BEFORE THE STORM

Chapter 45 title page: "BEFORE THE STORM". On a grand staircase, Luffy sits casually in the center wearing his straw hat and dark outfit, one leg propped up. To his left stands a dark-haired man in a black jacket gripping a long sword. To Luffy's right, Nami stands in a short black dress and boots holding a large accordion-like instrument. Above them on the stairs, a mustached man in a hat reclines while aiming two pistols. A black cat perches on the railing nearby. The setting features ornate railings and a "NEIGHBOUR'S" sign on the wall.

A mostly blank page features a single small panel at the bottom right showing a close-up of a large, laughing mouth with a headband, wide eyes, and an open, toothy grin.

Luffy stands triumphantly with arms crossed, eyes wide and mouth open in excitement as impact lines burst around him. "YOU GOT SOME FOOD!" he shouts. "LUCKY!" Below on the deck of the Baratie, Luffy leans over the railing and yells down at Sanji, "HEY COOK! JOIN MY CREW, WILL YAI BE THE COOK FOR MY PIRATE SHIP!" He adds with a laugh, "YOU WERE ALMOST ABOUT TO DIE BEFORE TOO! HAHAHA!" A question mark floats near a distant figure. Sanji, cigarette in mouth and wearing a dark suit, turns sharply with a surprised "HUH!I" beside the bandaged pirate Gin, who sweats nervously.

Sanji sits on the deck and explains, "OH THAT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS JUST A CANNONBALL THAT WENT ASTRAY FROM MY SELF-DEFENCE." Luffy asks from above, "SO WHY'D YOU TRY TO FIRE A CANNONBALL AT THIS RESTAURANTI YOU'RE A PIRATEI" Sanji replies flatly, "WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEANI" and "OH..." A close-up shows an empty plate and glass. Luffy sits on the railing and remarks, "THIS RESTAURANT'S LIKE A TREASURE TO THAT DAMN GEEZER." Sanji answers, "OH, THAT OLD MAN USED TO BE A PIRATEI 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." With a slight smile he continues, "BUT IT'S QUITE APPROPRIATE CONSIDERING ALL THE PIRATES THAT FREQUENT AROUND THESE PARTS. 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."

Luffy sits beside a large bottle marked with a skull and crossbones, saying, "THERE'VE EVEN BEEN SOME GUESTS LATELY WHO COME TO SEE THE COOKS AND THE COOKS DUKE IT OUT." Sanji replies, "YEAH... BUT IT'S DAILY ROUTINE FOR US. NOT A QUIET MOMENT IN THIS PLACE, EHI" Luffy points excitedly, "EH WHATEVER. HEY, JOIN MY CREW." Sanji exhales smoke and answers, "OHHHH, SO THE REASON HE ASKED ME TO WORK HERE FOR A YEAR WAS... ALL THE WAITERS GOT SCARED AND RAN AWAY. THANKS TO THAT, I'VE GOT MY OWN REASON TO KEEP WORKING HERE. I'LL HAVE TO REFUSE ON THAT OFFER."

Luffy's face fills the panel with intense anger, shouting "I REFUSE!" and "NO!" as speed lines radiate outward. He continues, "FINE THEN, WHAT'S YOUR REASONI HEY HEY, AT LEAST HEAR ME OUT..." Sanji responds calmly, "I REFUSE YOUR REFUSAL! WHATI YOU'RE A GOOD COOK SO WE'LL BE PIRATES TOGETHER!" Luffy erupts, "WHAT DID YOU SAY!I DON'T YOU DARE INSULT MY STRAWHAT OR I'LL SEND YOU FLYING! 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!" Sanji retorts, "BUT YOU JUST TOLD ME TO HEAR YOU OUT! NO NEED TO TELL YOU." Luffy is sent flying backward off the railing with a large impact effect as Sanji watches.

Gin sits across from Luffy and introduces himself. "MY NAME'S GIN. I'M A MEMBER OF THE KRIEG PIRATES." Luffy asks about his objective. A sign reads "KRIEG PIRATE CREW 'FIGHTER' GIN". Luffy reacts with surprise. Gin apologizes for interrupting. Luffy grins widely and declares, "WHICH IS WHY I'LL GO TO GRAND LINE! I'M GOING TO FIND ONE PIECE." Gin sweats and questions why Luffy is counting him in, offering advice if Luffy still needs a cook. Luffy retorts that Gin does not seem like a bad guy.

Gin leans in intensely, sweat pouring down his face. "ON GOING TO GRAND LINE. GIVE UP." Luffy asks if Gin knows something about the Grand Line. Gin explains that the Grand Line is just one part of the oceans and there are plenty of other seas. He adds that Luffy is still young and there is no need to rush recklessly. Luffy asks, "WHAT'S KRIEGI" Gin replies that for a member of the Krieg Pirates, the crew acts like a big scaredy cat. Luffy says, "THAT'S SO TERRIFYING...!" while Gin sweats and answers, "NO... I DON'T... I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING..."

