Wolf could also build ships, but he was alone. If he relied purely on handcrafting, who knew how long it would take before he finished all the ships Zephyr needed.
As for Gini… No need to worry. A few days ago, he called, saying all the underworld forces surrounding and suppressing Grado had suddenly withdrawn, and some had even returned the territories they'd previously taken.
Ian guessed it was probably because the news that he had defeated an Admiral had spread.
At this moment, the sun had already set.
Ian looked at the mountain he had just split open, nodded in satisfaction, then put away his axe and prepared to go home to eat.
Actually, leveling mountains no longer satisfied him.
What mattered more now was tempering his Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and Conqueror's Haki.
Especially if he wanted to kill someone with an immortal body later, Conqueror's Haki was crucial.
But breakthroughs in Haki were not easy.
Ian looked at the three still training, greeted them, and said with a smile, "I'm heading home to be with my wife and child. You guys keep training!"
When he said this, the three who had been training instantly had their expressions collapse, and they spat in Ian's direction: "Ptoo!"
"The sun just set, and he's already quitting? How did that guy get so strong?"
Enel said darkly. "And aren't you people from the for seas supposed to love abandoning wives and kids to chase your dreams? Why does that guy run home to his wife and child the moment the sun sets? Does he not have dreams anymore?"
"I don't know, but that guy even refused Marine Headquarters' invitation back then for the sake of his family."
Binz said angrily, "Damn it, I really want to get married too!"
Then he turned to Ace, who was still staring at Ian's back. "But Ace, at your age… you're this young and already thinking about women?"
"Women? No, I'm not!"
"Then what did you spit for? And why are you staring at Ian?"
"I used too much force and choked on my own spit. As for watching Ian..."
Ace scratched his head and said with a grin, "I thought maybe Ian would invite me to eat at his house!"
Enel: "…"
Binz: "…"
That's it?
Hearing this, Binz turned away, ignoring Ace, and once again looked bitterly in the direction Ian had left.
"Damn it, I really want a woman to cook for me, too!"
"A woman cooking for you? Don't you already have that?"
Binz: "…?"
Where?
Before Binz could get happy, Ace continued smiling brightly: "The aunties in the cafeteria are all women, right? They cook too. Their cooking is just not very good, so I want to eat at Ian's house."
Binz: "…"
That's not the same at all!
Damn it!
...
Dreams?
His dreams had long died the year he retired, even before his Devil Fruit arrived.
He wasn't like those ambitious types on the seas, nor was he some motivated old man.
At this point, he was almost thirty; what dreams could he possibly chase?
What, acting like a hot-blooded old man at his age?
If it weren't for everything that happened, plus eating that Devil Fruit, after retirement, he probably would have lived a quiet life on the Sibia River Archipelago, marrying a wife, having a few kids, and occasionally dealing with minor pirates.
Not like now, even marrying two!
Back home, seeing Robin preparing dinner, Ian felt a surge of satisfaction.
As for becoming King of the Pirates or saving the world... let some child of fate handle that!
He was just an honest man swinging an axe, accompanying his family.
Ian took a deep breath and said while smiling, "I'm home!"
...
"Ambitious?"
New World, Punk Hazard research institute.
Vegapunk frowned as he looked at Borsalino, who had come again, and said, "He doesn't look like that to me!"
"Ah, this is the analysis from Marine Headquarters."
Borsalino yawned, as if returning to the laboratory were like coming home, which made him feel relaxed.
"The intelligence experts at Marine Headquarters think he deliberately hides his true strength. Retirement is just a cover for his real purpose. And those people also believe that anyone who speaks of Egoistic Justice is definitely not someone content with a quiet life!"
After stretching lazily, he continued: "After all that happened, the Marine Headquarters even set up a special research and analysis team for him!"
"Isn't that the treatment only Emperors of the sea get?"
Vegapunk raised an eyebrow in surprise at Borsalino's words. "Looks like the Marine Headquarters takes him very seriously!"
"No choice. He's someone capable of defeating even an Admiral."
Borsalino opened his mouth in an exaggerated tone: "Yep, he's really terrifying..."
"I also saw the news in the newspaper that you were defeated. I didn't expect that it was true!"
Vegapunk looked at Borsalino with curiosity. "Is he really that strong?"
"Very strong!"
Borsalino's expression briefly turned serious, then he looked at Vegapunk with a solemn tone.
"Also, I came here specifically to warn you... don't get too close to that guy, especially don't help him build ships. If he really goes to sea as a pirate, you'll be in trouble!"
He looked at Vegapunk suspiciously. "You didn't help him build ships, right?"
"... No, of course not!"
Vegapunk smiled sheepishly and quickly waved his hand. "He didn't even pay me. How could I have helped them build ships? I haven't contacted them since last time."
"Alright, that puts my mind at ease."
Hearing Vegapunk, Borsalino's stern expression disappeared, replaced again by his lazy tone. "I don't want to personally kill my old friend."
Vegapunk: "..."
Is that serious?
Vegapunk raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything further.
After all, a few days ago... he had already received the money and started construction.
Of course, that kind of thing couldn't be said out loud!
Vegapunk frowned, thought for a moment, then shook his head in regret.
"I sensed his abilities were unique back then, unlimited stamina and astonishing recovery under the sun, but I never expected his strength to be this high. What a pity. If only I could obtain his Lineage Factor."
"That's a pity indeed!"
Borsalino whistled lazily. "Too bad, the Marine Headquarters won't easily declare war on those guys now. So scary!"
"Light-Light Fruit, Glint-Glint Fruit."
Vegapunk ignored Borsalino while frowning in thought. "The power of light?"