Chapter 23: Red Leg Zeff

Big head, thick neck—either a tycoon or a cook.

Red Leg Zeff's neck was indeed thick, but his head was normal; he was just skin and bones.

Gazing at that skull-like profile, Siano observed carefully for a while before barely matching the figure to the face in his memories.

Truly miserable; who knows how long he's been starving... In the original timeline, didn't Zeff and Sanji, that old man and young lad, hold out for 85 days before being rescued? I should have arrived much earlier, right?

Siano thought for a moment, bent down, casually scooped up a pile of food from the boat, and walked toward Zeff.

He had taken over a million in cash from the secret room and, when leaving Light Cherry Island, had splurged specifically to stockpile food worth tens of thousands of Berries.

He had thought he bought too much, enough that two people couldn't finish it in a month, never expecting it would come in handy now.

"Junichi," he said, not forgetting Sanji, "you take some food too, go check nearby for anyone else, and rescue them if you find any."

"Understood, Boss!"

The wind and rain grew heavier.

It was almost when he reached right in front of him that Zeff finally vaguely sensed the footsteps behind him.

"Hey, kid..."

Zeff still stared into the distance, his eyes beneath his bangs seeming veiled by a shadow, "Why are you here? Didn't we agree? One of us watches one side, and only call me if a ship comes..."

Slap!

A package of food was tossed out, rolling clatteringly down the rocky slope to stop at Zeff's feet; the old man glanced over at the noise, instantly stunned, his eyes fixed straight ahead, unable to look away.

"Bread?"

Just as his hand instinctively reached out, he suddenly halted, forcibly swallowed his saliva, sat up straight, and sneered, "What, do you think I gave you too little food again, so you've come to beg for more?"

"Didn't I already tell you? I'm an adult, my appetite is several times bigger than yours, so naturally I need several times more food! I don't even have enough for myself; don't you dare expect me to share any with you!"

Several black lines appeared on Siano's forehead.

Damn it, who is this stubborn old fool trying to impress with his tsundere act? Don't I know that the bulging bag beside him is filled entirely with treasure?

Instead of sitting there secretly drooling and waging an internal war of ideals, you might as well turn around and see exactly who this handsome guy that arrived is.

A mischievous impulse instantly arose in him; instead of speaking immediately, he continued to toss the food in his hands over one by one.

Slap!

"Cookie biscuits?" Zeff exclaimed in shock.

Slap!

"Canned luncheon meat?" The old man's eyes widened.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Dried cured meat, chocolate bars, compressed rice balls... even fruits like tangerines and bananas; Siano threw faster and faster, and within moments, a small mountain piled up before Zeff.

"... Th-this..."

Zeff could no longer speak; even a fool would realize by now that whoever could produce this much food could absolutely not be Sanji.

Gurgle, gurgle~

His empty stomach happened to make a noise at that exact moment.

Zeff suddenly tore open the bread bag and began eating mouthful after mouthful like a madman; in no time, a large bag of bread was down his throat, and he immediately grabbed the next one.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

A clump of dough swollen by saliva suddenly lodged in his throat; Zeff hammered fiercely at his chest, producing a dull thud against his jutting ribs.

"Here, catch."

Siano handed over a water flask; the old man immediately tilted his head back and gulped wildly, muddy water mixed with bread paste flowing down his beard, though whether tears were mixed in remained unknown.

After the water was finished, Siano took it back and tossed over another can of luncheon meat.

"It's food, it's food... it's food!!!"

The old man held the can high in his hand, examining it again and again, "It's real food, such an exquisite aroma and taste..."

Crack, Zeff's fingernails directly pierced into the can by force, prying it open with one hand.

He didn't even notice the lid cutting his Hukou; dark red chunks of meat were directly dug out and stuffed into his mouth, which he swallowed in great gulps, his narrowed eyes full of enjoyment.

"Take it slow, don't choke again."

Siano sighed lightly and sat down on the large rock behind him.

