Chapter 50 (long chapter) part 1
Sunny's POV
The sea breeze was warm, the sky perfectly clear, and the salty air danced around the deck of the Going Merry. For once, things felt calm. Too calm, if you asked me. Whenever peace lingered too long, chaos usually wasn't far behind—especially with Lucy around.
"Land ahead!" Usopp cried from the crow's nest, pointing dramatically as if he'd just discovered a new continent.
On the horizon, a strange ship stood out: sleek, elegant, and shaped like something straight out of a noble's banquet. Its bright sails were marked with a giant fork and knife.
"The Baratie," I murmured with a grin. "The floating restaurant."
Lucy leaned against the railing, eyes sparkling like a kid staring at a pile of meat. "Food… endless food… cooked by real chefs! Not just Sunny's soup and fish!"
"Oi," I deadpanned, flicking her forehead. "My cooking's not that bad."
She grinned at me, unfazed. "It's edible. That's about it."
Before I could fire back, Nami's voice cut in. "Honestly, Lucy, you eat more than the rest of us combined. It's a miracle Sunny's cooking has lasted this long."
Lucy puffed her cheeks. "Don't bully me! I'm a growing girl!"
"A bottomless pit is more like it," Zoro muttered from where he was napping, not even opening his eye.
---
As we drew closer, the Baratie came into full view—a floating restaurant shaped like a massive fish, mouth wide open, ready to swallow guests whole.
The crew leaned forward, gawking, and I felt excitement stir in my chest. Not just because of the food, but because I already knew this place was going to be trouble.
And then, the moment we docked—
The doors burst open, and there he was. Blond hair swept to one side, sharp suit, cigarette dangling loosely, and an aura of dramatic flair so strong it practically blinded me.
Sanji.
He bowed low, his eyes sparkling with hearts as he laid them on Nami. "Welcome, my goddess! The most radiant jewel this sea has ever seen. Please, allow me to cook for you—free of charge, of course!"
Nami blinked, caught off guard. "Uh… free?"
Before she could answer, Lucy hopped forward, eyes gleaming. "Wait! If Nami gets free food, then I should too, right?!"
Sanji turned his head, and his jaw nearly hit the deck when he saw Lucy. Hearts exploded in his pupils like cannons firing.
"A second goddess descended upon me?! Be still, my beating heart! Of course, of course! You may have anything your heart desires—for free, forever!"
Lucy clasped her hands together, eyes glistening with fake tears. "Really?! Anything? You're the best, Curly-Brow!"
I rubbed my forehead, already sensing disaster.
---
The next thing I knew, Lucy and Nami were seated like royalty at the finest table, menus in hand.
Lucy slammed her hand on the table. "I'll take everything on the left side!"
Nami smirked. "Then I'll take everything on the right."
Sanji nearly fainted from joy. "Yes! Yes, my queens! As you command, I shall serve it all!"
Meanwhile, I watched the kitchen crew's faces pale as stacks of orders came flying in.
Usopp whispered to me, wide-eyed. "They're gonna eat this place dry."
"Correction," I muttered, watching Lucy rub her hands together like a predator about to feast. "Lucy is going to eat this place dry. Nami just wants to make sure she doesn't pay."
Within minutes, mountains of plates began to pile up. Roast meats, pasta, rice, soups, desserts—Lucy was devouring it all like she hadn't eaten in weeks. Sanji hovered beside her, stars in his eyes, refilling her plate before it even had the chance to empty.
"Another steak for you, my love! A lobster for you, my diamond! More wine for you, my sun and moon!"
Lucy gave a greasy thumbs-up, mouth stuffed. "Yer da best, Sanji!"
I dragged my hand down my face, sighing. "This idiot's gonna bankrupt himself before we even pay a single beli."
Zoro cracked an eye open from the corner, snorted, and went back to sleep.
---
By the time the first wave of dishes had been cleared, half the kitchen staff looked ready to mutiny.
Lucy leaned back in her chair, stomach bulging slightly but her spirit unbroken. "More."
Nami smirked, sipping her wine. "Oh, don't stop now, Sanji. You said it was free."
