Looking at the earnest Zephyr, Sakazuki spoke:
"I heard Sote has fallen in love."
Rather than answering directly, Sakazuki brought up Sote.
A faint smile appeared at the corners of Zephyr's mouth:
"Ah..."
"That little brat has grown up, too."
"He doesn't need this old man fussing over him anymore."
"Give me my orders, Sakazuki."
"My students keep dying on the front lines. How could I possibly stay comfortably in the rear?"
Sakazuki sighed inwardly and nodded:
"Then go to Whole Cake Island."
"With our forces split recently, Charlotte Linlin's counterattacks have been fierce."
"The lower- and mid-ranking troops are struggling to hold them off."
"That will be the site of our final, decisive battle to wipe out the pirates."
"We cannot afford to lose it."
"I'll send you there."
As he spoke, he signed a transfer order and handed it to Zephyr.
Zephyr's lips curved slightly as he took the order, his voice utterly resolute:
"Don't worry."
"As long as I'm there, I won't let those pirates push us back."
Without waiting for Morris, he turned and walked out of the Fleet Admiral's Office.
Silence settled over the room.
Only long after Zephyr had disappeared did Sakazuki turn to Morris:
"Do you want the most dangerous posting, too?"
Morris rolled his eyes:
"Oh, spare me."
"I still want to hold my grandchildren."
"Just put me somewhere behind the front lines."
He fell silent after that, then walked out to the parapet outside the office and watched the tiny dark figure heading toward the harbor in the distance.
Sakazuki came over and stood beside Morris, watching Zephyr's retreating figure.
Morris let out a soft sigh:
"He's wanted to die for a long time now."
"He never moved past it..."
His wife had been brutally murdered by pirates, leaving only his