One Piece Gunslinger

However, no matter how elegant Li Ang pretended, it was useless; his small, dilapidated boat had already exposed the fact that he was a poor wretch.

It's like you can judge a person's wealth and financial status by the luxury cars they drive to eat at restaurants.

Li Ang arrived in a small, dilapidated boat, which is like riding a shared bicycle to a five-star hotel. No matter how rich you pretend to be, no one will believe you.

If Li Ang were to find out it was because of the dilapidated little boat, he would definitely vehemently refute it, saying, "This is an epic-level dilapidated little boat; I wouldn't trade it for an entire floating restaurant."

Although Baratie is a restaurant, its owner, or rather its head chef, Zeff, was actually a pirate who had been to the Grand Line before he switched careers and opened a restaurant.

So the chefs who come here by reputation are all tough guys with considerable skills; they can cook and they can also handle pirates. There have been plenty of troublesome pirates before, and they've all been dealt with by these chefs.

This segment, which punishes those clueless pirates, is actually quite popular with customers. This creates a stark contrast, giving those VIPs who spend a lot of money to elegantly sip red wine here an unconscious sense of superiority.

Since they can create a zone where the navy and pirates can coexist peacefully for the time being without fighting, they must have some strength.

However, the restaurant's formidable fighting power is relative to ordinary people; those oddly shaped pirates aren't much stronger than average. But against someone like Krieg, they'd be helpless.

Not to mention, Leon is far superior to Krieg. He's never seen that great pirate before; even if it were the Four Emperors or the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Leon could hold his own against them. Krieg is simply too young and inexperienced. Pirates really should improve their knowledge.

However, Li Ang was not a bad person. As the chief of staff of the revolutionary army, it would be shameful enough for him to come and eat without paying. Let alone forcing someone to eat without paying by force.

However, Li Ang remained calm under pressure. Faced with the fat chef's question, Li Ang thought of a solution while calmly retorting, "What? This is the first time I've heard of a restaurant where you pay in advance. Do you think I can't afford the meal?"

"Wow, looks like I was fooled by his performance earlier. This is definitely not the kind of rude pirate he is; he actually knows that restaurants like this usually serve food first and then you pay," the fat, big-eared chef thought to himself.

This only shows that the economic situation in the One Piece world is backward. It is common sense to pay the bill after eating in such a luxurious restaurant, but in the eyes of these poor people, this common sense simply does not exist.

So the fact that Li Ang was able to ask this question at least shows that even if he had never been to Lei De's restaurant, he still knew something about it.

If the chef were to shamelessly admit it like Li Ang did at this point, it would inevitably affect the mood of other customers, making the place feel like a roadside stall.

But if we back down, what if Li Ang really came here to dine and dash? Wouldn't that be a huge loss?

As mentioned before, those customers actually witnessed this scene. However, in order to maintain their elegance and not openly turn their heads to look, pretending to casually watch the spectacle has become a common skill for regular customers.

For example, the man in the suit at the table to Li Ang's left—Li Ang saw him put down his knife and fork and wipe his mouth with a napkin, using this as an excuse to quietly watch the show.

However, the fat, big-eared chef couldn't solve the problem, so another chef immediately came forward and explained, "No, no, no, he can't speak properly, please don't mind him. We just see that you're a stranger, so it must be your first time here. We don't know what dishes we have or the prices, so why don't you take a look at the menu first?"

This guy speaks much more skillfully. If Li Ang were the kind of pretentious pirate who actually didn't have much money, he would definitely have inadvertently revealed some unusual expression after looking at the menu, which would have made it perfectly justifiable to throw him out.

However, although Li Ang was penniless, he certainly wasn't going to stoop to those naive, inexperienced pirates. Even though he hadn't yet realized that his tiny, dilapidated ship had betrayed him, he had a plan the moment he received the menu.

"Well, this is a bit pricey," Li Ang said, feigning surprise.

Seeing Li Ang's surprised expression, the chef chuckled to himself, "Heh heh, you've finally shown your true colors. If you know what's good for you, go back on your own. If you don't, don't blame us for taking action."

However, Li Ang's next words shattered his illusions: "Well, the same dishes are generally 10% to 30% more expensive, which isn't too outrageous. I guess it's because it's at sea, and the ingredients are difficult to transport and store. But some seafood dishes are cheaper, which seems to be related to the location of the restaurant at sea, so it's not unacceptable."

Li Ang's words surprised the chefs; he seemed to know his stuff. He knew roughly how much each dish should cost and even figured out that the price difference was due to being at sea. This guy must have been to quite a few restaurants.

Li Ang smugly thought to himself, "Hmph, you're still too green to fight me. The Revolutionary Army has more than two hundred islands, more than a dozen countries, dozens of cities, and hundreds of villages and towns under its control. Which luxury hotel don't I own? Well, I've investigated them. These are all money-making industries. They make money from these wealthy tourists entirely through the catering and service industries."

