"Silvers, bring the cleanest ice you can find, as much as possible."
"Dolum, set up the largest pot and start a fire. I'm going to make soup with fish bones and fish heads."
"Gatz, wash these cut fish pieces with lightly salted water."
Chef Raine gave his commands in an orderly fashion, and the rough pirates, who usually only knew how to fight and sail, now became his most obedient kitchen assistants.
The most exquisite part of the fish belly was sliced into uniformly thin pieces by Chef Raine.
The fish meat displayed a beautiful marble-like pattern, with pinkish-white fat interwoven with vibrant red lean meat, like a work of art.
Chef Raine carefully arranged these sashimi slices on plates that had been cooled with ice, each piece placed with elegant asymmetry.
Next, Chef Raine took a piece of lean meat near the fish's back, gently pounded it with the back of his knife, minced it, and then took out some unknown dried spices from his satchel.
Chef Raine secretly used the Infinite Seasoning Bottle again, creating a special sauce in his palm that combined the umami of soy sauce with the refreshing tang of fruit vinegar. He mixed it with the minced meat and spices to create several exquisite servings of tuna tartare.
Finally, Chef Raine placed the fatty fish ribs on a sizzling hot griddle.
Sizzle—
The moment the fish touched the griddle, the fat quickly melted, producing a pleasant sound, and an intense, dominant aroma instantly filled the air.
It was a pure, ultimate scent of caramelized fat, mixed with the inherent freshness of the fish, a hundred times more potent than any previous aroma.
Gatz's saliva was already flowing like a river. He squatted to the side, staring intently at the fish ribs on the griddle, a gurgling sound coming from his throat, like a famished beast.
When the fish bone soup turned milky white and emitted a rich, fresh aroma, Chef Raine announced,
"Dinner is served."
Everyone was already impatient and immediately gathered around.
There were three dishes on the table.
Crystal-clear Bluefin Tuna sashimi, fragrant tuna tartare, and aromatic griddled fish ribs.
There was also a large pot of milky-white fish bone soup.
Rocks was the first to pick up a slice of fish belly sashimi. He didn't dip it in any sauce and put it directly into his mouth.
The moment the fish entered his mouth, he felt as if his tongue was enveloped by a soft, cool cloud.
As his mouth temperature rose, the premium fat in the fish began to melt, and an unparalleled sweetness and umami exploded on his taste buds.
It was a pure, ultimate taste from the sea, requiring no extra seasoning to completely captivate him.
"This..."
Rocks' eyes widened abruptly, and he stopped chewing, his face filled with an expression of disbelief.
Gatz, on the other hand, impatiently forked a large piece of griddled fish ribs into his mouth.
The fish ribs were crispy and charred on the outside, yet tender and juicy on the inside.
The moment his teeth bit down, hot meat juices burst into his mouth, and the aroma of the fat, intensified by the intense heat, shot straight to his head, making him so blissful he almost fainted.
"Waaah! I'm alive! I feel like I'm full of strength!"
Gatz gobbled down his food, shouting incoherently.
The usually silent Silvers tasted a mouthful of tuna tartare. The raw fish, mixed with the special sauce, had a smooth texture and rich flavor, combining the freshness of the fish with the mellow taste of the sauce, and the wonderful layers brought by the spices.
A rare, appreciative smile even appeared on his usually stern face.
This meal was more than just delicious.
As the food went down, pure energy flowed like a warm current into every part of their bodies.
The fatigue of many days of sailing was swept away, and even minor bumps and scrapes on their bodies healed at a visible rate.
Everyone felt their physical and mental states reach an unprecedented peak.
This was the miracle produced by the combination of top-tier ingredients and god-tier culinary skills!
It had already transcended the realm of cooking, almost akin to a magical elixir!
For a time, only sounds of swallowing, chewing, and satisfied sighs remained on the deck.
An entire giant tuna was devoured cleanly by four grown men and one child, like a whirlwind, not even a drop of the soup was left.
Everyone slumped on the deck, patting their full bellies, their faces radiating a happiness they had never experienced in their lives.
Gatz let out a long burp and sincerely exclaimed, "Following Chef Raine, even drifting on the sea every day is happier than being a king!"
Everyone nodded in deep agreement.
Rocks leaned against the ship's railing, looking at his satisfied crew and then at Chef Raine, who was tidying up the cooking utensils. An unprecedented surge of ambition welled up in his heart.
He stood up, walked to the highest point of the ship, and announced in a loud voice,
"We have the strongest Captain, the best crew, and the best chef in the world! We are not a group of aimless wanderers; we are kings destined to conquer this sea!"
Rocks spread his arms and roared at the vast sea, "From today onwards, our name shall be the Rocks Pirates! This name will one day resound throughout the entire world!"
"Rocks! Rocks!"
Gatz and Dolum excitedly waved their fists and roared along.
Silvers also stood up. Although he didn't shout, a burning flame ignited in his eyes.
Chef Raine stopped what he was doing, lifted his head, and looked at the spirited man standing at the bow of the ship.
The sunlight spilled over him, as if draping him in a golden battle robe.
A subtle smile, barely perceptible, curved Chef Raine's lips.
He knew that a legend belonging to a sea overlord had officially begun after this ultimate feast.
And he would be one of the most indispensable creators of this legend.
【Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the hidden quest: Birth of an Overlord. The Rocks Pirates are officially renowned. Reward: 5000 experience points, 3000 cooking points, unlocked exclusive ability Essence of Food. The dishes cooked by the host will have a slight, permanent physical enhancement effect on companions.】
The system's notification sound echoed in his mind, and Chef Raine's eyes became even more profound.
Essence of Food? Permanent enhancement?
This game of chess was becoming more and more interesting.
...
After nearly a month of drifting at sea, the Rocks Pirates finally sighted the first island on the Grand Line.
It was an island composed of many giant cacti, with peaks shaped like inverted wine bottles. It was the famously welcoming island in the first half of the Grand Line—Whiskey Peak.
As soon as the ship docked, a group of seemingly hospitable townspeople gathered around, beating drums and gongs. Leading them was a smiling mayor wearing a cowboy hat.
"Welcome! Welcome, pirate friends from afar! We are the residents of Whiskey Peak, and what we love most is holding banquets for brave navigators like yourselves!"
The mayor enthusiastically offered wine and food, and the townspeople sang and danced, creating a lively scene.
Gatz and Dolum had never seen such a display and were overjoyed, completely losing themselves in the moment.
Gatz took a large mug of ale, gulped it down, and patted his chest, laughing, "Hahahahaha! These people are so genuine! I love it here!"
Dolum also took some food and began to eat without any reservations.
Although Rocks also accepted the welcome with a smile, a hint of playfulness and vigilance lay deep in his eyes.
He glanced at Chef Raine beside him.
Chef Raine had been silent since coming ashore. He hadn't touched any of the food or drinks offered by the townspeople, only scanning every enthusiastic smile around him with his calm eyes.
His Observation Haki was already activated.
Beneath all the laughter and cheer, Chef Raine could clearly sense faint, chilling killing intent.
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