One Piece pirates salty life

Leo ignored Sanji's sarcastic tone, casting him a sideways glance before speaking subconsciously, almost as if to reassure himself as much as the others:

"So, is the Sea Restaurant really famous for nothing? They can't even handle such simple ingredients?"

Sanji's eyes sparkled with a confident glint, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. "Please, don't be so quick to judge. Even if the ingredients are unfamiliar to you, as long as you understand the principles of cooking, you can still turn them into something spectacular."

Leo raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. The tone Sanji used was one of absolute certainty, and there was no mistaking the passion behind it. This unknown, premium ingredient had clearly ignited a spark within the usually calm chef.

"Alright then," Leo said with a smirk, "Tonight, I'm really looking forward to the deputy chef's cooking."

Without waiting for a reply, Leo grabbed Luffy's arm, and with a flicker of magic, they disappeared from the bustling dining area.

Luffy, still a bit dazed from the sudden teleportation, wanted to say something to Sanji but found himself whisked away before he could utter a word.

They reappeared in a quiet room on the second floor, away from the noise and chatter downstairs.

Inside, Nami was seated behind a table, absently counting her Baileys as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The faint clinking of the bottles matched the rhythm of her counting, and she seemed utterly unfazed by the passage of time.

In the corner, Zoro was hard at work with a heavy barbell, sweat beading on his forehead as he pushed himself to the limit. It was clear that Leo's earlier pressure on him had left a lasting impression—Zoro was determined to meet it head-on.

Only Usopp's expression was one of pure excitement when he noticed Leo and Luffy's sudden appearance. Without hesitation, he hurried over.

"Leo, do you still have that thing—the one that controls celestial phenomena?" Usopp's eyes were wide with eagerness. The events of the day had worn on him, but now, his curiosity and enthusiasm were renewed.

Leo let out a sigh, his face showing a touch of embarrassment. "I do have the magic recorded, but I've never really studied the creation magic in depth. I mostly focus on elemental magic, and a few tricks from the space-time magic series to keep myself alive. The rest are just little things to make life easier."

He looked down at his hands thoughtfully.

"Even the strengthening magic constantly flowing through my body is mainly because this world is full of flesh monsters. If that weren't the case, I wouldn't have stacked so many patterns inside me."

Leo's gaze shifted back to Usopp. "As for adding celestial power to your weapons, it's not that I haven't considered it. But you don't have Nami's talent for sensing and manipulating weather and celestial phenomena, so it wouldn't be very effective."

Usopp's face fell slightly but was soon replaced with a hopeful grin when Leo continued.

"However, I can help you modify your ammunition with various added properties."

Leo paused for a moment, weighing his words carefully. "It's not the same as controlling the sky, but it suits your style better. You want me to add explosive effects? Or maybe freezing properties?"

Usopp's eyes lit up like stars. "Exactly! Can you really do that?"

Leo nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, most of those effects can be replicated with magic enhancements."

Usopp eagerly pulled out a handful of different types of ammunition from his waist bag, whispering rapidly into Leo's ear about his preferred effects. After a long list, he looked up with expectant eyes.

Leo smiled, though he found the list surprisingly similar to the effects described in some original manuals he'd read. "Alright, I'll have everything ready before dark."

Turning his attention to Luffy, who was lying against the window sill, staring out at nothing in particular, Leo approached.

"Luffy," he said gently, "have you always wanted to ask why I'm so against Sanji?"

Luffy turned, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "I don't know why exactly, but I trust you. You must have your reasons."

His words were firm, filled with the conviction of true friendship.

Hearing this, Zoro and Nami stopped what they were doing and looked toward them, clearly curious.

Leo nodded slowly. "There's a deep story behind Sanji's refusal to leave. It's more complicated than it seems."

He took a deep breath and began recounting the tale of Sanji and Zeff. Memories flooded back as Leo narrated the heartfelt story—how Sanji had once dreamt of leaving but had instead chosen to repay Zeff's kindness by staying. The truth of why Sanji was so reluctant to leave this place was gradually revealed.

