One Piece Gunslinger

Upon seeing the gun, Usopp immediately understood Leon's meaning: he was testing whether Usopp had improved in the past two years. Usopp had boasted that he could stop a bullet fired by Red Nine by their next meeting. Now it was time to put that to the test.

Usopp and Leon stood on the other side of the ship, and Usopp took out his slingshot. "Heh heh, after two years of training, shooting down this bullet shouldn't be a problem."

Disappointed, Luffy turned his attention back to this place, and there was Usopp! Well done!

Then Luffy saw Leon raise his right hand, and Usopp raised his slingshot. After two sounds, "bang" and "clang," Leon put away his pistol.

"???" Luffy was completely bewildered. What the hell happened?!?

Because he saw nothing, Leon's bullet had exceeded the speed of sound, and was also beyond Luffy's current perception range. In Luffy's eyes, all he saw was Usopp shooting a bead, and he heard two very short sounds. And then, nothing more.

What happened to that amazing duel? How did it just end?

At this moment, Li Ang spoke up: "You're really amazing, Usopp. You're definitely the most talented person I've ever seen. You've grown to this level in just two short years."

"What? What? What are they talking about? How is that amazing? I didn't see anything," Luffy complained from the side. However, no one paid any attention to him.

Upon receiving Li Ang's praise, Usopp proudly pointed his thumb up at himself, closed his eyes, and tilted his head back, saying, "That's right, I'm much stronger now than before. Bullets that reach the speed of sound are absolutely ineffective against me. Not to mention that speed, even several times faster wouldn't be a problem."

Well, it's a pity. It would have been perfect if Usopp's legs had stopped trembling when he did that.

It seems that Usopp's strength has improved, but it's unclear how much he has improved or whether he can intercept Red Nine's bullets, since he hasn't been able to find a sparring partner of Leon's caliber. That bullets are faster than the speed of sound.

So, the moment Li Ang fired, Usopp felt the breath of death. Li Ang wasn't holding back at all; he aimed straight for Usopp's chest. If Usopp couldn't withstand that shot, he was doomed.

However, Li Ang didn't aim for vital organs. Even if he did hit, he could still be saved by calling Chopper and using Li Ang's first aid spray.

Everyone except Luffy saw what Leon and Usopp were doing. Even Zoro and Sanji paused their confrontation and watched Usopp's actions.

Unfortunately, apart from Zoro, who is a swordsman, the others didn't even see what happened. Their strength was only enough to barely see the trajectory of the bullet and Usopp's cool move of deflecting the small iron ball he shot in mid-air.

Everyone else only saw Leon and Usopp shooting at each other, then two loud bangs. That was it.

No wonder Usopp adopted that victorious air while saying those things. He wasn't speaking to Leon, but explaining things to everyone else. The gesture was also for show.

It can only be said that in everyone's mind, Usopp is someone who, although cowardly, is still a reliable partner; someone who appears to be a sniper, but everyone regards him as an inventor and craftsman. Usopp was responsible for all the repairs and modifications to the Going Merry, and he also crafted Nami's Clima-Tact, which he later improved several times.

Hearing Usopp's words, everyone realized that his sniping skills were exceptionally high; he could even hit an object moving at the speed of sound. For the first time, they all had a real understanding of Usopp's abilities.

So for Usopp, this act of showing off was a must, even if his legs were trembling. Otherwise, his companions would always look down on him, and if he didn't demonstrate his skills, they wouldn't really consider him a sniper.

However, seeing Usopp's insecure yet determined act, Li Ang decided to put him down again. Showing off is fine, but don't get too cocky. Under the admiring gazes of his many companions, Usopp was getting a little arrogant, and he was starting to think he was invincible.

So after putting away the Red 9, Li Ang took out his sniper rifle, which had the fastest bullet speed at the moment, exceeding 1,000 meters per second, and said with a smile, "You mean it can even intercept bullets that are several times faster?"

