately to them to take care of the unconscious and tied pirates. Smoker barely acknoledged Jinbei, not one being fond of courtesy and especially to pirates even though they're supposed to be allied to the marines. Sanji would have stay impassible for the whole thing if a figure didn't appear from the ship after everything's done. A familiar figure who had grown her hair.

"Tashigi-chan, how are you?! Do you remember me??"

"Oh, chef Sanji? How are you doing since last time? I heard you were moved to marine base of G2 but disappeared after an incident with a scout ship?"

"Yes, I decided to open my own restaurant! See, this ship? Would you like something to eat after your hardwork?"

"Oh, that would be good, we were just out of provisions. We had to think of resupplying."

"Just ask the other, they're done anyway."

"Is that so, Smoker-san?"

"It's alright, Tashigi-chan! I'll make you something sating right away! Please, allow me to lead you inside so you can wait more comfortably!"

Tashigi looked at her superior and Smoke waved her off since they did complete their mission. And Sanji walked the ravishing swordwoman to his humble boat by getting the ladder out before the two of them vanished out of view in the saucepan ship. Ace tried to follow suit as casually as he could but still sensing the heavy look of the marine on his back. Since he's still wearing his elegant outfit, he should be the opposite of his pirate image and there was no reason to be busted, right?

He discreetly checked if the cream was still on his face. Maybe he should put another layer.

In the deckhouse, Sanji was happily chatting with the young captain lady, Ace's pretty sure she's barely older than him yet she climbed the ranks quickly. He tried to look as unimportant as possible while getting his cream and putting another layer under Sanji's quizzical glance.

Once Tashigi was done eating, she was about to pay her meal but because Sanji was Sanji, he offered it to her. That was the moment the men of G5 came aboard to rudely order food like they owned the place. Which Sanji was quite familiar with the attitude. That trashy Fullbody used to act like that, back at Baratie. He was used and knew how to treat those kind of customer but to see sweet Tashigi take his defence was worth keeping his mouth shut.

"But captain-chan, we missed dinner in hurry to catch those stupid pirates! And the base's cooking isn't that good, we're hungry!"

"Hm? You didn't eat since lunch? Well, that won't do."

"That must be so alarming for you, chef Sanji, you're always been so diligent about eating every meals. We do feed our personal, rest assure, but as you heard, it's not famous cooking. Not compared to yours."

Ain't she a sweet talker.

"Don't worry, Tashigi-chan, if they wanted to eat, I will cook them something really good to sate them!"

"This is embarrasing, let me at least pay for their meals."

"So nice of you, captain-chan!"

"Don't worry, Tashigi-chan! I can't possible let you pay for those bastards! Besides, it's the chef's job to feed anyone hungry."

"Wahh, you're actually a nice guy, cook!"

"I don't want to hear from you! You better thank Tashigi-chan for working with you!"

"But we do! We appreciate captain-chan's presence everyday!"

Conversation quickly went everwhere from there, even more once the ten men finally ate their share, complimenting the cooking and thanking the kindness of their feeder. Things could have stop there, the marine could have just leave and they could raise anchor to put distance between them, but then captain Tashigi appeared again with a sack of rice and a wild Smoker trailing behind. No sign of Jinbei.

"Here, chef Sanji, please accept this. It's not much after what you cook for us, but let me thank you in some way."

"This is so nice of you, Tashigi-chan! I willingly accept your feelings!"

"Well, if it's not too much we're about to close and get going, so thank you for your patronnage and bye."

"Leaving so soon? It's not safe to sail once sun's set, especially if you're only two onboard."

"Well, thank you for your concern, but we're waited somewhere else! You know, a lot of people to feed, a chef's job is demanded everywhere!"

"I didn't see any sail, do the two of you intent to navigate through New World with only the paddles? Or are you using some special engine like this raft hung on the ceiling?"

Both raising their head, Ace couldn't help but gulp audibly, having forgotten Striker supposed to be hidden from sight. And they just invited the 'enemies' inside the hiding place. The G5 personals all gasped once they noticed the big raft above their head, while Sanji calmly pulled out a cigarette stick. But he couldn't light it because he never actually possessed a lighter thanks to their ability to light en fire. Smoker was smoking his cigar since the beginning and didn't leave his eyes on them.

Finally, Sanji spoke up, cigarette stick unlit and hanging at his lips.

"Nah, this is just a decoration. The sail's just under the counter, we pulled it out for the time we were docked. But my colleague's right, we're about to leave."

"I didn't catch your name, mr. colleague."

"Sabo. Sanji liked to call me Ace."

Well, if he wasn't playing with fire. Or smoke.

They released their breath once they were alone on their ship, with a whole new sack of rice as transaction. Ace went out to pull the sail Sanji had thought of buying at Sabaody along the flag, just for prestence and did his job wordlessly under the vice-admiral scrutinizing gaze. Jinbei was actually still on land and was watching the whole thing with hint of concern. After pulling back the ladder and the anchor, they finally set sail and left Mystoria with Ace staying on the deck to watch their path, just to pretend.

Ain't that a nice interlude for their first island in New World.