"Of course, my dearest goddess!" Sanji declared, though I swore I saw sweat beading on his forehead.
Usopp whispered to me, "Should we… stop them?"
I shook my head. "No point. Lucy's like a typhoon. You don't stop it. You survive it."
And judging by the look on the terrified waiters' faces, survival was about to get tricky.
By the time the fifth wave of dishes hit the table, I was convinced the Baratie's entire monthly stockpile was gone.
Lucy was still going strong. Plates piled up around her like towers of bones and crumbs, her cheeks puffed out as she chewed, one hand reaching for the next dish before she'd even swallowed.
"Another platter of roasted duck!" Sanji announced with theatrical flair, spinning the dish onto the table like he was presenting a diamond tiara.
Lucy's eyes gleamed. "Duck! Quack quack, you're mine!"
Nami, meanwhile, sipped delicately from her glass, somehow managing to look refined while also taking full advantage of the "free food" deal. She smirked every time Sanji refilled her drink without her even asking.
"You know," she said slyly, "I don't think we've even started on desserts yet."
Sanji gasped, clutching his chest like she'd just proposed. "Desserts? Yes! A thousand times yes! I'll make you the sweetest delights in all the seas!"
I swear, if this guy fainted from love any harder, he'd crack the floorboards.
At the other end of the table, Usopp leaned toward me, whispering in horror. "Do you see how much Lucy's eaten? At this rate, she's going to sink the Merry before we even leave the dock."
"Correction," I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose, "at this rate, Sanji's gonna sink himself paying for this."
Zoro yawned loudly from his corner, lifting a sake cup. "She's a monster. Accept it and move on."
Lucy slammed another empty plate down, her cheeks glowing from the feast. "Sanji! More meat! And do you have cake? I love cake! No—ten cakes!"
Sanji spun dramatically, striking a pose. "Ten cakes for you, my beautiful flame, my dazzling jewel, my—"
One of the cooks stumbled up, panic all over his face. "Sanji! We—we don't have enough flour for ten cakes!"
Sanji's cigarette nearly dropped out of his mouth. He froze, then shot a sharp glare toward the kitchen. "Then find some! I don't care if you have to dive into the sea and wrestle flour out of Neptune himself—these ladies get their cake!"
The poor cook whimpered and sprinted back inside.
I sighed, leaning back in my chair, watching the disaster unfold. The restaurant's atmosphere had shifted from refined elegance to sheer chaos. Waiters sprinted across the floor like it was a battlefield. Pots clanged, chefs shouted, and through it all, Lucy and Nami sat like queens on thrones.
Lucy leaned toward Nami, giggling through a mouthful of food. "Hey, Nami, you think we can eat everything on the ship before we leave?"
Nami smirked. "At this rate, I think we can. And the best part? We're not paying a single beli."
Lucy's eyes sparkled. "We're geniuses."
I groaned. "No, you're criminals."
By the time dessert arrived, Sanji's tie was loose, his face flushed, and his cigarette trembling between his fingers. He wheeled out a cart stacked with cakes, puddings, and fruit tarts high enough to block the view of half the restaurant.
"Darlings… this… is… for you…" he wheezed, collapsing onto one knee in front of the table.
Lucy clapped her hands, stars in her eyes. "Sanji, you're amazing!"
Nami smirked, leaning back. "Oh, I could get used to this."
Sanji burst into tears of joy, clutching his heart. "To hear such words from angels themselves! I—I could die a happy man right now!"
"Not before bringing seconds!" Lucy shouted, already biting into a cake.
Usopp buried his face in his hands. "We're doomed."
Zoro finally chuckled, low and amused. "This is the best show I've seen all week."
As Lucy stuffed her face with cake, frosting smearing the corner of her mouth, I felt the last thread of my patience snap.
"Alright, that's enough," I said, standing. "Lucy, you've eaten enough for twenty people. Any more, and Sanji really will collapse."
Lucy pouted, cheeks puffed out like a hamster. "But Sunnyyyy—"
"No buts. Put the fork down."
She looked at me, fork hovering mid-air, and for a second I thought she might actually obey. But then—
She grinned wickedly, shoved the entire slice of cake into her mouth, and mumbled through it, "Too late!"