"Hmph, that's for sure. From now on, please call me Sonic Usopp."

"Oh! Usopp at supersonic speed!" Luffy was the first to jump out in support.

Guns that can fire bullets faster than the speed of sound are already very rare, there are practically only a handful in the whole world. If Usopp can handle such bullets, doesn't that mean he's invincible among snipers? Bullets are nothing to be afraid of.

As for bullets that can exceed the speed of sound? Usopp had never even considered that.

“Very well, then give it a try. Try your best to see this bullet.” With that, Li Ang raised his gun and aimed it at a strand of hair near Usopp’s ear.

"boom!"

With a gunshot, a section of Usopp's hair was knocked off.

Usopp couldn't even detect the bullet, which traveled at almost three times the speed of sound. It wasn't until his hair was completely disheveled that he broke out in a cold sweat and collapsed to the ground.

Chapter 356 Perfect Control

Usopp's performance was exactly as Leon had expected; it was exactly the same when he first trained Usopp in Syrup Village.

Over the years, old habits die hard, and even though Usopp has become much stronger, this aspect of his character remains unchanged.

That means it has to be undetectable. To be able to detect a bullet at that speed is something that can't be achieved through training or cultivation. Even if Usopp has extraordinary talent, it's useless. This has already surpassed the limits of humanity.

For Usopp to see the bullet, he would need at least some Observation Haki, and that's just the basics. To accurately capture its trajectory or even intercept it, his Observation Haki level would need to be much higher.

However, seeing Usopp's humiliation, the crowd not only didn't side with him, but also showed no surprise whatsoever, displaying expressions of "I knew it." Even Chopper understood. It seems Usopp, you couldn't fool a single person. Your boasting while your legs were trembling—no wonder nobody believed you.

On the contrary, everyone was surprised by Li Ang's strength, and Chopper, the little boy, immediately pounced on Li Ang.

Li Ang understood that this person wanted lollipops from him, so Li Ang took out a handful and handed them to him.

Ever since Li Ang gave Chopper some lollipops from another planet, from a new world, two years ago, Chopper has been longing for them. Now that he's finally going to see Li Ang again, he's going all out to be cute, otherwise he'll have to wait until he goes to the new world to have another chance.

However, Nami took most of them away, saying that too much candy would cause cavities for children, and that they could only have two a day. Chopper was quite upset about this.

However, Li Ang later secretly took out two more and slipped them into Chopper's hat when Nami wasn't looking, whispering, "Hide them well, these are my last two."

Seeing Chopper nodding with a mixture of joy and seriousness, Li Ang smiled. As expected of the cutest pet in the One Piece world, Li Ang wanted to pick him up and cuddle him.

As for why Li Ang, who was short on space, would still make room to bring lollipops...

This……

This move by Li Ang made Zoro realize that Li Ang wasn't actually a swordsman, but a sniper. Since he wasn't a swordsman, there was no need to challenge him. What kind of nonsense is it for a swordsman to challenge a sniper?

However, Leon wasn't happy at all, because without that green-haired guy's interference, the other lousy cook would have a chance. Sanji didn't care what Leon's fighting profession was; he only cared about Leon's cooking skills.

"Well, please allow me to refuse." Li Ang refused without even thinking. He didn't come to Sky Island for a vacation. His first purpose was for the gold, and his second purpose was to take a liking to Enel's abilities.

If Li Ang continues to stay with the Straw Hat crew, the progress on both sides will be affected.

However, with Luffy, the mischievous little guy, pleading with tears in his eyes and clinging to Li Ang's trouser leg, Li Ang had no choice but to agree to Luffy's suggestion.

After all, Leon needed Luffy's abilities to counter Enel in order to defeat him; Leon himself wasn't entirely confident he could take down Enel. This was due to Enel's "Mantra," a miraculous ability built using his Devil Fruit powers and Observation Haki. Furthermore, he could spread this ability across the entire island.

