Inside the Marine Headquarters, they gazed at the Den Den Mushi that had instantly returned to a dormant state.
Akainu nodded with a stern face.
"As expected of Saint Gawain, he shows respect for us marines in every way. Once he comes to Mary Geoise in person, even with Professor Zephyr's bad temper, he probably won't say anything too serious... of a refusal, right?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Sakazuki pursed his lips and looked towards the training field.
However, after just one glance, he frowned in confusion.
Teacher Zephyr recently had his mechanical hand replaced by Vegapunk's. Logically, now that he has his hand back, he should return to the training grounds and teach those young children as he used to.
But now, it's been half a month since Teacher Zephyr changed hands, and he hasn't even gone to the Zephyr grounds...
Thinking of this, Sakazuki shook his head regretfully. It seems that Professor Zephyr really can no longer bear the weight of time and fate.
As he recalled Professor Zephyr's past, Sakazuki secretly made a vow in his heart.
I must take good care of my health. I absolutely cannot afford to suffer from an illness similar to that of Professor Zephyr before I have even fulfilled my duty of justice!
Asthma... Asthma!
If it weren't for this damn asthma, how could Professor Zephyr have had his right hand nerves injured by trash pirates below the level of the Four Emperors!
Meanwhile, Zephyr, who was being nagged by Sakazuki, sat in his bedroom with his head down, remaining silent for a long time.
Ahead of him, the two remaining Marines from the attack by the Devil Fruit pirates years ago, and also Zephyr's last two disciples Ain and Binz, looked at their teacher with concern.
After a moment's hesitation, Ain nervously clutched her heart with both hands and asked Zephyr.
"Professor Zephyr, you... don't look well."
"Was there something wrong with the hand that Vegapunk gave you?"
"Snort!"
Upon hearing Ain's words, Zephyr abruptly raised his head. At this moment, his once gentle and kind eyes had turned into a fierce and numb expression!
He spoke coldly to his two disciples.
"The problem has never been my hands, but the navy behind me, and even more so, the World Government behind the navy!"
"Tolerating evil and allowing Devil Fruit User to wreak havoc on the seas, and even... even letting the pirates who killed my disciples be branded as Shichibukai!!!"
As he spoke, Zephyr glared fiercely at the window beside the bed. When he looked through the glass and saw the clouds in the sky outside, he realized...
His right hand snapped with a sharp pain!
"Ain, Binz... I'm sorry!"
Zephyr suddenly spoke.
"I can no longer stand this kind of life!"
Five years! A full five years! Just two years after that guy attacked me, he kidnapped the Heavenly Tribute of Dressrosa and used that damned thing to gain the title of Shichibukai!!!
Donquixote Doflamingo!!!
Muttering Doflamingo's name fiercely, Zephyr took a deep breath, and then suddenly stood up.
"Let's not talk about that anymore, Ain, Binz, I must apologize to you!"
I can no longer tolerate living in the navy!
With the current navy, it is impossible to avenge me!
That guy has been Shichibukai for a year and a half now, and his foundation is the New World, even Mary Geoise!
The Navy, haha, the Navy has no influence over him!
In short, I'm leaving the Navy to temporarily form a Guerrilla to hunt down those damned Devil Fruit user pirates on the high seas!
If I were to die on this journey, then so be it, let me die in disgrace, for I, who am still alive, am filled with shame and cannot sleep!
But if I can gradually build up a force, I will create a new navy that will overturn everything!
The Navy should not be trash that colludes with the Shichibukai. Only by resolutely killing every pirate, especially Devil Fruit user pirates, can we succeed!
Only then can the Navy firmly uphold its true stance of justice!!!
At this point, Zephyr reached out and pushed his dazed disciples aside.
Then, he strode to the door, took the huge mechanical right hand that had just been attached, and smashed his door open with a single punch.
Looking at the shattered door, Zephyr sensed his own power.
"Vegapunk's technique is indeed impressive. Although these novice hands don't even have half the strength I once possessed, they are more than enough to deal with most pirates!"
Especially since it's made of Seastone, this hand might be even more suitable for dealing with ability users than my previous one!
As soon as he finished speaking, Zephyr strode towards the dock. Having made up his mind, he didn't want to stay a moment longer!
The Marine Headquarters that he once regarded as a source of pride now only disgusted him!
People's joys and sorrows are not the same. At this moment, in the Marine Headquarters, soldiers and officers alike were all laughing and talking about how Sakazuki had chased the new generation Four Emperors Red-Haired Shanks, so hard that he was running away with his tail between his legs.
But to Zephyr, those words only sounded noisy!
Just then, Zephyr saw his two disciples still following behind him, walking with him towards the dock.
