BEFORE THE STORM

The title page for Chapter 45, titled "BEFORE THE STORM". The artwork is a black-and-white version of the volume cover, showing Roronoa Zoro, Monkey D. Luffy, Usopp, and Nami gathered on a set of stone stairs. Zoro stands on the left, Luffy sits in the middle looking bored, Usopp reclines on the stairs behind him with a long weapon, and Nami stands on the right holding a tray of bread. A black cat sits on the stone railing behind them.

A single panel shows a large, muscular man with a distinctive curled mustache, a bandana, and a chef's uniform. He is laughing uproariously with his mouth wide open.

Up on the roof of the Baratie, Luffy leans over the railing with a wide, cheerful grin. A large sound effect "DOOOM" accompanies his appearance. He calls down, "YOU GOT SOME FOOD! LUCKY!" In the next panel, Luffy continues speaking from the roof, looking down at the deck below. "HEY COOK! JOIN MY CREW, WILL YA!? BE THE COOK FOR MY PIRATE SHIP!" He adds, "YOU WERE ALMOST ABOUT TO DIE BEFORE TOO! HAHAHA!" Down on the deck, Sanji, sitting with a cigarette in his mouth, looks up in surprise and says, "HUH!?" Beside him, the bruised and battered pirate, Gin, looks up with a confused expression, a question mark floating near his head.

Sanji looks up at Luffy and asks, "SO WHY'D YOU TRY TO FIRE A CANNONBALL AT THIS RESTAURANT? YOU'RE A PIRATE?" Luffy, sitting casually on the railing, replies, "OH THAT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS JUST A CANNONBALL THAT WENT ASTRAY FROM MY SELF-DEFENCE." Sanji questions, "WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?" Gin sits quietly nearby, looking at his empty plate and glass, murmuring, "OH..." Luffy then asks, "OH, THAT OLD MAN USED TO BE A PIRATE?" Sanji, leaning back on his hands, confirms, "IN ANY CASE, YOU'D BETTER NOT TRY ANYTHING FUNNY TO THIS RESTAURANT. THE OWNER OF THIS PLACE USED TO BE THE COOK OF A PRETTY INFAMOUS PIRATE CREW." Luffy looks thoughtful, "THIS RESTAURANT'S LIKE A TREASURE TO THAT DAMN GEEZER." Sanji takes a drag from his cigarette and smiles slightly, "AND THE REST OF THE COOKS WHO CAME TO WORK HERE OUT OF THEIR ADMIRATION FOR THAT GEEZER ARE ALL HOT-BLOODED AND CRUDE ENOUGH TO BE PIRATES. BUT IT'S QUITE APPROPRIATE CONSIDERING ALL THE PIRATES THAT FREQUENT AROUND THESE PARTS."

Sanji continues explaining the nature of the Baratie. "NOT A QUIET MOMENT IN THIS PLACE, EH?" he says. "YEAH... BUT IT'S DAILY ROUTINE FOR US. THERE'VE EVEN BEEN SOME GUESTS LATELY WHO COME TO SEE THE PIRATES AND THE COOKS DUKE IT OUT." Gin sits with his back to the viewer, revealing a large skull and crossbones emblem with hourglass shapes on his jacket. Sanji takes another drag of his cigarette. "ALL THE WAITERS GOT SCARED AND RAN AWAY. THANKS TO THAT," Sanji says, looking back over his shoulder. Luffy points at Sanji and realizes, "OHHHH, SO THE REASON HE ASKED ME TO WORK HERE FOR A YEAR WAS..." Luffy then casually dismisses the thought, "EH WHATEVER. HEY, JOIN MY CREW." Sanji, looking forward again with his cigarette, flatly replies, "I'LL HAVE TO REFUSE ON THAT OFFER. I'VE GOT MY OWN REASON TO KEEP WORKING HERE."

Luffy's face fills the panel, looking determined and stubborn. A large "DOOOM!" sound effect emphasizes his declaration: "I REFUSE! NO!" Sanji looks taken aback, a sweat drop on his face, "WHA... WHAT?" Luffy, sitting on the railing, repeats, "I REFUSE YOUR REFUSAL!" Sanji argues back, "HEY HEY, AT LEAST HEAR ME OUT... FINE THEN, WHAT'S YOUR REASON?" Luffy simply states, "YOU'RE A GOOD COOK SO WE'LL BE PIRATES TOGETHER!" Sanji answers, "NO NEED TO TELL YOU." Luffy protests, "BUT YOU JUST TOLD ME TO HEAR YOU OUT!" Sanji snaps, "ALL I MEANT WAS THAT YOU SHOULD HEAR OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS WHEN TALKING! DON'T MAKE ME CHOP YOU UP, YOU DAMN STRAWHAT-WEARING SHITHEAD!" Luffy retorts furiously, "WHAT DID YOU SAY!? DON'T YOU DARE INSULT MY STRAWHAT OR I'LL SEND YOU FLYING!"

