Hannyabal's introduction was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in the hearts of the Straw Hat Pirates. Of course, for Luffy, those ripples turned into a tsunami.
"Festival! Festival! I want to participate!" Luffy and bounced around Hannyabal, his rubber body twisting into a pretzel. "Can we go now? Where is that arena?"
"Wait, Luffy!" Nami grabbed Luffy's Straw Hat and pulled him back, turning to Hannyabal with a shrewd smile. "Mr. Hannyabal, do we need to pay an entry fee for these competitions? Are there prizes for winning?"
Hannyabal chuckled and rubbed his hands together. "Oh, this beautiful lady has hit the nail on the head! The regular challenges in the Gourmet Arena do require a small registration fee, but the winners not only gain the chance to taste rare dishes, but also receive ' Gourmet Points ' and a reward of Beli! As for the highest honor, the ' Gourmet Festival,' it's free, but you need to accumulate enough points or complete special missions to obtain a ticket."
Upon hearing " Beli Reward," Nami's eyes immediately lit up with the symbol of Beli: "Great! We can replenish our food supplies and make money at the same time! This island is amazing!"
Sanji a deep breath of the complex aroma filling the air, his eyes sharpening. "Unknown spices... a blend of at least thirty scents I've never smelled before. This island is interesting." He couldn't wait to explore the kitchens and markets.
Zoro crossed his arms, showing little interest in the food itself, but he did approve of the word "competition": "As long as it's not a contest of who can eat the most, it's fine." He glanced at Luffy and Chopper, who were already drooling.
"Well then, warriors," Hannyabal stepped aside to make way, gesturing for you, "Welcome to Terra! May the gods of gastronomy bless you! Follow this ' Spice Avenue ' straight ahead, and you'll reach the Gourmet Arena in the town center. Good luck!"
"Let's go!" Luffy the lead, his rubber arms constantly extending to grab various snacks from the stalls in the distance—kebabs, fried dumplings, fruit tarts—and stuff them into his mouth, drawing screams and Nami's fists.
The group walked along the most fragrant " Spice Avenue " into the island. Shops lined both sides of the road, including restaurants and food stalls selling ready-made food, as well as shops selling all sorts of exotic ingredients: winged fish lay in icy freezers, small, translucent, jelly-like creatures were caged, and mushrooms shimmered like stars and fruits resembled jewels on the stalls. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, cooking, and customers' exclamations mingled together, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
Chopper's eyes were overwhelmed. "Wow! That glowing mushroom might be a rare medicinal herb!"
Franky exclaimed "Super!" at the enormous machine that used steam pressure for cooking.
Brook was drawn to a tavern that used sound waves to age wine, "Hey ho ho ho, I wonder if they have any musical wines suitable for skeletons to enjoy?"
Robin quietly observed the crowds on the street and the historical reliefs on the buildings, and murmured, "Behind this prosperity, there seems to be a deep-rooted food culture."
Jinbe Ace walked side by side, one composed and the other carefree, both smiling at the vibrant scene.
Allen sensed the vibrant "life force" around him. The peculiar ingredients seemed to contain unusual energy fluctuations, subtly resonating with the World Seed within him. "This place... is not simple," he murmured to himself, his gaze meeting Ace's beside him. The two exchanged a knowing glance—the tacit understanding between family members who had weathered storms together. As the children of Portgas D. Rouge's younger brother, Allen and Ace were cousins, their bond so strong that their perceptions and actions often spoke volumes.
Sanji stopped in front of a spice stall, picked up a pinch of dark blue powder, sniffed it, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. "This spice... can actually stimulate the deep areas of both smell and taste at the same time?" He bought some without hesitation.
Just as the Straw Hat Pirates was immersed in exploring the world of gourmet food, a discordant commotion came from ahead.
"Get out of here, you old fool! These stalls are now under the control of our ' Glutton Gang '! What about this month's 'tasting fee'?"
Several tall men, dressed in identical black uniforms with a menacing mouth embroidered on their chests, were surrounding an old woman's pancake stall. The scarred man at the head of the group kicked over a chair next to him, looking menacing.
The old woman trembled with fear, clutching her makeshift cart. "G-sirs, business hasn't been good this month... could you please grant me a few more days...?"
"Grace period?" The scarred man sneered, reaching out to overturn the stall. "If you don't have money, use your shabby stall to pay off your debt!"
The surrounding crowd watched from afar, their faces filled with anger and fear, but no one dared to step forward.
"Stop!"
Two shouts rang out almost simultaneously. One came from Ace, bursting with a sense of justice, and the other from Sanji, who valued both "food" and "old people" highly.
Ace moved even faster. In a flash, he appeared beside the scarred man, grabbing his wrist as he was about to overturn the stall. His face still wore a relaxed smile, but his eyes sharpened. "Bullying an old man isn't exactly a pleasant thing to do."
The scarred man felt as if his wrist was being branded with a hot iron, and he was both shocked and furious. "Who are you? How dare you meddle in the affairs of our Glutton Gang?!"
Sanji also walked over, stood in front of the old woman, lit a cigarette, and coldly looked at the thugs. "To cause trouble in front of delicious food is the greatest insult to a chef."
Luffy, hands on his hips, said angrily, "That's right! You guys ruined my meal!"
Instead of immediately advancing, Allen quietly moved to the shadows at the alley entrance, making sure there were no other ambushes, while observing the thugs' movements and any possible backup plans. As Ace's cousin, he was used to providing support and protection when Ace acted impulsively; this was a long-standing partnership between them.
The scarred man recognized Ace and Sanji, and the Straw Hat Pirates behind them who looked like troublemakers. His arrogance immediately diminished, but he still stubbornly insisted, "You, you wait! You've offended the Glutton Gang, don't even think about getting a decent meal on Terra Island! Let's go!" He shook off Ace's hand (actually, Ace let go) and slunk away with a few of his men.
"Thank you, thank you all!" the old woman said repeatedly.
Nami stepped forward to comfort the old woman, and casually inquired about her situation, "Grandma, who are these Glutton Gang? Do they often collect protection money like this?"
The old woman sighed and lowered her voice, saying, "They are the biggest underground gang on the island, controlling most of the food supply chain and many restaurants. Their leader is said to be a very skilled gourmet, but ruthless. They not only collect protection money, but also monopolize many rare ingredients, and even have people in the Gourmet Arena... You've offended them, so be careful."
Luffy waved his hand dismissively. "What Glutton Gang? We'll just take them down! The most important thing now is to get to the arena!"
Sanji helped the old woman set up her stall and secretly slipped her some Beli. He looked in the direction the Glutton Gang had disappeared, exhaled a smoke ring, and said with a serious expression, "It seems that beneath this fragrant island lies a lot of rotten garbage."
Ace walked up to Allen and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Looks like this adventure won't be too uneventful, cousin."
Allen nodded slightly, his gaze sharp. "Yes, protect Luffy, and watch out for their counterattack. We'll act according to the situation."
A small incident made the Straw Hat Pirates realize that this food paradise wasn't as pure as it seemed on the surface. Beneath the glamorous feast, undercurrents were beginning to stir. Their path to qualifying for the Gourmet Festival probably wouldn't be limited to the kitchen and the dining table.