After Po carried Gustave back to safety, the Bamboo Staff remained anchored at the uninhabited island for an entire day. The primary concern was finding suitable food to help Gustave recover from his complete physical exhaustion.
Gustave was adamant about not touching their precious food reserves—those ingredients were meant for creating culinary masterpieces, not mere sustenance. For pure physical recovery, nothing could surpass the nutritional value of fresh Sea King meat.
So, the task of hunting Sea Kings fell to Tom.
When Tom learned he was expected to dive into the water to hunt massive sea monsters, he shook his head so vigorously it was almost comical. While those creatures couldn't actually harm him thanks to his cartoon physics, their terrifying appearances still made him genuinely nervous.
But Tom didn't need to enter the water—after all, his fishing skills were legendary.
He produced his trusty fishing rod and attached one of Gustave's perfectly roasted chickens as bait. With a mighty cast, the line sailed far out into the deep ocean.
Using such exquisite food as mere bait pained Tom deeply. The waste of Gustave's culinary artistry made his whiskers droop with sadness. For a moment, he found himself missing Jerry—his eternal nemesis had always made excellent bait, and Tom never felt guilty about using him.
But then he remembered all the terrible luck that inevitably followed whenever he used Jerry as bait. A shudder ran through his entire body as he forced thoughts of the mouse from his mind, focusing instead on the task at hand.
Chu Zihang crouched beside Tom, watching with fascination as the cat prepared for his fishing expedition. He'd seen Tom's antics countless times on television, but witnessing the cartoon character's real-life fishing techniques was an entirely different experience.
Tom possessed an almost supernatural fishing luck. Within minutes of casting his line, something massive took the bait.
The creature beneath the waves was incredibly strong—Tom was yanked off his feet instantly, his body stretching like rubber as he was dragged toward the water. Fortunately, Po reacted quickly, grabbing the elongated cat before he could be pulled into the ocean.
Po held Tom firmly while the cat's body stretched to impossible lengths, resembling someone who'd eaten a rubber-based Devil Fruit. After reaching maximum extension, Tom snapped back to normal shape with Po's powerful assistance, launching a forty to fifty-meter-long lobster-shaped Sea King onto the island with tremendous force.
The entire island shook upon impact, and what little vegetation existed was completely flattened by the massive creature's landing.
Unlike most Sea Kings that became lethargic after leaving the water, this particular specimen remained furious and active. It swept aside a large tree with its tail, then reared up on its hind legs and charged toward Po with enormous claws raised menacingly.
Unfortunately for the aggressive crustacean, it had chosen the wrong target. Po delivered a single, perfectly placed punch, and the Sea King collapsed immediately.
"Haha! Lobster for dinner!" Luffy shouted excitedly, rushing toward the fallen creature as if he were the one who needed nutritional recovery.
"Idiot! This is for Gustave's strength recovery, not your appetite!" Ace grabbed his brother and delivered a corrective bonk to his head.
"Sorry, sorry! I got carried away!" Luffy apologized with practiced ease, sporting a fresh bump on his skull.
Gustave, weak but ravenously hungry, approached the massive lobster and used his remaining strength to break off one of its enormous claws. He gestured for Luffy to come collect it.
"Gustave, you're the best!" Luffy ran over enthusiastically and attempted to lift the claw, but despite his face turning red with effort, the massive appendage remained immovable.
Ignoring Luffy's struggles, Gustave cracked open the lobster's shell and began devouring the pristine white meat inside. Though consumed raw, the Sea King's flesh was of exceptional quality—the One Piece world's oceans were free from industrial pollution, making the meat incredibly fresh and naturally sweet even without seasoning.
Chu Zihang watched in amazement as Gustave rapidly consumed the giant crustacean. His stomach would expand like a balloon with each bite, then immediately contract again as his body processed the nutrients. This cycle repeated continuously, and Gustave's strength visibly returned with each round.
"What technique is that?" Chu Zihang asked, a rare note of surprise breaking through his usually stoic expression.
"Seimei Kikan," Po explained knowledgeably. "It allows rapid conversion of food into essential nutrients for the body."
"Incredible!" Chu Zihang couldn't hide his envy of such an efficient and practical ability.
After consuming most of the lobster, Gustave finally felt his strength return. He released a long, satisfied breath that emerged as a visible white cloud in the evening air.
"Ahh, finally satisfied!" he sighed contentedly, patting his stomach with obvious relief.
Only then did he notice Luffy still struggling helplessly with the claw he'd discarded earlier.
"Luffy, you really need more physical training," Gustave chuckled, easily lifting the massive claw that had defeated his young friend.
"Damn it! I'll definitely surpass you someday!" Luffy declared indignantly, frustrated by the vast difference in their physical capabilities.
"This Sea King's meat is incredibly fresh and sweet," Gustave mused, examining the remaining lobster meat and the claw in his hands. "Tonight we'll have grilled lobster claws and fresh sashimi."
"Really?" Luffy's anger evaporated instantly, replaced by hopeful anticipation as he looked at Gustave with sparkling eyes.
"When have I ever lied to you about food?" Gustave replied with mock seriousness.
"Amazing! We're having a feast tonight!" Luffy jumped up and down with pure joy.
As dusk painted the sky in brilliant oranges and purples, the entire crew gathered on the beach. The setting sun transformed the sand into golden silk, while a gentle breeze added an almost romantic atmosphere to the scene.
It was the perfect setting for young lovers, though their group consisted entirely of men—not even a single woman among them.
