Chapter 18: Arrival at the Baratie
Two days later.
The Going Merry sailed into the vicinity of a strange, fish-shaped ship floating in the middle of the sea—the ocean-going restaurant, Baratie.
However, as they approached the entrance, their path was blocked by a massive Marine warship.
On the deck of the warship stood a Marine officer in a pinstriped suit, wine glass in hand. This was Lieutenant Fullbody of Marine Headquarters. Irritated by the pirate flag, he ordered his men to fire a warning shot.
BOOM!
Luffy, acting on instinct, inflated his rubber body like a balloon. "Gum-Gum... Balloon!"
The cannonball bounced off his belly with a rubbery sproing, flying off at a wild angle. It soared over the water and crashed directly into the upper deck of the Baratie, smashing part of the roof.
"Uh oh," Luffy blinked.
Ignoring the property damage for a moment, Apollo leaned against the railing, staring at the Marine officer. He narrowed his eyes.
"That guy," Apollo thought, searching his memory. "Fullbody. He also goes by the epithet 'Iron Fist'—or rather, 'Double Ironfist.' It seems that nickname is cheap these days. Even Headquarters hands it out to trash."
Apollo scoffed. "He wears the title, but he has none of the weight. Shameless."
On the warship, Fullbody was about to turn away with his beautiful date, Moodie, on his arm. Suddenly, he felt a piercing gaze. He turned his head and locked eyes with Apollo.
The look of utter disdain on the handsome man's face made Fullbody's blood boil.
To make matters worse, Moodie's eyes lingered on Apollo. "Oh, my. Who is that? He's quite... striking."
Fullbody's face turned a shade of maroon. He slammed his wine glass down. "Hey! You! The pretty boy in the blue suit! What's with that look?!"
Apollo blinked, pulled from his thoughts. He looked around. "Blue suit? Oh, that's me."
He pointed at himself, genuinely baffled. "Are you talking to me? I didn't realize trash could speak."
"You..." Fullbody's vein popped. "You pink-haired freak! You dare look down on an officer of the Marines?!"
"Pink... pink-haired freak?"
On the Merry, Usopp slapped a hand over his mouth, his cheeks puffing out as he tried to contain his laughter.
Luffy had no such filter. "Bwahahaha! Pinky! He looks like a flamingo!" Luffy slapped the railing, tears forming in his eyes.
Fullbody's face turned from maroon to pitch black.
"Fullbody-sama," Moodie whispered, tugging his arm. "Don't lower yourself to bully common pirates. Let's just go eat."
Her attempt to calm him only poured oil on the fire. Fullbody felt humiliated in front of his date.
"Common pirate?" Fullbody sneered, stepping onto the railing. "I'll show you..."
"Correction," Apollo interrupted, his voice cutting through the air. "Which eye of yours sees me as a pirate? I am merely a passenger on a pirate ship. There is a difference."
Fullbody squinted at him. Then, his eyes widened in recognition. "Wait. I know that face. You're the bounty hunter from the East Blue reports. The one they call 'Iron Fist' Apollo."
He smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Heh. I've been wanting to meet you. It insults me that a backwater hunter shares a nickname similar to mine."
Fullbody leaped from his ship, soaring through the air. "I'll show you the difference between a fake and the real 'Double Ironfist' of Headquarters!"
"Watch out!" Nami cried.
Apollo didn't move. He didn't even lift a hand. He just watched the Marine descend with a bored expression.
Just as the fist was about to connect, a straw-hatted blur intercepted.
Wham.
Luffy caught Fullbody's fist with one hand, his expression serious. "Hey now. Apollo is our guest. You can't just hit him."
"Get out of my way, pirate scum!" Fullbody roared, bringing his other fist down on Luffy's head.
"Gum-Gum..." Luffy leaned back, his neck stretching as he dodged the blow. He snapped back upright, his arm retracting from a long stretch behind him. "...Pistol!"
CRACK.
Luffy's fist buried itself in Fullbody's jaw.
The Marine officer flew backward like a ragdoll, smashing into the cabin of his own ship before sliding down to the deck, unconscious.
Moodie screamed, her face pale. The Marine soldiers panicked, aiming their rifles at the Merry.
Apollo shook his head, looking at the trembling beauty on the warship. "What a pity. Fine cabbages are always eaten by pigs."
Moodie was undeniably gorgeous—mature, stylish, and curvaceous. In comparison, Nami, who was still wearing her simple t-shirt and shorts, looked like a kid.
"Alright!" Luffy cheered, stretching his arms wide and grabbing onto Zoro, Usopp, Nami, and Apollo in a massive bear hug. "Let's go find the Chef!"
