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On the open sea, a massive pirate ship carved through the waves, a blood-red skull and crossbones flag snapping aggressively in the wind.
"Captain! I've found the sea restaurant Baratie!" a pirate at the bow shouted, lowering his telescope.
A towering figure, three meters tall and built like a brick fortress, strode over. Kennard, clad in heavy upper-body armor, snatched the telescope and squinted. A predatory grin spread across his face, revealing teeth that looked like they belonged to a shark. "It really is the Baratie. Lads! Steer the ship in! It's time for a feast!"
Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere shifted from elegant to panicked in a heartbeat. A woman's scream pierced the air, and soon dozens of diners were pressed against the windows, their faces turning ashen.
"That... that's the Blood Demon Pirates!!!"
Boom!!!
The restaurant erupted into total chaos. The Blood Demon Pirates were the new nightmare of the East Blue, having seized power after the Krieg Pirates departed for the Grand Line. Kennard, the "Blood Demon," was legendary for his cruelty and his grisly habit of licking the blood of his fallen foes.
Diners who had been sipping fine wine seconds ago were now knocking over chairs and scrambling for the exits. Nobles abandoned their poise—and sometimes their companions—to sprint toward their own ships.
Amidst the stampede, Satori and Nami remained seated, looking like two calm islands in a storm-tossed sea. Satori watched a countess trip over her own gown and blinked in confusion. "Nami, are these 'Blood Demon' guys very powerful? Why is everyone running away?"
Nami took a calm bite of her bread. "Their leader, Kennard, has a bounty of sixteen million Berries. That's one million more than Buggy."
"Is that so? Then should we catch them for the money?" Satori asked, his eyes lighting up.
Nami thought for a moment and shook her head. "Not yet. This is Sanji's home. If we start a brawl, we might wreck the place. Besides, we aren't prepared. We don't know their numbers or their tricks. It's too rushed."
While the rest of the world fled, Nami sipped her soup with an expression of pure bliss. "Besides, this food cost a lot of money; how can we leave without finishing it?"
Sanji walked down from the second floor, a cigarette between his lips. He looked at the two of them. "Aren't you two running?"
"Run?" Nami smirked. "He's just a pirate with a slightly higher bounty. If he doesn't provoke us, we'll finish our meal. If he does... well, we'll see who's tougher."
Sanji let out a short, dry laugh and stood by the door, watching as the pirate ship docked. Nearby, Patty, Carne, and the other chefs stood in a grim line, weapons like spiked clubs and broadswords hidden behind their backs.
Soon, heavy footsteps thundered on the deck outside. Kennard strode in alone, his massive frame nearly blocking the light. He ignored Sanji and the wary chefs, walking straight to a central table. He kicked out a chair, sat down heavily, and propped his boots up on the white tablecloth.
"Hey! Isn't this a restaurant? Why aren't you serving food yet?" Kennard roared, his fierce eyes scanning the room.
Zeff watched from the second floor, silent as a hawk. Patty, seeing the pirate was currently asking for service rather than blood, forced a beaming smile. "What's this? He's just a customer! Welcome, sir! What would you like?"
"Serve all your signature dishes," Kennard commanded.
"Right away!" Patty and the chefs retreated to the kitchen. Sanji followed them, passing Kennard without a word.
Kennard watched him go, a mysterious, dark smile playing on his lips. Then, he glanced over and saw a child and a woman still eating as if he didn't exist. He raised an eyebrow, tapped his armored arm with a fingertip, and waited.
In the kitchen, the chefs were working at a fever pitch.
"Do you think he's really just here to eat?" Carne hissed, chopping vegetables with a heavy cleaver.
"You're overthinking it," Patty dismissed, stirring a massive pan. "This place is famous. Everyone wants a taste!"
"You're a simple-minded brute!" Carne snapped.
"What did you say?!" Patty dropped his spoon and rolled up his sleeves. The other chefs quickly stepped in to pull them apart before they could delay the order. Sanji arrived moments later, joining the line without a word, his hands moving with professional speed.
The air in the Baratie was thick with tension, like a fuse waiting for a spark.