Hidden Background Check!

Hidden Background Check!

"The night sky in this world is even deeper than the one before."

"And the stars are brighter too!"

While Tsugikuni Yoriichi was marveling at the night sky, Zephyr was not at home.

Tonight, he had a meeting to attend. This meeting was important to him and to Tsugikuni Yoriichi alike!

Inside the Fleet Admiral's office.

Kong sat behind his desk. Two stacks of documents were piled in front of him, and he was carefully reviewing the papers in his hands.

It was not just Kong. Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Tsuru and Marine Headquarters Admiral Sengoku stood on either side of him, reviewing the documents on the desk as well.

Knock, knock, knock!

Suddenly, someone knocked on the office door. Kong looked up from behind his desk and called out in a powerful voice, "Come in!"

The office door opened, and Zephyr strode in wearing a cape emblazoned with "Justice." After entering, he casually shut the door behind him and quickly approached Kong's desk, asking with a grave expression:

"How did the investigation go?"

"Is there a problem?"

Kong did not answer Zephyr directly. Instead, he lowered his head again and continued reading the documents in his hands. Seeing this, Zephyr's pupils contracted slightly. He took a deep breath and was about to speak when Tsuru, standing nearby, raised a hand to stop him.

"Don't be impatient. Sit on the sofa for a while."

"From what we've seen so far, there are some questionable points, but nothing that suggests any major problem."

Hearing that, Zephyr walked over to the sofa and dropped heavily onto it. He asked in a low voice, "What questionable points?"

Just as Tsuru was about to explain, Sengoku spoke up first.

"Tsugikuni Yoriichi's actual age should be twelve."

"According to the accounts of the Dragon Roar Island survivors Garp rescued, Tsugikuni Yoriichi really did live on Dragon Roar Island all along."

"His parents arrived on Dragon Roar Island twenty years ago. As for where they came from, there is no longer any way to verify it."

"When Tsugikuni Yoriichi was two, his father died of illness. His mother also passed away from illness when he was eight."

"He had originally grown up on charity from the townspeople, but he suddenly disappeared two years ago. The next time the townspeople saw him was recently, when he and Garp were clearing out pirates."

Zephyr listened to Sengoku with a furrowed brow. When he heard this, he said with some dissatisfaction:

"Hey! Sengoku, after saying all that, what exactly is the questionable point?!"

"Isn't the course of his life perfectly clear? He disappeared two years ago, most likely because he got lost in the forest. There are plenty of large beasts on Dragon Roar Island. The townspeople probably thought he was dead after he vanished."

"Didn't Garp find the cave where he had been living in the middle of the island?"

"His sword was probably passed down by his parents. As for his swordsmanship, that was due both to his talent and his parents' instruction."

"The world is so vast. It's not strange at all for someone like him to exist!"

"He survived in the wilderness and grew through his outstanding talent until Garp found him and brought him back to the Marines. Isn't that perfectly clear?"

"So, Sengoku, what exactly is questionable?!"

Zephyr's words were full of protectiveness toward Tsugikuni Yoriichi. He was extremely fond of this talented child, and during their time together today, the maturity Tsugikuni Yoriichi had inadvertently shown made Zephyr's heart ache.

For a child that age to be so mature, he must have gone through some great upheaval.

Of course, in a sense, Zephyr was not wrong~

"Come on, don't be in such a hurry."

"Let me finish, Zephyr."

Sengoku smiled and waved his hand, understanding the emotions Zephyr was showing. On this matter, Sengoku had quite a bit of experience himself.

Four years ago.

Sengoku, who had no children of his own, adopted a child named Rosinante. At the time, Sengoku did not know the child's identity and simply took him in as his adopted son. But when he brought him back to the Marines for a routine background check, he discovered that Rosinante was actually a Celestial Dragon, a member of the Donquixote Family.

However, this matter did not cause any waves within the Marines. There was no special reason for it; Sengoku had simply sealed off the information. The only people who knew were those currently in the office, along with one other person: Garp, who had already put out to sea.

After his family died, Zephyr devoted himself wholeheartedly to building up the Marines and showed great care toward the younger generation.

And Tsugikuni Yoriichi, who had only just come under his care, had clearly already been regarded by Zephyr as one of the Marines. Tsugikuni Yoriichi had even moved directly into Zephyr's home. Before Yoriichi, no Marine trainee had ever received such treatment.

Like Sengoku back then, Zephyr had fallen victim to a soft heart.

"Speak!" Zephyr snorted, folding his arms over his chest.

"The questionable points are his weapon, and also, according to Garp, he has already awakened Conqueror's Haki!"

Sengoku paused there and looked toward Zephyr.

After Sengoku's reminder, Zephyr's expression darkened as well. Seeing his reaction, Sengoku continued:

"I think you've noticed it too. The sword in Tsugikuni Yoriichi's hand is of no low quality!"

"Yet it isn't any of the Supreme Grade Swords."

"Someone capable of forging a weapon like that could not possibly be an ordinary person, right?"

"As for Conqueror's Haki... hehe, the disposition of a king! You wouldn't believe he had no background at all, would you?"

As soon as Sengoku said this, Zephyr seemed to realize something as well. He shook his head and continued, "This is exactly the kind of argument I hate most from you!"

"Tsugikuni Yoriichi is Tsugikuni Yoriichi. It has no necessary connection to whatever background he has!"

"All I know is that he has lived in the East Blue since birth, and he has done nothing wrong!"

"He's just a child whose parents died early, with a bit of talent. What, is that some kind of original sin too?!"

"Questionable points? What bullshit questionable points!"

With that, Zephyr abruptly stood. He had already gained a general understanding of Tsugikuni Yoriichi's circumstances, and that was enough for him!

Zephyr headed for the door, but Kong, who had remained silent until then, suddenly spoke.

"Zephyr!"

"You're right. At the end of the day, he's only a child whose parents died early."

"But precisely because he is a child, he needs proper guidance. Don't you agree?"

"For the next five years, I will not permit him to leave Marineford! And I will not permit you to reveal any Marine secrets to him—not intelligence, not Haki, and not even the Six Powers!"

"Until he comes of age, focus on strengthening his body and teaching him the necessary knowledge."

Zephyr stopped at the office door. Hearing this, he turned his head and snorted coldly.

"You don't need to tell me that. I already know!"

Bang! Zephyr then walked out of the office and slammed the door shut behind him.

Sengoku watched Zephyr leave, casually tossing the documents in his hand onto the desk. "There shouldn't be anything left for me here. I'll head back first. That kid Rosinante is still waiting for me."

After that, Sengoku left the office as well.

Once the two of them had gone, Kong looked at Tsuru and asked in a deep voice, "What do you think?"

Tsuru was the brain of the Marines. Even Kong placed great importance on her opinion.

"His background is very clear. There's nothing to worry about."

"A child is just a blank sheet of paper. I believe Zephyr will teach that child well."

"Zephyr isn't Garp. He's reliable."

At the mention of Garp, Kong could not help covering his forehead, struck by a pounding headache.

Garp was a Marine Vice Admiral. His son, Monkey D. Dragon, was also a Marine, but recently Dragon had repeatedly disobeyed orders, and his movements had become increasingly unpredictable.

This gave Kong a faint sense of foreboding.