Chapter 185
Looking at the report from the Conomi Archipelago, Dante’s face showed surprise. "Why is he here again?"
That old fossil Sengoku had claimed that due to recent events, Marine HQ was short-staffed and had to pull suitable Marine Captains from the four Blues branches for training to fill the ranks.
So why did a Marine Admiral have so much free time? He curled his lip and continued reading. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Did Admiral Kuzan go get himself for snacks? He actually went to Romance Dawn? Is this another taxpayer-funded vacation?"
Robin and Viola exchanged helpless smiles beside him.
That was a Marine Admiral! The top combat power of Marine HQ coming to the East Blue, and here he was calling it a taxpayer-funded vacation.
Robin shook her head with a smile. "Boss, you really shouldn’t let Admiral Kuzan hear you say that."
"So what if he does?" Dante waved his hand dismissively. "He’s probably spreading rumors about me behind my back anyway! I suspect... 80% of those rumors about me at Marine HQ came from him."
Hearing Dante’s words, Robin and Viola both stifled laughs.
For some reason, even though Dante was nominally just a small Captain in the East Blue, the rumors about him had already spread to Marine HQ. Even Dante’s former teacher and Ain had heard them, leading to more than a few embarrassing moments.
Just then, Robin seemed to remember something and, as she looked at Dante, asked, "Zoro is over there too. Should we send someone to bring him here?"
"No need." Dante shook his head. "There’s no rush. I’ll go find him next year just the same."
He went back to reading the report.
He hadn’t expected Sanji and the others to run into each other so quickly, or for Kuzan to get mixed up with them too.
But Mock...
Why would he invite people to Romance Dawn the moment they meet?
Can’t they go somewhere else first, look around a bit?
Is there nowhere else to go in the Conomi Archipelago besides Romance Dawn?
"By the way, Smoker and Tashigi are about to enter the waters near the Conomi Archipelago." Viola seemed to have seen something. She withdrew her gaze and looked at the Boss. "They should arrive at the pier in about thirty minutes."
"They’re here?" Dante nodded at Viola’s words.
He had to admit, Viola’s ability was quite useful. Just by staying here, she could observe the surrounding waters.
Of course, his territory was also gradually being equipped with Vegapunk’s special security system.
Any individuals exhibiting abnormal characteristics, such as physical abnormalities, erratic behavior, unnatural silence, or threatening features, or specially registered persons of interest entering relevant waters or islands would be detected immediately and locked onto.
The actual effectiveness of the security measures remained unclear. They’d have to wait until it was fully operational to know for sure.
As for Smoker, Dante had specifically invited him some time ago. He hadn’t expected the man to actually come all this way.
After all, for someone like Smoker... rather than attending some party, he’d probably prefer to spend that time hunting down a few criminal pirates!
"Have the pier arrange for docking. I expect quite a few ships will be coming in today." Dante checked the time and stood up. "I’m going to check on the preparations at Baratie."
Baratie, a sea restaurant located in the Sambas Region near the Conomi Archipelago in the East Blue, was a rather famous establishment.
Even many of the ’secret royal recipes’ on the Conomi Archipelago had been purchased from there.
Though the service was mediocre, even somewhat poor, the food itself was quite excellent.
Baratie, which normally didn’t provide off-site service, had today accepted a massive order. It had left the Sambas Region and come to the Conomi Archipelago to prepare food for tonight’s party.
But at that moment, a small incident seemed to be occurring among the busy chefs preparing the food.
"Pay attention, all of you! Don’t go embarrassing Baratie !" Zeff shouted at the chefs working frantically beneath him. "Hurry it up! We don’t have much time. The party starts tonight!"
"Head Chef Zeff, there’s too many people!" One chef, flipping ingredients in a wok, gave a strained smile. "We’re cooking for an entire island! We haven’t rested since we got here, we’ve been preparing nonstop!"
"Shut up! We took the order, so we’re going to complete it properly. And you’d better not cut corners just because you’re tired. Baratie can’t afford that kind of humiliation! Also..." Zeff shouted over the chefs’ complaints. "Where’s Sanji? Doesn’t he know we’re busy right now?"
