Lin Yan's Deal with Zephyr

Watching another task get completed.

Lin Yan was in a great mood.

He became even more motivated to recruit Zephyr.

"Admiral, the Navy doesn't want you, but I do!"

"The Navy wronged you before, but I won't!"

"Join my Seventeenth Division!"

Learning that Lin Yan came from the Whitebeard Pirates and was the division commander who had recently made waves across the seas.

Ripples stirred in Zephyr's eyes as well.

However.

He still hated pirates to this day.

Asking him to join the ranks of pirates and keep company with them.

Was completely impossible.

"Stop trying to persuade me. You're very strong, and in that regard, I admit I'm no match for you!"

"But that isn't a reason for me to join pirates!"

"Give up. There's no way I'll join your pirate crew!"

Zephyr rejected him sternly.

He had already been injured before.

Now, his face looked much paler.

"That's quite a harsh rejection."

Lin Yan looked somewhat regretful.

"Of course, unless there's one possibility!"

Zephyr glanced at Lin Yan.

"Oh? What possibility?"

Lin Yan asked curiously.

"Kill me!"

Zephyr spoke with absolute certainty.

"..."

Lin Yan was speechless for a while.

Looking at Zephyr, who refused no matter what.

Lin Yan stood up. "Fine, fine!"

"I don't really like forcing people. Since you don't want to..."

Hearing Lin Yan's words, Ain continued, "Then you're leaving?"

Lin Yan looked at Ain and smiled. "Then I'll come back tomorrow!"

As he spoke.

Lin Yan really did leave.

Watching Lin Yan's departing back.

Ain covered her forehead with one hand.

Why did I have to say that?

The next day.

"Admiral, after a day of consideration, what have you decided?"

Sure enough.

Lin Yan arrived as promised and impatiently pressed for an answer.

Zephyr was now wrapped head to toe in bandages.

Yet he still refused sternly.

On the third day.

Lin Yan came to visit again.

On the fourth day, he was rejected. On the fifth day, still rejected!

When the sixth day arrived.

Ain got angry. "Enough already! My teacher already hates you pirates, yet you keep showing up in front of him. Are you done or not?"

Lin Yan didn't care what Ain thought. "When adults are talking, children shouldn't interrupt!"

A child?

Hearing Lin Yan's words.

Ain laughed angrily. "You don't seem to be older than me!"

Lin Yan paused for a second, his gaze falling on Ain.

Then.

His gaze moved downward.

When he saw the ominous sight before him.

He gestured with his hand, stroking his chin with the other. "To be fair, I really am not as big as you!"

Ain's face turned red as she gritted her teeth. "Pervert!"

Finally.

After tireless effort.

Lin Yan learned about the knot in Zephyr's heart.

The name Edward Weevil.

Reached Lin Yan's ears.

Upon hearing the title "Whitebeard Jr."

Lin Yan's forgotten memories gradually began to resurface.

He remembered now.

Zephyr's arm.

Seemed to have been cut off by Whitebeard Jr.!

And nearly all the trainees aboard that entire ship had been killed by Whitebeard Jr.!

Most importantly.

Whitebeard Jr. had even been listed as one of the candidates for the next Seven Warlords of the Sea.

That was what made Zephyr, unable to accept the situation.

Leave the Navy in fury.

"How about this, Zephyr? Let's make a deal. I'll help you take down Whitebeard Jr., and you join my pirate crew. How does that sound?"

Lin Yan suddenly made such a proposal.

Hearing Lin Yan's words.

Zephyr slowly raised his head. "Do you know how strong Whitebeard Jr. is?"

At the mention of Whitebeard Jr.

That nightmare-like scene from back then surged into Zephyr's mind like a tide.

At the time, he was already old and his strength had declined. Though he no longer possessed Admiral-level strength.

It was just as had been said before.

A starving camel was still bigger than a horse.

Zephyr's Admiral foundation was still there.

Yet even so.

One of his arms had still been chopped off by Whitebeard Jr.

That alone proved.

Whitebeard Jr. truly had the potential to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!

"How strong he is isn't my concern. I only have one concern!"

As he spoke, Lin Yan looked at Zephyr before him. "I simply want to invite you aboard!"

Lin Yan's words were sincere.

And equally passionate.

Those burning words fell upon Zephyr's icy heart.

Before he knew it.

Zephyr, who had previously refused Lin Yan without wavering.

Had now softened considerably.

Unable to help himself.

Zephyr gave Lin Yan a slight glance. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead!"

Lin Yan signaled for Zephyr to ask freely.

"Why are you so determined to invite me into your Seventeenth Division?"

Zephyr was very curious about that.

"Does it need a reason? If I had to give one..."

"We hit it off, that's one."

"Your identity as a former Navy Admiral is another!"

"The Seventeenth Division was just established and needs talented people, that's another!"

Lin Yan didn't beat around the bush and answered truthfully.

Zephyr fell silent.

He suddenly realized.

His so-called hatred for pirates.

Had only been one-sided.

Whether it was the Roger Pirates or the Whitebeard Pirates.

Those people were merely adventurers wearing pirate skins.

What did they know about being pirates?

"Fine. If you can deal with Whitebeard Jr., what harm is there in agreeing to you?"

The knot in Zephyr's heart had been undone, and he suddenly smiled.

"Then it's settled. I've been waiting for you to say that!"

Lin Yan was overjoyed.

After saying that.

He left the place!

At the same time.

Shakky's Rip-off Bar.

"Welco... Aaaaaah!!!!"

"Why are you back???"

The moment she arrived at the bar and saw Lin Yan entering through the door, Shakky screamed.

Like a cat with its fur standing on end.

Her whole body felt uncomfortable.

This guy.

Why was he back?

"Stop screaming. Someone who doesn't know better might think I'm molesting you!"

"Let me make this clear, I'm not interested in an old lady!"

There was no need to say more about Shakky's intelligence network. Lin Yan had come to her to search for Whitebeard Jr.'s whereabouts, and there was no better choice.

"Brat, who are you calling an old lady!"

When Shakky heard the words "old lady," veins bulged on her forehead as anger faintly rose within her.

"I came to ask you about someone this time!"

Ignoring Shakky's sinister expression, Lin Yan got straight to the point.

"Anyone but Old Ray!"

Shakky would rather die than reveal Rayleigh's whereabouts.

"Whitebeard Jr. You should know him!"

Lin Yan asked.

"Why are you looking for Whitebeard Jr.?"

Judging by Lin Yan's manner, he should have found the former Navy Admiral, Black Arm Zephyr. The question was, why was he asking about Whitebeard Jr.'s whereabouts too?

Shakky was thoroughly puzzled.

"For an information broker, you're a little unprofessional!"

Lin Yan said unhurriedly.

"Fine, I shouldn't ask too much!"

After a while, Shakky gathered information about Whitebeard Jr.'s whereabouts. "He's at Marineford!"

Hearing the words Marineford, Lin Yan froze for a moment.

Then he lowered his head.

"This time... it'll be a little difficult!"

One Piece: Starting with the Goro Goro no Mi and Mangekyō Sharingan, by master Tatam