After a carefully timed wait, Hawkeye's four meticulously prepared dishes were presented before him. Studying the artfully arranged plates and inhaling the complex aromas wafting through the air, Hawkeye gave an approving nod. Of the three classical elements that defined exceptional cuisine—color, aroma, and taste—he could already award high marks for the first two. The visual presentation was flawless, and the fragrances promised extraordinary flavors. However, the ultimate test remained: the actual taste experience that only his own palate could judge.
Hawkeye began with the fugu sashimi, carefully selecting a translucent slice that could only be described as "thin as a cicada's wing"—a testament to Gustave's extraordinary knife skills. The chef had provided two traditional accompaniments: a delicate soy sauce reduction and fiery wasabi paste.
Originally intended to offer customers options, Hawkeye decided to experience both flavor profiles. He first dipped the fugu in soy sauce, then added just a touch of wasabi before placing it on his tongue. The flavors exploded across his palate—the clean, almost sweet taste of the expertly prepared pufferfish enhanced by the umami depth of the soy sauce and the sharp heat of the wasabi creating a perfect harmony.
Hawkeye nodded with genuine appreciation. While fugu sashimi primarily showcased the quality of the ingredients themselves, inferior knife work could never unlock the full potential of such premium fish. Gustave had clearly mastered the precise technique required.
Next, he sampled the Jamón ibérico and cheese. Once again, Gustave's impeccable knife skills were evident—each paper-thin slice of ham paired beautifully with the carefully selected cheese, creating a sophisticated interplay of salty, nutty, and creamy flavors that spoke to centuries of culinary tradition.
Having completed the cold courses, Hawkeye turned his attention to the two hot dishes: the stir-fried Xuanwei ham with lettuce and the mysterious dried mushroom fried rice.
The stir-fried ham demonstrated Gustave's deep understanding of ingredient preparation. The Xuanwei ham had been properly blanched to remove excess salt while preserving its distinctive smoky aroma—a technique that required both knowledge and precise timing. The lettuce strips glistened with rendered fat from the ham, and with each bite, the initial burst of savory ham flavor gave way to the fresh, crisp sweetness of the lettuce. Rather than feeling heavy or greasy, the combination was perfectly balanced, proving that ham and lettuce were indeed an inspired pairing.
Finally, Hawkeye approached the dried mushroom fried rice that Gustave had so confidently recommended.
Ganba mushrooms ranked among the most prized of all wild mushrooms. If matsutake hadn't been exported internationally and seen its prices artificially inflated, ganba would still hold the undisputed title of most expensive wild mushroom variety. This premium reflected their extraordinary flavor profile—while Gustave considered porcini and chanterelles to have the most robust mushroom flavors, ganba mushrooms surpassed even those legendary varieties.
Hawkeye had never encountered anything called "ganba mushrooms," nor had he heard of ganba mushroom fried rice, but Gustave's confident recommendation had piqued his curiosity.
He lifted a spoonful of the fried rice and placed it in his mouth. Immediately, layers of flavor bloomed across his palate—the intense, almost meaty essence of the ganba mushrooms, the perfectly seasoned rice with its subtle wok hei (breath of the wok), and the aromatic cooking oil that bound everything together. In that moment, Hawkeye had only one coherent thought: he needed another bite immediately.
Momousagi, observing from her nearby table, watched in fascination as Hawkeye's eating style underwent a dramatic transformation. He had begun the meal with impeccable table manners, savoring each dish with refined deliberation. But suddenly, he was attacking the bowl of fried rice with almost desperate enthusiasm, shoveling large spoonfuls into his mouth as if he hadn't eaten in weeks. Momousagi stared in bewilderment—could fried rice really be that extraordinary?
"Chan'er, do you know what that fried rice is called?" Momousagi whispered, discretely pointing toward Hawkeye's rapidly emptying bowl.
"It looks like ganba mushroom fried rice. That fried rice really is incredibly delicious!" Yang Chan replied, pausing to wipe a bit of cream from the corner of her mouth. She had developed a favorable impression of this kind sister who had complimented her so warmly and even shared cake, so when Momousagi asked, Yang Chan studied the dish carefully before answering with certainty.
"Ganba mushroom fried rice—got it! I want one too!" Momousagi declared, immediately standing to place an additional order with Gustave.
By the time Gustave delivered Momousagi's braised beef noodles and ganba mushroom fried rice to her table, Hawkeye had already finished his entire meal and risen to settle his bill.
"Chef, what's the total for this meal?" Hawkeye inquired, dabbing his mouth with elegant refinement, as if the person who had just devoured that fried rice with such passionate intensity was someone entirely different.
