C21 Bharathi

The Bharathi Sea Restaurant, renowned for its "battle" moniker, is the most celebrated eatery in the East Sea. Its chef, Red Foot Zepp, is a former pirate who sailed the Great Voyage for a year. Due to certain circumstances, he lost his most important right leg and returned to the East Sea to open this maritime restaurant, offering unforgettable culinary delights to seafarers and pirates alike.

The ambiance of the restaurant is pristine and inviting, providing a tranquil setting where patrons relish the exquisite dishes before them.

A dapper young man with golden locks and curled eyebrows weaves gracefully among a group of young ladies, exuding elegance and speaking with a gentle tone that epitomizes a true gentleman.

Rodney settled into his seat, and a waiter promptly approached, pouring him a glass of water and presenting the menu with a courteous inquiry, "What would you like to eat, sir?"

He scanned the menu and ordered, "I'll have the Sweet and Sour Sea King Species loin, Braised Oxballs, Seafood Fried Rice, Sea Rainbow Fish Sashimi, and a bottle of wine—any kind will do."

"Very well, sir. Please wait a moment while I arrange that for you. However, I must remind you of Bharathi's policy against food waste. Are you certain you can finish all this?" The waiter, eyeing Rodney's stature, couldn't help but ask.

At sea, every morsel is precious, and wasting food is strictly forbidden. Offenders face the prospect of being forcibly removed from the restaurant by Bharathi's staff.

"Don't worry, I've got an appetite," Rodney assured with a smile.

The waiter nodded, recorded Rodney's order, and departed.

The dining area of Bharathi buzzed with contentment as each guest savored the culinary masterpieces prepared by the chefs. For many, including prominent merchants, the experience was pure delight. Some even attempted to recruit a Bharathi chef for their personal kitchens, but all such offers were respectfully declined.

Bharathi holds a special significance for these chefs, who take pride in serving those who navigate the vast seas. Witnessing the joy and satisfaction on the faces of their patrons is their ultimate accolade.

The restaurant also boasts a cadre of exceptional chefs, for whom the opportunity to hone their craft is both a challenge and a privilege.

Under the tutelage of the head chef, their culinary skills improved rapidly.

Shortly thereafter, Rodney's order arrived. The Sweet and Sour Sea King Species loin was served on a very large platter. Given the immense size of the Sea King Species, the loin was substantial, taking up more than half of the table.

Many patrons were unfazed by the sight, as it was common in this world for people to be hearty eaters. They consumed large quantities of food, possessed considerable strength, and were adept at fighting.

Rodney began with the sashimi. Each slice was evenly cut, glistening and lying still on the plate, arranged with great care. He picked up a slice, dipped it into Bharathi's secret sauce, and savored the Sea King fish sashimi in his mouth.

Mmm, delicious!

He could feel his taste buds in an uproar, his stomach secreting gastric juices in anticipation of more food.

Next, he grabbed a brown beef ball brimming with soup.

Mmm, delicious!

The beef ball was soaked with broth, and upon biting into it, a burst of rich umami flavor erupted. It was incredibly satisfying!

He then sliced a piece of loin drenched in red sauce.

Mmm, delicious!

The sweet and sour flavor eliminated any fishiness from the Sea King Species meat and whetted his appetite. It should have been the first thing he ate, but it didn't make much difference.

He took a forkful of seafood fried rice.

Mmm, delicious!

The rice was packed with various seafood, each bite bursting with flavor, sliding down his throat and quelling his hunger.

Content and pleased, he continued to feast.

He ate heartily, savoring the meat and gulping down wine, reveling in the sheer delight of the meal.

His actions were modest, yet the food on the table was quickly vanishing. Rodney called out, "Waiter, another round of the same, minus the sashimi, and bring three more bottles of wine."

"Right away." The waiter no longer questioned his capacity to eat. Despite consuming such a large amount of food, Rodney's stomach only slightly protruded.

With his rigorous training regimen, Rodney's physique had strengthened, and his appetite for food had grown. While energy pills could provide the necessary sustenance, they did not diminish his ability to enjoy a good meal.

