"Honestly, Moonlight, how did you know there was something wrong with that mountain?" Nami asked as they sailed away, her expression still a mixture of confusion and awe.
"Yeah, we never would have thought of that," Usopp added. Even with his self-proclaimed genius intellect, the idea of splitting a mountain in half to see what was inside had never crossed his mind.
"Don't feel bad. I didn't expect it either," Zoro admitted.
"It was nothing, just a gut feeling," Moonlight replied with a shrug. "When that man mentioned it was a legendary treasure island, yet so many people had supposedly searched for it and found nothing, it didn't add up. The only place no one had been was inside the mountain. It seemed too illogical to be a coincidence. Sometimes, when things don't make sense, it's not a coincidence; it's a secret." He had only been testing a hunch, but it had paid off.
"That's our Moonlight, always thinking things through," Nami said, her admiration clear.
"Yes, there are very few people I, the great Usopp, admire. Moonlight, you're one of them!" Usopp declared, giving him a thumbs-up.
Zoro just grunted, but the fighting spirit in his eyes burned brighter. This man's swordsmanship and his mind were both incredibly sharp. For now, he could only look up to him, but he was determined to one day surpass him.
"I'm so hungry! I want meat!" Luffy, having long lost interest in the conversation, whined from his special seat on the ship's figurehead, looking completely listless.
The rest of the crew was speechless. Luffy's single-minded focus on food never ceased to amaze them.
"Moonlight, do something! I'm starving to death!" Luffy pleaded, turning his head pitifully.
"You want to eat? In this sea, that's the easiest thing to find," Moonlight said with a smile. His Observation Haki flared, and in the next instant, he drew his sword and slashed. A crescent-shaped wave of energy shot out, splitting the sea and revealing a massive, ten-meter-long shark that had been lurking nearby, preparing to ambush the Going Merry. The shark was sliced cleanly in two. One half was snagged by Luffy, while the other was sent flying by the force of the slash.
"I used too much force," Moonlight commented, slightly chagrined. He had overestimated the shark's durability.
"Whoa, shark meat! Usopp, let's grill it up!" Luffy cheered, already dragging his half of the shark towards the galley.
"Leave it to me! I'm the best at grilling!" Usopp declared, patting his chest as he started a fire.
Nami and Zoro could only shake their heads, speechless at how quickly the two had solved the food problem. But as the smell of grilled shark meat filled the air, their own stomachs began to rumble. Hearing the sound, Luffy burst into laughter, and soon, the whole crew was laughing together.
CRASH!
Suddenly, a loud splash and a roar of anger interrupted their meal. "Who threw that shark?! Our boat capsized! Yosaku, you can't die!"
The crew looked over and saw a small, overturned boat in the distance, with two men floundering in the water. "Did we really hit someone with that?" Usopp asked, dumbfounded.
"What are the odds?" Nami wondered.
"It's people! We have to save them!" Luffy exclaimed.
One of the men, Johnny, dragged his unconscious companion through the water towards their ship. "You bastards!" he yelled, pointing an accusatory finger at Moonlight. "What's your problem, trying to kill us with a shark?"
Luffy stretched out his arms and effortlessly pulled the two men onto the deck.
"Is that you two?" Zoro said, surprised. He recognized them as two bounty hunters he had saved before.
"Brother Zoro!" Johnny's eyes lit up. He immediately abandoned his companion and rushed over to Zoro. "Brother Zoro, what are you doing here?"
"I should be asking you that," Zoro replied.
"Ah, brother, after you saved us that time, we changed our ways. We decided to become great pirates, so we found a boat and set sail. But unfortunately, we got lost and ended up drifting all the way here. And then... well, you know the rest. Your friend here killed Yosaku with a shark!" Johnny wailed, bursting into tears.
"He wasn't killed by Moonlight," Nami said, stepping forward to examine the unconscious man. "And he's not dead. He just has scurvy from malnutrition."
"Scurvy?" Johnny repeated, confused.
"What's scurvy?" Luffy asked.
"So he's not dead?" Zoro said, relieved.
"I've heard of it," Usopp chimed in. "It's a disease caused by a long-term lack of proper nutrition. It's very dangerous on the open sea."
"Is there a way to save him?" Moonlight asked Nami. Though he disliked most pirates, he didn't want to be responsible for an innocent person's death.
"Yes. Usopp, go get some limes. He's just undernourished; he'll be fine after he gets some vitamins," Nami instructed.
Usopp quickly returned with the limes and squeezed some juice into Yosaku's mouth. After half an hour, his color returned, and he slowly woke up. He glanced at Johnny, then saw Zoro and immediately tried to throw himself at him. "Brother Zoro! I can't believe we ran into you out here..." He collapsed halfway, fainting again.
"He just came to. He needs several days of rest to recover completely. What is he doing?" Nami said, exasperated.
"Thank you, brother, you're all right," Johnny said, overcome with emotion as he thanked Nami.
"Well, since you're here, you can rest and recover on our ship," Zoro offered.
"It seems we need to find a chef for our crew," Luffy said thoughtfully, touching his chin. The sight of the two bounty hunters had made him realize how crucial a good cook was for a long voyage.