Nami furrowed her brows in confusion. "So Sanji gave up his dream to repay a debt of gratitude?"

"Yes," Leo confirmed. "Sanji sacrificed his own ambitions to repay Zeff's kindness. But Zeff, being the captain he is, always believed Sanji deserved a better future—one where he could chase his dreams."

Luffy's eyes suddenly sparkled with determination. "Yoshi! It's decided! I'm going to help Sanji find his dream again!"

Zoro nodded thoughtfully. "So the goal is to rekindle Sanji's lost dreams. That explains why Leo has been so critical of him."

Nami and Usopp agreed silently with the plan.

Meanwhile, Johnny and Joseph had been sent back to the Merry by Zoro after dinner to guard the ship and missed the conversation entirely.

Luffy, energized by his bold declaration, struck a pose. "Hey! Can you hear me? I'm going to bring Sanji's dream back!"

Leo and the others exchanged amused glances before answering in unison, "We heard you."

Luffy scowled, clearly unimpressed by their perfunctory response, and charged forward with mock indignation.

"Hahaha! Zoro, grab him! Usopp, bring the rope! Nami, lend me your feather pen! I'm going to teach Luffy a lesson today!"

Laughter filled the room as Leo tackled Luffy to the ground, fingers seeking his ribs.

"Stop! Stop tickling the soles of my feet!" Luffy howled with laughter, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

Time slipped by unnoticed amidst the playful chaos, until the evening bell rang, signaling it was time for dinner.

Luffy, betrayed by his crewmates but quickly pacified by hunger, sat cross-legged on the floor, sulking with his back to the group.

Nami, ever the voice of reason, poked Leo nervously. "Leo, do you think we went too far?"

Leo rolled his eyes but stood up with a grin. "Enough! Come on, Luffy. Tonight, you're in for a treat. We'll have the legendary Sky Island shellfish, cooked by the sous chef himself. And best of all? All the meat you can eat!"

At this, Luffy's posture instantly straightened, all anger forgotten.

The group was led by Paddy, the restaurant's receptionist, through a short corridor to a private dining area near the kitchen. The atmosphere was calm but electric with anticipation.

The dining table was set with special tableware, sparkling under the soft light. The sense of occasion was palpable.

Sanji, who had been leaning casually against the kitchen door, noticed Leo and the others enter. With a polite nod, he turned and disappeared into the kitchen.

After a few moments, Sanji emerged carrying several plates carefully balanced in his hands. One by one, he placed them on the table, wiping his hands meticulously with a hot, sterilized towel.

He raised his curly eyebrows with a proud smile. The freshness and aroma of the Sky Island shellfish exceeded even his expectations. Their meat, Sanji explained, possessed a mysterious power—one that could slightly enhance physical fitness.

Shaking off the intriguing thought, Sanji focused. He grasped the lid of the first dinner plate and lifted it with a flourish.

An almost blinding golden light burst upward, swirling with rising heat waves. The entire restaurant seemed to hold its breath.

Usopp and Luffy's eyes widened until they looked as though they might pop out of their sockets. Glowing food! To any onlooker, the sight was almost surreal—who had ever seen food literally radiating light?

Even Leo's brow furrowed in surprise. Despite having fed these shellfish pools of water condensed from magical elements since acquiring them, he had never witnessed such an extravagant display firsthand.

The magical energy seemed to shimmer above the dishes, hinting at powers beyond the ordinary. The glow was warm, inviting, and mysterious.

"This... this is incredible," Leo murmured.

Sanji's eyes gleamed with pride. "This is just the beginning. Wait until you taste it."

---

Dinner was served, and the team savored the glowing shellfish, each bite bursting with flavor and a subtle surge of vitality. As the evening unfolded, the warmth of camaraderie filled the room.

Plans were quietly forming—to help Sanji reclaim his dream, to push boundaries, and to savor the magic not just in food but in friendship.

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