Hearing Zephyr call him, Kizaru immediately felt a headache settling in. He muttered with annoyance,
"What does the old man want now? Can't even let someone rest on a rest day."
Akainu had already taken off his shirt and was doing one-handed push-ups on the floor.
Kizaru rubbed his hands and asked,
"Sakazuki, want to come with me?"
"No. Zephyr Sensei only called you."
"So heartless! I just treated you to barbecue."
"Lloyd paid."
"Hey, close enough, close enough."
Seeing that Sakazuki had no intention of moving, Kizaru gave up, lowering his head as he dragged himself toward the door.
In his opinion, the old man calling him could only mean trouble.
And he was right.
The moment he stepped into the office, Zephyr slammed his palm on the desk and barked,
"Borsalino! I remember telling you not to misuse your abilities outside the school. Complaints have been coming in nonstop!"
Kizaru lowered his head, rolling his eyes as he muttered,
"Who's so nosy? I just flashed a little light."
Zephyr struck the desk again.
"What did you say? Stand straight! A Marine with no discipline is a disgrace!"
Kizaru stiffened awkwardly, raising his voice,
"Yes, Zephyr Sensei. Everything you say is right."
"Don't give me that! If everything I say is right, why do you never listen? What is Sakazuki doing?"
"Reporting, Zephyr Sensei! He's training!"
"Hmph, and you still have the nerve to say that? You're both ability users, yet Sakazuki always works on his body. What about you?"
"Reporting, Zephyr Sensei! I want to train too, but you called me here. I think Zephyr Sensei's matters are the most important."
Looking at him, Zephyr felt a headache coming on. He rubbed his forehead and sighed,
"Forget it, it's useless talking to you.
One day you'll take a loss because of this."
"Reporting, Zephyr Sensei! Can I leave now?"
Zephyr waved him off impatiently,
"Go. And continue training tomorrow. Don't be late."
"Yes!"
Kizaru snapped a flawless salute, turned around, and marched out, his footsteps echoing loudly down the hall.
Zephyr watched him leave with his arms crossed.
After a moment, he took a file from his drawer, opened it, and stared at Lloyd's photograph.
"Another Logia user," he muttered.
"I hope you don't give me as much trouble as Borsalino."
Sengoku had sent Lloyd, Ginny, and Kuma's information ahead of time, highlighting Lloyd specifically.
Even without Sengoku's reminder, Zephyr fully understood the importance of a strong Logia user to the Marines.
Lloyd's age didn't concern him.
Ever since Zephyr retired from the Admiral position to become an instructor, his priorities had changed. His entire focus was now on nurturing promising talent.
Especially students like Kizaru and Akainu, both monsters in their own right.
Even though Kizaru constantly irritated him, Zephyr would only scold him… mostly because Kizaru's raw talent was undeniable.
Despite the lazy attitude, Zephyr knew very well:
Even without the Glint-Glint Fruit, based on physical combat and swordsmanship alone, Kizaru could defeat almost anyone in the academy besides Akainu.
Sometimes Zephyr found himself thinking,
If only Kizaru trained half as hard as Akainu…
…
On the day of reporting, Rear Admiral Babus arrived early and personally led Lloyd and the other two toward the Marine Academy.
Stopping at the entrance, Babus smiled warmly.
"I can only see you this far. Head straight into the office building. Zephyr Instructor's office is on the top floor."
Lloyd shook hands with him. His tone was calm and polite.
"Rear Admiral Babus, thank you for everything."
"Haha, no need to thank me. The three of you are rare talents. You'll surpass me in no time. When that day comes, I'll be calling you 'officers.'"
They exchanged smiles before Babus departed.
Lloyd entered the academy with Ginny and Kuma close behind him.
Students were already training intensely on the grounds. Among them, Lloyd immediately spotted a familiar figure, Sakazuki.
Akainu stood alone in one corner, several pieces of training equipment surrounding him.
At the moment he was lifting a barbell that was clearly custom-made, far too heavy for a normal person.
Yet in Akainu's hands, it looked like a child's toy. He wasn't even breaking a sweat.
The other students merely glanced over before returning to their routines.
They were used to seeing this.
Sensing someone's gaze, Akainu looked up and saw Lloyd's group.
Ginny waved brightly, Kuma lifted his paw pads, and Lloyd simply raised a hand with a stoic thumbs-up.
Akainu dropped the barbell, the ground thudding beneath it.
The students nearby froze.
Because Sakazuki, the man with a perpetual stone face, was smiling.
Smiling, and waving.
Though stiff, the effort was unmistakable.
The others followed his line of sight and saw Lloyd.
Whispers immediately began.
"New faces. Who are they?"
"No idea. Probably new recruits."
"At this time of year? Their aptitude must be insane."
"Right? And Sakazuki actually knows them? That guy barely acknowledges anyone besides Borsalino."
"I bet that black-haired guy is another monster."
"Shh! Stop it. Did you forget what happened last time? Those idiots who mocked Borsalino ended up hospitalized for half a month after Sakazuki beat them senseless."
Silence fell instantly.
They all remembered too well.
Those few troublemakers had provoked Sakazuki, claiming he only relied on his Devil Fruit. They challenged him to fight without it.
He accepted.
And with nothing but his fists, he knocked each of them unconscious in seconds.
That was the day everyone realized the truth.
Akainu wasn't strong because of his Devil Fruit.
His fruit was strong because he carried it.
Just as Lloyd turned to continue walking, a presence appeared silently behind him.
He reacted instantly, twisting and catching a forearm with one swift motion.
Zephyr, who had approached without a sound, raised his brows in surprise.
Then he nodded approvingly.
"Good reaction," he said.
"You must be Lloyd."
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