Chapter 27

About an hour later, breakfast was served.

In a small place like Shimotsuki Village, the ingredients were naturally not very abundant; Zeff had already sent Zoro to buy everything available at the market, and the variety was limited to just those few types.

But after passing through Zeff’s hands, it was as if magic had been cast, instantly turning the mundane into the extraordinary.

Enticingly colored and richly fragrant dishes were brought to the table one after another.

The little brats in the dojo crowded around the long wooden table, their eyes already wide open before they had even started eating.

Amidst the clinking of bamboo chopsticks against bowls, there were exclamations of "It smells so good!", "Wow, I can't take it!", and "I can't control my drool anymore."

And when Zeff announced they could begin, the scene became even more chaotic.

After all, they were just half-grown children; they could remember the dining etiquette Koushiro had taught them at first, but the food was simply too delicious, instantly triggering their primal instinct to protect their food.

Everyone scrambled and fought, turning into hungry ghosts pouncing on their prey.

Siano was squeezed out for a moment and couldn't get to the front; not wanting to fight with this group of little rascals, he went to the corner and ladled a bowl of the least popular fish slice porridge.

Taking a sip, the milky white rice porridge slid down his throat along with the translucent fish slices; the scallions and ginger perfectly neutralized the salty fishiness, and the texture was smooth, wonderful, and so fresh it made his eyebrows twitch.

He added some side dishes from the side, which were crisp and refreshing, making them an excellent accompaniment to the porridge.

He couldn't help but squint his eyes in enjoyment.

To be able to make even ordinary plain porridge and side dishes taste this good—is this what a professional chef is like?

Bell-mère’s cooking was actually already quite excellent, but compared to Zeff, it was a difference of heaven and earth.

Perhaps he should... Siano looked at Zeff, lost in thought.

Beside him.

Zoro was also shoveling food into his mouth, wishing he could swallow the table along with it.

The resentment from being ordered around to do chores had long since vanished; if he could eat such delicious food every day, he wouldn't mind washing and cutting vegetables every day!

"Old man!" he couldn't help but turn back and shout, "Stay! If I can't taste your cooking in the future, I don't know how I'll go on living!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

"Stay, Chef old man!"

The other little brats in the dojo joined in the clamor.

These kids who didn't know the hardships of the world, Koushiro shook his head helplessly; where could his small dojo afford to hire such a top-tier chef?

"Alright, stop making noise, and don't bring up such unreasonable requests again."

Koushiro had just spoken gently when he suddenly turned his head in astonishment, suddenly remembering that Zeff had specifically asked him before cooking whether there was a shortage of chefs here.

"That's right, that is exactly what I meant."

Zeff said with a smile, "Mr. Koushiro, it seems the children really like my cooking; how about you take me in for the time being? Of course, this child as well."

He gently rubbed the little head of Sanji beside him.

"You little brat, you say you want to find the All Blue, but you're currently only at the level of a chore boy; you're not even a chef yet, so how are you qualified to pursue that dream blue sea?"

"Stinky old man..."

Sanji pushed his hand away in disgust, then suddenly realized something and looked up in surprise, "Eh? Does that mean you're willing to teach me cooking?"

"That's not certain yet." Zeff curled his lip, "I am very strict with official apprentices; if you don't make a name for yourself, I can kick you out at any time."

"Don't underestimate people, stinky old man!"

Koushiro coughed at this moment and said: "Lord Zeff, for a person of your stature to be willing to stay at the dojo is truly my honor; I would certainly welcome it, but..."

But at the rate of consumption today, the Isshin Dojo would probably go bankrupt in less than a month. If it were a year ago, he would have had quite a bit of stored grain, but on that night not long ago, he had donated it all to Dragon.

He felt a bit embarrassed and really couldn't bring himself to say the preceding words.

But Zeff saw his embarrassment and laughed out loud:

"Don't worry, I still have some savings, so don't worry about it; from now on, I will cover all the ingredients for the Isshin Dojo!"

"How can that be!"

Koushiro was shocked; it was the first time he had heard of someone paying to work.

"Say no more! It's settled!"

