บท 80: "Trouble on the Baratie"

As the Going Merry glided closer to the floating restaurant, the crew marveled at the Baratie's unique appearance. The ship resembled a massive fish, its vibrant colors and playful architecture standing out against the endless blue of the sea. Luffy bounced in excitement, eyes wide with anticipation, while Usopp pointed out every detail he could spot, as though he'd never see it again.

Raja, too, observed the lively scene, captivated by the sight. "This place… it's something else," he said, his eyes scanning the bustling restaurant. As they approached the dock, they noticed another ship anchored nearby — one bearing the unmistakable insignia of the Marines.

"Uh-oh. Trouble's here," Zoro muttered, crossing his arms as he spotted the Marine ship.

Before long, the crew spotted the Marines themselves — led by a tall man with a confident smirk and gleaming brass knuckles on his fists.

"That's Iron Fist Fullbody," Usopp whispered, pulling his hat lower. "He's got a reputation for being ruthless. He's one of the Marines you don't wanna mess with."

But that only seemed to excite Luffy more, his grin widening. "Ruthless, huh? This is gonna be fun!"

As they docked the Going Merry, Fullbody noticed them and sauntered over, his sneer widening as he took them in. "Pirates, huh? Just the kind of lowlifes I expected. You should know that the Grand Line is no place for amateurs," he sneered.

Luffy cocked his head to the side, unfazed. "You a Marine or a wannabe pirate?"

Fullbody's smirk faltered slightly as he glared at Luffy. "As a matter of fact, I am an officer of the Marines!" he bellowed. "And I have the authority to sink pirate ships on sight!"

Luffy looked at him, unimpressed. But Raja, sensing where this was going, gently nudged Luffy back. "Maybe it's better if we don't go picking fights with Marines right off the bat, Luffy. We're here to get some food."

But it was too late. Fullbody turned to his crew and gave a sharp order. "Men, fire on that pirate ship! Sink it!"

The Marines scrambled to their posts, loading up a cannon and taking aim at the Going Merry. Before Raja could intervene, Luffy launched forward, stretching his arm back as far as it would go, and then punched straight at the cannonball that had been fired, sending it sailing back through the air.

The ball didn't hit the Marine ship, though. Instead, it soared off course and smashed right into the upper deck of the Baratie, sending debris and smoke flying everywhere.

Everyone froze, staring in shock as the dust cleared to reveal the head chef himself, standing in the newly created hole in the deck, a furious expression on his face. Zeff was an older man, with a chef's hat and a thick mustache, and a wooden peg leg that didn't stop him from moving with incredible agility.

He scowled down at Luffy, who still had his fist extended, frozen mid-punch. "You're the one responsible for this mess?" he growled.

Luffy's face went blank. "Uh… sorry?"

Zeff hopped down, landing right in front of Luffy and folding his arms. "You're paying for this damage, kid. I don't care if you have to work here for a year."

Zoro and Usopp snickered as Luffy's face fell, realizing he'd just signed himself up for manual labor. But Raja looked up thoughtfully at the now-damaged upper deck and turned back to Zeff. "If you need help fixing things up, I can pitch in too. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve," he offered, drawing out his wand and giving it a quick spin.

But before Zeff could answer, they heard a commotion from inside the dining area. Someone was yelling — it was Iron Fist Fullbody again, causing a scene as he argued with one of the Baratie's chefs. Raja, Luffy, and the others peered inside to see Fullbody standing at his table, his face red with rage.

"What's the meaning of this?! This food is disgusting!" he shouted, flinging a bowl of soup onto the floor, where it splattered everywhere.

A blond man in a suit stood across from him, hands in his pockets and a scowl on his face. "Are you seriously wasting food?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous. This was Sanji, the sous-chef of the Baratie.

Fullbody sneered. "You call this slop food? Maybe if you had a little class, you'd know what real cuisine is!"

Sanji's scowl deepened, and in an instant, he lunged forward, landing a solid kick to Fullbody's chest that sent him sprawling onto the ground. The diners gasped, watching as Sanji towered over the Marine, his expression fierce. "Food is precious. Don't waste it," he snapped.

The fight might have continued, but at that moment, Luffy and Zeff, who had been arguing nearby, accidentally crashed through the ceiling and landed right on top of Fullbody, breaking up the altercation with an unexpected comedic twist. Fullbody scrambled to his feet, flustered and humiliated, as he stormed off, muttering under his breath about incompetent chefs and rowdy pirates.