Gin interrupts their argument. "SORRY TO CUT IN THE CONVERSATION BUT..." he says, looking up at them. Sanji and Luffy both look at him, startled, "WHAT IS IT!?" Gin introduces himself, "MY NAME'S GIN. I'M A MEMBER OF THE KRIEG PIRATES." A caption box identifies him: "KRIEG PIRATE CREW 'FIGHTER' GIN". Gin asks Luffy, "SO YOU SAID YOU'RE A PIRATE? CAN I ASK WHAT YOUR OBJECTIVE IS?" Luffy smiles broadly and declares, "I'M GOING TO FIND ONE PIECE, WHICH IS WHY I'LL GO TO GRAND LINE!" Gin looks shocked, an exclamation mark appearing next to his head. He stammers, "IF YOU'RE STILL LOOKING FOR A COOK, I'M ASSUMING YOU DON'T HAVE VERY MANY PEOPLE ON YOUR CREW YET, RIGHT...?" Luffy counts on his fingers, "WITH HIM, THAT MAKES 5! WHY'RE YOU COUNTING ME IN!?" Sanji yells from the side. Gin looks down, sweating, "YOU DON'T SEEM TO BE A BAD GUY SO LET ME GIVE YOU A PIECE OF ADVICE..."

Gin's face is shown in a close-up, covered in sweat and looking deadly serious. "GIVE UP, ON GOING TO GRAND LINE," he warns ominously. Luffy looks curious, "OH... DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT GRAND LINE?" Gin looks away, his expression grim. "YOU'RE STILL YOUNG. NO NEED TO RECKLESSLY RUSH INTO THINGS. BESIDES, THE GRAND LINE IS JUST ONE PART OF ALL THE OCEANS IN THIS WORLD. IF YOU WANT TO BE A PIRATE, THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER SEAS FOR YOU TO ROAM OUT THERE." Gin continues, trembling slightly, "NO... I DON'T... I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING... THAT'S WHY IT'S SO TERRIFYING...!" Sanji observes Gin and comments, "FOR A MEMBER OF THE KRIEG PIRATES, YOU SURE ARE ACTING LIKE A BIG SCAREDY CAT." Luffy asks, "WHAT'S KRIEG?"

The scene shifts to the bustling Baratie kitchen. Knives chop rapidly on cutting boards with "GAGA GAGA" sound effects. A chef yells, "THE HORS D'OEUVRE FOR TABLE 3 IS READY!" Flames burst from a stove ("BOOOO"). Another chef shouts, "THEN TAKE IT ALREADY, YOU BASTARD! WE AIN'T GOT NO WAITERS!" The kitchen is chaotic with cooks rushing around. Patty, the large chef from earlier, is aggressively chopping a large fish with a cleaver ("PAPA!"). Another cook asks him, "BUT YOU SURE THAT WAS ALRIGHT? THAT DUDE YOU WHALED ON EARLIER IS A MEMBER OF THE KRIEG PIRATES!" Patty pauses, "WHAT? YEAH, I RECALL HEARING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT."

The cooks continue discussing the threat. "DON KRIEG'S THE STRONGEST AND BADDEST PIRATE TO ROAM THIS PART OF THE OCEAN!" one cook says. Another agrees, "THAT'S RIGHT. HE'S A PIRATE FLEET ADMIRAL WHO COMMANDS 50 SHIPS! HE'S A MONSTER!" A dark, imposing silhouette of Don Krieg and his massive fleet is shown. Patty, unfazed, tosses food in a flaming wok ("BOO"). "SO WHAT?" he asks dismissively. A cook panics, "I HEARD THE KRIEG PIRATES WERE OVER 5000 MEN STRONG... SO IF THAT GUY THAT YOU BEAT UP... WERE TO GO AND TELL DON KRIEG WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM HERE, THEN LIKE A HERD OF ELEPHANTS STOMPING ON AN ANT, THIS RESTAURANT WILL BE CRUSHED!"