Finally, Zephyr couldn't help himself and spoke to his disciples again.
"I really don't know what those idiots are thinking. Sakazuki spent two whole months relentlessly hunting Red-Haired Shanks, even cornering him in the Sabaody Archipelago!"
Shanks himself is the newly crowned Emperors of the Sea, and his relationship with the veteran Four Emperors is already quite tense!
Of the Four Emperors of the New World, Kaido and Big Mom didn't react at all; only the old Whitebeard made a brief appearance at the entrance to the New World!
They could have simply sent one Admiral, or even just had that old guy Garp block Whitebeard.
With the Navy's forces located at Sabaody and Marine Headquarters, killing Shanks would be a piece of cake!!!
And the result? Humph!
The World Government not only did not support my proposal, but also stopped Sakazuki from hunting Red-Haired Shanks and allowed him to return to the New World!
In the past, when I still held onto the foolish sense of justice of not killing, there were always people who advised me not to let the tiger return to the mountain.
But now, I regret it. They've done something they were bound to regret: letting a tiger return to the mountain!
Even so, those officers still had the nerve to laugh and talk about it, actually thinking it was some kind of damn honor!
Shouldn't they understand better than I do the truth that only dead pirates are good pirates?!
As he continued cursing, Zephyr forcefully waved his hand.
"And what are you two idiots doing following me? Do you think I'm still your pride?!"
I've long since lost the ability and the right to let you develop within the navy!
Admiral is not allowed to fail. Of Admiral across the vast ocean, only I bear the shame of having failed!
Besides me, even Fleet Admiral Kong resigned from Fleet Admiral position immediately after being defeated by Red Count!!!
Even though it was my first asthma attack, and I didn't even know I had asthma, so I didn't bring my medication, which led to my defeat by that damned Flamingo!
Even if I have so many reasons, people won't remember them; they'll only know that I lost!
A defeated Admiral, huh? For the past four years, the new recruits haven't even known my name!
Whether it's the World Government or the Marine Headquarters, they just want me to go to a quiet corner, to a place where no one will mention me!
Ain, Binz, even so, will you still follow me?!
You need to understand that I am no longer qualified to educate the new generation of marines, nor am I qualified to have you two fill the vacancies of Rear Admiral and Vice Admiral as I originally intended!
I have become a thorn in the side of the higher-ups, a shameful legend that cannot be spoken of!
So, you two hurry up and go find Sakazuki, and have him, my second disciple, grant you the position of general on my behalf!!!
After saying that, Zephyr waved his hand with a cold laugh and then walked towards the dock.
He stole a naval supply ship a few days ago and moored it in a hidden spot on the dock.
But when he set off again, Ain and Binz behind him exchanged a glance and immediately followed him without hesitation!
Sensing his disciples' movements, Zephyr silently stopped.
Slowly turning around, Zephyr closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Have you thought it through?
"Of course, Professor Zephyr!"
Ain's gaze was unusually firm, and she spoke to Zephyr with absolute certainty.
Five years ago, or to be precise, four years and nine months ago!
As you struggled to stay afloat, your body writhing from asthma, you managed to catch the thread that Doflamingo was meant to kill both of us with your own right hand, resulting in Doflamingo severing the nerves in your right hand.
Binz and I have already resolved to give our lives in place of your lost right hand, to stay by your side forever!
So, Professor Zephyr, please don't ever say anything about leaving to us again!
Just like the hatred that fills your heart!
Binz and I were already filled with hatred, so how could we possibly do anything to obey the Navy?
If we were ordered to release the pirates, which would condemn us to prison for disobeying orders, we'd rather follow you right now...
"Cough cough!!!"
Upon hearing this, Zephyr coughed heavily, looking at his disciple with a face full of surprise.
"Hey, you two, I felt your sincerity, and I was quite moved!"
But what's with your attitude that I'm bound to turn to crime?!
From the day I became a Marine, I was determined to carry out justice to the very end!
Even if I leave the Navy, I'm only going to find my own justice!!!
After speaking, Zephyr took a deep breath and then nodded.
"Since you all want to come, let's all come together. We'll get right there..."
Prick!!!
Suddenly, an extremely dazzling bolt of lightning, slashing horizontally, appeared abruptly in the cloudless, clear sky of Marineford!
The next instant, an incredibly loud clap of thunder followed, bombarding the ears of every marine.
Accompanied by a deafening clap of thunder, the Inazuma paused briefly before slamming down hard near the dock!
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, Akainu, who rarely spends time in his office, and Kizaru, who is also slacking off in his office, are present.
Or perhaps it's the Sengoku where the Fleet Admiral's Office.
