Meeting Vinsmoke Sanji

After settling into the room, Tang An locked the door and went down to the first-floor hall. At this moment, several people were dining in the hall.

Elegant music played, and well-dressed individuals, accompanied by their partners, enjoyed steaks and red wine with delight.

Even some pirates behaved elegantly in this atmosphere, though it was uncertain if it was genuine.

The ambience was quite something.

Meanwhile, many waiters were bustling around the restaurant.

The business was even better than expected.

"What can I get for you, sir?"

A smiling waiter approached as soon as Tang An descended the stairs. If only it were a charming lady instead of a scar-faced, not-so-friendly man.

"Bring me some of your signature dishes."

Guided by the waiter, Tang An sat at a window-side table, providing a view of the sea.

"Do you need red wine? We have vintages from one to ten years."

"Bring me a five-year-old one."

"Please wait a moment."

As the waiter left, Tang An observed the spacious hall filled with people engaged in various activities.

Couples in love whispered conversations, and extravagant feasting coexisted.

Many pirates avoided trouble, finishing their meals and leaving after paying.

After about ten minutes, a boy of eight or nine, carrying a plate of food, approached Tang An.

His golden hair and curly eyebrows were unmistakable.

Vinsmoke Sanji.

"Please enjoy, sir. We cannot afford to waste any food here."

Though only eight or nine, Sanji already possessed the spirit of a chef.

Pointing to the warning on the wall, prominently stating not to waste food, he emphasized its significance. Having survived on a deserted island with Zeff, they cherished every bit of food.

"Your name is Sanji?"

Suppressing the urge to draw his gun, Tang An didn't call out Sanji's full name just yet. He couldn't kill him now, at least not until he had an escape plan.

"Yes."

Sanji nodded solemnly, displaying a sense of dedication.

"Please guide me in the future."

Tang An revealed a gentle smile.

Sanji was puzzled by Tang An's meaning, his face showing confusion.

"I'm here for tourism in the East Blue. I heard that the food at the Baratie, the sea restaurant, is exceptionally delicious, so I plan to stay for a month."

Tang An looked at the food on the plate, similar to steak, and began cutting. His manners were not elegant; he was used to using chopsticks, but here, only a knife and fork were available.

"The Baratie boasts the world's greatest chefs. You won't be disappointed. Please guide me in the coming month."

Sanji bowed elegantly.

"Foolish Sanji, slacking off during work hours."

A scolding voice echoed from the kitchen. Sanji's elegant demeanour instantly vanished as he cursed towards the kitchen, "Old man, it's a chef's responsibility to inform customers about each dish."

"Idiot Sanji, you're just an apprentice!"

Zeff emerged from the kitchen, wearing a chef's hat and holding a spatula, infuriated.

"Stupid old man, one day I'll throw you into the sea. I've told you I'm no longer an apprentice. This gentleman's food was prepared by me."

Sanji rolled up his sleeves, resembling an angry little bull, and walked towards the kitchen, exchanging insults with Zeff.

Sounds of pots and pans clashing and exposing each other's flaws echoed from inside.

Many regular customers in the hall were already accustomed to this.

Tang An withdrew his gaze and started dealing with the food in front of him.

It seemed to be some kind of sea fish, with a smooth and delicate texture, perfectly seasoned.

According to what Sanji said earlier, he had prepared this dish, and Tang An was surprised to see the budding talent of a chef.

After finishing the meal, Tang An explored Baratie, getting to know the surroundings.

Once done, he returned to his room to practice.

In a month, he had to successfully complete the Shave training.

Simultaneously, he aimed to enhance his physique with basic martial arts.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.

Early in the morning, Tang An tied sandbags containing iron blocks to his feet and jogged around Baratie.

"Hey, Mr. Tang An."

"Mr. Paddy."

"Good morning, Mr. Tang."

"Good morning, Mr. Carne."

Baratie was neither too big nor too small, and in these ten days, Tang An had made initial acquaintances with these people.

"Mr Tang An is training again?"

Sanji stood on the balcony, yawning, as Tang An passed below.

"Sanji, good morning!"

Tang An waved, wearing a smile on his face, then continued running.

"Mr. Zeff."

Passing by Zeff's residence, he was in the midst of grooming.

"Mr. Tang An."

Zeff just nodded, not as enthusiastic as the others.

After circling Baratie for an hour, Tang An returned to his room to do push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups...

Three hundred for each type.

Around 11 AM, he finished his training, took a 20-minute rest, and jumped down from the balcony to swim in the turbulent sea for over 20 minutes.

Afterwards, he cleaned up on the ship and headed to the hall for lunch.

In the afternoon, he would practice shaving, and at night, he would spend half the time training basics and shaving. This routine continued for ten days.

"Mr. Tang An, this is my latest culinary creation."

As soon as he sat at a window-side table, Sanji promptly brought a new dish.

"Oh? Then I must taste it."

With Sanji's expectant gaze, Tang An began to savour the dish.

"How is it? How is it? Is it better than that old man's?"

Sitting across from Tang An, Sanji's face was filled with anxiety and anticipation.

"Well, compared to other chefs, you've done quite well, but you're still a bit behind Mr. Zeff."

Tang An spoke honestly, seeing Sanji's disappointed face, he continued, "I believe you can surpass Mr Zeff in the future."

"I think so too."

Suddenly confident, Sanji's demeanour changed.

"Foolish Sanji, slacking off again."

A scolding voice came from the kitchen.

"Damn old man, one day I'll kick you into the sea."

Sanji cursed as he left his seat and headed to the kitchen.

After lunch, Tang An greeted the people he knew on the way and returned to his room to practice shaving.

Progress was significant in these ten days. Starting with 0.36 seconds per step, he now managed four steps.

The additional three steps required countless sweat and effort, leaving his feet numb after each session.

Tang An initially thought he could complete the training in a month, but at this rate, even two months seemed insufficient.

Little did he know that without the continuous push-ups and other basic exercises, coupled with the knowledge and techniques in his mind, achieving four steps in ten days would have been impossible.

Shaving, however, proved to be even more challenging than Tang An had anticipated.

*Boom, boom...*

In an instant, Tang An managed four steps effortlessly, realizing he had extra strength this time, reaching an impressive four and a half steps.

After several attempts, a triumphant smile appeared on Tang An's face.

The effort and sweat he invested were truly worthwhile!

"Today, I'll break through to five steps."

With determination, Tang An embarked on the monotonous practice repeatedly.

As the sun set, with each drop of sweat from Tang An, the sky gradually darkened.

In the final moment, Tang An wore a smile of success, having achieved five steps in just 0.36 seconds.

His mood was uplifted, as if all exhaustion had vanished, leaving him spirited and energized.