Zephyr Injured

The next day, Ye Chen came to the training ground as usual, intending to start a new round of training because he still could not control the Six Powers very well and needed to practice more.

However, as soon as he arrived at the training ground, Ye Chen frowned because everyone was gathered together and seemed rather angry.

Approaching, and slowly starting to listen, Ye Chen's expression began to grow solemn.

"Did you know? Last night, Admiral Zephyr came back, and I heard that this time he was severely injured and needs to recuperate for a while."

"Where did you get that news? Are you sure?" Someone looked skeptical.

"I saw it with my own eyes last night. Now if you just go to the commercial district and ask around, you can find out."

"Hiss, that's Admiral Zephyr, the Marine's highest combat power! How could he be injured this badly?"

"I heard it was done by one of the Four Great Pirate Crews in the New World, the Flying Pirates."

"The Flying Pirates? Are they very strong?" A crisp female voice sounded, and Ye Chen knew it was Hina just by listening.

"Of course. Right now, four super-large pirate crews are entrenched in the New World: one is the Roger Pirates, one is the Whitebeard Pirates, another is Red the Aloof, and the last one is the Flying Pirates. Their captain seems to be called Golden Lion, and his bounty starts at two billion, according to the wanted posters."

Some trainees had serious expressions, not looking like they were joking.

"Two billion?"

Everyone gasped. Bounties nowadays were not casually quoted like in the future; if there was a bounty of two billion, then they definitely had that kind of strength.

Moreover, this was just the starting price!

"This time when Admiral Zephyr went out to sea, it should have been for the Flying Pirates, which is why he was severely injured. However, news says that the Flying Pirates didn't have it easy either. Admiral Zephyr stubbornly saved a kingdom and protected many lives amidst the plundering of the Flying Pirates."

Full of yearning, this trainee's face was plastered with adoration for Zephyr. After all, heroic exploits like this were precisely what people of their age fantasized about.

"I knew it. Admiral Zephyr was injured even though he's so strong, so the other side must be critically wounded and on the verge of death."

Ye Chen listened for a while, and seeing there was no other news, he left. However, his brows were tightly furrowed as he tried hard to recall the vague memories in his mind, roughly piecing together some answers.

Right now, Roger had yet to become the Pirate King, standing at the peak of the pirate trends alongside Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and an unheard-of Red the Aloof, forming the strongest pirate crews on the sea at present.

Yet, calculating the time, Roger would become the Pirate King in just a few years. When that time came, this world would be even more dangerous than now.

Because once Roger became the Pirate King and died afterward, the Great Pirate Era would begin. At that time, the number of pirates would surely skyrocket, the Marines would inevitably suffer an impact, and the situation on the seas would become even worse.

Now, he did not know how long was left until the plot began. When he watched this anime back then, he had also swallowed dates whole without chewing, only watching the fights while character relationships and major events remained rather unclear. Furthermore, not long after watching it, he wanted to fatten it up, but before it could get fat, he ended up coming to this morbid world.

He did know a few famous figures, but many events would happen in the future, leaving him completely clueless about what would happen in these next few years.

It seemed that before the grand tide arrived, he had to possess the capital to survive; otherwise, under the weight of that tide, he would die at any moment.

Not only did he want to live, but he wanted to live well, living in a way that made everyone look up to him.

Clenching his fists tightly, Ye Chen shook the stray thoughts from his mind and began to train.

At present, even if he knew a few things, he lacked the qualifications to participate in them. Therefore, growing stronger was the only thing he needed to do right now.

As long as he had power, he could do whatever he wanted in the future. Here, there was no law, no morality, and no order—there were only fists.

Three days later, it truly verified what Ye Chen had heard that day: Zephyr had indeed been injured, and rather seriously at that, because even after three days had passed, bandages were still wrapped around his body.

Because on this day, Zephyr came to the academy again, evidently taking advantage of his recuperation to come and guide the future of the Marines.

He was truly dedicated.

Looking at Zephyr on the platform with his somewhat pale and weak complexion, Ye Chen sighed inwardly once more. A man who gave everything for the Marines like this would end up with his family destroyed and everyone dead in the end.

Sure enough, things like justice and evil were hollow; only oneself was real.

"It looks like everyone has gained something in these past three months. Not bad."

Standing on the high platform, Zephyr could clearly sense the spirited energy of the crowd below. Even without observing closely, he knew that everyone had made gains over these three months, for those able to enter this place all possessed immense potential and talent.

Just then, a trainee raised his hand, evidently wanting to ask a question.

"Strawberry, what is it!" Zephyr looked at the raising-handed trainee, signaling for him to state his problem.

"Instructor Zephyr, can you tell us about things outside? I heard there are many powerful pirates in the New World."

Everyone looked at Zephyr with anticipation. Even if some people present had been out before, it was only in the Four Seas or in safe places not too far from Marine headquarters; as for the New World, that was simply out of the question.

Uncharacteristically, Zephyr turned solemn all at once.

Pondering for a moment, Zephyr spoke up, "You will all definitely face it in the future. Since that is the case, I will let you understand it beforehand!"

"I believe you are all certainly curious right now whether the injuries on my body were caused by pirates, just as the rumors say. I can tell you that it is true."

"Was it the Flying Pirates?" A trainee raised his hand and asked.

"Correct, the Flying Pirates are currently one of the strongest pirate crews in the New World. The captain is Golden Lion Shiki, a man of formidable strength." Zephyr's expression was very grave, and instinctively, he reached out to touch the chest wrapped in bandages.

"Even Admiral Zephyr couldn't take him down?"

"That man is far stronger than you imagine. Although I couldn't take him down, he couldn't even hope to defeat me either." With extreme confidence, no one would think Zephyr was lying, because his qualifications and strength were laid right there.

"I knew it." Some trainees had flushed faces, looking at Zephyr with adoration in their eyes, thinking to themselves that they must become admirals one day and then go out to sea to capture those heinous, wicked super-pirates.

"This man is an overlord with immense ambition. Not only is he a Devil Fruit user, but he is also a top-tier great swordsman and a master of physical combat arts..."

Zephyr spoke with gravity, and the trainees listened spellbound.

"There is also the Roger Pirates, the Whitebeard Pirates, Red the Aloof, and others like them—all evils that obstruct justice. You are all the future of the Marines, so you cannot slack off for even a single moment."

This time, Zephyr did not elaborate on many details, merely giving a few rough examples. His purpose was to make everyone realize the cruelty of the sea and the strength of their enemies.

By the way, it would also motivate everyone to uphold justice in the future.

Ye Chen listened intently as well, yet he did not take the justice Zephyr spoke of later to heart. After all, as far as he was concerned, neither justice nor evil had anything to do with him; what he cared about was how he himself was going to survive.

"Tomorrow, I will explain Haki to you. I believe your Six Powers should all have reached the entry level over these past three months, so it is also time to get in touch with Haki."

Zephyr's words directly caused Ye Chen's mind to tremble. Staring wide-eyed, his entire body was shaking slightly.

What had he entered the Marines for? It was to survive safely, and it was for power. The most crucial symbol of power, however, was Haki.

Even though Ye Chen did not understand the pirate world very well, he knew the role of Haki. It was indispensable and had to be mastered; otherwise, life would lack any sense of security.

Regarding the protagonist's epithet, please leave a message if you have any ideas. Please!