Zephyr's Shock!

Morito's warship was attacked by the Vulture Pirates, a subordinate of the Golden Lion's Flying Pirates, and all units received orders to cancel their patrol missions.

Everyone turned back and rendezvoused with Zephyr's main ship.

The Golden Lion was the strongest king on this great sea, and his forces were undeniably the largest.

Even Whitebeard and Roger couldn't compare.

As for Kaido, Charlotte was like two younger brothers to them now.

The Elite Class were not only Zephyr's students but also the future pillars of the Marines. Zephyr would not allow a group of geniuses who had yet to mature to take risks.

The main ship returned to Marineford, and Zephyr's captain's cabin now held two reports.

One was a battle report recorded by a Marine officer accompanying them, and the other was a report on Morito submitted by Kuzan.

The battle report recorded by the accompanying Marine officer was standard. Everyone worked together to annihilate the Takaya Pirates, and with Kuzan's help, they killed the Vulture and repelled the remnants of the Vulture Pirates.

Such a battle report was easy to accept and wouldn't raise suspicion.

After all, the Vulture had escaped from Zephyr three years ago, and his strength was beyond doubt.

However, the report Kuzan privately gave to Zephyr was different.

"The Vulture was killed by Morito?"

Zephyr held Kuzan's report and remained silent for a long time. If Kuzan had killed the Vulture, he wouldn't have been so surprised.

He had witnessed Kuzan's talent and growth. Although the Vulture was strong, Kuzan was not without a fight.

But Morito...

Although his talent was monstrous and not inferior to those three monsters, Morito was only fifteen years old. He had just finished his qualifying exam at the Training Camp and had only entered the Elite Class on the first day.

Zephyr frowned and pondered, recalling when he was fifteen.

Had he just joined the Marines? Was he training his physical strength?

In comparison, it was simply unbearable to recall.

Zephyr knew Kuzan's character. Kuzan would not joke about such a matter, so this must be true.

The battle report submitted by the Marine officer on the accompanying warship was also true.

However, it was the result of wishful thinking.

After all, only Kuzan and Morito were on the main battlefield. With the Vulture dead, everyone would subconsciously assume Kuzan had taken him down.

Because Morito was too young!

And Morito's most outstanding performance was at the Training Camp's qualifying exam, but the qualifying exam and naval warfare were two completely different concepts.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, even Zephyr wouldn't have believed Morito killed the Vulture.

But Kuzan's report forced him to believe it.

"I thought Morito's strength wasn't enough, so I sent Kuzan to be Morito's babysitter." Zephyr was momentarily speechless to describe his feelings.

According to Kuzan, if Morito hadn't been there, he would have been more than lightly injured.

At that time, the Vulture had the upper hand and could have killed Kuzan at any moment.

At the age of fifteen, he defeated the captain of the Vulture, one of the main fleets of the Flying Pirates. This achievement was something even those three monsters hadn't accomplished.

Moreover, while others didn't know the Vulture's true strength, Zephyr, who had fought him three years ago, knew it very well.

Although the Vulture's bounty was only 102 million Beli, his true strength was definitely above 300 million Beli.

Thinking of this, Zephyr became restless again.

He had just seen Morito's condition when he boarded the main ship.

Including Kuzan, everyone else was in a sorry state, most of them injured.

In contrast, Morito, apart from a little dust on his clothes, didn't even have a tear, let alone any injuries.

There was no sign of him having been in a fierce battle!

If Morito had ambushed the Vulture while Kuzan and the Vulture were locked in a stalemate, it would have been understandable.

However, Kuzan's report said that he had passed out at the time!

This meant that Morito had fought the Vulture alone and defeated him with his own strength.

"Hoo... what a monster."

Zephyr secretly exhaled, his arm aching after holding up Kuzan's report for so long before slowly putting it down.

After calming down for a few seconds, Zephyr began to ponder another matter mentioned in Kuzan's report, concerning Vice Admiral Tarantula.

Was Tarantula's appearance truly a coincidence?

Was it just a coincidence that the patrol fleet encountered the Vulture Pirates shortly after leaving Marine Headquarters?

The fallen brothers Luomen and Roer seemed to have taken a blow for Morito!

With that thought, Zephyr took out his Den Den Mushi and dialed Marine Headquarters. He wanted to verify his suspicions.

I hope I'm wrong.

Ring ring...

"Hello, this is Sengoku."

The Den Den Mushi connected, and a resolute, steady voice came from the other end.

Before stating his purpose, Zephyr issued a preemptive warning, "There's something I need your help with, but please don't let anyone else know for now."

"Zephyr?" Sengoku was taken aback, then his tone grew serious, "Tell me, what can I help with?"

"I want to know what Tarantula's mission is today?" Zephyr asked directly.

Zephyr had already retreated to the second line and become the head instructor of the Naval Academy.

He didn't have the authority to investigate military operations that the Naval Academy was aware of.

Sengoku, on the other hand, was still an Admiral at Marine Headquarters. He had the right to know about any naval operations and wouldn't arouse suspicion.

"Tarantula?"

Sengoku casually covered the Den Den Mushi and called over a Marine soldier.

After a brief conversation with the Marine soldier, he waved the person away.

Then, he picked up the Den Den Mushi again and brought it to his lips.

"Tarantula received a routine patrol mission to the Sabaody Archipelago today. You—"

"Sabaody Archipelago? I understand."

Before Sengoku could finish, Zephyr hung up the Den Den Mushi.

A patrol mission to the Sabaody Archipelago?

Their fleet's route was facing away from the Sabaody Archipelago, heading towards Reverse Mountain!

And according to Kuzan's report, Tarantula appeared directly ahead, in the direction of Reverse Mountain!

Tarantula, who should have been heading to the Sabaody Archipelago, instead appeared from another direction.

What did this signify?

It meant Tarantula never intended to go to the Sabaody Archipelago in the first place. He had rushed ahead of them and was waiting on the route of the warship where Morito was!

Whether it was the Takaya Pirates or the Vulture Pirates, it was highly likely that Tarantula lured them in!

"This matter probably has a lot to do with Tarantula, otherwise, there's no reason for the Vulture Pirates to attack the warship Morito was on."

Especially considering that the Vulture had barely escaped from him three years ago.

The Vulture wasn't an idiot; knowing his main ship was not far away, why would he attack the warship Morito was on?

Zephyr's mind was as clear as a mirror, his sharp eyes seeming to see through everything.

"It seems Tarantula didn't take the warning last time seriously!"

Luomen and Roer were Zephyr's students, and the battle report stated they died at the hands of the pirate leader.

Furthermore, the Vulture Pirates were lured in by Tarantula.

Zephyr attributed their deaths to Tarantula, especially since Tarantula was now openly plotting against Morito!