Just then, the sound of churning water filled the air. A large Marine ship, flanked by several smaller vessels, appeared on the horizon, heading straight for them at high speed.
"It's the Marines! A whole brigade!" Usopp shouted, seeing the insignia.
"Hmph, so we've run into the Marines," Zoro said, his expression unchanged.
"I didn't expect to meet the Navy out here. What should we do? There are so many of them," Nami said, her face grim.
"Wow, a Marine ship! It's huge!" Luffy, on the other hand, was full of excitement.
Aboard the Marine vessel, a young officer reported to a handsome man in a white suit with an iron fist. "Captain Fullbody, there's a pirate ship ahead." This was Iron-Fist Fullbody, and beside him stood a beautiful, elegant lady. He was very pleased with how his date was going.
"What kind of pirates? How many?" he asked indifferently.
"It's a flag I've never seen before, with a straw hat on it. There are seven people on board," the officer reported.
"A pirate ship with only seven people? Just a bunch of small-timers," Fullbody said with a relaxed smile, turning to his date. "Don't worry about them. A few little pirates are no match for the Marines. Let's head to the sea restaurant and enjoy some fine wine and food."
"Oh, Captain Fullbody, you're so brave and impressive," the lady cooed, her eyes brightening. "A restaurant on the sea? I've heard of it. They say the food is excellent."
"This way, please," Fullbody said, feeling as if he were on top of the world. After he left, the Marine officer gave the order to fire on Luffy's ship. A single cannonball shot out, a warning shot meant to intimidate the small pirate crew.
"No, they're firing at us!"
"A cannon! If that hits us, our ship will be blown to bits!" Usopp and Nami yelled.
Zoro drew his sword, ready to slice the cannonball in two, but Luffy was faster.
"Gum-Gum..." Luffy took a deep breath, and his body swelled up like a balloon. The cannonball sank into his rubbery stomach without effect, and then, with a great heave, he shot it right back.
"Phew, that scared me," Usopp said, relieved.
"Hey, Luffy, where are you aiming that thing?!" Zoro and Nami shouted in unison, their faces paling as they watched the cannonball fly towards another, much fancier-looking ship.
BOOM!
A large hole was blasted in the side of the other vessel.
"Ah! Not good!"
"Crap!"
"Luffy, you're done for!" the crew groaned.
"Oops, I missed," Luffy said with an awkward smile. "But it's okay, I'll take care of it myself. Wait for me, I'll be back soon!" He stretched his arms, grabbed onto the damaged ship, and launched himself towards it.
"Is that ship the famous sea restaurant, Baratie?" Johnny asked, having recovered enough to recognize the massive, fish-shaped vessel.
"A sea restaurant?" Usopp asked, intrigued.
"Yeah, it's a famous place in the East Blue," Johnny explained. "They serve everyone—pirates, Marines, bandits—as long as you have the money. The food is amazing, and the chef is so tough that everyone respects him."
"We've always dreamed of eating there," Yosaku added.
"This isn't the time for dinner," Zoro said, shaking his head. "Usopp, Moonlight, let's go. Nami, Johnny, Yosaku, you stay here and watch the ship. With Luffy on his own, I'm afraid he'll just make things worse."
"A restaurant? I'm hungry. An aggressive chef? I want to meet him too," Usopp said, nodding in agreement.
"Alright," Moonlight added. With Luffy's personality, things were indeed likely to get complicated.
But just as the three of them were about to board the Baratie, a scream cut through the air, and a figure was sent flying out of the restaurant. Moonlight caught the man—it was the handsome Marine captain with the iron fist.
"Marine Captain Fullbody?" Moonlight thought, a flicker of recognition in his eyes.
"Thank you, thank you," Fullbody sputtered, glaring back at the restaurant. "Damn it, this place is insane! The chef is too cruel! He actually beats the guests! Asshole! I'm going to mobilize the Marines and blow you to hell!" Without another glance at Moonlight, he stormed off.
"Is that the captain of the Marines? How rude," Usopp commented.
"Yeah, he didn't even acknowledge that he was saved," Zoro added with a sneer. "Did Luffy do that?"
The three of them walked into the restaurant and found it full of guests, all enjoying their meals as if nothing had happened. They were surprised.
"Step aside!" a man in green clothes with a patterned headscarf and a red snake emblem on his clothes suddenly barked as he entered. He grabbed a seat, propped his leg on the table, and shouted, "Serve me!"
The other diners were taken aback by his fierce demeanor.
"Ah, a distinguished guest," a chef named Patty said, running over with a smile. "I am the host of this ship, Patty. Welcome to the Baratie. You can order whatever you want, as long as you can pay."
"I have no money, but I want to eat," the man said coldly.
"No money? And you want to eat?" Patty's smile vanished.
"Hmph, I'm from the Krieg Pirates," the man continued, completely ignoring Patty's change in tone. "Hurry up and cook for me. And make extra, I need to pack some to go. It's best if..."
The mention of the Krieg Pirates sent a wave of fear through the restaurant.
"What? He's from the Krieg Pirates?"