The crew burst into laughter, even Nami cracking a smile.
Sanji? He just lay on the floor, tears streaming down his face, babbling about how blessed he was to have met such "divine beauties."
The restaurant, meanwhile, was in complete shambles.
And somehow, I knew this was only the beginning of the madness the Baratie had in store for us.
By the time Lucy licked the last smear of frosting from her plate, the Baratie looked like a warzone.
Empty dishes towered in unsteady stacks. Crumbs coated the floor. Half the waiters were slumped against the walls, sweat pouring down their faces like they'd just survived a hurricane.
Lucy leaned back in her chair, hands rubbing her swollen belly, sighing in pure bliss. "Ahhh… I can't move… but I want more…"
"No more," I cut in sharply. "You've already broken at least three natural laws of eating."
Zoro burped and poured himself another sake. "I told you she's a monster."
---
That's when the head cook stormed out — red-faced, veins bulging, and holding a massive slip of paper that fluttered all the way to the floor.
"BILL!" he roared, slamming it down on the table.
Everyone jumped except Lucy, who just blinked sleepily.
I glanced at the numbers and felt my stomach drop. "…This… is enough to buy another ship."
Usopp let out a strangled scream. "WE'RE RUINED! LUCY BANKRUPTED US ALL!"
Lucy sat up, puffing her cheeks. "Hey! I didn't eat that much—"
Zoro snorted. "There's enough plates here to bury a man alive."
Nami, on the other hand, just leaned her chin on her palm and gave the sweetest smile I'd ever seen. "Oh, Sanji~ You promised us free food, remember?"
---
The cooks exploded.
"Free?!"
"Do you see what they ate?!"
"That girl just ate two pigs!"
"They cleaned out the pantry!"
A few of them looked like they were about to faint. One grabbed a frying pan like he was ready to go to war.
Sanji, however, fell to his knees in front of Nami and Lucy, clasping his hands dramatically. "It's true! My darlings are not to blame! This bill… this crippling debt… I shall shoulder it all myself!"
The other cooks shouted in outrage. "You'll ruin the restaurant!"
"Do you want Zeff to kill us all?!"
---
Zeff himself finally emerged, stomping with his peg leg like thunder. He eyed the scene: the girls glowing with satisfaction, the wrecked staff, the mountain of plates. His moustache twitched.
"…Sanji."
Sanji snapped to attention, sweat flying off his forehead. "Y-yes, old man?"
"…Are you trying to sink my business?"
Sanji collapsed face-first onto the floor. "I… would gladly drown in debt for them…"
Lucy burst into laughter, rolling in her chair. "Sanji, you're the best! Hahaha!"
Nami smirked, hiding her grin behind her hand. "I could get used to this."
---
The head cook waved the bill in my face, nearly hitting me with it. "Who's paying?!"
I sighed, rubbing my temple. "No one's paying. Because Sanji offered free food."
"He didn't mean THIS MUCH!"
"Then that's his problem," I said flatly, standing. "Come on, crew. Let's go before they throw frying pans at us."
Lucy jumped up, nearly knocking the table over. "Adventure time!"
Usopp clutched his head, wailing. "Adventure? We're fugitives from a restaurant!"
Zoro stretched lazily, completely unfazed. "Good food, good drinks, good chaos. Not bad."
---
As we filed out, Sanji scrambled after us, crawling on his knees.
"My darlings! Please! Don't leave me behind!"
Lucy leaned down, patting his head like a puppy. "Don't worry, curly-eyebrow, we'll keep you around. You can cook for us forever!"
Sanji froze. Then he lit up like a man reborn, shooting to his feet with tears in his eyes. "Forever…? Yes! YES! I'll follow you to the ends of the seas!"
The other cooks collectively facepalmed.
Zeff just muttered, "Idiot," and stomped back into the kitchen.
---
And so, thanks to Lucy's appetite and Nami's sly smile, we left the Baratie not only with full bellies but with a brand new chef hopelessly chained to our crew by his heartstrings.
…And, judging from the way Lucy was already eying him like a free buffet machine, I had a feeling the poor guy had no idea what kind of hell he'd just signed up for.
