I, Kizaru, only came to the chat group after I became invincible

Chapter 403 Ancient Stone Buildings
"I want to try sea snake meat!"

"But how do we cut it?"

Nami looked at the giant sea serpent.

"This thing is so big, our knives can't cut it at all."

"Leave it to me."

Zoro volunteered.

"Three-Sword Style - 1080 Troubled Phoenix!"

The powerful slash precisely sliced ​​off the most delicious piece of meat from the sea snake.

The piece of meat is about three meters long and one meter wide, and its weight is estimated to be several hundred kilograms.

"This much is enough to eat for a long time."

Franky used a robotic arm to hoist the sea snake meat onto the ship.

"And it certainly looks very fresh."

Sea snake meat is light pink in color, firm in texture, and has a faint marine aroma.

"I've never seen such a large sea snake meat before."

Chopper looked at it curiously.

"It should be very nutritious."

"Let's go back and have Mr. Gustav cook for us!"

Sanji couldn't wait any longer.

"I want to see how he handles this special ingredient."

The Thousand Sunny returned to Gourmet Island with its spoils.

The island's residents, seeing them return safely, gathered at the port to welcome them.

"Did it really succeed?"

"That terrifying sea serpent was defeated?"

"Will we be able to go out to sea safely from now on?"

Gustav nodded in response to the residents' questions.

"That's right, the sea serpent that threatened everyone for three months has been eliminated by these brave pirates."

"Starting today, everyone can go out to sea to fish with peace of mind."

Upon hearing the news, all the residents cheered excitedly.

Some people were so moved that they shed tears.

"Great! I can finally go out to sea again!"

"I haven't dared to use my boat since it was repaired, but now I can finally launch it!"

"Children can play at the beach now!"

Seeing the islanders' heartfelt joy, the Straw Hat Pirates members were also very gratified.

This is the meaning of their fight—to protect innocent people.

"Come on, let's go back to the restaurant and celebrate."

Gustav extended an invitation.

"I'm here to prepare a special sea snake dish for everyone."

Back at the Seafood Restaurant, Gustav immediately began preparing the dishes.

He first carefully examined the quality of the sea snake meat.

"very good!"

He nodded with satisfaction.

"The meat is fresh and the marbling is clear; this is top-quality ingredient."

"However, preparing sea snake meat requires special skills; the slightest mistake can ruin its deliciousness."

Sanji carefully observed Gustav's every move.

He wanted to learn how to handle this special ingredient.

Gustav first used a special knife to precisely cut the sea snake meat into different parts.

"Different parts of the meat have different textures and require different cooking methods."

He explained as he worked.

"The meat in the snake's head is the most tender, making it suitable for steaming or making soup."

"The meat on the back is the thickest and best for grilling or braising."

"The fat content of the abdominal meat is relatively high, making it suitable for stewing."

"The tail section has more tendons, so it needs to be stewed for a long time to become tender."

Sanji diligently recorded this knowledge.

For a chef, understanding the characteristics of different ingredients is the most basic requirement.

Next, Gustav began to prepare various seasonings.

His seasonings are very special. In addition to the common salt, pepper, and spices, there are some mysterious seasonings that Sanji has never seen before.

"This is seaweed extract, which can remove the fishy smell of sea snake meat."

"This is deep-sea salt, which enhances the flavor of the meat."

"This is my homemade spice powder, a blend of more than a dozen precious spices."

Gustav patiently explained the function of each seasoning.

"Cooking seafood is different from cooking ordinary fish; it requires more careful seasoning."

Then he began the actual cooking process.

The first dish was steamed sea snake head.

Gustav sliced ​​the snake head meat into thin slices, marinated it briefly with seaweed extract, and then placed it in a steamer.

While the food was steaming, he prepared the dipping sauce.

The dipping sauce is made with deep-sea salt, lemon juice, and several special herbs.

"The steaming time must be just right."

Gustav was intently controlling the heat.

"If the cooking time is too short, the meat won't be tender enough; if it's too long, the flavor will be lost."

Fifteen minutes later, the steamed sea snake head was ready.

The slices of meat were an enticing white color, emitting a fragrant steam.

