Chapter 497: The Obedient Hancock and the Sin of Meat Without Garlic
Rayleigh had no intention of joining Hancock's table. He made his way directly to where Ace was sitting, but the young man merely spared him a passing glance before his attention returned to the manga in his hands, offering not a single word of greeting.
In that moment, Rayleigh felt a sudden, sharp pang of understanding for the plight of empty nesters. Perhaps he should have just sat by himself.
Nami, however, looked up from her own thoughts. "Rayleigh, do you have any idea where Zoro is?"
He shook his head. "I don't. It seems he was sent even farther than you were. Where did you end up, by the way?"
Nami's brow furrowed in recollection. "It felt like… a city in the sky. It was built on clouds, and there was a tall tower…"
Rayleigh considered this for a moment, then nodded slowly. "It sounds like Kuma sent all of you to places best suited for your growth. He wouldn't know about this restaurant, of course, but it's a fine alternative. At the very least, it's safe and stable here."
Nami nodded in agreement, saying nothing more. She, too, felt that staying here was the best course of action for now.
Meanwhile, Hancock remained completely still, her chin propped in her hands, her gaze fixed with unwavering devotion on the kitchen doorway.
Rayleigh turned his head, his voice carrying a note of gentle admonishment. "Hey, Hancock. Don't forget about Sonia and Marie."
Hancock's voice was a low murmur, her eyes never leaving their target. "This concubine would never forget them."
Just as she spoke, the kitchen door swung open and Ren emerged, pushing a dining cart. On it sat the mixed vegetable set that Kobayashi Rindou often ordered, a sizzling plate of grilled meat, and, on the other side, a large platter of glistening sashimi and a beautifully arranged plate of sushi.
Rayleigh's eyes lit up instantly. "Oh! Finally, a chance to taste Shopkeeper Ren's cooking again! I've been looking forward to this! Which one is mine?"
Ren smiled, placing the mixed vegetables and grilled meat on Rayleigh's table. "A mix of beef tendon, kimchi, and cold sweet potato leaves, along with the grilled meat. I've prepared two dipping sauces for you. This one is for the garlic and perilla leaves, to be eaten with the meat. And your wine."
"It certainly looks appetizing," Rayleigh said with a grin, though his eyes lingered on the small dish of raw garlic cloves. "But this…"
Ren's smile was gentle. "It might be a concern for the ladies, but for men, there's a saying I wonder if you've heard." He paused for effect. "Eating meat without garlic loses half its flavor. You should try it. There's chewing gum right next to the perilla leaves, just in case."
Rayleigh nodded, a helpless chuckle escaping him. "As expected of you, Shopkeeper Ren. You've thought of everything. Still, wrapping grilled meat in a leaf with a raw clove of garlic… it feels a bit strange, but I'll give it a shot!"
With that, Ren moved over to Hancock's table. He stopped, momentarily taken aback. The Pirate Empress was still in the exact same pose, her face cupped in her hands, waiting for him with wide, expectant eyes, not saying a word.
"Is there something you wish to say, girl?" Ren asked, a hint of puzzlement in his voice.
Hancock simply shook her head, her silence more eloquent than any words.
Ren sighed softly, taking her dishes from the cart. "The sauce for the sashimi has been prepared. Just dip and enjoy."
Rayleigh, already preparing his first wrap, grinned. "Shopkeeper Ren, the dishes you prepared for Hancock are quite light."
Hancock's lips parted, ready to retort, but Ren spoke first, his tone casual. "Looking at her, she probably arrived when it was night on her island, so it's dark there, and it's dark here. She already ate a few hours ago, so a change of pace isn't a bad thing. Besides, it's better for a woman's figure to eat lighter in the evening."
Hancock's eyes practically sparkled. "As expected of Mr. Ren! So thoughtful! You see, Rayleigh? That's why you're still single!"
