The Outcome [Please Keep Reading!]

As comrades-in-arms for over twenty years, Sengoku and Tsuru also did not want Zephyr to leave the Marines.

Their reluctance to part with an old comrade was one reason.

On the other hand, their considerations were largely the same as Steel Bone Kong's. Looking at the bigger picture, once Zephyr left the Marines, it would deal them a tremendous blow, and the seas would likely become even more chaotic.

Of course, if Garp had been here, he definitely would have supported Zephyr's choice. He himself had only stayed in the Marines, pinching his nose and enduring it, for the sake of those low-ranking Marines, becoming that damned Marine Hero.

But Garp absolutely did not want to see his old friend Zephyr become like him.

However, there were very few people as pure and straightforward as Garp. At the very least, Sengoku and Tsuru were not among them. Both of them were clever people.

It was not that clever people were bad. Rather, when faced with choices, clever people often weighed the pros and cons, calculated gains and losses, and appeared more rational and restrained.

When clever people held high positions, they often made certain sacrifices for the so-called greater good. Thus, they tended to look before and after, finding it difficult to follow their hearts.

Did Sengoku not know about all the bullshit involving the Celestial Dragons? Of course he did. It was clear from how he had persuaded and stopped Garp that this strategic general was far from clueless.

But for the so-called greater good, he chose to endure. He turned a blind eye to the Celestial Dragons' actions and chose to let them continue.

Whether as an admiral or Fleet Admiral, Sengoku had always known about the Celestial Dragons' rotten deeds. At most, he voiced verbal protests, but he would never truly intervene, nor did he dare to!

Other than the occasional protest and objection, he remained silent most of the time.

When faced with the Celestial Dragons' evil deeds, he chose silence. That made him an accomplice, a tacit supporter, a collaborator, and an executioner!

That was why the Marine higher-ups had long since rotted to the core. Their so-called justice was justice with the Celestial Dragons excluded.

You wanted to do evil?

No way!

For justice, the Marines had to put out a bounty for your arrest, label you a pirate, and then come down on you hard!

What, you were a Celestial Dragon?

Then it was fine. Please, do whatever you liked. I could not see a thing.

Those were the great World Nobles! What was wrong with capturing a few slaves? What was wrong with killing a few people? What was wrong with having a few special fetishes?

Compared to those utterly wicked pirates roaming the seas, the Celestial Dragons were already very kind. Why did you people keep harping on it?!

The entire world—over a hundred allied nations and countless commoners—rested upon the shoulders of the Celestial Dragons!

Back to the present.

Faced with Steel Bone Kong, Sengoku, and Tsuru taking turns to persuade him, Zephyr could not help but waver.

Besides, he did not truly want to leave the Marines. The tragedy that had befallen his family had dealt him a devastating blow, turning his once-burning heart cold and leaving him to wallow in despair.

Chief Instructor of the Marine Elite Training Camp?

Perhaps...

After several fierce struggles within, Zephyr finally said in a deep voice,

"Fleet Admiral Kong, Sengoku, Tsuru, I need some time to think this over carefully."

"No problem."

Steel Bone Kong raised three fingers and slowly said, "Three days. I will give you three days. Three days from now, I will give you an answer, and I hope you will give me one too."

"All right." Zephyr nodded.

"Then that is settled. Sengoku, Tsuru, I am giving you a few days off. Spend more time with Zephyr and talk to him."

"I will personally oversee the investigation. We must get to the bottom of this!"

With that, Steel Bone Kong turned and left.

After watching Steel Bone Kong leave, Sengoku and Tsuru continued to stay with Zephyr, constantly comforting and earnestly persuading him, hoping he would soon emerge from the gloom and pull himself together.

Elsewhere.

After eating and drinking his fill, Xia Luo led the Poop-Throwing Gorilla back into the mountains to train. The turmoil outside seemed to have nothing to do with him.

Over the years, he had never slacked off in his training and always strived to do his best.

Whether it was his physique, Devil Fruit abilities, or Haki, he did his utmost to improve them all, leaving himself with no weaknesses.

At present, his stamina was maxed out, his recovery ability was maxed out, and his Devil Fruit power was also top-tier. His Observation Haki had awakened and possessed an enormous range. His martial arts, staff techniques, and Six Powers were all formidable. Only Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki were still lacking.

