Cruel Insult! Lifelong Glory!

The morning sun rose, casting golden ripples across the endless expanse of the sea.

Two warships sailed side by side, heading toward Marineford, the headquarters of the Navy.

Inside the cabin's infirmary, Conrad had not yet opened his eyes when he realized his mouth was already chewing something.

As he swallowed and parted his lips, another piece of meat was placed into his mouth.

"You've got a pretty decent constitution, kid." The speaker's voice was rough, a standard smoker's rasp.

Conrad opened his eyes and began to cough violently, discovering that the room was filled with smoke so thick it nearly obscured his vision.

Smoker was sitting by his hospital bed with his legs crossed, holding a plate of meat, while a stack of empty plates sat on the cart beside him.

Conrad tried to sit up to get some fresh air, but as his chest bent, a sharp, electric pain surged through him, forcing him to grit his teeth and squeeze his eyes shut.

"Hiss... how long have I been asleep, and where is this?"

"Not long, two or three days." Smoker pushed open a window and waved his hand, sending the smoke billowing out, "On a Navy ship."

Bang!

The cabin door was pushed open.

"Smoker! Hina said you aren't supposed to smoke while feeding a patient! You're making Hina very angry!"

A beautiful captain with long, pink hair parted in the middle, whose sexy figure was barely concealed by her blue and white uniform, strode in on a pair of long legs.

Smoker glanced at Hina, "You should put out the cigarette in your own mouth before you start talking."

"Hmph!" Hina exhaled a puff of smoke, plucked the slim cigarette from her red lips, and crushed it out in the tray.

She sat on the stool by the bed and smiled kindly, "How are you? Feeling better? Hina has been taking care of you for the past five days, you know."

"Thank you." Conrad adjusted to the pain and sat up against the bed, "I will repay you."

Hina beamed, waving her hands repeatedly, "Ah! No need, no need, you're being too polite!"

"Where is Baby-5?" Conrad looked around, his gaze gradually sharpening, "Why isn't she with me?"

Hina looked up, pondering for a moment before saying, "That girl from the Donquixote Family? She should be on Vice Admiral Tsuru's ship next door."

Conrad took a deep breath, pressed his hand against the bandages wrapped around his chest, and abruptly rolled out of bed, "I'm going to find her."

But a mass of smoke suddenly surged forth, forming a wall that blocked his path.

Smoker stared out at the sea, his voice cold, "She is a criminal from the Donquixote Family. Even if she's young, she has a bounty and has killed many people."

Conrad fell silent, not because he agreed with Smoker or was persuaded, but because he clearly realized that his current strength was insufficient to earn him a voice.

That was why the other man dared to stop him, and even attempted to lecture him.

"What will happen to Baby-5?"

"I don't know. I don't pay attention to such things." Smoker dissipated the smoke wall. He had expected Conrad to make a huge scene, but the boy seemed calmer than he had imagined.

Hina smiled gently, "You should rest and recover from your injuries. Once you're healed, you can go home. By the way, which sea is your home in?"

"I have no home. I have always been alone." Conrad dragged his legs, walking toward the cabin door one step at a time.

"I want to see Zephyr! Where is Zephyr!"

Smoker and Hina were both stunned, "Why are you looking for Instructor Zephyr?"

"Take me to see Zephyr!" Conrad offered no explanation, repeating the same sentence until he reached the deck and gripped the railing.

Seeing his voice growing louder and attracting the attention of many trainees on the ship, Hina quickly covered his mouth and pulled him back into her embrace.

Hina stood at one meter eighty-one, and Conrad's head was pressed right against her soft, full chest.

Conrad had no heart to appreciate it; instead, he was so humiliated and furious that he trembled, even shedding a tear of shame.

He, a man of dignity, was actually being restrained by a woman! He couldn't even muster the strength to resist!

Watching as Hina used her Cage-Cage Fruit to transform her hands into steel bars, locking his lower face so he could neither move forward nor speak, Conrad knew he had lost. He had lost completely!

He gave up resisting, leaning back powerlessly against her soft bosom, sighing in his heart with bitter grief.

"Black Cage" Hina, what a "Black Cage" Hina indeed!

This was the first hurdle he had encountered in his journey through the world, a cruel lesson taught to him by a ruthless reality. He would remember it; he would never forget!

Seeing the tears in the corners of Conrad's eyes, Hina assumed she had used too much force and hurt him. She changed her hands back from the Black Cage to human form, gently stroking his black hair, "There, there, it doesn't hurt."

Every touch against her chest felt like a slap, a cold and ruthless strike against Conrad's face.

This was the heartless humiliation that the weak and the defeated were destined to suffer!

Conrad endured it, his will rolling in the mud. This was the humiliation of crawling between legs; if Han Xin had his humiliation, then he, Conrad, had this humiliation of the breast!

Just then, a shout came from Tsuru's ship opposite them.

"Kid, what do you want with me?"

Zephyr leaped with a bend of his knees, easily crossing the sea and landing steadily outside the cabin door. His powerful frame filled his purple suit, almost occupying the entire doorway.

"Instructor Zephyr." Hina released Conrad and raised her hand in a salute.

Smoker gave a lazy salute.

Conrad looked up at Zephyr; although he didn't want to crane his neck, looking someone in the eye while speaking was a matter of respect.

"First of all, thank you for saving me. I will remember this favor."

"Hahaha! Interesting! But protecting ordinary citizens from the harm of pirates is the duty of us Marines."

Zephyr walked into the room, and as he entered, the light finally shone in from behind him. He reached out and pressed his hand onto Conrad's shoulder. "Kid, are you interested in becoming a Marine?"

"No." Conrad shook his head.

Zephyr was not surprised; after all, everyone has their own aspirations, and not everyone wants to uphold justice. "Then leave once your wounds have healed."

"But I could be." Conrad's eyes burned with intensity. "Give Baby-5 back to me, and I will join the Marines—I will even... acknowledge you as my teacher."

Zephyr felt something was off. His expression turned strange, and he even glanced back at the door, wondering if there was something wrong with the way he had walked in.

He shook the emerald-green bottle of JEREZ wine in his hand, took a deep swig, and exhaled sharply. "Child, you might not quite understand. I am a Marine Admiral and an instructor for elite officers; not just anyone can become my student..."

Conrad raised a hand in a gesture to press down, cutting Zephyr off. "I know, which is why I am giving you a chance."

Hina and Smoker exchanged a glance. They had both passed layer upon layer of assessments, and it was only because of their outstanding talent and Devil Fruit abilities that they had joined the training ship to become Zephyr's students.

Although Smoker appeared boorish on the outside, he actually cherished the opportunity to learn from Zephyr.

After all, the two men currently in the limelight, both tipped for promotion to Admiral and known to the world as the two monsters, Akainu and Kizaru, were both students of Zephyr.

Yet, it seemed as if Conrad felt that him joining the Marines and acknowledging Zephyr as his teacher would be Zephyr's honor.

That was exactly right; all three master and students clearly sensed the meaning the boy was conveying.

At this moment, Conrad spoke clearly and explicitly, "My joining the Marines is the Marines' honor."

"Acknowledging you as my teacher will be the greatest glory of your life!" Conrad stepped forward until he could go no further, his black eyes boring into Zephyr, his hands clenched into fists, every word spoken with absolute certainty.