Chapter 30: The Agreement to Board

About an hour later, breakfast was served.

In a small place like Shimotsuki Village, ingredients were naturally scarce. Zeff had already sent Zoro to buy whatever was available at the local market, which amounted to only a few basic types. Yet, in Zeff’s hands, these humble ingredients seemed to undergo a magical transformation, turning the mundane into the extraordinary.

Plates filled with enticingly colored and fragrant dishes were brought to the table one after another. The children at the dojo, crowded around the long wooden table, had their eyes wide with anticipation even before they began to eat. The clinking of bamboo chopsticks against bowls was accompanied by a chorus of exclamations: "It smells so good!", "Wow, I can’t take it anymore!", and "I can't stop drooling!"

When Zeff finally announced that they could begin, the scene descended into chaos. After all, they were just growing children; while they initially remembered the dining etiquette taught by Koshiro, the food was simply too delicious, triggering their primal instinct to guard their meals. They scrambled and snatched at the food like starving ghosts.

Shano found himself unable to push to the front for a moment. Not wanting to compete with the youngsters, he retreated to a corner and served himself a bowl of fish congee, the dish that seemed the least popular.

He took a sip; the creamy, white rice porridge carried the translucent, tender fish slices down his throat. The scallions and ginger balanced the briny taste perfectly, creating a smooth and exquisite texture that was so flavorful it felt like his eyebrows were dancing. He paired it with some of the side dishes, which were crisp and refreshing—the perfect accompaniment to the congee.

He couldn't help but squint his eyes in enjoyment. Is this what a professional chef is like, being able to make even the most ordinary rice porridge and pickles taste this good? Belle-mere’s cooking was already excellent, but compared to Zeff, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.

*Perhaps I should...* Shano looked at Zeff, deep in thought.

Nearby, Zoro was devouring his food, looking as if he wanted to swallow the table along with it. The resentment he felt from being ordered around to do chores had long since vanished. If he could eat such delicious food every day, he would be happy to wash and chop vegetables forever!

"Old man!" he couldn't help but call out, turning his head. "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!"
The other children in the dojo joined in the clamor.

*These children have no idea how the world works,* Koshiro thought, shaking his head helplessly. A master chef of this caliber was far beyond what his small dojo could afford.

"Alright, enough noise. No more such unreasonable requests."

Just as Koshiro was about to speak softly, he suddenly froze. He remembered that before Zeff started cooking, he had specifically asked whether the dojo was in need of a chef.

"That's right, that's exactly what I meant," Zeff said with a laugh. "Mr. Koshiro, it seems the children really enjoy my cooking. How about you let me stay for a while? And of course, this kid too." He gently ruffled Sanji’s hair. "You brat, you say you want to find the All Blue, but you’re still at the level of a kitchen hand. How can someone who isn't even a real chef hope to chase that dream ocean?"

"You old geezer..."

Sanji pushed his hand away with a look of disdain, but suddenly realized something and looked up in surprise. "Wait? Does that mean you’re willing to teach me how to cook?"

"Don't count on it yet," Zeff curled his lip. "I’m very strict with official apprentices. If you don't show any promise, I'll kick you out in a heartbeat."

"Don't underestimate me, you old geezer!"

Koshiro coughed and said, "Master Zeff, for a man of your stature to be willing to stay at this dojo is truly an honor. I would welcome it, of course, but..."

The problem was that with the way they were consuming food today, the Isshin Dojo would likely go bankrupt in less than a month. If this were a year ago, he would have had enough saved, but after that night not long ago, he had donated all his funds to Dragon. He felt embarrassed and could not bring himself to say it aloud.

Zeff, however, sensed his predicament and laughed heartily. "Don't worry, I still have some savings. Don't worry about the expenses; from now on, I’ll cover all the ingredients for the Isshin Dojo!"

"That won't do!" Koshiro was shocked. It was the first time he had heard of someone paying to work.

"Enough! It’s decided!" Zeff laughed loudly. He didn't want to waste any more time on small talk. He gave Koshiro a firm pat on the shoulder, forcing the latter to swallow the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Shano watched the scene with amusement. It was quite a spectacle to see these two together. Koshiro, Zeff... *tsk*, if someone like Rayleigh or Kaido showed up, he’d have the teachers of the Straw Hat Pirates' top three combatants all in one place.

"By the way, Shano," Zeff pulled him outside and produced a large bag of treasure from somewhere. "Take this. It should be worth at least fifty or sixty million Berries. I kept some for myself, which is enough for daily ingredient procurement."

*Fifty or sixty million Berries?* Shano glanced at the bag. On the deserted island, Zeff had used this bag to trick Sanji, making him believe it was full of food. In the original timeline, wasn't this the money Zeff used to open the Baratie restaurant?

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

"No need, Zeff. Keep it all. I’m really not short on money. Consider this my contribution so that the children here can eat well and have proper nutrition for the next few years." He pointed to Kuina and Zoro and smiled. "Especially those two. They might be my crewmates in the future. You can show a little favoritism and take care of them. I hope that when they set sail with me, they’ll be as strong as an ox... no, as strong as me."

Zeff looked at Shano’s exaggeratedly muscular physique and was amused, laughing out loud. "Alright! Don't worry. With me in the kitchen, by the time you set sail, I’ll make sure to return two crewmates as burly and strong as you!"

"Or maybe, more than two?"

"Hmm?" Zeff paused.

Shano blinked and said with a grin, "I mean, Zeff, staying on as a chef is just a compromise, isn't it? Isn't your greatest dream still to continue venturing into the Grand Line and pursuing that blue ocean of your dreams?"

"You mean... you want me to join your ship when the time comes?" Zeff was slightly taken aback, his eyes showing a flicker of interest. But when his gaze dropped to his prosthetic leg, he sighed. "Forget it. The future of the Grand Line belongs to you young people. I’d better not be a burden with the little strength I have left."

He was, after all, a former captain. Joining the ship wouldn't be an issue, but if he became a dead weight—someone at the bottom of the strength hierarchy who couldn't help in a fight—his pride wouldn't allow it.

"I understand how you feel, but what if..." Shano touched his chin, "...I have a way to completely heal your leg?"

"..."

Zeff froze, then his eyes flashed with intensity, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "Really? Is there really a way? My whole leg is gone—what kind of medical skill could achieve that..."

Shano shook his head. "It’s not necessarily medical skill. I can't do it right now, but I definitely will in the future. Let’s set a deadline, Zeff." He held up four fingers. "Let’s base it on the day I set sail, maybe within four or five years? I’ll come back to the Isshin Dojo. If I can fully restore your leg, you’ll join us on our ship. How about that?"

He was confident in fulfilling this promise. After all, the things that could be found in the system trading market were truly diverse. If he could even see things like planetary engines, fixing a leg was nothing. He was only thirteen now. He didn't have to wait until he was an adult to set sail, but he would at least wait until he was sixteen or seventeen. With so much time in between, and the market refreshing every month, unless his luck was truly abysmal, there was no way he wouldn't find a solution.

"Alright, it's a deal!" Zeff finally made up his mind, extended his pinky, and grinned. "Shall we pinky swear?"

Shano: "?"

*Seriously? Why do you people in the East Blue love pinky swearing regardless of age?*