Sea Restaurant, Baratie

"Eh? Did I say that before?" Luffy tilted his head and tried hard to remember, but his mind was still a complete mess~

"Big Brother Rayson! Since you recognize this illness, you must have some miraculous cure, right?!" Johnny clung to him like a lifeline, wiping away tears as he pleaded~

"Go get some fresh oranges~ Luffy, Usopp, get moving~" Rayson ordered~

"Yes, sir!" Relieved, Luffy and Usopp scrambled over with a huge pile of oranges and desperately stuffed them into Joseph's bloodless mouth~

After about fifteen minutes, Joseph, who had just been on the verge of death, miraculously sprang up and danced around while holding Johnny's arm~

But that excitement did not last long before he collapsed again~ Even though the natives of the Pirate King world possessed exceptionally robust constitutions, he did not have a heaven-defying "Transcendent Physique (Deep Purple)" like Rayson's~

A full recovery was impossible so soon, and that bout of exertion had instead worsened the strain on his body~

Still, his life was no longer in danger, and Johnny finally let out a sigh of relief~

"This is a lesson, Luffy~ Never take a voyage on the sea lightly~" Nami pressed her pen hard against the logbook and shot Luffy an annoyed glare~

To an experienced navigator, Luffy's earlier insistence that they needed a musician rather than a cook was practically treating their lives as a joke~

"I never imagined such unavoidable dangers could be hidden within a long voyage~" Zoro wore a thoughtful expression as well~

Although Rayson had mentioned it while preparing supplies earlier, Zoro had not taken it to heart~ Now that he had witnessed Joseph's miserable state firsthand, he had received a vivid lesson in sailing~

He had thought that as long as they ate their fill at every meal after setting out to sea, everything would be fine~

"So, during a long journey, we have to consider properly balancing the nutrients in our food?" Usopp suddenly understood as well~

"Of course. This is an absolutely crucial part of sailing~" Nami lifted her delicate chin~

"Something we have to consider?" Luffy chewed on dry bread before suddenly shouting~

"Fine! Then we'll pick a cook! Let's find an amazing cook!" Luffy leaped to his feet and looked at Rayson and the others with fighting spirit blazing in his eyes~

"This is the most indispensable role aboard our ship before we set foot on the Grand Line~" Rayson smiled~

Seeing once was better than hearing a hundred times. No amount of lecturing could compare to letting Luffy and Zoro witness this harsh reality for themselves~

Maturity of character was also an essential path toward becoming truly strong~

The healthy growth of Luffy and Zoro was crucial to Rayson's grand plans for the future~ Whether he was Plundering higher-level traits or using "Factional Fortune (Ultimate Gold)" to scheme for great ambitions, these core fighting forces would be his irreplaceable right-hand men~

Especially when they later contended with the Four Emperors for supremacy, the destructive power these companions would wield once they had grown stronger would spare him many constraints~

The Four Emperors commanded vast, tightly organized war machines. Even someone as powerful as an admiral or an emperor could be worn to death by wave after wave of strong opponents if he fought alone~

Kaido of the Beasts meeting his end on Onigashima after being worn down in succession by masters from every side was a cautionary example~

Rayson would never repeat that mistake~

"Speaking of cooks, I happen to know a good place!" Johnny grinned~

"Really?! Then let's leave right away! Where is it?!" Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement~

"It's near the entrance to that ultimate route~ And... I heard there have been traces of the man called 'Hawkeye,' whom Big Brother Zoro has been searching for~" Johnny added~

The moment Johnny finished speaking, Zoro's pupils contracted, and a sword-sharp aura radiated from his entire body~

A knowing smile also appeared on Rayson's face~

"Course correction... north-northeast!"

"Destination: the sea restaurant, Baratie!"

Sea Restaurant, Baratie~

It was an ocean-going, ship-shaped structure located in the Sambas Sea of the East Blue~

It resembled a massive ship, with fish-shaped statues decorating both ends~

Many diners traveled from afar for the sole purpose of tasting the delicious dishes prepared by the owner and head chef, Zeff. Even high-ranking Marine officers often visited the place~

After drifting at sea for some time, this uniquely distinctive floating restaurant finally came into view before Rayson and his group~

"Wow! What a huge ship!" Drool hung from the corner of Luffy's mouth as he repeatedly marveled at Baratie's unusual structure~ Just looking at it was enough to whet his appetite~

Beep! Beep!

Just as they were preparing to dock, a piercing ship whistle suddenly sounded~

"M-Marines?! Is that a Headquarters warship?!" A battleship far larger than the Going Merry was rapidly approaching, the conspicuous Marine emblem on its main sail plainly visible~

The moment he saw the warship clearly, Usopp broke out in a cold sweat and shouted in panic~

"Tch, what perfect timing~" Zoro muttered under his breath, his right hand resting on his sword hilt as he sensed trouble~

"Hm?" Rayson watched the approaching warship with interest, only to notice Nami stealthily slipping behind him. He could not help finding it amusing~

"Uh... force of habit~" Nami noticed Rayson's gaze, blinked, and felt her cheeks grow warm~

Ever since Orange Town, whenever danger arose, Rayson had always protected her without hesitation behind him~ Without realizing it, Nami had grown accustomed to seeking shelter behind his warm, sturdy chest~

At the sight of the warship, her body reacted instinctively, moving behind Rayson with practiced ease~

But she had to admit... standing behind Rayson gave her an unprecedented sense of security~

Nami watched as Rayson subtly adjusted his stance, using his broad back to shield her even more completely, and gently pressed her red lips together~

That sense of security... was incomparably precious to Nami, who had witnessed Bell-mère's tragic death and whose hometown had long been trampled by Arlong~

"A skull flag I've never seen before~" A flippant shout came from the warship's deck~ A dark-skinned man in a white pinstriped suit, with short pink hair and specially made iron gauntlets on both hands, appeared in Rayson's group's sight~

He eyed the Straw Hat Pirates' flag sideways~

"I am Marine Headquarters Captain Twin Iron Fists Fullbody! Who's the brains of this lot?! State your name!" Fullbody arrogantly raised a fist and barked~

"I'm Luffy!" Luffy stepped forward and shouted back~

"I'm Usopp!" Usopp, up in the air, joined in the commotion with a strange yell~

"I'm the captain! We just decided on this flag!" Luffy shot Usopp a sideways look and again emphasized his absolute leadership~

"I drew the flag!" Usopp proudly bragged as well~