"So, you think Cifer is that kind of person too, and that's why you arrogantly want to kill him as well?"
He had some doubts throughout his life. He already Conqueror's Haki, so how could he be a fool who couldn't even see the difference in strength?
"I'm not that arrogant, but I've wanted to see you for a long time! Ever since you said in Loguetown, 'The world only needs you, the only evil, to exist!'"
"Let me be your companion, Ulquiorra Cifer!"
There was a hint of madness in the boy's words.
"You wouldn't happen to be a big fan of Captain Cifer, would you?"
Nolan almost laughed. She suddenly remembered that time when she was just an ordinary person and dared to hold a knife to Captain Cifer's neck.
"He is different from you. The God can sense that he is hostile towards us."
Enel shattered Nolan's expectations. Although the boy wasn't showing it yet, Nolan could tell that the other person didn't genuinely want to become their comrade.
"I want to see you fulfill your declaration!"
The boy spoke, hoping that the man before him could truly become the only evil in the world, just as the declaration stated!
"Then what?"
Cifer now finds this kid rather interesting, having Awakening Conqueror's Haki at such a young age.
Moreover, he is already able to use this power to a certain extent, and by no means does he seem like someone who is willing to submit to others.
But now he says he wants to become my companion because of that declaration? Cifer was a little curious about his thoughts.
"I will stay by your side, grow stronger, and become stronger than you! Once you reach the top and become the only evil in the world, I will eliminate you!"
The young man didn't seem to regard the person in front of him as some kind of top-priority criminal; instead, he spoke these words as if catching up with an old friend.
He has always wanted to eradicate all the evil people in the world, but how can he do it on his own?
It was at that moment that the man's declaration moved him: he couldn't do it himself, but someone else might be able to.
In the months that followed, the man's actions gave the boy hope. He was powerful, he was arrogant, and he, too, wanted to eradicate evil!
Therefore, after the Sabaody Archipelago incident, in order to become stronger and to find him, the boy entered the New World alone.
Upon hearing this, everyone around Cifer was astonished.
Not to mention ordinary civilians, even the Great Pirate of the New World or the marines tremble at the mere mention of their captain's name.
But now, a young man with a little bit of strength but not much actually doesn't take the captain's reputation seriously at all.
"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you right now?"
Cifer didn't know whether he was brave enough to be a fool like Kid, or truly stupid enough to be pathetic.
"So what if I'm dead? My life should have ended months ago. I've already made a fortune by living this long and killing so many pirates and villains!"
A flicker of pain crossed the boy's fearless face, followed by relief. If he were to die here, at the hands of a man like this, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad.
"Young man, it would be premature for you to die here now!"
A regretful voice came from behind Cifer and the others. Everyone turned around, and T-Bone's eyes widened, clearly unable to believe what he was seeing:
"Mr. Zephyr! What are you doing here?"
Approaching them were Zephyr and his two students, Ain and Binz.
"Huh? Aren't you a brat from Marineford? What are you doing with this bastard?"
When T-Bone recognized him, Zephyr vaguely remembered seeing T-Bone at Marineford, as his appearance was indeed unforgettable.
"Um... I've already left the Navy! I'm going to follow Mr. Ulquiorra to pursue true justice!"
Facing this highly respected senior officer from the Marineford, T-Bone instinctively felt ashamed of his behavior.
But only a moment later, he cast aside that useless sense of shame, which was worthless compared to true justice.
"A Marine from the Marineford staked justice on a notorious Great Pirate? How ironic!"
"However, I'm not in a position to say that you are."
Zephyr seemed sarcastic, but they were actually self-deprecating.
As he passed by T-Bone, he simply patted the latter's shoulder lightly before walking up to Cifer.
"You've given me quite a search! Based on the clues you left after entering the New World, I knew you would come here."
"However, I didn't expect to find such a good prospect."
Zephyr pushed up his sunglasses and revealed a smile.
Ulquiorra was very satisfied with what he had done in the Sabaody Archipelago.
He killed a few Celestial Dragons, slaughtered several so-called Worst Generation, and taught his own stupid and incompetent students a harsh lesson.
Most importantly, he did what he said he would do.
He killed the hateful Edward Weevil and his mother, avenging his dead students and his own crippled arm.
During this time, Zephyr also saw Ulquiorra's different treatment of pirates and civilians, and his boundless hatred for pirates also faded a little.
"It seems Mr. Zephyr has figured it out!"
Cifer was very satisfied. He had originally planned to go find Zephyr, but if he had gone, there would have been quite a discussion.
But now that Zephyr has come to him on his own initiative, it means that he has already made preparations.
"Let me make this clear first, I'm not here to be your subordinate. I'm here to train New Marines who can uphold justice in the future!"
Zephyr quickly distanced himself, clarifying that he wasn't there to become a pirate with Ulquiorra.
"Of course, our starting point is justice, isn't it?"
Cifer naturally didn't mind his statement. After all, he had never intended to treat him as a subordinate or a partner; he should be considered a colleague.
"Since I'm in charge of discovering and training the future New Marines, you'll have to find a way to cover the funding, right?"
Zephyr rubbed his fingers together, his meaning clear.
"Perfect timing, T-Bone, wake up your men, empty this palace, and while you're at it, hand over this Heavenly Gold to Zephyr so he can handle it."
Without a second thought, Cifer made a decision and finalized everything in just a few words.
"Eh~ But this Heavenly Gold is..."
T-Bone hesitated. Giving the Heavenly Gold to Mr. Zephyr to build New Marines sounded really good, but what about the civilians of this country?
"T-Bone, Heavenly Gold cannot save this country."
The usually silent bear spoke up.
He had a clear understanding of the current state of the country.
The upper echelons are completely rotten; even if the Heavenly Gold is returned, it will not return to the people.
"Then... then Mr. Ulquiorra will be here..."
"Won't."
Before T-Bone could finish speaking, Cifer interrupted him.
To fly one's flag in such a country is an insult to the Cifer.
"The situation in this country is very suitable for the Revolutionary Army to intervene."
Xiong already had his own ideas: if the people at the bottom don't rise up in rebellion, this country will never have a chance to improve.
T-Bone didn't speak again, but silently woke up his men and told them to do as Cifer instructed.
"Kid, stay by my side. If you want to kill pirates or something, I'll take you with me."
Zephyr then turned his gaze to the boy, his eyes filled with admiration.
Fearless of powerful enemies, hating evil as if it were their enemy, and having Awakening Conqueror's Haki at a young age, his future is immeasurable. This is exactly the kind of talent the New Marines needs!
"Uncle, who are you?"
The boy looked puzzled. He thought he might die here, but he didn't expect that someone else wanted to take him away.
"I am the New Marines —Z! And you, kid?"
Zephyr pushed up his sunglasses and said the title he had used before and would continue to use in the future.
"Me? My name is Qiaomu."
(Happy New Year)