This makes it difficult for Leon to infiltrate Enel's side, and once Leon raises his gun, Enel will inevitably be able to react. In his lightning form, he is incredibly fast, so escaping the Seastone bullets is not a problem.

Conversely, if Enel were to unleash two "Thunderclap" attacks on Li Ang, Li Ang would be in serious trouble, as he wouldn't be able to withstand the attack for long even with Armament Haki.

So, in order to let Luffy take the hits and block the damage in front, Li Ang had no choice but to satisfy the guy's stomach first, with a helpless expression.

"Oh well, whatever. Since that's how it is, we'll just play for half a day today. After all, Luffy and the others need to rest properly; they can't always be on one thrilling adventure after another," Li Ang thought to himself.

"Everything has its counter, it seems that Li Ang really has no way to deal with Luffy, this rascal." Robin, who was standing to the side, said in a low voice.

Nami sighed beside Robin, "I don't know what kind of magic this guy has. At first, I only saw him as a mission target, but now, without realizing it, he has become a very trusted partner. I wonder what kind of charm he has to find such excellent crew members."

Back to Li Ang, after Li Ang nodded in agreement, Sanji immediately shouted, "In that case, let's have a seafood fried rice competition!"

"What?" Li Ang looked exasperated. This guy really held a grudge; he was still thinking about the seafood fried rice, even though it happened two years ago. Just how deep was the impact he had on him?

However, before Li Ang could object, Luffy was the first to jump out and complain, "Huh? Sanji, why are you making seafood fried rice again?"

Not only Luffy, but everyone else's enthusiasm instantly turned to disinterest upon hearing the name "seafood fried rice." It seems Sanji has made quite a bit of seafood fried rice along the way. How much effort have you put into researching seafood fried rice?

No wonder everyone was uninterested; even if it's delicious, you'll get tired of eating it all the time.

“Then let’s do it this way.” At this point, Li Ang could only suggest, “There’s no need to specify the dishes. We can cook our own specialties. Consider it lunch for everyone, and we can eat together too.”

That makes a lot of sense. While Sanji's plan is to get back up from where he fell, he can't possibly make seafood fried rice forever, and it's not even his specialty. Furthermore, this time they can't just focus on a cooking competition between the two of them; they also have to consider the lunch needs of their many crew members.

With that in mind, everyone agreed to Li Ang's entire suggestion and sat in the restaurant to watch the duel between the two chefs in the kitchen. Luffy, in particular, had even tied his napkin around his neck and was holding a bunch of knives and forks in his hands, looking like he couldn't wait to start.

In this cooking competition, Li Ang honestly admitted that in terms of cooking techniques and professionalism, he was definitely no match for Sanji at his current level.

However, Li Ang was not thinking of just going through the motions. Li Ang was a very competitive person. Since he had agreed to fight Sanji, he had to give it his all and try his best to win this match.

To win, you have to start with the most crucial element. So, what's the most crucial element in a so-called culinary competition? It's the judges, of course.

The two dishes might have different qualities, but different judges might use different criteria, especially since the six judges sitting below aren't necessarily professionals. Therefore, catering to their preferences is crucial and increases the chances of getting positive feedback.

For example, the top judge's judging style mainly emphasizes large portions and plenty of food. If Li Ang were to bring out a carefully prepared dish, Luffy would probably swallow it whole, like Zhu Bajie eating a ginseng fruit – without even tasting it. It would be much more effective to just bring out a large piece of roasted meat.

Sanji was brimming with confidence for this match, showcasing a dazzling array of cooking techniques that left everyone mesmerized. Fueled by boundless fighting spirit, he was even able to unleash more than 100% of his full potential.

In contrast, Li Ang on the other side was much more down-to-earth, just like an ordinary person, carefully, slowly, and plainly handling the ingredients in his hands, cooking with ordinary methods. Sanji was starting to question his own abilities; was this all Li Ang was capable of?