Patty scoffs at the cooks' fears. "I SEE... THEN YOU'RE SUGGESTING WE SHOULD'VE GIVEN HIM A WARM WELCOME? DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S A LITTLE RUDE TO OUR OTHER GUESTS!? AS A FIGHTING COOK THAT BARATIE IS RENOWNED FOR, I AM ASHAMED BY SUCH AN IDEA!" Another cook yells back, "JUST HOW MANY PIRATES HAVE WE CHASED OFF UNTIL NOW!? IF YER SO SCARED, THEN WHY DON'CHA JUST QUIT!" Patty retorts, "WHAT!? IT'S PRECISELY BECAUSE OF THOSE WORDS ALL THE WAITERS QUIT! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT THAT WE'RE SO BUSY, PATTY! HMPH! AS IF WE EVER NEEDED THOSE SPINELESS SACKS OF CRAP IN THE FIRST PLACE!" Suddenly, Zeff, the head chef with a peg leg, kicks open the kitchen doors with a loud "BAM". "HEY, YOU BLOCKHEADS! GET BACK TO WORK!" he barks. The cooks immediately snap to attention, "YESSIR!"

Back outside, Gin is rowing away in a small boat. "SEE YA THEN," he calls out. "I JUST WANTED TO WARN YOU. BUT I'M STILL GONNA GO TO GRAND LINE!" Luffy replies cheerfully from the railing. Gin smiles, "HAHA... WELL, YOU ARE FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT. IT'S NOT LIKE I HAVE THE RIGHT TO STOP THAT." Gin looks back at Sanji, "AND SANJI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FOOD. YOU'RE MY SAVIOUR. THAT MEAL WAS REALLY THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD." Sanji smiles around his cigarette, "SURE, ANYTIME." Gin asks hesitantly, "WOULD IT BE ALRIGHT TO COME HERE TO EAT AGAIN?" Suddenly, Zeff's voice booms from behind Luffy, "HEY ERRAND-BOY! SO THAT'S WHERE YOU WERE!" Luffy flinches, "AGH! OLD MAN!" Zeff glares at them, his arms crossed.

Sanji quietly gets rid of the evidence: the empty plate and glass splash into the ocean. Gin looks worried, "AH, SORRY. JUST BECAUSE YOU GAVE ME FOOD, YOU'RE GOING TO GET SCOLDED..." Sanji waves him off, "GO, GIN..." Gin rows away. Sanji turns back, holding his hands up innocently. "HOW CAN I BE SCOLDED, IF THERE'S NO PROOF?" he asks. Zeff glares at him, clearly aware of what happened, and calls after the departing pirate, "DON'T YOU GET CAUGHT AGAIN, GIN!" Zeff then barks orders, "SANJI! ERRAND-BOY! BOTH OF YOU GET BACK TO WORK!"

Inside the restaurant, Luffy stands proudly in an apron, declaring, "I'M LUFFY! STARTING TODAY, I'LL BE THE ERRAND-BOY! NICE TO MEET YA!" The kitchen is a blur of activity behind him ("CLANG CLANG! CHOP CHOP!"). A caption box points to him: "TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED FROM PIRATING. RESTAURANT ON THE SEA'S ERRAND-BOY WORKING WITHOUT PAY. MONKEY D. LUFFY". The cooks immediately start yelling at him. "IS TABLE 6'S DESSERT STILL NOT DONE!?" "WHO TOOK THE ORDER FOR THAT!?" "WASN'T IT YOU!?" "CAN'T YOU SEE I'M FRICKIN' BUSY!?" "YEAH, BUSY SPACING OUT!" "THE HELL DID YOU SAY TO ME, PRICK!?" The cooks are fighting amongst themselves. Three cooks yell at Luffy, "IF YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO DO, AT LEAST WASH THE DAMN DISHES!" Luffy cheerfully replies, "OKIE-DOKIE."

The cooks continue to complain about Sanji. "WHERE'S SANJI?" one asks. "HE'S HITTING ON THE CUSTOMERS IN THE DINING ROOM. AGAIN!? FOR GOD'S SAKE... IT SICKENS ME TO SEE THAT A GUY LIKE HIM IS THE ASSISTANT HEAD CHEF. WELL WHAT'RE YOU GONNA DO. HE HAS BEEN HERE THE LONGEST..." Another cook adds, "HE'S TRYING TO BECOME THE NEXT HEAD CHEF, RIGHT? ISN'T THAT OBVIOUS? DO YOU KNOW THE REASON WHY SANJI CONTINUES TO WORK HERE DESPITE HIM AND THE OWNER'S TENSE RELATIONSHIP?" Meanwhile, Luffy is washing dishes, but the sound effects "CRACK! KLANG! CRACK!" indicate he's breaking them. A cook yells, "HEY ERRAND-BOY! JUST HOW MANY FRICKIN' PLATES HAVE YOU BROKEN ALREADY!?" Luffy holds up a broken plate, "AH, MY BAD. I FORGOT TO KEEP COUNT." The cook screams, "YOU'RE APOLOGIZING FOR THAT!?" Later, a cook tells Luffy, "ALRIGHT, ENOUGH WITH THE DISHES! JUST CLEAN UP INSTEAD! YOU CAN COUNT ON ME!" Luffy is then seen eating leftover food from a plate ("CHOMP CHOMP"). The cook yells, "DON'T EAT THE FOOD, YOU BASTARD!" Luffy grins, "DELISH! OH MY GOD! THAT WAS THE MAIN DISH!"

