Baratie, the floating restaurant.
Said to be the most renowned eatery in all of the East Blue, it drew visitors from far and wide, many of whom came specifically to taste the exquisite dishes crafted by the owner and head chef, Zeff. Even high-ranking Marines were known to dine here.
At Baratie, it didn't matter who you are.
Whether Marine or pirate,
Noble or commoner,
As long as you came hungry, they'd make sure you left full.
Creak!
The restaurant's heavy, slightly weathered wooden doors let out a low-pitched screech as they opened, momentarily drowning out the soft music drifting through the air.
Kouta stepped inside first, pushing open the doors with a calm confidence. Kuina and A-Hua followed closely behind.
Diners glanced toward the entrance as they walked in, but quickly returned to their meals, unbothered.
Only then did the true ambiance of the restaurant hit them, a blend of elegant music, the clink of cutlery, and the gentle murmur of conversation washing over them like a warm tide.
"Welcome!"
A loud, gruff voice broke the mood. Out of nowhere, a burly man with a pink scarf tied around his neck appeared. His face was fierce, almost cartoonishly so like Popeye brought to life, yet he wore a broad grin as he bowed deeply, rubbing his hands together in exaggerated enthusiasm.
Patty had noticed the newcomers the moment they entered.
He rushed over with practiced speed, eager to greet them. He had a keen nose for money, and these four looked like they had plenty to spend, the kind of customers he loved best.
Generosity was a trait he admired in the wealthy. He despised the poor.
Kouta eyed Patty with amusement, offering a polite and measured smile.
"I've heard the food here is the best in all of East Blue. We came specifically to try it," he said with a nod.
"Would you be so kind as to recommend something?"
Patty blinked in surprise. It had been a long time since anyone spoke to him so courteously.
This was a pirate restaurant. Most of the clientele were, naturally, pirates. And no one expected pirates to be polite.
Snapping out of his daze, Patty's professional grin softened into something more genuine.
"Of course, sir. Please, right this way. I'll make sure you get a proper introduction to our menu in just a moment."
Once a brutal pirate himself, Patty had left that life behind to work under Red-Leg Zeff as a cook. These days, he served as both a chef and enforcer at Baratie.
And so, regardless of who you were, he addressed every guest the same way:
"Sir."
He quickly glanced over the group to count them, then turned and called loudly toward the kitchen: "Five guests entering!"
With a courteous bow, he motioned toward a window-side table with his right hand.
"This way, sirs. Baratie exists to serve you with our utmost effort."
Patty darted ahead to the table, pulling out chairs for each of them before taking the tray from a passing chef and pouring them each a glass of chilled lemon water.
Then, stepping back, he stood respectfully at their side.
"Please enjoy your tea, gentlemen."
Kouta lifted his glass and took a sip. The lemon water was sweet and tangy, surprisingly refreshing.
"All right," he said with a relaxed smile, "Tell us what you've got today."
Patty whipped out a notepad and pen from his waist apron like a practiced salesman.
"Well, sirs, our menu changes daily depending on the ingredients we're able to source. Today, we've got the largest abalone and sea cucumber in East Blue — and some seasonal Pacific saury from the Kingdom of Goron."
He paused dramatically before continuing.
"But... today's true treasures are the sea fish and lobsters straight from the Grand Line."
His eyes sparkled at the sight of their growing interest, his grin widening.
"So, sirs, would you care to try some?"
It was a line he used often on wealthy guests. The ingredients were indeed premium and just a tiny bit expensive.
After all, only rich folk could afford such indulgences. The poor? Patty wouldn't even pour them a glass of lemon water. That's just the kind of man he was.
From the moment A-Hua stepped into Baratie, he'd been practically bouncing with excitement. Now, he couldn't hold back any longer.
"Forget the ingredients!" he blurted out. "Can we ask your head chef Zeff himself to prepare our meal?"
Zeff had been a renowned chef even before founding Baratie. Since then, he'd become legendary throughout the East Blue.
A-Hua, an aspiring cook himself, had heard Zeff's name from his father countless times.
Sure, he'd only been cooking for two years not exactly a master yet, but that didn't dim his desire to witness the craftsmanship of East Blue's most celebrated chef.
He wanted to taste the kind of food that would one day be his benchmark.
Even if A-Hua was a bit of a slacker, he took his calling as a chef seriously.
"No problem at all, sir!" Patty declared proudly. "Here at Baratie, the customer is always God. If you want the head chef to cook, done. If you want me to dance, I'll dance!"
He hesitated for a moment. "But, uh… there's just one little thing…"
Kouta, watching Patty rub his hands again and grin like an overeager puppy, chuckled.
For all his fierce looks, this guy's antics were kind of… cute.
"You want extra payment, right?" he guessed.
"Exactly!" Patty said cheerfully, with not a shred of shame. Of course a meal by the head chef would cost more.
And as for his personal service fee? Well, the more, the merrier.
"All right, all right," Kouta waved him off with a lazy smile, both hands flashing with gold rings.
They were loot from the Krieg Pirates, chunky, tacky things. Not just on Kouta either, he'd made the others wear matching jewelry: gold chains, rings, all of it.
No wonder Patty had greeted them with such fervor.
"Understood, sir!" Patty beamed. "I'll go fetch the head chef right away."
To Patty, customers were gods. But wealthy customers? They were gods among gods.
He was determined to earn every single beri he could squeeze from their golden pockets.
"Pfft… just another nouveau riche blowhard,"
A voice sneered from a nearby table — a group of Marines, clearly unimpressed.
"That guy's attitude is nothing like how he treated us earlier."
"Isn't the customer supposed to be God? You treating your gods differently now?"
Patty turned back briefly, his smile still plastered on. "Gentlemen, please excuse me a moment. I'll return shortly."
He straightened his back, wiped the grin from his face, and marched over to the Marines.
Now his expression was all business, his professional smile had soured into something mechanical.
"Gentlemen, I'm going to have to ask you to keep your voices down," he said flatly. "You're disturbing my VIPs."
To him, customers fell into three categories:
"The destitute" people so poor they couldn't afford a meal. He despised them.
"The low-tier" people who could pay, but only for basics like bread and fish soup. He tolerated them.
"The rich" people who ordered whatever they wanted, with cash to burn. To him, they were gods.
And then there were customers like Kouta and his group — gods among gods.
"You've got some nerve, don't you?" one Marine barked.
"Do I?" Patty replied, eyes blank.
"Don't play dumb! Everyone can see your fake smile when you're talking to us, and now you look like you'd rather be anywhere else. What? We're not worthy of your attention?"
"Oh? Is that how it seems?" Patty asked, stretching his mouth into a wide, grotesque smile, one that looked more painful than polite.
"Does this expression satisfy you?"
"Hell no it doesn't! You look even more fake than before!"
The Marines stood up, voices raised in anger.
Patty's grin vanished.
He narrowed his eyes, letting a glimmer of his old pirate self show through.
"Gentlemen," he said with a low, dangerous voice, "please refrain from shouting in my restaurant."
He wasn't about to take lip from some broke Marines. Not when they couldn't even afford the lobster.
"What, you gonna hit us now?" one of them challenged.
They were stunned — since when did a waiter dare glare at a Marine?
They didn't know Patty's past. Back then, he was just a no-name pirate, not even worth a bounty.
But now?
He was the kind of man who didn't care who you are unless your wallet did the talking.
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 100, 200, 300 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!