Tokikake left, grumbling all the way.
On his way out, he even had the nerve to carry off a few of the biggest fruit baskets, leaving everyone in the room speechless.
Daren shook his head, then turned to Borsalino and asked,
"What about Enma?"
After delivering that final slash, he'd blacked out from exhaustion and heavy injuries. He had no idea what happened after that.
But when he woke up, Enma was nowhere to be found. Most likely, it had been recovered by the Marine Science Division.
Borsalino smiled lazily.
"Your sword's condition is still really unstable. After all, letting a dead object eat a Devil Fruit is a brand-new technological breakthrough. Plus, the deconstruction of the Paramecia-type is still incomplete, so it's safer to keep it with the Science Unit for now."
Daren nodded in understanding.
He'd sensed the instability himself when wielding Enma.
Unlike Spandam's sword from the original story, which had eaten the Zou Zou no Mi and gained the "vitality" and "soul" of a Zoan-type, Enma had consumed the Paramecia-type Moa Moa no Mi—and it hadn't gained any of those Zoan traits.
In other words, it was still Enma's own "will" that was controlling the Moa Moa no Mi's power.
But the Moa Moa no Mi's abilities were too strong. It felt like a child trying to wield an adult's weapon—clumsy and rough, lacking finesse.
Still, Daren wasn't worried that Borsalino or the Marine Science Division would try to snatch his sword.
No one but him could bring out Enma's full potential.
Not even a top-level swordsman.
Since the Moa Moa no Mi had been consumed by Enma itself, its power only worked on Enma—it couldn't be used like Byrnndi World's ability to multiply other objects.
Even a swordmaster wouldn't gain anything from using it. What, was he supposed to swing around a hundred-meter-long blade in battle?
More importantly, with Daren's current accomplishments, status, and strength, no one in the Marines would dare risk crossing him to take Enma away.
"Anyway, I just came by to update you on that... I need to go get some rest now."
Borsalino scratched his head, then pointed at his left leg in a cast, looking helpless.
"This time I'm really messed up. Won't be back to duty for a month or two. What a shame..."
Daren: "..."
Zephyr: "..."
Kuzan: "..."
As they watched Borsalino hobble out on crutches, all three of them twitched at the corners of their mouths.
With that monster physique of his, a minor leg fracture like that would probably heal in ten days tops.
Still, none of them said anything.
It wasn't their problem—Admiral Sengoku was the one who'd be dealing with it.
That said, Daren was genuinely surprised Borsalino had even gotten injured.
Just went to show how terrifying Shiki's power really was.
...
"By the way, Daren."
Zephyr paused for a moment, weighing his words, then spoke slowly.
"I didn't just come to check on your condition. There are a few other things I wanted to discuss with you."
Daren smiled.
"Go ahead, Zephyr-sensei."
Zephyr grinned with satisfaction.
This kid Daren might have a questionable attitude and personality, but when it came to work, he was as proactive as they came.
"The first thing is about Big Mom."
Zephyr's face turned serious as he looked at Daren and asked cautiously,
"You and Charlotte Linlin..."
"No way! Absolutely not!"
Daren waved his hands in protest and shut it down on the spot.
"You sure about that..."
Zephyr eyed Daren suspiciously, clearly trying to read something from his expression.
Hey, hey, hey—what do you mean, am I sure?
Daren's eyelid twitched.
Whether or not I've done anything with Charlotte Linlin—that insane, curvy, overly sexy maniac—of course I'd know!
"Of course I'm sure!"
Facing Zephyr's skeptical look, Daren couldn't help gritting his teeth.
"Zephyr-sensei, I admit my reputation in this area isn't exactly the best."
"It's not just bad—it's downright awful."
"...What I mean is, I still have principles," Daren said, trying to keep a straight face.
"You sure about that?" Zephyr asked again.
Daren: "..."
"I'm absolutely sure!"
He said through clenched teeth.
Zephyr glanced at him, then turned to Kuzan, who was sitting nearby, eyes shining with curiosity as he listened in.
"Kuzan, go get me a cup of coffee. The machine's at the end of the hall."
Still caught up in the conversation, Kuzan replied without thinking,
"Why coffee, Zephyr-sensei? Water's fine."
A few veins popped on Zephyr's forehead. He smacked Kuzan on the head and snapped,
"Did I say I wanted coffee? I'm telling you to leave!"
Kuzan winced, rubbing his head.
"Oh."
Once Kuzan walked out of the ward, Zephyr shook his head in frustration.
Each of his students was more gifted than the last—but every one of them was a headache in their own way.
He sighed and looked back at Daren.
"I know about you and Gion."
Daren's expression froze, confusion flashing across his face.
"Me and Gion? There's nothing going on between us, Zephyr-sensei."
"...You're a better actor than I thought."
Zephyr rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Don't forget, Gion was my administrative officer back at the training camp. Her changes don't slip past me."
Spacing out at work, emotional swings, and most tellingly, that youthful inexperience in her eyes slowly giving way to maturity... Zephyr had spotted the signs right away.
He'd been through it himself.
He still remembered how his own wife behaved when they'd just started dating—constantly anxious, emotions all over the place.
And most importantly, Gion's mood shifts clearly revolved around Daren's presence at Marineford.
Every time Daren returned from a mission or came back from the North Blue, Gion would show up to work the next day with a glow in her eyes that she just couldn't hide. Zephyr could only shake his head.
"I didn't want to believe it at first. But turns out it's true... You really had the guts to go after Gion."
Zephyr narrowed his eyes at Daren.
Daren blinked, then suddenly pulled a cigar from a nearby gift box and held it out with both hands, smiling.
"Ahem... Zephyr-sensei, want a smoke?"
Zephyr: "..."
He took the cigar.
Daren quickly grabbed a lighter and lit it for him.
"What I'm trying to say is, the whole Big Mom thing—it's not exactly a small matter."
Zephyr took a puff and said thoughtfully,
"I know your personality probably won't change, but still... don't do anything too outrageous."
"Charlotte Linlin... is a pirate."