Inside the Baratie kitchen, loud crashes and SFX "ザザザ" and "ザザザ" echo as chefs work frantically. A sign reads "BARATIE'S KITCHEN". One chef yells, "THEN TAKE IT ALREADY, YOU BASTARD! WE AIN'T GOT NO WAITERS!" Another announces, "THE HORS D'OEUVRE FOR TABLE 3 IS READY!" Cooks react in shock. One shouts, "YEAH, I RECALL HEARING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. THAT DUDE YOU WHALED ON EARLIER IS A MEMBER OF THE KRIEG PIRATES!" Another chef asks in alarm, "WHATI BUT YOU SURE THAT WAS ALRIGHTI" while swinging a large fish with SFX "レレレ!"

The chefs continue discussing in panic. One exclaims, "HE'S A MONSTER! HE'S A PIRATE FLEET ADMIRAL WHO COMMANDS SO SHIPS!" Another confirms, "THAT'S RIGHT. DON KRIEG'S THE STRONGEST AND BADDEST PIRATE TO ROAM THIS PART OF THE OCEAN!" Background shows Krieg's massive fleet with ships and silhouetted figures. A chef recalls, "I HEARD THE KRIEG PIRATES WERE OVER 5000 MEN STRONG... SO IF THAT GUY THAT YOU BEAT UP..." Another chef swings a bottle with SFX "ビリビリ" and "ドカッ" while saying "SO WHATI" The head chef warns, "THIS RESTAURANT WILL BE CRUSHED! THEN LIKE A HERD OF ELEPHANTS STOMPING ON AN ANT. WE'RE TO GO AND TELL DON KRIEG WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM HERE."

Inside the Baratie kitchen, the mustached head chef with chains around his neck roars in fury, "I AM ASHAMED BY SUCH AN IDEA!" and "AS A FIGHTING COOK THAT BARATIE IS RENOWNED FOR." Nearby, a cook with a tall hat protests, "DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S A LITTLE RUDE TO OUR OTHER GUESTS!I" while another replies, "THEN YOU'RE SUGGESTING WE SHOULD'VE GIVEN HIM A WARM WELCOMEI" and "I SEE..." The head chef continues, "WHAT!I IT'S PRECISELY BECAUSE OF THOSE WORDS ALL THE WAITERS QUIT! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT THAT WE'RE SO BUSY, PATTY!" Patty snaps back, "HMPH! AS IF WE EVER NEEDED THOSE SPINELESS SACKS OF CRAP IN THE FIRST PLACE!" and "IF YER SO SCARED, THEN WHY DON'CHA JUST QUIT! JUST HOW MANY PIRATES HAVE WE CHASED OFF UNTIL NOW!I" The head chef orders the line of cooks, "YESSIR! GET BACK TO WORK! HEY, YOU BLOCKHEADS!"

On the deck of the Baratie, Luffy stands with his back to the sea and says, "HAHA... WELL, YOU ARE FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT. IT'S NOT LIKE I HAVE THE RIGHT TO STOP THAT. BUT I'M STILL GONNA GO TO GRAND LINE! I JUST WANTED TO WARN YOU. SEE YA THEN." Gin, standing in a small boat, replies gratefully, "THAT MEAL WAS REALLY THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FOOD. YOU'RE MY SAVIOUR. AND SANJI." Sanji, smoking a cigarette, answers with a smile, "SURE, ANYTIME." A close-up shows Gin grinning widely, asking, "WOULD IT BE ALRIGHT TO COME HERE TO EAT AGAINI" Inside the restaurant, the mustached head chef spots Sanji and yells, "AGH! OLD MAN! HEY ERRAND-BOY! SO THAT'S WHERE YOU WERE!"

Sanji is struck from behind and sent flying with a loud "ボ チャーン...!" impact. He rubs his head, saying, "COME AGAINI YOU'RE GOING TO GET SCOLDED... AH, SORRY. JUST BECAUSE YOU GAVE ME FOOD, GO, GIN..." Gin rows away in the small boat. Sanji stands with both palms raised, declaring, "HOW CAN I BE SCOLDED, IF THERE'S NO PROOFI" The mustached head chef shouts from the deck, "SANJI! ERRAND-BOY! BOTH OF YOU GET BACK TO WORK! DON'T YOU GET CAUGHT AGAIN, GIN!" Luffy watches from nearby as the boat departs.

