One Piece: The sky is azure, I just time-traveled today.

Page 57

Just then, Sanji walked over carrying a simple wooden tray. The tray contained grilled fish and vegetable soup that had just been carefully prepared with the ingredients that had been delivered, and the presentation was surprisingly exquisite.

"Two beautiful ladies," Sanji's voice suddenly became melodious, almost singing, and his eyes turned into hearts, "please try my special desert island cuisine~"

He knelt on one knee, raised the wooden tray high, and made an exaggerated gesture as if he were offering up some precious treasure.

Kuina stared blankly at Sanji, who suddenly seemed like a completely different person, for a moment, then burst out laughing at his comical appearance. She took the plate, deliberately putting on a stern face: "Hey, you haven't had a proper meal in days, is this attitude really appropriate?"

"Thank you for your kindness!" Sanji stood up, straightened his worn collar, and said seriously, "Of course, you should treat your savior and a beautiful lady with different etiquette!"

He produced a wildflower from somewhere, tucked it behind his ear, and gestured invitingly to Robin: "Miss Black Hair, may I have the honor of telling you the culinary legends of this sea?"

Robin gracefully accepted the soup bowl from the plate, smiling slightly. "More than the legend, I'm curious about what you used to do."

"Before? Of course, I was a top chef... and a vegetable chopper next to him~"

Sanji spun around triumphantly, then approached Kuina again, "This lady with superb swordsmanship, if you'd like, I can prepare a different meal for you every day!"

Zeff watched Sanji's pathetic state and sighed helplessly, rubbing his forehead.

He couldn't help but yell, "You brat! You're just a vegetable chopper, can you even eat the food you cook? Don't try to impress girls with half-finished dishes!"

"What do you know, old man!" Sanji turned around and made a face. "This is already my highest level of cooking!"

Upon hearing this, Guina picked up a pair of chopsticks, took a bite of the grilled fish, and found the skin crispy and the inside tender and juicy—truly delicious.

It was much better than the food she and Robin prepared.

She has no right to criticize other people's cooking skills.

Chapter 62 Leaving the Desert Island

The calm sea was suddenly churned up with huge waves.

A colossal sea monster leaped from the deep sea, casting a shadow that blotted out the sky over the entire beach. It opened its blood-red maw and lunged straight at the people on the deserted island.

"Watch out!" Zeff exclaimed, but he was still recovering from serious injuries and had no time to attack.

Sanji stood frozen in place, watching helplessly as the sharp teeth approached.

Kuina was about to draw her sword to attack, but she had no confidence at all because the behemoth in front of her was too huge.

Robin's book slipped from her hands, and she didn't have time to do anything about it.

At this critical moment——

A cold light flashed.

No one could see what happened.

The enormous sea monster was cleaved in two mid-air, the clean cut as smooth as a mirror. Blood cascaded down like a waterfall, turning the nearby seawater a deep red.

Liu Jiu was already standing on the beach, his long sword just sheathed. The sea breeze ruffled his black hair, but his expression remained calm.

Everyone was stunned.

Guina's eyes widened; she hadn't even seen when Liu Jiu made his move.

Sanji plopped down on the ground, his mouth agape, unable to utter a word.

Zeff stared intently at Liu Jiu, his single eye filled with shock. He had seen countless powerful figures on the Grand Line, but such a casual strike...

"Extra food for tonight, please."

After saying this casually, Liu Jiu turned and walked back to the small boat, as if he had just casually swatted a mosquito.

The sea king's carcass, cut in half, floated on the surface of the sea; each half was larger than their ship.

Zhefu took a deep breath and struggled to his feet. He picked up a tree branch to use as a crutch and limped towards the sea.

"Old man?" Sanji looked at him in confusion.

Zeff didn't answer, but instead carefully examined the sea king's cross-section. The cut was unbelievably perfect, even the smallest bones had been neatly severed.

"Cut off the best parts," Zeff suddenly spoke, his eyes regaining their sparkle. "Tonight, I'm cooking myself."

Sanji was stunned: "But your leg..."

"Enough with the nonsense!" Zeff snapped. "Let me show you what real cooking is all about!"

As night falls, an enticing aroma wafts across the beach.

Zeff stood on one leg in front of the makeshift stove, skillfully processing the sea monster meat. Frying, grilling, stewing, boiling—each method brought out the best in the ingredients.

"Sea King sashimi." Zeff placed the first dish in front of Kuina; the fish was as thin as a cicada's wing and almost transparent in the moonlight.

Next up is the charcoal-grilled sea bass ribs, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, bursting with juice.

The seafood soup was rich and flavorful, and the fried meatballs were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside...

Every dish amazed everyone.

Sanji watched Zeff's fluid movements with eyes full of admiration: "This is... a real chef..."

Kuina took a bite of the grilled meat, her eyes lighting up: "Delicious! Could this be the work of a top chef?!"

Even Robin praised it highly.

Zhefu remained silent, instead placing the last dish in front of Liu Jiu: "Try this."

