"Silver, get the cleanest ice you can find. The more, the better."
"Dolum, set up the largest pot, start a fire. I'm making a soup with the fish head and bones."
"Gatz, rinse these cut pieces of fish with lightly salted water."
Ren directed them methodically. The rough pirates, who usually only knew how to fight and sail, had now become his most obedient kitchen assistants.
The choicest part, the belly meat, was sliced by Ren into uniform, thick pieces. The flesh had a beautiful marble-like pattern, with pinkish-white fat interwoven with bright red meat, like a masterpiece. Ren carefully arranged these sashimi slices on a plate that had been chilled with ice, each piece artfully placed.
Next, Ren took a piece of leaner meat from near the back, gently tenderized it with the back of his knife, and minced it. He then took out some unknown dried spices from his own bag. Once again, Ren secretly used the Endless Spice Bottle, creating a drop of a special sauce in his palm that blended the savory flavor of soy sauce with the refreshing tartness of fruit vinegar. He mixed it with the minced fish and spices, creating several exquisite portions of fish tartare.
Finally, Ren placed a richly fatty steak of fish onto a sizzling hot iron griddle.
Tssssss—
The moment the fish hit the griddle, the fat melted rapidly, making a delightful sound, and a powerful, almost aggressive aroma instantly filled the air. It was the pure, ultimate fragrance of seared fat mixed with the fish's own umami, a hundred times more intense than anything they had smelled before.
Gatz was practically drooling a river. He squatted nearby, staring at the fish steak on the griddle, his throat making gurgling sounds like a starved beast.
When the fish bone soup had simmered into a milky white broth and was emitting a rich, savory aroma, Ren announced, "Dinner is served."
The crew, who could wait no longer, immediately gathered around.
On the table were three dishes: glistening Azurefin Tuna sashimi, fragrant fish tartare, and the incredibly aromatic griddled fish steaks. Beside them was a large pot of milky-white fish bone soup.
Rocks was the first to pick up a slice of the fatty belly sashimi. Without dipping it in any sauce, he put it straight into his mouth. The moment the fish touched his tongue, he felt as if his mouth was enveloped by a soft, cool cloud. As it warmed to the temperature of his mouth, the high-quality fat in the fish began to melt, and an unparalleled sweetness and umami flavor exploded on his taste buds. It was a taste of the sea, so pure and perfect that it needed no extra seasoning to be utterly intoxicating.
"This..." Rocks's eyes shot open. He stopped chewing, his face a mask of disbelief.
Gatz, meanwhile, eagerly speared a large piece of the griddled fish steak and stuffed it into his mouth. The outside was crispy and fragrant, while the inside was tender and juicy. The moment he bit down, hot juices burst forth, and the aroma of fat, intensified by the searing heat, shot straight to his brain, making him almost pass out from bliss.
"Waaaaah! I'm alive again! I feel like my whole body is overflowing with power!" Gatz yelled incoherently while gobbling down his food.
The silent Silver tasted the fish tartare. The raw fish, mixed with the special sauce, was smooth and rich in flavor. It had the freshness of the fish, the mellowness of the sauce, and a wonderful complexity from the spices. For the first time, a smile of pure enjoyment appeared on his usually stern face.
This meal was more than just delicious. As the food settled in their stomachs, waves of pure energy flowed through their limbs. The fatigue from days of sailing vanished, and minor cuts and bruises began to heal at a visible rate. Everyone felt their physical and mental states reach an unprecedented peak.
This was the miracle born from the combination of top-tier ingredients and god-tier cooking! It had transcended the realm of cuisine and was almost like a magical elixir!
For a while, the only sounds on deck were swallowing, chewing, and sighs of deep satisfaction.
An entire giant tuna was devoured by four grown men and one boy, as if by a storm. Even the pot of soup was drunk down to the last drop. Everyone sat瘫 on the deck, rubbing their round bellies, their faces radiating a happiness they had never known before.
Gatz let out a long, hearty burp and said with sincere emotion, "Following Chef Ren is better than being a king, even if we're just floating at sea all day!"
Everyone nodded in deep agreement.
Rocks leaned against the ship's rail, looking at his satisfied crew and then at Ren, who was cleaning his cooking tools. An unprecedented sense of ambition surged within him. He stood up, walked to the highest point of the ship, and announced in a booming voice:
"We have the strongest captain, the best crew, and the world's greatest chef! We are not a band of aimless wanderers! We are the kings who will conquer this sea!"
Rocks threw his arms wide and roared at the vast ocean, "From this day forward, our name is the Rocks Pirates! And in the future, this name will shake the entire world!"
"ROCKS! ROCKS!" Gatz and Dolum pumped their fists in the air, roaring along with him. Silver also stood up. He didn't shout, but a fiery passion burned in his eyes.
Ren paused his work. He looked up at the man standing at the bow, full of ambition and vigor. The sunlight fell upon him, as if draping him in a golden battle robe.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile graced Ren's lips.
He knew that the legend of a maritime hegemon had officially begun, right after this ultimate feast. And he would be one of the most indispensable creators of that legend.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the hidden quest: Birth of a Hegemon. The Rocks Pirates have officially made their name. Reward: 5,000 EXP, 3,000 Culinary Points. Unlocked exclusive ability: 'Boon of the Feast'. Dishes cooked by the Host will now provide a slight, permanent buff to the constitution of his comrades.]
The system's notification sounded in his mind, and Ren's gaze grew deeper.
Boon of the Feast? A permanent buff?
This game was getting more and more interesting.
After nearly a month at sea, the Rocks Pirates finally reached their first island on the Grand Line. It was an island made of many giant cacti, with peaks shaped like inverted liquor bottles. This was Whiskey Peak, the infamous "welcoming" island in the first half of the Grand Line.
As soon as their ship docked, a group of seemingly hospitable townspeople surrounded them, beating drums and gongs. Their leader was a mayor in a cowboy hat with a friendly smile.
"Welcome! Welcome, our pirate friends from afar! We are the residents of Whiskey Peak, and we love nothing more than to host banquets for bold seafarers like you!"
The mayor enthusiastically offered them fine wine and food, while the townspeople sang and danced. It was a scene of joyous celebration.
Gatz and Dolum had never seen such a reception and were immediately overjoyed. Gatz took a large mug of ale, chugged it down, and slapped his chest, laughing. "Hahahaha! The people here are so genuine! I like this place!" Dolum also accepted the food and began eating without any suspicion.
Although Rocks also smiled and accepted the welcome, there was a hint of amusement and caution in his eyes. He glanced at Ren, who was standing beside him.
Ren had been silent since they disembarked. He hadn't touched any of the food or drinks offered by the townspeople. He simply scanned the warm, smiling faces around them with his calm eyes.
His Observation Haki was already active. Beneath the laughter and cheers, Ren could clearly sense faint, cold waves of killing intent.
-------
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