As soon as he finished speaking, Zeff picked up the flask and took a big gulp.
Then, he picked up a plate and went to Garp's side.
Zeff handed the plate to Garp, shaking his head as he spoke.
"There was still a lot of food on that table you smashed. According to the usual rules, customers who waste food like you should be blacklisted!"
However, there are no rules now. After tonight, I will take my crew to seek refuge elsewhere.
If I am lucky enough to escape this wave, then perhaps in the future, the Baratie will have another chance to reopen.
If I can't escape this wave..."
At this point, Zeff gave a relieved smile.
"If you can't escape it, then I'll have to ask you for a favor!"
You're a hero in the Navy, with that kind of status, you'll definitely be able to take good care of the brat behind me!
This is the last pork leg for tonight; I saved it for myself, but I'm giving it to you now!
"For the sake of this pig's leg, you'll have to stand up for my descendants in the future!"
After saying that, Zeff handed the plate containing the pig's leg to Garp.
Immediately afterwards, he grabbed the blond young man, whose face was full of sadness, and pulled him in front of him.
With his right arm around the young man, Zeff spoke to Garp with emotion.
"I often tell others stories from back then, and many people know that I bet my leg on this kid long ago!"
When we fell into the water that year, the two of us, along with a lot of treasure and food, drifted to that deserted island.
We're running out of food, but I really can't bear to see this kid die.
This kid is a chef just as good as me. He also has a dream of finding All Blue. Looking at him is like looking at my younger self.
So, on that deserted island back then, I gave all the food to this kid.
As for myself, haha, I hid from this brat and ate my own leg piece by piece!
Don't ask me if it was worth it; to this day, I can only say it was absolutely worth it!
"If I'm being hunted down by that Celestial Dragon's subordinate, then this brat is yours, Garp!"
At this point, Zeff stared intently into Garp's eyes.
Looking at Zeff's sorrowful eyes, Garp was taken aback at first, and then he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
It seems I've picked up some kind of... bad habit of being easily taken care of by friends' younger relatives?
While laughing, Garp patted Zeff on the shoulder.
"Old man, hahaha, you're overthinking it, aren't you?"
What makes you think your restaurant will be wanted and hunted down by that guy Gawain?
I've met Gawain in person, and he's actually quite easy to talk to!
Take my advice, Zeff, just keep running your restaurant. Your safety will absolutely not be a problem!
As soon as he finished speaking, Garp glanced at Sanji, whose face was gloomy. He then raised his fist and gently punched Sanji in the chest.
"And this young man, his safety is not a problem. I happen to be on vacation these few days, so let me enjoy myself at your restaurant for a while!"
If Gawain comes, I will personally plead with him. Out of respect for me, he should... probably... likely will grant my request!
Even if he doesn't give it to me, his first mate will definitely. Rayleigh is an old friend, Zephyr is an even closer friend, haha!
In short..."
At this moment, Garp laughed and ruffled Sanji's blond hair.
"In short, you can all stay here without worry. I'll take care of everything!"
If chefs as excellent as you were to disappear, it would be a tremendous loss to the ocean!
Besides, this brat named Sanji is about the same age as my Sun Tzu. I won't let Gawain harm such a young person...
Wait, damn it, you've got me all confused, Zeff!
What I said at the beginning was that Gawain is not the kind of person who indiscriminately kills innocent people!
Besides, Sanji doesn't have a bounty, does he?
I really don't know what you guys are worried about!!!
After saying that, Garp patted Sanji on the head, then laughed and sat back down in his chair.
Since the table in front of him was broken, he simply picked up the plate and began to devour the pork leg.
Seeing Garp's confident demeanor, Zeff felt a mix of emotions. With a hero like Garp's assurance, Baratie should be able to continue operating, right?
So, the ordeal I thought I was going through is over?
Just as Zeff was thinking this, suddenly chefs and sailors from the Baratie restaurant rushed into the restaurant from the deck.
As soon as the man entered the room, he quickly looked around. Once he found Zeff's location, he immediately called out to Zeff.
"Captain, something terrible has happened! The Xuan... Xuan... Dark Bird Ship has arrived! It's only two nautical miles away!!!"
"Ha?!!"
Zeff was startled, and he immediately jumped up using his only remaining leg.
"Damn it, how could they be here so fast? They were just arriving in Loguetown a few days ago, how did they get here so quickly?!"
"Wait, are your crew members crazy? How could they wait until the Dark Bird Ship was almost two nautical miles away before they saw that ship?!"
Unlike Zeff, who had never seen the Dark Bird Ship before, Garp was unusually calm at this moment. He stood up with a frown while eating meat.
"That ship is at least six or seven kilometers long and four kilometers high!"
