Chapter 43: Walking on Water, Don't Underestimate My Determination to Eat!
Inside the Baratie, the sea restaurant, in a head chef's office filled with maritime decor.
Several burly chefs were holding Luffy by the arms, dragging him all the way to Head Chef Zeff like a prisoner.
"Head Chef! This kid is the culprit!"
Patty pointed at Luffy and complained loudly, "That cannonball that fell from the sky and smashed the roof just now was brought here by this guy!"
Zeff, sitting behind the desk, looked rather disheveled at the moment.
His once snow-white, tall chef's hat and uniform were now covered in black soot and marks from fire.
Apparently, he was the direct victim after Luffy's "Rubber Balloon" deflected the cannonball.
Zeff stroked his two braided golden mustaches and glanced indifferently at Luffy.
"Was it you? Straw Hat."
Feeling the deep, sea-like pressure radiating from the man.
Without any hesitation, Luffy immediately performed a standard Dogeza, slamming his forehead onto the floor.
"I'm... I'm really incredibly sorry!!"
Luffy shouted, his attitude sincere to the extreme.
After a while, seeing no movement from the other party.
Luffy carefully raised his head a bit, intending to steal a glance at the victim.
However, with this look, his gaze instantly froze.
He saw the empty right pant leg of Zeff, replaced by a hard wooden prosthetic.
Luffy's pupils shook, tears instantly gushing out as he wailed with snot and tears:
"Waaaah!! I'm sorry, Uncle!! Your leg!! Did I accidentally blow your leg off?!!"
"Idiot!!"
Veins popped on Zeff's forehead as he unceremoniously raised that wooden leg and kicked Luffy hard in the face.
"Bang!"
"My leg has been broken for who knows how many years! How could it have been blown off by a mere brat like you! Don't flatter yourself!"
...
Meanwhile, the doors of the Sea Restaurant were pushed open.
A heavily injured Fullbody and his sexy female companion, Moodie, walked into the restaurant arm in arm.
Though he had changed into clean clothes, Fullbody's right hand was now wrapped in thick bandages like a giant zongzi, looking quite ridiculous.
Moodie glanced at Fullbody's injured hand and asked with some concern:
"Lieutenant, your hand... is it really okay? Why don't we call it a day..."
"Hahaha, it's fine, it's fine!"
Fullbody endured the piercing pain from his wrist, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Yet he forced a smile, trying to show his grace as a Marine gentleman.
Although his right wrist had just been brutally crushed by that hateful red-eyed kid.
Even that couldn't stop his determination to eat; it even became firmer.
—He desperately needed to vent to soothe his wounded soul and body.
"It's just a... small scratch. You know, as a Marine Lieutenant, training is always tough. Hahaha."
He wrapped his good left arm around Moodie's waist, striking a suave pose.
"Let's go, the red wine here is quite good. Let's head inside."
...
On the Going Merry.
"Ah, that idiot Luffy, why did he have to go and apologize? Couldn't he have just blamed it on the Marines? After all, they were the ones who fired the cannonball."
Nami leaned on the railing, looking at the distant restaurant, and couldn't help but pout and complain.
Tatsuya stretched, yawned, and suddenly remembered something.
"Ah, right. That guy Luffy didn't bring a single cent with him."
"Eh?" Nami was stunned.
"If he doesn't bring money for compensation, given that head chef's temper, Luffy might be held back to wash dishes for the rest of his life."
"I happen to be hungry too, so let's take some Berries over to compensate them."
Tatsuya patted the dust off his clothes. "And while we're at it, let's taste the craftsmanship of the East Sea's most famous restaurant."
Hearing about using the treasure, Nami's expression showed some pain and reluctance.
But thinking about saving Luffy, she could only sigh helplessly.
"Ah, honestly... I'm coming too! I have to supervise you so you don't waste money!"
Tatsuya nodded and turned to look at Zoro, who was dozing against the mast with his swords, and Usopp, who was repairing the ship's side with a Hammer.
"Hey, Zoro, Usopp. I'm leaving the ship in your hands."
"Don't worry, Big Brother! We're here too!"