The sea was calm when it happened.
Too calm.
I was still watching Lucy argue with Usopp over whether she could fit "one more snack" in her belly when a shadow crept across the waves outside Baratie's windows.
The air shifted. The laughter in the dining hall died down. Every sailor instinct — and my Haki — screamed trouble.
"...What the hell is that?" Zoro muttered, rising from his seat.
Out of the mist, a massive, battered ship dragged itself across the water like a corpse. Sails shredded, mast half-splintered, the hull riddled with holes. It looked like it had crawled back from hell.
Even Lucy paused mid-bite, cheeks stuffed, pointing. "Oiii… spooky ghost ship?"
Nami's eyes narrowed. "No… that's no ghost. That's a pirate ship."
I closed my eyes for a second, Observation Haki stretching over the waves. The aura that hit me was faint but poisonous — twisted pride and desperation tangled together.
"Don Krieg," I muttered.
The ship scraped against Baratie's dock with a screech of wood. A man stumbled off, half-starved, his armor dull and cracked. But even in that pathetic state, his aura was heavy.
"Food…" Krieg rasped, falling to his knees. "Give me… food…"
The cooks stared in shock. The head chef whispered, "That's Don Krieg… the pirate admiral who commands fifty ships…"
Usopp squeaked, "F-f-fifty ships?!" and immediately dove under the nearest table.
Lucy tilted her head, unconcerned. "Fifty? That's not so bad. I could punch fifty ships."
"Stop talking like that's normal," Nami hissed.
Sanji stepped forward, cigarette smoke curling from his lips. His voice was calm, but his jaw was tight. "A starving man comes begging for food. Doesn't matter who he is — I'll feed him."
The cooks exploded.
"Sanji, are you insane?!"
"That's Krieg! He'll destroy us the moment he recovers!"
"We should throw him back into the sea!"
But Sanji didn't waver. He grabbed a tray and marched straight past the terrified staff, kneeling down beside Krieg.
"Eat," Sanji said simply, placing bread and stew in front of the pirate.
Krieg devoured it like a beast, food vanishing into his mouth. The silence was deafening, only broken by his chewing and the pounding of waves outside.
I stayed still, my eyes fixed on him. {ego} murmured coldly in the back of my mind.
{ego}: "Pathetic. Starved like a dog, yet he once ruled the seas with an iron fist. You should kill him now, Master."
[system]: "Mmm… but isn't it thrilling? Watching predators crawl on their knees? ♥"
I ignored them both. Not yet.
When the last scrap was gone, Krieg staggered to his feet. For a moment, he looked like a man humbled.
Then he smiled. Cruel. Sharp. Poisonous.
"...Thank you for the meal," he drawled, voice regaining its strength. "Now… I'll be taking this restaurant."
The dining hall erupted in chaos.
"WHAT?!"
"He tricked us!"
"Kill him now before his crew arrives!"
Sanji's fist clenched, trembling with fury. "You bastard…"
Lucy stood up, chair crashing back. "Oi, armor-face. You just made a mistake."
Zoro cracked his neck, hand falling to his swords. "Finally. Something interesting."
I leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. My gaze never left Krieg.
So this was the next storm.
Fine.
Let it come.
The atmosphere in Baratie flipped like a storm wind. One second, the restaurant buzzed with nervous whispers, the next, pure chaos.
"Oi, oi, oi! He tricked us!" one cook shouted, brandishing a frying pan like it was a battle-axe.
"We told you not to feed him, Sanji!" another screamed.
Sanji didn't answer. His fists shook, eyes blazing, but he held his ground.
Krieg grinned wider, wiping stew from his lips with the back of his gauntlet. "A fine establishment. Strong walls, stocked pantry, strategic location… yes, this will do nicely for my new flagship."
---
The doors slammed open. More pirates staggered in, ragged, bloodied, but carrying weapons. They were like shadows crawling back from the grave. At the front was a tall man with long hair tied back, shackles on his wrists — Gin. His aura burned, faint but sharp, like steel ground to the edge of a knife.
