Baratie, the Sea Restaurant in the one piece world.
Sunlight spilled onto the shimmering sea, and a few seagulls circled in the sky.
Occasionally, one or two silverfish leaped out of the water, creating splashes that refracted rainbow-like light.
The Sea Restaurant Baratie was a unique and massive ship, shaped like a giant fish, with its open mouth serving as the entrance, a truly ingenious design.
The hull was made of sturdy wood, painted in vibrant yellow and deep blue, resembling a floating work of art on the sea.
Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere was lively and joyful, as Head Chef Zeff personally hosted Kai, Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and others.
The table was laden with various delicious dishes, and the aroma of seafood filled the entire hall.
"Come, come, eat more! Today, you are our honored guests!" Zeff's gruff voice was full of gratitude.
As the head chef, he was grateful for Kai and his group's feat of defeating the Krieg Pirates and had specifically instructed his chefs to prepare the most lavish meal.
Although, in Kai's eyes, dealing with the Krieg Pirates was just a side task.
When Luffy used his Conqueror's Haki to clear the area, he directly knocked out all of Krieg's crew.
Later, Kai had a brief skirmish with Mihawk, and the aftershocks of their battle completely destroyed the remnants of Krieg's main ship, which had been broken into three pieces.
As a result, all of Krieg's unconscious subordinates drowned, with only Krieg and Gin surviving in a corner of the Sea Restaurant's deck.
At Kai's signal, Zoro beheaded the two of them to collect their bounties, adding to the funds for future training.
However, this also inadvertently resolved the crisis at the Sea Restaurant, and the head chef's warm hospitality was a pleasant surprise.
Kai sat at the table, devouring a large piece of meat with a bone, thoroughly enjoying himself.
The taste was a hundred times better than the meat Nami and Usopp grilled.
Kai couldn't refuse it and didn't even have time to be polite with Head Chef Zeff, eating heartily under the chef's smiling gaze.
Luffy and Zoro were the same, with only the food in front of them in their eyes.
"Delicious! This soup is amazing!" Luffy finished a large piece of meat, picked up a bowl of steaming hot, rich soup, and drank it with a greasy mouth, openly expressing his praise.
The trio's behavior made Nami and Usopp sigh, repeatedly calling them gluttons reincarnated from hungry ghosts.
"Sanji, this soup is absolutely incredible!" Luffy excitedly turned to look at Sanji, the blonde man standing nearby, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Hey, Sanji, come be our chef!"
Sanji had introduced this soup before they ate, explaining that he had spent three days and three nights meticulously preparing it.
Sanji paused slightly, then lit a cigarette, his eyes showing a hint of melancholy.
He turned his head and said indifferently, "Sorry, I'm not interested in your invitation. I have more important things to do."
Just as Luffy was about to try and persuade him again, Zeff's hoarse voice rang out: "You brat, why are you always hiding here!
You clearly have your own dream, but you insist on wasting time clinging to an old man like me?"
Sanji froze, looking at Zeff with complex emotions. He knew Zeff was calling out his excuse, but he couldn't retort.
He had always stayed here, partly out of gratitude for Zeff saving his life, and partly because he was unwilling to abandon this special place.
In the restaurant, the other chefs seemed to understand Zeff's intention and chimed in.
"Exactly, Sanji! Even dogs despise your cooking, hurry up and leave!"
"Right, don't cling to our restaurant, go pursue your 'All Blue'!" Although their words were harsh, there was a subtle warmth in everyone's tone.
Sanji gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. He stormed out of the restaurant and went onto the deck for some fresh air.
The refreshing sea breeze ruffled his golden hair, and the coolness seeped into his heart.
He leaned against the railing, lit a cigarette, and fell into deep thought.
Not far away, he unintentionally overheard Zeff's conversation with the chefs:
"That brat, he's even given up his own dream for an old geezer like me.
We're saying all this to force him to leave. He has his own sky; he shouldn't be trapped here."
Hearing this, Sanji's heart trembled. He took a deep drag from his cigarette, looked up at the sky, and his eyes gradually hardened.
The All Blue, the legendary place where all fish species reside, appeared in his mind.
Sanji mustered his courage and pushed open the door, walking up to Head Chef Zeff.
The man who had once saved his life was also his mentor, who taught him cooking and life lessons.
Zeff was still wearing his clean chef's uniform, leaning on his unique wooden prosthetic leg, his expression calm, but his eyes hid reluctance and deep emotions.
"You brat," Zeff began, his tone as strict as ever, but this time with a hint of tenderness.
"Since you've decided to chase your dream, don't look back.
This ocean is vast enough to accommodate your ambitions.
Remember, don't you dare disgrace me out there!"
Sanji bit his cigarette, a defiant smile playing on his lips, yet unable to hide his slightly trembling shoulders.
He took a deep drag, pressing the pungent spiciness deep into his throat, as if to swallow all his reluctance.
"I understand, old man." His voice was a little hoarse, "Thank you for this life you gave me, and thank you for teaching me how to cook."
Zeff said nothing more. He turned and slowly walked towards the ship's cabin, his movements seemingly casual, but the tapping of his prosthetic leg on the deck sounded somewhat heavy.
The other chefs stood not far away, some laughing and shouting, "Sanji, don't let your little tricks get exposed elsewhere!"
Others secretly wiped away tears from the corners of their eyes, not daring to let anyone see.
Sanji turned to look at the horizon; the Straw Hat Pirates' ship was already docked nearby.
He fiercely finished the last puff of his cigarette, forcefully extinguishing the butt on the railing.
At that moment, his golden hair obscured his face, and no one could see the tears in his eyes.
Sanji walked step by step, slowly and firmly, towards the Going Merry. He didn't look back.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye?" Luffy, standing at the bow of the Going Merry, noticed Sanji's reluctance.
"No need." Sanji grinned.
"Sanji!" Head Chef Zeff's voice rang out behind Sanji: "Don't catch a cold!"
Hearing this, Sanji could no longer hold back and instantly burst into tears.
He turned around, knelt heavily on the ground, and fiercely knocked his head against the deck.
"Old Man Zeff, thank you for taking care of me all this time!" Sanji shouted loudly:
"I will never forget your immense kindness!!!"
Head Chef Zeff, seeing Sanji kneeling on the deck, crying profusely, also shed tears.
"Let's go! Set sail!!!" After Sanji boarded the ship, Luffy raised his arms and howled loudly.
Zeff watched the Going Merry slowly disappear over the horizon, wiped away his tears, and cursed:
"You brat, a man should part in silence!"
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