Hey, to be honest, this poor guy has only done some research and hasn't actually eaten a lot of fancy meals. No wonder he's so keen on having a free meal at a seaside restaurant.

However, just when Li Ang thought he had this skill in the bag, the chefs saw him as a professional at dining and dashing, because he had eaten at many restaurants without paying, which was why he was so professional.

Ultimately, it all comes down to that shabby little boat. Even if Li Ang had swum across, it might have been better than using that boat. And yet, it shamelessly remained moored beside the floating restaurant, making it impossible not to suspect something was amiss.

However, the chefs couldn't just say things like, "Your ship is too shabby, you must be a poor wretch," because that would damage the restaurant's reputation. They might even get a beating from a couple of overly sympathetic customers.

Seeing that the second chef had also failed, another chef stepped forward and replaced him.

"What dishes would you like to order, sir?"

This question, though seemingly ordinary, was, in Li Ang's keen observation, laced with malicious intent.

"Sigh, it seems these people haven't let their guard down yet. Do I really look that much like a poor wretch?" Li Ang hadn't realized that it was his little wrecked boat that betrayed him; after all, the little wrecked boat was priceless in his eyes.

If Li Ang were to just randomly order food like that, the chefs would be ready to throw him out the next second. There's a lot of knowledge involved in ordering food.

What to eat as an appetizer, what to eat next with soup, what to pair with the main dishes, what to eat as a staple food, what to eat for dessert, and what to drink.

These things would certainly not be a problem for someone who has been through many dinner parties, but for Li Ang, they were a real headache.

First of all, Li Ang knew absolutely nothing about Western food—he was only vaguely familiar with it. Not to mention, even with Chinese cuisine, Li Ang had never studied how to pair dishes; he always mingled with the roughnecks in the revolutionary army, eating whatever was available.

Most people probably cook and eat at home on a whim, and even when making simple home-cooked meals, they don't bother with all the formalities.

Thus, Li Ang faced the biggest problem: whether he could get a free meal.

Chapter 177 Overt Scheme

"What kind of world is this? Is it so hard to even dine and dash?" Li Ang thought to himself, secretly worried as he faced the aggressive chef at the sea restaurant.

Sigh, this guy doesn't even realize he's going to such lengths to get a free meal. It's ridiculous.

Li Ang doesn't know how to order food, but there are countless experts.

Li Ang doesn't actually need to break through this barrier head-on; seeking external assistance is also a viable option.

So Li Ang rolled his eyes, closed the menu, and said, "Although I've heard a lot about this restaurant, I'm a newcomer and don't know much about its specialties. Oh, right..."

As he spoke, Li Ang stood up and walked over to the man in the suit who had been wiping his mouth for over a minute, asking, "Excuse me, are you a regular customer here?"

Hehe, I can't let you watch the show for nothing, it's your turn to put in some effort now.

"Uh, yes."

The man in the suit was clearly unprepared and had no idea that Li Ang would drag him into the battlefield. He was caught off guard and didn't react for a moment.

"Oh, thank you." Li Ang thanked the man in the suit, then smiled at the chef and said, "You must know this restaurant well. Since you can satisfy even the most discerning regulars, you must have something special about it. Why don't you just make me the same thing this gentleman ordered?"

Holy crap! At this moment, I'm like a million mythical beasts running through my mind. How could there be such a thing?

Although many chefs had long assumed that Li Ang was a penniless dine-and-dash wretch, they had never encountered such a formidable opponent before. For a moment, they were truly at a loss as to how to handle the situation.

Just as the chefs were at a loss, stammering and unsure what to do, a blond young man dressed in black walked out from behind. "What are you all doing? I mean, where is everyone in the kitchen? Get back here right now!"

That's right, this person is Sanji, the second-in-command of the Baratie restaurant and Zeff's personal disciple. As for the actual head chef, Zeff, he doesn't cook often anymore and is resting in his room right now.

Sanji has a strong talent for cooking, and his years of learning have made him even better than his master, making him fully capable of taking over the position of head chef.

So basically, Sanji manages the barracks most of the time. Judging from the situation, Zeff might even be considering entrusting the barracks to Sanji in the future.

However, Sanji's outfit is a bit questionable. While the others are all wearing chef's hats and light-colored clothes, Sanji is dressed entirely in black without a chef's hat, leaving his blond hair exposed.

In addition, the other chefs were either fierce-looking or dull-witted, all of them oddballs. This stark contrast in appearance made Sanji's handsome image stand out even more.

The chefs were unsure what to do, but when they saw Sanji arrive, they quickly went up to him and whispered in his ear.

"I see, that's how it is." Sanji nodded after listening, thinking to himself, "I didn't expect there to be professionals at dining and dashing these days. How many times must they have eaten to gain this kind of experience?"

