The next day, Senga appeared at the training grounds looking refreshed and energized. Beside him, Bridge whispered to Graves,
"Boss Senga's finally got spring in his step. Look how happy he is today."
Graves shot Bridge a sidelong glance but said nothing. He did not dare gossip about Senga's affairs. After all, Senga had promised to introduce him to that beautiful female officer's older sister.
Good heavens, judging by Miss Gion's looks, how bad could her sister possibly be? Just thinking about it excited him. At a time like this, he absolutely had to distance himself from that bastard Bridge.
Seeing that Graves did not want to humor him, Bridge sulkily shut his mouth, then turned to Binz and signaled with his eyes,
"Ask me! Ask me what happened last night!"
As expected, Binz remained silent. Fine, they were amazing, they were so high-minded, they would not even listen to gossip, huh? Then he would savor it all by himself!
As usual, Zephyr appeared on the platform. He swept his gaze over the crowd below and said,
"Today, I have two announcements. First, congratulations to Senga for taking first place in this year's Year-end assessment!"
As soon as he finished, thunderous applause erupted below. Many of the trainees flushed red, as though they themselves had won first place.
After all, the participants had not only been from their class. Many upperclassmen had participated as well, yet first place had still gone to someone from their class. That was something to be proud of.
At the very least, they would not have to hear the classic line, "You're the worst class I've ever taught."
Once the applause died down, Zephyr continued,
"The second matter is that trainee Senga will be temporarily leaving our Training Camp. By Headquarters' decision, given trainee Senga's strength, he will be assigned elsewhere for the coming year."
Having announced the final matter, Zephyr looked toward Senga in the crowd. His eyes held pride and reluctance, but above all, gratification.
Senga was his most satisfactory student. Now, that student had grown his wings ahead of schedule and was about to fly out onto the sea. As his teacher, all Zephyr could do was encourage and support him.
Senga's roommates were even more reluctant to part with him. Bridge threw his arms around Senga and bawled, begging Boss Senga not to leave. Metis, perched on Senga's shoulder, pushed at Bridge's chubby face with her tiny paws in disgust, unwilling to let his snot and tears dirty Senga's clothes.
Graves no longer cared that they were still on the training grounds. He silently pulled out a cigar and lit it, while Binz stared at Senga the whole time, expressing his reluctance through his eyes.
Senga was a little speechless. He pushed Bridge, who was clinging to him, away and spread his hands.
"What's with you guys? We'll be seeing each other again soon. Maybe before a year's even up, you'll all be on my ship. Believe it?"
Uh... The other three froze for a moment. Bridge reacted first. Right, with Boss Senga's strength, earning some military merit would be easy, would it not? Then he would rise through the ranks, and they would all ride his coattails to glory. Well, not exactly, but that was the general idea.
The three quickly calmed down. Senga patted their shoulders, then suddenly glanced in one direction. Bridge asked what was wrong, but Senga shook his head and said it was nothing.
Elsewhere, Ain silently withdrew her gaze and lowered her head to look at her toes. But because of her developing body, all she could see were two towering peaks.
"Will we meet again... Senga?"
After the two announcements, Zephyr declared the day off as a celebration of the Training Camp's strong performance this time. The trainees cheered, and the mood of parting was diluted.
Afterward, Senga was summoned to Zephyr's office again. This time, Zephyr did not wear his usual stern expression. The moment Senga entered, he saw Zephyr smiling at him with a trace of paternal warmth.
"Teacher Zephyr, may I ask what this is about?"
"It's nothing important. I just wanted to see you once more. You may be busy for quite some time from now on."
Looking at Zephyr like this, Senga sensed his loneliness, and his heart felt a little heavy.
Those damned pirates. The more Senga interacted with Zephyr, the more disgusted he became with pirates. This was the Admiral once known for never killing. How had those scum ever brought themselves to do such a thing?
His emotions surging, Senga suddenly asked Zephyr,
"Teacher Zephyr, what is your attitude toward pirates now?"
Hearing the question, Zephyr paused. Then he fell silent for a long while. Rather than answer directly, he asked in return,
"What do you think kindness is?"
Senga thought for a moment, then said gravely,
"Kindness must have an edge. A soft heart without boundaries will only make others push their luck; mercy without principles will only let them do whatever they please."
Kindness must have an edge? What a fine thing to say. Zephyr shook his head with a self-deprecating smile. He now agreed with Senga's words more than ever, and he knew that Senga was, in a sense, also rejecting the justice Zephyr had once upheld.
But what did rejection matter? Could the justice of not killing bring his wife and child back to life? Could it make those pirates truly repent? Senga's words were not only for him; they were also a warning to the dovish faction within the Navy.
Many in the dovish faction had become excessively lenient in their justice. Though Akainu's justice was often too extreme, one had to admit that the seas could not do without Marines like Akainu.
For Senga to say such words meant he had already formed a justice of his own. No one person's justice could simply be called right or wrong.
But at the very least, Zephyr acknowledged Senga. He was now certain that Senga's future would not end at Admiral. He would become Fleet Admiral, perhaps even something greater!
I truly hope I live to see that day! For that, he had to keep living well.
Ever since stepping down as an Admiral, Zephyr felt once again that his entire body was filled with drive. He had to use every last bit of his strength to send Senga to the summit that belonged to him!
With that thought, he stood and placed a hand on Senga's shoulder.
"Go without worry, Senga. Your teacher will always be your staunchest support at Headquarters!"
Before you continue