Zeff laughed loudly; he couldn't be bothered with so much nonsense, and with a forceful pat on Koushiro's shoulder, he forced the latter to swallow the words that were almost at his throat.

Siano watched from the side, finding it interesting.

The scene of these two coming together was quite marvelous to watch.

Koushiro, Zeff, tsk, if another Lei... Kaido came, the teachers of the Straw Hat Pirates' big three would all be gathered at once.

"By the way, Lord Siano."

Zeff pulled Siano outside again and, from somewhere, brought out a large bag of treasure.

"Take these; if you exchange them for money, it should be at least fifty or sixty million Berries. I've kept some for myself, which is enough for daily ingredient purchases."

Fifty or sixty million Berries?

Siano glanced at the large bag of treasure.

On the deserted island, Zeff had used this bag of things to deceive Sanji, making him mistakenly believe it was full of food.

And in the original timeline, Zeff later used this money to open the Baratie restaurant, right?

Thinking of the four hundred million Berries he had in the Loguetown bank, he thought for a moment and shook his head.

"No need, Uncle Zeff, you keep it all. I really don't lack money; just consider it my contribution to help these children in the dojo eat well and be full without worrying about nutrition for the next few years."

"Especially those two."

Siano pointed at Kuina and Zoro and smiled:

"In the future, they might be my crew members, so you can be a little biased and take care of them. I hope that when they go to sea with me in the future, their bodies will be as strong as an ox... no, as strong as me."

Zeff followed his gaze to Siano's exaggeratedly strong physique and was immediately amused, laughing out loud.

"Fine! Don't worry, with me guarding the kitchen, when you go to sea, I will definitely return two crew members as plump and strong as you!"

"Or perhaps, more than two?"

"Hmm?" Zeff was stunned.

Siano blinked and said with a grin, "I'm saying, Uncle, continuing to be a chef is ultimately just your second-best choice, right? Isn't your biggest dream always to continue roaming the Grand Line and pursue that blue sea of your dreams?"

"You mean... you want me to come aboard your ship when the time comes?"

Zeff was slightly taken aback, and there seemed to be some movement in his eyes.

But after looking down at his prosthetic limb, he sighed in the end:

"Forget it, the Grand Line of the future belongs to you young people; with the little strength I have left, I'd better not hold you back."

After all, he was a man who had been a captain.

It wouldn't matter if he came aboard, but if he became a dead weight at the bottom of the ship's strength, unable to help in battle—

Then his self-esteem would be completely unable to accept it.

"Uncle, I can understand your feelings, but what if..." Siano stroked his chin, "I have a way to completely heal your leg?"

"..."

Zeff froze, and then a brilliant light erupted in his eyes, his voice even trembling slightly with excitement.

"Really? Is there really a way? I lost my entire leg; what medical skill could reach such a level..."

Siano shook his head: "It's not necessarily medical skill; in any case, I can't do it yet, but I definitely will in the future. How about this, Uncle Zeff, let's set a deadline."

He held up four fingers, "Let's use the day I go to sea as the boundary, maybe within four or five years? When the time comes, I will come to the Isshin Dojo; as long as I can help you completely repair this leg, you will come aboard with us, how about that?"

He was very confident in fulfilling this promise.

After all, the things that could be refreshed in the system trading market were truly varied.

Even things like planetary engines could be found, so what was repairing a leg?

He was only thirteen years old now.

Going to sea didn't necessarily have to wait until adulthood, but it would have to be at least sixteen or seventeen.

With such a long time in between, the trading market refreshed once a month; unless he was truly the unluckiest person in the world, how could he not find a way!

"Fine, let's do as you say!"

Zeff finally made up his mind, held out a pinky finger, and grinned: "Then let's pinky swear?"

Siano: "?"

No.

Why do you locals in the East Blue, regardless of age, like pinky swearing so much?

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PS: Thanks to "I have a billion ideas" for the 500-point reward support.

There will be another update in the afternoon; there are restrictions during the new book period before it goes on the shelves, so I can only maintain two updates a day. Please forgive me, I will add more updates after it goes on the shelves.

(End of this chapter)