Zeff took a deep breath before standing up to shake Austin's hand, saying. " Alright, I accept your offer!"

" Alright!" Austin shook Zeff's hand back before adding, " We will stay here for two days. So, during this period, give my friend here, Sebas, all the recipes and teach him as much as you can about the secret ingredients."

" I will be in your care!" Sebas said with a slight bow. Even though he was still angry at this old man's previous insolence, he swallowed his discomfort for his master's sake.

Zeff nodded in response to Sebas before remembering something. He turned to look at the distance black battleship anchored far away from the restaurant.

" That black Ship docked at a distance." Zeff pointed at the ship and glanced back at Austin, asking, " Is it yours?!"

Austin nodded in response, which surprised Zeff. Even though the old man had expected it, he still smiled bitterly, not doubting the credibility of Austin's previous words anymore.

Just the fact that this young man has a battleship spoke highly of his mysterious background!

 

.....

After concluding the deal with Zeff, Austin left the old cook with Sebas and went downstairs, heading back to the restaurant's hall.

Unsurprisingly, he found Zero and Brain still at the same table, drinking some wine.

" It's time to leave! " Austin stated.

" What about Sebas, my lord?!" Brain asked after noticing Sebas' absence.

" He will stay here for the next two days to learn the recipes of the dishes we had at today's lunch, " Austin smiled, explaining to his trusted subordinates about the deal he made with Zeff.

" Hahaha, finally, we will be able to enjoy these kinds of meals every day from now on," Zero replied happily.

" Then where are we departing now, my lord ?" Brain said.

" We are not leaving anywhere. We will just stay on 'Black Star', and after two days, we will pick up Sebas and leave, " Austin explained.

" My lord, until we leave, can we still come here to eat?!" Zero asked eagerly.

" Of course!" Austin instantly replied, thinking. - ' Like Hell, I will give away a chance to enjoy this kind of quality food. '

He smiled, thinking of the meals he would enjoy if Sebas mastered all the recipes successfully.

 

While leaving the restaurant, Austin noticed a young man standing alone on the dockyard of Baratie, smoking a cigarette. He couldn't help but smile when he noticed this young man's 'Unique' appearance.

The young man was a slim, muscular, long-legged man with blond hair, which he kept brushing over one side of his face. He wore a black, double-breasted suit with golden buttons, a tie, and a blue long-sleeved buttoned shirt. But the most notable thing that screams loudly of his identity is his distinctive eyebrows which both form a spiral but at different ends. His right eyebrow forms a spiral at the outer end, while his left eyebrow forms a circle at the inner end.

Yeah, you guessed right! The young man is Vinsmock Fucking Sanji!

When Austin saw Sanji's eyebrows, he couldn't help but get stunned, thinking. - ' What the fuck? They are real!'

 

After instructing Zero and Brain to head back to the ship first, Austin went to meet Sanji.

"Yo! I have just tried your food, and I have to say, your cooking skills are really amazing," Austin smiled and said while walking toward the smoking Sanji.

Sanji turned around toward the sound's source and found a young man walking toward him. A young man in his twenties wearing black clothes, a long black coat, and a sword on his sheath.

" Thanks! It's a good thing that you enjoyed your food here," Sanji responded with a smile, obviously in a good mood since someone praised his cooking skills.

"My Name is Ray D Austin. Captain of The Black Storm Pirates," Austin said.

Sanji was surprised that this young man was a captain of a pirate crew, but nonetheless, he still introduced himself properly.

"My Name is Sanji. I'm the sous-chef here at Baratie sea restaurant!" Sanji smiled before narrowing his eyes, adding," So what do you want for me? You haven't come here just to praise my dishes, right?"

"Indeed! I'm gathering crew members, and I want you to join my crew," Austin stated.

Despite not being serious about his offer, he still wanted to know Sanji's response. And at the same time, he wanted to get close to the man, so he could use 'Detect' on him because he was actually quite curious about Sanji's stats.