"Wait, Luffy! What are you—" Usopp screamed.
"Gum-Gum... Rocket!"
Luffy launched himself into the air, dragging his screaming crewmates with him. They soared over the gap between the ships, heading straight for the Baratie's deck.
Thud. Thud.
Zoro and Usopp landed face-first on the wooden planks, groaning as huge bumps swelled on their heads.
Apollo, however, twisted in mid-air. He landed gracefully on his feet, one arm wrapped securely around Nami's waist to catch her.
"That idiot!" Zoro growled, clutching his swords. "I'm going to chop him up!"
Luffy had already sprinted inside the restaurant. Zoro and Usopp chased after him, fuming.
"Shall we?" Apollo asked.
Nami didn't move. She stayed in his arms, looking up at him with a sly, cat-like smile. "Comfortable?"
Apollo kept his expression neutral, releasing her waist. "I was just making sure you didn't break your neck."
"Mmhmm." Nami's eyes twinkled. "You touched me. That's a service fee. 50,000 Berry."
Apollo stroked his chin, a playful smirk touching his lips. "Is that so? Then... how long can I hold you for 100 million Berry?"
Nami froze.
The smile vanished from her face. Her pupils dilated. The number—100 million—hit her like a physical blow. It was the exact amount she needed to buy Cocoyasi Village back from Arlong.
Did he say that on purpose? No... how could he know? I've never told anyone but Nojiko.
Her heart hammered against her ribs. She looked at Apollo, searching for any sign of hidden meaning, but his face was unreadable.
Recovering quickly, she forced a bright, plastic smile. "Don't joke like that! Who has that kind of money? Come on, let's go inside before they break something."
She turned and hurried into the restaurant, her steps slightly uneven.
She definitely panicked, Apollo thought, watching her retreating back. She saw Arlong's bounty poster in my collection back at the mansion. She knows I know something.
He chuckled and followed her inside.
The interior of the Baratie was chaotic.
Luffy was currently being strangled by an old man with a braided mustache and a towering chef's hat—Zeff, the owner and head chef.
"You brat!" Zeff roared. "You destroyed my roof! How are you going to pay for this?!"
"I don't have money!" Luffy choked out. "I'll pay with my body!"
"I don't need your rubber body! I need Berry!"
Apollo walked over to a nearby table where Nami had seated herself. He sat down and nudged her shoulder. "Looks like the Captain is in debt already."
"Idiot," Nami muttered, rubbing her temples.
"Waiter!" Apollo called out. "Sanji! Get over here!"
A blonde man in a black suit, with a curly eyebrow and a cigarette dangling from his lips, walked over with a tray. He looked annoyed.
"Who's shouting? We're busy..." Sanji stopped when he saw Apollo. His eyebrow twitched. "Oh. It's you. The guy from Syrup Village. Why are you here again?"
Sanji paused, looking around. "Where is the lovely Miss Kaya? Did she not come with you?"
Then, his visible eye landed on Nami.
Badump.
Sanji's eye turned into a literal heart. He pirouetted over to her, kneeling on one knee. "Ooooh! The ocean is blue, but not as deep as your eyes! Who is this goddess? Mademoiselle, would you do me the honor of a date?"
Apollo rolled his eyes. He reached out, grabbed Nami by the shoulder, and pulled her against his side. "Back off, curly-brows. This is my girlfriend."
Sanji stiffened. He looked at Apollo, then at the empty space where Kaya usually was, then at Nami.
"You..." Sanji began to tremble with rage. Flames ignited in his eyes. "You bastard! You already have the angel of Syrup Village! How can you claim this goddess is your girlfriend too?!"
Apollo shrugged, looking the picture of innocence. "Is it a crime for a man to have a big heart? Can't I love two beautiful women at the same time?"
"YES IT IS!" Sanji roared, biting through his cigarette. "That's unfair! That's hoarding!"
"Eat your heart out," Apollo grinned, pulling Nami closer.
Nami played along perfectly. She leaned her head on Apollo's shoulder, looking at Sanji with a pitiful, love-struck expression. "Sorry, waiter-san. I'm taken."
Sanji turned into stone, crumbling into a pile of dust in the corner.
However, as Nami snuggled into Apollo, her voice dropped to a whisper only he could hear.
"That act just cost you another 100,000 Berry. Pay up later, or you're dead."
"Wait," Usopp whispered from across the table. "Sanji? Is that the guy you told us about? The chef?"
Apollo nodded. "That's him. Don't let the perverted act fool you. His cooking is divine, and his kicks are strong enough to shatter rock. If you want a fighting cook, he's your man."
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