"Grandson?"
Trafalgar Law raised an eyebrow at the way Zephyr addressed him, confusion plainly written across his face.
"Eh, that's what Sengoku told me."
Zephyr waved the matter off as if it were nothing, grabbed Law by the arm, and immediately dragged him forward.
"Quit standing around. I heard you're a damn good doctor, so come take a look at this. We've been growing it for months—tell me whether it's finally ready for transplantation."
He pointed toward the row of enormous cultivation tanks ahead.
Law followed his gaze.
The equipment had originally been used by Caesar for cloning Ancient Giants, but inside one of the transparent tanks now floated a muscular human arm, gently suspended in pale green nutrient fluid.
That arm was the reason Zephyr and the others had remained on Punk Hazard for so long.
When Kuzan first discovered the intact cultivation equipment, his first thought hadn't been to destroy it or report it to Marine Headquarters. Instead, he had immediately remembered the empty sleeve hanging from Teacher Zephyr's shoulder.
If this technology could somehow give his teacher back what he had lost…
The thought took root and eventually became the project in front of them.
Zephyr, however, had opposed the idea from the beginning.
"Stop wasting your time on useless nonsense."
On that day, Zephyr had stood with his back to Kuzan, his voice low and heavy.
"I don't need another arm for whatever remains of this old life."
Then he turned, removed his sunglasses, and looked directly at his former student.
For perhaps the first time in years, Kuzan saw clearly what had been hidden behind those lenses.
Rage.
Hatred.
Self-blame.
And an unwillingness to accept what had happened that burned so fiercely it almost seemed capable of consuming him.
"You think an arm is what I lost?"
Zephyr's voice hardened.
"What I lost was my mercy toward pirates. I lost my naive expectations of this world, and the stupid belief that justice would always be upheld simply because it was right."
He stared at Kuzan.
"You can't transplant any of that back into me."
After saying that, Zephyr pulled out his medicine, took several breaths from it, and strode toward the exit. His steps paused briefly at the doorway, and when he spoke again, his voice suddenly sounded much older.
"Don't waste your time, Kuzan."
The door closed behind him.
Kuzan remained standing in front of the cultivation tank for a long while.
The green light from the nutrient fluid reflected across his face, and it was difficult to tell whether what held him there was determination or sheer stubbornness.
In the end, he didn't leave.
Instead, Kuzan settled on Punk Hazard. He had Zephyr's scientific unit take over the operation and study of Caesar's cultivation equipment, continuing the process of growing the replacement arm while he quietly searched for an opportunity to change his teacher's mind.
At the same time, he contacted Sengoku, explained the situation, and asked him to find some excuse to keep Zephyr stationed on the island.
There was a long silence on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
Eventually, Sengoku answered with only two words.
"All right."
From then on, Kuzan visited the cultivation chamber every day.
The arm slowly developed inside the nutrient fluid, beginning as little more than an indistinct mass of cells before gradually forming bone, muscle, blood vessels, and eventually even a complete set of fingernails.
Zephyr continued walking past the laboratory every day as well.
He never once looked inside.
The stalemate lasted for months.
Then the broadcast from Totto Land shattered it.
Edward Weevil's face appeared on the screen.
Zephyr had only been passing by when his peripheral vision caught the image, but the instant he recognized that face, his entire body stopped.
His composure didn't crack gradually.
It was obliterated all at once.
Years of buried hatred ignited in an instant, burning through every restraint he had forced upon himself. Calm judgment, the larger picture, consequences—none of it mattered anymore.
Only one thing remained in his mind.
Revenge.
The thought wedged itself into the center of his consciousness and pushed everything else aside.
But Zephyr was old now, and his asthma had only worsened with age. Trying to hunt down Edward Weevil with his current body was almost impossible.
Which left only one path.
The arm.
By the time Zephyr truly came back to himself, one hand was already gripping Kuzan by the collar.
He didn't release him.
Instead, he asked directly,
"Is the thing in that tank ready to use?"
Kuzan stared at the fire burning in his teacher's eyes and found himself unable to feel happy.
He knew Zephyr too well.
