The Eve of the Three-Way Battle

By the time the small boat reached the shore, it was already completely dark.

The port staff on duty at Hachinosu nearly dropped their flasks when they saw the man on the ship. He wore a white naval uniform, without a cape, hat, or rank insignia—but they recognized the face. It was Zephyr, a naval Zephyr from Marine Headquarters Instructor. A former Admiral candidate, now Marine Vice Admiral- level officer.

"Go report to the captain," the officer on duty said to the person next to him.

When Lin Yuan walked out of the Castle, Zephyr was already standing at the port.

The two exchanged a glance.

The last time they stood face to face like this was on the Training Grounds at Marine Headquarters. Back then, Lin Yuan was a new recruit, Zephyr was his instructor.

"Instructor," Lin Yuan said.

"You're a pirate now," Zephyr said calmly. "No need to call me Instructor."

"I'm used to calling you that."

Zephyr was silent for a moment, then smiled. Not a loud laugh, but a nodding smile.

"You're a good person."

"Let's go inside and talk." Lin Yuan turned and walked towards the Castle.

Zephyr followed behind him.

In the hall, Ginny brewed tea. Kaido, Bullet, Kuma, King, Moria, and Inazuma were all standing to the side—they hadn't been summoned by Lin Yuan; they had come on their own. No one could sleep at the sight of a Marine Admiral visiting Hachinosu so late at night.

Zephyr glanced at the people in the hall.

"Your people?"

"A part." Lin Yuan sat opposite him.

He's retired.

Lin Yuan's fingers paused for a moment.

"Retire?"

"I just submitted my resignation today." Zephyr picked up his teacup and took a sip. "My daughter was almost kidnapped, and my wife was so scared she ended up in the hospital. The Marine Headquarters didn't even offer a proper explanation. Sengoku told me to wait for the investigation results. Garp said it happens all the time, and I'll get used to it." He put down his teacup. "I don't want to wait anymore."

So you came to find me?

"Thank you." Zephyr looked at him. "You're the one who saved Aqi today."

Lin Yuan did not deny it.

"The Black Hyena's henchmen were captured and interrogated. They said they were originally going to take Aqi away, but then a group of people came out through a door." Zephyr looked at Lin Yuan, "In the entire ocean, there's only one person who can open that door."

"You knew it was me, yet you came alone?"

"I came alone because I know you won't kill me," Zephyr said, "Just like I knew you wouldn't run away back then."

Lin Yuan remained silent for a moment.

"Instructor, what are your plans next?"

"I don't know." Zephyr leaned back in his chair. "I don't want to stay in the Navy anymore, and I'm too scared to go home. I sent my wife and kids to a small island in the East Blue. There are no Navy personnel or pirates there. They're safe for now."

"Then what?"

"And then..." Zephyr looked at his hands, "I've spent my whole life in the Navy. I don't know what I could do if I left the Navy."

"Come to Hachinosu," Lin Yuan said.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Kaido raised an eyebrow. Bullet clenched his fist. Kuma remained expressionless, but his eyes flickered. The flames behind King leaped. Moria and Inazuma exchanged a glance.

Zephyr stared at Lin Yuan for a long time.

"You want me, a naval instructor, to come to your Pirate Island?"

"You're no longer in the navy," Lin Yuan said. "You've already submitted your resignation."

"Even if I'm not a member of the Navy, I'm still a member of the World Government."

"You're no longer a member of the World Government. You've submitted your resignation, so they'll consider you not to be."

Zephyr fell silent.

"Come work for me and train people," Lin Yuan said. "Your experience is more valuable than their talent. You teach them how to become stronger and how to survive. I'll provide you with food and lodging, and give you your freedom."

"Free?"

"You can do whatever you want here. Nobody will bother you, nobody will order you around. Wherever you want to go, I'll open the door and take you. Want a drink? There's some in the warehouse. Want a fight? There's Seastone on the Training Ground."

Zephyr remained silent for a long time.

"I'll think about it."

"No rush."

Zephyr stood up, walked to the door, and stopped.

Lin Yuan.

"Um?"

"Thanks for saving Aqi today. But I'm a Marine—a former Marine. You're a pirate. I won't betray my principles just because you saved my daughter."

"I didn't ask you to betray your allegiance," Lin Yuan said. "I asked you to help me train people. Not to fight the Navy, not to kill Celestial Dragons. Just training."

Zephyr did not turn around.

"I'll think about it."

He walked out of the Castle.

The small boat sailed away from the harbor and disappeared into the night.

