Eust’s next destination was the Baratie, the seafaring restaurant. But before that, there was an important matter to address: the use of Lilith’s ship evolution ability.
Once they had sailed far enough from Syrup Village and ensured there were no other ships nearby, Eust and his crew transferred their supplies to the Lilith and observed her Devil Fruit ability in action.
Like before, a plume of smoke rose, and Lilith completed her ship evolution after a short while. The ship’s size increased severalfold, and the original small sailboat disappeared.
Eust and his crew now had their own upgraded sailboat, which was significantly better than the first one. The larger cabin space made everything more convenient, and thanks to Merry’s design, it was also more comfortable and practical. The new Lilith even had a fully functional kitchen, which was crucial for their culinary needs.
During their stay in Syrup Village, Eust had casually gathered information and learned about the Baratie. He decided to visit, curious about Zeff’s culinary skills. Food always had an irresistible allure for food lovers like them.
Additionally, Eust discovered an interesting tidbit: one of Zeff’s chefs was skilled in a special sword technique, specifically Iaido. This gave Eust another reason to visit, hoping to learn and improve his swordsmanship.
With the hassle of managing two sailboats gone, their speed increased significantly. Lilith, being a Devil Fruit user with the ability to navigate automatically, was a great help.
Eust, ever the diligent captain, had Lilith practice her automatic navigation daily, saying it was to improve her control over her Devil Fruit ability. Lyra jokingly accused him of “child labor,” but they all got along well, their bond growing stronger over time.
Lilith was thrilled with the abundant food supply that allowed her to store energy and complete two ship evolutions in a short period. She was even happier to have Sunny as a companion, enjoying their chats and banter.
Initially, Eust valued Lilith for her role at sea. Later, he was pleased to see her get along well with Sunny and become an integral part of their crew. He worried that focusing too much on his strength training might neglect Sunny, but with Lyra and Lilith, Sunny always had company.
Lyra welcomed Lilith’s addition, which significantly improved their mobility and safety during their adventures. Lilith was considerate and likable, making her a cherished part of the crew.
Thanks to Lilith’s presence, they reached the Baratie in just two days. With Lilith handling the navigation, Eust and Sunny had plenty of time to train while Lyra continued to immerse herself in navigation knowledge.
When they arrived at the Baratie, they saw many ships docked nearby, indicating the restaurant’s surprising popularity. After securing the Lilith, Eust and his crew entered the restaurant, only to find it in chaos.
Eust quickly signaled Lyra to follow him, choosing a secluded table to sit and watch the unfolding drama. The chefs at Baratie were known to be battle-hardened, and Eust was curious to see how things would play out.
They saw four rough-looking men trying to catch a nimble young boy who skillfully evaded their grasps. When one of the men drew a long knife, intending to strike the boy, a chef appeared and knocked him out with the back of his knife. The chef then swiftly dealt with the other three men.
Eust noted the chef’s movements and strength, realizing that, even based on what little he showed, he was no match for him. In his transformed state, he suspected that even Sunny would struggle against this chef, whose legendary reputation preceded him.
As expected, the chef’s companion praised him loudly: “As expected of Chef Shano! His swift and decisive moves always handle trouble with a few quick strokes.”
Eust realized his assumption was correct. Shano was a swordsman and chef who had followed Zeff and Sanji from the start, known for his swift swordsmanship and Iaido. Shano had always handled Baratie’s “troubles” with clean, efficient action.
Just then, one of the men who had been knocked down earlier stood up and shouted, “You filthy chef! How dare you hit the crew of the Black Bear Pirates? Just wait until our captain, Black Bear, shows up. You’ll regret it!”
Eust chuckled to himself. The Baratie had been operating on the seas for a long time for a reason. If Zeff rarely needed to step in, it wasn’t because he was old or weak. Even this head chef, Shano, was more than a match for pirates with a bounty in the millions.
The Black Bear Pirates were an unknown group with weak crew members. Their captain was probably a low-bounty pirate, someone Eust could handle easily, and Sunny could likely defeat with a single blow.
Predictably, Chef Shano’s response was quick and effortless. He struck the speaker with a casual blow, sending him flying. Shano then gave some instructions to his staff and left the hall, while the boy who had been chased disappeared without a trace.
The other chefs efficiently managed the aftermath, indicating they were accustomed to handling such situations.
The regular patrons continued eating as usual while newcomers to Baratie discussed the incident in surprise.
Lyra, curious, asked Eust about Baratie. He suggested she order food first and promised to share more about the restaurant afterward.
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