With asthma and all sorts of other illnesses on top of everything else, Zephyr's strength was already less than one-tenth of what it had been at his peak.
Moreover, according to something Eiichiro Oda once revealed in an interview: "In the world of One Piece, only Garp's strength does not decline with age."
In other words, even after Garp grew old, his strength was still at its peak. During the original Summit War, when he said he would kill Akainu, it was not a joke. He could really have done it!
Zephyr's strength, on the other hand, had clearly begun declining with age.
This was no longer his era.
Zephyr's Neo Marines did not create too great a disturbance in the world, and the overall course of the sea did not change much because of them.
Just like that, another three years quietly passed, and the year became 1520.
During these three years, not many major events occurred.
The only incident that could be considered somewhat sensational was the departure of Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, captain of the Thunder God Pirates' Fourteenth Division, in the year 1519.
Speaking of which, Blackbeard Teach really was a legendary figure.
Originally, he had been a crew member aboard the Whitebeard Pirates. Later, he joined the Thunder God Pirates and became captain of the Fourteenth Division. During his time in office, he repeatedly rendered meritorious service.
In particular, he made three major contributions to the Thunder God Pirates: he repelled one of the Big Mom Pirates' Sweet Commanders, captured an important member of CP0, and seized a rather important island from the Whitebeard Pirates.
With such dazzling achievements, he should have been one of the core pillars of the Thunder God Pirates.
But who would have thought that he would actually choose to withdraw on his own?
According to rumors, Blackbeard obtained a Devil Fruit from the Thunder Emperor Roy, then left Raijin Island without looking back.
After that, the Thunder God Pirates announced that Blackbeard had separated from them, and that the position of Fourteenth Division captain would be taken over by a newcomer cultivated by the crew: "Red Flag" X Drake.
The outside world neither affirmed nor denied this news. After all, defections and departures happened often enough on the sea.
Even the Whitebeard Pirates had Chameleone and Teach leave back then, didn't they?
Because of that, aside from Whitebeard and Red-Hair paying a little attention, no one else took it too seriously.
As for where Teach went after leaving the Thunder God Pirates, no one knew.
And so, this incident could only stir up a tiny ripple on the sea. In the blink of an eye, no one cared anymore.
However, in the year 1520, in East Blue, known as the weakest sea, Foosha Village saw a sixteen-year-old boy wearing a straw hat, a red vest, and sandals officially set sail. The legend of a new Pirate King began from that moment.
If the year 1510 was a magnificent and turbulent year, and the year 1517 was a year of surging storms, then even the events of those years could not compare to 1520, the year that would soon be called the beginning of every turning point.
And all of this began with Yasopp, who had returned from visiting relatives in East Blue, bragging while drinking with others.
"Hey, do you all know? My son, Usopp, has also set out to sea and become a pirate!"
Yasopp proudly showed off to the group of bachelors in the Thunder God Pirates. Beside him, Banchina looked a little uneasy.
In the years since they had established themselves in the New World, Yasopp would occasionally return home to visit his family through Roy's clone.
He also often personally taught Usopp sniping techniques and told him stories about the sea.
Because Roy's clone was there, Banchina naturally did not die from illness like in the original version.
However, just a few days ago, their son Usopp had gone out to sea as a pirate with a pirate wearing a straw hat.
The pirate ship had been generously sponsored by Miss Kaya from the island.
Thinking about the relationship between Kaya and Usopp left Banchina feeling both relieved and worried, as well as rather helpless.
This father and son really were exactly the same in certain ways. Both of them threw everything aside to go out to sea and become pirates.
"Hey, Yasopp, aren't you worried about your son at all? Who knows whether the pirate crew he joined is reliable or not?"
Chameleone, who was sitting beside him, took a sip of wine and deliberately provoked him in a rather displeased tone.
Everyone already knew this guy had a wife and child.
But why did he have to show off his happy family right in front of him? It was seriously annoying.
"Hahaha! I'm not worried about that. Since he chose to go out to sea, then he must be prepared to shoulder the resolve that comes with it. Besides, I believe in my son's judgment. Just like me, he won't choose wrong."
Yasopp was very satisfied with his own eye for choosing a captain.
Now, by following the Thunder God Pirates, he had already become an outstanding warrior of the sea and an ace sniper. His name had thoroughly spread across the sea, and he had basically already fulfilled his dream.
"Besides, my son's sniping talent is no weaker than mine. With my personal guidance, he definitely won't have any problem passing through the first half of the Grand Line."
Yasopp, who had drunk too much out of happiness today, began bragging.
However, there was indeed a certain amount of truth in what he said.
Usopp's talent really was very good. Not only had he perfectly inherited Yasopp's talent, but after Yasopp's guidance over the past few years, his build was not the skinny bamboo-pole physique he had in the original version. Instead, he was already roughly similar to the sturdy body he had after his two years of training.
"By the way, why haven't I seen Gin and Daz around these past two days? Where did the two of them go?"
"Them? Apparently, some Millennium Dragon appeared in East Blue. I heard that thing has the effect of granting immortality. Since they were bored, they brought some newly joined subordinates along to take a look, treating it as training for some promising newcomers they had their eyes on."
And while Yasopp was drunkenly bragging, elsewhere in East Blue...
"I'm telling you, I'm Usopp the Sniper King, whose name sends enemies fleeing in terror, and who possesses unrivaled sniping skills across all of East Blue!"
"Really?! So cool!"
On the Going Merry, Nami looked at Usopp bragging over there while Luffy dutifully played along with him, and she could not help but clutch her forehead, shake her head, and sigh helplessly.
"Nami-san! Please try this cake of love I made just for you!"
(End of Chapter)
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