chapter 54 part 1
Chapter 54: Zephyr, Your Disciple is About to Make a Name for Himself on the Seas!
"Boss, you know me. Everything I just said was just talk."
Master Sergeant Hannes, with a bruised nose and swollen face, grinned, his eyes clear.
"Reporting, Fleet Admiral Sengoku! I just heard Hannes secretly say something like, 'Thirty years East of the River, thirty years West of the River!'"
"Fal, you beast!"
He ignored his two subordinates, who were laughing and brawling again.
Loy's gaze fell on Huamu not far away and the Den Den Mushi beside her, but his heart remained calm.
In fact, the moment he heard Sengoku's voice coming from the Den Den Mushi,
Loy had already realized a few things.
Having spent so many years in the Marines, Loy naturally knew that the Seven Warlords of the Sea were certainly not benevolent figures, and their relationship with the Marines was by no means good — just from Loy's knowledge, situations where the original Seven Warlords directly attacked the Marines had happened more than once.
For example, Doflamingo attacked Smoker, Crocodile attacked Smoker, Trafalgar Law attacked Smoker...
"Tsk, thinking about it, that Smoker guy sure knows how to cause trouble!"
Muttering to himself, Loy quickly brought his thoughts back to the main point.
In short, he believed that no one in the Marines with a bit of seniority would truly consider the Seven Warlords of the Sea as one of their own.
And Sengoku, who had dealt with countless vile and evil Pirates throughout his life, was naturally even more so — especially after Huamu had actively attacked Loy.
So why would Sengoku personally intervene and protect Huamu?
The reason was actually not hard to guess.
Loy knew very well that although Sengoku was considered too lenient by many radical Marines, he had indeed made many compromises.
But from his decisive initiation of the Summit War in the original work, one could see this "Wise General's" determination to eliminate Pirates and end the Great Pirate Era.
He was a Marine with Justice in his heart.
His compromises were often merely because his perspective and vision were too grand.
In other words — he would only compromise for the sake of the true big picture.
So the question was, if Huamu was just one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, then she certainly wouldn't be considered part of the big picture.
But...
"If it's 'Hundred Beasts' Kaido... then it counts," Loy murmured in his heart.
As a transmigrator, he knew very well that Kaido of the "Four Emperors" actually had a cooperative relationship with the World Government.
The weapons produced in Wano Country, ruled by Kaido, were one of the key forces the World Government used to suppress the increasingly rampant rebel forces in recent years.
And as is well-known, 'Snail King' Huamu and Kaido were intimate — the former firmly believed Kaido would become the conqueror who would change the world, even entrusting her own pair of children to Kaido's care and upbringing, and the Ancient Zoan Type Devil Fruits and many other Zoan Type Devil Fruits within the Beast Pirates were all collected by Huamu for Kaido.
Therefore, Loy could clearly deduce the reason for Huamu becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"As a 'bridge' and 'spokesperson' for the government and the Beast Pirates' transactions."
Therefore, she couldn't die, at least not at the hands of the Marines.
Otherwise, not to mention Kaido's potential revenge, just the disruption of weapon supplies alone would plunge the entire world into even greater chaos.
This was the "big picture" that Sengoku valued.
So, what was Loy's opinion on this?
The answer was: he didn't care.
Since Moor and Lanster hadn't died, he had vented his anger, and Sengoku had also guaranteed that Huamu would never lay a hand on him again.
So, as long as Huamu was willing to pay a sufficient ransom for her life, Loy truly didn't care if the other party lived or died.
To be even more precise — if defeating Huamu meant dropping two Devil Fruits and two billion Beli, then he was willing for Huamu to come back and let him farm her until she went bankrupt.
Of course, Loy wouldn't foolishly believe a Pirate's promise.
So if Huamu went back on her word and still tried to cause trouble, what would he do?
The answer needed no elaboration.
"My Marine identity makes it inconvenient to deal with you, but the Twelve Star Generals are different."
At this thought, a flicker of coldness passed through Loy's eyes.
But at that very moment, he saw the Den Den Mushi seem to stop its communication with Huamu, and then...
"Lieutenant Commander Loy!"
Sengoku's voice became livelier.
Loy naturally walked over immediately and picked up the Den Den Mushi.
"How is it, Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"
"She agreed."
Sengoku said concisely, "Within one month, two Devil Fruits and two billion Beli will be delivered to Headquarters."
There was a hint of amusement in his words.
Just as Loy had predicted — although he had no choice but to protect Huamu for the sake of the big picture, he was still very satisfied to see the Marines fiercely extort a sum from a Pirate.
"Understood." Loy nodded.
Then, he hung up the Den Den Mushi.
He didn't look at Huamu again, turning to directly call out to Hannes and Fal: "Hey, you two, stop fighting! — If you want to fight, do it back on the battleship!"
"Hey!"
At this moment, Huamu, who had been ignored, struggled to make a sound, her vertical pupils filled with indignation: "Loy Aros!"
For the first time, she called Loy by his full name: "You fellow..."
She seemed to want to say something harsh.
But Loy didn't even pause his steps for a moment.
So, Huamu's words got stuck in her throat.
As she had said before, she believed in 'power is authority'.
That's why at this moment she realized — no matter what she said now, it held no meaning for Loy.
She was the loser, a dog with broken legs.
Loy was the victor, a roaring lion.
And a lion... would not turn its head for a dog's bark.
At the same time, Marineford.
In the Office of the Fleet Admiral at the Headquarters Tower.
"Click."
Silently hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku's expression was somewhat complex.
It seemed to hold some joy, some guilt, and some relief.
But soon, that complex expression was replaced by numerous black lines.
Because...
"Hey, hey, Zephyr! To actually win against Huamu — the disciple you taught isn't bad at all!"
"He's alright, I guess. That kid, really, I clearly taught him to be low-key in his actions."
"That kid Loy has indeed become much stronger, Zephyr! How about you train my grandson after I retire?"
"I've decided not to take any more disciples, but you can let Loy train him for you."
"Oh? That sounds interesting. How about you also let your disciple help train my grandson? That kid was influenced by that Red-haired one, and now he keeps yelling about wanting to be a Pirate every day..."
"Hahahaha! Of course, no problem!"