CHAPTER 275 WANG ZHI'S MISFORTUNE
Outside a door at Immigration Bureau headquarters, Brett, Tesoro, and Dragon waited together.
"Fish-Man Island's technological capabilities are truly extraordinary," Dragon remarked with a smile.
Creating a functional combat-ready mechanical arm wasn't simply forging metal into the rough shape. The most difficult aspect was control—enabling the user to operate the external mechanical limb as naturally as their original arm.
When the Navy Science Division previously crafted Zephyr's mechanical arm, their scientists had struggled considerably. Dragon found this impressive, though not entirely surprising. Fish-Man Island naturally possessed formidable scientific capabilities—otherwise, where had those powerful warships come from?
"We were fortunate to find an exceptional scientist," Brett smiled.
Truly fortunate timing. Had he remembered Tom later, that premier scientist and shipwright among his people would have been executed by the government.
"However, Brett," Dragon asked curiously, "Seastone?"
That material was an exceedingly rare resource on the seas. That Brett could acquire so much Seastone was remarkable enough—but processing it into this form?
"Fish-Man Island discovered Seastone deposits," Brett said casually.
Dragon's pupils contracted slightly. Even someone like him felt his heart stir at Brett's revelation. Seastone—the world's most precious mineral resource!
"As for processing technology, I have connections with certain people in Wano Country," Brett chuckled.
"I see," Dragon nodded. That explained it. Everyone knew Wano Country was not only the primary Seastone source but also possessed miraculous processing techniques.
"Then, Brett—" he began.
"Of course," Brett interrupted, already understanding. "We're allies. If you need Seastone equipment, just ask anytime."
"I see. Thank you immensely. I'll pay market rates," Dragon smiled with satisfaction.
Seastone always commanded high prices, but price wasn't the issue—supply scarcity was. Even wealth couldn't guarantee purchase.
They didn't wait long before the door opened.
"Hahahaha! Today I'm also super SUPER!" Franky strode out broadly, beaming with pride.
Seeing his expression, Brett understood the situation. "Went smoothly?"
"Extremely smoothly!" Zephyr's voice answered as he emerged several steps behind Franky.
He continuously flexed his brand-new right arm. Bending, straightening, rotating around his shoulder, moving his palm in all directions, curling each finger individually then straightening them together, clenching his fist then opening it.
Remarkably flexible.
"Perfect!" Zephyr didn't hide his admiration. "Setting aside materials, this flexibility and compatibility far exceeds the arm the Navy made me!"
"Obviously!" Franky acted as though this was self-evident. "We spent several days creating this! A SUPER perfect masterpiece!"
"Built-in bullet launcher capable of firing Seastone projectiles! More importantly, using cola as fuel, the arm can unleash tremendous power!"
This man was a human modification genius. In the original timeline, after being half-killed by the Sea Train, he'd forcibly reconstructed himself as a cyborg using scrap metal. Though his equipped weapons were crude, he excelled at interfacing external limbs.
Not to mention his teacher, Master Tom. At least currently, Franky couldn't quite surpass his mentor. The master-apprentice trio using their talents just to craft Zephyr's mechanical arm felt like overkill.
"So why is the fuel cola?" Tesoro's mouth twitched. Too absurd.
"My deepest thanks!" Zephyr didn't mind—so long as it provided power, cola or hot water made no difference. He bowed deeply to Franky.
"Thank Brett," Franky waved dismissively.
So Zephyr turned toward Brett. "I won't waste words thanking you. Your kindness cannot be repaid with mere gratitude."
"Let us fight side by side!" Zephyr patted his mechanical arm. "With this, nothing's frightening anymore!"
A Seastone mechanical arm—a powerful weapon against devil fruit users!
"Of course," Brett nodded readily.
He'd painstakingly cured Zephyr's illness and fitted him with a prosthetic precisely to restore his original strength for greater contribution against the government. That objective had been perfectly achieved.
Though the mechanical arm might not match his original limb's natural functionality, the Seastone material gave Zephyr tremendous advantage when facing ability users. His asthma was cured. Increasing age could be compensated through Ain's ability.
Current Zephyr had essentially returned to his peak.
Zephyr and his students remained on Fish-Man Island several more days before departing with Brett's sponsored ships and weapon supplies, escorted by the Immigration Bureau toward the New World.
Their next task: establishing themselves firmly in the New World.
Dragon departed afterward, having purchased Seastone products before sailing away. He too had work—as Brett said, awakening more people.
After their departures, Fish-Man Island returned to tranquility. But the New World grew turbulent.
Pirate Island, Beehive.
"Boss! Boss Wang Zhi!" a pirate ran excitedly across the sea. "Huge haul! This is a massive score!"
"Massive score?" The man called Wang Zhi—former Rocks Pirate crew member, now the great pirate controlling this island—emerged drowsily. "What haul?"
"We accidentally encountered a ship at sea, completely full of treasure!"
"Oh? Such fortune exists? Let's see."
While Wang Zhi felt pleased by unexpected gains, in Wano Country:
"You're saying my money was stolen?" The monster lowered his massive frame.
The white-robed, masked figure before him trembled. "Apologies, Wang Zhi's people took it. Our New World forces cannot retrieve the funds. Moreover, the government's transaction budget is limited, so payment may be temporarily delayed."
"How about this, Kaido—let's make a deal."
"Wororororo! That idiot Wang Zhi, eh?"