Boy Who Has Grow Up and Change
Zeff had raised Sanji for nine years. He had seen that Eggplant grow from cowardly kid who swung between trying-to-hard and cowardice, into a fine young man who deserve his spot as Sous Chef in Baratie. He was the one who imparted Sanji of his knowledge, knowing that since they shared the same Dream of Finding All Blue, Sanji is his successor.
That allows him to notice when Sanji was acting out of order.
It started a few weeks ago.
Sanji looks a little bit lost. As if he had been binge drinking last night and unable to tell if he was still dreaming, or awake with hangover. A good knock on his head settle the issue… but it wasn't over. Far from it.
Zeff is the one who taught him about Cooking, polishing the raw potential Sanji has and helped him refine his skills. The one who tested out his creations.
That noon, Sanji mixed a spice blend into perfection. One that Zeff swore he haven't find the correct ratio yet, a new creation he thought up the day before. It took chef some bit of time to perfect their recipes so the end result won't taste disgusting or off-putting…
…and yet Sanji mixed the blends with precision and ease of seasoned chef who had been done that for years. As if he had perfected it years ago and been using it since ever.
There's also that quirk of his. Once in a while, Sanji would cook outrageousproportion of food. As if he was preparing to cook for a whole army. That time when a Navy ship anchored next to Baratie and requested dozens portions to feed the men, and Sanji had their order done in a record time.
Patty was the one who commented on it, and the eggplant look startled. As if he didn't notice that he was cooking a large serving means for dozens of people. They had to do "Day Special Menu" so that the food won't go to waste.
Eggplant has a crisis.
Then, things take for weird turn five days ago.
It started with Marine named Fullbody entered the premise.
Now, Zeff was watching to make sure Sanji wasn't unconsciously cooking large portion again… and he got front row view of the Eggplant stiffening and confused. Looking as if the world suddenly stop making sense.
He was looking around the restaurant, as if looking for someone. Going as far as looking at the ships that dropping anchor around Baratie. When Carne call him to get back to cook, Zeff was suddenly reminded of Eggplant from years ago who easily wilted for no reason.
That was… concerning.
His moping stayed for the whole day and night. And while he keep making good food, he bring down the kitchen's overall mood.
Patty had enough when Sanji wordlessly feed the stowaway from Don Krieg's pirate, and to everyone's surprise, Sanji didn't fight back. Not even verbally. He just going on silently.
That was veryconcerning.
Two days after, three days before today, has Sanji's mood flipped upside down when he got a hold of the News Coo.
Many chefs and waiters were steering clear from the sudden dark aura Sanji emitted.
"Oi, Eggplant." Zeff warily watched him. "See something bad?"
"Ah, it's fine, Old Geezer." Sanji smiled with eyes closed. His eyebrow, though, was twitching in irritation. "I just finally found out why the people who reserve seats for yesterday didn't show up and making the food goes to waste~ Good thing Gin was there to eat the food, eh~"
The aura, if anything, gets darker.
Everyone gave Sanji wide, wideberth.
Especially when he sing his rendition of a song.
The cheery tune truly mislead of how angryhe was.
"What do we do with late customer?What do we do with late customer?What do we do with late customer?So late from the promised day"
"Owner." Patty hissed. "Sanji scares us." His eyes were full blown wide from fear.
Zeff patted him in the arms.
Today… today Zeff was overseeing the kitchen. The paperworks was done and he want to see the chef works. Also… making sure Sanji didn't do something… drastic.
"Welcome to Baratie you lowlifes who forgot your appointment date." He turn a little pale when he heard Sanji greeted customers with voice sweet as cyanide. From his station, Carne is already whispering prayer for those poor unfortunate souls. "Here's your complimentary soup. I shall bring your meal soon. Unfortunately, we ran out of several key ingredients so if you allow me, I shall take liberty in deciding replacement menu. And you louts. Don't. get. To. Protest. Capiche?"
"...yes…"
"As of you two, I'll have someone bring you orange juice. Please take your time. It's on the house. You're looking like ready to drop dead."
Soon after, Sanji entered the kitchen and went to his work station. He began pulling ingredients after ingredients.
"Oi,Crap-Geezer." He called. "You might want to go out and receive order. There's a VIP out there, just saying."
Curious, Zeff look out to the restaurant, some eggplants follow after him.
They stares.
"Hoooooly shiiiiit." Patty breathes. "Someone punch me I must be dreaming."
"If you're dreaming then so do I!"
Zeff can't blame them.
Because the one who was sitting on a table near the despondent quartet of teenager, one of which was the famous Pirate Hunter, and a duo who looks worse for wear and was sitting awkwardly, was one of Seven Warlord of the Sea, Knight of the Sea Jinbei.
VIP indeed.
The Warlord notice Zeff before the chef halfway across the room.
"Owner." He greeted him respectfully.
"Well, I'll be." Zeff smirked, hiding how beads of sweat went down his neck. "Never have I thought a Warlord would grace my humble abode. What brought you all the way to East Blue, Knight of the Sea"
"I," at this, Jinbe grimaces, "was receiving a call about my… errant kin… and decide that checking up on them is long overdue."
Ah right. Zeff recall that there was a news on how The Arlong Pirates were taken down by a new and upcoming Rookie… and it was not even the Captain who deliver the last blow. Followed shortly by uproar caused by news that the Pirates were in a deal with Marine base to hide their activity.
Since this could've worsen the relationship between Human and Fishmen, it was no strange that Jinbe personally show up once he received the call.
