**Chapter 17: The Chef with a Dream of All Blue**
The *Going Merry* glided to a graceful stop beside the magnificent Baratie, its unique fish-shaped architecture towering over them. To Luffy, who held the memories of another world, it was a surreal sight—a legendary location from page and screen now rendered in breathtaking, tangible detail. The restaurant was a marvel of nautical engineering, a floating fortress of cuisine. He knew its secrets: the "fin" battle mode, the combat chefs, and the iron-clad rule of "Absolutely No Waste."
After securing the *Merry*, the crew filed into the bustling, multi-level restaurant. The air was rich with the aromas of garlic, searing meat, and fresh seafood.
"Hello! Waiter, we'd like to order!" Luffy announced with uncharacteristic politeness, his eyes already scanning the menu with ravenous intent. "One seafood fried rice, one pork trotter fried rice, and..." He glanced at Nami, their de facto treasurer.
"Just bring us your most popular dishes," Nami finished for him, ensuring they sampled the best without bankrupting themselves.
A blond man with a distinctive swirled eyebrow and a lithe, efficient grace approached their table to pour wine. He moved with the quiet confidence of a master craftsman, his focus entirely on his task. He left without a word, but Zoro's eye followed him.
"That curly-browed cook," Zoro muttered, more to himself than the others. "Why do I get the feeling he's got a storm brewing under that calm surface?"
Luffy just shrugged, shoveling a spoonful of expertly seasoned fried rice into his mouth. "Shishishi! This is amazing!" He knew better than to immediately accost Sanji. Trust, especially for a man like him, had to be earned, not demanded.
Their peaceful meal was soon interrupted by a familiar, grating voice. Just as Luffy had anticipated, the humiliated Captain Hopalong, seeking to reclaim his wounded pride, had found a new target. He was causing a scene at a nearby table, a woman cowering beside him.
The script unfolded as predicted. As Sanji poured wine with his back turned, Hopalong sneakily dropped a bug into his own dish. He then erupted in false outrage, demanding a new meal or that the chef eat the "contaminated" food himself.
Sanji's response was silent and swift. As Hopalong smashed the plate to the floor, a profound disrespect to both the food and the chef who made it, Sanji moved. In a blur of motion, his leg snapped out in a powerful kick that sent the naval officer crashing to the floor.
"Disrespecting a woman and wasting food," Sanji growled, his voice low and dangerous as he grabbed Hopalong by his collar. "These are unforgivable sins in my restaurant. You come after the chef? You're seeking a world of pain. Remember that."
Zoro watched with a smirk, impressed despite himself. Nami and Usopp observed, popcorn-ready. Luffy decided it was time to intervene before things escalated beyond repair.
"Alright, that's enough," Luffy said, appearing beside the crumpled Hopalong with a silent **Instant Step**. He placed a deceptively light hand on the man's shoulder, the pressure making it impossible to rise. "Making trouble here really isn't a good idea."
Hopalong looked up, his face paling from anger to sheer terror as he recognized Luffy. "M-Monkey D...! I mean, Sir! My apologies! I was just leaving! Right now!" He scrambled backward, dragging his companion with him, the name 'Garp' acting as a more effective deterrent than any threat of violence.
Sanji watched him flee, his anger subsiding into a weary sigh. He was about to return to the kitchen when a panicked Marine soldier burst through the doors.
"Captain! It's terrible! The prisoners from the Krieg Pirates—they've broken out!"
The color drained from Hopalong's face before he'd even made it to the exit. The name 'Krieg' carried a weight of terror in the East Blue. The self-proclaimed "Strongest Pirate in the East Sea," with a fleet of fifty ships, was a nightmare for any Marine.
The drama escalated instantly. One of the escaped Krieg Pirates, a man named Gin, didn't flee. Instead, he swaggered right back into the Baratie, collapsing into a chair as if he owned the place.
"Food. Now," he demanded, his voice raspy from exhaustion and thirst.