Rayleigh's mouth twitched. 'Can't you see I was trying to help you?' he thought, utterly bewildered. 'Why would you ignore the assist and instead turn around to obliterate your own teammate with your ultimate attack?'
Ren, oblivious, said nothing more.
For the next few minutes, the only sounds from Rayleigh's table were the clinking of chopsticks and the occasional sigh of pure satisfaction. Following Ren's instructions, he wrapped a piece of sizzling meat in a crisp perilla leaf, tucked in a sliver of garlic, and took a bite. His eyes widened. He chewed slowly, a look of sheer disbelief crossing his features.
"This… it really has a unique flavor!" he exclaimed. "And this thing you call a perilla leaf is amazing!"
Ren paused his work to explain. "Eating garlic with meat not only helps cut through the richness and remove any gamey odors, but it also enhances the flavor. More, it improves the nutritional value, allowing your body to absorb more vitamins. There's a compound in garlic called allicin that… well, the science might be a bit much to explain. Just know that eating them together makes it more nutritious and taste better."
Rayleigh nodded, looking as if he'd just received a deep revelation. Yakumo Yukari and the others listened with similar interest.
Hancock was just about to pick up her chopsticks when she suddenly sat bolt upright. "Mr. Ren!" she called out urgently. "Sonia and Marie couldn't come because they are too tall… too large. I promised I would bring some food back for them…"
Ren straightened up from wiping down a nearby table. "What do they like to eat? What are their tastes? And approximately how tall are they?"
"Sonia doesn't seem to have any particular favorites, and Marie is the same, though she does eat a lot of sumo hot pot. They aren't picky about flavors. As for their height… probably around four or five meters…"
Lucifer and the others were speechless. 'Are they really her sisters? Is she truly the eldest?'
Ren simply nodded. "I understand."
With that, he turned and walked back into the kitchen.
Hancock covered her cheeks, her voice filled with awe. "Did he immediately think of what to make? As expected of Mr. Ren! His reaction time is incredible!"
By now, everyone in the restaurant had subconsciously learned to filter out Hancock's fawning.
Just as she was getting lost in her reverie, Ren reappeared, pushing another dining cart.
Lucifer's eyes widened in surprise. "Eh?! That was so fast! What did you make?"
Ren smiled. "Girl, come with me."
He beckoned Hancock toward the restaurant's entrance, leaving Lucifer and the others watching with puzzled expressions. The next moment, the wooden door pulsed with a soft, white light. Ren and Hancock stepped through it and vanished.
Before anyone could even comment, the light faded, and the door returned to normal. A few seconds passed in confused silence. Then, just as quickly as they had left, they returned. Hancock was now clinging tightly to Ren's arm, a deep pout on her face as she walked back inside.
"Mr. Ren!" she lamented, her voice thick with disappointment. "Why were you in such a rush to come back? Wouldn't it have been better to stay with this concubine a little longer?!"
Ren sighed. Under Rayleigh's utterly disbelieving gaze, he reached out and gently pinched Hancock's cheek. "You really just say whatever comes to mind, don't you, girl? And you even know this trick? You are an Empress, after all."
"This concubine understands…" she mumbled, her cheeks flushing.
He let her go, his sigh a mixture of fondness and exasperation. "When the time between worlds is synchronized, or close to it, you can stay for a whole day if you wish. But you must also remember your duties. Now, go on and eat. Sashimi doesn't taste as good if it's left out for too long."
After he finished speaking, Ren turned around, only to find every single person in the room—including Ace, who had lowered his manga, and Rayleigh, who had frozen mid-bite—staring at him with the strangest expressions.
"What's wrong?" Ren asked, genuinely confused.
Lucifer's mouth twitched, a complex look on her face. "I should say… as expected of you… Ren…"
Ren merely tilted his head, looking at her with a blank, questioning gaze.
Hancock, on the other hand, had returned to her seat. She sat there obediently, her head lowered as she began to eat, but the expression on her face… was a very subtle, very pleased little smile.
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