Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Aboard the Golden Merry, in Bai Ye's Room...
Inside the mystical realm known as [Taomen Jilu], Bai Ye was busy crafting some extraordinary pills. You see, he'd already made simple ones before — Healing Pills, Strengthening Pills — the kinds that just keep you feeling a little better. But now, he was onto something much more potent, the seventh-grade pills!
These weren't your everyday pills; they needed rarer ingredients, a steadier hand, better fire control and way more time to make. But thanks to Bai Ye's talent and the spiritual energy in his mystical space, he only messed up a few times before getting it right.
He didn't spend much time admiring his sparkly new pills, though, because his magic formation started buzzing. It seemed like the folks outside his door were up to their usual antics again.
You know, it's funny. When Bai Ye used to watch Luffy and his crew's wild adventures, he never realized how actually dull and draining sea travel could be. It's the same endless water every day, and boredom comes easy. In the past, he and Zoro would spar to kill time, and since Nami, being the only girl, didn't join in Luffy's roughhousing, she usually had peace.
But not this time.
After a meal, everyone split up to do their things. That's when Luffy and Usopp, perhaps the most mischievous of the crew, decided to hold a little competition: who could shoot a cannon further and more accurately. Thanks to Bai Ye's generous spending, the Golden Merry now had cannons on both sides, which was all kinds of exciting for Usopp, the sniper. And Luffy? Well, he was game for anything, really.
But their fun competition took a wild turn when one of their cannonballs hit a rock where Zoro's buddies, Johnny and Yosaku, had been chilling. Johnny stormed onto the ship, all furious-like, only for Luffy to knock him down easily. Good thing Zoro showed up to calm things down.
After much back-and-forth, Johnny got Yosaku, who was in a real bad state, on board. Poor guy had scurvy — all because he hadn't been getting enough vitamins. He looked so rough that Luffy and Usopp thought their cannonball had done the deed, and they were weeping and apologizing.
Nami's voice cut through the confusion, making Luffy and Usopp stop their teary apologies. "What, are you two daft? Don't you know what scurvy is?"
Without missing a beat, Nami handed over some fresh oranges. "He just needs some vitamins. Feed him these; he'll be fine."
Zoro, relieved that his friend wasn't knocking on death's door, could finally relax.
It was nothing short of miraculous. After munching on an orange, Yosaku got better so fast it was almost funny — his teeth and even his hair made a comeback! Bai Ye just had to marvel at the wonders of this world they were in.
"Big beautiful sis!!" A grateful Johnny and Yosaku bowed down to Nami.
Nami was baffled. "Why are you calling me that?"
"Our big sis is the best!!" Luffy and Usopp chimed in, completely awed. If it weren't for her, they'd still think they were murderers or something.
"Guys, this is basic stuff!" Nami shot back, less than impressed with Luffy and Usopp's lack of knowledge.
"But I'm no expert," she continued. "When we're at sea, managing food and keeping us healthy is really up to the chef."
"That's the chef's main task during a voyage," she explained, "making sure the crew doesn't just eat, but eats right."
Hearing this, Luffy remembered something Bai Ye had mentioned before. "Yeah, Bai Ye talked about the difference between just eating and eating well."
"Exactly," Bai Ye agreed, joining the chat. "Food's not just about filling the stomach."
Hearing all this, and after seeing what had happened to Yosaku, Luffy had a lightbulb moment. "We need to find a top-notch chef then!" he declared, all fired up.
That's when Johnny and Yosaku, still trying to hit on Nami, gave the crew a valuable tip.
"The best chef in the East Blue? The best place to look for him is the floating restaurant — Baratie."
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The Baratie, a Floating Culinary Haven and Battle Fortress!
Imagine a giant ship doubling as a restaurant — that's the Baratie for you! This unique eatery was born from Chef Zeff and his Sous Chef Sanji's noble dream: a world where no sailor has to suffer the pangs of hunger on the vast, unforgiving sea.
This ship-restaurant isn't just any old vessel. It's grand, boasting an oval body and the usual masts, but what sets it apart is its fish-shaped figurehead! Its underbelly is round, and can be extended into fins or a battle platform. Oh, and it's not shy of a cannon or two (or more) lined along its sides, ready for some fiery action. So, it's no wonder the Baratie earned the fierce title of the "battle restaurant."
BOOM!!
Just as Luffy, Bai Ye, and their companions stepped into the Baratie, chaos ensued. There was Sanji, caught in a skirmish, but wait — he wasn't fighting off pirates or invaders. No, he was giving a customer a proper thrashing!
Upon closer inspection, this wasn't just any dissatisfied guest; it was a navy captain. Bai Ye instantly caught on to the storyline unfolding before his eyes. Captain Fullbody, known as "Double Ironfist," tried to embarrass Sanji by planting a bug in his own soup. Yet, Sanji didn't flinch, infuriating Fullbody enough to smash his table, sending his meal crashing to the floor.
That act crossed Sanji's line.
Without hesitation, Sanji stepped up, gave Fullbody a taste of his footwork, and laid down the law: "Picking a fight with a cook on the high seas is asking for trouble. Listen to me and don't waste the food," he warned.
Fullbody retorted, begrudgingly admitting, "Not... Not a single piece of meal should be wasted."
These words didn't fall on deaf ears. Luffy and crew were all ears, but their takeaways varied.
"So intimidating!!" Usopp's knees practically knocked together.
"How does this place keep customers coming back?" Nami's face was a picture of disbelief, witnessing a chef daring to lay hands on a customer.
Johnny and Yosaku, unfazed, nodded knowingly. "Just like the stories said!"
"Absolutely! Heard the chefs here are all former pirates, real strong types."
Luffy's interest in Sanji noticeably spiked after the "no food waste" comment. It was the same spark that he felt when he first set eyes on Zoro. But Zoro? He just couldn't mask his disdain for the cigarette-smoking chef.
Bai Ye's attention, meanwhile, shifted to Patty approaching them, grinning ear to ear. Patty was a hulking figure, his arms unusually large, with hearts inked on one. His distinctive lips and intricate goatee framed his face, but his eyes? They only saw money, not people.
Seizing the moment, Bai Ye flashed a very thick stack of Bellys. "Could we get some seats? And, could you ask that young man over there," nodding at Sanji, "to serve us?"
Patty's eyes nearly turned into Bellys themselves. Though he frowned at the request for Sanji, he didn't skip a beat ushering them to a table.
He shouted across the room, "Sanji, you shitty cook, get over here and attend to these gods amongst men!"