The Sea Restaurant Baratie

As Ivan gained more and more character templates, he would display more abilities in the future. He might as well admit to being a Devil Fruit User sooner rather than later and use that identity to conceal the true source of his abilities.

As for why those abilities were so varied and seemed to have nothing in common?

Had they never heard of developing a Devil Fruit?

Even the String-String Fruit could be developed to produce abilities like Birdcage and Sky Walk. So what was wrong with a Press-Press Fruit user developing abilities like Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue and Chibaku Tensei?

It made sense. Perfect sense!

When Ivan admitted it, Tashigi's face lit up with delight, and she jumped for joy:

"Wow, that's wonderful! Now that you're a Devil Fruit User, Ensign Ivan, you must be much stronger. And after defeating the Alvida Pirates, you might even be promoted to lieutenant!"

Ivan took a cigar from his drawer, lit it, and slowly inhaled the smoke.

His expression was calm, but seeing how happy Tashigi was, he couldn't help smiling:

"Perhaps."

In the past, Ensign Ivan would have been delighted to earn such military merits.

But after obtaining the system, Ensign Ivan was somewhat dissatisfied.

How could the mere rank of lieutenant be worthy of the White Dove? He had to start at Admiral!

The morning mist dispersed, and sunlight shone on the sea, illuminating streaks of gold.

Scattered glints of light rose and fell gently with the waves, rocking the warship on the water.

Ivan took off his shirt, put on a pair of beach shorts, and lay on a beach chair to sunbathe.

His adjutant Tashigi reached out with her soft little hands to apply sunscreen to him, checking his injuries at the same time.

There were several severe bite marks on Ivan's shoulder, wounds inflicted by Arlong's teeth.

A few days earlier, Ivan and his companions had passed through the Conomi Islands and fought the Arlong Pirates. Although the fleet had suffered little damage because Ivan had volunteered to stay behind and hold them off, Arlong had gravely wounded him.

Tashigi reached out and touched the vicious wounds, her voice trembling:

"Ensign Ivan, it must hurt, doesn't it?"

"It's nothing," Ivan said lazily.

It really was nothing. In his two and a half years in the world of pirates, he had long since grown used to being injured.

The real world of pirates was nowhere near as gentle as the anime. Plundering pirates, brutal nobles, and the Celestial Dragons who stood above everyone else all weighed the common people down, leaving them unable to hold their heads up.

Ivan knew that his only way forward was to work harder and harder and keep growing stronger.

But clearly...

Ivan glanced at Koby, who had changed into a Marine uniform and was cleaning the deck.

He didn't have a cheat like working two hundred times harder, so even after pushing himself to the limit for two and a half years, he was still weak.

But things were different now.

Ivan looked at the system panel before him.

[Template: Satoru Gojo · Echo: (Recognition: 22%)]

He had a cheat even more powerful than working two hundred times harder!

Tashigi didn't believe Ivan's response. How could such serious wounds not hurt?

But she knew Ivan, so she didn't contradict him. Instead, she said seriously:

"Ensign Ivan, something wasn't right about Arlong's attack on us. We were only scouting the outskirts, and we deliberately avoided the Arlong Pirates' lookouts. How could they have discovered us and attacked us so precisely?"

Ivan nodded. "That's right, something was off. I already know about it, so don't worry."

Ivan knew why the Arlong Pirates had been able to pinpoint their location. It had undoubtedly been leaked by Colonel Nezumi of the Marine 16th Branch, who was in league with them.

At that thought, Ivan frowned slightly. He had to get stronger as soon as possible!

He wanted to take out Nezumi and Arlong as soon as he could and claim Nami.

After all, there were few navigators in the entire world with such outstanding skills.

Of course, although he had just awakened the system, Ivan wasn't strong enough yet. He probably wasn't a match for Arlong.

So Ivan needed to raise his recognition and improve his strength as quickly as possible. Once he was strong enough, he would wipe out the Arlong Pirates in one fell swoop.

For now, his goal was to return to Loguetown and recover from his injuries.

But suddenly, Tashigi stopped applying the sunscreen and ointment. Just as Ivan began to wonder why, she cried out:

"Ensign Ivan, there are several ships together up ahead, and some of them are pirates... Wait, that's the sea restaurant Baratie!"

"Baratie?" Ivan murmured. He sat up and looked with interest at the distant ship, which was shaped like a giant fish.

Come to think of it, it was now the year 1519 of the Sea Circle Calendar. Luffy wouldn't set sail until next year.

Sanji should still be at the Baratie. Ivan planned to see if he could recruit this chef who could both cook and fight.

Of course, he didn't have high hopes. Sanji's goal was All Blue, and the Marines, who were under the World Government's control, had no way of helping him realize that dream.

Besides, Ivan didn't have Luffy's talk no jutsu, so naturally he couldn't persuade him.

Even so, Ivan still wanted to try. What if it worked?

Even if it didn't, he could still eat at the Baratie and crush a few pirates he didn't like the look of while he was at it. That would be worth the trip!

With that in mind, Ivan stood up, went to the helm, and ordered the Marines:

"Pull up near the Baratie. We're going to eat there in a bit... Oh, and it's my treat!"

The Marines immediately burst into cheers. "Long live Ensign Ivan!"

As a famous restaurant in the East Blue, the Baratie had always been a gathering place for passing customers. Its owner Zeff's formidable strength also kept everyone in line, so very few dared to start trouble there.

This unusual setting created a peculiar scene. Merchants, pirates, Pirate Hunters, and even Marines sat distinctly apart from one another, yet all tacitly set aside their disputes. No one dared cause trouble here.

The sea breeze slipped through the open portholes, stirring the corners of the tablecloths and carrying away some of the noise.

Just then, the restaurant doors opened, and a handsome Marine two meters tall, with neat, short black hair, walked in. Behind him followed a pretty young woman wearing glasses.

At the sight, a scar-faced pirate in the corner of the restaurant spat, his brows twisting into a fierce scowl. In a hoarse voice, he cursed:

"Fucking lousy luck. I'm trying to enjoy a meal, and I have to run into a Marine's ugly mug. I've lost my appetite just like that!"

The crude shout drew the attention of Ivan and Tashigi. She immediately reached for her sword, intending to kill the hateful pirate who dared insult her idol.

But Ivan acted in time and stopped her.

Rather than kill the pirate on the spot, splattering blood all over the room and spoiling his appetite, it would be better to remember what these pirates looked like for now and deal with them all after the meal.

Tashigi was very obedient to Ivan. After he stopped her, she snorted coldly at the pirate and put her sword away.

To the scar-faced pirate, that was a sign of weakness.

He grew even more brazen and jeered loudly:

"Hahaha, just what I'd expect from you cowardly Marines! You don't even dare talk back when someone curses you. How can there be cowards like you on the seas?"