After Rhett turned around, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. He murmured, "Zephyr, Zephyr... how much longer can your justice last?"
It was a murmur, but his voice was loud enough for Kizaru to hear.
"That's a dangerous thing to say about our chief instructor, Rhett-san~" Kizaru's demeanor was carefree. Whether he really didn't care or pretended not to, of course, caring wouldn't matter. He couldn't change anything anyway.
Or rather, from the moment Rhett set foot on Marineford, the Navy's justice had already been shattered. This had nothing to do with Rhett's character. It was simply because Rhett was a pirate, and now an Emperor of the Seas.
Besides finding amusement, this was also Rhett's main purpose for coming here. He had set his sights on Zephyr for a very, very long time.
In One Piece, the people who could be called teachers were limited. Mihawk, the old man, Rayleigh, Kaido. There weren't many left. The only ones who could provide systematic training were Rayleigh and Zephyr.
But Zephyr's understanding of the Navy, no, of justice, had been upheld his entire life. It was very hard to change him.
Very hard didn't mean impossible. On one hand, he taught his students to uphold their own justice. On the other hand, the greatest pirate on the seas was standing in the plaza of Marineford, watching them train.
You're not shaken? Rhett would say you are.
If Zephyr could convince himself by saying Rhett was a member nation king, then he wouldn't be Zephyr.
When Kizaru led Rhett and his group to the Navy cafeteria, the entire room went silent. The eating Navy personnel had their chopsticks suspended in mid-air. Soup spoons dropped into bowls. Even the head chef's spatula froze.
"Yeah everyone relax" Kizaru waved lazily. "This is a member nation guest~"
Rhett walked up to the serving window with a smile. "I hear the Navy cafeteria's fried pork cutlet is pretty good?"
The head chef's forehead beaded with sweat. "Y-Yes! We'll prepare a special deluxe version right away!"
Just then, the door to Sengoku's office was pushed open with a slam.
"Fleet Admiral!" The messenger was covered in sweat. "Admiral Kizaru has taken Rhett to the cafeteria!"
Sengoku crushed the document in his hand into a ball. "Who told you to come in?!"
The messenger swallowed. "Um... you said that any information about Rhett's movements was to be reported immediately..."
Sengoku took a deep breath. He had thought he was calm enough. Until he saw Rhett heading toward the training ground.
A feeling of helplessness washed over the Fleet Admiral.
Rhett was stealing from right under his nose. No, not stealing. He was tearing down the walls.
The person most affected by Rhett becoming a member nation king was probably Zephyr. It wasn't as bad as Whitebeard the Second, but it was still a significant shock.
"How ironic."
Garp was frantically shoving rice crackers into his mouth, pretending not to hear. Akainu stared at the words "Justice" on the wall, his fists cracking.
"Kuzan!" Sengoku suddenly called out.
Aokiji's eye mask slipped down to his nose. "Huh? I just finished night duty yesterday..."
"You go." Sengoku was decisive.
Aokiji: "...How troublesome."
If Rhett saw Kuzan, would there be another chance?
At the cafeteria, Rhett slowly wiped his mouth and tossed the napkin onto the table. The Navy cafeteria's fried pork cutlet was indeed good. But more than that, he enjoyed the Navy personnel's uneasy atmosphere around him.
"Full~" He stretched. The blood mist swirled around his fingertips. "Let's go, Admiral Kizaru. Time to head to Mary Geoise."
Kizaru raised an eyebrow. "Yeah~ you're done looking around already?"
"My purpose is achieved. Why stay?" Rhett stood up with a smile. His voice was neither loud nor soft, but it was loud enough for everyone in the cafeteria to hear. "After all..." He gave a meaningful look toward the training ground. "Some seeds just need occasional watering."
The cafeteria Navy personnel looked at each other. A few of the quicker ones had already slipped out to report.
When Rhett and his group slowly returned to the harbor, Aokiji was leaning against a warship, dozing.
"Oh Kuzan" Rhett's eyes lit up. He waved enthusiastically. Can he water twice?
"Are you here to see me off?"
Aokiji lazily lifted his eyelids. "...Mr. Sengoku said I am to escort you to Mary Geoise."
"Great!" Rhett clapped his hands. "We can chat on the way. I heard you've been thinking about resigning?"
Aokiji: "Not at all. Who told you that?"
"When you start thinking about it, you should consider our member nation. We very much need fighters like you."
Just then, a commotion came from the direction of Marineford.
Sengoku hurried over with a squad of Marines. His face was dark.
"Rhett!" Sengoku's voice boomed like thunder. "What did you mean by that just now? Are you trying to shake our justice?!"
Rhett turned. His blood mist cloak fluttered lightly in the wind. "Hm? Which part? I don't know what you're talking about~"
Sengoku tried to control his emotions as much as possible. He hadn't wanted to come out. But if he didn't, the walls would be completely torn down. He stopped pretending. "Stop playing dumb!"
"Oh dear" Rhett spread his hands. "I was just stating a fact"
But Rhett's voice suddenly rose. He shouted loudly because he saw Zephyr had come out too. He lowered his voice just enough for everyone to hear.
"Just like Teacher Zephyr said when he was teaching his students — a pirate is a pirate, right?"
Zephyr's pupils contracted sharply.
Rhett took a step back. His smile was bright. "Then, see you at Mary Geoise?"
With that, he turned and boarded the ship.
Sengoku looked at Zephyr's stiff back. The purple-haired instructor's fists were clenched white, his knuckles showing veins. The entire harbor was eerily quiet. Only the sound of waves hitting the shore could be heard.
"Zephyr..." Sengoku walked up to him.
Zephyr didn't turn around. He just raised his hand to signal that he was fine. "Don't say anything." His voice was hoarse, but unusually firm. "Justice is justice. A few words from a pirate won't change that."
Sengoku opened his mouth, but finally just sighed. "Go rest. Training is over for today."
"No need." Zephyr suddenly turned. "It is precisely at times like this that we must make the students understand—" His gaze swept over the Navy recruits who had been secretly watching. "The path of justice has never been easy."
The recruits unconsciously straightened their backs.
Sengoku looked at his stubborn old friend and smiled. "You haven't changed." He patted Zephyr's shoulder. "Come on. I have a good bottle of sake in my office."
Zephyr frowned. "But it's working hours—"
"Consider it drinking with me." Sengoku cut him off. "The coming days..." He glanced at the departing Bruma Jackson. "We need a clear head to deal with that bastard."
Zephyr was silent for a moment. Finally, he nodded. "...One cup."
As they turned to leave, no one noticed.
In the shadows of the harbor, Rhett's blood mist clone quietly dissipated, leaving only a faint, almost inaudible laugh.