"It's him."
Roy's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Who?" Tesoro darted out of the driver's seat.
"An old friend."
Roy turned around and looked at everyone, his tone neither hurried nor slow.
" Tesoro, descend. Let's go say hello."
Tesoro's eyes lit up. "Want to fight?"
"It depends."
The Ark Maxim began its slow descent, its golden hull piercing through the clouds, and the sea below became increasingly clear.
The fleet gradually grew larger in view—three warships in a triangular formation, protecting the World Government's ship in the center.
The warships' cannons were pointed outwards, indicating a high level of vigilance.
Roy stood at the bow of the ship, arms crossed, a smile playing on his lips.
He recognized the owner of that aura.
Black Arm Zephyr.
Former Marine Admiral, now chief naval instructor.
This old man, known as the " Admiral Who Doesn't Kill," had left a deep impression on Roy when he first set sail.
More importantly, the Armament Haki training techniques that Roy "stole" from Zephyr played a crucial role in improving his strength.
I didn't expect to run into you here.
The shadow of the Ark Maxim began to loom over the fleet below.
Zephyr stood at the bow of the lead warship, his hands gripping the railing, the sea breeze making his coat flutter.
Despite being over sixty, the elderly man was still robust, his short purple hair was already showing some gray, but his eyes remained as sharp as an eagle's.
Behind him, dozens of naval recruits were lined up on the deck, each one full of spirit and their eyes were full of anticipation for this graduation trial.
"Chief Instructor, everything is normal in the waters ahead," a major ran over to report.
Zephyr nodded without saying anything.
This escort mission serves as the final test for this year's naval Training Camp.
A World Government transport ship needs to transfer a shipment of supplies from the North Blue to Mary Geoise, via the Grand Line.
The Sengoku assigned this mission to the Training Camp as a "graduation exam" for the new recruits.
Along the way, they encountered three or four groups of reckless pirates.
Those small-time pirates got greedy when they saw the World Government's flag, thinking there was something valuable on board, but they were utterly defeated by Zephyr and his recruits.
"Chief Instructor, this year's recruits are of very high quality."
The adjutant sighed in admiration.
Zephyr nodded, a rare hint of satisfaction on his face.
But he knew in his heart that these recruits were indeed excellent in the Four Blues or the first half of the Grand Line, but what if they entered the New World...
He thought of the monsters that infested the New World, and his brow furrowed involuntarily.
Especially that guy.
The man who left the scar on his chest at the G-5 Branch.
Heavenly Dao Emperor, Roy.
The battle at the G-5 Branch is still etched in Zephyr's memory.
At that time, Roy was just a newcomer who had only been at sea for a short time. He was accompanied by Bullet and Hawk Eyes, and the three of them dared to storm the Marine Branch.
He tried his best to keep them there, but what was the result?
He had been stabbed in the chest and nearly died. If reinforcements hadn't arrived in time, Zephyr might have perished there.
What bothered him even more was that the kid actually used the Armament Haki techniques he had secretly learned in battle to gradually rise to his current position.
"Damn brat..." Zephyr cursed under his breath, touching the long-healed scar on his chest.
The adjutant didn't hear him clearly. "Chief Instructor?"
"Fine."
Zephyr shook his head, took out his pocket watch, and glanced at it.
At the current speed, we'll arrive in Mary Geoise in three more days. Once the ship is safely delivered, this year's recruits' graduation trial will be successfully completed.
He put away his pocket watch and was about to return to his cabin to rest when he suddenly stopped.
An aura.
An aura that sent chills down his spine.
The aura emanated from above, growing closer and stronger, carrying a familiar feeling that made him extremely uncomfortable.
Zephyr suddenly looked up.
The clouds in the sky are parting to the sides, and a golden spaceship is slowly descending.
He had seen that ship before.
On many intelligence reports, on Sengoku's desk, and in the operations room of the Marine Headquarters.
Ark Maxim.
The flagship of the Roy Pirates.
Zephyr's face instantly turned ashen.
"All personnel on high alert!!!"
His roar was like thunder, exploding across the entire fleet.
The new recruits on deck were stunned, not understanding why Zephyr was suddenly so serious, and didn't react for a moment.
"I said, everyone on high alert!!!"
Zephyr roared again, his fists clenching so tightly they made a cracking sound, "Enemy attack! It's the Roy Pirates!"
The name was like a bucket of ice water, waking all the new recruits up.
The Roy Pirates – Heavenly Dao Emperor Roy, one of the most renowned emperors of the New World, the Emperor of Heaven.
This name was repeatedly emphasized as a "key target" in naval Training Camp.
The recruits hurriedly picked up their weapons, raised their cannons, and aimed at the golden spaceship that was getting closer and closer in the sky.
But their hands were shaking.
The Ark Maxim hovered above the fleet, its enormous shadow enveloping all three warships.
The dark gold hull shimmered in the sunlight, and the golden skull and crossbones flag at the bow fluttered in the sea breeze.
Zephyr stood on the deck, looking up at the spaceship, the old wound in his chest beginning to ache again.
" Roy..." he squeezed out the name through clenched teeth.
A figure appeared in everyone's sight on the side of the Ark Maxim.
Roy.
He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, looking down at the fleet below.
His gaze swept over the naval soldiers who were on high alert, over the new recruits who were pale with nervousness, and finally landed on Zephyr.
"Mr. Zephyr, it's been a long time."
Roy's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
His tone was as relaxed as if he were greeting an old friend.
But Zephyr knew that this kid was never a pushover.
Roy!
Zephyr's voice was low and deep, carrying suppressed anger.
"How did you get here?!"
"Just passing by."
Roy smiled.
"I just happened to see your fleet, so I came down to say hello."
"Just passing by?"
Zephyr sneered.
Do you think I'm a three-year-old?
The captain of the Roy Pirates, just 'passing by' in the first half of the Grand Line?
Believe it or not.
Roy shrugged, shifting his gaze from Zephyr to the World Government ship that was being protected by warships in the center.
His Observation Haki had already penetrated into the ship's cabin.
It was filled with gold, jewels, and Beli —so much so that it made him raise an eyebrow slightly.
Heavenly Tribute.
The " Heavenly Tribute " that the World Government plunders from its Affiliated Nation every year is actually located here.
"Mr. Zephyr," Roy turned his gaze back to Zephyr, "I have a question I'd like to ask you."
Zephyr didn't reply, he just stared intently at him.
Why are three warships escorting the World Government's ship?
Roy's tone remained relaxed, but the light in his eyes had changed.
"This is a bit too high a standard."