It was a simple piece of steamed fish, yet it exuded a unique aroma.

Liu Jiu took a bite and nodded slightly: "Not bad."

Receiving such a positive evaluation from him brought a rare smile to Zhefu's face.

Under the starlight, the group sat around the campfire, enjoying this unexpected feast. The sea king's flesh was piled up like a mountain, enough to feed them for a whole month.

Guina leaned close to Zeff and whispered, "Now you owe us both a favor. Once you're healed, you absolutely have to fight me."

Zhefu looked at the persistent girl and shook his head: "Please spare me. You've already seen what I'm good at tonight, haven't you?"

The small boat carrying five people sailed away from the deserted island and arrived at a bustling port town several days later.

The dock was bustling with people, the shouts of vendors mingling with the cries of seagulls. The air was filled with the smells of fish and the aroma of freshly baked bread, a stark contrast to the silence of the deserted island.

"That's enough for now," Zeff said to Kuina and the others, leaning on his makeshift cane. "Thank you all for saving our lives."

Sanji stood beside him, carrying a bag made of Sea King leather, which contained the jerky and supplies they had been allocated.

Guina glanced at the bustling dock, then at Zeff's empty right trouser leg: "What are your plans next?"

Zhefu gazed at the ships moored in the harbor, his eyes resolute: "I want to open a restaurant on the water."

"A seaside restaurant?" Robin asked, a look of interest on his face.

"That's right." Zeff patted Sanji on the shoulder. "With this brat by your side. Now that you're no longer suffering from hunger, you should really make the most of your culinary skills."

Sanji, unusually, didn't argue back, but nodded seriously. He turned to Kuina and Robin, suddenly becoming earnest: "Ladies, if you ever pass by the Baratie Baratie in the future, please be sure to visit. I'll prepare my best dishes for you."

"Baratie?" Guina raised an eyebrow. "Nice name."

"Of course!" Sanji immediately reverted to his infatuated state. "Giving them good names is essential to welcome two such beautiful ladies!"

Zhefu shook his head helplessly and took out a simple hand-drawn map from his pocket: "This is the restaurant's planned route. Please feel free to contact us if you need anything in the future."

Kuina took the map and carefully put it away. She looked at Zeff and asked one last time, "Really not going to fight?"

Zhefu laughed heartily, patting his broken leg: "No, I'm sick of fighting and killing all the time. I barely escaped with my life, I'd rather live a peaceful life from now on!"

The moment of farewell finally arrived.

Zeff and Sanji stood on the dock, watching the small boat slowly sail away. Sanji waved for a long time until the boat became a black dot in the distance.

"Stop looking, you brat." Zeff turned and headed towards town. "It's time to go to town and find someone to order a boat."

Sanji glanced one last time at the horizon, then jogged to catch up with Zeff: "Old man, how big of a ship do we need to buy?"

"The bigger the better." Zeff's eyes gleamed. "It needs to be able to withstand the storms of the Grand Line."

On the other side, on the boat.

Guina unfolded the map Zeff had given her, lost in thought: "The Baratie, a sea restaurant... that sounds interesting."

Robin was recording what he saw along the way: "They should succeed."

Liu Jiu, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "That chef was once very famous on the Grand Line."

Kuina and Robin both looked at him.

"Red-Leg Zhefu," Liu Jiu murmured, gazing into the distance, "not only is he incredibly skilled with his legs, but his cooking is also phenomenal."

The small boat slowly sailed out of the harbor, leaving the town behind.

Chapter 63 Cocoa West Village

The small boat sailed on the calm sea for most of the day.

Robin opened the food box that Zeff had prepared for them, which contained neatly arranged exquisite sushi, grilled fish, and pickled vegetables. The aroma immediately filled the deck.

"That chef's skills are truly exceptional," Robin said, savoring a piece of sushi.

Guina picked up a piece of grilled fish and nodded with satisfaction: "It tastes so much better than what we make ourselves."

Just as everyone was enjoying their meal, the boat suddenly rocked slightly.

A huge manatee emerged from the sea, its wet nose twitching incessantly, its eyes fixed on the grilled fish in Kuina's hand, its saliva almost dripping onto the deck.

"This is... a manatee?" Kuina gripped the hilt of her sword warily.

The manatee mooed and looked back and forth between the food box and Kuina with expectant eyes.

Robin observed the manatee closely: "It seems to have been attracted by the smell of food."

The manatee nodded in agreement, its pectoral fins clinging to the edge of the boat, looking pitiful.

Liu Jiu glanced at the manatee and suddenly said, "That's Moo Moo, kept by the Arlong Pirates."

Kuina and Robin were both stunned.

"The Arlong Pirates?" Kuina frowned. "Them? They look like gluttons!"

Liu Jiu nodded slightly: "There should be their pirate ships nearby. This is useful for towing ships; you can leave it if you want!"

The manatee seemed to understand their conversation and panicked, trying to dive into the water, but the aroma of food made it reluctant to leave.