Despite the earlier mishap, things finally settled down once the crew explained the situation. The Neo Marines eventually grasped that they had jumped the gun, though the realization only deepened their curiosity.
Civilians going out to sea just to work? No matter how they spun it, it didn't sound like something a sane person would do in this era.
With time to kill, Zephyr decided to stay aboard the transport ship to get a firsthand look at the operation.
It didn't take long for the former Admiral to work his charm. With his gentle demeanor, at least when not crushing pirates, he instantly won over the civilians. Before long, he was chatting happily on deck and even managed to score a free meal in the mess hall.
He noticed the weird recruitment advertisements posted on the walls and, in the end, decided to simply sleep on the transport ship rather than return to his quarters.
Meanwhile, the transport captain, who had apologized earlier for absolutely no reason, was currently on cloud nine. He had received a commendation from Nami for his steering technique. He thumped his chest, practically glowing, and swore to dedicate his life to mastering navigation.
Dante, however, had a few choice words regarding the man's instinct to flee.
"If we were up against a standard patrol, running might have been a valid option," Dante lectured. "But you need to use your head. We have a Marine HQ-class warship escorting you. It's equipped with special propulsion."
Dante gestured to the massive vessel nearby. "Do you really think an old-fashioned pirate sloop can outrun that? Besides, we are conducting legitimate business under the protection of a Shichibukai. Why run when you see the Marines? Acting all sneaky and guilty... if anyone saw that, they'd think this was a slave ship!"
The captain smacked his forehead, the realization hitting him like a brick. "Right! Why was I running?"
Even if they ran into the 16th Branch, they could have just played dumb. He hung his head, frustrated by his own ingrained habits.
Seeing the man properly chastised, Dante let it slide.
'As long as he gets it,' Dante thought. 'For a guy with his background, that level of handling is actually impressive. The rest is just lack of experience.'
The captain was fresh out of training, piloting transport ships in this specific territory since graduation. Strictly speaking, he was still a rookie. Once he saw more of the world, he'd toughen up.
'Besides... there are plenty of stubborn mules on these seas.'
After confirming the destination, Dante lost interest and returned to his own warship.
He wasn't a man of the people like Zephyr. Why would he give up a soft bed to squeeze onto a crowded deck? The transport's destination wasn't far, an island in the waters surrounding Loguetown, similar to the Michael Kingdom setup.
This entire sea area was effectively his turf now. He had completely encircled Smoker's jurisdiction. Aside from Loguetown itself and Reverse Mountain, everything else answered to Dante.
This was exactly why rookie pirates were finding it impossible to survive here. They didn't have guts to cause trouble in Shichibukai territory, and they lacked the strength to break through the blockade around Reverse Mountain.
Their only option now was to turn tail and flee back toward the latter half of the East Blue.
--**--**
Night fell over the ocean.
On the deck of the transport ship, Zephyr leaned against the railing, gazing out at the darkened horizon. He had seen the sky of the East Blue while hanging from the bow earlier, but tonight, the atmosphere felt different.
"It really is peaceful here," Zephyr murmured.
"You bet it is," a voice agreed.
A skinny, gaunt middle-aged man mimicked Zephyr's pose, leaning against the rail to watch the sky. He let out a dry laugh. "Pirates are careful even while breathing in these waters. Unlike the other Blues, I heard the pirates over there have been raising hell lately."
"Oh? Is that so?" Zephyr smiled, nodding along. "Then we really are lucky."
"Luck's got nothing to do with it! It's because we have a Boss."
The gaunt man's expression shifted, a mix of reverence and lingering fear. "Things were chaotic here a while back, especially after that 'East Blue Overlord' Mock showed up. The pirates went crazy, attacking World Government member nations left and right. Weirdly enough, they only robbed the kings and nobles. I guess they figured us common folk were too poor to bother with."
He gave a bitter smile. "We were terrified back then, but we survived. The irony is... we escaped the pirates, but we couldn't escape the kings and the nobles."
He ground his teeth together. "They were the ones who nearly finished us."
These workers, recruited from member nations, didn't know Dante's true identity as Mock's Boss. The 16th Branch had cut ties with that name to keep Dante's record clean, so to them, he was simply the unnamed protector.