"Captain…" Gin rasped, eyes hollow but focused. "You… made it…"
"Of course I did, Gin," Krieg said smoothly, throwing his arms wide. "And now… we'll rise again. On the corpses of these fools."
---
Lucy cracked her knuckles, grinning ear to ear. "Ohhh? Corpses? You mean yours? Finally! Someone who looks strong enough to last at least… five punches."
Usopp's muffled voice came from under the table. "Five punches?! He commands fifty ships!"
Lucy crouched and yanked Usopp out by the collar like a kitten. "Oi, Usopp. If you're gonna faint, at least do it dramatically."
Usopp flailed, pointing at Krieg. "That's the man who terrorized East Blue! He—he's a monster! We can't just—"
"Shut up," Lucy said cheerfully, bonking him on the head. "Sunny'll handle it."
All eyes turned to me.
---
I stayed seated, calm as still water, sipping tea.
{ego}: "Cowards and fools. They expect you to intervene. Kill them all and save the trouble."
[system]: "Fufu~ but it's fun watching them squirm first. Master's patience is scary and beautiful at the same time ♥."
I set my cup down with a quiet clink. "...I'll take care of the pirates. But only when it's necessary."
Lucy whooped. "See?! Easy mode!"
Sanji shot me a sharp look, cigarette dangling from his lips. "You just gonna sit there while they threaten Baratie? While they insult my kitchen?"
"Relax, curly-brow," Lucy teased, pointing at Krieg. "Sunny'll kill him so fast you'll miss it. Like puff! gone."
Sanji turned red with fury. "Oi! Don't underestimate me, you bottomless pit! I'll handle this myself if I have to!"
Lucy leaned in, grinning. "Ohhh? Handle it? You mean like handling the twenty plates of food I bankrupted you with? Still waiting on dessert, by the way."
"SHUT UP!"
---
Meanwhile, Krieg raised his voice, drowning out the comedy.
"Listen well, chefs. My fleet is ruined. My men starve. You will resupply us, you will obey us, or you will die."
His voice was iron.
The cooks trembled.
But before anyone could answer, Gin staggered forward, dropping to one knee.
"Captain… they fed us… they saved us…" His voice cracked. "Don't… don't take this place by force…"
Krieg's expression hardened instantly. He backhanded Gin, sending him sprawling.
"Silence, you weakling. Mercy is for the dead."
---
The room froze.
Lucy's smile faltered for the first time. "...He hit his own crewmate?"
Nami's eyes went cold. "Disgusting."
Zoro grunted, hand tightening on his sword. "Yeah… I don't like him."
Even Usopp, trembling like a leaf, whispered, "That's… too much…"
---
I finally rose from my chair.
The floor creaked under my weight. My Haki brushed across the room like a faint breeze — enough to silence even the pirates' jeers.
"...Krieg," I said softly. "You should've stayed on your knees."
His head snapped toward me, arrogance blazing. "And who the hell are you supposed to be?"
Lucy bounced beside me, laughing. "He's Sunny! My crewmate! Strongest guy ever! Also lazy as hell, so you're in luck!"
"Oi," I muttered, giving her a side-eye.
She grinned wider.
---
The tension was a taut wire now, ready to snap.
Sanji spat smoke, glaring at Krieg. "Fine. If you want this restaurant… you'll have to go through me first."
Krieg laughed, spreading his arms wide, his armor clanking. "Then come, little cook. And watch your friends die alongside you."
---
I sighed, already bored. "...I said I'd take care of the pirates. I'll keep my word."
But not yet.
Not until Krieg made his move.
---
The room seemed to shrink around us. Pots and pans clattered from the scared cooks, but my attention was locked on Krieg. Gin groaned in the corner, nursing his side, clearly not eager to fight but still dangerous enough to keep everyone cautious.
Sanji, hair flaring like fire, tightened his fists, one foot already braced. "This is it! I'll protect Baratie and every woman in it!"
Lucy bounced on her heels, practically vibrating with excitement. "Go, go, go! Smash him, Sanji! Smash the scary man!"
Usopp shrank behind a pillar, fingers gripping the edge of his slingshot. "I don't… I don't like this! They're scary! Why do they look like they have armor AND muscles?!"
