Zephyr's last words left Dragon stunned for quite a while.
He subconsciously lowered his head, his eyelids drooping slightly.
Seeing Dragon's silent expression, Zephyr let out a disdainful sigh.
"You don't naively think that Kuma will end up well after coming into contact with a dangerous guy like Vegapunk, do you?"
Or do you think that our navy, especially the World Government's CP, would be completely unaware of Kuma's identity?
Of course, most Vice Admiral wouldn't know Kuma's identity, but the Five Elders, Sengoku, Garp, and the other Admiral were all aware of it.
Including the crane, we all have guesses about the Kuma's identity!
Perhaps you understand, or perhaps you're so naive as to not understand at all.
In short, I'm going to tell you the truth now!
As he spoke, Zephyr's gaze sharpened, his eyes filled with something indescribable.
He continued speaking to Dragon indifferently.
"I must tell you, there has always been an order within the upper echelons of our navy."
That is, although we weren't 100% certain about Kuma's Revolutionary Army background at the time, since Kuma had already made contact with Vegapunk, there was absolutely no way he could have left alive!
As soon as he finished speaking, Zephyr gently patted Dragon on the shoulder.
"We no longer bother to find out who Kuma is."
All we need to know is that since a suspicious person has been placed in a suspicious position, the best course of action is to completely eliminate the suspicion!
So, Dragon, my first... disciples.
With your intelligence, how could you not guess our judgment?
Or are you saying you can't guess what will happen to Kuma in the end?
At this point, Zephyr raised his hand and lit a cigar. He casually tossed the cigar into his mouth and took a satisfying puff.
Meanwhile, Dragon fell into an endless silence.
He remained silent for a long time until he slightly raised his eyelids.
But just as he was about to speak, someone nearby...
Grandpa Crocus, carrying a harpoon, strode toward Zephyr with a menacing look!
"Hey, you bastard, are you ignoring what I'm saying?!"
While cursing Zephyr, Crocus reached out and grabbed Zephyr by the collar.
"Don't you remember what I said to you after I examined you yesterday?!"
Your lungs are congested, you absolutely cannot come into contact with that damn tobacco anymore, do you understand?!
If you can, then quickly throw away your cigars and drink the herbal decoction I prescribed for you one more time!
Did you hear me?!
"What do you understand!"
In response to Crocus's curses, Zephyr grabbed Crocus by the collar!
"Old man, even Kong wouldn't talk to me like that!"
Loosen my clothes, loosen them...
Bang!
Before Zephyr could finish speaking, Crocus punched Zephyr hard across the face.
Immediately afterwards, old man Crocus grabbed Zephyr and continued to curse viciously.
"Don't even mention you, old man. Back in the day, even when Roger didn't follow the doctor's orders, I still beat him up like this!"
"You think you can have any special privileges just because you're Marine Admiral? You clueless patient!!!"
In an instant, Zephyr and Crocus were locked in a fierce fight, shoving each other like street thugs.
Watching the two fight, Rayleigh gave them a nostalgic look.
He raised his wine jug and clinked it against the silent Dragon.
"Haha, isn't that funny? We old guys still prefer to greet each other with our fists."
And you might not know this, but back then, Roger and Crocus were always bickering like this.
"So, were you scared by the appearance of the Dark Bird Ship?"
At this point, Rayleigh patted Dragon on the shoulder and then brought the small flask in his hand to his mouth.
His expression was incredibly comfortable and content.
Looking at Rayleigh's relaxed gaze, Dragon remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.
"Indeed."
After saying that, Dragon for a moment, picked up the wine jug, and took a sip with Rayleigh.
But before Dragon had finished his drink, Rayleigh suddenly let out a deep laugh.
As he laughed, he glanced down at Dragon, a cold glint flashing across his glasses.
He said to Dragon with a cold smile.
"However, Dragon, the closer our group is to you, the less we like someone like you... someone who puts scheming and plotting first!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Rayleigh gave Dragon a smile.
Looking at the meaningful smile on Rayleigh's face, Dragon and said softly.
"Whether it was planning or scheming, that was not my... original intention."