The colossal lobster, lay partially dismantled on the sandy shore. Gustave, moving with the focused grace of a surgeon, carefully trimmed away the sections he'd already cooked, his eyes scanning for the most pristine, untouched meat. He selected a hefty portion of the tail, its flesh translucent and firm—perfect for sashimi. The rest, including the monstrous claws that were each the size of a small barrel, he carried to the temporary galley set up near the Bamboo Staff.
Sashimi was an art of beautiful simplicity, a duel between the chef's knife and the ingredient itself. In this duel, the ingredient was king. With seafood this fresh, pulled from the ocean mere hours ago, even a clumsy cut would taste divine. But Gustave wasn't clumsy. His movements were a blur of efficiency as he sliced the meat into flawless, glistening pieces, each precisely uniform.
Traditionally, sashimi called for soy sauce and wasabi. Gustave's personal, custom-brewed soy sauce was still back in Windmill Village, but he'd had the foresight to procure several high-end varieties during their stay in Water 7. He conducted a quick, professional tasting, dabbing a bit of each onto his tongue before selecting a light, fragrant brew that would complement the Sea King's sweet flesh without overpowering it.
As for the wasabi, he wouldn't dream of using the pre-made paste from a tube. From the ship's cold storage, he produced a gnarled, fresh wasabi root. The sharp, aromatic scent that filled the air as he grated it finely on a sharkskin grater was leagues beyond any processed alternative.
Next were the garlic-grilled lobster claws. This preparation was equally straightforward in concept, but the execution was everything. "Luffy, Po! I need this garlic peeled. All of it," Gustave instructed, pointing to a large basket of garlic bulbs.
"Leave it to us!" Luffy declared, puffing out his chest. He and Po attacked the task with gusto, only to be reduced to blubbering, teary-eyed messes within minutes.
"Waaah! It's attacking my eyes!" Luffy wailed, rubbing his face with garlic-scented hands, which only made it worse. Po, looking utterly defeated, sat with a single peeled clove in his massive paw, tears streaming down his furry cheeks.
Gustave sighed, a small smile playing on his lips. He took over, his fingers moving with practiced speed. Once peeled, he finely chopped the cloves. He rinsed about half the batch under fresh water and patted it dry—a crucial step to prevent it from burning and turning bitter in the hot oil.
He placed a large cast-iron skillet over the fire. This, however, was where his process diverged from any mortal chef's. Instead of relying on the crude, fluctuating heat of the campfire, Gustave extended his right hand over the pan. A low, almost inaudible hum filled the air as faint, blue sparks danced between his fingertips and the skillet's base. He was using a minuscule, perfectly controlled electrical current to heat the oil, holding it at a precise temperature that wouldn't waver by a single degree.
Chu Zihang, who had been watching silently, felt the static in the air. His eyes widened slightly behind his glasses, recognizing the incredible control required to wield such destructive power with the delicacy of a master artisan.
Gustave added the rinsed garlic to the shimmering oil. He let it sizzle until it was a perfect, uniform gold, then expertly strained it, setting the crispy morsels aside. The fragrant, garlic-infused oil went back into the pan, this time with the unwashed portion of the chopped garlic. This batch was cooked only until its raw, pungent aroma peaked. He then combined both preparations, creating a sauce with layers of flavor—crispy, toasted notes from the first batch and a sharp, aromatic bite from the second.
"You can handle spicy food, right, Zihang?" Gustave asked, holding a handful of vibrant red chilies. Chu Zihang gave a curt nod. Knowing Po and Luffy had developed a surprising tolerance for heat under his tutelage, Gustave chopped the chilies and stirred them into the sauce, adding salt, white pepper, a touch of sugar for balance, and a generous splash of oyster sauce for a deep, savory umami finish. The resulting aroma was so intoxicating that Luffy stopped crying and began to drool, a long, shimmering thread dangling from his mouth.
With the sauce perfected, Gustave took a large cleaver and brought it down on the top shell of each giant claw, cracking them open just enough to expose the thick, white meat within. He brushed the fragrant, glistening garlic mixture generously over the exposed flesh.
Now for the final step. He had the crew drag the massive claws closer to the fire.
"Are we gonna cook it on the fire? It'll take forever!" Luffy whined, his stomach rumbling loud enough to be mistaken for a distant storm.
"Patience," Gustave said calmly. "I'll use a slightly faster method."
He knelt between the two claws. He raised his hands, palms facing the exposed lobster meat. The air crackled again, more intensely this time. Tiny, controlled arcs of pure lightning, no thicker than sewing needles, shot from his fingertips. They danced across the surface of the lobster meat and garlic sauce, searing them with incredible speed and precision. The garlic sizzled, the sugar in the sauce caramelized instantly, and the shell trapped the steam, cooking the meat to tender perfection in a matter of moments. The scent that billowed into the evening air was beyond belief—a mouthwatering fusion of grilled seafood, roasted garlic, and the clean, sharp smell of ozone.
Luffy's jaw was on the floor. Po's nose twitched uncontrollably. Even Chu Zihang couldn't suppress a small, audible swallow.
"It's ready," Gustave announced, standing up as the lightning faded. The claws were cooked to a beautiful golden-brown, the sauce bubbling invitingly. "Perfect timing. Everyone grab your bowls and chopsticks—dinner is served!"
Combined with the platter of pristine, jewel-like sashimi, the beach feast was a banquet fit for a king, cooked by a man who wielded the power of a god.