Luffy tries to help by saying, "ALRIGHT, I'LL CLEAN THIS POT THEN," but the pot is burning hot ("SIZZLE"). "HOT!" Luffy yells, dropping it. It crashes into a stack of barrels and plates, causing a massive clatter. The cook screams, "JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF THE KITCHEN!" Later, Zeff is talking to Luffy. "YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE ORDERS, YOU HEAR? JUST ASK WHAT THE CUSTOMERS WANT TO EAT AND COME BACK! YOU CAN DO AT LEAST THAT MUCH, RIGHT?" Luffy, looking bruised and exhausted, nods weakly, "YE...S..." Zeff points, "DO IT EXACTLY AS I SHOWED YOU!" Luffy replies, "OK." As Luffy walks into the dining area, he thinks to himself, "AH, THE LIFE OF AN ERRAND BOY IS TOUGH. COBY MUST'VE HAD A TOUGH TIME TOO BEING ONE." He then notices something, "HM!?"

Luffy walks into the bustling dining room and spots his crew sitting at a table. Zoro, Nami, and Usopp are relaxing and enjoying drinks. Nami calls out, "HEY ERRAND-BOY." Usopp adds, "HEARD YOU HAVE TO WORK HERE FOR A YEAR." Zoro asks, "WOULD IT BE ALRIGHT TO REDRAW THE SHIP'S FLAG?" Luffy yells in shock, "ACK! IT'S YOU GUYS!" Luffy marches over to their table, furious. "YOU LEAVE ME HERE TO WORK, AND GO OFF TO EAT DELICIOUS FOOD ALL BY YOURSELVES!? HOW SELFISH!" Zoro smirks, "IT'S A FREE WORLD, WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT." Usopp nervously agrees, "Y-YEAH..." Luffy snaps, "EAT THIS," tossing food at Zoro. Zoro catches it in his mouth and says, "DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, BUT..." Nami smiles, "BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT, THE FOOD HERE IS GREAT." Sanji is seen in the background pouring wine for a female customer, noticing the commotion. "HMM? DAMN, HE'S NOISY. ARE THOSE HIS CREWMATES?"

Luffy and Zoro escalate the table fight. Zoro shoves a glass into Luffy's mouth, yelling, "YOU'RE DRINKING THIS GLASS!" Luffy gulps and chokes, then shouts, "ACK! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME!?" Zoro laughs and answers, "I SHOULD ASK YOU THE SAME THING!" Suddenly, Sanji slides over to their table, striking a dramatic pose with a rose in his mouth. "O'BLESSED ARE THE OCEANS FOR BRINGING ME THIS FINE DAY! O'LOVE! LAUGH IF YOU WILL, AT MY POOR SELF WHO CANNOT ENDURE HIS TORTUOUS PASSIONS!" He fawns over Nami with hearts floating around him. "AS LONG AS I CAN BE WITH YOU, I'M PREPARED TO WALK ACROSS ANY PATH, BE IT THE PATHS OF A PIRATE OR A DEVIL! BUT ALAS! 'TIS TRAGIC THERE IS SUCH A GREAT OBSTACLE STANDING BETWEEN THE TWO OF US!" Nami looks confused. Luffy asks, "BY OBSTACLE, DO YOU MEAN ME, SANJI?" Sanji realizes Zeff is behind him and says, "AGH, THE GEEZER!" Zeff tells Sanji, "IT'S A GOOD CHANCE. JUST GO AND BE A PIRATE. I DON'T NEED A GUY LIKE YOU IN MY RESTAURANT." Sanji reacts in surprise, "WHA!?"

The scene shifts to the ocean as a voice says, "I SEE... SO THAT COOK SAVED YOUR LIFE, AND YOU WERE ABLE TO COME BACK HERE..." Inside the dark, damaged mother ship, Gin stands before Don Krieg and says, "Y-YES... B-BUT I NEVER COULD'VE IMAGINED THAT OUR MOTHER SHIP WOULD BE IN THIS CONDITION..." Krieg asks, "WHAT IS IT...?" Gin looks serious and answers, "DON KRIEG, ALLOW ME TO GUIDE YOU SIR, TO BARATIE, THE RESTAURANT ON THE SEAS!"

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