Finally, by noon on the eighth day, he spotted the silhouette of the Baratie.
Baratie was a well-known floating restaurant in the East Blue.
Anyone dining there had to follow a strict rule: never waste food.
Because the restaurant was staffed by numerous fully-armed battle chefs, Baratie was also known as a "fighting" restaurant.
From what Lin Mo knew about the sea restaurant, Chef Zeff the Red Leg, the owner and head chef, along with Sanji, who would briefly become the assistant chef in the future, were likely the key figures for completing his system mission progress.
Lin Mo's small boat slowly approached the Baratie.
It was lunchtime, so many other boats were already docked around the restaurant.
He casually parked his boat between two larger ones, secured the ropes, and stepped onto Baratie's deck.
At that moment, a long-lost system notification rang in his mind:
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully arriving at the check-in location: Baratie. Check-in progress +10%. Current total progress: 10%. Reward: new skill [Shunpo Lv.1], system storage expanded tenfold. Current total storage capacity: 100x100x100 cubic meters."
100x100x100 cubic meters—an enormous space. If filled with food and drinks, it could easily sustain Lin Mo for an entire year.
As for Shunpo, when the system implanted its information into his mind, Lin Mo's eyes lit up.
This was a high-speed movement technique from Bleach, allowing the user to move faster than the eye could follow, either to their opponent's side or to a distant location. Advanced forms like Utsusemi could even let one escape an encirclement instantly.
For Lin Mo, Shunpo was an excellent support-type skill.
He opened the red door to the dining hall and walked in casually.
Inside, many guests were already seated and enjoying their meals.
At that moment, a burly man with a huge mouth and ape-like features came walking toward Lin Mo, rubbing his hands together.
"Welcome, brat. We don't serve freeloaders here. Got any money?"
Lin Mo looked up at him—it was Patty.
Patty was once a pirate before joining Baratie as a chef and combat staff.
Paying to eat in a restaurant was completely reasonable, so Lin Mo didn't take offense at being asked about money up front.
He casually pulled out a pouch of coins and tossed it in his hand.
Patty's ears perked up at the sound, and his face lit up with a greedy smile: "Customers are gods! Please follow me, sir!"
He led Lin Mo to an empty table, pulled out a menu, and said with a sleazy grin, "Please take your time and order."
Lin Mo glanced over the menu casually.
The prices were indeed much higher than those at restaurants on land.
He randomly ordered a few dishes.
Just as Patty finished jotting down Lin Mo's selections, the doors of Baratie swung open again.
Two young men in Navy uniforms stepped inside first.
Then, a tall and burly man wearing a dog-headed cap strode in with powerful steps.
"Welcome, Vice Admiral Garp!" Patty greeted him immediately, smiling brightly.
"Hahaha!" Garp laughed heartily. "Haven't had Baratie's desserts in a long time. Bring me all the best sweets you've got!"
"Yes, yes! Right away!" Patty hurriedly seated Garp at the table to Lin Mo's right.
The two young marines stood tall behind Garp like statues.
Lin Mo glanced over.
Sure enough—it was Monkey D. Garp, Luffy's grandfather, father of Dragon the revolutionary, and a Vice Admiral known as "Iron Fist Garp."
In truth, Garp's strength far exceeded that of a vice admiral. He had once chased down the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, and cornered him multiple times. But he repeatedly refused promotions to admiral, which was why he retained the vice admiral title.
Thinking back to Windmill Village, Lin Mo remembered Garp once calling Red-Haired Shanks.
Garp must have returned to the East Blue to visit Luffy.
Lin Mo hadn't expected to run into him here, of all places.
He took a sip of wine and placed his gourd on the table.
From the next table, Garp sniffed the air and turned to Lin Mo: "Hey kid, what are you drinking?"
"Wine," Lin Mo replied casually.
Garp's eyes shifted and noticed the Tōyako(Lake Toya) sword at Lin Mo's waist. Rubbing his chin, he asked, "You a swordsman?"
Lin Mo kept drinking, not planning to answer.
Garp laughed heartily: "Haha! What an interesting brat. What's your name?"
After swallowing his wine, Lin Mo replied coolly, "Lin Mo."
"You came to Baratie alone?"
"Mm."
Garp continued, "Which island did you come from?"
Lin Mo gave him a speechless glance.
Was this guy checking his household registry?
Ignoring him, Lin Mo kept drinking.
At that moment, a blond boy with several bandages on his face—clearly just beaten up—approached carrying two plates.
"Here's your food. Please enjoy."
It was Sanji, age nine—future chef of the Straw Hat Pirates and one of their key fighters.
After setting the plates down, Sanji turned to return to the kitchen.
But just then, a few grating voices reached his ears from a nearby table.
"Why is there carrot in this fried rice? I hate carrots! Something that disgusting shouldn't even exist!"
"Aww, baby, if you don't like it, we'll just order another plate without carrots, okay?"
The speakers were a luxuriously dressed young woman and her ten-year-old son.
Sanji glanced over.
And nearly exploded with anger.
The boy had dumped the entire plate of fried rice onto the table, playing with it using his spoon—some rice even falling to the floor.
To someone like Sanji, who once nearly starved to death, wasting food was unforgivable.
"Hey!" Sanji stormed over to the boy.
The woman, seeing him approach, said, "Perfect timing. We'd like to reorder."
But Sanji ignored her and scolded, "Do you know how many people in the world are starving? How can you treat food like this?"
The woman frowned and snapped, "What nonsense! I paid for it, so I can waste it however I like. It's none of your business."
"Damn it! So what if you've got money?!" Sanji clenched his fists, his voice rising, "In places where there's nothing to eat, money can't fill your stomach!"