The sea restaurant Baratie.
It was said to be the most famous restaurant in the East Blue, and many people came here specifically to taste the delicious cuisine prepared by the owner and head chef, Zeff. Even important figures from the Navy frequented this establishment.
Upon arrival, it mattered not whether one was a Marine or a pirate.
Nor did it matter if one was a noble or a commoner.
As long as you arrived with an empty stomach, they would ensure you left full.
Creeeeak!
The old, heavy wooden door of Baratie let out a slightly low, sharp creak, which masked the soothing music emanating from within the restaurant.
Kong Tai pushed open the restaurant door and stepped inside first, followed by Gu Yina and Ah Hua.
The patrons dining inside all looked up at the entrance briefly, then paid them no further mind.
It was only then that the restaurant's soothing and elegant music, the clinking of glasses and cutlery, and the hushed conversations of people all washed over them at once.
"Welcome."
The moment Kong Tai and his companions entered, a fellow with a pink scarf around his neck, a fierce appearance akin to Popeye the Sailor Man, seemed to materialize out of nowhere.
He stood before them, bowed, rubbed his hands together, and looked at them with a wide grin.
Patty had noticed them the instant they walked in.
So, he moved with his usual speed to greet them, rushing to their front.
The main reason was that these guests clearly looked wealthy, and he was particularly fond of entertaining wealthy patrons.
He appreciated their generosity and extravagance, and he detested cheapskates.
Kong Tai looked at Patty standing before him, a flicker of a smile in his eyes, and spoke politely.
"We've heard this is the place with the best cuisine in the East Blue, and we've come specifically to taste it today."
"Could you please introduce us to the menu?"
Patty was slightly taken aback by Kong Tai's sunny disposition. He hadn't encountered such a polite customer in a long time.
This was a sea restaurant, and its primary clientele were pirates.
One couldn't expect pirates to be polite, could one!
He snapped back to reality, his professional smile gaining a hint of sincerity as he chuckled at Kong Tai.
"Gentlemen, please come in. I'll be able to give you a detailed introduction shortly."
This fellow was originally a fierce pirate who later defected to the sea restaurant owned by 'Red-Leg' Zeff to become a chef. He was now both a chef and a fighter at the sea restaurant Baratie.
Therefore, he addressed everyone as "gentlemen."
Patty's eyes darted to Kong Tai and his companions, noting their number, then he turned and shouted towards the kitchen, "Five guests have entered the establishment."
Then, bowing slightly, he gestured with his right hand towards an empty table by the window, indicating for Kong Tai and the others to follow.
"Five gentlemen, this way please. The sea restaurant Baratie is at your service."
Patty reached the round table first, pulling out chairs for Kong Tai and his group.
After seeing them seated, he took the glasses and lemonade from another chef who had followed him, and poured them one by one.
Then, he stepped back, stood aside, and said enthusiastically to Kong Tai.
"Gentlemen, please have some tea first."
"Well now, tell us what dishes you have!"
Kong Tai picked up his cup and took a sip of the lemonade. It was sweet and sour, quite pleasant.
Patty took out a notebook and pen from his apron and began his introduction.
"Five gentlemen, our restaurant has different dishes every day. This mainly depends on what ingredients we can procure on that particular day. Today, we have the largest abalone and sea cucumber in the East Blue, and saury unique to the Kingdom of Columbo."
He paused and then continued.
"However... today's finest ingredients are not these, but a batch of sea fish and lobsters from the Grand Line."
Patty's eyes gleamed with the prospect of profit as he looked at the eager expressions of Kong Tai and his companions, his smile becoming even more radiant.
"So, gentlemen, would you like to try some?"
He said this to every wealthy customer. The ingredients were indeed top-notch, but they were also a tad bit expensive.
Only these wealthy gentlemen could afford such ingredients. As for the poor folk, they didn't even deserve to enjoy the lemonade. He, Patty, was simply that realistic.
Ah Hua had been quite excited since entering Baratie, and he could no longer contain himself.
