C17 Baratie Restaurant Vicious Marquis Garp

Lin Mo departed from Frost Moon Village and spent a full week navigating the sea. On the afternoon of the eighth day, he finally caught sight of the Baratie's silhouette on the horizon. Baratie was a renowned floating restaurant in the East Blue, where patrons were strictly required to adhere to the 'no food waste' policy. With its crew of fully-armed combat chefs, Baratie had earned a reputation as a 'battling' restaurant.

Lin Mo, familiar with the ins and outs of such establishments, knew that the key figures for completing his sign-in mission would likely be Baratie's head chef and owner, Red-footed Zeff, and the soon-to-be sous chef, Sanji. As Lin Mo's small boat drew near to Baratie, he noticed the bustling activity around the restaurant, with many ships already docked in the vicinity. He casually moored his boat between two larger vessels, securing it with a rope before stepping onto Baratie's deck.

No sooner had Lin Mo set foot on board than the familiar ping of a system notification echoed in his mind. [Beep! Congratulations, host, for successfully reaching the sign-in zone at Baratie. Sign-in progress: +10%. Current total progress: 10%. Reward: New skill acquired - Flash Step LV1. System space expanded tenfold. Current total system space: 100x100x100 cubic meters.] The space was vast enough to stockpile a year's worth of food and drink for Lin Mo alone.

As the details of Flash Step downloaded into his consciousness, Lin Mo's eyes sparkled with anticipation. This was a technique that enabled rapid movement, allowing one to relocate to an opponent's side or even further in the blink of an eye, unseen. The advanced version, Flash Step, could even whisk him out of an encirclement.

To Lin Mo, Flash Step was an excellent auxiliary skill.

He pushed open the grand red doors leading to the dining hall and entered with a calm demeanor. The hall was bustling with diners already enjoying their meals. Just then, a hulking man with a wide mouth and a simian-like face approached Lin Mo, hands rubbing together. "Welcome, kiddo. This place isn't for the penniless. You got any money?" Lin Mo looked up to meet the man's gaze. It was Patty.

Patty had once been a pirate before he found his calling at the Baratie Restaurant, where he now serves as both a chef and a combat staff member.

It's perfectly normal to pay for a meal at a restaurant.

Lin Mo saw no issue with Patty's upfront inquiry about whether he had money.

With a nonchalant pat, Lin Mo pulled out a coin pouch and weighed it in his palm.

Patty's ears perked up, and his face broke into a beaming smile. "The customer is king. Right this way, please."

He seated Lin Mo at an empty table and presented a menu with a sly grin, rubbing his hands and squinting his eyes in a rather sleazy fashion. "What'll it be?" he asked.

Lin Mo gave the menu a quick once-over. The prices were certainly steeper than those on land.

He made a few selections without much thought.

Patty had just finished jotting down Lin Mo's choices when the doors of Barati swung open once more.

Two young men donned in Navy uniforms stepped in, commanding attention.

Following them was a towering figure in a dog mask, striding in with confidence.

"Welcome, Vice Admiral Garp," Patty greeted the newcomer with a warm smile.

Garp let out a hearty laugh. "I've missed Barati's desserts. Bring me all the best sweets you've got!"

"Coming right up!" Patty chirped, quickly setting Garp up at the table adjacent to Lin Mo's.

The two Navy officers accompanying Garp stood erect behind him.

Lin Mo stole a glance at the man.

Indeed, he was Luffy's grandfather, Dragon's father, the renowned Iron Fist Garp of the Navy.

Garp's prowess had long outstripped the rank of Vice Admiral, evident from his past pursuits of the Pirate King Roger, pushing him to the brink on numerous occasions.

Yet, his repeated refusals of promotion to Navy Admiral had kept him at his current rank.

Lin Mo recalled the call Garp made to Red Hair in Windmill Village and surmised that Garp's return to the East Blue was likely to visit Luffy.

It was an unexpected twist of fate to cross paths with Garp here at Barati.

After taking a swig from his drink, Lin Mo set his wine gourd on the table.

Garp, seated nearby, caught a whiff and turned to Lin Mo, curiosity piqued. "Kid, what's in that gourd of yours?"

"Wine," Lin Mo responded nonchalantly.

Garp's attention shifted, and he suddenly noticed the Lake Toya hanging from Lin Mo's waist. Stroking his chin in contemplation, he inquired, "Are you a swordsman?"

Lin Mo kept drinking, showing no interest in replying.

Garp burst into laughter, "Hahaha, you're quite the intriguing kid. What's your name?"

After downing his wine, Lin Mo replied coolly, "Lin Mo."

"Did you come to Baratie alone?"

"Mhm."

"And which island are you from?"

Lin Mo gave him a silent, exasperated look.

Was this guy trying to pry into his personal details?

Ignoring him, Lin Mo went back to his drink.

Just then, a blond boy with multiple band-aids on his face approached, carrying two plates of food.

"Your meal is served. Enjoy."

The newcomer was none other than nine-year-old Sanji, destined to be the chef and a key fighter aboard the future Pirate King Luffy's ship.

After setting the dishes before Lin Mo,

Sanji turned to head back to the kitchen.

But before he could leave,

A series of grating voices reached his ears from a nearby table.

"Why are there carrots in the fried rice? I absolutely detest carrots. Such a disgusting thing shouldn't even exist!"

"Oh dear, if you don't like it, we can just throw it away. Shall we order another one without carrots?"

The speakers were a lavishly dressed young woman and her ten-year-old son.

Sanji glanced over at their table,

Wishing he hadn't. The sight nearly sent him into a rage.

The boy had carelessly dumped a plate of fried rice onto the table and was stirring it around with a spoon, occasionally spilling grains onto the floor.

For Sanji, who had nearly starved to death once,

Such disrespect for food was unforgivable.

"Hey!" Sanji stormed over to the child squandering the meal.

The child's mother, the young woman, noticing Sanji's approach, quickly said, "Perfect timing. We'd like to place a new order."

But Sanji wasn't interested in taking orders. He demanded, "Do you have any idea how many people in the world are going hungry? How can you justify wasting food like this?"

The young woman paused, a frown creasing her brow. "What are you even saying? It's my money, and if I want to waste my food, that's my business. How does it concern you?"

"Damn it! What good is having more money?" Sanji's fists were clenched, his voice filled with passion. "In a place where there's nothing to eat, can money satisfy your hunger?"