The sea sparkled under the morning sun as Cassandra's little boat no, this time it really was the Going Merry cut through the waves, its white sail billowing gently in the wind. Seagulls cawed overhead, and the scent of salt filled the air. Luffy lay on the sheep-shaped figurehead with his arms behind his head, mouth open wide and snoring. Cassandra leaned on the railing, her long blue hair fluttering behind her, scanning the horizon. Nami sat near the rudder, a map rolled out before her and a steady pencil in hand.
"There's a shipping route nearby," she muttered to herself. "Could be good for trade… or ambushes."
Suddenly, a distant shout echoed across the ocean. Luffy sat up in an instant. "Huh? Someone's yelling."
Cassandra narrowed her eyes. "Starboard side. I see a boat."
As they drew closer, two figures on a small dinghy came into view. One of them stood and began waving frantically. "Oi! Help us! My buddy is dying!"
The other man was slumped over, pale and sweating, his lips cracked and dry.
Luffy waved back cheerfully. "Hey! Wanna be friends?"
Cassandra sighed. "Let's hear them out, before deciding that."
They pulled the Going Merry alongside the small boat and the man still standing saluted them. He wore red sunglasses, a green headband and had wild black hair sticking out in all directions.
"I am the great bounty hunter Jonny! And this here is my partner, Yosaku! We were about to claim your bounties, but…" He turned somber, looking at Yosaku. "He came down with something."
Cassandra raised an eyebrow. "Looks like scurvy… wait why would you admit that?"
"What's scurvy?" Luffy tilted his head.
Nami stood up. "It happens when you don't get enough vitamin C. Pirates get it a lot, if they don't eat fresh fruit."
She reached into the ship's supply and tossed a few fruits over. "Here. Eat these."
Jonny caught them with reverence. "You angels! Thank you!"
Yosaku bit into the orange like it was a lifesaver, because in a way it was. Within a few minutes, the colour returned to his face and the sweat began to dry.
"Ahhh~ I feel human again…" he sighed.
Jonny bowed dramatically, sunglasses glinting. "We owe you our lives! And we were gonna try to catch you for your bounties… how shameful!"
Cassandra shrugged. "If you had tried, you'd both be fish food. So, apology accepted."
Yosaku sat up straighter now. "You guys are the Straw Hat Pirates, right? I heard you fought the Marines at Shelltown."
Luffy raised a hand. "That's us! I'm the captain and this is my awesome ship and crew!"
"I am not part of your crew idiot … and this is the vice-captain," Nami said, pointing at Cassandra. "You don't want to be on her bad side."
"Trust me, we noticed," Jonny muttered.
He turned, noticing Cassandra's sword resting beside her. His eyes widened. "That blade… that's Wado Ichimonji."
Cassandra didn't move. "It is."
"That belonged to our friend," Yosaku said, looking pale. "To Pirate Hunter Zoro…"
Cassandra nodded slowly. "I know."
The mood shifted. Silence fell like a thick fog over the deck. Luffy looked confused, but Cassandra stepped forward, speaking calmly.
"He challenged me to a duel," she said, gaze distant. "He was strong, damn strong, but not strong enough."
Johnny and Yosaku stared at her. She expected rage. Maybe grief. But instead, Johnny slowly lowered his head.
"You gave him a warrior's death?"
"I did."
Yosaku's eyes shone with unshed tears. "Then… that's good. Zoro wouldn't have wanted anything less."
Cassandra exhaled softly. "He had ambition. A fire. I respected that."
She glanced down at their hips, noting the swords they carried. Similar in design curved blades with engraved iron guards and polished hilts. Though worn from years of use, she recognized the craftsmanship instantly.
"The Nakiri Swords," she said aloud.
Johnny blinked. "You know them?"
"They're a pair of bonded blades," she muttered. "Forged in the North Blue, if I'm not mistaken. Better than the average mass-produced swords you see around here."
"You've got a sharp eye," Johnny replied, surprised. "They were handed down to us. We're not worthy of their full potential, but we honor them."
Cassandra's fingers twitched with the urge to take them, add them to her collection. But after a pause, she shook her head.
These swords were better, than the run of a mill sword, but they don't come even close of meeting Cassandra's standard.
Yosaku tapped his chin. "Since you helped us out, we'll return the favor. We know these waters well. If you're looking for a place to restock and eat good food, there's only one place to go…"
"The Baratie!" they both exclaimed in unison.
Luffy's eyes sparkled. "Food?! Where?!"
Jonny pulled out a crumpled map and spread it across the deck. He pointed to a small structure in the middle of the sea. "It's a floating restaurant. Famous all over the East Blue. A good place to lay low, resupply, or just enjoy a meal."
"It's also where strong pirates go when they're hungry," Yosaku added. "So you might want to watch your backs."
Cassandra folded her arms. "Sounds like the perfect place to meet trouble." Also the place to add another strong crew member she thought.
"Or new crew members," Luffy grinned. "Maybe there's a chef there!"
Cassandra looked at Luffy in awe, that he just said, what she thought.
Nami scoffed. "You just want to eat more meat."
Cassandra smirked. "Still, a cook wouldn't hurt. I'm not boiling seaweed again."
Nami raised a brow. "That was your idea."
With Yosaku feeling stronger, the two bounty hunters decided to follow them to the Baratie. Just like that the Going Merry and the little boat of the bounty hunters resumed course. This time toward the famous floating restaurant.
