The East Blue.
This was Morpheus's first stop in exploring the One Piece world.
Since he wanted to take in the sights, the East Blue was a must. It had iconic locations like the Baratie, Loguetown—where Roger was executed—and Cocoyasi Village, all worth visiting.
He was particularly curious about the taste of Cocoyasi Village's oranges.
The Kingdom of Goa, touted as the East Blue's most beautiful kingdom, was also worth a look.
So, Morpheus and Nico Robin left the Grand Line for the East Blue.
After some discussion, they started with Goa. The kingdom lived up to its reputation—people were impeccably dressed, streets spotless, stunningly pristine.
Not a speck of trash or a single beggar in sight.
No wonder it was called the East Blue's most beautiful nation. It was genuinely clean.
If Morpheus didn't know its secret, he might've thought the nobility managed it well. But in truth, they'd simply expelled all the "trash" and beggars.
Despicable.
Still, Morpheus wasn't a saint. He didn't judge their actions. Their methods would backfire eventually, and they'd face the consequences.
After a pleasant day in Goa, he and Robin set sail the next morning for the Baratie.
They soon arrived. The restaurant matched its manga depiction—a massive ship with fish-shaped figureheads at both ends, looking bizarre to Morpheus, though the locals were unfazed.
Inside, before he could settle, a blond, curly-browed man dashed toward them.
He dropped to one knee before Robin, producing a red rose from nowhere and presenting it to her.
"Welcome to the Baratie. I'm Sanji, the chef, at your service."
Morpheus's lips twitched. Classic Sanji, the lecherous kappa, always pulling off what others couldn't.
Robin smiled, about to respond, when a burly man with braided mustaches charged over, kicking Sanji hard.
The force sent Sanji crashing into the restaurant's wall with a resounding thud.
It was Zeff, the Baratie's owner and head chef, a retired pirate.
"You trying to kill me, you bastard?" Sanji leapt up, yelling at Zeff, claiming he'd nearly seen his grandmother in the afterlife.
"Don't harass the guests, you idiot! Next time, I'll break your legs!" Zeff glared at his near-adopted son, itching to hurl the restaurant at his head.
"Say that again, you old geezer!" Sanji, fuming, rolled up his sleeves for a fight, but a group of chefs restrained him.
A waiter-chef guided Morpheus and Robin to a table.
Once the commotion settled, Sanji calmed down, dismissed the guide, and approached Robin with a grin. "Beautiful lady, here's the menu. What would you like?"
Robin handed it to Morpheus. "Boss, you order."
Morpheus didn't even glance at it, tossing it back. "Bring out all your signature dishes."
Sanji's expression cooled. "Sir, we have many signature dishes. You two won't finish them. Wasting food is shameful."
"Just bring them," Morpheus said, unperturbed.
Sanji, annoyed that Morpheus ignored him, was about to argue when Zeff stormed over, smacking him on the head.
"Do what the guest says, and don't talk back!" Zeff dragged Sanji away.
Robin chuckled. "Interesting young man, isn't he?"
"Just a lecherous kappa," Morpheus said. "I've seen plenty like him across the multiverse. Sanji stands out because of his top-tier cooking and… his combat skills. That's what makes him unique. Without that, he's just another pervert."
About twenty minutes later, the dishes arrived—over twenty lavish delicacies, each generously portioned.
In the real world, it would take dozens to finish them. Here, Morpheus alone could manage.
Robin ate less than a tenth before she was full, leaving the rest to Morpheus.
"Not bad for the East Blue's famous restaurant."
"Really? I thought it was average."
"What did you say?!" Sanji rushed over, glaring at Morpheus. "Average?"
"Exactly," Morpheus nodded. "None of these dishes glow. What's that if not average?"
Sanji nearly laughed in disbelief. "Glowing dishes? Are you here to pick a fight?"
Even Zeff didn't intervene, thinking Morpheus was trolling.
Morpheus chuckled, pulling a plate of fried rice from thin air and setting it before Sanji.
The rice was glossy, each grain distinct, emitting a faint glow.
Sanji and the others stared, dumbstruck. The dish was actually glowing.
"How is this possible?" Sanji muttered.
"Nothing's impossible," Morpheus said. "Just because you can't do it doesn't mean others can't. If your cooking's bad, practice more!"
The dish was made by Erina Nakiri, using Paradise Rice and ten-yolk eggs, genuinely glowing.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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