A hulking waiter named Patty stomped over. "We serve anyone... if they can pay. You got money, pirate?"
When Gin could only offer a weak glare, Patty's fist answered for him, knocking the starved pirate to the floor and unceremoniously tossing him out the doors.
Sanji watched this, a conflicted look in his eyes. The rule was clear: no pay, no food. But the sight of a starving man went against his very soul as a chef. Without a word, he retreated to the kitchen.
Minutes later, he emerged carrying a steaming plate of seafood fried rice. He walked past the scowling Patty and knelt, placing the food before the battered Gin.
"Eat," Sanji said, his tone brooking no argument.
Gin wanted to refuse, to maintain his tough pirate facade, but the aroma was too much. The "law of true fragrance" prevailed, and he devoured the meal with a desperation that spoke of weeks of hunger.
Luffy and his crew, having finished their own meal, stepped outside to witness the scene. It was a powerful display of Sanji's core philosophy: food was for nourishing life, regardless of who that life belonged to.
Sanji's eyes then landed on Nami. The noble chef vanished, replaced by a heart-eyed caricature of passion. He slid over, a rose somehow materializing in his hand. "Oh, my darling! Such radiant beauty! Would you do me the incredible honor of joining me for a—GYAH!"
Nami's fist, hardened by weeks of Luffy's brutal training, connected with his stomach before he could finish. "And I thought you were cool for a second!" she fumed, shaking her hand. "You're just a weirdo!"
"Such... powerful... love..." Sanji wheezed from his knees, while Gin looked on, utterly baffled by the spectacle.
Seizing the moment, Luffy stepped forward, his expression turning serious. "I like your style, Chef Sanji. Your food is incredible, and your heart is in the right place. Join my crew. Join the Straw Hat Adventure Group."
Sanji recovered, brushing off his suit. He snorted, a defensive scowl returning. "An 'Adventure Group'? Sounds like children playing pirate. This restaurant is my home, my promise to the old man. I'm not going anywhere."
"We don't want the restaurant," Luffy clarified, his grin returning. "We want *you*. We're not pirates. We're going to sail the seas, see the world, and kick the teeth out of anyone who preys on the weak. We're going to the Grand Line. And we need a chef to keep us strong. It'll be a great adventure!"
Gin, hearing their destination, felt compelled to warn them. "The Grand Line... it's not a place for adventurers. It's a graveyard. You should reconsider."
Zoro and Luffy shared a look, identical smirks on their faces. "We can handle it," Zoro said, his confidence absolute.
"We're strong!" Usopp added, puffing out his chest, finally feeling like he could say those words truthfully.
Gin, seeing their unshakable resolve, simply sighed. He bowed deeply to Sanji. "Thank you for the meal. A debt I won't forget." He turned to leave.
"Gin," Luffy called out, his voice stopping the man. "You're not a bad guy. So I'll give you some advice: don't trust Krieg too much. A tyrant who rules by fear trusts no one. Not even his most loyal men."
Gin paused, absorbing the words, then simply waved a hand in acknowledgment before walking away, his fate once again altered by a single conversation.
Sanji watched him go, then lit a cigarette, the flame illuminating his thoughtful face. Luffy's words about adventure, the Grand Line, and their purpose had struck a chord deeper than he wanted to admit.
"An Adventure Group, huh?" he mused, blowing out a stream of smoke. "Finding the All Blue... it's a dream just as crazy as yours." He looked at Luffy, his gaze firm. "Alright. I'll join your Straw Hat Adventure Group. But my conditions are non-negotiable. First, the galley is my sacred domain. No one enters without my permission. Second, you will *never*, under any circumstances, waste food. And third... I'll think of more later."
Luffy's face split into a massive, victorious grin. "SHISHISHI! Welcome aboard, Sanji!"
The Straw Hat Adventure Group had its fifth member. The *Going Merry*'s galley had its king. And their journey to the Grand Line now had a world-class chef to fuel it.