The second dish was grilled sea snake back meat.

Gustav cut the thick meat from the back into large chunks and marinated it with his special spice powder.

Then it is slowly roasted on a special charcoal stove.

During the grilling process, he constantly turned the meat pieces to ensure they were heated evenly.

At the same time, a special sauce will be brushed on, giving the meat a tempting golden-yellow color.

"The most important thing when grilling seafood is controlling the heat."

Gustav said as he baked.

"Too high a heat will burn the outside, while too low a heat won't lock in the juices."

The third dish was braised sea snake belly.

Gustav cut the belly meat into cubes, stir-fried it over high heat, and then stewed it with seasonings.

As the stewing process progressed, the kitchen was filled with a rich aroma.

This aroma is rich and layered, with both the richness of meat and the freshness of spices.

"Braising is one of the cooking methods that best tests a chef's skill."

Gustav focused intently on controlling the heat.

"The combination of seasonings, the control of heat, and the timing—every step must be flawless."

The last dish was serpentine soup.

Gustav put the tail meat, along with the bones, into a large pot, added various vegetables and spices, and simmered it over low heat.

This soup needs to be simmered for a long time to allow the nutrients and essence from the bones to be released into the broth.

"Good soup needs time to mature."

Gustav watched the soup bubbling in the pot.

"It can't be rushed, nor can it be skimped on."

Two hours later, all four sea snake dishes were finally completed.

Gustave arranged them carefully on a plate and served them at the table.

"Please enjoy."

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"This is a whole feast of sea snakes that I prepared with great care."

The Straw Hat Pirates were stunned by the four dishes before them.

Each dish is as exquisite as a work of art, exuding an enticing aroma.

“So beautiful!”

Nami couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Is this really the sea serpent we just defeated?"

"Try the steamed one first."

Sanji picked up a piece of steamed snake head meat, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in his mouth.

His expression changed instantly.

"This taste..."

The meat is extremely tender, melts in your mouth, and has no fishy smell whatsoever.

The sweet and sour dipping sauce perfectly balances the greasiness of the meat, making the overall taste more refreshing.

"How can it be so delicious?"

Sanji stared at Gustav in shock.

"How can the flesh of a sea serpent, such a ferocious beast, be so tender?"

"The secret lies in the method of handling it."

Gustav said with a smile.

"Although sea snakes are fierce, if prepared properly, their flesh is more delicious than any fish."

"The key is to remove its harshness and retain its purest umami flavor."

Luffy couldn't wait to start tasting the grilled meat.

Wow! This is super delicious too!

He ate heartily, his face filled with satisfaction.

The roasted sea snake back meat is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with the spices on the surface forming a delicious caramel-colored crust.

When you bite into it, the juices burst in your mouth, creating a powerful taste sensation. Zoro also tried a bite of the braised sea snake meat.

"This flavor is very complex."

He savored it carefully.

"It has a sweet taste, a salty taste, and an indescribable, deep umami flavor."

The braised sea snake meat has been stewed for a long time, fully absorbing the essence of the seasonings.

Each bite offers a different layer of flavor, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

Finally, there was sea serpent tail soup.

This soup looks clear and transparent, but its flavor is extremely rich.

"Delicious!"

Chopper took a sip of soup and immediately perked up.

"I feel full of energy!"

"This soup is indeed nourishing."

Gustav explained.

"Sea snake bones are rich in collagen and minerals, which are very beneficial to the body."

Everyone was deeply impressed by the four sea snake dishes.

Their fatigue from the previous battle had completely disappeared, replaced by boundless energy.

“Mr. Gustav.”

Sanji stood up and bowed deeply to Gustav.

"Please formally accept me as your apprentice!"

"I want to learn your cooking skills!"

Gustav looked at Sanji's sincere expression and nodded in satisfaction.

"Very good, you have passed my test."

"Not only did you demonstrate superb combat skills, but more importantly, you have a heart that cares for others."

"From today onwards, I will formally teach you the true essence of cooking."

Upon hearing Gustav's words, Sanji was so moved he almost cried.

"Thank you! I will definitely study hard!"

"but."

Gustav then changed the subject.

"True learning takes time; one or two days is not enough."