It's like a floating island; you could see it even from 200 nautical miles away, let alone two.
As he spoke, Garp walked out of the restaurant with interest. Standing on the deck, he looked out and exclaimed, "Heh!"
It really is the shape of the Dark Bird Ship, but its size...
Looking at the ship slowly approaching, Garp laughed and shook his head. It was the small Dark Bird ship that came with the Dark Bird Ship!
And so, with Garp's explanation, Zeff and Sanji waited nervously by the deck.
Behind them, the chefs of Baratie stood there obediently.
As for the diners, they had no appetite whatsoever; almost everyone waited at the edge of the deck.
Some timid diners, or those with ulterior motives, even returned to their own boats on the spot and fled for their lives...
Watching the diners flee, young Sanji frowned, then shook his head in disappointment.
"They're really scared."
"How could they not be afraid? Even I am afraid. If I hadn't retired from the criminal life for eight years, I would have run away on the spot!"
As Zeff spoke, he patted Sanji on the shoulder.
"And you, kid, as chefs, we have no right to look down on any diner!"
Even if a beggar comes to us, we should offer him carefully prepared food, and even if he eats and leaves without any gratitude, we should not speak ill of him behind his back.
Because preparing food for each diner is our only job as chefs!
No matter what kind of people those diners are, and no matter how they see us!
As soon as he finished speaking, Zeff patted Sanji on the neck, signaling the kid to remember it well.
Then, he looked again at the approaching Little Dark Bird.
Amidst the vigilance of a large group of people, the Little Dark Bird gradually came to a stop. Once the ship was completely afloat, a young man in a black Little Dark Bird stepped out of the cabin.
"His nose is so long..."
The moment Sanji saw this young man, he couldn't help but mutter to himself.
That's right, the one who stepped out of the Little Dark Bird was Kaku, a Black Ice Terrace Executive officer.
After arriving on the deck, he walked towards the Baratie restaurant with a cold expression on his face.
But he had only taken two steps when he saw the conspicuous Marine Vice Admiral in the crowd!
"Vice Admiral Garp?"
With a puzzled mutter, Kaku lowered his altitude slightly; he still held some respect for Garp.
He landed in front of Garp, then nodded slightly and gave a perfunctory greeting.
"Vice Admiral Garp, what a coincidence that you're on this ship too."
In that case, may I, on behalf of my master, invite you to stay here for a few days?
The adult has now arrived in Cocoyasi Village, and will be visiting the Baratie Restaurant in less than a week.
"If they had known you were here, they would have certainly sped up the process."
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Upon hearing Kaku's words, Garp burst into laughter without any restraint.
"Hearing you say that, you actually seem somewhat honored, haha. After all, Gawain's status is too distinguished. Are you sure he'd be happy to see me?"
"Vice Admiral Garp!"
As soon as Garp finished speaking, Kaku's expression turned somewhat displeased. He pursed his lips and emphasized to Garp.
"Please show respect to Lord Gawain; at least address him as Saint Gawain, or His Gawain!"
On the other side, upon hearing Kaku's emphasis, Garp smiled and raised his fist.
"Tch, Gawain doesn't care about what you call him. That's what I call him in front of him."
If you're not satisfied, come and have a proper spar with this old man!
"You!!!"
Kaku was truly helpless. If he didn't know Garp's abilities, and if he didn't know that even Lord Gawain respected Garp, he would have been helpless.
Kaku really wanted to punch Garp in the face!
As for now, Kaku snorted and then ignored Garp completely. He turned and nodded slightly to Zeff, who was not far away, thus omitting Garp's presence entirely.
"You're Red-Leg Zeff?"
Across from him, Zeff, his face grim, took a step forward, his prosthetic leg nailed to the ground, making a clanging sound like wood striking wood.
"I am Red-Leg Zeff. Are you one of the Celestial Dragon's subordinates?!"
"That's right, I am Kaku. It's a pleasure to meet you, Chef Zeff!"
Surprisingly, Kaku's attitude towards Zeff was much better than his attitude towards Garp.
Even Zeff himself was somewhat surprised.
Seeing Zeff's astonished expression, Kaku could only smile wryly to himself.
Before he came, Gawain had specifically told him that Zeff would be the head chef of the Dark Bird Ship in the future, and that his level was comparable to that of Brother Lucci.
In addition, Kaku himself was well aware that the relationship between chefs and leaders always grew closer over time.
Just like Jonathan from the G.8 branch and his cook wife, they were so intimate that they even went to bed together.
Zeff may never be able to get into an adult's bed, but he can certainly win them over through their stomachs!
This is why Kaku has such high respect for Zeff...
