The sea restaurant Baratie was built on a giant fish-headed ship.
In the original story, Luffy's crew met Sanji here, then returned to Cocoyasi Village to help Nami defeat the fish-man Arlong. Zoro's first encounter with the world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk, also happened here.
The reason Luo Chen came here was to confirm Luffy's whereabouts. If Sanji was still at the Baratie, it meant Luffy had not yet arrived. If Sanji had left, he had likely become a member of Luffy's crew.
Luo Chen needed to determine the current point in the story's timeline. Although the butterfly effect he had caused had led to significant changes in the plot, Luffy had not yet had any contact with him, so he should not have been affected.
'In the East Blue, the only person who can produce over a billion Berries at once is Monkey D. Dragon.'
Luo Chen's expression was thoughtful as he watched the giant fish-headed ship gradually approach.
Dragon was Luffy's father. At the same time, he was also the leader of the Revolutionary Army. The goal of the Revolutionary Army was to overthrow the rule of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, so their financial resources were bound to be immense.
Luo Chen planned to sell some information to Dragon in exchange for money.
And the location would be Loguetown, where Smoker was stationed. This was the only place in the East Blue where Dragon appeared after the story began. And the time was when Luffy arrived in Loguetown, just before heading into the Grand Line.
Only by confirming Luffy's movements could he find Dragon and arrange a transaction.
...
The boat slowly docked, connecting with the giant fish-headed ship.
Luo Chen and Nami boarded the famous sea restaurant of the East Blue, the Baratie.
The two entered through the restaurant's main entrance.
The first-floor hall was packed; every table was crowded with customers.
The aroma of food wafted to their noses, and Luo Chen couldn't help but touch his stomach.
During their days at sea, Nami had been the one doing the cooking. Although it was quite good, there was still a certain gap compared to a professional chef.
Nami also licked her lips and couldn't help but swallow.
Luo Chen looked around the hall. He couldn't find Sanji among the many diners, so he smiled and said, "There's no rush to find him. Since we're here, let's eat first."
Nami quickly nodded in agreement.
The two of them weaved through the tables of customers, managed to find a spot, and sat down immediately, not minding the crowd.
A waiter in an apron happened to see them, handed them a menu, and asked for their order.
Luo Chen left the task of ordering to Nami, while he himself scanned the restaurant for his target.
A moment later, his gaze paused, landing on the backs of a group of customers in a distant corner.
The most conspicuous was a head of short green hair, like algae.
Looking closely, next to the green-algae-haired man sat a man with a long nose, as well as a purple-haired girl.
'Zoro and Usopp.'
Luo Chen recognized the two of them.
The purple-haired girl looked familiar, but he couldn't recall who she was at the moment.
Nami, having finished ordering, followed Luo Chen's gaze. Her eyes slowly widened.
"It's Carina!"
"Who?" Luo Chen asked again.
"Carina!" Nami said the purple-haired girl's name through gritted teeth, her face showing some resentment.
She explained, "She's a fellow thief I met back when I used to steal."
"One time, we were caught by pirates. Carina abandoned me and ran off by herself, and she even took the treasure we had stolen together."
Nami's large brown eyes flashed with anger. She was still holding a grudge over Carina's past betrayal.
Luo Chen gradually remembered Carina. She seemed to be a character from the movie Film: Gold.
He asked curiously, "Does Carina know how to navigate?"
If it weren't for him, the one sitting in Carina's place should have been Nami. In other words, because of Luo Chen, Carina had replaced Nami as the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates.
Hearing this, the anger in Nami's eyes intensified. She said resentfully, "I was the one who taught her in the first place."
Luo Chen rubbed his nose.
Hearing Nami put it that way, it did sound pretty bad. It was reasonable for her to be angry.
His gaze wandered around Zoro and the others.
Since the crew was here, Luffy must be here too.
His timing was perfect; he had run into Luffy's crew just as they arrived at the sea restaurant Baratie.
A moment later, Luffy, wearing an apron and carrying a tray of food, ran out from the direction of the kitchen.
Luo Chen was taken aback, then remembered that Luffy had apparently worked as a restaurant waiter for a while. It seemed he had caused some trouble and was forced to work to pay off his debt.
Then would come the arrival of the ruler of the East Blue, the Don Krieg Pirates, and Hawkeye Mihawk.
Luffy would help the Baratie by sending Don Krieg flying, getting out of his debt, and finally, recruiting the chef, Sanji.
He revealed a smile. 'Interesting. I've run into the Pirate King, Luffy.'
'As long as I follow them to Loguetown, I'll be able to meet Dragon.'
Seeing that Nami was sullen, gnashing her teeth as she looked at Carina, Luo Chen smiled and said, "Let's eat first. Then I'll help you get even with her."
Nami shook her head. "Better not. If we cause a scene, you might be discovered."
When she entered the hall, she had seen a few tables of Marines having a meal. It seemed they hadn't noticed Luo Chen yet.
"It's fine. We'll just tie up these Marines."
Luo Chen intended to make contact with the Straw Hat crew. It would be best if he could hitch a ride with them to Loguetown and then enter the Grand Line. After all, the sea route into the Grand Line in the story was not easy to navigate. Without Luffy, the "Child of Destiny," Luo Chen felt a little uneasy.
"Are you sure it's okay?" Nami was still a little worried.
After the battle with Smoker, she had realized that Luo Chen was not invincible in the East Blue. Certain Marines could still pose a threat to him.
"It's fine, don't worry," Luo Chen said.
Nami lightly bit her chopsticks and said in a low voice, "Thank you, Luo Chen."
Luo Chen smiled and said nothing.
Nami had followed him out to sea as a fugitive without regard for the danger. Helping her with this little matter was nothing.
Half an hour later, Luo Chen and Nami had more or less finished eating.
They paid the bill and stood up, walking toward where the Straw Hat crew was.
During the meal, Luo Chen had also seen Sanji. He had blond hair, his iconic curly eyebrows, and was wearing a chef's uniform. He had run out from the kitchen and given Luffy a good scolding, apparently because Luffy had stolen a customer's food.
Coming up behind the Straw Hat crew, Zoro was the first to notice, turning his head to look. He looked puzzled upon seeing the unfamiliar Luo Chen and Nami.
Usopp and Carina also turned around one after another, observing Luo Chen and Nami.
Like Zoro, Usopp was completely confused, not recognizing them at all.
A flash of surprise appeared in Carina's large eyes, and she showed a playful smile. "Nami? To run into you here of all places. What a coincidence."
Nami's beautiful eyes glared slightly. "Carina, you nearly got me killed back then. How can you still smile?"
Carina chuckled lightly. "Didn't I tell you? A girl has to live by her wits."
"Nami, you were too foolish back then, too naive. You actually believed I would come back to save you."
"If you hadn't been lucky, you'd probably be dead at the hands of those pirates."
"What, are you looking for revenge now?"
Carina glanced at Luo Chen and smiled. "He won't do. The one next to me is the famous pirate hunter of the East Blue, Roronoa Zoro."
"This gentleman looks very refined. He can't beat Zoro, you know."
"Hey, don't just pick fights for me," Zoro said with a displeased expression.
Carina giggled. "But they're the ones who came looking for us. You'll protect me, right? After all, I'm your navigator."
Hearing this, Zoro glanced at Luo Chen and said no more. In his perception, this gentle-mannered young man posed no threat.
Usopp's tense body relaxed slightly, and he broke into a smile. "Zoro is very strong, second only to me, the captain."
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