This wasn't a calm decision made after careful thought.
It was hatred speaking.
If you gave strength back to someone whose vision had been completely consumed by revenge, that arm wouldn't be a gift.
It would be a curse.
"Teacher, in your current state—"
"I asked whether it's ready!"
Zephyr slammed his fist into the nearby counter hard enough to make the glass equipment tremble.
Kuzan remained silent for a long time.
In the end, he still refused to give an answer.
He needed to talk to someone.
Unfortunately, when Sengoku answered the Den Den Mushi, Kuzan barely made it halfway through explaining before the former Fleet Admiral exploded.
"Kuzan, has your damn brain frozen solid?!"
"If Zephyr wants the transplant, then give him the transplant! Wasn't this whole idea yours in the first place? Why are you suddenly losing your nerve now? What the hell are you hesitating for?!"
"Because I'm worried he's only saying this because hatred has taken over!"
Only then did Kuzan explain about Edward Weevil and just how furious Zephyr had become.
Sengoku fell silent.
This time, even he hesitated.
Then another voice cut in from nearby.
"He's a pirate."
Sakazuki.
Apparently, the current Fleet Admiral happened to be standing beside Sengoku, and his voice came through the Den Den Mushi hotter than magma.
"A pirate who killed Marine instructors and trainees."
"So what if Teacher Zephyr is blinded by hatred? What exactly is wrong with wanting revenge, Kuzan?"
His voice rose.
"Did I hit you so hard back then that I damaged your brain? What the hell is there to hesitate about?!"
After several more furious insults, Sakazuki simply made the decision himself.
"Enough nonsense. Arrange the surgery immediately. And while you're at it, get his asthma treated properly too."
His tone turned completely uncompromising.
"This isn't your decision to make, Kuzan."
"Teacher Zephyr is a Marine. I am the Fleet Admiral. You are nothing more than a pirate hunter."
"So regarding this matter, you have no authority to interfere."
Click.
Sakazuki hung up.
Kuzan stared at the silent Den Den Mushi and sighed.
And that was how things reached their present state.
Kuzan had repeatedly asked Zephyr whether he was absolutely certain, checking his resolve so many times that his cautiousness barely resembled his usual personality.
It was also why Trafalgar Law had been summoned all the way to Punk Hazard.
…
Now, after several months of cultivation, the arm inside the tank had finally developed completely.
Law stood before the chamber and carefully reviewed every indicator before using his ability to scan the internal structure, paying particular attention to the nerves and vascular connections.
Once he was satisfied, he removed his gloves and nodded.
"It's ready."
Preparations for surgery immediately began.
But shortly before the operation, Kuzan pulled Law into a quiet corner of the corridor and spoke to him in a lowered voice.
Law listened.
His expression changed several times—first a raised eyebrow, then a frown, and finally a long stare at Kuzan as though he were examining some particularly troublesome lunatic.
"You're sure?"
"Just in case."
Law stared at him for another few seconds before sighing.
His expression clearly said that cooperating with Kuzan was far more trouble than it was worth, but he eventually nodded.
…
Inside the operating room, Zephyr lay on the table in a hospital gown and fitted his own oxygen mask with practiced ease.
He looked completely accustomed to the routine.
His eyes swept over the neatly arranged surgical equipment before settling on Kuzan, who was changing into sterile clothing.
Zephyr had just opened his mouth to say something when a biting chill suddenly touched his wrist.
Click.
The sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet operating room.
Zephyr looked down sharply.
A Seastone cuff was locked firmly around his left wrist, with the other end attached to the metal railing of the operating table.
"…Kuzan."
His voice immediately dropped.
"What the hell is the meaning of putting Seastone cuffs on me?"
"Ara ara, nothing special."
Kuzan answered with infuriating calm.
"Just a precaution in case you go berserk."
"What?!"
Zephyr pushed himself halfway upright, brows furrowing as veins throbbed across his forehead.
"What kind of bullshit are you talking about? I'm here for a transplant! Why the hell would I go berserk? Explain yourself!"
"Because he's worried the first thing you'll do after waking up is beat the hell out of me."
