-Usopp, you don't have to get upset about our new crewmate. Surely, you'll warm up to him in time. - Axel said, with an apologetic smile, shrugging.
-Axel, how can you tell me to calm down so casually? This guy tried to kill Kaya's parents. And now I find out he's part of the crew. I'll take him down! - Usopp said, looking displeased.
-There's no need to get angry about this. He's a new nakama, and I'll be keeping an eye on him, as well as Deuce and Agatha. Now we're sure he won't cause harm without us knowing. You've heard, to keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. - Axel responded again.
A week after the fight with Kuro, the Blue Pirates resumed skill practice and training. The crew was making good progress, and with the advancement of their skills, there was no need to push too hard. The fights would deliver the punch, that push that would take them to greater heights. Therefore, a week off for everyone to engage in various activities. The training was relaxed, and nobody was forced to comply with the minimum required by the crew.
Because Usopp just found out that Kuro joined the crew. Simple, he didn't bother going to the ship, and all he did was stay and play.
He simply spent his life playing around the village, acquiring some adventures. And although it may not seem like it, Usopp is a 15-year-old young man. He tends to shout a lot, be noisy for no reason, and have a confident attitude to hide his cowardice. Therefore, his mental age seems to be around 10. But Axel couldn't ask for a better companion. With flaws, he is perhaps one of the noblest pirates there ever was.
-Cheer up, he has repented of his mistakes. He caused no harm, just an unsuccessful attempt. I'll make sure he stays away from Kaya. - Axel smiled.
-I'll be watching you, Axel. He doesn't know it, but I have eyes on my back. My mind is capable of detecting any signs of betrayal. In my abilities, lies the power to foresee the future. - He pointed at Kuro. - So be careful. - He concluded the topic after finishing with a grand phrase and then ran to the back of the ship to conduct some experiments.
-Our next destination is the Isle of Smiths. My dear friends, - Axel announced. Saving his words, he displayed a large white sign with the map of East Blue.
-Our goal is to start an exploration process throughout East Blue. Two kingdoms in our hands, in our progress, first, we'll look for a place to enhance each of our skills. - He struck the board with the giant East Blue map.
-Next stop, Baratie. - Axel said.
-Baratie? - Deuce, Agatha, and Usopp asked.
-Yes. - Axel replied.
-It's the first time I've heard that name. - Deuce said. Usopp nodded. The Blue Queen was smiling; she had an idea of the next steps to follow.
-It's a marine restaurant. I know there are top-notch chefs there. Our sweet queen will be a student there. At least, for about two months, while she acquires enough skills. - Axel replied.
-How are you so sure they'll allow her to be a student at that restaurant? - Agatha asked.
-Just leave it to me; I have my ways. - Axel replied mysteriously.
-Well, as you all know, Agatha will train as a cook, and you guys will ensure that it works. Baratie is a restaurant of fierce chefs, and we need good points to stand out. So, if we have to be waiters for the next few months, we will be. Come on, no time to waste, unfurl the sails. We set sail on a new adventure. - Axel shouted jubilantly.
Deuce extended the sails in one leap, aided by a burst of fire.
-Kuro, keep an eye on the course. - Axel commented.
While checking the compass, the winds were humid, and the color of the clouds signaled good weather, at least until the night. They were closer to Baratie than he thought. A day and a half of travel. It's enough.
Afterward, they would head to Animal Island, the second destination of the journey, and then to the Isle of Smiths. A routine of peaceful travel. Defeat some pirates, hand them over to the Marines, and practice. With some time, he would devise a plan to destroy the Tequila Wolf Bridge. And BAM, a great job done.
Some small achievements here and there, would earn a few treasure chests. Axel was confident; his last stat level-up gave him enough security to deal with recurrent inconveniences.
-SHUT UP! - Usopp shouted.
-Well, well. Only someone raises their voice when they know they're wrong. - Kuro replied.
-That's not true! - Usopp said.
-If not, I'll keep reading. I hope to see the floor mopped when I walk through these areas. - Kuro said.
Axel saw Usopp grumbling, holding his fishing rod. This is the fourth fight on this day.
Deuce adjusted his fire fist, constantly throwing fire punches. His training was religious; the fact of holding the powerful Mera Mera no Mi already made a colossal difference in power. It led him to seek more ways to develop his abilities.
