"Master Finn, you're too much!" Nami's eyes widened with indignation as she rushed up to Finn, waving her tiny fists. "That was obviously a rare and super delicious meal! I don't think there's anything better in the world!"
Even Tashigi, usually calm and composed, was slightly annoyed. Puffing out her cheeks, she argued, "Master Finn, Nami and I thoroughly enjoyed the meal, and yet you say that? That's really unfair~"
"Uh~" Finn shrugged, feigning innocence. "I really didn't mean to upset you. It's just that, compared to other delicacies I've had, the meal earlier was, well, just below average~"
"Liar!!" Nami exclaimed in disbelief. She couldn't accept it—after all, the chefs who prepared the banquet were world-renowned masters with top-notch culinary skills! If their food was considered below average, then what could possibly surpass it? Besides, everyone at the banquet seemed to think the food was amazing. No one was complaining, not even Garp, who stuffed himself silly!
Tashigi nodded in agreement. "Nami's right. There's no way there's better food out there. Even if there is, it can only be slightly better, not by much."
"Oh? I was planning to treat you to some truly exquisite food. But since you don't believe me, I'll just serve it up later. If you have the backbone, don't eat it~" Finn teased, stepping into the gazebo.
Inside, there was a stone table surrounded by four stone benches—a perfect spot for a meal.
"Ha! We don't believe there's anything more delicious!" Nami declared defiantly. "Yeah, we won't eat it!" Tashigi added, echoing her sentiment.
The truth was, they were both stuffed from the banquet and had no appetite left. Their bravado was easy to maintain because they weren't hungry at all.
Finn didn't argue further. He simply retrieved three Michelin three-star dishes from the system's space, filling the stone table to the brim. He also extracted a bottle of 1982 Lafite.
These delicacies, preserved at their peak in the system space, released an intoxicating aroma as soon as they were set out, filling the gazebo with a fragrance that made one's mouth water.
"Oh~~ that smells amazing!" Finn exaggeratedly inhaled the aroma, making an exaggerated sound for effect. He then picked up a bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and took a bite of a meatball.
This meatball might have looked ordinary, but it was made from the meat of seven different freshly slaughtered animals! The nutritional value was sky-high, and the taste—both in flavor and texture—was simply outstanding.
As soon as the fragrance hit them, Nami and Tashigi felt like they were floating. God! The aroma was beyond tempting.
"Take a whiff. Doesn't it smell incredible?" Finn taunted, holding the meatball in front of Nami and Tashigi.
Even though they knew Finn was teasing them, they couldn't help themselves. Instinctively, they leaned in, noses twitching as they inhaled the delicious scent.
It smells so good!
Nami, unable to resist, opened her mouth to take a bite. Clatter! Her teeth clicked together, and she winced, realizing Finn had pulled the meatball away just in time.
"Ugh, that's mean! You're teasing us on purpose!" Nami pouted, rubbing her teeth and stomping her foot in frustration.
Tashigi, too, had to swallow her saliva, barely restraining herself from snapping at the meatball Finn had withdrawn.
Finn, unbothered, popped the meatball into his mouth. Oh my…
"Delicious! So delicious!!" he mumbled, savoring every bite with pure bliss.
The flavor was beyond anything he'd experienced in his previous life. System, what's going on? Why is this so much better than I expected?
"Host, the food provided by this system reaches the theoretical maximum for Michelin three-star cuisine based on your previous life's standards," the system explained.
Wow! Finn thought, now understanding. Even within the Michelin three-star level, there were vast differences. The system had provided him with food at the pinnacle of that scale, and the taste was out of this world!
"Delicious! So incredibly delicious!" Finn, who hadn't eaten much earlier, now found himself devouring the food with gusto.
Nami and Tashigi, despite being full, couldn't help but drool. Damn, Nami thought. I was full just a moment ago, so why am I suddenly starving?
Tashigi, too, was smacking her lips, overwhelmed by the temptation.
When Finn glanced up and saw their hungry faces, he couldn't help but laugh. He grabbed two empty bowls, placed a meatball in each, and set them on the table. "I see you're both tempted. Here, each of you try one. Then you'll know I'm not just bragging."
"Ha?" Nami looked at the lone meatball in the bowl and pouted. "Just one meatball? Are you mocking me?"
"If you don't want it, I'll take it back," Finn teased, reaching to retrieve the meatball.
"Hmph! I'll eat it!" Nami huffed, grabbing the bowl and quickly popping the meatball into her mouth.
Tashigi didn't hesitate either, immediately tasting the meatball.
And then… silence. The gazebo fell completely still as Nami and Tashigi's expressions became indescribable.
After a moment, Nami rushed over to Finn, grabbing his hand with a look of pure adoration in her eyes. Finn knew exactly what she wanted.
He chuckled, "Why are you looking at me like that? I gave you a meatball earlier, didn't you say I was mocking you?"
Nami knelt in front of Finn, gazing up at him. "Master Finn, I want to ask you something!"
"What's that?"
"If you're going to mock me, how can one time be enough? Please mock me ten times—no, a thousand times!"
Pfft! Finn almost choked on his food.
"Master Finn, me too! I want to be mocked!" Tashigi joined in, kneeling on the other side, determined to get her share.
There was no denying it—the food was just that good. If the state banquet's dishes were a level 1, then these meatballs were at least a level 1000!
Food has a magical power, one that can make even the most reserved people give in to their cravings.
Seeing the two of them, Finn couldn't resist teasing them further. "No, no, no. One of you is my navigator, and the other is my assistant. How could I possibly mock you? I can't do something so heartless~"
Finn waved them off.
"If you can't do it, you have to do it! Master Finn, you must mock us today! Mock us severely!"
"Yes! You have to mock us! Today, you have to be a scoundrel!"
Ignoring Finn's protests, the two girls sat down at the table and began grabbing the delicious food, intent on enjoying every last bite.