The "Flavor Showdown" area of Gourmet Arena was bustling with activity. Behind the high bar stood a tall, slender man in a magnificent suit, his hair meticulously combed—the gatekeeper, " Juice Baron." Before him lay a multitude of fresh fruits, exotic herbs, and crystal-clear vessels. His movements were as elegant as if he were playing a musical instrument, and the colorful drinks he concocted drew cheers from the onlookers.
"Next challenger!" Juice Baron wiped his hands with a silk scarf, his tone laced with arrogance. He had already defeated more than a dozen challengers in a row.
"I'll take care of it." Sanji strode out with steady steps, lit a cigarette, and his sharp gaze swept over the ingredients beside the Baron.
"Oh? A chef?" Juice Baron raised an eyebrow. "Just a reminder, this is a beverage area, not a place for you to wield your spatula."
Sanji exhaled a smoke ring and said calmly, "The way of cooking, though different, leads to the same goal. True deliciousness touches the soul, no matter what form it takes."
"Hmph, quite the boast. The rules are simple: use any of the ingredients provided to create a drink that I, the Juice Baron, will approve of. The criteria for approval are: innovation, balance, and... ultimate deliciousness!" The Baron pointed to the dazzling array of ingredients beside him. "Let's begin!"
Sanji didn't rush into action. He first strolled through the ingredient area, his slender fingers gently brushing the skins of various fruits, his nostrils twitching as he captured the most subtle aroma molecules. He avoided the most intensely aromatic and commonly used tropical fruits, instead pausing before some seemingly inconspicuous or uniquely characteristic ingredients.
He picked up a deep blue " Xinghai Blueberry" with star-like spots on its surface and smelled it; then he took a small piece of "Sea Mint" which exuded a minty coolness with a hint of sea salt; finally, his gaze fell on "Ice Sea Agar," which was as transparent as crystal and had a cool, smooth texture.
"What is he going to do?" Usopp asked curiously.
Nami was also a little puzzled. "None of those ingredients seem to have a particularly strong flavor."
Allen leaned against a pillar in the distance, a knowing smile playing on his lips. He could "see" that the energy fluctuations (life essence and water element) contained within the ingredients Sanji had chosen were exceptionally pure and harmonious. "A clever choice... avoiding a direct clash of flavors, and instead constructing a 'domain'?"
Sanji picked up a crystal cocktail shaker. Unlike the Juice Baron, who shook it with flair, Sanji's movements were unusually steady and precise, with a unique sense of rhythm.
He first used the subtle force contained in his fingertips (a hint of Armament Haki- infused manipulation of matter) to pulverize the "Ice Sea Agar" into an extremely fine powder, then placed it at the bottom of the pot. Next, he added carefully extracted and filtered Xinghai Blueberry juice, free of impurities, and a clear essence slowly extracted from sea mint leaves at low temperatures. Finally, he picked up a bottle containing a clear liquid—not water, but "Angel's Tears," a pure water he had brought down from the Sky Island, containing a faint trace of cloud sea energy.
Sanji the lid on the cocktail shaker, held it with both hands, and instead of shaking it violently, he gently rotated and vibrated the shaker in a peculiar, wave-like rhythm. His movements were elegant and rhythmic, as if he were dancing a waltz. A faint chill began to emanate from his palms, enveloping the entire shaker—a manifestation of the precise control over body temperature and energy that he had honed in extreme environments.
Juice Baron's initially disdainful gaze gradually turned serious. He couldn't smell any strong fragrance, but he could feel that the "scent" of the surrounding air seemed to be becoming fresher and purer, as if he were on a cliff by the sea after the rain had cleared.
A moment later, Sanji stopped. He took a wide-mouthed, shallow champagne glass and slowly poured the liquid from the cocktail shaker into it.
There are no dazzling colors; the glass contains a deep, tranquil azure blue, as if it were a condensation of the entire sea under the night sky. The liquid is clear and transparent, shimmering with tiny, starlight-like specks under the light. Even more peculiar is the faint, cool mist, carrying the scent of sea salt and mint, that seems to slowly swirl on the surface of the liquid.
Sanji pushed the glass toward the Juice Baron: "Please enjoy, ' Heart of the Ocean '."
Juice Baron hesitated before picking up his glass, the cool, pure aroma becoming even more pronounced. He took a small sip.
In an instant, his pupils dilated sharply!
Contrary to expectations of an explosive blend of sweet and sour, the initial taste is one of exquisite clarity and refreshing sweetness, seemingly capable of cleansing the soul. The subtle sweetness of the Xinghai Blueberry is like the gentlest starlight in the night sky, while the coolness of the sea mint and a hint of saltiness evoke the scent of the sea breeze. The icy sea agar provides an incredibly smooth, slightly gelatinous yet melt-in-your-mouth texture, and the water from Angel's Tears perfectly blends all the flavors, leaving an ethereal aftertaste. This drink doesn't seem to be assaulting the taste buds, but rather telling a story about the ocean, the starry sky, and tranquility, allowing the mind to calm down and experience a profound sense of joy and satisfaction.
Juice Baron held his glass, silent for a long time. All the drinks he had mixed before seemed too straightforward, noisy, and even... vulgar in comparison to this " Heart of the Ocean."
After a long pause, he slowly put down his empty cup, sighed deeply, and bowed deeply to Sanji: "I have lost. I admit defeat wholeheartedly. Your drink has Transcendence the realm of 'taste' and touched upon 'artistic conception'... These 100 points are well-deserved."
A moment of silence followed, then burst into enthusiastic applause. Nami and Usopp cheered, Chopper jumped for joy.
Sanji nodded slightly, lit a new cigarette, but his gaze drifted to the higher floors of the arena. He hadn't forgotten Balo's provocation, but this victory with " Heart of the Ocean " was merely a small warm-up before his main course as the Straw Hat Pirates's chef.
Allen looked at Sanji with approval in his eyes. He could sense that Sanji had unintentionally activated a very faint trace of "rule" power, resonating with the essence of the ingredients, during the preparation process. Although it was far from complete, the direction was absolutely correct. "It seems that the path to the peak is not just about power..."
Sanji's victory earned the Straw Hat Pirates a valuable 100 points and dealt a heavy blow to the " Glutton Gang's " potential attempt to suppress other challengers through the Juice Baron. The challenge in the Gourmet Arena has only just begun.