A calm voice came from the other side of the table.
Law had already taken position beside Zephyr, his long fingers resting on the anesthetic control valve as he looked down through his protective glasses.
There was the relaxed confidence of a surgeon in his eyes, along with something much harder to read.
"Actually, old man, there's something I should clear up before we start."
The corner of Law's mouth lifted slightly as he slowly turned the valve.
Clear anesthetic began dripping silently through the line.
"You called me 'Sengoku's grandson' earlier."
His tone remained completely casual.
"And in a certain sense, that isn't entirely wrong."
Zephyr's eyelids were already beginning to grow heavy, but he continued glaring stubbornly at the young man standing beside him.
Law leaned down slightly, an almost imperceptible smile visible beneath his goggles.
"But there's one thing you misunderstood."
"I'm a pirate."
"Not a Marine."
"Wha—?!!!"
Zephyr's pupils contracted violently.
The roar had barely begun rising from his throat when the anesthetic flooded through his bloodstream.
He stared furiously at Law, his expression mixing rage at being deceived, shock at having been kept completely in the dark, and the final remnants of what was probably a very creative insult.
Then, with all that anger still unspent, Zephyr fell completely unconscious.
The surgical lights burned brightly overhead, leaving not a single shadow anywhere in the room.
Law straightened, flexed his wrist, and looked toward Kuzan, who had remained silent throughout the entire exchange.
His voice returned to the perfectly businesslike tone of a doctor.
"Just so we're clear—"
"The surgery fee is separate."
…
Meanwhile, back in Totto Land—
Having finally survived another round of Big Mom's questioning, Caesar had barely begun to relax when he saw her standing before the Ancient Giant specimen, which had now grown beyond forty meters tall.
Linlin looked up at the enormous body with obvious satisfaction before lowering her gaze toward the comparatively tiny Caesar below.
"Mamamama! Caesar, I have to admit—you did an excellent job."
Her smile widened.
"You helped me fulfill a dream I've had for my entire life. Naturally, that means I should give you an appropriate reward."
Caesar immediately waved both hands, plastering a flattering smile across his face.
"N-No, no! Really! As long as you're willing to overlook those previous expenses of mine, I'm already incredibly grateful!"
Of course, his real thoughts were considerably different.
If he could squeeze even more money out of Big Mom, he could go right back to drinking, partying, and living however he pleased.
Even better, he would have the protection of one of the Four Emperors far more securely than he ever had during their previous arrangement.
Naturally, Caesar wasn't stupid enough to say any of that aloud.
His immediate priority was getting out of this terrifying place alive, so politeness came first.
Big Mom seemed satisfied by his answer.
"Don't worry. I'll forget about the money you wasted before."
Caesar's eyes lit up.
Then Linlin suddenly bent down and scooped him into one enormous hand.
Drool trickled from the corner of her mouth as barely contained excitement entered her voice.
"But…"
"You made such a huge son for me, and Mama couldn't be happier."
"So—"
Cold sweat instantly drenched Caesar's body.
Every alarm in his head began screaming.
'What is this?! Is she going to kill me so I can't leak the secret? Is she planning to keep me here as a slave forever?!'
He was still trembling through increasingly horrifying possibilities when Big Mom continued,
"Since you created this child, wouldn't it be most appropriate for you to become his father?"
"…What?"
Caesar stared at her in disbelief.
His mind went completely blank.
Big Mom's smile became radiant.
"Caesar."
"Become my forty-fourth husband."
Crack.
It felt as though lightning had struck Caesar directly through the skull.
The money he wanted.
The powerful backer he had dreamed of.
The protection of one of the Four Emperors.
Technically, he had gotten all of it.
But this wasn't remotely how the scenario had played out in his imagination!
Seeing Caesar frozen stiff in her palm, Big Mom affectionately rubbed one huge finger over his head.
"Mamamama! So excited you can't even speak?"
"Don't worry. I won't demand anything unreasonable from you."
"All you need to do from now on…"
"is give me plenty more giant children just like this one!"
'THAT'S NOT REASSURING AT ALL!!!'
Caesar screamed in despair inside his own head.