The barbecue struck with heat the moment it touched the tongue—but this wasn't the ordinary kind of spiciness that numbed and burned. Instead of sharp irritation, the spice was smooth and layered, spreading warmth that was surprisingly gentle and pleasant.
At the same time, the meat itself had been cooked to perfection. The outside was charred and crisp, while the inside remained tender and juicy. It was a flawless harmony of fire and freshness—like ice and flame coexisting in one bite.
"It's truly excellent," Robin said after tasting it herself. "We really did recruit an outstanding chef this time."
Mangu, Neferpet, and Law didn't even bother speaking. They were eating like reincarnated starving spirits, sweeping through the dishes on the table without pause.
Of course, it wasn't only Karina's "Passionate Barbecue" that had been prepared.
The table was filled with dishes crafted by the other nine finalists of the Food King Competition as well.
After savoring the barbecue, Kaito moved on to the other plates. Though none quite matched the championship dish, they were all undeniably top-tier cuisine—rich, refined, and so flavorful that one bite naturally led to the next.
Across the entire War Pirates fleet, similar scenes were unfolding in the dining halls.
After a day of adjustments, Kaito had successfully subdued all ten top chefs—including Karina—using Conqueror's "surrender."
Today's lunch was essentially Karina's first official showcase after joining the War Pirates.
Knock. Knock.
A light tapping sounded at the door.
When Robin gave permission to enter, the door opened and Karina stepped inside.
Now officially the head chef of the War Pirates, she glanced first at the table.
Seeing that most of the food had already been devoured, she couldn't help smiling.
"Captain, everyone… how was today's lunch?"
"Outstanding," Kaito replied without hesitation. "I'm starting to feel lucky that I recruited you. Otherwise, how would I ever have the chance to taste cuisine at this level?"
He gave her a thumbs-up.
Karina felt a surge of satisfaction, though she kept her tone modest.
"You're too kind, Captain. I simply did what a chef should do. It wasn't my effort alone—this was the work of the entire chef team."
"Still," Robin added warmly, "today's meal truly opened our eyes to what top-level cuisine means. Captain, shouldn't we reward the chef team?"
"Of course," Kaito nodded. "For a chef, creating delicious food is merit. Merit deserves reward."
Karina hadn't expected such recognition. She bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Captain. I'm sure everyone in the kitchen will be even more motivated after receiving your acknowledgment."
As she bowed, her figure moved with the motion—her curves impossible to ignore. The prominent swell beneath her chef's uniform shifted noticeably.
Kaito 's eyes lingered for half a second before he forced himself to look away.
Fortunately, Mangu and Law were still focused on eating and hadn't noticed anything.
Clearing his throat slightly, Kaito returned to the topic.
"By the way, Karina—you're a Devil Fruit user, aren't you?"
Back at the arena, he had clearly seen the red powder appear from her palm. It hadn't been a hidden trick or something stored in her sleeve. It had materialized directly from her hand.
Karina blinked in mild surprise, then nodded.
"Yes. I ate the Spicy-Spicy Fruit. I can generate various kinds of spicy substances."
As she spoke, she demonstrated.
Raising her right hand, a bright red pepper with a pointed tip grew directly from her palm.
"A Paramecia-type," Robin observed with interest. "No wonder some people were calling you the 'Hot Queen' during yesterday's competition."
Karina looked slightly embarrassed.
"That title just comes from my specialty in cooking spicy dishes."
"'Hot Queen'…" Kaito mused. "It actually suits you quite well. Speaking of titles, I suppose I've been stuck with 'Golden Swordsman,' haven't I?"
"I know about that one," Law finally chimed in, lifting his head from the nearly empty table. "Captain, your title 'Golden Swordsman' comes from the two golden blades you carry—and the fact that you're a swordsman."
In this world, anyone who rose to prominence inevitably acquired a title.
Mangu was known as the "Wild Beast."
And Kaito had become the "Golden Swordsman."
"Well," Kaito said with a faint smile, "at least there's some logic behind it."
As long as the nickname wasn't ridiculous, he didn't particularly mind.
Then his expression turned slightly more serious.
"Karina, since you're a Devil Fruit user, you should train with me when you have time."
Karina looked surprised.
"Even though you're part of logistics," Kaito continued, "your ability shouldn't be wasted. At the very least, you should strengthen your self-defense capabilities."
Karina hesitated only briefly before nodding.
"Understood, Captain. I'll trouble you for guidance."
She wasn't opposed to training. Now that she had joined a pirate crew, some measure of combat ability was only sensible.
With Karina and the other chefs recruited, the "chef" component of the four essential elements of seafaring had been successfully strengthened.
Over the next few days, Kaito focused his attention elsewhere.
Law.
This kid's mental fortitude was truly impressive.
Even after the deal had significantly reduced his resistance, his spiritual will remained incredibly tenacious. Conqueror's "surrender" did not take effect easily.
Because of this, Kaito spent several consecutive days "training" with Law.
Well…
To be more precise, he used the pretext of training to repeatedly apply Conqueror's Haki on him.
Strengthening him on the surface—
Subduing him in truth.
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