Loguetown, known for its bustling port and diverse cultures, also has a vibrant food scene. The city hosted frequent culinary competitions that drew chefs from afar, each eager to showcase their skills and win prestigious prizes. One such competition was taking place now, and it had garnered significant attention for its grand prize: a massive blue elephant tuna renowned for its exceptional flavor and rarity in East Blue.
The challenge mildly intrigued Carmen, Merry's Revenge's vivid and passionate chef. She had heard about the competition from local vendors and knew that winning it would secure a fantastic ingredient for her husband and bolster her reputation as one of the best chefs in East Blue. Hopefully, Baratie's Head Chef will be there so she can claim the number one spot in East Blue.
Carmen was determined to make a splash. She donned her favorite attire, a full-length red dress with a floral print. Its long-sleeved, cleavage-revealing top hugged her curvy body like tight-fitting gloves. A wide black belt fastened on her tiny waist, accentuating it. There was a high slit on one side of the skirt, offering a glimpse of her gorgeous legs, and the hemline reached down to the floor. She styled her vibrant pink hair in a messy, tousled look and a pair of gleaming, stainless steel cooking utensils strapped to her belt. Her entrance was nothing short of dramatic; she twirled into the competition area, drawing the crowd's attention with her vibrant energy and confident demeanor.
They set up the competition in a large open-air arena, with various cooking stations arranged in a circle; each station was equipped with the finest kitchen tools and ingredients. In the center was a blue elephant tuna wrapped in vegetables and Ice. Carmen chose a station strategically positioned in the middle to maximize visibility, a station that would allow her flamboyant cooking style to stand on display.
As the competition commenced, Carmen wasted no time in getting started. She used her Fire powers to create dramatic bursts of flame in front of the audience. The flames danced and roared, creating a mesmerizing display as Carmen mixed her ingredients in her station.
The chefs competing against her were skilled, showcasing their unique styles and skills. Carmen started to work; her station was a whirlwind of activity, with pots and pans clanging, flames leaping high, and the intoxicating aroma of exquisite ingredients mixing wafting through the air. She saw many spectators begin to drool, patiently waiting for when she could share her cooking.
Carmen chose to prepare cacciucco, her hometown's famous seafood stew. She fried the onion, garlic, and other seasonings, added the squid, and cooked it in a lidded pan for a few minutes. Carmen shook the pan frequently, making an elegant show of it. She then removed the lid to add wine and drank some. The wine tasted good, so she needed to put it on her list to buy later.
She added the tomatoes, bashing them with a wooden spoon to break them up.
After a few minutes, she added gurnard, clams, mussels, prawns, and stocks. She boiled them with her firepower, attracting many spectators.
She simmered and uncovered the lid for ten minutes. She discarded any closed clams and mussels, removing the undesirable. She served the dish in warm bowls, garnished with parsley and crusty bread.
Carmen presented her dishes to the panel of judges; each critic was eager to sample the creations. The judges included some of the most respected culinary experts in Loguetown, each with a discerning palate and a reputation for being harsh critics.
Carmen's flamboyant presentation did not disappoint. She skillfully served each judge with a flourish, her movements precise and confident. The judges were immediately drawn to the dish by its appearance and tantalizing aroma.
The first judge, an older man with gray hair, took a bite. His eyes widened in surprise when he tasted her cooking. "This is exceptional! The balance of flavors is perfect!"
The second judge, a black-haired mature lady known for her expertise in seafood, nodded in approval. "The squid is cooked to perfection. Using local wine to enhance the flavors is both innovative and delicious."
As the judges tasted each dish, it became clear that Carmen's creation stood out. Her flamboyant fire display and the exquisite taste of her dish earned her high praise from all sides. The critics were impressed by the flavors and the theatrical presentation that Carmen brought to the table.
After a tense period of deliberation, the judges announced the winner. The judges called Carmen's name, and the crowd erupted in cheers. They awarded her the blue elephant tuna, which she accepted with a triumphant smile and a flick of her messy, tousled hair.
Carmen took the Tuna on her slender hands. The crowd around her was speechless; one of them asked," Isn't that heavy, Young Lady?"
"Senor, this is as light as a paper." Carmen walked back to The Merry's. She planned to bring this Tuna in the ice before continuing with her groceries later.
***
Kaya, accompanied by Sham, wandered the streets of Loguetown with a sense of determination. The bustling port town, with its wide streets lined with shops and stalls, felt exciting and overwhelming. Though Kaya wasn't the type to seek out adventure like the others, she knew she had a responsibility to her crew. Her practical medical knowledge had grown significantly since joining Usopp's Adventure Group, but something was missing—she needed to be able to defend herself while continuing to save lives.
Kaya had always been more of a healer than a fighter, but after seeing the danger her friends often faced, she realized she couldn't rely on them to protect her forever. She needed a way to fight back, which utilized her unique medical skills. And in this town, she was determined to find the tools to help her do just that.
A quaint shop tucked between two more significant buildings drew Kaya's attention.
"Sham, can I go inside that? I will be quick, and then we could go to the fabric store Usopp assigned you to."
Sham just nodded and said lazily," Be Careful, or the captain will punish me If you're gone…" She said the last part with a suggestive purr.
Kaya looked at Sham in her skin-tight, glossy black bodysuit. The front zipper opened low to reveal her considerable cleavage. She also wore a black headpiece with a cat character. Looking at her licking her fingers absentmindedly, ordinary people wouldn't have known she was an accomplished assassin.