At least, I...
At this point, Dragon seemed unsure how to continue, because in some respects, Zephyr was right.
How could he not know the danger of infiltrating Vegapunk's inner circle? In fact, Kuma had expressed his willingness to sacrifice himself to him more than once!
Although I tried to persuade them, my persuasion wasn't as firm as I thought.
Because he knew that, given the Revolutionary Army's current state, they might really need Kuma's sacrifice.
Some things are just like that. Although Dragon may not have been able to foresee the future fate of the Kuma, which was to lose consciousness and almost completely become a robot.
However, when Kuma made the decision to temporarily leave the Revolutionary Army and infiltrate the World Government's most valued scientist to personally investigate Vegapunk's experimental results and find opportunities that would benefit the Revolutionary Army.
Dragon had already realized that the Kuma seemed to have a preordained ending for itself.
So, what did he do?
As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, if he firmly disagrees with Kuma's decision, then even if Kuma is willing to sacrifice himself, he cannot disobey his orders!
But did he do that?
Even Sabo was secretly displeased with this matter, and Ivankov hadn't seen him for a long time.
If it weren't for the need to meet Gawain on the Grand Line today, Ivankov might not have even come...
Thinking of this, Dragon frowned and poured the entire jug of wine down his throat.
As he savored the taste of the liquor as it slid down his throat, Dragon sighed with melancholy.
"I don't think I've done anything wrong in this matter."
Everyone faces choices, including me and Kuma.
But in any case, now that we've made the decision, we don't think we're wrong.
"How can someone who doesn't even approve of his own decisions possibly succeed, Mr. Rayleigh!"
He looked at Rayleigh with a tired expression.
Seeing the weariness in Dragon's eyes, Rayleigh grinned, then simply put his arm around Dragon's shoulder.
"I understand!"
Rayleigh gazed wistfully at the distant Sea of Clouds.
"Everyone makes painful decisions sometimes; I myself faced countless agonizing choices back in the day."
Whether it was the disbandment of the pirate crew or Roger's death...
Do you know, I was in pain for a very, very long time when Roger was executed.
Although it was his decision, and although he himself didn't have much time left to live.
But in any case, that fellow is my dearest friend, and more importantly, my captain!
Rayleigh pondered for a moment, then remembered someone else.
"And Oden, when that guy was killed by Kaido, I... grieved for a long time."
News from Wano Country is so out of touch.
In short, who hasn't experienced pain and faced choices in life?
Even what we, the Dark Bird Ship, are trying to do now is... to reduce the suffering and choices faced by future generations and ordinary people, isn't it?
At this point, Rayleigh smiled slightly and then patted Dragon on the shoulder again.
"I've taken your picture several times already, haha, you old man, you're so sentimental."
Anyway, let Zephyr tell you, that guy got rid of Crocus!
As he spoke, Zephyr waved to Crocus was walking over in a disheveled state.
Zephyr curled his lip as he watched Rayleigh wave his hand.
"Crocus is really ruthless. Did he really beat Roger up like this back then?"
"Back then, haha, he was much more ruthless than this."
Rayleigh exchanged a few pleasantries with a smile, then left and leisurely lay down on a beach chair.
Zephyr walked up to Dragon and grinned.
"This is really interesting. I never imagined that I would be fighting with pirates and chatting with the Revolutionary Army like you."
But perhaps that's the charm of Gawain, haha.
As they spoke, Zephyr looked towards Gawain in the distance, who was leaping into the sea with Shirahoshi's help and playing with Laboon.
Gawain, despite being weak and exhausted from being soaked in seawater, was still playing like a ball on Shirahoshi and Laboon's tails.
Zephyr smiled knowingly.
He pointed at Gawain's figure and smiled with satisfaction.
"You just said that even a naval Admiral like myself is just a dog of the Celestial Dragon."
But take a closer look, kid. Being a dog for someone like that is probably happier than being 99% of the world's population, right?
You know, even though we've always followed the orders from the Celestial Dragon and the Five Elders, we know better than anyone whether those orders are right or wrong.
Yes, we'd love to do it.
