One Piece, I'm just an adventurer.

Chapter 16 The Land of Flowers

I spent the day in a daze. Moutai is really potent. Last night, these animals finished two cases of Moutai. The Moutai redeemed by the system has 24 bottles in a case, and it's the 53-degree kind. That means the four of them drank a total of 48 jin of high-proof liquor.

Rubbing his slightly throbbing head, Lin Yi propped himself up, his stomach rumbling loudly. How long had he slept? He was so hungry.

Pushing open the door, I washed up and felt much more awake. When I got to the deck, I saw Dota Simon and Da Pan lying haphazardly on the deck, and the banquet's trash had already been cleaned up.

"Philina, Fiona," Lin Yi called out.

"Brother Lin Yi, we're here." Felina's clear voice came from the second floor.

Lin Yi looked up and saw Felina's head sticking out of the second-floor window.

"Where is your sister?" Lin Yi asked.

"She's training! My sister says she's almost mastered Armament Haki," Filina said with a grin.

"Really? Congratulations to her! You should try your best too. Is there anything to eat today?"

"My sister made sea king meat porridge this morning." Upon hearing Lin Yi tell her to exercise hard, Felina quickly shrank back.

"Why does she only make porridge?" Lin Yi smiled helplessly.

"Because all Sister Fiona can make is porridge," Filina giggled.

Lin Yi walked over to Duotai Simon and Da Pan, who were still lying down, and kicked them. "Get up, you lazybones, the sun's already high in the sky."

Dota Simon groggily opened his eyes. "Let me sleep a little longer, this alcohol is too strong."

"You guys were drinking like drunkards yesterday, and you still aren't up in bed," Lin Yi teased.

Da Pan sat up and muttered, "That Moutai is too amazing, I feel like my soul is still drunk."

Everyone burst into laughter, the sound echoing throughout the ship. Sunlight streamed in, and a new day began in this relaxed and humorous atmosphere.

Over the next few days, Lin Yi taught Fiona some techniques for using Armament Haki.

Dota Simon openly expressed his envy of Fiona's awakening of Armament Haki, but they were helpless and could not awaken Armament Haki no matter what they did.

A few days later, they finally arrived at their destination, the Flower Kingdom, which is currently the largest country in the West Sea and also the country with the strongest armed forces.

The Traveling Ship slowly entered the port of the Flower Kingdom, and the scene before them was breathtaking. The docks were bustling with people. Merchant ships were moored along the shore, and crew members were busy loading and unloading cargo, displaying a dazzling array of rare and exotic treasures. Nearby, there were also strangely shaped pirate ships, their flags fluttering, adorned with skull symbols of various shapes and sizes.

Here, large merchant ships laden with spices and silk from all corners of the world exude a rich exotic atmosphere; small fishing boats also carry freshly caught seafood. On the pirate ships, some pirates are laughing and talking loudly, while others are warily surveying their surroundings.

In the distance, numerous buildings, each with a unique style and blending oriental charm, stretched out. Interspersed among the skyscrapers were various alleyways, filled with food stalls, their aromas filling the air. The harbor lighthouse stood tall, guiding passing ships. The waves gently lapped at the shore, as if welcoming guests from afar. Lin Yi and his companions stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at this prosperous scene, their hearts filled with anticipation.

Lin Yi, in particular, felt a sense of familiarity with the architecture of the Flower Kingdom, which was very characteristic of ancient China.

Lin Yi had high expectations for the Flower Kingdom, so as soon as he stepped into it, he immediately mentally checked in.

"Ding! Congratulations, host, for successfully signing in to the Flower Kingdom. You have gained 3480 Prosperity Points, one Cloud Fruit, and one Large-Grade Dragon Staff."

"Holy crap, there are so many prosperity points this time, almost as many as I've accumulated from previous check-ins!" Lin Yi exclaimed in surprise. After all, the most he'd ever accumulated before was only around 700. It seems the Flower Kingdom is still quite powerful.

Although the Cloud-Cloud Fruit has a version with side effects, it is a Logia-type Devil Fruit, worth 13 Prosperity Points in the system shop. It is undoubtedly a powerful fruit. He is considering whether to give it to Filina. Although it has side effects, Filina's strength is still somewhat weak, and this fruit is also very suitable for her. He will ask her about it later.

The Panlong Staff is said to have been invented by Emperor Taizu of Song. Originally, it consisted of two sticks, one long and one short, connected together. However, the Panlong Staff given by the system is a single, integrated staff with gold ends carved with lifelike Panlong reliefs. The staff body is purplish-gold and also carved with cloud patterns, making it very beautiful.

