[The Streets: The Cooling Silence]
The afternoon sun was beginning to dip, painting the "Island of Chefs" in shades of deep orange and gold. Faramis walked through the bustling marketplace, his arms trembling under the weight of several heavy crates. He stopped at a small stand to catch his breath, his eyes landing on a colorful sign for "Glacial Mint" ice cream.
"I still don't know which book to buy," Faramis muttered, his goggles slipping down his nose as he looked at the titles in his bag. "But for now, let's buy an ice-cream."
He stood there, happily licking the cold treat, watching the street performers. "Am i forgetting something?" He tilted his head, thinking hard. He ran through a mental checklist: Blueprints? Check. Rare gears? Check. New glasses? Check. "I think no," he concluded with a shrug. He continued walking through the town, perfectly happy, while his captain was currently stalking a legendary chef and he was completely forgetting about Kojo's drink. Somewhere back at the ship, a very thirsty swordsman was likely waking up with a very bad attitude.
[The Search: Dust and Determination]
A few blocks away, the atmosphere was much less peaceful.
"Where did she go?" Lemon shouted, skidding to a halt at a crowded intersection. He adjusted his glasses, scanning the sea of white chef hats and colorful festival banners.
"Huh?" Ato grunted from somewhere near the ground.
Ato was completely covered in grey street dust and grime. Because Lemon had been in such a panicked rush to catch the blonde chef, he had spent the last ten minutes literally dragging Ato by the back of his collar through the dirt, under carts, and over cobblestones. Ato looked less like a captain and more like a rug that had been beaten against a wall.
"Ummm i should ask someone," Lemon muttered, ignoring Ato's dusty state. He looked at a stranger passing by and asked.
Lemon: "Excuse me do you know—"
The stranger pointed down a wide avenue lined with high-end eateries. "Manjo? She's the head chef's daughter over at 'The Iron Oven.' You can't miss it."
[The Iron Oven: The Demon's Appetite]
Scene changes to where they were standing in front of the restaurant. It was a massive, three-story building made of dark brick and brass, with steam billowing from vents on the roof.
Lemon: "This is the restaurant he told me."
Ato stood up, shaking a cloud of dust off his pants like a stray dog.
Ato: "Please stop dragging."
Lemon: "Let's go inside."
They went inside and there everyone were eating. The restaurant was huge, with high vaulted ceilings and a massive open kitchen where flames roared in the background.
Lemon: "I think we should order something. Hello i want table for two."
They were taken to their seats. As soon as they sat down, Lemon leaned in, his face turning serious.
Lemon: "Ato what is our plan for recruiting her?"
Ato didn't say anything. He was staring at the menu with a blank expression.
Lemon: "Why are you like that."
Ato: "Because you were dragging me the whole time. Idiot."
Lemon: "Oh sorry."
Ato: "I just want food this time."
A waitress appeared beside them with a tray. "Here's your food and here's your too ato sir."
Ato's eyes popped out of his head. "Huh food."
Ato saw the food in excitement and was eating it like a demon. Bones were flying and sauce was splattering as he inhaled the meal. Lemon was eating his food slowly gently and thinking.
Lemon: "How can we get her to meet us? What should we do?"
Suddenly a voice echoed through the whole restaurant from the kitchen doors. It was a roar that silenced every conversation in the room.
Ato: "Where Manjo Sushi."
Lemon: "Atooooo, you idiot."
Inside the kitchen there were many chef's but from their middle manjo came with a coat on and an apron with short pants. Her eye patch glinted under the kitchen lights.
Ato: "So you came manjo sushi."
Manjo: "What do you want? Who are you? "
Ato: "I'm Ato. A pirate. I want you to be my chef."
Every chef in the kitchen laughed. The customers joined in, chuckling at the dusty boy claiming to be a pirate.
Lemon: "What is that idiot doing i need to do something fast."
Head chef jacob: "Everyone shut up."
Everyone became quite in an instant. Jacob was a massive man with a face like a scarred bulldog.
Head chef jacob: "You want manjo young man."
Ato: "Yes,old man."
Head chef jacob: "Im not old I'm in my thirties only brat."
Ato: "Ok old man."
Head chef jacob: "Like i said I'm not old."
Ato: "You look a lot older."
Jacob: "Now you want manjo."
Ato: "Aye aye ol- sir."
Jacob: "Take her."
Every chef even manjo was shocked.
Manjo: "Oi old man I'm not your tool-"
Jacob: "Take her with you."
Ato: "Really? Thank you ol- sir."
Manjo: "Hey! "
Jacob: "Even i also want my daughter to get a man."
Manjo: "I'm not going anywhere old man."
Jacob: "Don't call me old man I'm only in my thirties."
Manjo: " Like i care."
Ato: "So you will Come with me? Right?"
Manjo: "No and don't talk to me like you know me."
Jacob: "Hey boy come with me and you too manjo."
[Jacob's Office: Secrets of the King]
They went inside jacob's room, a quiet space filled with old cookbooks and the smell of tobacco.
Manjo: "Oi old man I'm not leaving this place."
Jacob: "I'm not old I'm only in my thirties. You have to go with them. Seriously manjo i want you to sail the ocean and fullfill your goal."
Manjo: "Just shut up. I'm leaving."
Manjo angrily left the room and slammed the door with a force that rattled the walls. Ato stood there, looking at the door.
Ato: "Sorry."
Jacob: "Why are apologizing?"
Ato: "No because I made your and manjo's relation bad."
Jacob: "It's ok she's always like this."
Ato looked at the man's hands—they were thick and scarred.
Ato: "Sir were you perhaps a pirate?"
Jacob: "What gives you that idea?"
Ato: "No you talk like one."
Jacob: "You know young boy I was the cook of the current pirate king."
Ato: "Current pirate king?"
Jacob: "Yes his name is Reno."
Ato: "Reno?"
Jacob: "At last the crew disbanded and I got a pretty bad injury in my right hand and i had to cut it."
Ato: "Oh you were in the pirate king's crew."
Jacob: "So then boy, manjo refeused if she changes her mind I'll-"
Ato: "No i want her and her only."
Jacob looked and smiled.
Jacob: "Ok make her join if you can."
Ato: "Ok ol- sir."
[The Outside: The Secret and the Storm]
Scene changes to ato and lemon standing outside the restaurant. The sky was turning a bruised purple as evening fell.
Lemon: "What were you talking about inside?"
Ato: "It's a secret."
Scene changes to manjo. She was standing in the back of the kitchen, staring at her own hands. She was thinking about the time where jacob asked him to leave, set Sail and full fill his dream.
Manjo: "What was that old man thinking?"
Finally, scene changes Faramis. He was walking back toward the docks, his ice cream long gone. He rounded the corner and saw the harbor. His heart stopped.
Faramis: "what are they doing here and not also one ship there are seven of them. What will happen to us?"
Out in the bay, seven massive Vice Commander ships were anchored in a perfect blockade. The Navy had arrived in force.