Kaku took two steps forward and extended his hand to Zeff as he walked.
"Mr. Zeff, hello! I came ahead of schedule on the orders of my lord, specifically to inform you that he wishes to take everyone on the Dark Bird Ship to your restaurant for a meal after we arrive in the nearby waters!"
At this point, Zeff took Kaku's hand, looking somewhat bewildered, while Kaku continued enthusiastically.
"Because the Dark Bird Ship is so large and has nearly 40,000 people on board, the master is worried about your restaurant's food reserves, so he sent me ahead to provide you with enough ingredients so you can cook to your heart's content!"
I will give you a list of ingredients and drinks shortly. Please take a look and if there is anything missing or needed, please let me know and I will arrange for my staff to handle it as soon as possible.
In addition, if Chef Zeff encounters any difficulties in his life, or if there are any problems plaguing the Baratie restaurant, please feel free to let me know, and I will help you resolve them!
In short, Mr. Zeff, I have heard of and greatly admire your excellent culinary skills, and I hope you can present your best to me!
As soon as he finished speaking, Kaku shook Zeff's hand again, his gesture leaving Zeff completely frozen in place.
Zeff's lips trembled as he looked at Kaku with a bewildered expression and asked him the same question.
"You just said... he's coming to my place to eat, not to kill me?"
"Hahaha!!!"
Kaku was immediately amused by Zeff, and he emphasized this as he laughed.
"How could the master kill you? A chef as excellent as you is a treasure of the sea!"
Even if the adults value you highly, you must still maintain proper etiquette when referring to them.
Rice and such... cough cough, that's such a rude way to describe it!
What do you think?
Upon hearing Kaku's final question, Zeff's face stiffened at first, then flushed.
The next moment, Zeff forcefully released Kaku's hand and then slapped Sanji.
"Hahaha, did you hear that? I'm safe now, I don't need to run away anymore!"
The Celestial Dragon actually think highly of my cooking? I'm a pirate, for goodness' sake! This is unbelievable!
Although I've never met Prince Gawain, he truly has excellent taste!
Sanji, and everyone else, let's all get busy!
Forty thousand people, hahaha, that's a full forty thousand diners!
There is enough food to feed 40,000 people!!!
Hurry up and bring the ingredients down!
Heaven knows what precious treasures the Celestial Dragon consume!!!
After his excited shouts subsided, Zeff belatedly wondered if he had been a bit presumptuous.
So he grabbed Kaku's stiff hand.
"Ahem, I'm sorry, compared to you all, I'm really quite ignorant of the world!"
So, excuse me!
"Hand over all the precious ingredients you're carrying!!!"
Just as Kaku had acted ahead of time and met with the impolite Zeff, at the Cocoyasi Village dock...
The sudden emergence of Shirahoshi from the water caused all the villagers, including Nami, to reveal a sparkling look in their eyes, much like Chopper's.
"So beautiful!"
"What a gigantic, beautiful... mermaid?!"
"Danger! It's Merfolk! She must be a remnant of the Arlong!"
"That Arlong is Fish-Man, this is Merfolk, they can't possibly be related!"
"In short, it's so beautiful!!!"
For a moment, the villagers of Cocoyasi Village were all dazzled by what they saw.
Only Genzo, standing next to Gawain, looked slightly bewildered.
Completely bewildered, Genzo stammered to Gawain!
"Gao Gao Gao... Saint Gawain..."
I admit I spoke a little loudly just now...
You... the more than 40,000 people on your ship, are they all... with this astonishing physique?
If that's the case... then I... I..."
Genzo couldn't continue. He felt like crying. If all 40,000 people were this size, even if all the soil from Cocoyasi Village were made into food, it still wouldn't be enough!
Seeing Genzo's tearful expression, Gawain clapped his hands with amusement.
"Haha, don't worry, this is Shirahoshi, the only giant human on my ship."
She's the princess of Fish-Man Island, isn't she beautiful?
At this point, Gawain lightly snapped his fingers, and a wisp of lightning instantly coiled around Nami's eyes not far away.
After being reminded by Thunder, Nami finally snapped out of her stunned state. But once she calmed down, instead of greeting Shirahoshi, she lowered her head in self-consciousness.
Although Shirahoshi is innocent and naive, her princess-like demeanor is enough to make 90% of girls her age feel ashamed.
That's not the air of a princess, but the true princess-like quality, like that of Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday.
And just like that, Nami was successfully dealt a critical blow by Shirahoshi's aura...
Tickets, please!
Let's all step up our game and give us a little motivation! If we reach 500 monthly votes before the 15th of each month, I'll force myself to 10,000 votes a day for the rest of the month, okay?
Awooo~~~.