"I refuse! There's a reason I have to work in this restaurant." Sanji was startled at first but then replied firmly afterward.

Austin stood there looking directly at Sanji's eyes, making the latter uncomfortable, prompting him to nervously ask," What's wrong ?!"

 

While Sanji was confused about Austin's action, the latter was reading his stats after using 'Detect' on him.

_________________________

Name: Sanji

Race: Human

Level: 11

Strength: 140

Agility: 150

Stamina: 130

Charisma: 20

_________________________

' As expected. He is pretty strong compared to his level.' - Austin thought. - ' If he had a bounty, it would probably be between 10 million and 15 million.'

 

After successfully getting Sanji's stats, Austin didn't want to end the conversation awkwardly after just meeting the man for a second. So he decided to play the mysterious act again, the same way he did with Zoro, to leave an impression on Sanji and, at the same time, to justify his previous awkward action of examining him intently before.

"I can see in your eyes that you have a dream to achieve," Austin paused for a second, building a sense of tension before adding, " Can you achieve it by staying here ?!"

Sanji was surprised, feeling an intense pressure emitted from the man in front of him, forcing him to take a moment to think before responding resolutely. "Still, I must stay in this restaurant!"

Austin looked again at Sanji's eyes for a moment before saying.

"I see. I guess you have a debt to repay!" He smiled, adding, " Take care of yourself then. If fate allows it, we will meet again."

Austin then turned to leave, heading back to 'Black Star' with Zero and Brain.

 

On the other hand, Sanji stood there looking at this stranger's back for a while before shaking his head and entering the restaurant to resume work.

 

.....

In the next two days, Austin's group kept going back and forth between Baratie restaurant and 'Black Star'. They spent most of their time in 'Back Star' doing their own things, but when it was time to eat, they went to Baratie to do so.

On the third day, unlike the previous days, Austin arrived at the restaurant with his main ship, 'Black Star', and not the usual Small Black Ship. Because this time, they were not coming to eat as usual but to pick up Sebas and leave to resume their journey.

After arriving at the restaurant's front, they found Sebas and Zeff already waiting for their arrival at the main door. So without wasting time, Austin jumped from 'Black Star' and landed on Baratie's dock.

" I apologize for the delay, my lord. I have finished my work here and am ready to leave." Sebas was the first to speak.

" Good! Get on the ship. I will be back soon," Austin instructed.

Sebas complied and jumped onto the ship, leaving Austin and Zeff there.

 

Austin took out two Den Den Mushis with a black shell from his pocket and gave one of them to Zeff, which surprised the latter since it wasn't usual for East Blue's residents to own one of those things.

Austin has already acquired many Den Den Mushis from the 153rd Navy base back in Shell town. So all he did was take two from his stock and customize them via the system, so they could only link together.

This customization, however, cost him 10 Shopping Points. A reasonable price for two secure and untraceable mobile phones ( Den Den Mushis in this case).

 

" This Den Den Mushi is connected directly to mine, so use it only when it's necessary," Austin explained before adding seriously, " Don't be in a hurry to cash my favor in exchange for something stupid. So unless it's necessary and you are in a position with no other choices or solution left, then it's best to keep that favor for yourself."

" Well, I don't care anyway. I will keep my word and return the favor, whether it's a small or big one." Austin smirked slightly, adding, " I'm just advising you to use it wisely because you have only one chance to do so!"

" Alright!" Zeff took the Den Den Mushi and nodded thoughtfully.

"I pray you don't have to use it," Austin stated.

" Me too. I pray I don't have to," Zeff responded with a bitter smile.

He clearly understands the implication of Austin's previous words. Because if comes a day when he is forced to use that Den Den Mushi, then he is certain that the situation at that time, to say the least, will undoubtedly be grim. That's why he prays that he will never need to use this Den Den Mushi.

