The Sunny drifted into the harbor of Bartega, an island bustling with color and noise. Wooden bridges arched over winding canals, vendors shouted from crooked stalls, and the smell of frying food mixed with sea salt in the air. It wasn’t as flashy as Water Seven—more rustic, less tech—but the vibe was easy. Warm. Even Luffy said the place “felt kinda cozy.”
The Straw Hats split up immediately.
Sanji’s Situation™
Sanji had been thrilled—absolutely thrilled—to find a spice merchant boasting “the rarest powders and herbs from the farthest corners of the New World.” He spent thirty minutes waxing poetic about saffron that glowed like sunset gold and peppercorns “with a fragrance that whispers across the heart.”
He paid an outrageous sum.
Walked away humming.
Opened the sack.
And froze.
Then his eyebrow twitched.
SANJI: “…This is… paprika. Just paprika.” He sifted through the next pouch. “…This is just salt. Not even good salt. This is like… sad salt.”
A quiet, dangerous aura rolled off him like steam.
Elsewhere – The Straw Hats Enjoying Themselves
Luffy was already stuffing his face at a street vendor who kept trying to sell him belts.
Nami had found the currency exchange stall and was negotiating like a shark in heels.
Brook was playing for tips and collecting an entire audience of swooning elderly locals.
Usopp and Chopper discovered a shop that sold “battle beetles” and were screaming with joy.
Zoro got lost immediately. No one was surprised.
Sanji Returns… and He Is PISSED
Sanji stormed back to the Sunny, a dark cloud over his head.
Nami: “You look like you got rejected by every woman on the island at once.” Sanji: “I WAS SCAMMED.” Usopp: “…You?” Chopper: “HOW?” Sanji: “THEY SOLD ME FAKE SPICES!”
He slammed the sack down, and a puff of regular table salt rose like the saddest explosion imaginable.
Luffy sniffed it.
Luffy: “Smells like the salt on the crackers Robin gives me when I’m sick.” Sanji: “EXACTLY.”
He was pacing now, hands in his hair, apron fluttering behind him like an angry cape.
Sanji: “THEY THOUGHT I WOULDN’T NOTICE! ME! A CHEF! WHO CAN TASTE A WHOLE MEAL'S RECIPE JUST BY SMELLING IT!!!”
The Crew Reacts
Zoro arrived, bags in hand, looking suspiciously like he’d bought swords from the local flea market.
Zoro: “Maybe you really couldn’t tell.” Sanji: instant explosion “WHAT WAS THAT, MOSSHEAD!?” Zoro: “It’s not my fault your fancy nose failed—” Sanji: “OH REALLY—” Nami: “Both of you stop before I fine you.”
They stopped.
Instantly.
Robin’s Quiet Observation
Robin inspected one of the jars Sanji had thrown.
Robin: “The labels were scraped off. It seems the merchant refills rare jars with cheap ingredients.” Sanji: “I’M GOING BACK.” Luffy: “WE’RE GOING BACK!” Usopp: “Wait—are we allowed to beat up merchants here?” Franky: “Only if they’re SUPER scammers!” Brook: “I support justice! Yohohoho!”
The Straw Hats March Into Town
Sanji led them like a man on a mission. Luffy was marching behind him holding a stick like it was a weapon. Zoro kept picking fights with lamp posts he thought were people. Nami sighed, Robin smiled, and Brook passed out business cards.
By the time Sanji found the spice vendor again…
The merchant saw the crew.
Saw Sanji’s face.
And fainted on the spot