On a small island of a few dozen square kilometers, surrounded on all sides by the sea.
Inside the kitchen of a slightly worn-down wooden house, hot oil crackled in an iron wok. A rich, meaty aroma, laced with the sharp scent of spices, aggressively dominated the small space.
A few of the braver villagers hid behind a nearby tree, peeking out at the only simple restaurant at the village entrance.
At the restaurant's doorway, a tall man with wild, black hair was rapping his knuckles on a tabletop, creating a dull thudding sound. The plate before him was licked clean, without a single drop of sauce remaining.
"Hey, kid."
The man's voice was rough, carrying an undeniable sense of pressure.
"Your cooking... it's damn good."
Eight-year-old Ren calmly wiped his kitchen knife, its blade reflecting his young but unusually composed face.
"Thank you for the compliment."
"Hahaha..."
The man suddenly burst into deafening laughter, startling the seabirds under the eaves into flapping their wings and flying far away.
"Be my cook!"
He wasn't suggesting; he was announcing an established fact.
"Come out to sea with me. My name is Rocks. Rocks D. Xebec."
Rocks.
Ren's hand paused for a fraction of a second.
In the decades to come, that name would become the world's nightmare. He was the legend who nearly became King of the World, a man who could only be defeated by the combined forces of the Marines and Roger.
But right now, Rocks was still very young, just a rookie pirate who had recently set out to sea with a few crewmates on a battered ship.
[Host has been detected facing a critical choice: An invitation from the future hegemon of the seas.]
[Option 1: Refuse Rocks. Reward: 500 Culinary Points, Navy's Six Powers: Iron Body Proficiency (Beginner).]
[Option 2: Accept Rocks's offer and become the cook of the Rocks Pirates. Reward: 2000 Culinary Points, unlock the new Ingredient Index for the Grand Line (Initial Stage), receive exclusive reward: The Endless Spice Bottle.]
[God-Tier Cooking System]
[Host: Ren]
[Culinary Level: Top-tier (45,000 / 200,000)]
[Medical Skill Level: Excellent]
[Culinary Points: 8,500]
The system's prompt was crystal clear in Ren's mind. His culinary skills had been stuck at the 'Excellent' level for a long time.
Memories surfaced in his mind.
It had been eight years since he was reborn into the world of One Piece. Ren was an orphan with unknown parents, found and adopted by an old man in the village. Unexpectedly, this body possessed great talent, including a natural gift for Observation Haki. At the age of eight, he had defeated a pirate with an eight-million-Beli bounty who had come to plunder the village.
Most importantly, Ren was bound to a God-Tier Cooking System.
The system divided culinary skill into seven levels: Common, Fine, Excellent, Top-tier, Master, Peerless, and God-tier. Each time he cooked, he would gain experience and Culinary Points based on the taste and difficulty of the dish. The more delicious and difficult the food, the more points he earned. Every time his culinary level increased, he received an exclusive reward. Furthermore, the Culinary Points could be used in the system's shop to purchase a vast array of items: fighting styles, weapons, the three types of Haki, the Navy's Six Powers, famous swords, and more.
The system would also occasionally issue quests related to improving his cooking, with rewards upon completion.
Unfortunately, the ingredients on this small island and in the nearby seas could no longer provide him with significant experience. To advance, to become stronger, he had to venture into the wider world in search of higher-quality ingredients.
The sea was the ultimate treasure chest for any chef. And Rocks's ship was undoubtedly the fastest vessel to that treasure.
"Why should I go to sea with a pirate like you?" Ren asked, his tone not that of a child, but of an adult in negotiation.
Rocks grinned, revealing a wild smile. "Because food like yours is meant for the future King of the Seas, not for cooking for these poor villagers who can't even afford meat in this backwater."
His words were direct and harsh, causing the spying villagers to flush with humiliation and anger.
"Ren! Don't listen to him!" A frail but strong voice came from behind Ren.
The old man who had adopted Ren emerged, leaning on a wooden staff, his steps faltering. His wrinkled face was filled with vigilance and unease. He spread his arms to shield Ren, his cloudy eyes fixed on Rocks.
"Pirates are nothing but a gang of heartless scoundrels! They only know how to rob and kill! You won't take away our village's hope!"
The old man had watched Ren grow up. He knew how extraordinary this child was. A month ago, at just eight years old, Ren had defeated a pirate with an eight-million-Beli bounty. Such talent shouldn't be wasted on a pirate ship.
Rocks's smile faded slightly as he sized up the old man blocking his path. He wasn't angry; he found it rather amusing. "Old man, this isn't something you can decide."
Rocks looked past the old man to Ren. "Kid, give me your answer."
"Come with me, and I'll show you the world's rarest ingredients. We'll challenge the mightiest Sea Kings and taste flavors that exist only in legend."
"Stay here, and you'll be stuck in this rundown shack for the rest of your life, grilling fish for these paupers."
The atmosphere froze. Even the sea breeze seemed to hold its breath. Everyone's attention was fixed on the eight-year-old boy.
Ren stepped out from behind the old man.
First, he looked up at the old man, whose eyes were filled with pleading and worry. Then, he turned to Rocks, his own gaze entirely different—calm and decisive.
"I need to prepare."
As soon as he spoke, the old man's body trembled violently, his grip on the wooden staff weakening. "Ren! You..."
"Grandpa."
Ren interrupted him, the title adding a touch of warmth to his voice. "I had nothing when you found me. You and the villagers raised me, feeding me bite by bite, sip by sip. I will never forget that kindness."
After a pause, Ren's voice became clearer. "But this place is too small. My goal is to create dishes that would make even the gods weep. To achieve that, I must go to sea."
There was no hesitation in Ren's words. His maturity, far beyond his years, shocked everyone present.
The smile returned to Rocks's face, this time one of genuine appreciation. "Hahahaha! Good! Well said! That's the spirit of a crewman of Rocks D. Xebec!"
The old man's lips moved as if he wanted to say more, but it all dissolved into a long sigh. He knew Ren. Once this child made a decision, no one could change his mind.
Ren said no more and turned, walking into the small room behind the restaurant.
-------
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