Kitchen Anecdotes

Cafeteria, back kitchen.

Water was already being heated in iron pots, the rising steam condensing into droplets on the skylight before dripping onto the cast-iron stove with soft sizzles.

"Miss Ra, you said you wanted to learn literacy and cooking from me?"

Old Cook set down the iron ladle he had been stirring the pot with, unable to hide the shock in his voice.

He had never expected the newly promoted, highly sought-after officer of the Beasts Pirates before him—a girl who radiated an unbelievable air from head to toe—to lower herself and seek out an overlooked old cook like him.

He had spent some time on an aristocratic cruise ship and knew a few words, but the Beasts Pirates were not lacking in... well, Captain Kaido might have neglected the crew's cultural education somewhat.

But there was no need for her to come personally. Sending someone to give him an order would have been enough.

"That's right. Just teach me how to read the newspaper during your spare time. As for cooking, I only need to help out. You needn't go out of your way to instruct me." Ra's tone was gentle and calm, without the slightest hint of jest.

"..."

"All right. Since you've said so, Miss, these old bones will do as you ask."

Cook was silent for a long time, but ultimately did not refuse. He had no way of refusing.

Besides, it was not much trouble for him, and Ra did not seem like the difficult sort of pirate the others were.

Though he had only seen her once during mealtime, her reasonable nature and elegant, composed bearing—so utterly out of place among the Beasts Pirates—had left a deep impression on him.

Another reason he did not wish to refuse was the strange, welcoming aura around Ra. Whenever he immersed himself in that feeling, he could clearly recall memories that had long since become blurry.

Among them was the happiest memory of his life—decades ago, in the flower fields of his hometown. The morning dew had not yet dried, and the girl holding wild daisies as she smiled at him had a skirt hem touched by the same incongruous purity.

"Then from now on, I shall call you Master." Ra smiled upon hearing Cook's answer.

"Please don't flatter these old bones, Miss. Just call me Old Cook, like everyone else," Cook hurriedly declined.

"That will not do. Leaving aside the fact that you are about to become my teacher, you are far older than I am. Addressing you so would be most improper."

Ra's attitude was firm. Whether as You Ling in her former life or as Ra now, she had always maintained the most basic courtesy toward the elderly.

As expected, she's such a good child, completely out of place among the Beasts... Old Cook could not help feeling a trace of helplessness and regret.

"Then... then how about calling me Grandpa Cook... no, no, on second thought... hmm, call me Father Cook. The youngsters about your age who see me buying groceries all call me that."

Old Cook seemed to remember something. A glimmer suddenly flashed through his eyes before quickly fading, and in the end, he did not choose that form of address.

"All right, Father Cook."

The instant Ra spoke that name in her ethereal, gentle voice, Old Cook's long-silent heart trembled fiercely.

He seemed to see the little figure that existed only in his imagination, and he stood there in a daze.

"Hey, Old Cook! We bought all the ingredients. Time to get lunch ready."

The sous-chef, wearing a tall hat, pushed open the kitchen door with several cafeteria hands, carrying plenty of fresh ingredients bought from town.

"Oh! Miss Ra, why are you here? Sorry, lunch isn't ready yet."

"It's all right. I didn't come here to eat. I came to learn cooking from Father Cook. Starting today, I'll be helping in the kitchen."

Seeing their shocked and flustered expressions, Ra explained with a smile.

"A h-helper?! Miss Ra, you're an officer of the Beasts Pirates! How can we let you be a helper?! If Boss Kaido finds out, we—we..."

"You needn't worry about that. I'll speak to Captain Kaido myself."

"As for being a helper, that is merely my personal wish. If ordering me around makes you uncomfortable, then just consider me here to supervise you~" Ra made a small joke to ease the sous-chef's anxiety.

"But..."

The sous-chef wanted to say more, but Old Cook spoke up at that moment and settled the matter.

"All right, that's enough. You don't need to concern yourself with Miss Ra's affairs. I'll take responsibility."

"Start preparing lunch. Those starving ghosts won't wait for us."

He picked a rather oddly shaped fish from the ingredients on the counter. Its tail slapped droplets of water everywhere, looking exceptionally fresh and lively.

"Miss, I'll teach you how to prepare these ingredients now." Cook wiped the water that had just splashed onto his face and prepared to begin the lesson.

"Just call me Ra. There's no need for formalities, Father Cook." Ra seriously corrected his form of address.

"Ha ha... all right, all right." Old Cook smoothed his apron with one hand and did not dwell on it further.

He brought the flat of his knife down hard on the fish's head. His movement was so sharp that no one would have guessed he was a man of seventy or eighty. With that single blow, the ugly-faced sea fish immediately stopped moving.

"This is called an Ugly Fish, a sea fish unique to the New World. Don't let its looks fool you—once it reaches adulthood, it's a vicious carnivore capable of preying on sharks! They say it even has a bit of Sea King blood."

As he spoke, Old Cook skillfully cut open the fish's belly and removed its innards...

"This one is a juvenile. Its weak point is the lump on its head. Hit it hard once, and it'll be knocked unconscious."

"If we scale and gut it while it's unconscious, we can preserve the freshest possible texture."

Though Ra had said he did not need to distract himself by teaching her, Old Cook still carefully explained every step.

To be honest, a high-class chef like him, one who had once served nobles, was wasted on crude men like the Beasts Pirates, who could not tell the difference even if they were fed nothing but roasted meat.

Yet Old Cook still strove for perfection in every step, making everything as flawless as possible. Perhaps that was a chef's pride and persistence.

Ra listened attentively from the side, committing each of his movements to memory.

The rough-looking sous-chef and kitchen hands exchanged looks, unsure what to do as they watched the old man and young woman.

"What are you all standing around for? Get the fires going!"

Cook turned back and bellowed at the people still standing frozen. Only then did they snap out of it and begin preparing lunch.

It seemed this gray-haired old gentleman held considerable authority in the back kitchen.