"G-5 successfully annihilated the Neo Navy?"
"Base Commander Vergo shows the bearing of an Admiral?"
Sengoku's words left Tsuru and Garp stunned.
It took them quite some time to react.
Garp spoke first, his voice heavy.
"Then… what about Zephyr?"
As comrades from the same era, both Garp and Tsuru cared most about Zephyr's fate.
Sengoku sighed deeply.
"Zephyr is dead. According to Vergo's report, Zephyr detonated the Dyna Stone, triggering a volcanic eruption. The magma erased all traces of his body."
Garp collapsed into a chair.
Endless grief spread across his face.
"Zephyr… you stubborn old fool…"
Suddenly, he looked sharply at Sengoku.
"This is the World Government's sin! Why did they allow Edward Weevil to become a Warlord?!"
Sengoku stood up.
"It's meaningless to argue now. The World Government is indeed responsible—but I am still the Fleet Admiral. I must report the outcome."
Under the World Government's command, what weight could individual justice truly hold?
Garp could only refuse to become a Celestial Dragon's dog—nothing more.
Holy Land Mariejois — Chamber of Authority
Sengoku did not bow.
His anger over Zephyr's death had yet to fade.
"The Neo Navy has been eliminated. Zephyr is dead. Are you satisfied now?"
His tone was cold.
One of the Five Elders frowned.
"Mind your attitude, Sengoku."
Sengoku turned and walked away.
"I'm merely informing you—Zephyr's incident has caused deep unrest within the Marines."
"If you still expect the Marines to confront the Beasts Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates, then you'd better think carefully before making decisions again."
The Five Elders stared at his back with dark expressions.
One slammed the table.
"Insolent!"
Another said coldly:
"Why not remove him and let Akainu take his place?"
But the other three rejected the idea.
"No. Sengoku's authority within the Marines is too deep. There's no justification—and Im-sama would never approve."
Both sides were dissatisfied.
But under the current situation, restraint was unavoidable.
The Five Elders' gaze fell upon the report on the table.
One name stood out clearly:
Vergo.
They silently remembered it.
Marineford → G-5 Base
Aokiji learned of Zephyr's death from Garp.
After inspecting the captured Neo Navy members, he traveled to G-5.
He came to find Smoker.
Smoker was wrapped in bandages, sitting before two empty graves, drinking alone.
Aokiji patted his shoulder and sat down.
"Those injuries—Vergo did them?"
Smoker didn't answer.
A silent confirmation.
Aokiji said calmly:
"Don't clash with your superiors anymore. This isn't Loguetown."
Smoker gulped down his liquor and clenched his fist.
"Vergo is dangerous. The Marines should investigate him."
Aokiji sighed inwardly, assuming Smoker was still grieving Tashigi.
"Vergo eliminated the Neo Navy and earned major merit. Headquarters has promoted him to Vice Admiral, while retaining him as G-5 Base Commander. Fleet Admiral Sengoku values him highly."
Smoker slammed several liters of alcohol down in one go.
"Zephyr's death. Tashigi's death. I'll never forgive that bastard!"
Aokiji looked at the empty graves and spoke quietly:
"Dying for one's beliefs… isn't that a kind of dignity? Learn to endure, Smoker."
Elsewhere — Under the Moonlight
The true cause of Smoker's suffering was enjoying the night.
Roxing stood beneath the moon.
Looking at it, he thought of Carrot.
Her Sulong form lingered in his memory.
A slender figure approached.
"My lord. Your drink."
Roxing glanced sideways.
Short blue hair. Calm features. Pale skin. Long legs beneath simple clothing.
Ain.
He accepted the drink.
"Thanks."
As her fingers brushed his palm, Ain's expression changed instantly.
Her face stiffened.
"…Impossible."
"My Return-Return Fruit didn't work."
Roxing drank calmly and replied:
"Any special-type Devil Fruit requires superiority in Haki to take effect."
"In this sea, Haki overrides everything. Didn't Zephyr teach you that?"
Ain's expression shifted repeatedly.
So it was his Haki—
far beyond hers.
That was why her ability failed.
Roxing asked flatly:
"Why did you try? Didn't you say you wanted to inherit Zephyr's will?"
Ain was silent for a long moment.
Then she said:
"I want you to release the Marine woman—Tashigi."
Roxing was mildly surprised.
Compassion, born from habit.
He stood and stepped closer.
"I collect things," he said evenly.
"Flowers. Birds. Rare existences."
Ain trembled.
She wanted to retreat—but couldn't.
Before his pressure, resistance was meaningless.
Roxing continued:
"If you want to see the future Zephyr spoke of, then stay close enough to witness it."
He lifted her effortlessly and walked toward the room.
Before entering, he asked:
"Does your ability work on yourself?"
The Next Morning
Roxing exited the room, refreshed.
Tashigi—restored to her original age—stormed toward him.
"You… you monster! What did you do to Sister Ain?!"
Roxing smiled faintly.
"Nothing. You should thank me. Otherwise, you'd still be a child."
Anyone affected by the Return-Return Fruit could only recover if the user lost consciousness.
Last night—
Ain had fainted.
Tashigi rushed into the room to check on her.
The two had formed an unexpected bond.
Roxing summoned Jack.
"Change course. Punk Hazard."
Since it was seized by King and the Cybertronians, Roxing hadn't inspected it personally.
Now was a good time.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ZoroTL442