The fight between the two took quite a while, and Luffy was getting impatient.

"Sorry to keep you all waiting."

After much anticipation, Luffy finally appeared, showing absolutely no mercy as he began fighting the two large pieces of roasted meat in front of him, and then gave the evaluation: "Both are very good, I like both of them very much."

Sigh, Li Ang never expected to score points from this judge from the very beginning. He just wanted a tie. With the skill levels being similar and only slightly different, he couldn't expect this guy to figure out which one tasted better.

Therefore, Li Ang's scoring points mainly come from the players behind him. For example, their influence.

"Hmm? It seems Li Ang is much more powerful," Zoro remarked.

"What nonsense are you spouting! You green-haired rascal! You haven't even tasted a bite and you know his food is better than mine? Are you doing this on purpose?!" Sanji yelled in dissatisfaction.

As the saying goes, cater to his tastes. Li Ang prepared a dish of sashimi for Zoro. Of course, there's not much else to say. The main thing is the knife skills. In Zoro's eyes, the fish slices were crystal clear, cut as thin as possible without any damage, and each slice was exactly the same thickness. At least Zoro couldn't tell the difference.

Similarly, Nami prepared an omelet rice dish with a hint of orange flavor, while Chopper prepared a sweet dish. In short, Li Ang won a lot of support from the judges by relying on his understanding of everyone.

Despite Sanji's frustrated expression, they won by a large margin once again. Apart from Luffy, everyone else thought that Leon's food was better.

It's important to understand that Li Ang's scoring was based on cooking according to the judges' preferences. However, Li Ang's food was actually slightly better than Sanji's. It's just that most people wouldn't notice this, not just Luffy, and probably no one else in this situation would be able to tell the difference either. So, they could only score points by catering to the judges' preferences.

However, Sanji wouldn't easily accept the votes of these unprofessional judges, and he also went to try the various dishes made by Li Ang.

The layman sees the spectacle, but the expert sees the details. Sanji, upon tasting the food, discovered something astonishing: Li Ang's preparation of the ingredients was absolutely perfect, just like his previous defeat, everything was textbook perfect.

It can be said that there were absolutely no mistakes in any of the various cooking methods.

Chapter 357 Enlightenment

"I never thought I'd still lose two years later." Sanji said, completely convinced of his defeat, after tasting Leon's dish.

Li Ang wiped the sweat from his brow; this intense work was truly exhausting.

"Hehe, it seems that it won't be easy to beat a genius chef like you. Maybe I won't be able to beat you in two years."

"But can you tell me how it's made so perfect?" Sanji asked doubtfully. "Whether it's the taste, texture, aroma, or appearance, it's all perfect, just like it's described in the book."

Others couldn't sense it, and even those who had subtle observations couldn't articulate what was so special about Li Ang's cooking. Only Sanji, a professional, could see that Li Ang's dishes could only be described as perfect.

“The reason you think it’s perfect isn’t because my cooking skills are so great, but because I have a skill that you don’t,” Li Ang explained.

That's right, Li Ang used some special methods. He might lack experience, but he made up for it with skill. Although Li Ang's experience and skills in cooking were inferior to Sanji's, a professional, Li Ang possessed a very powerful ability: Observation Haki.

Li Ang had never tried using Observation Haki while cooking before. This time, in order to maintain his undefeated record, he had no choice but to shamelessly use Haki. Poor Sanji doesn't even know this move yet.

With the aid of his Observation Haki, Li Ang could easily grasp the condition of the ingredients, whether they were cooked through, what kind of texture he wanted to achieve, and how high the heat should be.

Sanji had to time these with a stopwatch and rely on experience to calculate.

Experience can vary. For example, recipes often mention "simmering over low heat for one hour." But how low is "simmering over low heat"? There's no clear standard. One hour is just a recommended time. The person who wrote the recipe doesn't know the external environment when the other person is cooking, such as the air pressure or whether the flame is at the exact same level as theirs.