The Going Merry glided gently toward the big floating restaurant like a swan approaching a palace on the sea. The Baratie stood tall and proud. It was shaped like a massive fish with gaping jaws, bright red domes, golden trim and a large fin-like structure supporting the hull. Music drifted from inside, mingling with the scent of sizzling meat and fine spices.
Luffy practically vibrated with anticipation. "Meat!!"
"Try not to drool on the deck," Cassandra teased, though her own stomach growled audibly.
"I just want a quiet meal," Nami muttered.
As they boarded, the crew was greeted by a sea of colour and chaos. Waiters rushing between tables, finely dressed guests sipping wine and the sound of clinking glasses and laughter.
"Welcome to the Baratie!" a deep voice called out. A sharply dressed man in a double-breasted suit strolled up to them, a towel draped over one arm. Blond hair swept over one side of his face, the other hidden behind his long fringe. His bright smile was really inviting.
He bowed slightly, though his eyes were laser-focused on Nami and Cassandra. "My, my… what a rare treat. Two stunning beauties at once. May I be your humble servant for this evening?"
Cassandra arched an eyebrow. "Smooth." she chuckled. Sanji was a hopeless pervert, but Cassandra didn't hate him unlike the lying coward.
Nami blinked, surprised at the sudden shift of attitude of the waiter towards her. "Eh thank you?"
"I'm Sanji, the assistant head chef and the most charming man on this ship," he said with a wink. "Please, allow me to bring you the finest food this ocean has to offer."
Luffy raised his hand. "I want meat!"
Sanji glanced at him briefly, then returned his full attention to the women. "Of course, sir. But the ladies' orders take priority."
Cassandra smirked. "He's got his flaws, but I like his energy."
After being seated, the crew dove into a veritable feast. Roasted meats, seared fish, exotic fruits, warm bread and rich soups were served in waves. Luffy and Cassandra ate like starving animals, plates stacking high beside them. Nami nibbled more politely, though she still enjoyed herself.
"This is amazing," Cassandra said between bites. "Much better than your seaweed soup, Nami."
"Never letting you cook again," Nami muttered with a playful glare.
The mood was suddenly interrupted by the loud crash of the front doors swinging open.
A gaunt, shadowy figure stumbled inside. His clothes were torn and his body was trembling. He dropped to one knee, gasping for breath.
"Food… please…"
The head waiter stepped forward, scowling. "Get lost. This place isn't a charity."
The stranger with sunken eyes and a rough and patchy beard looked up weakly. "I'll… pay you later."
Sanji stepped in. "He's starving. Get out of the way."
"But he has no—"
"I said out of the way," Sanji repeated, his voice suddenly cold and kicked Patty out of the way, who became very furious.
He helped the stranger to his feet and carried him to the back. A few moments later Sanji returned, rolling up his sleeves. "Sorry about that. Where were we?"
Cassandra leaned toward Nami. "That one's got a heart."
Luffy smiled wide. "I like him."
Later, as the plates were cleared, the waiter brought over the bill with an absurd amount of zeros.
Luffy stared at it and blinked. "Uh… I forgot I don't have any money."
"You WHAT?!" Nami shrieked.
Cassandra didn't even flinch. "I was kinda expecting that."
"Just put it on my tap. I will pay when I am king of the pirates." Luffy chuckled.
Sanji sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine. You're working in the kitchen. Washing dishes."
A short while later, Luffy stood beside Sanji, arms deep in a mountain of soapy plates.
"You're strong," Luffy said casually. "That kick earlier was awesome."
"I trained for years," Sanji replied. "Gotta protect what's important, even if it's just a restaurant."
Luffy grinned. "You ever think about going to sea?"
Sanji glanced at him. "Maybe. Depends who's asking."
"Me! I'm gonna be King of the Pirates."
Sanji raised an eyebrow. "That's a bold dream."
"I've got a great crew already. A strong swordswoman, a genius navigator… but we need an awesome cook like you."
Sanji chuckled. "Tempting offer. But I've got dreams of my own."
As they worked, the door creaked open. The man Sanji had fed earlier, now a little stronger and more composed stepped in. He heard their conversation.
"I owe you my life," he said, bowing.
Sanji waved it off. "Just eat next time. Don't starve."
The man introduced himself as Gin, a former officer of the Don Krieg Pirates. He spoke cautiously, but shared some chilling news.
"Krieg's fleet… it's gone."
Luffy blinked. "What happened?"
"Destroyed. Shredded like paper… by a single man. We went to this accursed sea just to get slaughtered" Gin seemed frightened and frustrated.
Gin's voice dropped low. "A swordsman. Cold eyes. Black coat. A cross-shaped pendant around his neck. He cut Krieg's galleons in half, like they were made of paper."
"So heed my words. Don't sail into the Grand Line. The nickname pirates graveyard is not an overstatement."
A chilling gust swept across the sea. The lights in the restaurant flickered and everyone turned as a massive silhouette loomed in the distance.
A gigantic galleon, nearly ten times the size of the Going Merry, drifted toward the Baratie. Its mast shattered, its hull crumbling. Without warning, a clean, diagonal slice split the ship in two.
A smaller boat glided silently through the wreckage.
Cassandra stepped onto the deck, eyes glowing with anticipation.
"There you are," she whispered. "Let's see how big the gab between us truly is."