"It seems that Da Pan's weapon has been secured," Lin Yi thought to himself.

After disembarking, the group paid the docking fee to the port management and then walked straight into this bustling country.

Whenever they arrive in a foreign country, Lin Yi and his companions can't wait to start looking for local delicacies. They are like a group of hungry explorers, walking briskly through the streets and alleys, stopping and going, not missing any corner that might hide delicious food.

Along the way, they enthusiastically admired the country's unique scenery and culture. The ancient architecture, bustling markets, and captivating street performers left them mesmerized. However, despite the enchanting surroundings, finding a restaurant that would truly tantalize their taste buds was the top priority for this group of foodies.

Finally, after a long and arduous search, a small restaurant that looked unassuming on the outside but exuded an enticing aroma appeared before them. The enticing fragrance instantly ignited the fire of their desire for delicious food. They exchanged smiles and stepped into the restaurant without hesitation.

But strangely, the restaurant had no customers.

A little girl wearing a scarf on her head and a blue floral dress was idly fiddling with the condiments on the table.

Upon seeing the guests arrive, the young girl hurried forward, bowed slightly, and very politely asked, "What would you gentlemen like to eat?"

"Are you the owner here?" Lin Yi asked, because he only saw her here.

"Yes, please come in and have a seat. There's a menu here; you can order whatever you like," the girl replied somewhat shyly.

"Little boss lady, what dish were you making just now? It smells so good!" Da Pan was practically drooling from the aroma.

"Thank you for the compliment, that's the fried rice I just made." The little girl was very happy to be praised.

"Okay, give me ten servings of fried rice first," Da Pan said impatiently.

Just as the young girl was about to agree, a group of people burst in. The leader shouted at Lin Yi and his companions, "You're from out of town, aren't you? Don't be fooled by her. The food here isn't clean; several customers have gotten sick from it."

"Nonsense, Suzuki Takuya, they are the people you arranged. There's no way there could be a problem with the food I made," the girl said urgently.

The men ignored the girl's explanations and continued to persuade Lin Yi and his companions, "Young men, don't disbelieve us. Everyone around here knows about this. Those people who got food poisoning are still in the hospital."

"You're lying! You're clearly framing me!" The little girl was so anxious she was almost crying, but she couldn't do anything about it.

Listening to Suzuki Takuya and the others chatter on and on, Da Pan said impatiently, "Alright, stop talking. We'll judge whether there's a problem or not. We don't need you to tell us all this nonsense."

Hearing Da Pan's words, Suzuki Takuya and the others looked grim, saying resentfully, "You'll regret it for not recognizing a kind heart."

Despite saying that, these people did not leave, but stood at the door with gloomy faces, watching them.

"Boss, hurry up and make us some fried rice, it has to smell as good as yours!" Da Pan urged.

"Aren't you afraid?" the little girl asked, wiping away her tears.

"What are you afraid of?"

"Aren't you afraid that the food I cook isn't clean?" the little girl said sadly.

"Don't worry, we're very strong. Go ahead and take us down. If you can take us down, you'll be really impressive," Felina laughed.

"Please rest assured, I will do my best to make you enjoy your meal," the little girl said firmly.

Soon, the entire restaurant was filled with the aroma of fried rice.

"It smells so good!" Da Pan said, drooling.

Lin Yi and the others swallowed hard and nodded in agreement; it really smelled amazing.

"The food is ready!" The little girl walked out of the kitchen carrying a huge bowl. Lin Yi and the others had been waiting for a long time. But at that moment, Lin Yi sensed that the man named Suzuki Takuya had flicked a packet of powder from his hand, the target being the fried rice the little girl was carrying.

Lin Yi was initially furious at the thought of "courting death," but he quickly calmed down. He silently blocked the powder, left spatial marks on the people, and then smiled as he shared the food with his companions.

As the group watched Lin Yi and his companions eat the fried rice without any suspicion, the others wore smug smiles.

Chapter 17 New Crew Member, Cook Chiyo Mochizuki

"It's so delicious!" Da Pan exclaimed as he ate.

"I'm so glad you're satisfied with your meal," the little girl said happily.

"It's really good. Can you make some other dishes for us?" Lin Yi also really liked the fried rice the little girl made.

"Of course!" The little girl's eyes sparkled as she turned and went to the kitchen to get busy.

Before long, one exquisite dish after another was served. There was fragrant braised pork, its color a tempting reddish-brown; and there was also tangy and spicy shredded pork with garlic sauce, the pork shreds tender and the side dishes crisp.

Da Pan eagerly picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth. The skin was soft and tender, the lean meat was chewy and flavorful. "This is simply divine!"

