Pirates: Martial Arts Masters on the Straw Hat Ship

Dusk, the kitchen of the Merry.

After the false alarm, everyone sat down around the dining table.

Nami distributed the remaining limes to everyone, forcing them to eat them to prevent illness.

Luffy grimaced from the sourness while looking at Nami with admiration:

"Nami, you're amazing! Just like a doctor, you diagnosed that illness at a glance!"

Usopp chimed in as he skinned her, "Hmph, I knew you were something special, woman. No wonder you're our pirate crew's navigator."

Nami rolled her eyes at them, annoyed. "Stop flattering me! You don't even have this much common sense? You'll all be dead sooner or later!"

She spread a nautical chart on the table, her expression serious.

"This time we were lucky to run into someone as knowledgeable as me. But once we enter the Grand Line, the most deadly enemies will be the various unknown diseases and food shortages in that harsh environment."

"so……"

Nami's gaze swept over everyone: "Our current food reserves and nutrition management have huge hidden dangers."

Ronan nodded and continued:

"That's right."

"On our ship, there is a serious lack of someone who can properly combine ingredients, ensure everyone's nutritional balance, and also cook delicious food during long voyages."

All eyes turned to each other instantly.

Luffy slammed his hand on the table: "I told you! We need one—"

"Shut up! You're not a musician!" Zoro slapped Luffy on the head, shutting him up.

"We need a sea chef!" Nami made the final decision.

Johnny and Joseph, who were happily munching on apples, exchanged a glance upon hearing this.

Johnny pushed up his sunglasses and interjected, "Um... if we're looking for a chef, we know a good place."

"Oh?" Luffy's ears perked up.

Joseph continued, "Not far from this sea area, there is a very famous ship."

That was a sacred place in the hearts of all the starving men adrift at sea.

"The legendary floating restaurant, Barratier!"

"It's said that top chefs from all over the world gather there; if you have the money, you can eat the most delicious food in the world!"

"The most delicious food?!" Luffy's eyes instantly turned into the shape of meat and bones, and saliva flowed down his face like a waterfall. "It's decided! We're going there!"

Ronan, holding his teacup, watched Luffy's excited expression and thought to himself:

Is it finally coming...? Baratie, the sea restaurant.

That lecherous cook with curly eyebrows, and... that man with the title of "World's Greatest Swordsman," Djorakor Mihawk.

Ronan turned to look at Zoro, who was wiping the Wado Ichimonji.

At this moment, Zoro was unaware that he was about to face the greatest setback of his life, which would also be his greatest awakening.

"Zoro," Ronan suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?" Zoro looked up.

"When you get there, you might meet someone you've always wanted to see," Ronan said meaningfully.

Zoro paused for a moment, then seemed to sense something, his grip on his sword tightened slightly, and a terrifying fighting spirit burst forth from his eyes.

"Really... I can't wait!"

The Merry adjusted its course and, in the afterglow of the setting sun, sped toward the legendary floating restaurant.

......

The East China Sea, a certain sea area.

After a full day of sailing, the wind and waves on the sea seemed to have calmed down considerably.

The midday sun shone vertically onto the azure ocean surface, creating layers of golden, fish-scale-like shimmering light.

A mouthwatering aroma gradually filled the air—

It was a blend of the rich, oily aroma of pan-fried steak, the sweet and savory flavor of seafood broth, and the wheaty fragrance of freshly baked bread.

"Slurp..."

Luffy was perched on the goat's head on the prow of the Going Merry, his nose twitching like a radar, and drool had already formed a small river on the floor.

"It smells so good...it smells like meat!"

As the Merry sped forward, a breathtaking floating structure suddenly came into view.

It was a huge ship, or rather, a mobile castle floating on the sea.

Its overall shape resembles a giant fish, with bright red fins and a rounded belly.

The bow is shaped like an open fish mouth and also serves as the main entrance to the restaurant. The massive masts soar into the clouds, and the decks on both sides are as wide as a plaza.

Several huge letters were prominently displayed on the hull of the ship: "BARATIE".

This is the legendary floating restaurant, Baladi.

"Wow--!!"

Everyone on board the Going Merry gasped in amazement.

Johnny excitedly jumped onto the barrel and pointed to the giant ship in the distance, explaining:

"How about it! This is the most famous floating restaurant in the East China Sea! Isn't it spectacular, everyone!"

"What a huge fish!" Luffy's eyes lit up; he wished he could just bounce himself off with his rubber arm. "If this were edible, how long would it take to eat it?!"

Nami leaned against the railing, a fleeting glimpse of money symbols in her eyes before transforming into pure appreciation:

"It's really quite good. This unique design ensures stability while also attracting customers on the open sea. The owner must be a person with great taste (and a lot of money)."

"That's too wild..."

Usopp held his binoculars, watching the endless stream of diners on the restaurant deck and the waiters in their neat uniforms.

"Opening a restaurant in the middle of the ocean, far from land, is simply a crazy idea."

Ronan stood on one side of the deck, carrying his eighteen-foot iron spear, his gaze fixed intently on Baratie.

"This is such a completely different feeling from watching anime..."

He sighed inwardly.

Anime scenes are two-dimensional, but when this majestic sea monster stands in real life before your eyes, the visual impact is unparalleled.

He could even see diners enjoying themselves on the second-floor terrace of the restaurant, raising their glasses in a relaxed manner, and hear the faint sounds of piano music and laughter.

"This is where Sanji makes his appearance."

Just as everyone was immersed in their culinary fantasies—

"Waaaaah—!!"

A deep, heavy whistle suddenly sounded from the right side of the Merry, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

A huge shadow instantly enveloped the Going Merry, blocking out the bright sunlight.

Johnny instinctively turned around and was immediately so shocked that his sunglasses tilted to one side, and his face turned deathly pale: "This...this is! A Navy warship!!"

Everyone looked up.

A small naval vessel, roughly the same size as the USS Merry, was seen sailing alongside them with imposing grandeur.

The seagull emblem and the word "MARINE" on the hull exuded a breathtaking aura under the sunlight.

Although the dark cannon muzzle wasn't deliberately aimed, its cold, metallic texture was enough to terrify any small-time pirate.

"This is the first time I've seen a navy ship this close up."

Ronan narrowed his eyes slightly, subtly releasing his Observation Haki.

He could sense that there was no particularly powerful aura on the warship; it was mostly just the blood and qi fluctuations of ordinary soldiers.