Johnny and Yosaku immediately patted their chests in assurance, their eyes full of admiration for Tatsuya.
"Bring us back something delicious! I want that big meat with the bone in it!" Usopp shouted, waving his Hammer.
"Gah gah gah! Master, Clay wants some too!" Clay also flapped his wings and shouted.
Then, Usopp seemed to realize something and stared wide-eyed at the two standing by the ship's side.
"Hey, Tatsuya... wait, the small boat is in the back..."
However, before he could finish.
Tatsuya suddenly bent down, hooked one arm under Nami's knees and the other around her back, picking her up in a princess carry.
"Kya?!"
Nami's body was suddenly lifted into the air, and a blush instantly spread across her cheeks.
She instinctively struggled slightly, her hands pressed against Tatsuya's chest.
"Hey! What are you doing?! Put me down!"
"Going over there."
Tatsuya said with an innocent face, "Taking the small boat is too slow, and having to row is a hassle."
Then, without any warning, he jumped straight down toward the sea below while holding Nami!
"Ah!!!"
Nami watched the sea surface getting closer and couldn't help but scream in terror.
She squeezed her eyes shut, her hands instinctively clutching Tatsuya's clothes tightly.
"You idiot!! Did you forget you're a Hammer?! We're going to drown!!"
Whoosh—
The sound of the wind whistled in her ears.
However, the expected suffocating feeling of cold seawater hitting her face did not come.
Instead, she felt a steady vibration, as if she had landed on solid ground.
"It's okay now."
Tatsuya's amused voice sounded in her ear.
Nami carefully opened one eye and looked down at her feet.
At this look, she almost cried out in shock.
Tatsuya was actually standing steadily on the surface of the undulating sea!
It was as if there was an invisible film under his feet, keeping the seawater out, with only faint ripples spreading out.
After practicing in secret for some time, Tatsuya had already become proficient in using Chakra to walk on water.
"Hold on tight, Miss Navigator."
Tatsuya gave a reminder.
"Whoosh!"
Then their figures flashed, and Tatsuya actually began to run swiftly across the sea while holding Nami, as if on level ground, leaving a white wake behind them.
On the ship, Usopp and Zoro watched this scene, their jaws nearly hitting the deck.
"What the... Is that guy a Ninja?" Zoro opened one eye.
"Ah... so cool! I want to learn that move too! Then I wouldn't have to worry about falling into the sea!" Usopp drooled in envy.
...
A few seconds later, on the deck of the Sea Restaurant.
Tatsuya landed lightly and set Nami down from his arms.
"We're here."
As soon as Nami's feet touched the ground, she immediately stepped back two paces as if she'd been shocked.
She straightened her somewhat disheveled clothes, the blush on her face not yet fully faded.
Without looking at Tatsuya, she kept a straight face and walked straight toward the restaurant's main doors, her footsteps a bit flustered.
Tatsuya scratched his head, looking confused.
"Hmm... did I do something wrong again? Wasn't this the fastest way? And I didn't even get her shoes wet."
He shook his head, unable to understand a woman's mind, and then stepped forward to follow.
"Creak—"
The two pushed open the massive fish-shaped door.
As soon as the door opened, a wave of angry roars met them, shattering the restaurant's originally elegant atmosphere.
"Oi! Oi! Oi! What kind of service attitude is this?!"
In the center of the restaurant, at a table, Fullbody had one foot on a chair.
He slammed the table hard with his bandage-wrapped right hand, roaring at a young chef with blond hair and curly eyebrows:
"I am a Marine Headquarters Lieutenant! 'iron fist' Fullbody!!"
He pointed at the bowl of soup in front of him, his expression contorted:
"Are you serving me this soup with a fly in it?! This is an insult to the Marines!!"
"I see the defiance in your eyes! Say something, you bastard!"
"I have the authority to arrest you! You curly-eyebrowed bastard chef!"
Across from him, the cigarette-smoking Sous Chef, Sanji, was looking at him with a cold face.
At the entrance.
Tatsuya watched this familiar scene, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
"Oh? Seems I've arrived at just the right time."