Their commotion didn't just draw the attention of everyone in the restaurant, it even brought Zeff down from upstairs and Sanji out of the kitchen.
"All right, Patty. Are you trying to break the tables and chairs again?"A deep, aged voice echoed from the upper floor, silencing the room.
Everyone turned toward the stairs, where an old man slowly descended.
He wore a full chef's uniform and an impressively tall toque. His golden beard was braided into two long plaits that hung neatly down each side of his mouth. A wooden prosthetic leg thudded rhythmically against the floor, thud, thud, thud…
The noisy Marines from earlier suddenly shut their mouths at the sight of him.They weren't afraid of the brutish Patty, but this old man, they feared.
Ordinary folks didn't know his past. But Marines? They knew.
Years ago, he was infamous throughout the East Blue.A pirate captain and a chef, known far and wide.
Legend has it, his leg strikes were so powerful that the blood from his enemies would spray five feet, dyeing his own leg red. That's why they called him, Red-Leg Zeff.
He'd long since retired from piracy, but his presence still commanded awe.Who knew if he'd suddenly snap and land a deadly kick?
Zeff walked up to the Marines and casually kicked Patty with his wooden leg.
"What are you standing around for? Get back to the kitchen. Keeping guests waiting is downright disgraceful."
Patty pouted but didn't look the least bit scared of Zeff.He turned around and marched toward Kouta's table.
As he reached them, the fierce scowl he wore moments ago melted away like snow under the sun. He smiled so broadly it looked like a blooming chrysanthemum.
He hunched over, rubbing his hands beside his face, and spoke obsequiously:
"Dear guest, is there anything else I can get for you?"
The corners of everyone's mouths in the restaurant twitched.Seriously? That obvious?
Kouta gave him a side glance, clearly unimpressed.This guy was something else.
"Don't lean in so close, I can see your nose hairs. It's disgusting. Get back to the kitchen."
"Yes, sir! Your request is my command!"
Patty backed away, straightened up the moment he turned around, dropped his grin, and strode into the kitchen.
With the scene over, the other diners began to return to their meals.
"That's it? I came all the way here for this?"
Some of them had heard rumors that the chefs here loved brawling with pirates and customers. They were hoping for more action.
Zeff turned to the stiffly standing Marines and said casually:
"Go fetch your Captain Rust. We're old friends. He's usually the first one through the door when he visits."
"Oh, and I don't think I've seen you boys before. New crew members?"
"Yes, Mr. Zeff," one Marine answered carefully. "If there's nothing else, we'll go call our captain now."
"Go on, go."
Zeff waved them off.The Marines exhaled in relief and practically fled the restaurant.
Watching how easily Zeff had defused the tension, Kouta laughed and said dramatically:
"Wow! A man with a title really does have presence!"
Zeff approached Kouta's table and said calmly:
"Sir, I'm just a humble restaurant owner. No need for flattery."
"Well, whoever you are, could you please hurry up with our food?"Kouta shrugged nonchalantly.
"Of course. But even the fastest cooking takes time, sir."
Smack!
Kouta pulled out a thick wad of Berries and tossed it onto the table.
"How about now?"
Zeff's eye twitched. He felt like Kouta was messing with him.
"Even then, it'll still take half an hour at the fastest."
Smack!
Another identical wad hit the table.
"And now?"
Zeff's stoic expression began to crack into a smile. His back bent ever so slightly.
Well, if this is the kind of humiliation being offered — he'd gladly take more.
"Sir, the absolute best I can do is twenty minutes. Any faster and my old bones will fall apart."
Smack!
This time, it was a fat stack, seven or eight wads, at least.
"How about now?"
Kouta grinned even wider as Zeff's expression completely changed.
This "pay-to-win" tactic was absurdly satisfying.After all, this money was just something he'd found.
Yes, found. The sea was full of pirates, and all of them were practically waiting to have their loot taken.
From the moment he set sail, he was no longer the guy who had to borrow money to build a ship.
From now on, call him… Kouta the Tycoon.
He had already reserved every last Berry on every pirate ship he would ever encounter.
Zeff stared at the mountain of cash and finally cracked.He bent low, wearing a rigid smile and rubbing his hands together.
"Sir, I promise you, I'll have your dishes out in five minutes. Just five."
This wasn't about principles anymore. The bribe was too good to refuse.
Kouta burst out laughing, pointing at Zeff's toadying face, which now resembled Patty's earlier antics.
"Hahaha!!"
Ahua, Aluo, and A'tao couldn't hold it in any longer.They joined in, laughing and pounding the table, bang, bang, bang…
Kuina covered her mouth, shoulders shaking, her laugh crisp as silver bells.
Zeff straightened up and watched the four laugh hysterically.
He'd known all along Kouta was joking. So he'd played along.
Did they really think he'd stoop just for money?
When the laughter finally died down, Zeff asked,
"Kid, judging by your clothes, you don't seem like pirates. Are you here on vacation, or are you actually planning to go adventuring?"
"Adventuring, of course!" Ahua replied with excitement."Kouta told us right from the start that our goal is to sail around the Grand Line!"
"The Grand Line… what memories that place brings."
A wistful look crossed Zeff's face.
Ahua and the others didn't know about Zeff's pirate past.They weren't Marines, and definitely not Kouta.
"Oh? From that look, Zeff, you've been there?"Ahua adjusted his glasses with interest.
Zeff smiled, reminiscing."Yeah. I had a dream once. Gathered a group of like-minded partners and set sail for the Grand Line."
His expression darkened as he continued, eyes steady on Kouta and the others.
"We only survived one year… before our entire crew was wiped out. If not for a kind passing ship, I wouldn't have made it back alive."
"So then," Aluo leaned in, "what made you decide to open a restaurant out at sea?"
Ahua and A'tao also leaned forward, curiosity piqued.
They didn't care much about the dangers of the Grand Line — they hadn't experienced it. With Kouta's overwhelming power, they felt untouchable.
But they were interested in what kind of journey could make someone want to open a floating restaurant.
Zeff caught the sincere curiosity in their eyes. A flicker of old trauma passed through his gaze.
He pulled out a chair and sat beside Kouta, voice calm and unhurried, as he recounted the horrifying tale of a shipwreck that left him stranded on a deserted island.
He said little about his leg. Or Sanji.
When he finished, Ahua pushed his glasses up, eyes gleaming.
"So… you experienced true starvation. And that inspired you to open a restaurant at sea, so no sailor would ever go hungry again?"
Zeff gave a brief nod.
"Yes."
Their eyes filled with respect.
For a chef, what nobler dream could there be?
Zeff looked at the group again. They were clearly interested in Baratie — but showed little regard for the Grand Line's dangers.
He offered a word of warning:
"Boys, I suggest you prepare thoroughly before setting out. The Grand Line isn't like the other seas. It's where all the most dangerous pirates from the four oceans converge."
"Pirates?"
A'tao shrugged nonchalantly, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and offered one to Zeff.
"Care for one, Zeff?"
Zeff waved his hands firmly.
"These hands never touch that stuff. I'd hate to contaminate the food."
A'tao, seeing Zeff's sincerity, put the cigarette back in the pack, lit one for himself.
Zeff could tell they weren't taking the dangers seriously.
His tone grew heavier.
"Pirates you can handle. You might even escape them. But if you're unlucky enough to run into one of the natural disasters that plague those seas…"
He gave them a hard look.
"Then congratulations. You'll be wiped out before you even know what hit you."
"That's what happened to me. We were destroyed… by a storm the likes of which you can't even imagine."
*********
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!