Kaya left her weird friend outside; she saw the sign above the door that read "Alchemist's Wonders." Intrigued, Kaya stepped inside, the bell above the door jingling as she entered.
The shop's interior was dimly lit and smelled faintly of herbs and spices. Shelves lined the walls, filled with various bottles, scrolls, and strange-looking devices. At the counter stood an older man, hunched over a book with thick glasses perched on the end of his nose.
"Good day, miss," the man greeted Kaya without looking up. "What brings you to my shop? A potion? Or perhaps something more specialized?"
Kaya hesitated for a moment before replying. "I'm not a doctor yet, but I'm a medic, and I've recently found myself in situations where I need to protect myself. "Did you have anything that might help me, something that could combine my medical knowledge with a way to fight?"
The man looked up, his eyes narrowing as he studied Kaya. "Ah, a healer looking to fight. That's an unusual request. But not impossible." He gestured for her to follow him to the back of the shop, where he unlocked a cabinet filled with unusual weapons and devices.
"I've crafted a few items for those in your profession. Look at this here," the store owner said, pulling out a long, sleek weapon.
The Syringe Shooter
The weapon the man handed her was unlike anything Kaya had ever seen. It was a gun-like device, but instead of firing bullets, they designed it to fire syringes filled with various concoctions. The design was elegant and practical, with an easy-loading mechanism for quick access to different mixtures.
"This is a Syringe Shooter," the man explained. "I designed it years ago when I was young and liked to explore. I want someone else who wants to use their medical knowledge in combat to have it. You can fill the syringes with anything you like: sedatives, poisons, antidotes, or even stimulants. Whatever you think would work best in a fight."
The older man's eyes changed from normal to manic as he explained his invention, Making Kaya step back a little. She was scared that the old gentleman would suddenly attack her.
"I apologized for my rambling," The Old man's attitude changed drastically from manic to his old, disinterested manner."Here. Try it."
Kaya tentatively took the weapon from the Old Man's wrinkled hands. She turned the gun over, her mind racing with exciting ideas. She could use sedatives to incapacitate enemies without harming them or stimulants to boost her allies' strength and speed in battle. It was perfect.
"I'll take it," Kaya said, feeling excited. For the first time, she felt like she could actively contribute to the safety of her friends in a way that was true to her nature as a healer.
As she returned to the front of the shop, something else caught her eye—a dusty old book sitting on a shelf behind the counter. The cover was faded and worn, but Kaya could make out the title: Medical Combat: The Art of Healing and Hurting.
"What is that? Mr. Lectar?" Kaya asked, pointing to the book.
The older man smiled. "Ah, that's a rare one. It's an old text on using medical knowledge for healing and fighting. It discusses pressure points, anatomy, and how to use certain medicines in combat. It's not for the faint of heart, but you might find it useful."
Kaya picked up the book and flipped through the pages, her heart racing as she read about techniques that combined her knowledge of the human body with combat strategies. It was what she needed—a way to fight using her skills as a medic without abandoning her principles of not harming unnecessarily.
"May I take this one," Kaya said, feeling more confident than she had in a long time.
The Old guy, Mr. Lestar, just smiled creepily."I would not sell you that book, but I would sell you the exact copy. Make sure to use it well, young lady."
As Kaya left the shop, the Syringe Shooter strapped to her side and the book tucked under her arm, she felt a little bit creeped out but with a new purpose. She wasn't just a learning medic anymore; she was a combat medic, someone who could protect her friends while continuing to heal them.
She saw Sham harassing stray dogs around the street, her fangs barred, as she crouched on the floor like an angry cat.
"Sham? What are you doing?"
"I wanted to teach these dogs who are boss."
"I see," Kaya doesn't understand whatsoever.
They returned to the docks after stopping in a fabric store to buy a lot of fabric for Sham. Usopp asked her to make clothes for the crew.
She looked at The Merry's seen on the horizon, heart swelling with pride as she thought about how far she had come since leaving Syrup Village. With her new, untested weapon and a good book, Kaya knew she could stand by Usopp and the rest of the crew in their future battles.
Back aboard the Merry's, Kaya wasted no time experimenting with her new weapon. She filled a syringe with a simple sedative mixture and loaded it into the gun. Aiming at a makeshift target she had set up on the deck, she pulled the trigger.
The syringe flew through the air with precision, hitting the target dead center. Kaya smiled to herself, feeling a surge of confidence. The Syringe Shooter was easy to handle, and with some practice, she knew she could become an expert at using it in battle.
Usopp came with Aerwyna; her attire was fabulous, and he was curious about the noise. "What's that, Kaya?" he asked, his eyes lighting up when he saw the gun.
"It's a weapon I found in town," Kaya explained, showing it to him. "I can load it with any kind of concoction—sedatives, antidotes, poisons."
"So, does that mean you will not use my flintlock?" Usopp asked sadly.
"No, Usopp! I would still use that. It's just that I could make my version of your trick arrows, so you would have more time cuddling us…"
Usopp smiled and kissed Kaya on the mouth.
"I was just kidding," he said."Of course, I would allow all my crew to find their battle style."
Kaya didn't know why, but every time she smelled Usopp's murky, masculine smell, she would always feel her desire to be touched, ravaged, and used by him. Is that what constitutes love?