The rapidly approaching pirate ship put the trainee soldiers aboard Zephyr's warship on edge.
Though these young people were outstanding Marines selected from the best of the Four Blues, everyone understood that the pirates running rampant in the Four Blues could not compare to those of the New World.
It was not only because competition in the New World was harsher than in the Four Blues. More importantly, the New World's extreme climate had long since weeded out weak pirates. The pirates who could survive and move freely across these seas were far beyond these young Marines' imagination.
"Report! The enemy has entered naval gun range!"
A Marine's voice came from the lookout through the deck's loudspeakers. Upon hearing it, Zephyr did not immediately order them to fire. Instead, his expression turned grave as he came to Ace, Sabo, and the others, ordering the three brothers, "You three, this isn't where you belong. Go back inside the cabin."
As the pirate ship drew closer, Zephyr could clearly sense two powerful auras aboard it. They were so intense that even he felt immense pressure.
This opponent who had suddenly appeared was probably not going to be easy to deal with.
They were no small-time pirates. Ace and the others could not stay on deck any longer. Once the battle began, Zephyr did not want to be distracted protecting the three boys.
"Huh?!"
"But I wanna—"
Luffy did not want to return to the cabin. He felt that he was no longer a child and wanted to stay here to help Zephyr and the others fend off the enemy.
Luffy was still Luffy. Even at Marine Headquarters, even under Zephyr's instruction, he still shouted every day about becoming the Pirate King.
For that, Zephyr, like Garp, had responded with heavy fists. But