"Are you clashing with Guests again?!"
A figure with two golden braided mustaches, wearing a very tall chef's hat that seemed capable of being used to hit people, and a distinct wooden prosthetic right leg, appeared there.
"How many times has this happened this week?"
The owner of the Sea Restaurant, Sanji's mentor in kicking techniques and cooking, Zeff, who once challenged the Grand Line and returned unscathed, known for his leg work that could leave marks on steel, had a stern expression.
He was clearly not the kind of strict old man who was easy to get along with.
"I didn't, Stinky old man."
Saying this, Sanji subconsciously reached for a cigarette to light.
But remembering what Link had told him earlier, his hand paused, and he silently put the cigarette back.
His entire action was seen by Zeff.
"You idiot, you only cause trouble for others!!"
Creak creak.
Zeff's wooden leg stepped on the stairs, coming down step by step.
"Excuse me, Guests, this idiot is sometimes so unreliable, I hope you don't mind."
"It's alright, he didn't do anything, it's just that since he's the Vice Chef here, then you, old man, are his superior, right?"
Luffy looked at Zeff, then at Sanji, who had retreated a step, blinking his eyes.
"Yes, what does this Guest want to say?" Zeff asked.
"It's like this…"
Luffy rubbed his hands, giggling:
"I think he's very good, and I want to bring him onto our ship to be a pirate. I wonder, Chef old man, if you can let him go."
Oh?
Hearing Luffy's words, Link looked at him with some surprise.
A Luffy so clear-headed and knowing who to target was truly rare.
It was probably mostly related to food; this guy could even do arithmetic problems super fast when it came to eating.
After sleeping for three days, he reacted in three seconds, realizing he had missed fifteen meals, calculated at five meals a day… "You want to take away this unworthy junior of mine?"
Although Luffy, as soon as he spoke, wanted to take away the second most important person in this restaurant after the Chef, such a forceful move.
But Zeff didn't fly into a rage; his eyes, full of vicissitudes, just calmly looked at Luffy.
"Although I'm very unwilling for him to continue staying here and ruining my restaurant, just wanting to take him away with empty words is a bit too much of a joke, Guest."
"I…"
Luffy was about to say something when Link pulled him aside from behind.
"Mr. Chef, how about this?"
Link smiled and stepped forward, "Since this is a restaurant, then let's simply speak with cooking skills."
"Your restaurant sends out your most skilled chef to compete with us in cooking. If we win, we take him with us, how about it?"
"Huh? Compete in cooking?"
Whether it was Sanji, who was about to burst out from behind, or Patty and the other chefs who had gathered to watch the commotion, all of them were stunned, as if looking at an overconfident mantis trying to stop a chariot, staring at Link strangely.
"You want to compete with us in cooking?"
Even Zeff was slightly taken aback.
When he confirmed that Link wasn't joking, his face slowly darkened:
"Don't joke around, kid, this is the best Sea Restaurant in the entire East Blue, and you want to compete with us in cooking?!"
Zeff was almost laughing in anger, feeling that Link was a bit too ignorant of his own limitations.
"You can certainly try and see the result."
Link, however, was not disturbed in the slightest, still smiling lightly:
"Anyway, this is your home turf, Mr. Chef, and as a restaurant, if a challenger comes to your door, I imagine you wouldn't refuse, would you?"
"Of course!"
Patty, standing behind, mentioned cooking skills, crossed his arms, and had a look of confidence.
"Baratie, known for its battles, will not refuse any challenger, let alone a cooking competition!!"
Although Zeff didn't speak, that was his meaning.
He looked at Link and said, "Kid, we accept all your challenges and stakes!!"
His golden mustache swayed, revealing strong confidence.
"I say, considering other people's feelings, don't just casually use me as a stake, hey!!"
Sanji, hearing this, wasn't having it. He didn't want to be treated as an item for a bet.
Zeff seemed not to hear him: "Kid, if you win, we give you Sanji, but what if you lose? We can't just make an agreement for nothing, can we?"
Sanji fumed: "Hey hey hey!!"
"If you win, I'll allow him to have the opportunity to dine with that young lady."
Link pointed at Nami while looking at Sanji.
Sanji: "??!!!! [Heart]!"
Nami, who was watching the show nearby, heard Link suddenly point at her and immediately spoke up.
Just as she was about to angrily refuse, she saw Link turn his face:
"If we lose, I'll hand over the financial authority on the ship to you."
"…Good, good luck, go for it!!"
Nami instantly quieted down, then gave Link a sweet smile in return.
Then she winked at Sanji, "Good luck, little Vice Chef, I'm really looking forward to our dinner!!" She also understood Link's hidden meaning; it was just an opportunity, easy to brush off.
Zoro: "…"
Usopp: "…"
You're clearly looking forward to the financial authority… The two looked at each other, speechless and exasperated.