Ten minutes later.
Zoro and Sanji's ears were pinched red, each with a slap mark on their faces, teary-eyed, squatting at the gate, trying to fix the nameplate with glue.
"With so many fragments, how can we possibly finish this?"
"It's your fault for insisting on chopping it with a sword."
"Why didn't you mention you kicked it to pieces first!"
As they were about to start arguing again, Zeff inside the house glanced over casually, scaring the two brats into working fervently again.
"They seem to really listen to you now, Uncle Zeff." Shano chuckled from across the table.
"It's embarrassing."
Koushirou brought a tea tray, pouring a cup for everyone and apologetically said, "I'm not one to scold people, and these two kids are too mischievous, so many times I have to rely on Mr. Zeff to discipline them."
Zeff didn't respond, his attention absorbed by the mechanical leg Shano had just taken out, fiddling with it and marveling,
"Such an amazing piece of craftsmanship, I can't understand how it's made at all... Shano, can this really fix my leg?"
"Why don't we give it a try now?"
Shano was intrigued, picking up his tea cup with interest.
He was also curious to see if this mechanical leg, once belonging to a budget warrior, could help Zeff restore his peak condition.
"Alright!"
Zeff had been waiting for this, eagerly grabbing the mechanical leg with one hand while twisting off his wooden leg with the other!
Shano quickly shielded the eyes of his two younger sisters, and with a squirt—a torrent of blood spewed from the broken flesh, but Zeff, gritting his teeth, crudely rammed the mechanical leg back in...
"Uh..." Koushirou was startled, "Mr. Zeff, you could have just let Granny Zilan come over to give you a proper leg replacement surgery..."
"No need, I'm just too impatient to wait, haha!"
Zeff laughed heartily, while Nami and Nojiko struggled to pry Shano's big hands away, curiously peeking through the gaps between his fingers,
just in time to see the titanium-silver mechanical limb undergo a strange transformation. The metal joint embedded in flesh suddenly spouted dozens of silver threads, quickly extending to both sides.
In mere seconds, the knee joint was repaired, perfectly integrating the entire mechanical leg with the upper half of the thigh.
"Wow!!" Nami and Nojiko exclaimed together, "So amazing!!!"
Koushirou was also shocked, subconsciously glancing at Shano.
This technology was too exaggerated, completely unheard of before now... perhaps, someone in this world was indeed capable of such things.
Could it be that Shano met that mysterious sage during his travels outside?
"Ohohoh!!!"
Zeff's eyes widened, feeling the long-lost sense of power from his leg, jogging back and forth on the tatami, becoming more and more excited with each round.
Suddenly unable to hold back, he shouted and kicked a wooden stake placed at the entrance!
Boom!
The stake, deeply embedded underground, was suddenly uprooted like a cannonball, shooting out with tremendous force, hitting the two squatting brats at the gate, sending them flying high into the air—
Bang!
The two flew seven or eight meters like broken kites before finally crashing into the same cedar tree, their heads tilting and passing out on each other's shoulders.
"...Uh."
As he felt the strange gazes from everyone, Zeff's old face turned red, scratching his head awkwardly, "I really didn't mean to target those two brats, I just haven't moved my legs in so long; I couldn't control the strength for a moment."
Zoro and Sanji didn't protest, staying silent, clearly agreeing with the old man's explanation.
"Looks like it'll take some time to get used to it." Shano sipped his tea, smiling.
"Yes indeed."
Zeff bent down, gently caressing his alloy mechanical leg like a precious treasure, "It's back. I can feel it, that familiar sense of control has returned, even stronger than before... Huh, what's this button for?"
"Don't!" Shano's pupils shrank, hastily stopping him.
Yet it was too late; Zeff, like a curious kid with a new toy, pressed it before he finished speaking.
Boom!
In the next instant, Zeff's leg erupted with steam, launching him like a rocket through the ceiling towards the sky—
The remaining people in the house looked up blankly, watching the small black dot high in the sky, now nearly indistinguishable.
A long while later.
The small black dot began zooming into view again, faintly accompanied by Zeff's heartwrenching wail—
Shano sighed deeply, setting his teacup down.
He stood up, disappearing from his seat with a swish, stepping onto the rooftop through the hole, then glancing upwards to confirm the direction, and bounced towards it using Moonwalk.
...
A few minutes later.
Zeff sat on the tatami in a daze, his clothes disheveled, and his hair and braided beard still defying gravity, standing upright.
"Was it fun?"
Zeff nodded vehemently.
"Have you ever played something like this?"
Zeff shook his head vigorously.
"Well, at least wait for me to finish explaining before you go pressing buttons, you old fool!"
Shano slammed the table, glaring at Zeff, pointing to the two buttons near the Achilles tendon.
"Look, the first one you've tried already, it releases a surge of gas, allowing you to dash hundreds of meters instantly. Its maximum range I don't know, but it consumes a tremendous amount of stamina, use it cautiously."
"As for the second one, you can adjust it yourself to release fierce currents or flames, enveloping your leg to enhance destructive power, also requiring stamina."
"Oh?" Zeff's eyes lit up, "Does that mean it can be used to ignite the stove, cook and start fires? We'll never run out of fire sources again?"
"…I guess you're right."
Shano was left speechless for a moment, then suddenly snapped, "Stop using your chef instincts, this thing is for boosting combat power, it's overkill for just starting fires!"
"Hahaha, just joking around!"
Zeff laughed broadly, and as he laughed, his posture gradually straightened, looking at Shano across the table, his expression becoming serious.
"Mr. Shano, you saved my life and painstakingly healed my leg… This amazing thing can't be bought for even billions of Belly, and it's not just about money; you probably can't find a second one across the entire sea."
"I will deeply remember this kindness!"
The old man took a deep breath, suddenly bowing, his forehead touching the tatami solemnly, "Rest assured, the agreement from a year ago, since it's completed, now comes into effect. From now on, I'm officially under your command as your crew member!"
"In the coming years, I'll do my best to adapt quickly to this leg, rigorously train to enhance my strength, ensuring I won't become a burden when officially sailing with you!"
Shano didn't expect this outburst, standing stunned for a while before regaining his senses.
Looking at the old man in front of him, he suddenly grinned, helping Zeff up.
"Looks like I finally have an official crew member, and a proud one at that! Not only with outstanding leg skills but incredible culinary skills too! I'll have to ask you for guidance from now on."
"Your compliment really makes one blush, clearly, it's I who should ask you for guidance—"
Zeff raised his head, meeting Shano's eyes, then broke into a wide smile, revealing his gleaming white teeth, "Captain."