"All together, that comes to 250,000 Berries," Gustave replied with his characteristic warm smile.
Hawkeye paused for a moment upon hearing the figure. Noticing his reaction, Gustave asked, "Is there a problem with the pricing?"
The dishes Hawkeye had ordered featured exclusively premium ingredients— Jamón ibérico, Xuanwei ham, fresh fugu, and rare ganba mushrooms. Gustave was actually being quite generous charging only 250,000 Berries
"No complaints whatsoever about the price," Hawkeye responded decisively. Far from finding it expensive, he actually considered it remarkably reasonable. Given the top-tier ingredients and exceptional culinary execution, Hawkeye had mentally prepared to pay at least 500,000 Berries. Discovering the actual cost was only half his anticipated amount made it an exceptional value.
Hawkeye gladly paid the bill and prepared to depart. Money had never been a concern for him—if he ever needed funds, he could simply collect bounties from any number of pirate crews.
In the brief time it took Gustave to graciously escort Hawkeye out and return, Momousagi had already completely finished both her ganba mushroom fried rice and braised beef noodles.
"Sorry, Gustave—your cooking is so incredible that I accidentally ate everything," Momousagi confessed, patting her satisfied stomach and releasing a small, contented burp. This was decidedly not the refined image she maintained in front of her admirers back at Marine Headquarters. If Vice Admiral Chaton could see her now, his romantic heart would surely be shattered.
"So then, Vice Admiral Momousagi, would you like to settle your bill, or would you prefer to rest a bit?" Gustave maintained his signature warm smile—providing gracious service regardless of circumstances was one of his core principles, even when faced with Momousagi's current undignified state.
"Actually, I don't think I'm quite full yet," Momousagi admitted, rubbing her stomach thoughtfully.
"Well, perhaps I should eat a bit less. Do you have any cake or milk tea available? If so, I'd like some," she continued, changing the subject while placing another order.
"Certainly! I'll prepare those for you right away," Gustave responded cheerfully.
Cakes and milk tea had become standard offerings aboard Bamboo Staff in recent weeks, primarily because Shin-chan and his friends visited regularly, and children invariably gravitated toward such sweet treats. Gustave made sure to keep these items constantly available.
As if summoned by the mention of his name, Shin-chan's distinctive voice echoed through the restaurant: "Brother Gustave, you're back!"
However, as soon as Shin-chan descended the stairs, he spotted Momousagi waiting for her cake and milk tea order.
Yang Chan was just about to greet Shin-chan when he suddenly appeared between her and Momousagi with cartoon-like speed.
Shin-chan raised his eyebrows with exaggerated suaveness, tiny stars practically twinkling in his eyes. Leaning casually against the table with practiced charm, he spoke in his most sophisticated voice: "Hello there, beautiful lady. Do you happen to like green peppers?"
Momousagi was immediately charmed by the precocious child before her and responded with an amused smile, "What's your name, little gentleman?"
"My name is Nohara Shinnosuke! I'm five years old and completely single! Though you're welcome to call me Shin-chan... or darling," Shin-chan replied, crossing his legs and adopting a bashful expression that was simultaneously adorable and ridiculous.
"Shin-chan—what an absolutely precious child," Momousagi commented, having no idea what kind of legendary troublemaker she was actually dealing with. She simply found his attempts at adult sophistication endearingly cute.
"Hehehe, lots of people tell me that!" Shin-chan responded, becoming even more theatrically shy.
"So what would you like to drink, little Shin-chan? My treat!" Momousagi offered, playfully pinching his chubby cheek.
Shin-chan tilted his head thoughtfully, snapped his fingers with flourish, and declared: "I'd like a cocktail mixed with tears of joy from your beautiful eyes."
"Oh my, children can't drink alcohol! Shin-chan, you'll need to choose something else," Momousagi laughed, covering her mouth as she was thoroughly entertained by his surprisingly sophisticated pickup lines.
"Then please give me some milk infused with your lovely fragrance," Shin-chan responded, striking another pose and gazing at Momousagi with intense, determined eyes.
"Shin-chan, you're absolutely hilarious! Hahahaha!" Momousagi exclaimed, scooping him up and planting an affectionate kiss on his cheek.
The moment her lips touched his face, Shin-chan completely erupted. His entire face flushed bright red, his mouth formed a perfect oval, and he began expelling puffs of white steam: "Choo-choo! Puff-puff! Whoooosh, whoooosh, whoooosh!"
That's right—the Shin-chan Express had officially departed the station.
Yang Chan and Gustave, who was preparing milk tea at the counter, both felt simultaneous exasperation watching this scene unfold. Misae's absence today had truly allowed Shin-chan to operate at full, unrestrained potential.