With his current physique and mastery of Tekkai, awakening Armament Haki should not have been difficult. He merely lacked the appropriate training method and guidance from a renowned teacher.

It was worth mentioning that, over the past three months, aside from the considerable improvement in his Rumble-Rumble Fruit abilities, Xia Luo's efforts had finally raised his Six Powers to LV3 not long ago.

If Level 1 represented getting started with a skill, then Level 2 meant proficiency, Level 3 was minor mastery, Level 4 was major mastery, and Level 5 was perfection.

Six Powers at the minor mastery level could already develop corresponding derivative techniques.

In terms of sheer strength, when he went all out, Xia Luo should have been able to match an ordinary admiral candidate. Yet he was far more troublesome than others at the same level. Even if he encountered an admiral-level figure, he could exchange a few moves before retreating with ease.

However, there were also differences among admiral candidates. The gap between ordinary admiral candidates and top-tier Emperor's commanders was indeed significant, let alone compared with admiral- and Emperor-level fighters.

There was no denying that the Azure Dragon Fruit and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit were extremely powerful, but they still fell short before truly top-tier experts.

After all, Xia Luo was only sixteen years old and had yet to come of age.

Since crossing over, only six years had passed. His potential had yet to truly erupt.

Moreover, throughout Xia Luo's journey, he had not even encountered a single evenly matched opponent, much less fought a life-or-death battle.

The best and fastest way to unleash one's potential was through battle—unceasing battle. Brave enough to throw punches at the strong, it did not matter if one was defeated. Only through countless trials could steel be forged!

Xia Luo was still in a period of concealment, like a hidden dragon lurking in the abyss—silent until the day he astonished the world.

If he wanted that kind of exhilarating battle where life and death went hand in hand, he would probably need to wait a little longer.

"Soon, soon!"

Xia Luo clenched his fists, blazing fire rising in his heart. The Marine Elite Training Camp would be the stage where he displayed his strength. Aside from his Azure Dragon Fruit abilities, he would have no reservations!

Three days passed quietly.

That day, two shocking pieces of news once again swept through Marine Headquarters.

First, the highest-ranking officer of the Marine intelligence department had fallen from power. Charged with accepting massive bribes, corruption, colluding with pirates, leaking classified information, and attempting to flee out of fear of punishment, he was arrested on the spot by Fleet Admiral Kong. Before long, he would be sent to Impel Down and imprisoned in Infinite Hell!

All intelligence personnel connected to the case were uprooted. Those whose offenses were particularly severe were executed on the spot, while the rest would likewise be sent to Impel Down for punishment.

Steel Bone Kong acted with extraordinary speed, cutting through the mess with a sharp blade.

Before anyone else could react, he had already dealt with every person involved.

Those who deserved death were killed, and those who deserved imprisonment were locked up. He personally took action and permitted no one else to interfere.

Furthermore, he sealed away the case details, declaring that no one was allowed to review them without his permission.

Second,

Steel Bone Kong, who had previously been rumored to be taking up the position of Chief Instructor of the Marine Elite Training Camp, was unable to continue in that role for personal reasons. The position was instead handed over to Marine Admiral Black Arm Zephyr, who became the Chief Instructor of the Marine Elite Training Camp.

Upon hearing the news, Xia Luo could not help but sigh. "After all those twists and turns, Zephyr still became the Chief Instructor of the Marine Elite Training Camp."

"However..."

Xia Luo lightly pinched his chin and frowned in thought. "Steel Bone Kong dealt with this matter a little too quickly, did he not? So quickly that it makes one wonder whether he was silencing people. Was he really just trying to give Zephyr an explanation?"

Steel Bone Kong's unusual behavior made Xia Luo doubt the truth of the matter.

However, no one knew what the truth really was. Xia Luo merely harbored suspicions and lacked any evidence.

Besides, since Zephyr could accept this outcome and agree to remain in the Marines as Chief Instructor, there should not have been any problem, right?

Others might not know the details of the case, but could it be that even Zephyr, the person directly involved, did not know?

Therefore, although Xia Luo still had doubts, he could only bury them in his heart for now.