Seeing that the main opponent had finally appeared, Li Ang decided to take the initiative and bring his opponent into his own rhythm, instead of passively accepting the test as before.

"Hey, you weird-looking guy, yes, I'm talking to you, Curly Eyebrows. Are you a chef here too?" Strike at the heart of the matter, Li Ang raised his hand and slapped Curly Eyebrows across the face.

This was the first time Sanji had ever heard the term "curly eyebrows," but for some reason, his anger level skyrocketed the moment he heard it.

However, no matter how dissatisfied Sanji was, he couldn't directly attack the guest. He could only grit his teeth and ask, "Yes, guest, what can I do for you?"

The chef, who had previously lost a game, chimed in, "Sanji is not only a chef, but the best chef we have here."

"I didn't expect you to be such a young man, but you're actually a chef. I never thought that the famous Baratie restaurant could be called a chef by such a greenhorn. Plus, the service has been terrible since I came in. It seems that the renowned Baratie is nothing but a fraud. It's really disappointing," Li Ang said bluntly.

As it turned out, the chef's words not only failed to highlight Sanji's prowess but also played right into Leon's hands. It's not the formidable opponent you should fear, but the incompetent teammate.

Sanji, who was being mocked repeatedly by Leon, also mocked Baratie. He wasn't exactly a laid-back cook; his temper, like Zoro's, was explosive.

"You bastard, what did you say?"

He was about to take action on the spot, well, to teach Li Ang a lesson by kicking him.

However, Li Ang seemed to have seen through everything, watching without moving as the chefs frantically pulled Sanji from behind.

Little brat, I don't even need to lift a finger, your teammates behind you will hold you off.

Seeing that Sanji had lost his mind, and that the first step of the strategic objective had been achieved, Li Ang quickly launched the next combo.

"What, you're not convinced? If you're not convinced, then bring up the food I just ordered. Use your cooking skills to prove the strength of your Barati and slap me in the face." Li Ang maintained that cheeky, mocking tone.

Upon hearing this, the clever Sanji gasped, his expression changed drastically, and he suddenly snapped out of his daze.

"Oh no, we've fallen for it!"

It's already good enough that Sanji realized he'd fallen into a trap. The other chefs around him were still wondering why Sanji had suddenly stopped struggling and turned pale.

That's right, ever since Sanji appeared, Leon had already prepared a big trap. He would use Baratie's position in Sanji's heart to provoke his anger, and then legitimately ask him to prove himself through his cooking skills.

If Sanji chooses to fight at this moment, giving it his all, he can go back and prepare a grand feast for Leon.

Li Ang made a huge profit, achieving his goal.

What is a slap in the face? Can you eat it? Anyway, I'm going to have a feast, a free meal, and a free meal made by Sanji. My goal has been achieved.

When the time comes, Li Ang will only need to say some nonsense like "Amazing, amazing, I admire you" after he finishes eating, and then he can row away in his little broken boat and no one will be able to catch him.

If Sanji refuses the fight and insists on driving Leon away, wouldn't that confirm the rumors that the Baratie is nothing special? What would the other customers think? What if word got out?

Sanji and the other chefs' pride wouldn't allow them to refuse.

Between two evils, choose the lesser. This is a perfectly legitimate and open strategy by Li Ang, forcing Sanji and the others to obediently serve him food.

So Sanji could only grit his teeth and say, "Go back, everyone. Let me cook for him myself."

There was nothing Sanji could do; since things had come to this, he didn't have many options and could only accept his fate.

These idiots hadn't even realized what was happening yet, and they were still pulling Sanji aside, asking, "Why did you cook for him? He was trying to dine and dash."

"Then do you dare to refuse?"

Sanji walked into the kitchen without turning his head.

Only then did these strangely shaped chefs realize what was happening. They glared at Li Ang with gritted teeth, determined to teach him a lesson after he finished eating.

"Tch, you bunch of freaks and idiots think you can punish me?" The chefs' expressions were undisguised, which Li Ang could easily see through. However, he didn't take these chefs, who were only slightly better than ordinary people, seriously.

"Hey, right. That curly eyebrow thing." Just as Sanji was about to go in, Li Ang hurriedly called out, "I have a little quirk, can you make another seafood fried rice? That's my little request, you can surely fulfill it, right? Hey, that one is for last."

Although Sanji didn't stop, Li Ang knew that Sanji would definitely remember this. Unless he wanted to be seen as someone who provided poor service.

He walked straight into the kitchen without stopping, perhaps to avoid Li Ang making any further demands.

"Sigh, was it easy for me?" After defeating the entire group of chefs from the sea restaurant, including Sanji, Li Ang sat in his chair and thought to himself.

"It's just a free meal, right? It's more tiring than fighting a war. First, it took two hours to find this place in this sea area, and then I had to outwit these chefs after I got in. If it weren't for my quick thinking, I would have wasted the whole day."