Luffy stands proudly in an apron and sandals with a sign around his neck reading "TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED FROM PIRATING RESTAURANT ON THE SEA'S ERRAND-BOY WORKING WITHOUT PAY MONKEY D. LUFFY." He announces with a grin, "I'LL BE THE ERRAND-BOY! NICE TO MEET YA! I'M LUFFY! STARTING TODAY," while the kitchen erupts in chaos with sound effects "ゴオオオオオオ チャーン! ダンダンダン" and cooks yelling. In the dining area, customers complain loudly: "YEAH, BUSY SPACING OUT! CAN'T YOU SEE I'M FRICKIN' BUSY!I WASN'T IT YOU!I WHO TOOK THE ORDER FOR THAT!I IS TABLE 6'S DESSERT STILL NOT DONE!I THE HELL DID YOU SAY TO ME, PRICK!I" Luffy replies calmly, "OKIE-DOKIE. IF YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO DO, AT LEAST WASH THE DAMN DISHES!"

In the Baratie kitchen, the cooks grumble while working. One says, "WELL WHAT'RE YOU GONNA DO, HE HAS BEEN HERE THE LONGEST..." Another complains, "IT SICKENS ME TO SEE THAT A GUY LIKE HIM IS THE ASSISTANT HEAD CHEF." A third adds, "AGAIN!I FOR GOD'S SAKE... HE'S HITTING ON THE CUSTOMERS IN THE DINING ROOM." They question why Sanji stays despite the tension with the owner. Luffy, wearing his straw hat and apron, works as an errand boy, accidentally breaking plates with loud "CRACK" and "KLANG" sounds. A cook yells, "HEY ERRAND-BOY! JUST HOW MANY FRICKIN' PLATES HAVE YOU BROKEN ALREADY!I" Luffy apologizes while carrying dishes. He then spots the main dish and happily devours it, exclaiming "DELISH!" as the cooks react in shock with "OH MY GOD! THAT WAS THE MAIN DISH!" and "DON'T EAT THE FOOD, YOU BASTARD!" Luffy replies cheerfully, "YOU CAN COUNT ON ME! ALRIGHT, ENOUGH WITH THE DISHES! JUST CLEAN UP INSTEAD!"

A furious cook kicks Luffy out of the kitchen amid flying pots and pans, shouting "JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF THE KITCHEN!" with impact SFX. Luffy lands hard, bruised, and mutters "YE...S..." while rubbing his face. The large cook continues, "JUST ASK WHAT THE CUSTOMERS WANT TO EAT AND COME BACK! YOU CAN DO AT LEAST THAT MUCH, RIGHTI" Luffy stands up with a determined "HM!I" and thinks about Coby's tough life as an errand boy. He then smiles widely and declares "OK. DO IT EXACTLY AS I SHOWED YOU!" before rushing off into the dining area.

In the lively dining room, Luffy spots familiar faces at a table. A blond man and a woman are seated as Luffy exclaims "ACK! IT'S YOU GUYS!" The blond customer remarks, "HEARD YOU HAVE TO WORK HERE FOR A YEAR." Luffy reacts with shock. Nearby, Sanji pours wine while a woman watches; a customer notes, "DAMN, HE'S NOISY. ARE THOSE HIS CREWMATESI" Luffy yells angrily, "AND GO OFF TO EAT DELICIOUS FOOD ALL BY YOURSELVES!I HOW SELFISH!" The group at the table discusses the food, with one saying "IT'S A FREE WORLD, WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT." and another replying "Y-YEAH... EAT THIS." Luffy stands nearby looking surprised.

Chaos erupts as Luffy grabs a glass from a customer and gulps it down with "GULP" and "MMF!" sounds while the man protests "YOU'RE DRINKING THIS GLASS!" The blond man dramatically declares, "BUT ALAS! 'TIS TRAGIC THERE IS SUCH A GREAT OBSTACLE STANDING BETWEEN THE TWO OF US!" and "AS LONG AS I AM WITH YOU, I'M PREPARED TO WALK ACROSS ANY PATHS, BE IT THE PATHS OF A PIRATE OR A DEVIL!" while hearts float around him. A woman watches with a question mark. The large chef Zeff appears, angrily stating "I DON'T NEED A GUY LIKE YOU IN MY RESTAURANT." and "IT'S A GOOD CHANCE. JUST GO AND BE A PIRATE." Luffy reacts with "AGH, THE GEEZER! BY OBSTACLE, DO YOU MEAN ME, SANJI!I" as Zeff storms off.

On the open sea near the floating restaurant, a small boat approaches the massive Baratie. A voice reflects, "AND YOU WERE ABLE TO COME BACK HERE..." Another replies, "SO THAT COOK SAVED YOUR LIFE," followed by "I SEE..." Inside the restaurant, Don Krieg stands in the doorway as a seated figure asks, "WHAT IS IT...I" Krieg addresses him directly: "DON KRIEG." The battered man with the striped headband sweats heavily and stammers, "Y-YES... B-BUT I NEVER COULD'VE IMAGINED THAT OUR MOTHER SHIP WOULD BE IN THIS CONDITION..." In a close-up, his desperate face fills the panel as he pleads, "TO BARATIE, THE RESTAURANT ON THE SEAS! ALLOW ME TO GUIDE YOU SIR."

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