Late at night, a Den Den Mushi rang aboard the Sun Pirates' ship.
Purururu~ Purururu~
Jinbei woke instantly, frowning in confusion. Who would be calling at this hour?
He picked up the receiver.
From the other side, a cold voice spoke, "Captain of the Sun Pirates, Jinbei?"
His brows furrowed deeper. "Yes. That's me. And you are?"
"I am Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Douglas Bullet," the voice replied flatly. "A group of fish-men claiming to be the Sun Pirates attacked a marine warship. Was that on your orders?"
The words made Jinbei's chest tighten. His mind immediately went to Arlong and the others who had left days ago.
"Could you describe their features?" he asked carefully.
"I'm the one asking questions," Bullet's voice cut back. "Not you."
Jinbei drew a slow breath. "No… all members of the Sun Pirates are here on this ship."
Then a broken, familiar sound came from the snail. Painful wheezing.
Jinbei froze. 'Arlong.'
Before he could speak, a sharp crack echoed through the line.
The gasping stopped at once, then Bullet's indifferent tone followed. "Throw all the trash into the sea and let the fish eat them."
The voice on the other end grew clearer. "Oh? So it wasn't you. Forget it then. But let me remind you of something. The government personnel who brought you in may not have told you this, but the Warlords are nothing more than dogs of the Marines and the World Government. Keep your subordinates in check. Remember that."
Click.
The call ended.
Jinbei's eyes widened, fury flashing in them as he clenched his fists. "The Marines..."
A fierce aura burst out of him, powerful enough to stir the air. Several sharp-sensed fighters aboard the ship jolted awake. Alarmed, they rushed onto the deck, searching for enemies.
Creak.
The cabin door opened. Jinbei had already pulled his aura back in. "It's nothing. Go back to sleep."
The men exchanged looks, watching him step out with the Den Den Mushi still in hand.
"Captain Jinbei?" one of them asked cautiously.
* * *
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
On a barren stretch of land behind the base, Enel was locked in a duel with a young man with striking purple hair. Both men were careful to contain the aftermath of their blows, keeping the battle's destruction within bounds.
They stood about the same height, but where Enel's build was lean and balanced, the purple-haired youth's frame was broader, heavier, though not clumsy.
Boom!
The purple-haired man's strike smashed into where Enel had been. But the figure dissolved into nothing, a lingering afterimage.
Zzt!
Thunder cracked sharply behind him. Enel's arm turned into a spear of lightning, thrusting for his opponent's head.
Without turning, the young man drove his elbow back. Coated in Armament Haki, it knocked the strike aside, grazing his ear.
Bang!
Their fists clashed and forced them apart.
With a flash of sparks, Enel reappeared at the edge of the field. "Enough. This is boring. I can't go all out, and you're too steady. No openings anywhere. All-round development, no weaknesses. How did Instructor Zephyr train you?"
The young man gave a slight smile. "Maybe my father's standards were strict. Many couldn't endure them."
Enel tilted his head, thoughtful. "True. Everyone has their own way of growing. Back in academy, I argued with Instructor Zephyr plenty of times myself."
The purple-haired youth's tone softened. "He's strict only because he doesn't want tragedies to fall on his students."
Enel exhaled. "Tragedies, huh... by the way, how old are you now? Back then you were just a kid. You must be grown by now. Why aren't you serving on a warship?"
"Twenty-three," the youth said with a strained laugh. "Father thinks I'm still not strong enough. He wants me to train a few more years."
Enel shook his head. "Unbelievable. But don't worry, Uncle already went to talk to Instructor Zephyr. It might work out. And besides, there's a gift waiting for you."
A spark of anticipation lit the young man's eyes. "Really?!"
* * *
At Marine Headquarters Academy, Principal's Office.
Morris sat at the massive desk, raising his teacup to his lips, blowing away the steam as he watched the two men before him.
On the sofa rested Zephyr, arms crossed, looking at Sakazuki with confidence. "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I won't be swayed."
The admiral chuckled. "No need to rush. Take a look at this first."
He pushed a box across the table. Morris leaned forward with interest.
Sakazuki opened it slowly. Inside was a Devil Fruit, its surface marked with strange, irregular patterns.
Zephyr picked it up and examined it. "A Paramecia type, is it?"
Disappointed, Morris raised his cup again. Just another Paramecia.
Sakazuki's smile deepened. "This Paramecia is… Float-Float Fruit."
Pffft!
Morris spat his tea, staring at the fruit in shock. Zephyr's eyes widened as well.
"You mean...?"
Sakazuki nodded. "Yes. That one. The fruit once belonging to Shiki the Golden Lion."
Morris gasped. "How did it end up with you? I know you killed him, but still…"
"After he died in Loguetown, the fruit reincarnated in the East Blue," Sakazuki explained. "During the purges there, I 'found' it among a small pirate crew."
Zephyr's face hardened. "No. This fruit is too valuable."
He pushed it back across the table. He had never approved of his son eating a Devil Fruit, but even he felt tempted by this one.
After all, it wasn't just rare. Shiki had risen to the rank of a legendary pirate in large part thanks to this power.
The Float-Float Fruit was no ordinary ability. It was a rule-type. It let the user and anything they touched break free of gravity and float.
Yes. Break free of gravity itself.
Shiki had once lifted dozens of islands into the sky, thousands of meters high, holding them aloft for years without them falling. It wasn't even a matter of stamina. He could lift oceans too.
If he had been even more ruthless, he could have destroyed island after island with his own hands, killing countless people. A mere touch could tear a landmass from its roots and send it drifting upside down into the air.
But Sakazuki disagreed. "It isn't for you. Whether to eat it or not will be his decision. His talent is extraordinary, and he's had your guidance since childhood. I know what you're worried about. You fear that when he meets a powerful enemy, he won't be able to escape. That's why you've always kept him close, planning to release him only when his strength is enough. But a young eagle has to take flight. He's twenty-three now. How long do you plan to keep him tied down? Until twenty-five? Thirty? Thirty-five? Will you wait until the day he rivals an admiral before letting him go?"
Zephyr fell silent. Everything Sakazuki said was true, though he didn't want to admit it.
He had joined the Marines at fourteen, and by eighteen had already fought pirates on the battlefield. Yet his son, now twenty-three, had barely left his sight. Every time he thought of letting him go, dread filled his chest. He couldn't bear the thought of another loss.
Sakazuki sighed. "Your intentions are good. But for the boy, isn't this also a burden? You fear for his safety. This fruit removes that fear. With its power, crossing thousands of meters of sky takes only seconds. On the seas, just a handful of top pirates could ever catch him. Let him train with Enel for a few years. Then we can form an aerial fleet, led by him. Zephyr's strength, Shiki's Devil Fruit power, and a marine fleet blotting out the sun. Just imagine it."
Zephyr's gaze lingered on the fruit, his eyes clouded as he drifted into thought.
**
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