Ten minutes later.
Zoro and Sanji sat at the gate of the dojo, ears red from repeated yanks, faces marked with fresh slaps, eyes brimming with tears, squatting as they tried to glue the shattered dojo sign back together.
"There are so many pieces! How are we supposed to fix this?!"
"Not my fault, you insisted on slicing it into tiny pieces!"
"Well, you kicked it first!"
Just as they were about to start shouting again, Zeff, glancing casually out the window, gave them a look that instantly scared the two brats into diligently working.
"They seem to obey you pretty well now, Uncle Zeff," Shanu chuckled from across the room.
"You flatter me," Zeff replied modestly.
Kōshirō brought in a tray of tea, pouring cups for everyone. "I'm not very strict… these two children are quite unruly, so most of the time, only Mr. Zeff can manage them."
Zeff didn't respond; his attention was entirely captured by the mechanical leg Shanu had just pulled out. Twirling it in his hands, he marveled, "Incredible craftsmanship… I can't even comprehend how this was made… Shanu, can this really fix my leg?"
"Why not try it now?"
Shanu, curious himself, picked up his cup of tea, eager to see if this mechanical leg, once belonging to a battle-hardened warrior, could restore Zeff to his former peak.
"Alright!"
Zeff had been waiting for this. Grabbing the mechanical leg in one hand, he held his old wooden leg with the other and twisted down.
Shanu quickly covered his two younger sisters' eyes.
Plop!
Blood gushed from the severed limb, but Zeff, grinning wildly, jammed the mechanical leg into the stump.
"Uh…" Kōshirō flinched. "Sir Zeff… you could've just asked Granny Shiran to perform a proper leg replacement surgery…"
"No need! I'm impatient by nature, can't wait! Haha!"
Zeff laughed heartily. Nami and Nojiko peeled Shanu's hands away from their eyes just in time to see the titanium-silver limb undergo a strange transformation: dozens of silver filaments shot out from the metal joints, weaving across the exposed flesh and repairing the knee in seconds, seamlessly joining with the remaining thigh.
"Wow!!" Nami and Noko gasped in unison.
Kōshirō was also astonished. This technology was unprecedented. Could it be that Shanu had met some mysterious genius during his travels?
"Whoa!!!"
Zeff's eyes widened. Feeling the familiar strength returning to his leg, he ran back and forth on the tatami, over and over, growing more exhilarated with each sprint.
Suddenly, he shouted and spun, kicking a wooden post at the gate.
Boom!
The post shot up like a cannonball, slamming into the two brats squatting nearby, sending them flying seven or eight meters and crashing against a cypress tree, knocking them out on each other's shoulders.
"Uh…"
Feeling everyone's strange stares, Zeff blushed and scratched his head. "I didn't mean to target you two, just haven't moved my legs in a long time and lost control of my strength."
Zoro and Sanji remained silent, clearly accepting the explanation.
"Looks like it'll take some time to get used to it," Shanu said, sipping tea with a smile.
"Yes," Zeff nodded, stroking the new alloy limb like a treasure. "It's back… the familiar control is here, stronger than ever… huh? What's this button?"
"No!" Shanu's eyes widened, but it was too late. Zeff, like a kid with a new toy, pressed it.
Whoosh!
Steam erupted from the leg as Zeff rocketed through the ceiling, soaring toward the sky. The others stared in disbelief at the tiny black dot ascending above.
After a long moment, the dot slowly grew larger again, and Zeff's frantic screams echoed faintly.
Shanu sighed, setting down his tea. Rising, he vanished with a swift movement, stepping through the ceiling hole onto the roof. Using the moonlight to confirm direction, he sprinted to intercept Zeff.
Minutes later.
Zeff sat dazed on the tatami, clothes in disarray, hair and braided mustache defying gravity upward.
"Fun, huh?"
Zeff nodded vigorously.
"Never tried this before, right?"
He shook his head repeatedly.
"That's why you should wait for me to explain before mashing buttons, old man!" Shanu slapped the table, glaring at him, pointing to two buttons near the Achilles tendon.
"First one you already tried, it expels a blast of gas for a sprint over hundreds of meters. Not sure of the exact limit, but it consumes tremendous stamina, so use with caution."
"The second button lets you release fierce electricity or flames around your leg, amplifying destructive power, also drains stamina."
"Oh?" Zeff's eyes lit up. "Couldn't this also light a stove? I'd never need fire again!"
"…Don't use your chef instincts on this! It's for combat, not cooking!" Shanu growled.
"Hahaha, just joking!"
Zeff laughed, then sat upright, eyes serious. "Shanu, you saved my life and painstakingly restored my leg… something this amazing can't be bought, not for billions of Berries. Across the seas, no one else could make this."
He took a deep breath, bowing his forehead to the tatami. "I promise, since our agreement from a year ago is fulfilled, from now on I am your crew member. I will adapt to this leg and train hard, so I'll never be a burden on your future adventures!"
Shanu, surprised, paused a moment before smiling. He helped Zeff to his feet.
"Finally, I have an official crew member, one I can be proud of! Strong in leg skills and an excellent cook! I look forward to working with you."
"You flatter me, shouldn't I be learning from you instead?" Zeff replied, showing a wide grin.
"Captain."