"Ah… still as strict as ever, I see. But you'd better think of how to handle those stuffy officials in Mary Geoise first. I'll be off now!"
With that, Borsalino vanished in a flash.
---
Two hours later, at the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
Inside the chamber of the Five Elders, Zephyr stood without his Marine uniform, wearing only his usual black tank top and trousers, a cigarette clamped between his teeth, and a look of utter disdain on his face.
Even Sengoku and Kong, standing beside him, were sweating profusely.
What had the most loyal and dedicated Marine in the entire organization seen during these three months of travel?
"Doflamingo has held the title of Warlord for less than half a year, and already he dares to seize an entire kingdom. I have to wonder how you choose your candidates. What's more — you once stood firm even against the Four Emperors, yet now you bow to every demand of a man like him. I've been curious about this for a long time."
Zephyr spoke with a scowl, smoke curling from his lips.
He looked nothing like the man he used to be — now he seemed more like a rough, unruly old rogue, a far cry from the upright, disciplined officer who once lived by the highest Marine ideals.
It was not just the Five Elders who were taken aback; even Kong and Sengoku, who had worked alongside him for decades, could not help but think: Is this really Zephyr standing before us?
"Zephyr, you are no longer the Marine's Chief Instructor, nor an Admiral. Allowing you to stand here at all is already an act of great leniency!" barked one of the Five Elders, marked by a birthmark on his forehead. "Now, explain your actions — that is all we require!"
"Explain what I did? I merely stopped a pirate who was trying to steal a nation."
Zephyr refused to back down. "Doflamingo has clearly violated the rules that govern the Warlords. He should be stripped of his title immediately."
The Five Elders' eyelids twitched sharply. The problem is that we can't remove him that easily, they thought.
If it were someone like Trafalgar Law or Gecko Moria — men with no powerful backing — they could be dismissed without a second thought.
"I see. So this will all be swept under the rug again, just like everything else."
Zephyr let out a cold snort, having no more patience for empty words. There were clearly too many hidden, unspoken reasons behind Doflamingo's actions.
"They will not only refuse to investigate him — they will even help him sit on the throne as king."
The words Grimm had spoken back in Artemis echoed in his mind.
"The World Government is nothing more than the largest pirate organization in the world."
It was hopeless — the Government was completely beyond saving.
"You hold as much respect among the troops as Garp does. Do you have any idea what this will do to the Marines' reputation?" Kong asked, as the two walked side by side.
Zephyr turned and met his gaze. After a long silence, he sighed deeply. "The Marines… are no different."
"I'm leaving."
He spoke only three words, but the final one carried all the weight of his decision. Sengoku immediately reached out to stop him. "Wait, Zephyr — hold on!"
"I am no longer Zephyr."
The old warrior turned his head slightly. "From now on… call me Z."
With that, he walked out. Sengoku made to follow, but the Five Elders called from behind: "Stand down, Sengoku. We have the World Summit to discuss next."
Sengoku's brow furrowed in frustration. His sense of duty held him back, and he reluctantly turned back around.
---
Back in his home at Marineford, Zephyr stared at the heavy Marine cloak hanging on the wall — the one he had worn during his time as the "Black‑Arm" Admiral.
When the Great Pirate Era had first begun and chaos had swept the seas, Kong had sent him this very cloak again, hoping he would return to his post.
The message was clear: the Marines wanted him back as Admiral.
Zephyr had refused, of course, but he could not bring himself to throw it away — so he had hung it there, as nothing more than a memento.
After staring at it for a long time, he suddenly took it down.
With a sharp stroke, he drew a thick cross over the emblem on the back, slicing right through the Marine seagull symbol — as if he was also piercing through the very idea of "justice" he had spent his whole life defending.
Whoosh!
The cloak fluttered through the air as he swung it around his shoulders once more, after thirty years. But the mark upon it now told a completely different story.
---
Several days later.
In the waters near the edge of the first half of the New World, just beyond Fish‑Man Island, Zephyr found several large ships of the Holy Light Fleet already waiting for him as he entered the area.
"You people…" Zephyr narrowed his eyes.
"Hello there, Mr. Zephyr — it's me again, here to welcome you."
Standing on the bow of the closest vessel, Jaina waved cheerfully.
Zephyr's face remained stern and silent. He knew they carried his Vivre Card — finding him was no difficult task.
Whoosh!
Jaina tossed a green glass bottle toward him. Zephyr caught it effortlessly — it was his favorite Jerez wine.
"Learned from last time — I didn't order the gangplank lowered this time."
Jaina pressed her palms together and gestured toward the ship's interior, inviting him aboard. "Welcome, Mr. Zephyr."
Crunch!
Zephyr squeezed the bottle until it shattered in his grip — it was already empty. He spat in disdain: "Pirates… Hmph!"
"Pirates? That is just a label the World Government has pinned on us. In this world, there will soon be no need for the Government, nor for pirates. There will only be the Great Lord of the Holy Light. We bring salvation to all people. Or are you still clinging to your old title as 'Marine Instructor'?"
At that moment, a strong gust of wind swept past, revealing the large cross drawn over the Marine emblem on the back of Zephyr's cloak.
Jaina's eyes widened, then lit up with a smile. "If you have already made up your mind, then all the better — Black‑Arm Zephyr."
She paused, then corrected herself: "No… from now on, you are the hero of this world — Z."
With that, she took a newspaper from one of her men and hurled it like a throwing knife toward the small boat Zephyr stood in.
Catching the spinning paper, Zephyr glanced at the headline:
THE HERO WHO SAVED SIUS FROM VILLAINY — Z
Beneath the title was a photograph of Zephyr and Doflamingo clashing amidst flames and smoke. Who had dared to take such a picture in the middle of battle was anyone's guess.
For a long moment, Zephyr said nothing. After half an hour of silence, he finally stepped onto the deck of the ship — and it would be quite some time before he set foot on land again.
---
"Is that really Zephyr?"
"No way!"
"Zephyr? Who's that?"
"You fool — don't you know him? He was the Marine who gave us so much trouble back in the day."
"Heh… I've heard of Marines turning pirate before, but never an Admiral!"
Back in the Kingdom of Artemis, word spread quickly. Though they had already seen him once before, the news that Zephyr might be joining their ranks sent the entire place into a frenzy.
Pirates, laborers, and ordinary citizens alike gathered around, crowding to catch a glimpse of him — just as they had swarmed to see Hancock when she first arrived.
__________________
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