As the restaurant settled down, a new figure stumbled into the dining area, clutching his stomach and looking weak. He was thin, with scruffy hair and a disheveled appearance. One of Fullbody's Marines spotted him and paled. "That's Gin, the escaped prisoner!" he shouted.

The Marine reached for his weapon, but before he could draw, a tall, gruff chef named Patty intercepted him. Patty punched Gin hard, knocking him to the ground, then grabbed him by the collar. "We don't serve troublemakers here," he said, dragging Gin toward the door.

"Wait." Sanji stepped forward, his eyes softening as he looked at the starving man. "He's just hungry. Let him eat."

Patty looked ready to argue, but Zeff nodded approvingly. Sanji led Gin to a table and served him a meal, watching with a small smile as Gin devoured it with gratitude. Gin glanced up at Sanji, and for a moment, his usual cold demeanor softened.

"Thank you… Sanji. I won't forget this kindness," Gin murmured, bowing his head in respect.

The moment seemed like it would pass quietly, but Luffy, with his ever-present curiosity, leaned over to Sanji and blurted, "Hey, join my crew!"

Sanji looked at him, one eyebrow raised, and shook his head. "Sorry, but I've got my own dreams to follow," he said with a grin.

As Gin left the Baratie, heading back out to sea, Sanji watched him go, unaware that Gin was returning to report to his captain, the infamous Don Krieg.

A Week Later

The days passed quickly as Luffy worked off his debt, scrubbing the floors and doing odd jobs around the restaurant. Raja, in the meantime, spent his time learning about the Baratie's unique magic, observing the chefs and occasionally lending a hand with his own magical tricks.

One day, however, a hulking ship limped into view, its sails tattered and its hull severely damaged. The crew and customers of the Baratie watched in stunned silence as the vessel came closer, recognizing the infamous figure who staggered onto the deck. It was Don Krieg, the pirate feared for his cruelty and ambition.

Kneeling on the floor, Krieg raised his hands in a plea. "Please… just give me food. I won't harm anyone here. My men are starving."

Zeff narrowed his eyes, but Sanji stepped forward, a plate of food in hand, and slid it across the floor to Krieg. "Eat," he said simply, ignoring the wary glances from the other chefs.

Krieg accepted the food, devouring it eagerly. But as soon as the plate was empty, his demeanor shifted. He rose to his feet, his eyes gleaming with malice as he cracked his knuckles. "Now that I've eaten, I think I'll take this ship as my own. Prepare yourselves, cooks — the Baratie belongs to me now!"

The other chefs gasped in horror, but Zeff remained calm. "You want a fight, huh?" he said, signaling to his chefs. "Fine. Ready the battle fins."

With a quick movement, the chefs flipped a switch, causing massive metal fins to rise from the sides of the Baratie, transforming it into a fortress on the sea. Raja, Luffy, and Zoro grinned, readying themselves for battle.

As Krieg barked orders to his crew, Zoro drew his swords, and Luffy cracked his knuckles. Raja prepared a series of defensive spells, layering magical protections over his friends as he prepared to launch into the fray.

But in the middle of the tension, Johnny and Yosaku came rushing up, shouting. "The Going Merry is gone!" they cried. "Nami… she stole it and left us behind!"

"What?" Usopp yelled, his face contorting in shock and anger. "She took our ship?!"

Zoro cursed under his breath, his grip tightening on his swords. "That traitor… After all this time, she just took off?"

Luffy's expression darkened, but he shook his head. "Go after her. I'll stay here and help."

With a reluctant nod, Zoro, Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku prepared to track down Nami, their hearts heavy with confusion and betrayal. As they set off, Krieg's laughter filled the air, mocking them all.

"Looks like your little crew's falling apart already," Krieg sneered. But before he could say another word, Luffy launched himself at the pirate captain, landing a powerful punch that echoed through the air.

"Doesn't matter!" Luffy shouted, fire in his eyes. "We're gonna get her back, and you're not taking anything from us!"

The battle was far from over, and the Straw Hats' bonds would soon be tested in ways they had never imagined. But with every challenge, they grew stronger, and their determination burned brighter, ready for whatever lay ahead.