Zeff frowned deeply, his weathered features creasing with confusion and suspicion.
How could that be possible? Setting aside the fact that Sanji had been by his side since childhood, how could that little bastard possibly be connected to the infamous Hell Pirates?
"We're from the North Blue... his family, no, his friends. I've come to see him," Oboro explained with careful deliberation.
"Come in."
After a moment's consideration, Zeff stepped aside and entered the restaurant first, his wooden peg leg creating its distinctive rhythm against the floor.
Rob Lucci, standing nearby with his characteristic cold expression, observed the exchange with calculating eyes. Although he wasn't technically a 'member' of the Hell Pirates, seeing a chef from the East Blue dare to show such an attitude toward the God Slayer was simply courting death. He had no doubt that if Oboro felt even the slightest discomfort, this seaside restaurant would vanish from existence forever.
But judging by the God Slayer's current demeanor, he apparently had some connection to this place... and to Sanji.
Who exactly was Sanji?
And this old man, he clearly wasn't just any ordinary chef.
The God Slayer's attitude toward him was distinctly unusual.
At Zeff's words, the assembled chefs dispersed nervously, and the five pirates followed suit, entering the dining area and claiming a table.
"Sir... your name is Oboro, isn't it?"
Patty, his burly frame trembling despite his attempt at composure, approached with sweat beading across his forehead. Despite his obvious fear, he still managed to offer a professional greeting with forced warmth.
Under Zeff's leadership, the remaining chefs turned their attention to their unexpected customers.
"Let me be clear about something," Patty continued, his voice wavering slightly but maintaining its businesslike tone. "We don't accept orders on credit here. If you're planning to dine and dash, please take your business elsewhere."
"Also, we have a strict no-waste policy regarding food. If you're short on cash and genuinely starving, we can provide free meals. However, if you do have money, I hope you'll cover the bills for all the customers you just frightened away."
Patty's lips trembled as he delivered these standard warnings.
His personality was quite remarkable, showing considerable courage to speak so boldly to Oboro at such a critical moment.
Oboro sensed the rising displeasure from his crew and silenced them with a single glance.
"No problem whatsoever."
He raised his hand, and bags of gold coins and Bailey notes materialized from his dimensional storage, completely covering the entire table surface.
"Is this... sufficient?"
"..."
In an instant, every chef's eyes widened in astonishment.
How had such an enormous sum of money suddenly materialized from thin air?
"Gentlemen, what would you like to eat?" Patty stammered for a moment, then quickly adopted a fawning smile and spoke flatteringly.
Seeing this transformation, Zeff waved his arm, signaling everyone to prepare for service.
"Prepare whatever you wish... as long as it tastes exceptional."
Oboro placed his order with casual confidence.
"Gentlemen, please wait just a moment."
Patty responded promptly and called over Carne, who wore distinctive sunglasses. The two began systematically collecting the payment.
Soon, the restaurant's kitchen burst into activity, and the aromatic scents of expertly prepared food filled the air.
"Captain... you don't intend to... recruit a chef from this establishment?" Kaka studied Oboro, then observed the chefs bustling back and forth between the dining hall and kitchen, suddenly grasping the situation.
"Indeed."
Oboro admitted his underlying motive without hesitation. "The culinary culture in the East Blue operates on a completely different level from the North Blue. They conduct chef competitions year-round, and even the most inexperienced cooks trained under this old man are considered master chefs by general standards."
Furthermore, since Zeff, Patty, and the others were former pirates themselves, the food prepared by Baratie's chefs would undoubtedly suit a pirate crew's palate perfectly.
Quality cuisine was especially crucial during long ocean voyages, one of the few comforts that could provide solace during tedious journeys across endless seas.
While Oboro maintained specific requirements for recruiting combatants for the Hell Pirates, he didn't necessarily require their chefs to possess fighting capabilities.
A chef simply needed to prepare delicious meals.
Though most pirate crews employed chefs who doubled as individual combatants, like Sanji, Oboro had no such need. He preferred to leave the fighting to the dedicated warriors aboard his vessel.
Their custom pirate ship hadn't been constructed yet, but in the future, it would undoubtedly be powered by his main fleet, propelling them across the seas with unprecedented speed. Even though his abilities allowed him to soar above the heavens and seas, evading the World Government and Celestial Dragons' pursuit while enabling him to strike back and create havoc with impunity, Oboro's intentions remained pure and straightforward.
To put it bluntly... he intended to destroy the Celestial Dragons' hegemony through the methods this world respected most.
A direct, head-on confrontation.
No elaborate schemes or underhanded tactics.
Because anything else would simply be... boring.
Soon, an impressive array of exquisite dishes arrived, carried by the chefs acting as servers.
Not only was the variety abundant, but the presentation, colors, and aromas were absolutely mouth-watering.
Oboro's companions began devouring their meals with gusto, even offering genuine praise for Zeff and his team's exceptional culinary skills.
Witnessing their apparently sincere enjoyment of the food, the chefs gradually began to lower their guard.
Among the group, Oboro maintained the most refined eating etiquette.
Even Rob Lucci, who typically projected an air of cool composure, appeared somewhat ungainly by comparison.
Having traveled all the way from the North Blue to the East Blue, they hadn't enjoyed a proper meal in quite some time.
Yurivitch displayed the most outrageous appetite, completely clearing an entire table's worth of food in less than ten minutes. However, Zeff, as if anticipating this exact scenario, quickly provided fresh dishes in bulk quantities. In just half an hour, the five pirates had devoured several tables' worth of meticulously prepared cuisine.
The chefs worked with remarkable efficiency to accommodate their voracious appetites.
"Captain, who is he exactly? Another pirate?"
Rob Lucci set down his utensils and posed the question that had been weighing on his mind.
He made it his business to keep track of everyone connected to the God Slayer, particularly those who warranted special treatment.
Especially since anyone with discerning observation could see that Zeff was no ordinary individual.
"An old man who once sailed the Grand Line."
Oboro replied simply.
"Sanji... that name sounds familiar."
Dom murmured thoughtfully.
"Ah... I remember now. A member of the Straw Hat Pirates..."
"He belongs to the Vinsmoke family," Oboro explained matter-of-factly.
"Germa?"
The revelation startled everyone present.
"I've never heard of the Vinsmoke family having another son. And how could he possibly be in the East Blue?"
Kaka, a North Blue native himself, expressed his surprise openly.
After all, their Hell Pirates had previous dealings with Germa's organization.
"The reason is..."
With nothing else pressing to occupy his attention, Oboro curled his lips, prepared to elaborate on the intriguing story.
"This meal is on the house. Afterward, if you don't have any other business here, please leave without causing further disturbance." Suddenly, Zeff emerged from the kitchen with perfect timing. The experienced restaurateur had calculated that the pirates were nearly finished eating and moved to expedite their departure without ceremony.
As for the substantial payment Oboro had provided, it would more than cover the expenses for those customers who had fled earlier.
His sudden appearance effectively interrupted what Oboro had been about to reveal.
The Hell Pirates' notorious reputation meant their arrival at Baratie had been witnessed by many patrons. Unsurprisingly, word would spread rapidly throughout the area. To avoid any unnecessary complications, Zeff felt compelled to request that Oboro and his crew depart as quickly as possible.
"Very well, we were preparing to leave anyway."
Oboro nodded agreeably. "However, before we depart, I'd like to propose a business arrangement."
What Oboro sought wasn't simply an individual chef, but rather an entire culinary team.