"Hello there, Mr. Zephyr," Grimm said, looking at the old warrior who stood frozen in thought.
"I've been wondering these past few days — are you really a pirate?" Zephyr asked, his tone calm and steady.
"A pirate?" Grimm let out a soft laugh.
"Anyone who goes against the interests of the World Government gets a bounty placed on their head — and anyone with a bounty is usually called a pirate."
"I see… I understand now," Zephyr replied, his composure returning. He glanced back over his shoulder.
"So what is it you want from me?"
While he no longer felt the same intense hatred toward Grimm, there was still a barrier in his heart — the fact that Grimm was labeled a pirate, and the last faint thread of hope he still held for the World Government and the Marines.
"Come with me to my residence. There is something I want you to see."
---
The two sat across from each other at a small round table.
Bruuuu‑bruuu‑bruuu…
As they settled in, a small Den Den Mushi resting on Grimm's left side began to ring.
With its curved frame, sharp‑angled red‑lensed glasses, and tiny pink feathered cape, it instantly reminded Zephyr of Donquixote Doflamingo — the man who had joined Grimm in seizing the Heavenly Tribute, and who now held a seat among the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Grimm smiled and lifted the receiver. Doflamingo's familiar voice and laughter came through clearly: "It's me. All preparations are complete — I am ready to take over the Kingdom of Sius."
Zephyr's expression tightened. Sius, much like Dressrosa, was not a famous nation, but it was large in territory and stood out prominently at the entrance to the New World.
Unaware that the former Marine Admiral was listening in, Doflamingo continued laying out his plan.
"I will strike in two weeks. Before then, I ask that you withdraw any of your ships patrolling these waters — to avoid unnecessary conflict."
"And what do I gain from this?" Grimm asked bluntly.
"Northeast of Sius lies an island called Green Bit. There lives a very interesting race of people. If we use them properly, they can bring us enormous wealth."
The Den Den Mushi perfectly mimicked Doflamingo's tone and expression as he added, "It would be beneficial for your position as well, wouldn't it?"
Click.
Grimm hung up the receiver. Green Bit… that's just the home of the Dwarves, reachable from the broken bridge outside Dressrosa. He thinks he can fool me? I've read the original story, after all.
But that was not what mattered now — what mattered was the look on Zephyr's face.
Strangely enough, the man who had fought pirates for half a century found himself avoiding Grimm's gaze. He clenched his fists, then lifted his chin and spoke firmly:
"A Warlord attacking and seizing a kingdom is a direct violation of the agreement. I will inform the Marines immediately to arrest him and strip him of his title."
For Zephyr to say this proved that he still clung to the slightest hope that the World Government would uphold its own rules.
While the Seven Warlords were officially recognized pirates, their authority was limited.
What Doflamingo planned was clearly against the terms of their arrangement — and Zephyr was determined to see him stripped of his privileges.
"Will it really be that simple?" Grimm asked with a hint of mockery.
"If Doflamingo succeeds in taking over, what do you think the Government will actually do?"
Zephyr frowned, not catching the deeper meaning behind the question. "Naturally, they will launch an investigation at once and drive him out."
"Then let's make a little bet. I say that once Doflamingo takes control, the Government will not waste time investigating at all — instead, they will turn a blind eye, and perhaps even place him on the throne as their chosen king…"
"That is impossible!" Zephyr shouted sharply.
"Then go and see for yourself. He said he will move in two weeks — you can still make it there in time."
Zephyr's clenched fists trembled. With a violent sweep of his arm, he turned and stormed away.
He refused to believe it, could not bring himself to believe it.
If what had happened to him personally was just bad luck, then what did it say about the cause he had served for half his life if the Government ignored an entire nation being stolen by a pirate?
For the first time, Zephyr felt true fear.
"Is this the final breaking point of his faith?" Grimm murmured to himself once Zephyr was gone.
A moment later, he called out to his men: "Recall all our ships currently sailing the New World."
"Understood, Captain — we'll do it right away!"
---
Using a small, fast‑powered vessel, Zephyr traveled for nearly ten days, racing from Artemis to the Kingdom of Sius, located south of Dressrosa.
Like the old Dressrosa, it was vast in territory yet desperately poor.
"In two weeks, I will take Sius."
"And I say the Government will help him sit on the throne."
Zephyr gritted his teeth as he recalled Doflamingo's words and the bet with Grimm.
He anchored his boat near the shore and climbed the stone steps leading up to the island.
"Take over a kingdom? What nonsense!"
Still dressed in plain civilian clothes, he looked like nothing more than a sturdy, weather‑beaten old man.
Having stepped back from active duty years ago, no one in the country recognized him — and with no Marine presence here, there was no one to identify him anyway.
"This nation is far poorer than Grimm's territory. Are its people even going hungry?"
He thought to himself as soon as he passed through the city gates and took in his surroundings.
As he walked deeper into the town, he began to hear conversations all around him and saw many damaged buildings and wooden houses — the result of a powerful storm that had swept through only two days earlier.
Clang, clang, clang!
Outside a shop, several workers held a ladder steady while a man on the roof hammered nails back into the shop's sign.
Just then, a unit of royal soldiers marched past, their leather uniforms similar in style to those once worn in Dressrosa.
"We've come to lend a hand!" one of them called out.
The workers were caught off guard and quickly waved them away.
"No, no — this is just a small matter. We could never trouble the Royal Army!"
"It is no trouble. This is a command from King Riku himself," the officer replied, then nodded to his men.
Before long, the soldiers were joining the townsfolk, lifting planks and hauling timber alongside them.
"From King Riku II?"
"Truly the greatest ruler Sius has ever known!"
"Even if times are hard, we will find a way to get by."
"Ah, but with pirates running wild and the Government doing nothing… if only we could trade our iron ore freely, we would never be this poor."
__________________
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