The fire echoed like war cannons. The said training for Devil Fruit abilities is to exhaust resistance to the extreme. They had grown slowly; Axel taught him some techniques of Ace, but he didn't know how talented he was compared to Ace. Ace's base power must be crazy. It's controversial in the anime, and it's the same as Jimbei. However, the skills are even poorer if you think about the use of other pirates with their respective fruits. And the versatility of combat is not well known, unlike Jimbei, who is a master in his skills. Still, his abilities are not underestimated.
-Deuce, we'll arrive in an hour. Guide the ship north, thirty degrees west, as it points. I'm hungry; I'll go eat something. - Axel said, who read navigation books in his free time.
Little Agatha should be in the kitchen, reading her cookbooks. She has been cooking large amounts of food lately. - Axel thought.
-Agatha, how's the kitchen? Did you like the books I got you? - Axel asked.
-They're great. Fish is one of my favorite dishes. Thanks for the books; there are some tricks I don't understand and some recipes I can't decipher. I'm sure I'll learn at Baratie. - Agatha said with dazzling happiness, which changed from a furious woman to an open-minded lady.
The spices sizzled, chopping tomatoes carefully. Butter melted in the pan. - Are you going to keep watching all day? - Agatha said.
-I came to eat something, but at the moment, I hope you finish your activities so I can order some food. - Axel said.
-Something important then. I can't cook with your eyes on me. Take these potatoes. They've been cooking for an hour. I think it'll be enough for lunch. - Agatha said.
-Thanks, Agatha. It's delicious; you put milk in it. They're crispy; what a great recipe. - Axel said with his mouth full.
-By the way. - the black-haired man continued.
-We'll arrive in about an hour. Try not to make too much food; we'll taste the dishes at Baratie. Some of the meals, Chef Zeff. He's a pirate who was once recognized, now an excellent cook. - Axel replied.
-Okay, I will. You guys won't leave me there, will you? - Agatha replied.
-That won't happen. Kuro will train his legs a bit; Deuce will watch over you. Usopp will create problems, and I'll be having fun. - Axel replied.
-Call the boys; the food is ready. - Ágatha told Axel.
Women are beings destined to stir your heart with their little details. Now I understand Deuce a bit. The former queen of Trump vanished, leaving Agatha behind. The cook is only a little violent. - Axel thought, seeing the sweet side of Agatha.
Baratie, a ship shaped like a fish, three stories high, and beautiful balconies and terraces. This ship would cost about 70 million berries, Axel estimated. Plus the cost of maintenance, furniture, and interior design, another 15 million. It's not easy to maintain such a ship with the common ambition of pirates.
In calculations, he would have to hunt pirates for four years, saving every penny, and he would still be short of some money.
-So, available pirates are. - Axel asked Kuro.
-The Black Hand Pirates. With a captain, worth 19 million berries. A shooter, Pistolero Toct, is worth five million berries. Nothing remarkable, but good rifle handling. - He said.
The Black Cat Pirates, who perished in the Battle of Storms and Bloody Waters. - Axel thought. - They don't count now either.
-The Cry Moon Pirates. Led by two twins, Musu and Busu, both worth 6 million berries. And Hill, worth three million berries. - Kuro said.
>>The Crick Pirates, who started a year ago, their captain has a bounty of 9 million berries. - They would fall into oblivion in a year and rise again twice as powerful. - He thought to himself as he listened to Kuro.
There were Arlong, Ace, and Alvida. The latter had no bounty, but they should be sailing somewhere. Ace doesn't have the Fire Fruit, so he must be suffering. His previous trip was a walk in the park, ruined by Axel. If he finds him, he'd gladly give him the prehistoric fruit. Although it suits him better for an animal that can fly. What was it called? Yes, the butterfly effect will be a headache. Well, for poor Ace.
They were all vicious, but the twins Musu and Busu didn't have that vibe. They were brutes warriors, their feats included attacking a marine base. According to the review, they used to be bounty hunters, and now they were a group of five running through the sea.
Kuro could mention that they might join our group due to the pirate life's pressure to seek calmer waters under the protection of someone powerful.
And this repeated itself over and over again; in two months, another rookie pirate would set sail. Importantly, within a year, about 20 new pirate crews were formed, and most of them perished. Only a few would survive a whole year. The great ones would travel to the Grand Line and then to the New World, forming at least 100 pirate crews, and only five to nine would enter the New World. This influx of pirates doubled in some seas, such as South Blue and North Blue.