Lin Yi also praised the fish-flavored shredded pork after tasting it: "The unique sweet, sour and spicy flavor is just right."

The little girl smiled shyly and said, "I also made a special dessert called Rainbow Pudding." When the Rainbow Pudding was served, its vibrant colors made it look like a work of art. Taking a spoonful and putting it in your mouth, the creamy aroma mixed with the sweetness of fruit instantly filled the air. Everyone was immersed in the delicious food, laughing and chatting, seemingly forgetting all their worries and only enjoying the happiness that the food brought them.

"Big brother, why haven't these people been poisoned yet?" one of the henchmen asked Suzuki Takuya.

"Damn it, these people are not simple. They must have discovered our movements. Let's retreat first, go back and report to the family head before making any further plans," Suzuki Takuya said with a gloomy face.

"Boss, where did you learn your cooking skills?" Lin Yi asked the young girl after he finished eating.

“Yes, yes, we don’t even know your name yet,” Felina chimed in.

"I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself. My name is Mochizuki Chiyo. My grandfather was the 8th head chef of the Flower Country, and I learned my cooking skills from him," Chiyo said shyly.

"Chiyo, you cook so well, why are those people bothering you?" Felina asked.

Upon hearing this, Chiyo's face showed some sadness, and after a while, she began to tell Lin Yi and the others about her situation.

The Mochizuki family is a long-standing family of chefs. 400 years ago, the Mochizuki family came to the Flower Country due to war. After arriving in the Flower Country, the head chef of the Mochizuki family, who was also the patriarch, opened the Shingetsu Restaurant in the Flower Country to make a living. Before long, it became famous in the Flower Country for its delicious food.

When the king of the Flower Kingdom learned of this, he recruited the head chef of the Mochizuki family into the palace to become the royal chef, the first generation of royal chef.

After the head chef entered the palace, he passed the position to his son, and it was passed down from generation to generation. Every time a royal chef died or retired, the kingdom would recruit the head chef of the Mochizuki family into the palace, and the position would be passed on to the next generation.

Chiyo's father is the current head chef of the Mochizuki family. She also has an older brother named Mochizuki Chimune. When Chiyo was born, her mother died in childbirth. Her father was busy with the family business and raising her brother Chimune, so he didn't have much time to take care of Chiyo.

Chiyo was taken in by her grandfather when she was very young. Her grandfather, Mochizuki Gojo, was very fond of his young granddaughter. By chance, Mochizuki Gojo discovered Chiyo's talent for cooking and decided to teach her all his culinary skills.

Chiyo's older brother wasn't particularly talented in cooking, and he was quite jealous to see his sister receiving direct instruction from their grandfather, but he didn't dare to do anything about it.

Until half a year ago, when Mochizuki Goto's life came to an end, he called his son to his side, wanting Mochizuki Chiyo to inherit the position of head chef of the Mochizuki family. However, Chiyo's father refused. He had always been grooming Chiyo as the heir of the Mochizuki family, so how could he hand over the position of head chef to a daughter with whom he had little affection?

After Mochizuki Gojo's death, Chiyo's father entered the palace as the ninth head chef, and he passed the position of head chef to his son, Chimune.

After Mochizuki Chimune took power, in order to eliminate any threat posed by his younger sister, he betrothed Chiyo to a high-ranking nobleman from the Flower Country. The nobleman was of noble birth but was already over 50 years old.

Upon learning this, Chiyo angrily confronted her brother, declaring that she would not compete for the head chef position and that she would go to sea to pursue her dreams once she came of age.

Mochizuki Senmune didn't believe it at all, but because of his father's presence, he didn't dare to press him too much.

So Chiyo left the Mochizuki family and opened a small restaurant outside, planning to save enough money to go to sea.

Chiyo received Mochizuki Gojo's true teachings, and her restaurant quickly became a hit.

When Mochizuki Senmune found out, he sent his men to cause trouble. Every person who came to eat was driven away by them in a despicable manner, and gradually no one dared to come to eat anymore.

After hearing Chiyo's story, Felina was furious and threatened to give Mochizuki Chimune a good beating.

Looking at the sullen Felina, Lin Yi couldn't help but find it amusing.

Then a thought struck them: a good cook who wants to go out to sea—isn't this the chef they've always dreamed of?

"Chiyo, would you like to come out to sea with us?" Lin Yi invited Chiyo.

Hearing Lin Yi say this, the others' eyes lit up and they all nodded in agreement.

"Yes, yes, your cooking is so delicious," Da Pan said enthusiastically.

“Yes, Chiyo, come aboard our ship, we need you so much,” Felina said, holding Chiyo’s hand.

The others stared intently at Chiyo.