As he chewed and swallowed, his stomach filled to the brim, some of the food already beginning to digest.

Another dish was promptly served, and Rodney continued to eat, patting his now distended belly contentedly. "Ah, that hits the spot. So satisfying. Bharathi's sea restaurant lives up to its reputation. Time to settle the bill."

The prices at Bharathi Restaurant were quite fair, not too steep at all. It was comparable to the last time he used the Stacking Explosive Talisman.

Rodney patted his belly again, purchased a few bottles of wine, and tucked them into his waist pouch.

Just then, a group of menacing characters stormed into the restaurant. Their leader was a one-eyed brute, and his henchmen were so unsightly that it was hard to even look at them.

Opening his mouth to reveal a set of decayed teeth, the leader stuttered, "Nobody move. This is a... a... robbery!"

"Everybody freeze! The boss said so! Robbery! Men to the left, women to the right, and anyone else in the middle!" bellowed a short, stout man at his side.

"Pirates!"

The once tranquil restaurant erupted into chaos. The patrons, merchants with no fighting prowess, hid in fear, further emboldening the pirates' brazenness.

"Hahaha, hand over all your money! And you, kid, call out your head chef and give us all your cash. I..." The short man's demands were cut short as a leather shoe suddenly filled his vision and sent him flying into the sea with a splash.

Sanji, leg raised and cigarette dangling from his lips, coolly asked, "What was that? I didn't catch it the first time."

His actions elicited screams from numerous female patrons – he was undeniably handsome.

Rodney, who had been ready to take action, simply settled back into his seat. There was no need for him to lift a finger. Sanji was likely the top combatant in Bharathi, though it was uncertain how much of the old man's strength remained after losing a leg.

"Attack!"

"Go for it!"

"Charge, charge, charge!"

With a flurry of blows, Sanji sent the gang packing out of the restaurant.

This place had no room for such riffraff, clearly not the type to appreciate good food, and they had even frightened the lovely ladies.

"Little sister... Hehehe..."

Sanji seemed lost in thought, his expression rippling with amusement. Despite his reputation as a flirtatious chef, he was a true gentleman—or perhaps more accurately, a knight. He was the kind of man who would never harm anyone, even those of the third gender that existed in this world.

Having driven off the pirates, Rodney returned to the merchant ship, wine bottle in hand. The small amount of wine was hardly enough to intoxicate him; it was more akin to a soft drink. Now, it was time for training—how could he neglect it?

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

He created a Shadow Clone and engaged in combat using pure Body Technique.

He employed all the Six Moves of the Navy, as seen in Naruto, while his body was weighed down with additional burdens. Throughout the fight, he kept his Sharingan activated.

This strategy allowed him to gain double the experience and significantly improve his reaction speed.

He and his Shadow Clone battled on the high seas, keeping pace with the merchant ship without falling behind or being spotted. As time slipped by, they completed an escort mission.

Next, they boarded another merchant vessel for a reconnaissance mission, tasked with uncovering the secrets of what the ship was covertly transporting.

Nighttime.

Rodney entered his quarters and had his Shadow Clone transform before sneaking into the ship's hold. Such perilous tasks were best suited for the Shadow Clone, a technique originally devised by the Second Generation Naruto for intelligence gathering and executing hazardous missions.

The Shadow Clone slipped into the hold undetected and effortlessly subdued the guards using the Sharingan, then made his way to the very back of the hold.

He searched the area, finding only food and local produce.

Something didn't sit right. There had to be something amiss; otherwise, the system wouldn't have assigned this mission.

Could it be...

He moved to the storeroom filled with food and began shifting the provisions aside, soon uncovering a box hidden beneath.

Upon opening it, he discovered brand-new firearms.

Gunrunning!

These people were audacious; getting caught with such cargo meant serious consequences.

But with a significant portion of the East Sea navy steeped in corruption, a little bribery went a long way. Concealing the weapons with food and then selling them to pirates posed no issue—they stood to make a fortune.

The Shadow Clone vanished. Shortly thereafter, Smoker received a tip from a concerned citizen and subsequently detained the trading caravan.