"Sanji said he was going out to check something. He hasn’t come back yet. Oh, right, he also said that unless those are proven to be just rumors, he’ll never cook for some scumbag who toys with women!"
"That brat..." Zeff frowned. "He couldn’t wait until after we’re done to go wandering around?"
He knew what was on Sanji’s mind. But Sanji was also the temporary head chef for today. Without him, their speed would drop significantly.
Of course, Zeff himself hadn’t expected they’d need to prepare food for so many people.
He had thought they’d be enough with Patty’s group, just preparing food for the staff and subordinates of the Marine 16th Branch.
Instead, they had to feed an entire island’s worth of people! Plus out-of-town guests.
But there was no point complaining now. As chefs, once they’d accepted a client’s order, they had to give their all to deliver what was needed.
Fortunately, Patty’s situation was different from theirs. Otherwise, with just the personnel they’d brought, there was no way they could prepare food for an entire island, no matter how hard they worked!
With that in mind, Zeff’s face showed resignation. He shouted again, "Get someone to find that brat immediately! If Baratie loses respect today, I will punish him."
However.
Before Zeff ordered-
A cook came rushing in. "Head Chef Zeff! Marine Caption Dante is here!"
Zeff froze. "He’s here?"
Then he snapped back to reality and shouted at the equally stunned chefs, "What are you standing around for? Keep going! I’ll handle him personally."
Without waiting for a response, he headed outside.
Dante, who had already boarded Baratie , was looking around curiously. This wasn’t his first visit.
When he first came to the East Blue, he’d made a point of eating at Baratie. He had first dined at Baratie upon arriving in the East Blue and had collaborated with the restaurant on numerous occasions since.
Noticing something, Dante turned and looked toward the interior.
When he saw Zeff emerge, Dante smiled. "Head Chef Zeff, sorry to disturb you!"
"Hahaha, not a problem!" Zeff laughed. "I should be thanking Dante for bringing Baratie such a big order."
As he spoke, Zeff studied the notorious Corrupt Marine Captain before him, feeling a surge of various emotions.
He hadn’t expected that the destitute prodigy of a captain who first arrived in East Blue would grow to this extent.
"It’s just..." He gave a reluctant smile. "There are too many people. Baratie wasn’t prepared in advance, so I must apologize."
His tone turned serious.
"Please rest assured, Baratie will do its utmost to make this banquet a success!"
"Much appreciated." Seeing Zeff’s earnest guarantee, Dante nodded with a smile. "There are indeed quite a few people. Considering this, I thought you might be short-staffed, so I called over some people to help. Don’t worry, they all have years of culinary experience. I just wasn’t sure if you’d need them?"
"Really? We need them, we definitely need them!" Zeff nodded repeatedly, his face lighting up with surprise. "We really need the help right now!"
Seeing that Head Chef Zeff didn’t refuse, Dante heard some noise and turned to look outside. "They’re here!"
Sure enough. Groups of figures in chef uniforms filed through the entrance one after another.
Seeing those dozen or so chefs, the tension in Zeff’s heart instantly melted away.
Still, these chefs had noticeable signs of aging, such as grey hair and slow, deliberate movements, which seemed atypical for the fast-paced environment of a kitchen. But that didn’t matter.
"Thank you so much. Rest assured, Baratie will do its absolute best to create the most delicious food possible!"
"I certainly trust Baratie’s cooking." Dante laughed at Zeff’s words, then frowned. "By the way, I saw a few chefs rushing out earlier. Did something happen?"
"Well... nothing serious." Zeff’s face showed a wry expression. "One of our temporary chefs ran off somewhere. We were worried about delaying tonight’s party, so we had to send people to find him!"
"A temporary chef? You mean Sanji?"
"Wait," Zeff froze, then quickly asked, "Dante, do you know where that brat is?"
"I do!" Dante nodded without hiding anything. "He’s over at Romance Dawn right now!"
"Romance Dawn?"
"You know... a foot massage place!"
’That damn brat!’
Everyone is busy working themselves to the bone right now, yet he actually has the mood to run off for a foot massage?!
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