After leaving Carnival Island, the mood aboard the allied fleet had lightened considerably. But the fatigue of sailing day after day remained, especially as supplies were beginning to run low. According to Sabo's intelligence, their next destination was the gourmet capital, Buffalo-an island renowned throughout the world for its food.
"Buffalo..." Luffy's drool was already flowing like a waterfall. "Meat! I want meat!" Sabo smiled and shook his head. "According to the records, some of the world's finest chefs live there. There are even legends of food that can heal emotional wounds." Ace rubbed his hands expectantly. "Hopefully we can stock up on some decent ingredients." Allen sensed the Compass of Time. "The needle points to a 'taste of time' there... interesting."
As Pluton approached Buffalo, the first thing that greeted them was a mouthwatering aroma. The scents of all kinds of food mingled together into a wondrous temptation.
The island's outline gradually came into focus-the houses resembled all kinds of kitchen utensils, the streets were paved with bread, and even the rivers carried the rich aroma of soup. Most striking of all was a towering cake tower in the center, topped with an enormous hot pot fountain.
"Welcome to Buffalo!" A chubby old man in a chef's hat rowed out to greet them in a bread boat. "I'm Gustin, the gourmet elder! Are you here for the Annual Gourmet Festival?"
Luffy could no longer contain himself. "A gourmet festival! Is there meat?" Gustin laughed heartily. "Of course! Delicious meats from all over the world! And plenty more food beyond anything you could imagine!"
Under Gustin's guidance, the fleet docked at a specially built gourmet pier-the pier was made of hard biscuits, the mooring ropes were spicy strips, and the bollards were enormous lollipops.
The gourmet festival certainly lived up to its reputation! Every stall offered astonishing dishes:
· A whole roast bull that automatically revived, growing back to its original form after every bite;
· Rainbow-colored noodles, each strand with a different flavor;
· "Ability candy" that temporarily granted abilities when eaten;
· There was even "emotion ice cream," which changed flavors according to one's mood!
Luffy ate like mad at the "All-Meat Paradise" stall, nearly eating the owner into bankruptcy. Ace tried the "flame curry" and actually breathed fire, provoking roars of laughter. Sabo studied the sociological significance of the food-deliciousness served as currency here, and everyone could find happiness through food. Hancock tried the "beauty sushi," which left her radiant. Even the stern Dragon could not resist trying the "revolutionary spicy strips." They were so hot that tears streamed down his face, yet he cried out in delight.
Allen was drawn to the "Taste of Time" stall. Its owner was a blind old chef who was cooking a peculiar soup.
"This soup..." Through his Time Perception, Allen detected subtle temporal energy within it. "Can it let people relive their happiest memories?"
The old chef smiled. "You can taste it, young man. This is 'memories of time soup.' It requires the taster to provide memories as seasoning."
Curious, Allen took a sip and was instantly drawn into a memory-a warm moment from his childhood, making cookies with Aunt Rouge. Every detail was vividly lifelike.
"Aunt..." Tears glistened in Allen's eyes. "I'd almost forgotten this memory..."
The old chef nodded. "People always remember pain and forget the good things. My soup can bring back forgotten happiness."
Allen bowed gratefully. "Thank you. This is more precious than any power."
The evening feast was even more astonishing. The main course was "rainbow whale steak," taken from a fantastical species of whale found only near Buffalo, whose meat changed flavor according to how it was cooked.
Gustin cooked it himself, every cut of his knife embodying the pinnacle of culinary skill. When the whale steak was ready, seven-colored light illuminated the night sky, and its aroma intoxicated everyone on the island.
"What makes this dish special," Gustin announced, "is that it can share the happy memories of those who eat it!"
Everyone shared the whale steak, and a miracle occurred-each person's happy memories became images of light that appeared in the night sky:
· Whitebeard's adventures with his crew;
· The day Shanks met Luffy;
· The Revolutionary Army's joy at liberating its first country;
· The deep bonds of sisterhood on Amazon Lily;
· The tears shed when Dressrosa regained its freedom;
· Even the little moments Allen had spent with his brothers...
The entire night sky became a galaxy of memories, and everyone immersed themselves in one another's happiness. Hatred and strife dissipated at that moment, leaving only warmth and understanding.
"This is the power of food..." Sabo recorded, deeply moved. "The power to connect people's hearts."
After the feast ended, however, Gustin looked troubled. "Actually... the gourmet festival is meant to conceal a problem."
He led everyone deep into the island, where a withered Taste Forest stood. The trees, which had once borne fruits of all kinds of flavors, were dying.
"The heart of the gourmet capital is withering." Gustin sighed. "The power of the Source of Taste is weakening. If it disappears completely, all the food in the world will lose its flavor."
Allen scanned it with Time Perception and discovered the cause. "It isn't withering... its time is misaligned. The Source of Taste's flow of time has been accelerated, exhausting it prematurely."
He tried reversing time, but the Source of Taste was resistant to the Power of Time.
"What we need is Time Seasoning." The blind old chef appeared. "Use the right temporal emotions as seasoning to adjust the flow of time."
And so, a special cooking session began. Allen controlled the heat with his Power of Time, while everyone provided emotions as seasoning:
· Luffy provided "the joy of anticipation";
· Ace provided "the warmth of sharing";
· Sabo provided "the gratitude of contentment";
· Whitebeard provided "the delight of reunion";
· Shanks provided "the pleasant surprise of a chance encounter";
· Dragon provided "hopeful longing";
· Hancock provided "the sweetness of love"...
Under Allen's manipulation of time, the various emotions blended together, becoming an intangible seasoning that scattered over the Source of Taste.
A miracle occurred! The withered forest burst back to life, new shoots growing at a speed visible to the naked eye and bearing even more delicious fruit!
"It worked!" Gustin's eyes brimmed with tears. "The flavors... they're even richer!"
As thanks, he gave Allen a special set of kitchen utensils-the Time Seasoning Bottles, which could turn emotions into actual flavors.
"May you always savor the good things in life." The blind old chef gave Allen a cookbook, the Soul Cookbook.
When they left, Buffalo's residents filled the fleet's storerooms with food. Luffy shed happy tears as he hugged a leg of meat larger than himself, Ace learned new flame-cooking techniques, and Sabo documented the feasibility of gourmet diplomacy.
Standing at Pluton's bow and looking back at the receding Buffalo, Allen held the Time Seasoning Bottles, his heart filled with warmth.
True strength was not merely about fighting, but also the ability to create and share good things.
This nourishment for their souls strengthened their resolve to protect this world full of delicious food.
Pluton sailed toward its next destination, carrying storerooms full of food and hearts full of warmth.
And this flavor would sustain them through the challenges ahead.