I rolled my shoulders, letting my Observation Haki flow gently across the room, brushing against Krieg and his crew. Not a threat yet… but the moment they strike, my presence will be a storm.
{ego}: "Pathetic. They think Sanji is the real danger? You're stronger than all of them combined. Still… entertaining to watch them struggle first."
[system]: "♥ Master's patience is delicious. Let's enjoy their fear a little longer. Observe, tease, and only act when necessary."
---
Sanji lunged. With a dramatic spin, he kicked a chair into Krieg, sending it skidding across the floor. "Eat THIS, you giant—!"
Krieg swatted it aside like a fly, his laugh echoing in the metallic kitchen. "Amusing. I'll crush you faster than that little pastry pan."
Lucy jumped up onto the counter, cheering. "Do it, Sanji! DO IT! Pretend you're my hero!"
"Sunny," Nami whispered, tugging gently on my sleeve. Her face was calm, but her sharp eyes were studying Krieg's every move. "Just… watch and wait. Let him act first."
I nodded, sipping my tea with a faint smile.
---
Sanji's combat style exploded into the room: kicks, flips, and sweeping legs that sent pots flying in every direction. Krieg's armor clanged against every strike, and Gin cautiously circled, waiting for the right moment.
Lucy leaned too far and nearly fell into a vat of soup. "OOH! I'm a reporter! Or a cheerleader! Or BOTH!"
Usopp screamed, ducking under a swinging ladle. "This is a BAD idea! I'm NOT part of this!"
Zoro sighed, hand on the hilt of his sword. "This crew is insane…"
---
Meanwhile, I noticed something subtle: the sailors were slowly getting tripped up by the chaotic environment Sanji and Lucy were creating. Pots, pans, spilled soup, and sheer panic made Krieg's strikes less precise.
{ego}: "Finally. Let chaos be your weapon, Master. Sanji is amusing, but your presence is inevitable."
[system]: "♥ The scent of fear and confusion is… intoxicating. Master, you could walk through them like a shadow."
---
Sanji spun again, narrowly dodging a blow that would've sent him into the fryer. "These idiots think they can take Baratie? Hah! My legs are faster than their wits!"
Lucy cheered again, pounding on the counter. "Faster! Show them faster! That's my favorite!"
Usopp, still hiding, muttered, "I don't know if I'm brave or just… lucky."
Nami, hands on her hips, shook her head. "Sunny… you're letting them flail. Be ready."
I smirked faintly, letting the tension build. There's a rhythm here, a pattern to the chaos. And when the right moment comes…
---
Sanji executed a high-flying kick that sent Krieg stumbling into the wall, smoke from the kitchen fire curling around them. Lucy clapped, jumping up and down.
"See?! I told you! Sanji can do it!"
Usopp squealed, "HE'S CRAZY! HE'S CRAZY! But… amazing…"
I leaned on the counter, fingers drumming lightly. My Observation Haki detected every minute tremor in Krieg's stance. He's strong… but reckless. A perfect opening is forming.
{ego}: "Hah. They're all so easy to read. Pathetic."
[system]: "♥ Their fear and excitement… delicious. Master could step in anytime… but the show is so entertaining!"
---
Sanji, barely pausing, landed a devastating leg sweep, knocking Krieg's balance entirely. Gin moved to intercept, but a well-timed spinning kick from Sanji sent him stumbling as well.
Lucy squealed. "POW! BAM! BOOM! That's my boy!"
Usopp squeaked and covered his face. "Please don't die…"
Nami's eyes flickered to me. "Sunny… now."
I didn't need another signal.
---
Standing upright, I let my Haki ripple gently. Just enough to make Krieg pause mid-step, eyes widening at the subtle pressure. Not deadly — not yet — but enough to remind him who truly dominates this room.
Krieg faltered, muttering under his breath. "Impossible… this presence…"
Lucy clapped gleefully. "Ooooh! You're showing up now! GO MASTER GO!"
Sanji grinned at me, breathless but triumphant. "Ah… you are here. Finally. Show them who's boss."
I nodded faintly, a small smirk tugging at my lips.
"Relax," I said quietly, more to myself than anyone. "I'll handle the pirates… as promised."