That's wrong; we should avoid it if we can.
If we can't avoid it, we can only try our best to minimize the damage from that command.
In short, the Navy is subordinate, and we have always been subordinate to the World Government.
"So you know what? We've been waiting for Five Elders like Gawain for way too long!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zephyr's expression turned serious. He looked at Gawain and said with utmost earnestness.
"The captain may not know, or he may know, that he has long become the hope of our navy!"
Do you think we don't know there's a problem with this ocean? Do you think we don't want to change the current state of the ocean?
We, the navy, and you Revolutionary Army, all share the same goal: we all want to change the world.
But clearly, our methods are different!
As the conversation deepened, Zephyr's expression grew increasingly serious, and his gaze toward Dragon became more and more dangerous.
"Our goal is to maintain as much stability as possible within the existing framework of the ocean, while simultaneously making changes in a stable manner."
Especially with someone like Gawain appearing, we're even more excited!
And you, instead of thinking about how stable the ocean is, you're no different from that bastard Roger. You only wish the ocean wouldn't become chaotic!
"And in this chaos, your Revolutionary Army should take the opportunity to destroy the Celestial Dragon's existence..."
After saying that, Zephyr shook his head and said with a laugh.
"If this were in the past, haha."
Even if I don't help you, I certainly won't help them. Staying neutral or just going through the motions is probably what we'll be doing.
After all, you should know that, apart from Sakazuki, who's like a volcano, everyone else in the Navy now possesses superb paddling skills.
Kuzan, haha, he's long since lost his way.
Borsalino, that kid knows better than anyone, but the clearer he sees things, the more cunning he becomes.
Sengoku, he had it so tough. He was more benevolent than Kong, yet also more domineering. It was difficult for such a person to be caught between the common people and the World Government.
As for Garp, he's a guy who pretends to be crazy, but he's actually quite wise.
So you see, apart from Sakazuki, everyone else in the Navy already knew how to survive; they all knew exactly what to do.
Now that Gion and I have both stood behind Gawain, they are even more aware of the situation!
So, Dragon..."
Zephyr looked intently at Dragon's face and spoke slowly, word by word.
"I don't know what your original plans were."
But I must tell you, from the time the Dark Bird Ship was formed until now, there is no longer any possibility for you to continue doing whatever you want!
Even if Gawain is on the ship, or rather, it is precisely because Gawain is on the ship that I am telling you this.
The Celestial Dragon can disappear, and the World Government can reform, but whether they disappear or reform, we, the officers of the Dark Bird Ship, including the Marines, are all subject to the same fate.
We will not support anyone other than Gawain!
So, Dragon, coordinate your Revolutionary Army and find your place in the future!
In the past, when we were hunting you down, we mostly maintained a degree of leniency. Our attitude was that we could arrest you, but we could also choose not to, or perhaps we could fail to catch you.
We see many of your cadres, but we're too lazy to do anything about them.
But from now on, or from the future, when you are no longer just blocking the path of the Affiliated Nation and the World Government, but blocking Gawain's path.
By then, Dragon.
We are about to be divided into life and death!
When that time comes, if our swords are drawn against your neck a second time...
Even if your father is my old friend, you are still my disciple.
All I can do is go to your tombstone and offer a cup of wine in remembrance!
After speaking, Zephyr nodded to Dragon, and then the old man adjusted his sunglasses.
"That's all for now, haha. After all, the captain has given the order; it's time for the banquet."
"This old man, acting like a teacher, said a lot of things that were inappropriate for a banquet. Please don't blame me."
"No, how could that be?"
Dragon shook his head gently, then reached out and gave Zephyr a light hug.
After a very brief embrace, Dragon released Zephyr and said seriously.
"Not only do I not blame you, I must thank you. Your words have given me a lot of ideas, Professor Zephyr."
After saying that, Dragon, with a stern face, took the initiative to pick up the wine jug.
"We really should have a good drink, both for me and for my companions."
"Professor Zephyr, this is the first toast I'm making today, to you."
He raised the flask high toward Zephyr and then took a big gulp.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Awoo~~~