" Goodbye then!" Austin turned to leave as he said, " If fate allows it, we will meet again."

 

After jumping onto 'Black Star', Austin used his wind ability to speed up the ship, leaving the restaurant behind with Zeff still standing at Baratie's dock, looking at the departing battleship with different emotions in his eyes.

In the end, the old cook sighed and stored the Den Den Mushi in his pocket. Zeff knew in his heart that he would not forget this encounter because he clearly felt that Austin wasn't an ordinary pirate. He was definitely someone special and extraordinary.

....

Back on 'Black Star', Austin, Zero, Brain, and Sebas were sitting in the meeting room.

" So, did you learn everything ?!" Zero was the first to speak. Clearly, very excited about the idea of eating meals every day with the same quality as Baratie restaurant ones.

" Humph, is your stomach everything you think of ?" Brain scoffed at Zero's behavior. But, nonetheless, he still paid intention to Sebas' response. After all, who will say no to an opportunity of enjoying such quality food every day?

" So? Sebas, how was it?!" Austin asked in anticipation.

" I have indeed got all the recipes used in Baratie, " Sebas paused and added with a wide grin " I can even improve them further, my lord."

" HAHAHAHA!" Austin laughed happily." You haven't disappointed me, Sebas!"

"Hahahaha! You are indeed the best one, Sebas !" Zero tapped Sebas's shoulder in approval, which made Brain roll his eyes in response.

 

After discussing various things concerning the food and meals for a while, Brain changed the topic by asking. " My lord, where are we going next ?!"

" Hmm," Austin starts pondering about their next destination. But first, he checked his available Shopping Points.

_________________________

The Supreme Conqueror Shop :

• Weapons
• Skills
• Items

Available Shopping Points: 358

Available Cash: 90 million Berry

Estimation of other Available treasures: 91 million Berry

_________________________

 

Austin sighed, thinking. - ' I need 5000 Shopping Points to get the Dark-Dark Fruit, so I need more Shopping Points or money.'

He looked at the third number in the panel, thinking. - ' The last raid on Eldoraggo's ship has helped me get a lot of gold, so I need some other fat sheep like Eldoraggo to raid next. '

 

Austin then remembered something which made his eyes shine in excitement.

' Arlong pirates! They have probably collected a massive fortune from the people of Conomi islands.' - Austin smiled evilly. - ' They also have 4 individuals with bounties on their heads, which will help me with my ongoing Quest.'

 

He opened the Awards & Quests panel and checked the ongoing Quest.

_________________________

Quests :

" The beginner ": Completed

...

" First Conquest ": Completed

...

" East Blue's Conqueror ": Ongoing

Description: You are a Newborn to East Blue. You must let everyone know of your Name in your home's ocean. Conquer the East Blue, make a name for yourself, and stand at the top of the strong people in all the East Blue.

The Conditions of Completing the Quest:

• Defeat Or Kill 10 Pirates active in the East Blue with Bounties on their heads : [ Ongoing with the current progress being: 8/10 ].
• Reach Level 60 minimum. [ Completed ].
• Create a pirate crew and enter the Grand Line ( Paradis ). [ Ongoing ].

Rewards:

• Random Unique Skill.
• 100 Stats Points & 10 Skills Points & 1000 Shopping Points.

_________________________

 

' I have already reached Level 60, so what's left is only two pirates with bounties on their heads and, lastly, to enter the Grand Line. Afterward, I will have my third Unique Skill. ' - Austin smiled, thinking. - ' I'm looking forward to what Unique Skill I will get next time.'

 

Glancing at his crew, who were waiting for him to decide their next destination, Austin smiled, stating, " The next stop is Conomi islands !"

 

_________________________

( A/N:  If you like to read some chapters in Advance, you can visit my Patreon page! You will find there up to 5 weeks' worth of Chapters in Advance.

Patreon: https://patreon.com/Asbarta. 

Discord: https://discord.gg/qqHc4PprW9. )