"I was about to head back to Ryugu Kingdom when I was told about this place." Jinbe continues. "It intrigues me, of the "hidden" policy of yours."
At this, Zeff can't hide his smile.
Yes, Sanji did cause trouble with his fellow chef when he gone on their back and feed the customer who can't pay. Regardless, that Eggplant did some good. Being starved on open sea is a torture. And that's not counting scurvy.
Hm… these duo did looks like they were barely recover from such ordeal. On the House, indeed.
"Baratie prided itself of giving exemplar service." Zeff informs Jinbe with head held high. "As a floating restaurant owner, and a former pirate myself, I know the horror of being starved on open water. Be it human, fishmen, or any other race, be it pirate, marine, and every other occupation, if we can afford it, we will serve you." His eyes then narrowed. "However, if you bother our other customers from enjoying their meal, then I'm afraid, Warlord or not, I will have to throw you out of my establishment."
Jinbe nodded.
"I'm pleased to hear it." He slid over a paper. It was a list of meal. "Aside from Salmon Mozuku Seaweed, may I have the rest in take-outs? I am… thinking of carrot and stickapproach in reeducating a more… bigotedmember of my kin."
"Of course." Zeff tipped his hat.
Sanji decide that was the time to return and serve the table of full of despondent, and scared, and remorse teenagers. Ooh, so they are the ones who made Eggplant's mood goes on roller coaster.
His eyes meet with eggplant's.
Leave them to me.He mouthed. They are mine.
Zeff's eyebrow rose. He can taste the sheer possessiveness. And not just because they anger him over not showing up at appointed time but a few days later. No. It goes deeper than that.
His eyebrows went higher when the quartet seems to be displeased at the meal Sanji presented, most likely he choose their least favorite food or close to it (and how did he know? Zeff's guts seems to be adamant on it but how did Sanji knew their preference?), but they squared on and began eating what Sanji gave them. Even praised it. Genuinely.
…interesting.
BANG!
"Please… someone, anyone… feed us!" That was the man from few days ago. He was… oh for real? "We have money this time!"
Zeff really hate how his instinct to feed anyone who need food warring with cautiousness borne of years in piracy.
He can smell trouble in Horizon.
And trouble, it comes, when the bastard tried to attack Eggplant after he feed him. Well, at least it won't connect. Eggplant easily deflected the attack… huh.
Since when Eggplant know Haki? And… isn't that Marine's top technique? Iron Body, was it?
"Nice try bastard." Sanji smirked darkly. "But nobody mess with Baratie, got it?"
"You… do you know who I am?"
Sanji regard him from top to bottom and back to top before answering blandly, "Grand Line reject who can't even last a week at the sea where Sanity goes to Die?"
"Pffft!" The Pirate Hunter nearly spit his drink from laughing. "Nice one, Eyebrows."
"I'll dump all the sake, don't test me, Mosshead." Sanji replied without missing a beat. Turning to Don Krieg, he continue, "Food for One hundred men, right? I'll get it. You try something, your spine pay for it."
"How do you know he want food for one hundred men, Eggplant?" Zeff pondered, approaching him.
"Feel it."
Observation, too? Where did Eggplant learn it? Who teach him?
"You…" Don Krieg turned to him. "You're Red-Leg Zeff."
Zeff was very unamused at this Grand Line Rejec's monologuing. About taking his log book to go and conquer the grand line. Bitch, it's cookbook. Yes, it mention islands on Grand Line… and the ingredients found in them! And really, did he think just because he has many ships and followers he can conquer grand line? Please.
The table of the previously despondent teenagers was snickering.
"What's so funny?!" Demanded Don Krieg.
"You." The boy with the Straw Hat grinned. "You claim you want to conquer the Grand Line? You don't even last long in Paradise! Ain't no way you could conquer the Grand Line!"
"Paradise?! You call Pirate Graveyard "Paradise"?!" Don Krieg was incensed. "Do you think that place was a Joke, boy?! I have 50 ships and 5000 men and my ships were cut by the Sword Devil!"
"Ah please." The girl replied, looking at her nails. "There are many people who can claim same feat in Grand Line. Well, maybe not in Paradise half, but New World half? Oh they're by dozens." She glanced at increasingly infuriated Don Krieg. "Want us to not look down on you? Reach Sabaody first. Then we talk."
"Oi, Nami. Sabaody is too far." The longnose waved his hand. "Maybe we should cut him something easier. How about Water Seven? Eh, assuming him and his men survived Jaya if he took that route."
Zeff's estimation rose up.
Well, damn.
He thought these kids are just thrill-seekers… but the way they're not even fazes in face of Don Krieg… Using Pirate Lingo like Paradise and New World, even named hotspots of Grand Line… not to mention the way they carried themselves…
They are not ordinary kids. Far from it.
A glance at the warlord seated here confirm as much.
If Jinbe is interested in them, then undoubtedly they'll made it far.
"Here you go. Food for 100 men." Sanji dropped a sack full of food. "I suggest you to hurry up and never look back. Hawkeye Mihawk is not someone who let go of his amusement lightly."
That got Don Krieg and his man to tense.
"I'll be back to take this ship." He threatened, or tried to. "Everyone remaining here will be killed." And… he's gone.
The Straw Hat boy blinked, then turned to the Fishmen. "Is he blind? How come he never notice you, Jinbe?"
The Warlord shrugged. "Hubris. Maybe." He replied, then turning to Zeff, "May I have my order for later? I think… I may have to referee my fellow Warlord's match."
Zeff smirked.
"Of course." He agreed.
Today is promising to be a very interesting day, isn't it?