For now, the twins will head to the Grand Line. According to their movements, Loguetown will be in the next month or two.
-Let's go after the twins, Busu and Musu; they would be good additions to our crew, - Axel said. It was mentioned that both of them had the strength of three men, meaning physical talent.
Kuro adjusted his glasses. -As you wish, - he said.
The Baratie was already visible; the childish fish-shaped form was in sight.
-What a pleasure, customers. You're at the Baratie restaurant. The best food in East Blue. For now, we have tables available, come this way, - said the receptionist.
-Look at this elegant place. How beautiful. Axel, are you sure we can afford this place? - Ussop asked.
-We can, - Axel replied.
-Dear customer, do you want anything special? - Patty, who acted as a waiter, asked.
-I want the daily special, - Ussop said.
-Give me the steak in mushroom cream, - Kuro said.
-I want the same, - Agatha replied.
-Shrimp pasta. King of the Sea meat, and some honey-glazed T-bones, - Axel ordered.
Kuro ordered an extra bottle of wine, while Deuce ordered spiced meat. Patty rubbed his hands and hurried off to prepare our dishes.
-It seems the coward chose the kids' menu, - Kuro said loudly.
-Shut up, I like macaroni and cheese, - Ussop retorted with a sour face.
-Kakakkakaaa, - Deuce laughed.
-Haha, I also want a special menu after my dishes, - Axel said.
-If I had known, I wouldn't have bothered cooking you fine dishes, - Agatha said.
-I like them; my mom used to make them with apple juice, - Ussop said, oblivious to the situation.
During the meal, four more dishes were ordered for Deuce and Axel; the food intake tripled due to intense training.
The bill was around 60,000 berries, almost the salary of five months for a farmer. Something that only very few people could afford. When you think about it, pirates plunder due to their inability to self-sustain their journey. Ammunition, swords, beds, luxuries—the pirate life is sad and disappointing. Raids on civilian populations are a way to fill the coffers and feed the crews. After all, no one can be a Yonko and have a territory of their own that the Marines won't invade for fear of retaliation.
It's not surprising that, in the future, poverty will plague kingdoms and islands, and people will live with very little. The Marines confiscate stolen money and use it as funds, never returning anything, only to be stolen again weeks later by pirates.
-It's a shitty system. The world is screwed. -
-The bill, dear customer, - said Patty.
-Could you introduce me to the chef? - Axel asked.
-What are you talking about? Pay the bill, idiot. Don't tell me you don't have money, - Patty said, changing personalities in a second.
-Here's the payment. I need a few words with the chef; could you introduce me to him? - Axel asked.
-Wait a second, dear customer, - Patty said while counting the bills.
A bearded man, his mustache in braids under his peg leg, appeared; Sanji followed him, wearing his chef's dress, which was strange because his usual suit was not present. Two other cooks followed along with Patty.
-I was told you were calling for me. Do you have any business with me, kid? - Zeff asked.
-I do. I'd like you to teach my cook some tricks about food handling and cooking techniques you've acquired, - Axel replied.
Agatha lifted her head with a hopeful expression.
-And why should I accept such a request? - Zeff asked calmly.
-Sanji looks younger, and he has already started wearing suits, - Axel thought.
-It's a good deal. My companion Agatha has talent, and you're a good cook. I'll pay you for the time you spend teaching her, - Axel responded.
Acceptance gestures changed with the mention of money. For Zeff, it was money, and for Sanji, the mention of a girl was enough to agree to the proposal.
The cooks said their goodbyes, and everything returned to calm; initially, it was thought that a fight would break out.
Zeff sat down, pondering a few things.
-Alright, one million now, and one million later. She'll be ready. By the end of the month, everything. If your boys stay, they'll have to pay their expenses or work for the Baratie, - Zeff said.
-Is that fair? - Agatha thought.
-What do you think, guys? - Axel asked.
-Very fair, Axel. We'll be under his care, - Agatha said, waving to Zeff, who smiled.
I could see Sanji for a second narrowing his eyes with hearts and pig noses. He's indeed a pervert.
-I have no problem, - Deuce said.
Ussop nodded, downplaying it, while Kuro ignored them, sipping a glass of wine.
...