He loudly asked Patty, "Never mind the ingredients for now, can we have Mr. Zeff, your manager and head chef, cook for us?"
Zeff was already a renowned chef over a decade ago.
After opening Baratie, he had become the most famous chef in the East Blue.
Ah Hua, being a chef himself, naturally knew of Zeff. He had heard his father mention Zeff's name countless times.
Although his own culinary career had only lasted about two years, and was somewhat superficial,
this did not prevent him from wanting to truly witness the cuisine prepared by the greatest chef in the East Blue, and experience its exquisite taste.
This way, he could strive towards that goal in the future.
Although Ah Hua was a bit of a slacker, he held the profession of a chef in high regard.
"No problem, gentlemen. The customer is God. Not only can the head chef cook for you, but I can even dance for you if you wish."
"It's just... it's just..."
Kong Tai looked at Patty, who was rubbing his hands and looking obsequious, and a smile spread across his face.
Despite his fierce appearance, the man's actions were surprisingly cute.
He said with amusement, "It will cost extra, right!"
"Indeed!"
Patty showed no sign of embarrassment. After all, the price for a dish prepared by the head chef would certainly differ from that of an ordinary cook.
As for his own service fee, the more, the better!
"Alright, alright, hurry and bring us one of everything your restaurant does best today!"
Kong Tai waved his hand at him, displaying his hands adorned with gold rings.
These were all salvaged from Krieg's ship. Not only were his hands covered in gold rings, but he also wore several thick gold chains around his neck.
Furthermore, he had instructed Ah Hua and the other two to wear similar rings and necklaces.
Otherwise, why would Patty be so enthusiastic?
"Understood, gentlemen. I'll go and ask the head chef to prepare your meal right away."
In Patty's mind, customers were God, and wealthy customers were even more so.
Facing guests like these, who clearly had money and exuded an air of newfound wealth, he had to use 100% of his enthusiasm to extract as much of their Berry as possible.
"Hmph, just a nouveau riche."
The Marines at the next table had long since had enough. This guy's attitude towards them was completely different from his current demeanor.
"Didn't you say the customer is God? You're treating your Gods differently."
"Please wait a moment, esteemed guests. I'll handle this and be right back."
Patty turned around, straightened his posture instantly, and his smile vanished in a flash.
He slowly walked over to the Marines, a smirk playing on his lips, and with a forced smile, he said calmly.
"Esteemed guests, please refrain from making loud noises. You are disturbing my distinguished customers."
Customers had their own hierarchy, and in his eyes, these Marines were typical cheapskates. He didn't care who they were; he only recognized three types of people.
The first type: those with absolutely no money. These people couldn't even afford a meal, and he disliked them the most.
The second type: cheapskates. They could afford a meal but could only afford basic bread and fish soup. He would still attend to them, but not with excessive enthusiasm.
The third type: wealthy individuals. They could order whatever they wished, and these were the Gods in his eyes.
Actually, there was another category, people like Kong Tai, who were Gods among Gods.
"Your attitude is too obvious!"
"Is it?"
Patty replied perfunctorily.
"Of course it is. Your forced smile towards us is evident to anyone, and now you look impatient."
"What? Are we that unwelcome?"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Patty's lips curved further, forming a smile that looked more like a grimace as he asked them.
"Are you satisfied now, gentlemen?"
"Satisfied as hell! You're even more perfunctory than before!"
The Marines all stood up and roared at Patty.
Looking at the Marines opposite him, Patty dropped his smile and a hint of fierceness appeared on his face as he spoke again.
"Esteemed guests, could you please refrain from making loud noises?"
He was a former pirate, after all, and wouldn't indulge these Marines, especially poor ones.
"What? Are you planning to fight us?"
Seeing Patty dare to show a fierce expression, the Marines shouted even louder.
What was going on? Were their guns no longer working, or was their uniform not effective enough? Even a mere waiter dared to show malice towards them.
They had no idea of Patty's past. After all, Patty, in his former days, was just a scummy pirate without even a bounty.