"He fell again? That guy… really is stubborn. Even though he's an enemy, his persistence is something you can't help but admire."
Whitebeard laughed too.
Zephyr, of course, knew.
They had even clashed a few times in the New World.
He knew a little about the temperament of that purple-haired Marine who was the same age as him—thirty this year.
That fellow, because of his unshakably stubborn "no-kill" sense of justice, had spared countless pirates during arrests.
He would rather end up covered in injuries himself than kill—insisting only on capture.
He firmly believed killing could never bring true justice.
A criminal's guilt should be judged by the courts, not ended with a bullet.
Among the Marines, he was a genuine oddity.
Zephyr's almost pig-headed style was also why he constantly offended superiors, colleagues—even the World Government.
As a result, his promotions over the years had been a roller-coaster of ups and downs.
One year you might read in the paper that, after successfully capturing some pirates, he'd been promoted to Marineford Colonel.
The next year you could read that, for talking back to a superior—or even punching one—he'd been demoted from Colonel to Ensign.
Yes.
Ensign.
Last year, when Zephyr was twenty-nine, his rank had been Marineford Ensign.
This year, thanks to major meritorious service, he'd been promoted several grades in one leap, parachuted straight in as Marineford Rear Admiral, a rank nipping at the heels of Garp and Sengoku.
Yet not long ago, after openly defying the World Government, he'd been dropped five full ranks, back to Marineford Captain—
one rank below the Carlos who'd just left headquarters.
This roller-coaster of promotions and demotions made him the first man in Marine history.
If not for his strength and potential,
if not for Garp, Sengoku, Kong and others pleading his case,
Carlos figured the displeased World Government would have kicked Zepyr out of the Marines long ago.
"So you really are a Marine?" Whitebeard asked, eyeing Carlos perched on the rail.
Carlos spread his hands. "Genuine article."
Whitebeard blinked. "Then why aren't you running? Still dare to stay this close… not afraid I'll make a move on you?"
"If you want to fight—bring it on!" Carlos lifted his head, naked battle lust in his eyes.
But he quickly shook his head.
"But right now I'm no match for you. I couldn't even take one punch from Garp; against you I'd probably end up the same way."
"Garp, huh?" The name Carlos uttered gave Whitebeard a bit of a headache.
He clearly didn't want to recall anything about Garp, and changed the subject.
"So what are you staying for?"
Carlos's grin bared a mouthful of white teeth. "I'm heading to Hachinosu!"
"You're going to Hachinosu?" Whitebeard exclaimed.
"Exactly! I'm going to Hachinosu to challenge Rocks—and if I get the chance, I'll take him down, replace him, become the new pirate overlord!"
Carlos clenched his fist, excitement, anticipation and madness flashing in his eyes.
And as he spoke, Whitebeard clearly felt a fierce, domineering pressure radiate from the very young, white-haired youth.
He knew this pressure well.
He himself had it.
Rocks had it.
Even the rookie Kaido lying at his feet had it.
It was the pressure of a king!
"This brat has Conqueror's Haki too?" Whitebeard mused. "A Marine who awakens Haoshoku is rare. So why'd the Navy let him out? Judging by his words, he wants to become a pirate? Interesting."
He glanced at Carlos, then down at Kaido, a smile surfacing on his face.
Whitebeard hadn't expected that, this trip, he'd not only bring back the rookie Kaido whom Rocks wanted to recruit,
but also a stronger rookie who could beat Kaido!
He could already picture the intrigued grin Rocks would wear when he learned what had happened.
Whitebeard didn't notice
that when Carlos freely declared he was going to Hachinosu to challenge Rocks, to kill Rocks and become pirate king,
the Kaido lying at his feet twitched imperceptibly.
Kaido was roaring inside:
"That's exactly what I wanted to do!"
"That bastard Carlos is definitely saying it on purpose!"
"He must've heard every word I said back at Rocky Port!"
"He's absolutely trying to humiliate me!"
Just then, Carlos's mocking voice drifted into his ear:
"Cold on the deck? Want me to fetch you a blanket, Kai—do?"
"Bastard!"
"I'll kill you!"
Kaido, who'd been feigning unconsciousness while secretly recovering, couldn't keep up the act.
With a furious roar he snatched the spiked club lodged in the deck and, eyes blood-red, swung at Carlos on the rail.
The heavy spiked club howled straight for Carlos's face.
But Carlos didn't budge.
Didn't counter.
He simply sat on the rail, arms folded, calm as you please, watching the enraged Kaido.
That winner-takes-all look only stoked Kaido's fury.
Just as the club was about to smash into Carlos's face,
a broad hand shot out and blocked its path.
BOOM!
A deafening crash echoed across the ship.
The pirate vessel beneath their feet lurched violently.
"What?" Kaido started, pupils shrinking as he stared.
The spiked club he'd swung in rage was caught dead in mid-air, right in front of Carlos!
The big hand wasn't even coated in Armament Haki.
Fingers wrapped around the weapon as easily as picking up a teacup, deftly avoiding every spike, holding it fast!
No matter how Kaido strained, he couldn't push it down another inch.
True, he wasn't in peak shape right now—but this blond man's strength… was monstrous!
"Gurararara! Since little brother Carlos here has called a halt, let's end this fight. I don't want my ship wrecked—it's the only one left intact at Rocky Port."
Whitebeard held Kaido's club with casual ease, eyes narrowed in a grin at the stunned Kaido.
"Kaido… right?"
"You're itching to head to Hachinosu and find Rocks too, aren't you?"
Kaido stared at Whitebeard a moment longer, then snorted, yanked back his club, and shot Carlos a venomous glare.
"Lucky break, brat!"
"Sure was. Kahahaha!" Carlos threw his head back laughing.
"Damn you!!! Don't stop me! I'm going to kill him!"