Ginny stood beside Lin Yuan, holding an account book in her hand.

Will he come?

"Have no idea."

"You're not going to keep him?"

"You can't keep him. If he figures it out, he'll come back on his own. If he doesn't, there's no point in trying to keep him."

Ginny didn't ask any more questions.

At two o'clock in the morning, Ginny knocked on Lin Yuan's door.

"Lin Yuan, there's new information about Rocks."

Lin Yuan sat up in bed, put on his coat, and walked into the Intelligence Room.

Ginny pointed to a location on the nautical chart. The Ghost Sea, a dangerous area in the central New World, is shrouded in dense fog year-round and riddled with underwater reefs. Ordinary ships dare not enter, but for Rocks and the Navy, it is not a problem.

"Rocks' fleet has reached the north side of the Ghost Sea, consisting of five ships and all elite personnel. The navy's fleet is on the northwest side, with twenty warships, commanded by Sengoku and Garp. The Transport Fleet is on the south side, consisting of Three Transport Ships and six warships, heading towards the Ghost Sea."

"Interchange time?"

"Tomorrow at noon, three forces will appear simultaneously in the central waters of the Ghost Sea." Ginny drew three arrows on the sea chart. "Rocks' target is the Transport Fleet. The Navy's target is Rocks. The Transport Fleet's target is—escape."

Lin Yuan stared at the nautical chart, remaining silent for a long time.

What about us?

"We're on the east side. Safe Waterway." Ginny drew a thin line to the east of the Ghost Sea. "This Waterway is known only to a few of you; it's not marked on any nautical charts. It's deep enough, with few reefs, and large enough for a single ship to pass through. If Transport Fleet wants to escape, it will most likely use this route."

"Why?"

"Because to the south is the Rocks, to the north is the Navy, and to the west are reefs. Only the eastern Waterway is passable."

Lin Yuan tapped his fingers on the Waterway.

"Ginny, you stay on Hachinosu tomorrow. Use the Glint-Glint Fruit to monitor the situation and report back immediately."

"Clear."

"Kaido, Bullet, Kuma, and King, come with me. Moria and Inazuma will stay behind."

"I'm going too," Moria's voice came from the doorway.

Lin Yuan turned his head and saw Moria standing at the door of the Intelligence Room, holding scissors in his hand.

"Are you going too?" Lin Yuan asked.

"I didn't do well against the Iron Hook Pirates last time. I'll make up for it this time."

Lin Yuan glanced at him.

"Alright. Go. Just follow orders."

Moria nodded and left.

Ginny made a note in the ledger.

"Everyone mobilized? Who will defend Hachinosu then?"

"Me and Inazuma," Ember's voice drifted in from outside the window, "The Float-Float Fruit can remotely monitor the sea. You stay on the island Glint-Glint Fruit will command. That's enough."

Ginny thought for a moment and then didn't ask any more questions.

It was five o'clock in the morning, and the sky was still dark.

Seven people stood at the port of Hachinosu: Kaido, Bullet, Kuma, King, Moria, Inazuma, and Lin Yuan. Ginny stood on the dock, holding Den Den Mushi.

"Is everything ready?"

"Ready," the seven people said in unison.

Lin Yuan raised his hand and opened a huge door in front of everyone. Behind the door was the Safe Waterway on the east side of the Ghost Sea. A thin mist floated on the sea, and the visibility was less than 500 meters.

"Walk."

He stepped in.

Six people followed closely behind.

The door closed.

Ginny stood still, her fingers forming a circle, her eyes gleaming with a purple light.

"Hive Eye, activate."

Her vision expanded instantly. Everything within a 4,000-kilometer radius was laid bare before her eyes. The Ghost Sea, the three forces, and the positions of the seven people were all clearly visible.

"Lin Yuan, did you hear that?"

"I heard you." Lin Yuan's voice came from the Den Den Mushi.

"The Rocks Fleet is about 80 kilometers to your northwest. The Marine Fleet is about 70 kilometers to your north. The Transport Fleet is about 60 kilometers to your southwest. Their routes all point towards your location."

"Understood. Keep an eye on it."

"Lin Yuan." Ginny hesitated for a moment, "That person— the Slow Heartbeat from the Rocks —was standing at the bow today, constantly looking in your direction."

"Did he know we were here?"

"Possible."

Lin Yuan remained silent for a moment.

"Ignore him. Proceed according to plan."

The Den Den Mushi snippet) hangs up.

(End of Chapter 58)