Suddenly his butt felt a bit uncomfortable; reaching back to grope, he pulled out a dirty, severed foot, already rotting and oozing pus, emitting a foul stench.

"..."

Siano dry-heaved, nearly throwing the thing into the sea, but soon realized something; glancing at Zeff, who was still frantically gorging himself, he quietly activated the Sacrifice.

【Sacrifice: "Red Leg" Zeff's Severed Foot】

【Quality: Epic】

【Value: 2000 Points】

【Appraisal Comment: The severed foot of the Great Pirate Red Leg Zeff, who once shook the East Blue with his exquisite leg techniques and ventured the Grand Line for a year yet emerged unscathed; after being stranded on a deserted island, he gave all the food to Sanji and chopped off his own right leg to eat instead. Sanji was thus saved, and Zeff, knowing he no longer qualified to roam the seas, passed the torch of his dream to pursue ALLBULE to Sanji.】

The part above the ankle was gone, estimated to have already been eaten clean by Zeff.

This remaining portion, rotten and spoiled, was perfectly suited for turning waste into treasure, providing him with a substantial sum of points.

Siano did not immediately close the system panel but stared at this passage in the appraisal comment, falling into a rare silence for quite a while.

"This thing..."

He suddenly smiled, extending his empty right hand to let the rain wash away the filth on his palm, "Come to think of it, it tricked quite a few tears out of me back in the day."

A famous scene from distant memories was suddenly reenacting itself right before his eyes.

This feeling was quite subtle.

Once the rain had washed his hands clean, Siano turned his head to look; the piled-up small mountain was already more than half gone.

Zeff had stopped eating at some point; clutching a half-eaten rice ball in one hand and pressing the other to his forehead, his back turned to him, his body trembled incessantly.

Why has he started crying?

"Ashamed, so ashamed..."

Sensing his gaze, Zeff turned his head; though he was grinning broadly, tears streamed down uncontrollably. "Benefactor, this is the finest meal I have ever eaten in my life. I truly thought I was going to die, that it was all over..."

Suddenly, Zeff flipped over, knelt in the pouring rain, and kowtowed sharply before Siano.

When he rose, his forehead was red and swollen, yet the old man seemed oblivious, immediately bowing his head again with force.

"There's no need, there's really no need."

Siano hastily reached out to help the old man up. It wouldn't be fair for you to be the only one bowing; I haven't even thanked you yet for those two thousand points you gave me for free!

"Benefactor, and companions... I still have a companion!"

But Zeff remained kneeling, tugging at his trouser leg and pleading, "There is another child, a little blonde boy, also on this reef. Like me, he has starved for dozens of days. I beg you, Benefactor, please save him too!"

How can this old man, having starved for so long, still possess such terrifying grip strength? Siano felt his trousers were about to be pulled right off and hurriedly yanked them up with all his might.

"It's fine. I came with a companion as well. Rest assured; just before arriving, I sent him with food to search for other survivors. He should find the child you mentioned very soon."

"That's good, that's good..."

Only then did Zeff feel relieved. He sat back down on the ground, cast a grateful glance at Siano, and immediately buried his head in his meal, continuing to eat in large mouthfuls.

Siano, meanwhile, turned to look toward the direction where they had run aground, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Wait a minute...

Where is Sanji?

What exactly is Junyi doing? This reef is barely the size of a fart; how can finding a living person be so difficult? Why has there been no movement for so long?

"Uh, Boss?"

Just then, Junyi's slightly guilty voice drifted over. "Could you come over here for a moment?"

"What is it?"

Siano immediately stood up and walked toward the figure appearing in his line of sight. "Did you find him?"

"... Well, it's not convenient to talk here. Come with me first."

Junyi gave a dry laugh, grabbed Siano, and led him all the way to the side of the boat.

Under Siano's bewildered gaze, he swallowed hard, squatted down, and exerted all his strength to lift the boat up a few centimeters, revealing a thin, small figure underneath wearing a chef's uniform.

"There he is. I found him, it's just... he's a bit flattened..."

(End of Chapter)