Just then, a small voice piped up.
"Papa... I'm sleepy."
A young child walked over, leading an even smaller girl by the hand. They rubbed their eyes, exhausted.
"These are my son and daughter." The gaunt man's face softened. He spread out some worn clothes on the deck, patted them flat, and covered the children with a ship-issued blanket. "Sleep here."
The temperature dropped sharply at night on the sea. Unlike the luxury of a passenger liner, this was a short-haul transport, there were no cabins for the workers. But the children seemed used to it. They curled up and fell asleep instantly.
"Their mother starved to death," the man said, his voice level, as if stating a mundane fact. "When the recruiters came, I was scared. Not that I'd be taken as a slave, I was terrified they'd take my children."
He looked down at the sleeping kids. "But I never expected... it was real work. When I saw the guys who came back with pay, I wanted to slap myself for not going sooner."
He leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Let me tell you something. Our Boss has serious power. I heard Boss Kuma is just the face of the operation. There's a monster behind him, someone even bigger. I don't know who it is, but working here? It's the safest place in the world."
"..."
'Must be that brat,' Zephyr thought, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"I haven't asked, who are you, anyway?" The gaunt man glanced at Zephyr's massive mechanical arm but wisely didn't comment on it. "Seeing as you came with the Marines... are you here looking for work too?"
Zephyr blinked, stunned for a moment, before bursting into genuine laughter. "Hahaha! Yes! That's exactly it. I'm here looking for work!"
Just as Zephyr was enjoying the moment, a familiar voice interrupted.
"Zephyr-sensei."
Ain approached, looking hesitant. "Dante is asking if you want to come back to the warship to rest?"
"Not going! I'm still job hunting!"
"Huh?" Ain looked confused, but before she could process the situation, Zephyr waved her off.
"Go on, get moving. I'm not staying by that kid's side tonight. What are you still doing here? Shoo!"
Helpless, Ain was chased away. Watching her retreat, the gaunt worker smiled.
"Is that your daughter? She's a beauty."
Zephyr's face froze for a split second, then he roared with laughter again. "Yes! Isn't she?"
"Well, it's getting late. I should sleep. Do you need a blanket from the registrar? The wind bites at night."
"No need! I'm used to the cold."
Zephyr waved his hand dismissively. As the man lay down next to his children, Zephyr turned to look at the deck after passing on his blanket to the kids. It was covered in families sleeping soundly under the open sky, safe and fed.
He shook his head, a soft smile visible in the moonlight.
'That brat... he's really good at hiding his true colors.'
--**--**
The voyage took only a day.
When dawn broke, they arrived at the destination. Under the crew's supervision, everyone disembarked in an orderly fashion. Zephyr followed the crowd off the ship, leaving Dante watching from the rail, utterly speechless.
'He chatted all night and he's still not leaving?'
And it didn't end there.
Zephyr followed the crowd to the various construction sites and factory zones. He inspected the dormitories, checked the safety standards, and even moved a few stacks of bricks himself. He finished the tour by mooching yet another meal at the worker's cafeteria, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
Just when Dante thought the old Admiral might actually be planning to retire and become a bricklayer, Zephyr walked back to the pier.
"Let's go," Zephyr said, his voice thick with emotion.
"Won't you stay a few more days?" Dante asked.
"No. I've seen enough."
As they boarded and the warship slowly pulled away from the bustling island, Zephyr stood at the stern, watching the land recede into the distance.
Dante didn't interrupt him. He simply lounged on a beach chair, eating grapes that Viola peeled and fed to him.
After a long silence, Zephyr finally spoke.
"You hide your claws well, kid. If you hadn't brought me here, I never would have discovered this."
He turned to look at Dante, who was living the life of a degenerate king, being hand-fed fruit by his beautiful secretary, and shook his head helplessly.
"But seriously, you need to fix that strange fetish of yours. What is so good about female pirates?"
"You don't understand the appeal," Dante shot back, raising an eyebrow. He was about to launch into his usual defense that the rumors were greatly exaggerated, when Viola interrupted.
"Boss," she said, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "There's a warship ahead. It's Captain Smoker."
'Smoker? What was that smoking bastard doing out here?'
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