Hearing everyone's terrified, alarmed cries, a tall man with distinctive hawk-like eyes stopped eating his meal.
The Beast Pirates?
Could they possibly be coming specifically for him?
The man turned to look with calculating interest, his razor-sharp hawk-like eyes fixed intensely on the approaching Rayquaza.
Standing confidently at the ship's polished rail, Kai's appraising gaze swept deliberately over the various ships anchored around Baratie, finally settling with recognition on one particularly peculiar small vessel.
Rather than resembling a traditional ship, it looked disturbingly more like an ornate coffin fitted with a single mast and dark sail.
The hull and sail were entirely midnight black, with flickering lit candles positioned on the vessel.
Those who didn't know better might think some vampire was traveling the seas.
"Is that legendary man here too?"
Kai looked directly toward Baratie and through the restaurant window, his penetrating gaze met a pair of unmistakable hawk eyes.
So it really is you, the world's greatest swordsman: Hawkeye, Dracule Mihawk.
Should this encounter be called incredibly lucky or dangerously unlucky?
Before Kai could decide whether to meet directly with Hawkeye, Yamato had already made the crucial decision for him.
"Something smells absolutely delicious!"
Yamato's delicate nose twitched slightly as the rich, mouth-watering aroma instantly captivated her eager taste buds: "I've decided! We're having lunch on this amazing ship!"
Before she finished speaking enthusiastically, she had already shot forward like an arrow from a bow, leaping gracefully from the Rayquaza's deck and landing steadily on Baratie's wooden deck.
Yamato's sudden landing caused an immediate wave of absolute panic.
"She boarded the ship!"
The peaceful diners in the restaurant instantly exploded into complete chaos.
At this terrifying moment, the customers desperately wished their parents had given them two fewer legs to slow them down.
Both being pirates, the Beast Pirates and Hawkeye possessed very different reputations entirely.
Although Hawkeye was technically also a pirate, there were no credible reports of him killing innocent civilians. Those who died by his legendary sword were either swordsmen who foolishly dueled him or his actual enemies.
The Beast Pirates were completely different.
Thanks to the Navy's tireless propaganda reporting, the Beast Pirates were basically synonymous with violence and mindless slaughter.
They were either engaged in brutal war every day or traveling somewhere to start new wars.
"Boss, the check! Keep the change!"
A merchant-dressed man directly threw out a stack of berries and hurriedly fled without waiting for the boss's response.
Panic spread like falling dominoes, causing more terrified diners to flee in absolute terror.
But while there were obvious cowards, there were also dangerously bold individuals.
A stubble-bearded man with a gruesome scar running from his left eye to his chin pressed one weathered hand on his sword and gripped a gun with the other, eager to try his foolish luck.
"That woman looks very young and inexperienced."
He licked his lips with obvious anticipation, thinking that if he could take her down, wouldn't he instantly become famous across the seas?
When he saw Kai's group boarding afterward, he became even more certain of his flawed judgment.
A bunch of youngsters, probably just small fry from the Beast Pirates.
"Go straight to hell!"
The man grinned savagely as he raised his flintlock, its black barrel aimed directly at Yamato's head, roaring with misplaced excitement: "When you get to hell, remember my name: Scar William!"
BANG!
A gunshot rang out across the deck.
The barrel spat fire and smoke as the brass bullet spun toward Yamato with deadly intent!
"Hit! Hahaha..."
William's grin became more savage, as if he could already see his future of fame across the seas.
So-called Emperor pirate crews were nothing particularly special.
I went to sea too late, otherwise, I would be the Sea Emperor!
The next second, his confident laughter stopped abruptly.
"Who's throwing annoying things around?" Yamato frowned with irritation, scanning around before spotting the gun-wielding, maniacally laughing William.
"Impossible! This is a deluxe pistol I bought for 30,000 berries!"
William was shocked and repeatedly pulled the trigger at Yamato until he completely emptied the magazine.
But the blood-spattering scene he desperately expected didn't appear.
DING! DING! DING! DING!
Several flattened bullet heads rolled weakly onto the floor at Yamato's feet.
"Hm?" Yamato tilted her head in genuine confusion: "Are you trying to tickle me?"
Having seen Haki-infused bullets in the New World, this man's pathetic bullets seemed pitifully weak.
What an absolute idiot.
Do you think you're Beckman?
Kai rolled his eyes speechlessly at the man who now looked like a complete clown.
He curved his index finger, lightly flicked it with his thumb toward William's direction, and expressionlessly snapped!
An invisible yet razor-sharp air blade shot out.
The blade sliced through William's neck like a hot knife through butter, meeting absolutely no resistance.
THUD!
A basketball-sized head rolled onto the floor with a dull sound. The headless corpse stood rigid for a moment before crashing down.
"Captain!"
William's subordinates finally came to their senses, crying out in terror before scrambling away from Baratie without daring to look back.
Revenge was impossible. They wanted to live a few more years.
Being able to cry a couple of times for their captain was enough to justify the berries he'd paid them.
Mihawk in the corner let his calculating gaze linger on Kai for a moment.
An unseen slashing technique. Interesting indeed.
Kai and Mihawk made deliberate eye contact. Neither intended to speak, just nodding slightly as a respectful greeting.
Yamato completely ignored the corpse on the ground and the spreading bloody smell, shouting loudly with enthusiasm: "I want to order food!"
"Coming right up."
An aged voice came from inside the restaurant.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
Accompanied by the rhythmic sound of a wooden leg striking the floor, a man wearing a chef's hat with two golden braided mustaches and walking on a wooden prosthetic leg came out.
"An unfamiliar customer. Welcome to Baratie! I'm head chef Zeff."
The experienced man didn't even glance at the bloody mess on the floor, walking directly to Yamato and handing her a menu.
"Let me see..." Yamato flipped through it curiously, her pale finger pointing at her chin as she fell into decision paralysis: "Every dish looks really good. This is so hard to choose!"
"Then let's order the whole book."
Kai casually returned the menu to Zeff, displaying his domineering CEO aura.
Yamato was puzzled: "What's 'order the whole book'?"
Kai explained patiently: "One of every dish on the menu."
Hearing this extravagant request, Zeff examined Kai's group's builds and frowned with concern: "Sir, if I may say so, some dishes are quite large. One dish is enough to fill one person."
"This establishment strictly prohibits food waste."
Even if it meant offending these seemingly powerful customers, he had to issue this important warning.
Kai shrugged with confidence: "You can completely rest assured about that. We won't waste food. In fact, I'm more worried about whether you have enough ingredients on this ship."
Violet and the other two couldn't help but cover their mouths and giggle softly.
Others aside, they had witnessed Kai and Yamato's legendary appetites firsthand.
"Don't worry! You'll definitely leave here completely full!"
Zeff smiled proudly: "Letting customers go hungry is a chef's greatest shame!"
He turned and shouted toward the kitchen: "Patty, Carne, make one of every dish! Sanji, come out and clean the floor!"
"Sanji?"
Reiju, who had been relaxed until now, suddenly contracted her pupils and tensed up.
Was it just the same name, or...
"Coming!" A crisp, youthful voice responded.
From the kitchen doorway, a blonde boy of about twelve or thirteen came out carrying a bucket and mop. He had the characteristic spiral eyebrows and still retained some childish features on his face.
"It really is you! Sanji!" Reiju's voice trembled slightly with overwhelming excitement.
She never imagined she would see her brother, who had been exiled by their father, here.
"Sis... sister?"
Sanji was stunned. The bucket in his hands crashed to the floor with a "clang," and clean water instantly spread out.
He stared blankly at the pink-haired figure before him, his mind completely blank.