In East Blue, on the shores of the turquoise sea, stood the Baratie, a seafood restaurant renowned not only for its exquisite cuisine but also for its storied history. Its founder, Chef Zeff, was a former pirate who lost his right leg after surviving the storms of the Grand Line. Returning to East Blue, he created this cozy haven where everyone, whether merchant or seasoned seafarer, could enjoy delicious food.
In the restaurant hall, filled with the aroma of spices and the laughter of guests, a young man in an elegant black suit stood out. His blond hair framed his face, and his curly eyebrows gave him an expression of concentration. He was a true gentleman, holding himself with restraint and refinement.
"My guest, what would you like to try?" the waiter greeted Rodney, pouring him a glass of fresh water.
"I'll have the sweet and sour kingfish tenderloin, braised beef balls, seafood fried rice, rainbow fish sashimi, and any wine you like, please," Rodney ordered, opening the menu.
"Very well, sir. Just a moment, I'll arrange everything. But let me remind you that wasting food is strictly prohibited at the Baratie. Are you sure you can handle such an order?" The waiter couldn't help but express apprehension, looking at Rodney's slender figure.
At sea, every morsel of food is hard to come by, and wastefulness is frowned upon. Those who neglect food are expelled from the Barati without delay.
"Don't worry, I'll eat it all," Rodney assured, smiling at the waiter.
The waiter nodded and, without asking any more questions, left to fill the order.
A warm and cozy atmosphere permeated Barati. Guests savored delicacies prepared by experienced chefs. For them, Barati was more than just a restaurant, but a place where they could showcase their culinary skills. Chef Zeff, with his unique style, instilled in his students not only a love of cooking but also respect for everyone who entered their restaurant.
Soon, a mountain of dishes appeared before Rodney. The sweet and sour sea king fillet took up almost half the table. There are plenty of gourmets in the world who can devour enormous portions of food, but Rodney wasn't one of them. He started with the sashimi, delicately slicing the pieces until they shone on the plate.
"Mmm, so delicious!" he whispered, savoring the delicate flavor of the rainbow fish.
Then he tried a beef ball filled with aromatic soup.
"Mmm, delicious!" Rodney whispered again, savoring the rich umami flavor.
Next up was the kingfish fillet. The sweet and sour sauce added a piquant flavor, stimulating the appetite. And finally, the seafood fried rice, which was a delight to the taste buds, blending the delicate flavor of the rice with the aroma of the seafood.
"Mmm, this is divine!" Rodney was delighted.
"Indeed, I am satisfied!" he added, devouring his food with relish.
Even though Rodney moved stealthily, the dishes on the table were disappearing with astonishing speed. He called over the waiter.
"Bring me another portion of the same dishes, minus the sashimi. And three more bottles of wine, please," he ordered.
"Of course, sir," the waiter replied, no longer doubting Rodney's ability to cope with such a quantity of food.
After regular training, Rodney became a true gourmet, and his food needs increased significantly. Although the Military Rations pill provided him with energy, he couldn't resist the temptation of delicious food.
Rodney enjoyed his meal, feeling the food fill his stomach, giving him a feeling of comfort and satisfaction.
"Ah, that was delicious!" he whispered, patting his plump belly. "The Barati seafood restaurant really lives up to its reputation. I'll pay the bill."
The prices at the Baratie were reasonable, about the same as the last time he'd used the mutual detonator. Rodney patted his stomach, bought a few bottles of wine, and tucked them into his pocket.
Suddenly, a group of pirates burst into the restaurant, led by a one-eyed captain. One of them, with decayed teeth, shouted:
- Don't... move, we're robbing you!
"Sea pirates!" a voice called out next to Rodney.
Panic reigned in the restaurant. The helpless merchants, lacking any combat skills, trembled with fear.
"Hahaha! Give us all your money! And you, boy, call your cook and give us all your money. I..." Before the short man could finish his sentence, a leather boot appeared before his eyes, sending him flying into the sea.
"What was that? I didn't hear you!" Sanji said, holding a cigarette in his mouth.
The girls in the hall gasped with admiration.
"Oh, how handsome he was!" they whispered.
Rodney, about to intervene, paused. Sanji, one of the strongest fighters in the Baratie, could handle any opponent. Even Zeff, who had lost a leg, remained a formidable fighter.
"Forward!" the pirates shouted.
"Come on!" the one-eyed captain encouraged them.
"Attack... Load!" came the order.
Crack!
Sanji, after a thorough beating, kicked the pirates out of the restaurant. These people deserved no respect, didn't appreciate the food, and scared the pretty girls.
"Miss sister... He-he..." Sanji whispered, lost in his thoughts.
Despite being a skilled cook, Rodney was a gentleman, a knight of honor who would not dare even think of harming the defenseless.
Having dealt with the pirates, Rodney returned to the merchant ship, taking a bottle of wine with him. The small amount he drank was merely a refreshing drink, not enough to intoxicate him. Next on his agenda was exercise. After all, who knew what might happen if he didn't stay in shape?
"Shadow Clone Technique!" Rodney said, creating an exact copy of himself, ready for training.
Rodney and his shadow clone engaged in combat using only physical force.
"Rokushiki!" Rodney cried out as he deftly employed taijutsu techniques borrowed from the legendary Naruto. His Sharingan, constantly active, allowed him to see and react to events twice as fast, increasing the effectiveness of his training.
They fought on the deck, keeping their eyes on the merchant ship, keeping pace with it, and remaining undetected. Time passed, and eventually, the escort mission was successfully completed.
Rodney's next assignment was a reconnaissance mission to find out what secret cargo the new caravan was carrying.
Under cover of night, Rodney, having created a shadow clone, infiltrated the cabin. Such dangerous missions were perfect for a shadow clone, capable of carrying out the most complex and dangerous tasks.
Having infiltrated the hut, the shadow clone, using his Sharingan to control the guards, reached the innermost section. After examining the room, Rodney noticed it was filled with grain and local produce.
"That's strange," he muttered, "it shouldn't be like this. There can't be any exceptions, otherwise the system wouldn't have assigned this task."
May be…
Approaching the grain silo, Rodney began pushing aside the grain, eventually discovering a box hidden underneath. Opening it, he found a brand-new firearm inside.
"Arms smuggling!" Rodney exclaimed, astonished by the smugglers' audacity. "If their activities are discovered, they will face severe punishment."
However, a significant portion of the marines in East Blue were… corrupt. It wouldn't have been difficult to organize cover from top to bottom, disguise weapons as food, and sell them to pirates. It would have been a profitable venture.
The shadow clone disappeared, and a few days later, Smoker received a message from the excited townspeople, leading to the caravan being detained.