Dusk fell over the Going Merry's kitchen.
After the brief scare, everyone gathered around the dining table.
Nami handed out the remaining limes, forcing everyone to eat them as a preventive measure.
Luffy grimaced from the sourness, his face scrunching up, yet he looked at Nami with open admiration.
"Nami, you're amazing! Just like a doctor—you figured out that disease at a glance!"
Usopp peeled his lime and chimed in, "Hmph, I knew you had skills, woman. Worthy of being our crew's navigator."
Nami shot them an annoyed look. "Stop sucking up! If you don't even know basic stuff like this, you'll get yourselves killed sooner or later!"
She spread a sea chart across the table, her expression serious.
"This time we were lucky—we ran into someone knowledgeable like me. But once we enter the Grand Line, that harsh environment, unknown illnesses, and food shortages will be far deadlier enemies."
"So…"
Her gaze swept across everyone. "Our current food reserves and nutrition management are a huge liability."
Ronan nodded and followed up. "That's right."
"Our ship seriously lacks someone who can properly manage ingredients, ensure balanced nutrition, and still cook good food during long voyages."
Everyone's eyes converged.
Luffy slammed the table. "See?! I told you! What we need is—"
"Shut up! Not a musician!" Zoro slapped a hand on Luffy's head, cutting him off.
"We need a ship's cook!" Nami declared decisively.
Johnny and Yosaku, who were chomping on apples nearby, exchanged a look.
Johnny pushed up his sunglasses and spoke up, "Uh… if you're looking for a cook, we actually know a good place."
"Oh?" Luffy's ears perked up.
Yosaku continued, "Not far from here, there's a very famous ship in these waters.
"It's a holy land for hungry drifters of the sea."
"The legendary sea restaurant—Baratie!"
"They say chefs from all four seas gather there. As long as you've got money, you can eat the most delicious food in the world!"
"The most delicious food?!" Luffy's eyes instantly turned into giant bones of meat, drool pouring like a waterfall. "Decided! We're going there!"
Ronan lifted his teacup, watching Luffy's excitement, thinking to himself:
So it's finally time… the Baratie.
That curly-browed perverted cook—and also… the man known as the "World's Greatest Swordsman," Dracule Mihawk.
Ronan turned to look at Zoro, who was wiping down Wado Ichimonji.
Zoro had no idea yet that he was about to face the greatest defeat of his life—and also his greatest awakening.
"Zoro," Ronan suddenly said.
"Hm?" Zoro looked up.
"When we get there, you might meet someone you've always wanted to meet," Ronan said meaningfully.
Zoro froze for a moment, then seemed to sense something. His grip on his sword tightened slightly, fierce battle intent flashing in his eyes.
"Is that so… then I really can't wait."
The Going Merry adjusted its course and sped toward the legendary sea restaurant under the glow of the setting sun.
...
East Blue, a certain stretch of sea.
After a full day of sailing, the waves seemed gentler.
The noon sun poured straight down onto the blue ocean, shimmering like layers of golden fish scales.
Gradually, a mouthwatering aroma drifted through the air—
The rich scent of seared steak fat, the sweetness of seafood soup, and the warm fragrance of freshly baked bread.
"Slurp…"
Luffy lay sprawled on the sheep-head figurehead, his nose twitching like a radar as drool pooled into a small river on the deck.
"So good… that's the smell of meat!"
As the Going Merry advanced, a breathtaking structure appeared before them.
It was an enormous ship—or rather, a floating castle on the sea.
Its overall shape resembled a giant fish, with bright red fins and a round belly.
The bow was shaped like an open fish's mouth, serving as the restaurant's main entrance. Towering masts pierced the sky, and the decks on either side were as wide as plazas.
Across the hull were huge letters—
"BARATIE."
This was the legendary sea restaurant, Baratie.
"Woooow!!"
Everyone aboard the Going Merry exclaimed in awe.
Johnny jumped onto a barrel, pointing excitedly at the massive ship.
"Well?! This is the most famous sea restaurant in the East Blue! Impressive, right, big bros and sis?!"
"What a huge fish!" Luffy's eyes sparkled as he almost launched himself over with his rubber arms. "If we could eat that, how long would it take?!"
Nami leaned on the railing, dollar signs flashing briefly in her eyes before turning into pure appreciation.
"It really is impressive. This kind of design ensures stability and attracts customers out at sea. The owner must have great taste—and a lot of money."
"That's wild…"
Usopp peered through binoculars at the bustling deck full of diners and neatly uniformed waitstaff.
"Opening a restaurant in the middle of the ocean, far from land—that's insane."
Ronan stood to the side of the deck, his Zhangba Iron Spear strapped to his back, eyes deep as he gazed at Baratie.
"It feels completely different from watching the anime…"
In animation, everything was flat. But now, with this massive structure standing before him in reality, the visual impact was overwhelming.
He could even see diners clinking glasses on the second-floor terrace, hear faint piano music and laughter drifting across the sea.
"This is where Sanji appears."
Just as everyone was lost in fantasies of food—
"WOOO—!!"
A deep, heavy horn blast suddenly sounded to the starboard side of the Going Merry, rattling their eardrums.
A massive shadow loomed over them, blotting out the sunlight.
Johnny reflexively turned his head, his sunglasses tilting as his face went pale.
"T-This is… a Marine warship!!"
Everyone looked up.
A small Marine vessel, about the same size as the Going Merry, sailed alongside them, imposing and stern.
The seagull emblem and the word "MARINE" gleamed on its hull, radiating an oppressive presence.
Though the dark cannon ports weren't deliberately aimed, the cold metallic menace alone was enough to make any small-time pirate tremble.
"First time seeing a Marine ship this close," Ronan narrowed his eyes slightly, Observation Haki quietly spreading.
He could sense that there were no particularly powerful auras aboard—mostly just the vitality of ordinary soldiers.
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