"Borsalino, you go. See if you can stop Zephyr. If he still refuses to give up..."
He paused, his tone turning dark: "You are authorized to kill him on the spot. And sit properly!"
"Hays... What a pain."
Hearing Sengoku's words, Borsalino stopped rocking the chair and sat up straight while rubbing his forehead helplessly.
Then, as if remembering something, he opened his oddly shaped mouth.
"If that West Blue's rebel Lieutenant and his companion show up, how should I deal with them?"
Before Sengoku could answer...
"Kill them on the spot!"
Sakazuki, arms folded, spoke coldly. "If those people dare interfere, kill every last one of them!"
Then he turned to Sengoku. "We cannot let them escape again. And now is the perfect opportunity. If they dare show themselves, the Marine Headquarters can eliminate all threats in one strike!"
Sengoku: "..."
Hearing Sakazuki's words, Sengoku's eyelids twitched. He understood exactly what Sakazuki was implying.
Since they can't find them, use Zephyr as bait, draw out that group from the West Blue, and wipe them out together.
He had to admit... It was indeed an effective plan.
Time slowly passed. Under everyone's gaze, Sengoku remained silent while considering Sakazuki's proposal.
No one spoke.
After an unknown amount of time, Sengoku finally clasped his hands, as if making a firm decision.
With a solemn expression, he spoke evenly: "We will proceed according to Sakazuki's plan."
Then he looked at Kuzan, who had lowered his visor and remained silent.
"Kuzan, you will go as well. If those people dare show themselves, no, whether it's Zephyr or that group, if they resist Marine Headquarters, you are authorized to..."
His tone hardened.
"... Kill them on the spot."
…
When the meeting ended and most people had left, Sengoku finally let out a heavy sigh before slumping into his chair, looking exhausted as he stared at the lights.
"Don't worry!"
At this moment, Tsuru, who had also remained in the conference room, looked at the weary-faced Sengoku and spoke in a comforting tone: "So many days have passed. Maybe this time, Zephyr has let it go?"
"Let it go?"
Hearing Tsuru's words, Sengoku showed a bitter smile and shook his head with a tone full of melancholy: "That's already impossible."
"You mean..."
Tsuru's brows tightened at once: "Zephyr, he..."
"Yes, it's already impossible to bring him back."
Sengoku sat upright again, picked up his teacup, downed it in one go, and said helplessly: "Last time I..."
He paused: "I already saw that stubborn old man... Had prepared himself for sacrifice. And keep in mind, it's not just a few days now. It's been two years since that new recruit training incident. If he could let it go, he would've done it long ago."
Tsuru: "..."
Hearing Sengoku's words, Tsuru fell silent. She understood what he meant.
In fact, during the Dressrosa incident last time, she had already seen Zephyr's disappointment toward Marine Headquarters, but she never expected it would go this far.
Originally, she thought that no matter how angry Zephyr was, he would at most continue wandering outside. But now... With the wanted order issued, everything had already gone far beyond her expectations.
Tsuru let out a long sigh as well before looking at Sengoku: "Even so, maybe we don't have to kill Zephyr. We can capture him."
"Capture him?"
Sengoku showed a bitter expression and pointed upward: "Some people don't agree!"
These events had already caused the World Government to seriously suspect Zephyr might threaten the unity of Marine Headquarters.
Especially because Zephyr even dared to protect the Devil Child. If Zephyr really managed to split the Marines, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Although it was helpless to say so, the World Government would never let something like this happen just because of a mere instructor, even if it was just a possibility!
Tsuru: "..."
Tsuru fell silent again, frowning as though deep in thought.
There was no denying that this incident was truly troublesome!
The problem wasn't that retired Lieutenant, nor the Devil Child, but what the World Government would think.
"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore."
Sengoku removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose while inwardly cursing Zephyr harshly.
That old man, seriously, if he was going to pull something like this, couldn't he at least learn from that old fox, Garp?
Although Garp was extremely annoying and messed around all the time, one still had to admit he was a real slippery veteran!
Thinking of this, Sengoku's eyelid twitched. He turned toward Garp, and when he looked over and saw that from the start of the meeting all the way to the end, Garp hadn't stopped eating once, still munching even now, Sengoku instantly roared: "Can't you be serious for once? At a time like this, you're still eating?!"
"Hahaha, don't worry about such things."
Facing the furious Sengoku, Garp didn't mind at all; he happily ate as he said, "Even if I look like this, I'm also feeling troubled about Zephyr!"
"I can't tell at all that you're also feeling troubled."
Sengoku complained irritably, then spoke again with a melancholy tone: "Have you called Zephyr these past few days?"
"Nope! You already called. What would I call for?"
"You didn't call even once, yet you dare say you're also feeling troubled?"
Sengoku stared speechlessly at Garp. "Can't you at least try calling to persuade him?"
"Persuade him? How would I persuade him?"
"No matter what, Garp, you should at least give Zephyr a call."
Tsuru said helplessly, "Maybe it will make him feel a little better."
"Alright, alright! Since Tsuru-chan says so, I'll give him a call! If it doesn't work, you two can't blame me."
As he spoke, under the watchful eyes of Sengoku and Tsuru, Garp licked the snack crumbs from his fingers, then wiped them on Sengoku's clothes.
Sengoku's eyelid twitched violently, as if he were holding himself back from beating him up. But since they needed him to persuade Zephyr, he endured it, his face turning darker as he looked at Garp.
Garp didn't mind at all.
After wiping his hands clean, he took out his Den Den Mushi and dialed a number.
The moment the call was connected, Sengoku and Tsuru, beside him, both grew serious as they stared fixedly at Garp.
Seeing their looks, Garp seemed to understand and cheerfully made an ok gesture, indicating he knew what to do.
Then he spoke to Den Den Mushi: "Zephyr, are you coming back? If you still don't come back, Marine Headquarters and the World Government are preparing to kill you."
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