Pirate: I, Ace, am the King of Eclipse!

Sabo compressed it into a straight and solid pillar of fire, directly facing the central passageway of the hall, locking all the heat and impact along that line.

"fire punch!"

With a low shout, Sabo unleashed a punch.

"Boom!!!"

The solidified pillar of fire, like a roaring fiery dragon, stretched across the central passage.

Whether it was the steel armor or the guards who tried to block with muskets, they were all completely engulfed by the high temperature and impact the moment they came into contact with the pillar of fire.

"Ahhhh!"

Amidst piercing screams, the pillar of fire engulfed dozens of guards and the screaming prince, blasting them out of the restaurant's main entrance.

Glass, wooden doors, armor, and muskets all twisted and shattered in the flames.

The next moment, the pillar of fire, still burning, pierced straight into the luxurious royal sailing ship moored outside.

"boom--!!"

The sailing ship, adorned with the royal coat of arms, was blasted with a charred hole in the middle.

Flames shot into the sky, turning the surface of the East China Sea red.

In less than ten seconds.

The arrogant and domineering royal family, along with dozens of elite guards, vanished completely before Sabo, like ashes swept into a fire.

Sabo retracted his right fist.

The flames on the back of his hand slowly died out.

He straightened his collar, which had been ruffled by the hot air, turned around and walked back to the main table, bowing slightly to the man who had not yet stood up.

"Captain, the trash has been cleared."

Ace picked up the delicate chopsticks on the table, took a piece of roasted meat that the waiter, who had just been stunned, had brought over, and calmly put it into his mouth.

He swallowed the roasted meat and looked up at the chefs who were frozen in place.

"Ah."

"Continue serving the dishes, Baratie's chef."

I'm hungry.

Chapter 20 Baratie's Top Secret Recipe

Flames soared into the sky outside the gates of Balati, and the sea breeze carried the smell of burning.

Inside the vast floating restaurant, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Whether they were fierce-looking pirates or self-proclaimed noble merchants, they all huddled in the corner, their faces pale, not daring to even breathe.

Sabo sat back down opposite Ace, glanced at his palm, and his tone returned to its usual gentleness.

"The combination of Dragon Claw and Flame Burst is even more effective than expected."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Ace, who was in the main seat.

“Ace, your advice back then was really useful.”

Ace swallowed the roasted meat, feeling quite pleased.

The Dragon Claw technique ultimately came to fruition in Sabo's hands ahead of schedule.

In this world, only he himself knows the true origin of this move.

Four years ago, in the forests of Corpo Mountain, Sabo wanted to develop a truly unique unarmed killing technique of his own.

At that moment, Ace recalled the "dragon claw" from his past life that could crush steel and skulls.

So he explained the concept of "imagining your fingers as the claws of a dragon" to Sabo.

It was originally just a preliminary guidance, but Sabo's talent in physical combat was even more exaggerated than he had imagined.

He not only mastered this unconventional way of exerting force, but also combined it with the Armament Haki he had honed through two years of hellish training, and actually mastered this move in the East Blue.

"It's because you have a solid foundation."

Ace put down the juice and cut a piece of meat.

"Without enough finger strength to crush steel, this move is nothing but a show."

When the group had almost finished eating.

"Da, da, da."

The sound of a wooden stick striking the floor came from the stairs, steady and clear, each tap breaking the silence of the hall.

A tall, old man with an exaggerated golden braided beard and his right leg encased in a thick wooden stick walked down with a solemn expression.

The owner and head chef of the floating restaurant.

Zeff, the "Red-Leg" who once sailed the Grand Line.

Zeff's gaze swept over the mess on the floor and landed on Ace and Sabo at the round table.

"Skilled natural elemental manipulation, and those bare-handed moves that can crush steel."

Zeff took a deep drag on his cigar, his tone unusually apprehensive.

"When did the East Blue, the weakest sea, produce monsters like you who could make a name for yourselves even on the Grand Line?"

As a veteran pirate who had sailed the Grand Line for a full year, Zeff knew all too well what those short ten seconds meant.

That young man in the tuxedo was definitely not an ordinary pirate.

What made Zeff even more wary was that the black-haired man sitting in the main seat did not make a move from beginning to end.

But the man's mere presence alone instilled an instinctive unease in Zeff, this old beast.

"Old man, stop your probing."

Ace picked up a napkin, wiped his hands, and stood up from his chair.

As he stood up, the air in the restaurant seemed to suddenly become heavier.

Sanji, who was still feeling resentful for not being able to protect the lady, suddenly had his pupils shrink.

That's not just about being taller.

Rather, it is a warning issued by the body before the will when facing a ferocious beast at close range.

"The food here is indeed delicious, and the control of nutrient loss has reached the limit that can be achieved in the East China Sea."

Ace looked at Zeff and got straight to the point.

"I have no interest in your clichés about the Grand Line."

"I came here for only one thing."

"I want to buy the core, top-secret recipe of the Barrati."

Ace's voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the quiet restaurant could hear it clearly.

"Including rapid processing methods for large sea monsters, as well as special cooking methods that maximize the retention of high calories and nutrients."

"Give me the handwritten copy."

"Are you kidding me?!"

A hot-tempered chef named Paddy couldn't help but roar.

"The recipe is the soul of a chef! Who do you think you are—"

"boom!"

Before Paddy could finish speaking, Zeff kicked him away.

Zeff glared at him coldly.

"Shut up."

He knew better than anyone that a chef's dignity couldn't be preserved by being stubborn.

When faced with a monster that could truly capsize the entire Baratie, silencing these brats is the best way to protect the restaurant.

If it weren't for this man's deputy intervening, Barati would have been smashed by that arrogant royal member.

And now, if he dares to refuse, the black-haired man in front of him does indeed have the ability to sink this floating restaurant to the bottom of the sea in a very short time.

Zeff exhaled a smoke ring and looked at Ace with a complicated expression.

"You can hand over the recipe."

"But that's the culmination of the hard work of all the chefs in Barati. Surely you wouldn't just take our food for nothing?"

"of course not."

Ace sat back in his chair and snapped his fingers.

"The Eclipse Pirates never owe anyone a favor."

Karina, who had been sitting quietly watching the show, understood perfectly.

She stood up, picked up the black briefcase beside her, walked over to Zeff, and opened the briefcase with a "snap".

The blinding golden light and the thick stack of banknotes instantly made the surrounding chefs' eyes pop out.

"Here are five million Berries, plus five top-grade gold bars."

Karina lightly tapped the edge of the box with her fingertip, her tone as practiced as if she were discussing a perfectly ordinary deal on the black market.

"Buy a handwritten copy."

“We will not open a store in Donghai to compete with you, nor will we resell our recipes to our competitors.”

She looked up at Zeff.

“Boss Zhepu, this price is very fair.”

Looking at the box of dazzling wealth, Zeff remained silent for a moment.

We can't beat them in a fight.