One Piece: It All Started When I Found Shanks' Arm

Chapter 52: "Captain"

Ten minutes later.

Zoro and Sanji's ears were pulled bright red, and each had a fresh handprint on their face. With tears in their eyes, they squatted at the courtyard gate, using glue to repair the nameplate.

"There are so many tiny pieces! How are we supposed to finish this?!"

"It's your fault for chopping it up with your swords."

"Then why don't you mention you were the one who kicked it to pieces first!"

Just as they were about to start arguing again, Zeff, from inside the house, casually glanced in their direction. The two kids were instantly scared out of their wits and buried their heads, working furiously.

"They seem to listen to you quite well now, Uncle Zeff," Shane, sitting opposite, said with a light chuckle.

"You flatter me," Koshiro said, bringing over a tea tray and pouring a cup for everyone. He said apologetically, "I'm not a very fierce person, and these two children are too mischievous. Most of the time, I have to rely on Mr. Zeff to discipline them."

Zeff didn't respond. His attention was completely captivated by the mechanical leg Shane had just taken out. He turned it over and over, marveling at it. "What amazing craftsmanship. I can't understand how it's made at all... Mr. Shane, can this really heal my leg?"

"Why don't you try it now?" Shane asked, picking up his teacup with great interest. He was also quite curious to see if this mechanical leg, which had once belonged to the "Budget Warrior," could really help Zeff return to his peak condition.

"Alright!"

Zeff had been waiting for this. He eagerly grabbed the mechanical leg with one hand and, with the other, seized his own wooden leg and twisted it off!

Shane was quick to cover the two sisters' eyes. Squelch— In an instant, a large amount of blood spurted from the stump. Zeff, gritting his teeth, roughly jammed the mechanical leg against it...

"Uh..." Koshiro watched, his heart pounding. "Mr. Zeff, you could have just let Granny Shiran come over and perform a proper leg replacement surgery..."

"No need! I'm just an impatient old man. I can't wait! Haha!"

Zeff laughed loudly. Nami and Nojiko, meanwhile, struggled to pry Shane's large hands away, peeking curiously through his fingers. They saw the titanium-silver mechanical limb undergoing a strange transformation. The metal joint pushed into the flesh suddenly sprouted dozens of silver threads, which rapidly extended to both sides.

In a matter of seconds, the cross-section of the knee was completely repaired, making the entire mechanical leg and the upper half of the thigh a perfect, seamless whole.

"Wow!!" Nami and Nojiko exclaimed in unison. "That's amazing!!!"

Koshiro was also stunned and subconsciously glanced at Shane. This kind of technology was too exaggerated, simply unheard of. No... perhaps there was someone in this world who could do it. Could it be that Mr. Shane had accidentally met that mysterious wise man during his travels?

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!!!"

Zeff's eyes widened as he felt the long-lost sense of power coming from his leg. He started jogging back and forth on the tatami mats, running from one end to the other a dozen times, getting more and more excited.

Suddenly, he couldn't help but let out a roar, turn around, and kick a wooden post placed by the door!

BOOM!

The wooden post, buried deep in the ground, was suddenly uprooted and shot out like a cannonball. With immense force, it slammed right into the two brats squatting at the gate, sending them flying with a scream—

THUD!

The two of them flew like broken kites for seven or eight meters before finally crashing into the same cypress tree. Their heads lolled to the side, and they passed out, leaning on each other's shoulders.

"...Uh."

Feeling everyone's strange gazes, Zeff's old face turned red, and he scratched his head in embarrassment. "I really didn't mean to target those two kids. I just haven't moved my legs in so long, I couldn't control my strength for a moment."

Zoro and Sanji didn't protest, remaining silent, apparently accepting the old man's explanation.

"Looks like it'll take some time to get used to it," Shane said, sipping his tea with a smile.

"Indeed."

Zeff bent down, gently stroking his new alloy mechanical leg as if it were a treasure. "It's back. I can feel it, that familiar sense of control is back, even stronger than before... Huh? What's this button for?"

"Don't!" Shane's pupils shrank, and he quickly tried to stop him.

But he was a step too late. Zeff, like a curious child with a new toy, had already pressed it with a click before he finished speaking.

BOOM!

The next instant, a large amount of steam erupted from Zeff's leg. His entire body shot up like a rocket, instantly smashing through the ceiling and rushing towards the sky—

The rest of the people in the room stared blankly upwards at the small black dot that was now barely visible in the high heavens.

A long time later, the small black dot began to grow larger in their vision again, and they could faintly hear Zeff's heart-wrenching wails—

Shane let out a long sigh and put down his teacup.

He stood up from his seat, vanished with a swish, stepped onto the roof through the hole, and then looked up to confirm the direction before heading up with Moonwalk to meet him.

A few minutes later.

Zeff sat on the tatami mat in a daze, his clothes disheveled, his hair and braided mustache still standing on end against gravity.

"Wasn't that fun?"

Zeff nodded vigorously.

"Never done that before, have you?"

Zeff shook his head repeatedly.

"Then you should have at least waited for me to finish the introduction before pressing random buttons, you old geezer!"

Shane slammed the table, glared at Zeff, and then pointed to the two buttons on his Achilles tendon.

"Here. You've already tried the first one. It shoots out a large amount of gas, allowing you to dash several hundred meters in an instant. I don't know what the limit is, but it consumes a lot of stamina, so you have to use it with caution."

"As for the second one, you can adjust it yourself to release fierce electricity or flames that envelop your leg, enhancing its destructive power. It also consumes stamina."

"Oh?" Zeff's eyes lit up. "Then can't I use it to light the stove and cook? I'll never have to worry about a fire source again!"

"...That's actually true."

Shane was stunned for a moment, then suddenly reacted, roaring with bared teeth, "Put away your chef's intuition, will you?! This thing is for increasing combat power! Using it to light a fire for cooking is a bit of an overkill, don't you think?!"

"Hahaha, I was just joking!"

Zeff grinned broadly. As he laughed, he gradually sat up straight, looked at Shane opposite him, and his expression became serious.

"Mr. Shane, you first saved my life, and then you went through all this trouble to completely heal my leg... This amazing thing, you couldn't buy it for hundreds of millions of Belli, could you? It's not even a matter of money. You probably couldn't find another one in the entire world."

"This kindness, I will deeply remember it in my heart!"

The old man took a deep breath, then suddenly bowed low, his forehead touching the tatami mat. He said in a deep voice, "Rest assured, the promise from a year ago, now that it's fulfilled, is officially in effect. From now on, I am a member of your crew!"

"In the next few years, I will also do my best to quickly adapt to this leg and work hard to improve my strength, to ensure that when I officially set out to sea with you in the future, I won't become a useless burden!"

Shane hadn't expected this and was stunned for a good while before he came back to his senses.

Looking at the old man before him, he suddenly grinned and helped Zeff up.

"It seems I finally have an official crewmate! And a crewmate to be proud of! Not only does he have super-strong leg techniques, but he's also an incredible cook! I'll be in your care from now on."

"Your praise is making me blush. It should be me asking for your guidance—"

Zeff looked up, Shane's gaze, and also grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

"Captain."