One Piece: Raijin

The streets were overflowing with people, packed to the brim with excited visitors. On both sides of the road, food stalls stretched endlessly, showcasing dishes prepared using cooking techniques from all over the world. The air was thick with tantalizing aromas, making passersby instinctively take deep breaths, their mouths watering in anticipation.

Asa, however, had a small problem—he didn't have a single Beli or any gold on him. Lacking the funds to indulge in the feast before him, he had no choice but to "persuade" two wealthy-looking individuals into generously sponsoring his meal.

With stacks of Beli in hand, he stopped at every stall, sampling dish after dish.

Two hours later, he had devoured nearly every delicacy the street had to offer. Rubbing his stomach, he realized he could still eat more.

Just then, the island's loudspeakers crackled to life.

"Welcome, pirates, bounty hunters, merchants, and travelers from all across the seas! You have arrived at the culinary paradise of Pukei!"

"The triennial Chef Competition is about to commence! This grand event will be held at the island's central food court!"

"A total of sixteen chefs will be competing this year! Each one is among the best on this island… Now, let's welcome—"

The announcer's passionate voice echoed across the city, electrifying the crowd. Even Asa, who had no interest in cooking, found himself growing excited.

It almost sounded as if these chefs were about to serve legendary, glowing cuisine.

"Here we go…" Asa muttered, looking up from his pile of food before stepping into the throng of people.

Anyone who got too close to him was effortlessly pushed aside by an invisible force!

Lately, Asa had been practicing the fundamental applications of electromagnetic force in his daily life. If something could be handled with electromagnetism, he wouldn't bother using his hands or feet.

Mastery of abilities came gradually, through constant refinement. While his control over lightning was already at its peak, electromagnetic force—a virtually limitless power—was now his primary focus.

Central Square – Food City

The square was packed. Tens of thousands of people crowded together, and even more were still pouring in.

The sheer energy in the air was palpable. The spectators' eyes were fixed on the competition stage, buzzing with anticipation.

"This is really something else..."

A sense of nostalgia washed over Asa as he pushed his way to the front, a rare smile tugging at his lips.

In the open square stood sixteen chef stations, each equipped with an array of pots, pans, and utensils. The tables were piled high with rare seasonings from all over the world. Fresh deep-sea fish, mountain beasts, exotic birds, and a colorful mix of vegetables and meats were laid out in an organized display.

Every imaginable ingredient one could use for cooking was present.

The sixteen contestants, all dressed in crisp white chef uniforms and tall hats, made their way onto the stage. They varied greatly in appearance—some were tall, some short, some plump, some thin. The oldest had gray hair and a seasoned presence, while the youngest, a beautiful fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, carried herself with confidence beyond her years.

On the judging panel, a man in a suit, sporting a neatly trimmed mustache, raised a loudspeaker and declared:

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us introduce the esteemed judges for this competition!"

At his words, four food critics took their seats at the judging table. Their expressions were smug, their demeanor suggesting that a chef's greatest honor was receiving their approval.

Fireworks erupted, the host's enthusiasm filling the air, pushing the festival atmosphere to its peak.

After several moments of celebration, the host finally shouted—

"Now, I officially declare this Gourmet City Chef Competition—"

"WAIT A MINUTE!!"

A thunderous voice drowned out even the loudspeaker, instantly silencing the sea of spectators.

Every single person turned toward the source.

From the midst of the crowd, Asa stepped forward, removing the electromagnetic distortion from his face, revealing his true appearance.

Grinning, he strode confidently up to the four judges and spoke.

"I don't think this man is qualified to be a food critic. Let me take his place instead!"

Without hesitation, Asa grabbed one of the startled judges and tossed him aside like trash.

The square fell into stunned silence.

"YOU BASTARD! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"

"GUARDS! GUARDS! SOMEONE ARREST THIS SAVAGE AT ONCE!"

The remaining three critics were furious, their faces red with rage. They shouted at the host, their previous dignity completely forgotten.

The sudden interruption caused the sixteen chefs to momentarily halt their preparations as all attention shifted toward the unexpected intruder.

The host—though experienced—froze in place, struggling to process what had just happened.

And then, whispers rippled through the crowd.

"It's him...!"

"It's 'Thunder God' Hippolyte D. Asa!"

"A wanted criminal with a bounty of 500 million..."

"Isn't he the lunatic who plundered gold from the sky?!"

"Yes! It's him!"

Though the host hesitated to say his name out loud, the audience wasn't so restrained.

The moment Asa was recognized, a riot broke out among the spectators. Almost everyone instinctively backed away, fear flashing in their eyes.

Even the three remaining judges, who had been yelling just moments ago, fell silent.

This was an era where a bounty of 500 million Beli was reserved for only the most dangerous criminals—individuals feared by the World Government.

The authorities had drilled it into people's minds: pirates of this caliber were ruthless monsters who burned, plundered, and killed without hesitation.

Whether that was true or not didn't matter—nobody wanted to get on Asa's bad side.

"Relax, everyone!" Asa clapped a hand to his chest, smirking.

"I'm only here as a guest food critic today. Nothing else. Host, go ahead and continue."

With that, he plopped down onto the empty judge's seat, crossing his legs and clasping his hands together, looking completely at ease.

The host, still frozen, struggled to come up with a response.

After what felt like an eternity, he forced a smile and, with visible hesitation, shouted—

"Then… Let us welcome Mr. Asa as our special guest! And now… I officially declare the Gourmet City Chef Competition… BEGUN!"

BOOM!

The moment the words left his lips, sixteen chefs sprang into action, pouring their heart and soul into their dishes.

Flawless knife skills flashed across the stage. Each movement was precise, controlled—borderline mesmerizing.

Asa watched in fascination, utterly entranced.

However, his gaze lingered on one chef in particular—the fourteen-year-old girl.

Beautiful women were always more interesting to watch than men.

"First up! A legend in the culinary world!"

"Michelin Clermont—a 70-year-old chef from a Michelin three-star restaurant!"

"This veteran has competed in ten previous tournaments! For thirty years, he has fought for the championship but never won! Will he finally claim victory today?!"

"And last but not least—the youngest contestant this year… The lovely and talented… JESSICA!"

The host's enthusiastic introduction caused a wave of excitement to sweep across the audience.

Asa smirked.

"This should be fun."

(End Of Chapter)

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