Aaron's subordinates were at least loyal. In less than twenty minutes, they came rushing back, scraping together money from everywhere to finally settle the bill. Then they carried off their bruised and battered boss, fleeing faster than rabbits!
As for Arashi, money itself didn't really matter.
What he truly cared about was the mysterious reward after completing the mission!
After putting away the Beli Aaron's men had brought, Arashi looked up at Zeff and little Sanji.
He had a fairly deep impression of this down-and-out master and disciple duo.
Especially their time stranded on the isolated island—Zeff had given all the food to Sanji. On one hand, he didn't want Sanji to starve to death there; on the other, he saw in Sanji the same dream he once had.
But with his right leg ruined, Zeff could no longer pursue his dream of becoming a pirate. So, he placed all his hopes onto Sanji.
In a way… this was what one might call inheritance.
"Would the two of you like to try some Ultimate Yangzhou Fried Rice?"
After watching them for a moment, Arashi didn't expose their identities. Instead, he continued, "The price may be a bit… eye-catching, but trust me—this will be the most delicious fried rice you'll ever eat in your life!"
"I don't believe you." Sanji turned his head away. Despite his shabby appearance, he still carried a sense of pride. "Both the old man and I are chefs—you can't fool us!"
But the moment Sanji finished speaking, a rich aroma drifted out from the restaurant.
At a time like this, any scent of rice or food was absolutely irresistible to Sanji.
So in the very next second, his composure crumbled as he began drooling. "Wow… it smells amazing!"
"Boss! One serving is 18,888 Beli, right?"
Seeing Sanji's eager expression, Zeff smiled faintly and said decisively, "Alright—then give us two servings!"
Ten minutes later—
Zeff and Sanji finally understood why those astonishing exclamations had been coming from the restaurant earlier.
The two plates of Ultimate Yangzhou Fried Rice were completely wiped clean—not a single grain left. They ate with complete satisfaction!
"Old man, I want more!"
After finishing his plate, Sanji looked up excitedly, his eyes sparkling.
In truth, Zeff wasn't that old yet—he was only around thirty-six or thirty-seven. But after being stranded on the island for over forty days, reduced to skin and bones, he appeared much older than his actual age.
Even without that ordeal, though, life as a chef often meant hardship and exposure.
"That won't do."
Zeff also wanted another serving, but he had already read the notice outside when they entered. Each person was limited to one serving per day.
At first, he hadn't understood why Arashi had set such a rule.
But now, he had a rough idea—this entire restaurant was being run by Arashi alone. Cooking, serving, everything. It made sense to limit the number of servings.
"Boss."
After stopping Sanji, Zeff directly placed a gold leaf on the table. "I don't have Beli. Can I pay with this instead?"
"Hmm…"
Arashi hesitated. "That's a bit difficult. My restaurant may be small, but rules are rules. If I say 18,888 Beli per serving, then it must be exactly 18,888 Beli. Accepting gold instead would break my rules."
"There's no such rule on your notice!"
Zeff's temper flared instantly. "We have treasure, just not Beli!"
"That still won't work."
Arashi shook his head. "If you don't have Beli, then the only option is…"
As he spoke, he slowly walked toward Zeff and Sanji, a faintly dangerous smile on his face.
"W-What are you trying to do?!"
Seeing Arashi approach, Sanji immediately stood up and shielded Zeff, shouting in a childish yet determined voice, "Don't mess around! The old man is really strong!"
"Really strong?"
Arashi blinked, still smiling. "How strong?"
"Very, very strong!"
Sanji lifted his chin, ready to fight at any moment. "And the old man used to be a—"
"Sanji!"
Before he could finish, Zeff quickly cut him off. Then he looked at Arashi calmly and said, "Are you planning to beat us up like those thugs earlier?"
"You misunderstand me."
Arashi waved his hand and smiled. "Do I look like someone who enjoys fighting? Actually, if you don't have Beli, there's another option… You could stay and help me."
"My restaurant happens to need two assistants. Having a chef would be even better!"
"Of course, I won't make you work for free—you'll be paid. And more importantly…" Arashi glanced at their ragged appearance, "You two don't seem to have a place to stay yet. My restaurant has two rooms upstairs…"
"'Travel-worn'?"
Zeff's lips twitched slightly.
If you're going to say it, just say we look miserable—what's with the fancy wording?
Still, Arashi's offer tempted him.
Not because of the food and lodging—but because that fried rice had sparked a deep curiosity in him as a chef.
What kind of culinary skill could produce something so unforgettable?
Not only Zeff, but Sanji also looked at Arashi with excitement.
"Don't hesitate!"
Seeing Zeff fall silent and Sanji full of anticipation, Arashi turned to Sanji with a warm, harmless smile. "Little Sanji, you still want another serving, don't you? Or maybe… you want to learn how to cook like this?"
"No problem at all. As long as you stay and help me, you can eat this delicious fried rice every day. I'll even teach you my cooking skills—guaranteeing you'll become a top-tier chef."
"R-Really?!"
Sanji's eyes widened. He was completely unable to resist the temptation—but since Zeff hadn't spoken yet, he forced himself to hold back and looked toward him.
"If you truly need help, we can stay and work for you."
At that moment, Zeff finally spoke. "But we won't stay here forever. After some time, we'll leave Loguetown and open a floating restaurant on the sea."
Zeff could tell Arashi genuinely needed help. Meanwhile, he and Sanji had just returned from the island and needed time to recover and prepare.
"That's perfect!"
Arashi narrowed his eyes, smiling brightly. "I won't stay in Loguetown for long either. Once I sell one thousand servings of fried rice, I'll leave for the Grand Line. When the time comes, if you need it, I can even transfer this restaurant to you—at a very fair price!"
"Hmm?"
Hearing Arashi mention the Grand Line, Zeff's pupils contracted slightly, his expression turning serious.
Although he had managed to return from the Grand Line alive, the experience had left an indelible shadow in his heart. Even if his leg hadn't been injured, he likely wouldn't dare set foot there again.
Yet the young chef before him seemed completely unafraid—almost as if he was casually planning a journey.
Was it ignorance… or confidence?
"Oh, right—I forgot to introduce myself."
Noticing Zeff's reaction, Arashi nodded slightly and said calmly, "My name is Kairo D. Arashi—a traveler."
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