Sambas Sea, East Blue
The floating restaurant Baratie rocked gently with the waves, its massive fish-shaped hull gleaming under the afternoon sun. On the outer deck, the sound of seagulls blended with the endless sigh of the sea.
"Urgh…" Nami clutched Ryan's arm with one hand while covering her mouth with the other, dry heaving toward the ocean.
Because her stomach was empty, nothing came out but the sound alone was pitiful enough.
Ryan gently pried her hand off his sleeve, stepping back just far enough to avoid collateral damage. "Hey, hey, don't tell me it was that bad. It was just a bit of speed, right?"
Nami lifted her head, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Just a bit of speed?" she gasped between ragged breaths, still bent over and supporting herself on her knees. She paused for a few deep inhales, then suddenly erupted.
"What part of that was just a bit of speed, huh? What kind of boat moves like that?! You weren't sailing, Ryan you were flying! Flying! I'm a delicate, fragile young woman! You can't just throw me across the sea like a cannonball!"
Her shout echoed across the deck. A few diners peered out from the restaurant windows to see what the commotion was.
Ryan scratched his cheek awkwardly, pretending to admire the waves rather than meet her furious gaze.
Nami wasn't having it. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!" she barked, storming up and grabbing him by the face. She forced him to turn toward her, eyes locked on his.
For a second, her anger faltered. Up close, Ryan's face was… unfairly beautiful.
Smooth, pale skin that seemed to glow against the sunlight not sickly, but ethereal. Golden eyes that shimmered like molten metal. A small, perfect nose. Soft, naturally pink lips that looked almost too delicate for someone who could take down pirates without flinching.
But that expression
Why did it look like he was disgusted?
Nami blinked. Then she realized his eyes weren't focused on her face they were fixed on her hand, the same hand she'd just used to cover her mouth while gagging.
Oh, hell no.
Her brow twitched. A heat rose from her chest, almost visible in the air between them.
Ryan took a cautious step back.
That only made it worse.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Nami shouted. "I only threw up because of you! You're lucky I didn't die back there!"
Ryan raised both hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I didn't tell you to have a weak stomach."
"Ugh, you're impossible." Nami groaned, rubbing her temples. "Why did I even get on this yacht…"
Ryan smiled faintly, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of amusement. He didn't bother replying.
For all her bluster, Nami had already figured him out in the short time they'd traveled together. Ryan Quinn wasn't cold-blooded. He was human just a very strange, very dangerous kind of human.
Still, she couldn't forget what she'd seen him do. If someone offered a hundred million Berries to capture her, he'd probably tie her up and deliver her himself… with a polite smile.
Then again, she thought bitterly, he'd probably keep both the money and her.
Because that was just the kind of man he was greedy and unashamed.
Ryan, meanwhile, was having his own inner monologue. If someone did put a bounty on Nami… I'd take it, sure. But she's my navigator now, so she's mine too.
He chuckled softly at the thought. A king never abandons his people, after all.
That's right he was King Ryan Quinn of Avalon. The man destined to stand at the very peak, backed by his miraculous transformation system.
With enough time and enough money, no one could stop him.
And with that conviction, his confidence burned bright.
Inside the Baratie
The heavy doors swung open with a faint creak.
"Wow…" Ryan's eyes lit up instantly.
The restaurant was filled with the warm aroma of roasted seafood, butter, and spices. A lively tune played from a gramophone in the corner, while waiters in chef uniforms moved between tables with practiced ease, balancing trays of food and bottles of wine.
Elegant chandeliers reflected off polished wood floors. The room buzzed with chatter pirates, merchants, nobles, and travelers all eating under the same roof.
Nami followed behind him, still pale from motion sickness but trying to compose herself. As soon as they stepped inside, dozens of eyes turned toward them.
The sight of two women one fiery and pretty, the other regal and breathtaking was enough to silence a few conversations.
Ryan ignored them all. "Smells incredible," she said, inhaling deeply, her mood brightening immediately. "This is heaven."
A few men gawked openly, earning themselves painful reminders from their partners.
"Ow! What was that for?" one man hissed.
"Don't 'ow' me!" his date snapped, crossing her arms. "Keep staring and I'll feed you to the sharks! She's not even that pretty!"
The man broke into a cold sweat and forced a laugh. He didn't dare argue, though his eyes screamed silent protest.
In the far corner of the restaurant, a group of rough-looking men sat together over half-eaten plates of seafood and empty wine bottles.
Their leader a scarred, broad-shouldered man with a thick beard narrowed his eyes, following Ryan and Nami as they entered.
A flash of something dark and hungry flickered across his gaze.
Ryan could feel the attention in the room, including that one particular stare dripping with ill intent. But she didn't bother acknowledging it.
She pulled Nami along and found a quiet table by the window, overlooking the sea.
I'm here to eat, she thought. If they want a fight, they can wait until after dessert.
Even Ryan had her priorities straight food first, violence later.
Besides, maybe those leering men weren't actually planning anything. Maybe they were just daydreaming.
Either way, in a place like this, she preferred not to make a scene. The Baratie was a restaurant, a symbol of hospitality even among pirates. To spill blood here would be sacrilege.
"Waiter! Over here!" Ryan called, waving cheerfully to one of the staff. "Bring me your biggest portions! I'm starving!"
The waiter, a burly man in a chef's hat, blinked at her enthusiasm but smiled nonetheless. "Of course, miss. What would you like to start with?"
Ryan didn't hesitate. "Everything."
Nami groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "Here we go again…"
The waiter chuckled nervously, unsure if she was joking. Ryan wasn't.
To her, hunger was the true enemy. And she intended to defeat it one dish at a time.