"That's the overlord of the East Blue!"
"They say the Krieg Pirates have a fleet of fifty ships! If one of his crew is here, does that mean Don Krieg is nearby?"
The Krieg Pirates were not just any crew; they were the most feared pirates in the East Blue. Their captain, Don Krieg, was known for his ruthlessness and cunning.
"The Krieg Pirates?" Zoro's eyes shone with interest. Usopp, on the other hand, paled with fear. Their small ship was no match for a fleet of fifty.
"If Krieg is nearby, that means the man chasing him is also here," Moonlight thought. "Hawkeye Mihawk." He had always wanted to meet the man known as the world's greatest swordsman.
"Get out of here!" Patty suddenly shouted, interrupting the man's demands. "I don't care what pirate crew you're from. If you're eating here, you follow the rules. And if you don't have money, you get out!" He grabbed the man and threw him out onto the deck. The other guests burst into applause, praising Patty for his bravery.
"Hehehe, it's what I do," Patty said, touching the bridge of his nose with a proud smile. "I am Patty, the head chef of the Baratie. Anyone who comes here is my guest, and I will make you feel at home. But if you try to get a free meal, I won't be so kind!"
"What a hot-tempered chef," Usopp said, surprised. "He doesn't even care about the Krieg Pirates."
Moonlight just smiled, found a seat, and ordered a meal. Since he was here, he might as well taste the food.
About two hours later, a heavy thud echoed through the restaurant, and someone ran in, screaming in panic. "It's not good! The Krieg Pirates are here!"
The diners scrambled to escape, but just as they reached the door, a tall, imposing man walked in, supported by the crewmate who had been thrown out earlier. The sight of this man, Don Krieg himself, sent a wave of terror through the room.
"Please... give us some food," the crewmate begged, kneeling before them. "Our captain... he hasn't eaten in a long time."
Everyone was stunned. This was the notorious, brutal overlord of the East Blue? They looked out the door and saw the Krieg Pirates' flagship, a massive vessel that was now tattered and broken, like a ghost ship.
"Are you kidding? Give food to people like that?" one of the diners sneered. "If he recovers, he'll be the vicious Don Krieg again!"
"Yeah, we can't let him recover!"
"People like that deserve to starve to death!" the other chefs of the Baratie added, their faces filled with contempt.
"Please... I'm begging you, give our captain some food," the crewmate pleaded, kowtowing desperately.
But no one showed any sympathy. "Sorry, I can't watch a hungry man suffer in front of me," a man in a black suit with a cigarette dangling from his lips said as he walked over. His eyebrows were curled, and his blond hair was artfully messy. He placed a plate of food in front of Krieg.
"Mr. Sanji, thank you! Thank you so much!" the crewmate said, his voice filled with gratitude. Krieg devoured the food like a wild animal.
"You're crazy! What are you doing, showing sympathy for someone like that?" the other chefs roared at Sanji.
"Sorry, I'm a cook," Sanji said calmly, taking a drag from his cigarette. "I can't stand to see a hungry person..."
But before he could finish, a powerful blow sent him flying across the room. Krieg, his strength restored, stood up, his face now a mask of arrogance and cruelty. "Hahaha! I am Don Krieg, the overlord of the East Blue! This ship is now mine! Everyone, listen up! If you don't want to die, get off my ship! As for the chefs, get me a meal for one hundred people!"
The diners fled in terror.
"You want a hundred meals? Dream on!" the chefs yelled, standing their ground.
"Hehe, it seems you won't cry until you see the coffin," Krieg sneered, a murderous glint in his eyes. He threw off his tattered coat, revealing a suit of golden armor underneath, bristling with an arsenal of weapons. The chefs were stunned.
"Yes, the reason I rule the East Blue is not because of tricks," Krieg laughed. "It's because of this golden armor. It gives me incredible power. I gave you a chance, but you didn't cherish it. So now, I'll just have to get rid of all of you." A row of machine guns emerged from the armor, their barrels aimed at the chefs.
Just as he was about to fire, a large sack of food was thrown at his feet. An old man with a wooden leg appeared. "Go on, Krieg. There's the meal for one hundred people you wanted."
"Are you... Red-Leg Zeff?" Krieg asked, his expression changing drastically.
"Krieg, didn't you go to the Grand Line?" Zeff asked, ignoring his surprise. "Why are you here, and what happened to your ship?"
"We did go to the Grand Line," Krieg's crewmate, Gin, explained, his voice trembling. "But we met a man... a man with the eyes of a hawk. He destroyed our entire fleet of fifty ships... all by himself."
"What? Destroyed by one person?" everyone gasped.
"The Grand Line is that terrifying?" Usopp whispered in shock.
"A man with eyes like a hawk... could it be him?" Zoro muttered to himself.
"Hawkeye Mihawk," Zeff said, the name sending a chill through the room.
"He's here," Moonlight said quietly, looking out the window. A small, coffin-shaped boat was drifting towards them. On it stood a man with short black hair, sharp, yellow eyes, and a long, curved black sword strapped to his back.
It was him. The world's greatest swordsman.