Late at night.
Griffin walked into Zephyr's office.
It was already very late, but Zephyr was still working on the training plans for the cadets.
...
"What are you doing here."
Zephyr didn't turn around, his voice cold and detached.
As if not noticing the distance in Zephyr's words, Griffin leaned in to look at Zephyr's notes, chattering away: "Too light. I think Doll's training load could be increased a bit."
"As for Sideke... forget it. No talent and no perseverance. We should transfer him to a desk job someday."
"Xilin... she has talent. Looking at this chart, her recent training performance has been dropping sharply."
"This..."
"Shut up!!"
Zephyr snapped the pencil in his hand, turning around to roar: "Are you the instructor or am I? Since when do you get to comment!!"
Griffin clasped his hands behind his back, smiling: "Old man, why so angry? It's been so long since we last met, you could at least greet your beloved disciple."
"Hmph! I don't have such a lazy disciple! Besides having thick skin, you have no other virtues!"
"Well, at least that counts as having some virtue." Griffin moved closer, speaking softly.
"Teacher Zephyr, I know you blame me for getting involved with the Seven Warlords of the Sea matter."
...
Zephyr took another pen from the pen holder and continued writing: "Nothing to blame. Uchiha Griffin, I have nothing left to teach you. Special permission to graduate."
Swish—
The officer training graduation certificate signed with Zephyr's name was handed over, but Griffin didn't take it.
"Such a stubborn old man..."
Griffin retreated and sat on the office sofa: "Teacher Zephyr, at your level, you should understand the reasons behind the Five Elders proposing the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"Claiming it's to deal with the Great Pirate Era and compensate for the Marines' insufficient manpower..."
"Actually, it's because the higher-ups fear the increasingly powerful Marines, worried that I might slip from their control. It's just a forced balancing measure."
"So... wouldn't it be better if I made the selection rather than leaving it to the World Government?"
Zephyr's expression turned severe, his powerful Observation Haki rapidly expanding.
After a moment, he spoke in a deep voice: "Watch your words, brat!!"
...
Griffin leaned forward, speaking seriously: "Many people understand this matter, including our Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"But for the sake of the bigger picture, he can't defy the Five Elders' decision."
"Ordinary Marines can act according to their own justice, but the higher you climb, the less you can act according to your own wishes."
"Even Vice Admiral Garp, even... you!"
...
...
Zephyr stopped writing, his voice cold: "What exactly are you trying to say!"
Griffin's gaze burned intensely: "Some things couldn't be said back then, but now..."
"Teacher Zephyr, don't you find it strange?"
"Why were pirates able to break through the strict defenses of the family quarters and precisely locate your family to kill them?"
Boom!!!!
The desk was slammed against the wall by a powerful shockwave, papers turning to dust.
Thud—
Griffin was pressed deep into the sofa, Zephyr's thick arm pressing against his throat, fingers gradually tightening.
"Don't say anymore... brat!!"
Zephyr's face was contorted, veins bulging on his arm.
A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Griffin's mouth as he smiled faintly. "If you truly meant it, I'm certain I'd have lost consciousness by now..."
"All... Teacher Zephyr..."
"I've started to hold some meaning for you, haven't I...?"
Crack—
His knuckles tightened, and Zephyr's face grew increasingly contorted.
"Griffin... shut up..."
...
Contrary to Zephyr's wishes, the blood rising in Griffin's throat didn't silence him.
"Zephyr!!"
"Face reality!!"
"You're nothing but a coward who knows the truth yet dares not resist!!!"
The furious roar erupted with bloody spittle, staining Zephyr's face with specks of crimson.
...
...
Zephyr's trembling fingers gradually unclenched, his chest heaving violently as his breathing grew labored.
"Huff— Huff—"
Amidst the unbearably heavy breaths, Zephyr clutched his chest tightly until a medicine bottle was offered before his eyes.
After taking several sharp inhales, Zephyr's thunderous breathing gradually steadied.
His bloodshot eyes behind the sunglasses fixed intently on Griffin. "Then... what can you possibly do!!"
Zephyr leaned back against the chair, his figure appearing lonely and desolate.
"Facing a behemoth that has ruled the world for eight hundred years, any resistance is futile..."
"Those who dominated the seas, harboring ambitions to become king of the world—they failed."
"Roger, who conquered the Grand Line and was hailed as the Pirate King by the world—he failed."
"Garp couldn't do it, Sengoku couldn't do it... what... can I possibly do..."
...
...
Wiping the blood from his lips, Griffin spoke calmly. "But you're already doing it."
"Despite knowing the darkness within the upper echelons, you're willing to abandon revenge and pass on your justice to the new generation of Marines."
"No matter what..."
"Isn't it admirable for a man to uphold his convictions throughout his life?"
...
He stood up, gazing at Zephyr who sat slumped and powerless.
"Teacher Zephyr, do you remember what I said when we first met?"
"Just because others couldn't accomplish something doesn't mean I can't."
"Watch closely..."
"I will be the one to end it all."
Crack—
In the silence, the explosive roar of Conqueror's Haki erupted like thunder cleaving through clouds, heralding a certain transformation.
...
...
Griffin slowly walked toward the door, pausing to glance back.
"Occasionally, have a little faith in your disciple, Teacher Zephyr..."
...
...
Zephyr watched the graduation document drifting slowly through the air, his gaze settling on the innocent smiling face in the trainee photo section.
So that's it...
Meaning...
A faint smile inadvertently touched Zephyr's lips.
And you're no different.
Someone who appears kind and warm to everyone, yet colder inside than anyone—to think you'd actually care about this old man's feelings...
—
—
—
Unknown waters.
Under the gloomy sky, a crystalline ice path stretched across the sea, shimmering faintly.
Ding-a-ling...
A bicycle traveled across the frozen sea, a rope tied to its rear seat.
The other end of the rope was attached to a sled.
Kuzan, pedaling the bicycle, turned his head and spoke wearily. "Lady Miya Gong, you could have gone ahead on your own. This is really tiring for me."
On the sled sat a stunningly beautiful woman with long black hair and a slender figure, a short-handled knight's lance resting beside her.
"Don't say that. It's rare to have a chance to act alone—I really wanted to spend time with you, Vice Admiral Kuzan."
The woman known as Miya Gong smiled faintly, a charm captivating enough to make countless hearts flutter.
Unfortunately, Kuzan across from her remained unmoved.
"Whatever... I'm going to sleep when we reach the next island."
...
After a while, Miya Gong spoke again.
"Hey, Kuzan, a man of your strength is wasted in the Marines. Why not become my Retainer?"
Kuzan replied expressionlessly: "Too troublesome. I refuse."
"Eh~ Won't you really reconsider? This is the only chance for non-nobles to join the World Nobles~ I accepted immediately back then!"
"Please think about it some more!"
...
"Too troublesome. No."
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