How long can you stay here?

Luffy thought for a moment.

"We were planning to leave tomorrow."

"But if Sanji wants to study, we can stay a few more days."

"Anyway, there's no rush to get going."

That's great!

Gustav said happily.

"Then let's begin our formal cooking lesson!"

The next morning, Sanji couldn't wait to go to the kitchen of the Sea Flavor Restaurant.

Gustav was already there waiting for him, with various fresh ingredients laid out on the table.

"Are you ready to start real learning?"

Gustav looked at Sanji with a serious expression in his eyes.

"I am ready!"

Sanji nodded seriously.

Please feel free to offer your guidance!

"Very good. Let's start with the basics."

Gustav picked up an ordinary kitchen knife.

Tell me, what do you think is the most important thing in cooking?

Sanji thought for a moment.

"Skills? Or understanding of ingredients?"

"None of them are correct."

Gustav shook his head.

"The most important thing is the heart."

"Even the most skilled chef cannot create truly moving dishes if they don't put their heart into it."

"But how do you infuse your heart into the food?"

Sanji asked, puzzled.

"This is the first lesson I'm going to teach you today."

Gustav began the demonstration.

"First, you need to understand the characteristics of each ingredient."

He picked up a tomato.

"Tomatoes are mild in nature and pair well with a variety of ingredients. However, they also have their pride; if not handled properly, they will lose their original sweet and sour flavor."

Then he picked up an onion.

"Onions are complex, with a hard exterior but a soft interior. You need to patiently peel back the layers to discover their true value."

Sanji listened attentively to Gustav's explanation, feeling as if a whole new world had opened up for him.

He had never thought that ingredients could have personalities.

Meanwhile, aboard the Thousand Sunny, Nami was studying the nautical charts.

"The nautical charts in this area are not detailed enough."

She said with a frown.

"We need to find more accurate nautical data."

"Where can I buy a nautical chart nearby?"

Robin put down his book and asked.

"According to Mr. Gustav, there is a place called 'Sage Town' to the east of Gourmet Island."

Nami pointed to the map and said.

"That's the commercial center of the area; we should be able to find the nautical charts we need there."

"Sage Town?"

Robin's eyes lit up.

"That's an interesting name. There might even be some ancient documents there."

"You're looking for clues to the Poneglyphs, aren't you?"

Nami understands Robin's thoughts.

"That's right."

Robin nodded.

"Since we're going to buy nautical charts anyway, why not also investigate the history of that area?"

"Then let's go together."

Nami puts away the sea chart.

"It's a good opportunity to stroll around town and see what interesting things there are."

After explaining the situation to Luffy and his crew, the two boarded a small boat and headed to Sage's Town.

Sage Town is about a half-day's flight from Gourmet Island. It is an ancient town built on a hillside.

From a distance, the town's architecture is quite unique, exuding a strong classical atmosphere.

"This town seems to have a lot of history."

Nami rowed the boat while observing the buildings in the distance.

"really."

Robin was also very interested.

"The style of those buildings is at least several hundred years old."

"Perhaps we can actually find some valuable information."

Half an hour later, they arrived at the port of Sage Town.

The port wasn't large, but it was very clean, with several merchant ships and fishing boats moored there.

Welcome to Sage Town!

A young port manager came forward to greet them.

"Are you two ladies here for sightseeing?"

"We're looking for some nautical charts and historical documents."

Nami stated her purpose directly.

"Oh, then you've come to the right place!"

"The administrator said excitedly."

"Our Sage Town is most famous for its bookstore and map shop."

"There are several shops in town that specialize in nautical information."

"There is also a large library, which houses many ancient documents."

"Very good!"

Robin's eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Can you tell us the exact location?"

"sure!"

The administrator kindly gave them directions.

"Walk straight along this main street until you see a large clock tower, then turn left. You'll then see the 'Wisdom Bookstore'."

"They have the most complete nautical atlas in town."

"The library is at the highest point in town; it's the largest stone building."

"Thank you!"

After thanking the caretaker, Nami and Robin walked into the town along the stone path.

The streets of Sage Town are very distinctive, lined with ancient stone buildings on both sides.

(End of this chapter)