"Gaba—"
Luffy bit off a huge chunk of bread, speaking through a full mouth. "Let's go find a chef on the sea!"
Johnny puffed his chest out proudly. "If you're looking for a chef, I know just the place."
"Really? Where?!" Luffy's eyes lit up like treasure.
Johnny walked over to Zoro, pointing ahead with confidence. "It's close to the Grand Line route. There are even rumors about a man named Hawkeye—someone Big Brother's been looking for."
The moment Zoro heard that, he chuckled, and his hand instinctively went to his sword hilt. His smile was sharp, full of anticipation.
Lock, leaning lazily against the rail, smiled faintly at the mention of Mihawk. He knew every "isekai traveler" fanfic MC supposedly became famous by fighting Hawkeye… but honestly? He didn't have that kind of death wish.
Still… if Zoro fails and gets crushed, I might just throw hands with Mihawk anyway. Someone's gotta vent that frustration for him.
After all, Zoro was his and Luffy's crewmate now.
"The heading is northeast by north!" Johnny announced proudly, pointing out to sea.
The Going Merry adjusted her sails and followed the course.
The Unwelcome Navy
The calm sailing didn't last long.
Beep—ding ding ding—!
A Marine ship suddenly appeared, closing in on the Merry.
"Why is there a Navy ship here?!" Johnny yelped in surprise.
"It… It's not gonna attack us, right?" Usopp squeaked, already panicking.
On the warship's deck, a pink-haired officer stepped forward with deliberate swagger. He slapped the railing to grab attention and shouted:
"I am Captain Fullbody of Marine Headquarters! Iron Fist Fullbody!"
Lock raised an eyebrow. Oh great. Mr. 'Wine Connoisseur' himself. This clown.
"Hey, Captain! Tell me your name!" Luffy called back with his usual friendliness.
"I'm Luffy! Pirate flag just went up a few days ago!"
"Never heard of you." Fullbody's gaze drifted to Johnny and Yosaku. He squinted. "But I know those two. Bounty hunters, right? The kind that prey on weaklings. What, did pirates finally catch you two?"
"I—we—" Johnny stammered.
Fullbody sneered. "Pathetic."
"Please, let's just go." A blonde woman in a sleeveless dress tugged on his arm, trying to calm him.
Johnny's face darkened with anger. He pulled a thick stack of bounty posters from his coat and threw them into the air. "These are the criminals we've taken down! Don't you dare insult us!"
Fullbody didn't even look. He smirked, wrapping his arm tighter around the woman's waist as he walked away. "Hmph. Let's head to the restaurant."
"What an eyesore," he muttered to her. "Sink them."
"Yes, sir!" Marines instantly saluted and prepared the cannons.
Lock folded his arms. Really? First meeting, and he's already trying to murder us. Typical Navy hospitality.
Nami bent to pick up one of the fallen posters. Her eyes widened. The bounty showed a familiar fishman face—Arlong.
Her whole body tensed. Her hand crushed the paper into a ball.
Lock noticed immediately. He walked over quietly. "Nami… you alright?" He already knew the answer.
She forced a smile so fast it was almost painful. "I'm fine."
Lock studied her face for a second, then shrugged lightly. "If you're ever not fine, tell me. Maybe I can help."
"…I know," she said, her smile stiff.
Lock didn't press. She'll tell me eventually. And when she does, Arlong's finished.
Cannon Fire
"Oh no! They're aiming at us!" Usopp shrieked as the Marine ship prepared to fire.
BOOM!
A cannonball soared through the air—
"Leave it to me!" Luffy shouted, stretching his arms to grab the mast and slingshot himself upward.
But just as he was about to launch the shell back at the Baratie—
"Not happening." Lock grabbed Luffy mid-sling, adjusted his aim, then let him fly.
WHOOSH—
BOOM!
The cannonball shot straight back into the Marine ship and exploded. Smoke filled the air as several Marines screamed and tumbled into the sea.
"Save the men!" the remaining Marines shouted, diving overboard to pull survivors from the water.
The Going Merry, ignoring them, continued toward the floating restaurant on the horizon.
Baratie
Tick-tick, tick-tick, la la la~
Inside the Baratie, music and clattering dishes mixed with laughter and conversation.
A gentleman with sharp features and curly eyebrows strolled past tables, a cigarette dangling from his lips, a glass of wine balanced elegantly in his hand. His suit was neat, his gait smooth.
Sanji, the sous chef of Baratie.
"Look, that's Captain Fullbody over there." A middle-aged man whispered to his date.
"That's a Marine from Headquarters," another customer muttered, impressed.
Women in the restaurant sighed dreamily. "So handsome~"
Fullbody soaked in the attention, smiling at the blonde woman beside him. "No, no. You're the real beauty here."
Their glasses clinked. The performance was perfect.
…Until Sanji arrived.
As Fullbody swirled his wine dramatically, he declared, "This fragrance—clearly from the northern soil of Mikel. Slightly sour, mellow spice. This red wine is… Etruscan Brugastein!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd. All eyes turned to Sanji, waiting for confirmation.
Sanji exhaled smoke, unimpressed. "No. That's wrong, my guest."
"Eh?"
Before Fullbody could argue, Sanji placed a spoon in his hand. "Soup's getting cold. Drink it while it's hot."
He turned to leave, tossing over his shoulder casually: "By the way, I'm Sanji. The sous chef."
The blonde woman giggled, sipping her wine. Fullbody sat there, spoon in hand, face twitching with embarrassment.
Sanji smirked faintly as he walked back toward the kitchen.
Show-off Marines and their fake charm. Some things never change.
Fullbody's face darkened further as he noticed a bug floating in his soup. He crushed it underfoot with a forced grin, then raised his voice.
"Waiter!"
Sanji stopped, clearly irritated. "Didn't I say I'm not a waiter?"
Then, turning smoothly to the blonde woman, his tone softened instantly. "But you—mademoiselle—you're breathtaking. Care to share a glass of wine with me later?"
The blonde flushed slightly, but before she could answer, Fullbody snapped angrily.
"Hey! Do you serve customers soup with bugs in it at this place?!"
The restaurant buzzed with whispers, attention swinging between Sanji and the humiliated Marine captain.
The atmosphere in Baratie had just shifted.