Just as Luffy was wolfing down food at the table and had reached halfway through his fourth menu,
a waiter approached with a faint smile,
followed by two burly men wearing unfriendly expressions. Anyone could tell they weren't to be messed with.
"Sir..."
"Restaurant policy requires..."
"Could you pay first?"
"Please settle your bill so far."
Luffy's frantic stuffing of food into his mouth came to a halt.
He swallowed once, gulping down all the food puffing out his cheeks.
"Ah."
Luffy had left in such a hurry, and besides, he'd always lived off whatever he could find. How could he possibly have any Belly to pay with?
"I don't have any money."
Luffy smiled with complete composure.
"What?!"
The waiter's expression changed on the spot. The worst had happened: this guy had eaten all that food and was really trying to dine and dash.
"But I have a treasure I can use to pay!"
Luffy seemed confident.
Hearing that, the waiter relaxed a little. As long as he could pay, that was fine.
Plenty of merchants and adventurers didn't make a habit of carrying cash. They preferred to bring gold or jewels.
As he spoke, Luffy took a treasure out.
The waiter took it and looked at it. His face instantly turned green. It really was a treasure.
On a shiny piece of stone, the word "Treasure" had been written in crooked letters, making it look especially ridiculous.
The waiter immediately felt as though his intelligence had been insulted.
"Get him!"
"Grab this guy!"
Two tall security guards sprang out from behind the waiter, fists clenched as they moved to seize Luffy.
But just as they reached for him, Luffy's body slumped down like a stream of liquid, soft and pliable, slipping away in another direction.
"A Devil Fruit