"Everyone, I can see the floating restaurant!"
Luffy, who was sitting on the bow, suddenly turned to address everyone aboard.
"Huh?"
Everyone rose in unison and looked toward the ship faintly visible ahead.
Xia Chen was a little excited too. He was, in fact, a man who rather enjoyed good food.
Now that they had finally reached the renowned floating restaurant, he was looking forward to it.
Just as everyone focused on what lay ahead, the sound of a ship cutting through the waves came from beside them.
They turned to see a Marine warship sailing alongside the Going Merry.
Then a very flashy-looking man came into view.
This man... Xia Chen knew him well. He was one of the few minor characters he remembered very clearly.
After all, this was a man who shared Garp's title of Iron Fist.
Iron Fist Fullbody!
As for his strength, well, it might have been a little...
Garp: You call yourself Iron Fist too, punk? Who do you think you are, using the same title as me?
Back to the matter at hand, Fullbody was very displeased as he looked at the pirate ship opposite him.
Since when did a bunch of pirates not flee with their hands over their heads at the sight of him, a lieutenant from Marine Headquarters?
Weren't they showing him a little too little respect?
In that case, he would have to teach them a lesson!
He beckoned a Marine over with one hand and told him, "Sink it!"
"Hmm?"
Hearing this aboard the Going Merry, Xia Chen narrowed his eyes.
You're pretty ugly, kid, but you've got some nerve!
Daring to talk about sinking the Going Merry right in front of me. Think I can't swing my club anymore?
Though he really had no intention of swinging his club.
The next second, before the Marines opposite them could do anything, Conqueror's Haki burst from his body and knocked out every last Marine aboard the warship!
Done!
Honestly, the more Xia Chen used his Conqueror's Haki, the better it felt. Its efficiency at clearing out small fry was simply incredible!
And seeing this scene once again, Luffy grew envious, his eyes sparkling with stars.
"Xia Chen, Xia Chen, teach me that! Didn't you say last time that I could master it?"
"I said later, not now!" Xia Chen curled his lip dismissively. Don't you have any damn idea how strong you are?
"Stingy! Hmph!"
Xia Chen: ...
Why have I kept feeling the urge to hit someone lately?
A few minutes later, the Going Merry finally pulled up beside the Baratie.
Everyone was almost unable to stop their drool from dripping onto the floor.
Because Xia Chen had intervened, the Marines hadn't fired any cannonballs, so Luffy hadn't damaged the Baratie's ceiling.
Thus, everyone had entered the restaurant together and was waiting to enjoy some good food.
"Food, food!"
Luffy and Usopp each held a fork in either hand, rhythmically tapping the tabletop.
Before long, a huge spread of exquisite food was delivered to their table.
They immediately tore into it, and the food on the table dwindled at a visible rate.
Xia Chen was eating in great mouthfuls too.
The food the Baratie made really was different from what other places served. It tasted so much better.
And since Nami was footing the bill for their meals now, it tasted even better to him.
For some reason, even good food tasted better when he didn't have to pay for it himself!
Thud, thud, thud!
Accompanied by the sound of shoes striking the floor, a blond man with curly eyebrows, wearing a black double-breasted suit and a tie, approached them.
He then gracefully stepped before Nami, gently lifted her hand, and asked softly:
"Beautiful lady, might I have the honor of treating you to a glass of red wine?"
Nami was bewildered by this sudden development, but with the thought that only an idiot would pass up a freebie, she said happily:
"Sure, thank you! You're such a gentleman!"
"Thank you for the compliment. I think so too!"
━━(￣ー￣*|||━━
Xia Chen, Luffy, and every last one of the others stared speechlessly at Sanji.
Did this guy... have no shame at all?
Seeing this, Nami immediately pushed her luck and wheedled at Sanji:
"The dishes here are pretty expensive, aren't they? Could you treat me to a meal?"
At the sight of Nami acting like this, Sanji's eyes instantly turned into hearts. With an ingratiating expression, he said:
"Of course, my lady!"
But that expression didn't even last a second before he turned toward Xia Chen and the others and said:
"Not you!"
Could your double standards be any more blatant?
Xia Chen remained focused on eating. What did this have to do with him?
Even if Nami didn't have to pay for her own meal, she still had to pay for his!
So...
No matter what happened, it wouldn't affect him!
"Th-this is..."
"No way, could that be..."
Suddenly, the other customers in the restaurant cried out in disbelief, staring out the windows with fear in their eyes.
Everyone's attention was immediately drawn over.
Except for Luffy and Xia Chen, who were still eating.
But even without looking at anything, Xia Chen knew what was happening outside.
His Observation Haki wasn't just for show!
With a creak, the restaurant's doors were pushed open from outside.
Two men walked in, supporting each other.
Both were in an extremely feeble state, and they collapsed after only a few steps.
In voices as faint as a thread, they begged everyone, "Please give us something to eat. We're about to starve to death!"
"No way! Don't you know what your Krieg Pirates are like?"
A burly chef jumped out and said.
"All anyone at sea calls you is despicable scum and the like. Get out of here! You're not welcome at the Baratie!"
After he finished speaking, Don Krieg and Gin, who lay on the floor, showed no response. They were already at the end of their rope.
They were so hungry they had no strength left at all, but they continued pleading:
"Please give us something to eat!"
The rough-looking chef, Patty, kept laying into Don Krieg and Gin, repeatedly yelling at them to get out.
If the other chefs hadn't been holding him back, Xia Chen had no doubt that he would have thrown them out himself.
Sanji silently watched the scene from the side, saying nothing for a long time.
After a while, Sanji turned and headed into the kitchen, and clanging sounds came from inside.
Ten minutes later~
Sanji set a large bowl of fried rice in front of Don Krieg and Gin, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly said:
"Here, eat!"
Don Krieg and Gin looked up at the same time. Without a word, Don Krieg grabbed the food before him and began wolfing it down.
Gin, on the other hand, hesitated for a long time before saying thank you and starting to eat.
The two sat on the floor and ate, without the slightest concern for appearances.