Red-Foot Zeff

A big head and a thick neck mean you're either rich or a cook.

Red-Foot Zeff's neck was indeed thick, and his head was normal, just gaunt and emaciated.

Looking at the skull-like profile, Xianuo observed carefully for a while before he could barely match the face with the one in his memory.

So miserable, I wonder how long he's been starving... In the original timeline, it seems Zeff and Sanji, this father and son pair, were rescued after 85 days. I should have arrived earlier, right?

Xianuo thought for a moment, then bent down and casually picked up a pile of food from the ship, walking towards Zeff.

He had taken over a million in cash from the secret room. When leaving Asagiri Island, he had been generous and specifically stocked up on tens of thousands of Berries worth of food.

He thought he had bought too much, that two people wouldn't finish it in a month, but he didn't expect it to be useful now.

"Junyi." He hadn't forgotten Sanji either, and instructed, "Grab some food too, and go look around nearby to see if anyone else is here. If there is, rescue them."

"Understood, boss!"

The wind and rain grew stronger.

He was almost at his destination when Zeff finally vaguely sensed footsteps behind him.

"Hey, kid..."

Zeff continued to stare into the distance, his eyes under his bangs seeming to be covered by a shadow. "Why are you here? Didn't we agree? One of us watches this side, and you call me when a ship comes..."

Smack!

A bag of food was tossed out, rolling down the rocky slope to Zeff's feet. The old man glanced over at the sound, startled, his eyes fixed and unable to move away.

"Bread?"

He instinctively reached out, then suddenly stopped, forcing himself to swallow and sitting up straight with a cold laugh. "What, you think I didn't give you enough food again and came to ask for more?"

"Didn't I tell you? I'm an adult, my stomach is several times bigger than yours, so of course I need several times the food! I don't even have enough for myself, so don't even think about me sharing food with you!"

Several black lines appeared on Xianuo's forehead.

Damn it, this old geezer, who is he being tsundere for? Don't I know that bulging bag next to you is filled with treasure?

You have time to drool secretly and fight your inner demons, why not turn around and look at who this handsome guy is?

He suddenly felt mischievous and didn't speak immediately. Instead, he continued to toss the food in his hands one by one.

Smack!

"Cookies?" Zeff was surprised.

Smack!

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

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Dried meat, chocolate bars, compressed rice balls... even fruits like tangerines and bananas. Xianuo threw them faster and faster, and soon, a small mountain of food piled up in front of Zeff.

"...This, this..."

Zeff was speechless. Even the most foolish person would realize by now that the one who could produce so much food could not possibly be Sanji.

Gurgle, gurgle~

His empty stomach let out a sound.

Zeff suddenly tore open a bag of bread and began to eat ravenously, wolfing down a large bag of bread in a few bites, then immediately grabbing the next bag.

"Cough... cough cough!"

A clump of bread, swollen by saliva, suddenly got stuck in his throat. Zeff pounded his chest, the sound muffled against his bony ribs.

"Here, take this."

Xianuo handed him a water bottle. The old man immediately tilted his head back and gulped, the murky water mixed with bread paste flowing down his beard, it was unclear if tears were mixed in.

After drinking the water, Xianuo took the bottle back and tossed another can of luncheon meat.

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

The old man held the can high, looking at it again and again. "It's real food, what a wonderful aroma and taste..."

Crack! Zeff's fingernails dug directly into the can, prying it open with one hand.

He didn't notice his tiger's mouth being cut by the lid as he scooped out the dark red meat chunks and stuffed them into his mouth, swallowing greedily, his narrowed eyes filled with enjoyment.

"Slow down, don't choke again."

Xianuo sighed softly and sat down on a large rock behind him.

Suddenly, he felt something uncomfortable under his butt. He reached down and felt around, pulling out a dirty, severed foot that was already rotting and festering, emitting a foul stench.

"..."

Xianuo gagged, almost throwing it into the sea. But he quickly realized something. He glanced at Zeff, who was still desperately eating, and quietly activated the Sacrifice.

[Sacrifice: "Red-Foot" Zeff's severed foot]

[Quality: Epic]

[Value: 2000 points]

[Appraisal Comment: The severed leg of the Great Pirate Red-Foot Zeff. He once shook the East Blue with his exquisite leg techniques, ventured through the Grand Line for a year and managed to retreat unscathed. After being stranded on a deserted island, he gave all his food to Sanji, and then cut off his own right leg to eat. Sanji was saved because of this. Zeff knew he was no longer qualified to continue adventuring at sea and passed on the dream of pursuing the All Blue to Sanji.]

The part above the ankle is gone, likely eaten by Zeff himself.

The remaining part has rotted and spoiled, but it's good for recycling, providing him with a considerable sum of points.

Xianuo didn't immediately close the system panel, but stared at the appraisal comment, unusually silent for a while.

"This thing..."

He suddenly smiled, extending his empty right hand, letting the rainwater wash away the grime on his palm. "Speaking of which, it tricked quite a few tears out of me back then."

A famous scene from a distant memory suddenly replayed before him.

This feeling was quite peculiar.

After the rainwater washed his hand clean, Xianuo turned his head and saw that the small pile he had made was already more than half gone.

Zeff had stopped eating at some point, holding a half-eaten rice ball in one hand and resting his forehead on the other. His back was to Xianuo, and his body was trembling.

Why is he crying?

"Shameful, shameful..."

Sensing his gaze, Zeff turned his head. He was grinning broadly, yet tears streamed uncontrollably down his face. "Benefactor, this is the best meal I've ever eaten in my life. I really thought I was going to die, that I was done for..."

Zeff suddenly flipped over and, in the pouring rain, knelt down, banging his head hard towards Xianuo.

When he got up, his forehead was red and swollen, but the old man seemed oblivious, continuing to bang his head down forcefully.

"No need, no need."

Xianuo quickly reached out, trying to help the old man up. "It's not fair if only you kowtow, I haven't even thanked you for these two thousand points you gave me for free!"

"Benefactor, and a companion! I have a companion!"

But Zeff remained kneeling, grabbing Xianuo's pant leg and pleading, "There's a blond kid here too, on this reef. He's been starving for tens of days like me. Please, Benefactor, save him too!"

How has this old man starved for so long yet his grip is still so terrifying? Xianuo felt his pants were about to be pulled off and quickly tugged them up.

"It's alright, I came with my companions too. Don't worry. Just before I arrived, I had him take some food to look for other survivors. He should find the kid you're talking about soon."

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

Zeff finally seemed relieved, sitting back down on the ground. He glanced gratefully at Xianuo before burying his head and continuing to eat ravenously.

Xianuo, meanwhile, turned back towards the direction where the ship had run aground, feeling a bit puzzled.

Wait...

Where's Sanji?

What is Junyi even doing? This reef is so small, how can it be so difficult to find a living person? There's been no news for so long?

"Uh, boss?"

Just then, Junyi's somewhat guilty voice came through. "Can you come here for a sec?"

"What is it?"

Xianuo immediately got up and walked towards the figure appearing in his sight. "Did you find him?"

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

Junyi gave a dry laugh and pulled Xianuo along to the side of the boat.

Under Xianuo's bewildered gaze, Junyi swallowed, squatted down, and strained with all his might to lift the boat up a few centimeters, revealing a thin figure in a chef's uniform underneath.

"Here, I found him. It's just, he's a bit flat..."