Anyone with sufficient strength quickly spread their Observation Haki!
While the strong remained vigilant, the weak turned into amusement, chatting amongst themselves about the bizarre bolt from the blue that had just struck.
Near Marineford Pier, Zephyr stared incredulously at Gawain, who had suddenly appeared!
At this moment, Gawain was only wearing a pair of trousers that were torn and stained with blood, and his upper body was bare and covered with bruises. He stood in front of Zephyr with excitement and anticipation!
What surprised Zephyr the most was that Gawain's hand, which had been casually resting on the hilt of his sword, was now covered in blood!
His thumb was nearly severed by an incredibly sharp blade!
For a moment, Zephyr could hardly believe his eyes.
Why would Saint Gawain appear before me in such a disheveled state?
I just called Sakazuki and asked if I could meet with Saint Gawain.
Before I knew it, we hadn't even reached the dock.
Saint Gawain actually appeared before me, covered in injuries?!
At this moment, Gawain, who was covered in injuries, seemed to notice his injured hand. So he pursed his lips, bent down and tore off a strip of cloth from his trouser leg to hastily bandage his right hand.
While bandaging the wound, Gawain shook his head helplessly.
"I'm sorry, but when I heard that you were willing to see me, I was so excited that I immediately dropped what I was doing and rushed over to Marineford."
As for these injuries, haha, when they were training me, they wouldn't let me use my Devil Fruit powers to dodge their attacks.
If I had to tough it out, wouldn't I end up like this...?
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain transformed his bandaged hand into the shape of Inazuma, and then transformed it back.
However, his injuries did not disappear during his elemental transformation process...
Looking at Gawain's wound, which couldn't be healed by elemental transformation, Zephyr swallowed hard.
For some reason, his eyes lit up—a look he only showed when he spotted a qualified student!
Zephyr grabbed Gawain's injured wrist.
"No need to try anymore. A knife wound that even elementalization cannot heal must mean that your trainer used Armament Haki entangling techniques."
Only by allowing Armament Haki to permeate and influence the body of Logia Devil Fruit User from the inside out can such a persistent injury, one that cannot be healed even by elementalization, be created!
Looking at the marks on your knife, they're so different from Rayleigh's and that smile's style!
It must have been Gion who did it! Her strength hasn't increased much in the last six months!
"Indeed!"
Listening to Zephyr's explanation, Gawain nodded with satisfaction. This teacher had excellent eyesight; he could tell from the wound that it was Gion's hand!
So he raised his uninjured hand, and Zephyr gave him a thumbs up.
"Wow, Professor Zephyr, you knew who did it at a glance!"
Gion's swords have been getting heavier lately; it's probably because the training environment on our ship is better. We have the Press-Press Fruit and the Paw-Paw Fruit as aids, and these two Devil Fruits are very effective in improving strength."
"Don't!!!"
Upon hearing Gawain's words, Zephyr immediately raised his massive mechanical right hand.
"Please don't call me teacher. I don't have a disciple as noble as Celestial Dragon. Even if you come to see me covered in injuries, I haven't decided to accept your invitation yet!"
"Ha ha!"
Looking at Zephyr, whose words were fierce but whose eyes actually revealed a hint of admiration.
Gawain smiled and shrugged at Zephyr.
"Stop joking, Professor Zephyr. You should know that when I rushed over looking like this, you had no choice but to accept my offer."
"Hehe!"
Upon hearing this, Zephyr shook his head heavily.
"Not everyone is willing to endure hardship. Even if you maintain this kind of rigorous training that leaves you covered in wounds every day, I will only look at you with more respect."
There's no room for refusal, hehe, if this old man wanted to refuse, he would refuse no matter what...
"Uh, Professor Zephyr, do you want to hear me shout that the Marines are beating up the Celestial Dragon...?"
Gawain laughed and teased Zephyr, his words making Zephyr's eyes almost pop out of their sockets!
Looking at the reckless Gawain in front of him, Zephyr shut his mouth and swallowed hard.
Then, he spoke emphatically to Gawain.
"Thick-skinned and ruthless, able to put on airs but also willing to abandon dignity!"
Gawain, you truly deserve to be called a Celestial Dragon, a once-in-a-millennium talent, according to the Sengoku period!
You really have broadened my horizons!
Sorry, something came up recently and I was a little delayed. There's only one chapter today.
On Miss Saturday and Sundays, I try to find time to post three updates each day.
I'd also like to recommend a book by my good friend Cabbage; we've been doing these kinds of backroom deals for a long time.
Starting from the Flash Star to Dominate DC is a must-read for fans of American comics.
Love you all.